T.W. Iain's Blog, page 3

Last chance to back ‘Tales of Dominions’ on Kickstarter

It’s almost time to close the Tales of Dominions Kickstarter. After the end of the month, the collection will disappear for a good few months‌—‌and when it comes back, you’ll only be able to get the standard editions‌—‌none of the fancy exclusive stuff!

We’re close in time, and we’re also so close to funding. We can do this! If you’re not sure, pop over to kickstarter.com/projects/twiain/tales-of-dominions and see what’s on offer (including all the great add-ons, an opportunity to dive into m...

Practice and progress in climbing and writing

This is the third of a short series on lessons learnt from climbing and how they relate to writing. Click on these links for the introduction and a look at progress.

When the climbing wall has put up new problems, there’s a temptation to jump straight on them. But I try to be sensible. I’ll do a few easier climbs to warm up. After sitting in my car for an hour I need to stretch a bit. I need to get my fingers used to gripping holds again, my body used to twisting at strange angles.

I p...

Did you know you can get bargain books in the ‘Tales of Dominions’ Kickstarter?

With about a week left on the Tales of Dominions Kickstarter, we’re close to funding. A huge thank-you to everyone who’s pledged so far.

But did you know that you can get more than Tales of Dominions? At every reward tier (including the ‘just because…’ £1 tier) you have the opportunity to buy add-ons. These include the following:

The complete ShadowTech series‌—‌all seven novels, at a reduced price

The complete Shadows trilogy‌—‌for the price of a single book

All nine novels in ...

The nature of progress in climbing and writing

This is the second part of my short series on lessons I’ve learnt from climbing, and how they relate to writing. For the first part (a brief introduction), click here.

This time, I want to consider progress. While I enjoy both climbing and writing as activities in themselves, I also want to improve‌—‌climb harder problems, master new techniques, write increasingly engaging stories, learn how use words and punctuation more effectively, and so on.

There’s a notion that doing an activity regu...

The ‘Tales of Dominions’ Kickstarter is now live!

Three novellas, three short stories, and author notes, all in an exclusive edition. Click here to learn more.

Find your next favourite sci-fi or fantasy series

If you enjoy science fiction or fantasy, and you’re looking for a new series to sink into, then check out this promotion‌—‌around 150 books, each one the start of a series. But hurry‌—‌this promotion finishes on 16th June.

Tales of Dominions: Special Edition Copies Available Soon

As I gear up for the Tales of Dominions Kickstarter, I now have proof copies of the special edition paperback and hardcover.

I’m already looking forward to ordering copies for others‌—‌but that’ll only happen after the Kickstarter campaign. It all starts on 9th June. To ensure you don’t miss out, click here and have Kickstarter notify you when the campaign launches.

And please share this with anyone who might enjoy a collection of dark Dystopian novellas and short stories.

Get ready...

What climbing has taught me about writing – an introduction

Over the next few posts I’m going to be diving into lessons I’ve learnt from climbing, and how they relate to writing. I’ve enjoyed climbing for a long time (roughly as long as I’ve enjoyed writing), but it’s only recently that I’ve become more serious (or maybe the word should be ‘intentional’) about both endeavours. Along the way I’ve noticed connections between the two activities. Lessons I’ve learnt at the climbing wall correlate to lessons I’ve learnt typing away on my laptop. And on reflec...

‘Tales of Dominions’: special editions on Kickstarter

As I work on a new series I’m also tying up loose ends on previous series. One of these involves the various Dominions stories I’ve published‌—‌those novellas and shorts that work as side-stories to the main nine-novel series. I’ve wanted to bundle them up in a single volume for a while, and I’ve finally got around to it.

Tales of Dominions will include all the published stories‌—‌Gatekeeper, Expedient, Errant, Animus and Impact‌—‌along with behind-the-scenes notes. It will also include Contr...

The trust involved in reading and writing

Last week I read The Book Of Elsewhere, the collaboration between China Mieville and Keanu Reeves. I knew nothing about this book when I got it. I’ve read a couple of Mieville’s books, and I’ve enjoyed them, but apart from that, I came into The Book Of Elsewhere with no preconceptions.

I’m still not sure what I think of the ending, but I was definitely engrossed in the story after the first hundred pages.

Those first hundred pages, though, were tough. I wasn’t sure what was happening. Mayb...