Joshua E.B. Smith's Blog, page 2
May 17, 2021
A Reckonin' a Comin' May 18th
When I first tackled the idea of Insanity's Respite, way back in 2019, I didn't plan on going further than one book. Today, it's May the 17th, and tomorrow the 18th, I'm launching Book 3 of 4 in the Auramancer's Exorcism.
It started as an idea based off of two references:
The Brick + Mortar Song, "Locked in a Cage," and the card "Geier Reach Sanitarium" from the card game, Magic: The Gathering.
What should've been a simple one and done turned into a sprawling epic of nightmares, stress, and horror - and that's just the author! - that really let me touch on a topic I rarely see in modern commerical fiction:
A hero with problems.
Now the crux of ANY story is a centralized conflict. But I mean a hero with *problems.* Akaran (our intrepid, exhausted exorcist/protaganist) is fighting a broken leg, a curse that directly affects his ability to work in the only way he knows to work, and severe PTSD.
These are things you see in real life (minus the curse part, but most of us know someone that's been injured and can't do a 'thing' that they want to do) day in and day out. It's a thing I have some experience with; chemical dependency, a broken neck (rather than a broken leg), chronic nightmares, depression, anxiety, paranoia. I know these things because I live these things.
They make for an interesting avenue to tell a story from. You're used to your Boramirs and Links going out and taking a hit and walking away from it; your Jon Snow who gets killed, resurrected, and doesn't seem to have any long-term effects from it. You've got your heroes that see a goal and go right for it because it's Wrong and Something Must Be Done (tm).
But when you're hurt, you're tired, and you don't really give a crap, you have to be motivated to go care even when it's really wrong all around you. Motivation isn't always pleasant. Motivation sometimes means desperation. Motivation means sweat, and blood, and tears, and doubts.
Rarely do I see that in the books, movies, or shows I watch. Getting to explore that concept of, "How do I motivate someone too busy dealing with his own demons to care about the other ones loose in the city?"
I like to think I came up with a pretty powerful answer to that.
Of course, my timing has been terrible.
If you're excited for Reckoning's release tomorrow, that means in spite of a global depression, a global pandemic, an election season, riots, job insecurity, food insecurity, and social media being... social... you gave me some of your time, your effort, and your hard-earned money.
This is not the best of times to get behind a story of murder, torture, terror, nightmares, a spiritual plague, a sadistic vampire, and a wedding that hardly anyone wants to have happen.
Even with that in mind, and to be fair - I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS GONNA HAPPEN LIKE THIS I SWEAR! - my timing could've been better...
...I'm excited for this. I'm excited for you to see where this journey is going to go. I'm excited for you to see why Akaran gets a task that doesn't make him the messenger... it makes him the message. I'm excited to present the newest chapter in his story.
And I'm excited for how it sets up the final book in the Auramancer's Exorcism later this year.
But first, there's a reckonin' a comin' that you don't want to miss.
With my thanks, my love, and my blessing, I do hope you enjoy.
Kindle version is out tomorrow. Paperbacks have hit a small snag, and are likely going to be out by the end of the month.
For more:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B091NBDPVV
Or:
http://www.sagadmw.com/insanitys-reckoning/
Or:
Insanity's Reckoning
Until next time, be safe out there...
...and try not to trip over the bodies in here.
~Joshua E.B. Smith
https://www.facebook.com/sagadmw
https://www.amazon.com/author/sdmw
It started as an idea based off of two references:
The Brick + Mortar Song, "Locked in a Cage," and the card "Geier Reach Sanitarium" from the card game, Magic: The Gathering.
What should've been a simple one and done turned into a sprawling epic of nightmares, stress, and horror - and that's just the author! - that really let me touch on a topic I rarely see in modern commerical fiction:
A hero with problems.
Now the crux of ANY story is a centralized conflict. But I mean a hero with *problems.* Akaran (our intrepid, exhausted exorcist/protaganist) is fighting a broken leg, a curse that directly affects his ability to work in the only way he knows to work, and severe PTSD.
These are things you see in real life (minus the curse part, but most of us know someone that's been injured and can't do a 'thing' that they want to do) day in and day out. It's a thing I have some experience with; chemical dependency, a broken neck (rather than a broken leg), chronic nightmares, depression, anxiety, paranoia. I know these things because I live these things.
They make for an interesting avenue to tell a story from. You're used to your Boramirs and Links going out and taking a hit and walking away from it; your Jon Snow who gets killed, resurrected, and doesn't seem to have any long-term effects from it. You've got your heroes that see a goal and go right for it because it's Wrong and Something Must Be Done (tm).
But when you're hurt, you're tired, and you don't really give a crap, you have to be motivated to go care even when it's really wrong all around you. Motivation isn't always pleasant. Motivation sometimes means desperation. Motivation means sweat, and blood, and tears, and doubts.
Rarely do I see that in the books, movies, or shows I watch. Getting to explore that concept of, "How do I motivate someone too busy dealing with his own demons to care about the other ones loose in the city?"
I like to think I came up with a pretty powerful answer to that.
Of course, my timing has been terrible.
If you're excited for Reckoning's release tomorrow, that means in spite of a global depression, a global pandemic, an election season, riots, job insecurity, food insecurity, and social media being... social... you gave me some of your time, your effort, and your hard-earned money.
This is not the best of times to get behind a story of murder, torture, terror, nightmares, a spiritual plague, a sadistic vampire, and a wedding that hardly anyone wants to have happen.
Even with that in mind, and to be fair - I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS GONNA HAPPEN LIKE THIS I SWEAR! - my timing could've been better...
...I'm excited for this. I'm excited for you to see where this journey is going to go. I'm excited for you to see why Akaran gets a task that doesn't make him the messenger... it makes him the message. I'm excited to present the newest chapter in his story.
And I'm excited for how it sets up the final book in the Auramancer's Exorcism later this year.
But first, there's a reckonin' a comin' that you don't want to miss.
With my thanks, my love, and my blessing, I do hope you enjoy.
Kindle version is out tomorrow. Paperbacks have hit a small snag, and are likely going to be out by the end of the month.
For more:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B091NBDPVV
Or:
http://www.sagadmw.com/insanitys-reckoning/
Or:
Insanity's Reckoning
Until next time, be safe out there...
...and try not to trip over the bodies in here.
~Joshua E.B. Smith
https://www.facebook.com/sagadmw
https://www.amazon.com/author/sdmw
April 19, 2021
A month away from a return to Basion City!
Man.
December feels like a lifetime ago. It also feels like no time has passed. This is truly the fastest I have ever written a book, and so far, my editor hasn't pulled her hair out going over it.
One thing that I'm really excited about with the next book coming - Insanity's Reckoning - is that in the last two (insanity's Respite and Rapture), we've seen Akaran hobbled and forced to deal with situations entirely outside of his control.
And frankly, he's tired of it.
He's so tired of it that he's making the effort to take control - by force if necessary. And a lot of force is necessary. As the murders continue to stack up, he finds a powerful ally in an old friend - his BEST friend.
Or at least, that's what the Hobbler says he is... even if Akaran might just disagree on that.
Still. Being able to have those moments where our intrepid hero is finally just, "Enough. I've been (censored) on by every person in the whole (censored) city, I'm (censored) tired of it, we're doing it my (censored) way, you chuckle(censored)s."
Honestly, to me, it's a few of those "Gaze into the fist of Dredd" style moments (and if you get that reference, KUDOS!).
I can't wait for people to get their hands on this, I really can't.
Find out what the most dangerous man in the safest city in the Kingdom is willing to go through to deliver a reckoning...
The scheduled launch date is set for May 18, 2021.
Insanity's Reckoning
December feels like a lifetime ago. It also feels like no time has passed. This is truly the fastest I have ever written a book, and so far, my editor hasn't pulled her hair out going over it.
One thing that I'm really excited about with the next book coming - Insanity's Reckoning - is that in the last two (insanity's Respite and Rapture), we've seen Akaran hobbled and forced to deal with situations entirely outside of his control.
And frankly, he's tired of it.
He's so tired of it that he's making the effort to take control - by force if necessary. And a lot of force is necessary. As the murders continue to stack up, he finds a powerful ally in an old friend - his BEST friend.
Or at least, that's what the Hobbler says he is... even if Akaran might just disagree on that.
Still. Being able to have those moments where our intrepid hero is finally just, "Enough. I've been (censored) on by every person in the whole (censored) city, I'm (censored) tired of it, we're doing it my (censored) way, you chuckle(censored)s."
Honestly, to me, it's a few of those "Gaze into the fist of Dredd" style moments (and if you get that reference, KUDOS!).
I can't wait for people to get their hands on this, I really can't.
Find out what the most dangerous man in the safest city in the Kingdom is willing to go through to deliver a reckoning...
The scheduled launch date is set for May 18, 2021.
Insanity's Reckoning
February 11, 2021
Paperback giveaway!
It's giveaway time!
I'm doing something vastly different this time around. Instead of a direct digital download, I'm giving you the chance to win signed and dedicated *paperback* copies of almost every book in the grimdark fantasy horror series, the Saga of the Dead Men Walking. All you have to do is go to the link below and register - that's it! No muss, no fuss, and no purchase necessary.
REGISTER HERE:
https://forms.gle/cqqyQGCp8vniF78f8
Entering the contest will give you a chance to receive the following titles (for free!):
- Snowflakes in Summer: Book I of the Snowflakes Trilogy
- Dead Men in Winter: Book II of the Snowflakes Trilogy
- Slag Harbor: A Brief Interruption of the Snowflakes Trilogy
- Favorite Things: Book III of the Snowflakes Trilogy
- Blindsided: A Stand-Alone Novella in the Saga of the Dead Men Walking
- Insanity's Respite: Book I of the Auramancer's Exorcism
New to the Saga? Have no idea what these books are? The video has some tidbits about what you can expect from the series, but so do I!
The Saga is a multi-book series following the events of Order of Love Exorcist Akaran DeHawk, the mercenaries Stannoth Shi’amar, Karistina Semtune, and a host of others across a grimdark fantasy world full of violence, bloodshed, magic, mayhem, and worse.
This series is aimed at an adult audience – but isn’t for everyone. With themes of torture, damnation, assault, and murder, this is an adventure for those that aren’t of the feint of heart. Set in a world akin to Game of Thrones and The Witcher, the Saga mixes a sword & sorcery fantasy setting with monster-of-the-week hunts you’d expect in shows such as Supernatural with demons that would rather kill you than make a deal with you.
While this is anything but a romance – it is a story about Love, and Her goal in the Age of Misfortune is all about revenge.
For more on the series and the contest, click below:
http://www.sagadmw.com/valentines-day...
Brief rules:
- No purchase necessary, must be 18 years or older, AND live in the continental US
- This giveaway is not affiliated with Amazon, Google, Facebook, Instagram, Wordpress, Twitter, or Mailerlite, and is operated solely under the discretion of Joshua E. B. Smith.
- One (1) lucky(?) winner will receive signed and dedicated copies of the above books at no charge
- Contest runs from February the 6th until 11:59pm Eastern US time February the 13th
- The winner will be announced on February the 14th
- For full rules, terms, and conditions, please visit:
https://forms.gle/cqqyQGCp8vniF78f8
I'm doing something vastly different this time around. Instead of a direct digital download, I'm giving you the chance to win signed and dedicated *paperback* copies of almost every book in the grimdark fantasy horror series, the Saga of the Dead Men Walking. All you have to do is go to the link below and register - that's it! No muss, no fuss, and no purchase necessary.
REGISTER HERE:
https://forms.gle/cqqyQGCp8vniF78f8
Entering the contest will give you a chance to receive the following titles (for free!):
- Snowflakes in Summer: Book I of the Snowflakes Trilogy
- Dead Men in Winter: Book II of the Snowflakes Trilogy
- Slag Harbor: A Brief Interruption of the Snowflakes Trilogy
- Favorite Things: Book III of the Snowflakes Trilogy
- Blindsided: A Stand-Alone Novella in the Saga of the Dead Men Walking
- Insanity's Respite: Book I of the Auramancer's Exorcism
New to the Saga? Have no idea what these books are? The video has some tidbits about what you can expect from the series, but so do I!
The Saga is a multi-book series following the events of Order of Love Exorcist Akaran DeHawk, the mercenaries Stannoth Shi’amar, Karistina Semtune, and a host of others across a grimdark fantasy world full of violence, bloodshed, magic, mayhem, and worse.
This series is aimed at an adult audience – but isn’t for everyone. With themes of torture, damnation, assault, and murder, this is an adventure for those that aren’t of the feint of heart. Set in a world akin to Game of Thrones and The Witcher, the Saga mixes a sword & sorcery fantasy setting with monster-of-the-week hunts you’d expect in shows such as Supernatural with demons that would rather kill you than make a deal with you.
While this is anything but a romance – it is a story about Love, and Her goal in the Age of Misfortune is all about revenge.
For more on the series and the contest, click below:
http://www.sagadmw.com/valentines-day...
Brief rules:
- No purchase necessary, must be 18 years or older, AND live in the continental US
- This giveaway is not affiliated with Amazon, Google, Facebook, Instagram, Wordpress, Twitter, or Mailerlite, and is operated solely under the discretion of Joshua E. B. Smith.
- One (1) lucky(?) winner will receive signed and dedicated copies of the above books at no charge
- Contest runs from February the 6th until 11:59pm Eastern US time February the 13th
- The winner will be announced on February the 14th
- For full rules, terms, and conditions, please visit:
https://forms.gle/cqqyQGCp8vniF78f8
December 11, 2020
Rapture is coming... and soon!
Hey everyone! Some great news.
Hold the date and open the door, because on December 29th, Rapture is Coming.
The Auramancer isn't the only exorcist being haunted, and now that Akaran's worst nightmare has come true, he's going to have to find a way to put it to rest - while the city runs red with blood.
Digital editions go live on the 29th, and paperbacks will launch some time in early 2021 (Jan or Feb).
If you want to check it out, give it a look:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
If you want to give it a read, be sure to hit that big "Want to Read" button to tell the world.
Be sure to join my newsletter for information on an upcoming sale or two, too...
https://www.sagadmw.com/email.htm
More later. I gotta get back to work!
~J
Hold the date and open the door, because on December 29th, Rapture is Coming.
The Auramancer isn't the only exorcist being haunted, and now that Akaran's worst nightmare has come true, he's going to have to find a way to put it to rest - while the city runs red with blood.
Digital editions go live on the 29th, and paperbacks will launch some time in early 2021 (Jan or Feb).
If you want to check it out, give it a look:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
If you want to give it a read, be sure to hit that big "Want to Read" button to tell the world.
Be sure to join my newsletter for information on an upcoming sale or two, too...
https://www.sagadmw.com/email.htm
More later. I gotta get back to work!
~J
November 24, 2020
Upcoming launches!
Hey everyone. Well, I'm not proud of how long it took me to figure out how to use Goodreads, but here I am. I hope everyone is having a wonderful time and you're staying safe out there.
December is primed to be a busy month for me. I've got a couple of launches planned, and one is more or less set in stone with a date, sooo... without further ado:
(Books 1-4 of the Snowflakes Series): A Grimdark Fantasy Horror Boxed Set in the Saga of the Dead Men Walking
For the first time, the entirety of the Snowflakes series is going to be up for sale in a digital boxed set! AND - for CHEAP. Like, seriously, freaking CHEAP.
From December 1st until December 5th, you'll be able to pick up the ENTIRE Snowflakes series - Snowflakes in Summer, Dead Men in Winter, Slag Harbor, and Favorite Things for $0.99 for your Kindle or the free Kindle App. (After the 5th, it'll go to it's regular price of $9.99).
One buck. Four books. The better part of a thousand pages and I can't even begin to tell you how many hours I spent developing it.
If you need something to read while we enjoy the holidays indoors this year, this is a great time to pick up a series that took me more than three years to write.
More posts and blog things coming soon. But for now... enjoy!
~J
December is primed to be a busy month for me. I've got a couple of launches planned, and one is more or less set in stone with a date, sooo... without further ado:
(Books 1-4 of the Snowflakes Series): A Grimdark Fantasy Horror Boxed Set in the Saga of the Dead Men Walking
For the first time, the entirety of the Snowflakes series is going to be up for sale in a digital boxed set! AND - for CHEAP. Like, seriously, freaking CHEAP.
From December 1st until December 5th, you'll be able to pick up the ENTIRE Snowflakes series - Snowflakes in Summer, Dead Men in Winter, Slag Harbor, and Favorite Things for $0.99 for your Kindle or the free Kindle App. (After the 5th, it'll go to it's regular price of $9.99).
One buck. Four books. The better part of a thousand pages and I can't even begin to tell you how many hours I spent developing it.
If you need something to read while we enjoy the holidays indoors this year, this is a great time to pick up a series that took me more than three years to write.
More posts and blog things coming soon. But for now... enjoy!
~J
December 30, 2019
Goodreads at last.
So, this has been on my to-do list for... a while... but I'm back. If you track me at all on other social media platforms, you know that I'm planning bigger and better things for the new year - and this is going to be one of the places I start.
In the meantime, while I get all of this stuff filled out...
Want to learn more about the Saga? Ready to enter a fantasy world of blood, guts, tears, and gore where good things happen to bad people, and the good people are questionable... at best?
Use any of the links below!
Digital copies are at $2.99 AND UNDER for each and are FREE on Kindle Unlimited!
http://www.sagadmw.com
https://www.facebook.com/sagadmw
https://www.amazon.com/author/sdmw
Signed paperback copies are available, too! Just send me a PM and I'm happy to get one in the mail for you!
In the meantime, while I get all of this stuff filled out...
Want to learn more about the Saga? Ready to enter a fantasy world of blood, guts, tears, and gore where good things happen to bad people, and the good people are questionable... at best?
Use any of the links below!
Digital copies are at $2.99 AND UNDER for each and are FREE on Kindle Unlimited!
http://www.sagadmw.com
https://www.facebook.com/sagadmw
https://www.amazon.com/author/sdmw
Signed paperback copies are available, too! Just send me a PM and I'm happy to get one in the mail for you!
