R.J. Hanson's Blog, page 4

Notable & Quotable

I hope this week’s newsletter finds you all well.  This week’s Notable & Quotable comes from our gaming group.  For those of you new here, we host a pen&paper RPG every Saturday.  A few weeks ago one of our gamers was looking distraught so I asked him what was wrong.  His response, “I only got to kill one person and that was from a failed First Aid roll.”

You can find an ever-growing glossary and geographic guide on our website here; www.bloodlinesreforged.com.  You can also find a few spoilers such as the lineage of kingdoms, the Code of the Cavalier, and so on.   

I need to tell you about The Reckoning, a collection of fantasy, dark fantasy, and horror audiobooks with review copies available from now until Oct. 20th.  What better way to get into the Festive Fall mood than with a little gore?

As to life here in our little corner of the world, we are all doing well, Pinker especially.  She loves it when I get up early and Michelle sleeps in a bit.

Let me know how you’re doing.  Feel free to drop me a line at rj@bloodlinesreforged.com with word of how you’re doing, questions about our tales, or comments about the story or the world of Stratvs.  If you enjoy our brand of ‘humor’ or just want more frequent updates, you can follow us on Facebook here; Roland’s Quest!
Until next time, ‘Crush your Enemies!’
R.J.

Notable & Quotable

I hope this week’s newsletter finds you all well. The winners of the FREE download of Bloom of Blood & Bone have been notified by email.  If you didn’t win, you can still apply for a FREE review copy below.  This week’s Notable & Quotable comes Bloom of Blood & Bone, which only seems appropriate.
            “You have not been listening,” A’Ilys said.  “Our way is patient.  Our way is attrition.  We have centuries to master our techniques, whereas you surface dwellers live a few hundred years at the most.  We have no need to take risks and hurry battle.  Our way is to wear down.  Our way is to gradually weaken.  The drow fight in such a way that the actions of one limb conceal the actions of another.  While one hand is parrying or feigning a thrust, the other is preparing the actual strike.  On the battlefield or in a lord’s court, you must learn to use the Hidden Hand.  You would have seen a thrust to your eye or slash to your neck.  You might have even seen a thrust for your exposed shoulder cavity.  However, your arm blocked your view of my actual strike.  If an intended strike can be seen, it can be countered.  Had that been a cut to your arm, you would begin to lose strength in it.  You would be fighting against time, needing to end the battle before you bled to death.  You may be wondering if our style is better than your own.  In answer, I offer the fact that a Silver Helm, formerly a lord of the Tarborat front, now fetches my wine.”

You can find an ever-growing glossary and geographic guide on our website here; www.bloodlinesreforged.com.  You can also find a few spoilers such as the lineage of kingdoms, the Code of the Cavalier, and so on.   

As mentioned above, if you didn’t win a FREE copy of Bloom of Blood & Bone, here’s your second chance. The Sci-Fi & Fantasy Audiobook Review Extravaganza is a collection of audiobooks available for FREE! Clink on the image below and submit your application to get a review copy! 

As to life here in our little corner of the world, we are all doing well. We taught our exchange students (Kaya from Denmark on the right, Mia from Germany on the left) how to drive our 4-wheeler this past week.  They LOVE it!  Pinker was a little upset with me that I did not also teach her how to drive it.

Let me know how you’re doing.  Feel free to drop me a line at rj@bloodlinesreforged.com with word of how you’re doing, questions about our tales, or comments about the story or the world of Stratvs.  If you enjoy our brand of ‘humor’ or just want more frequent updates, you can follow us on Facebook here; Roland’s Quest!
Until next time, ‘Crush your Enemies!’
R.J.

Notable & Quotable

I hope this week’s newsletter finds you all well. This week’s Notable & Quotable comes our gaming sessions. Being an author and/or being a GM-DM (GameMaster aka DungeonMaster) often requires research into fields of study that one might not forsee.  Thus we have our quote from a fledgling GM from our session this past Saturday. “I’m not good at using boat language.” 

We are very excited to announce that the audiobook of Bloom of Blood & Bone, Book II in the Lords of Order & Chaos Series, should be releasing this month! Keep an eye on your emails because if you’re reading this, you’re entered to win a FREE download of the audiobook. We expect to be notifying the winners this coming week.

You can find an ever-growing glossary and geographic guide on our website here; www.bloodlinesreforged.com.  You can also find a few spoilers such as the lineage of kingdoms, the Code of the Cavalier, and so on.   

As to life here in our little corner of the world, we are all doing well. I thought I’d do something a bit different this week. As some of you know, I play Call of Duty Modern Warfare online. A friend of mine, RockDragon66 has his own YouTube channel and there are a couple of videos of us playing together. My callsign is Roland1851 (of course). Vid#1 & Vid#2. I am a nerd of eclectic tastes, after all. 

As some of you may also know, we got to see my son Alex Hanson star in the play ‘This is Our Youth,’ by Kenneth Lonergan, this past week. Not only did he play the role of Warren on stage, he also produced the play! 

Let me know how you’re doing.  Feel free to drop me a line at rj@bloodlinesreforged.com with word of how you’re doing, questions about our tales, or comments about the story or the world of Stratvs.  If you enjoy our brand of ‘humor’ or just want more frequent updates, you can follow us on Facebook here; Roland’s Quest!
Until next time, ‘Crush your Enemies!’
R.J.

Notable & Quotable

I hope this week’s newsletter finds you all well. This week’s Notable & Quotable comes from Roland’s Sorrow, Book IV of the Heirs of Vanity Series, due to be published summer of 2022.
            “You may follow me to victory against the one that shamed you, or you may die, right here and right now,” Daeriv said into the heavy dark that surrounded him.  “If you follow me you will obey me without question.”
            The lone torch he carried was a sickly island of light in the palpable black that pushed in all around him.  His human eyes detected very little in this tomb of stone.  However, his spells revealed much.
            Engiyadu, silent as the stone that engulfed them and as cold as the damp air that passed through these tunnels, detected the almost imperceptible sound of a hand gripping a small crossbow.  Engiyadu’s sleek, single-edged sword struck from its sheath like a viper from its coil.  The magnificent steel blade was back within its scabbard before the dark elf’s head struck the floor.

As a bonus this week, I’m attaching the audiobook prologue to Bloom of Blood & Bone (Book II in the Lords of Order & Chaos Series and Book V in the Bloodlines Reforged Saga). The audiobook is in the final stages of completion and we hope to have it out in September.

You can find an ever-growing glossary and geographic guide on our website here; www.bloodlinesreforged.com.  You can also find a few spoilers such as the lineage of kingdoms, the Code of the Cavalier, and so on.   

This week we bring to you The Enternal Agarthans by Sherif Guirguis and Isaac Michaan. Why do you think jack the ripper was never caught? This is easy to answer, he went back to his world. Deep beneath the earth’s crust, lies Agartha, Hollow earth or inner Earth. The Civilization of Agartha is at least five hundred years ahead of us. But our world’s events occasionaly affect theirs. This book is about the stories of those Agarthans meddling with our History, and the minor changes they made that led to how we live our lives today. In this collection, there are eleven stories from different eras of earth’s history, from the ice age to Atlantis, the black plague, Alexander the great, and even Jack the Ripper, and they all star those unsung heroes, the eternal Agarthans.

As to life here in our little corner of the world, we are all doing well. Mia, our exchange student from Germany, is settling in great and loving her time in America thus far.  We welcomed our second foreign exchange student, Kaya, this past week and the two are getting along famously.

Also, I saw an interesting thing earlier this week that I had to share. I think the mystery of ‘what happened to the guardrails on the highway’ is solved.  

I guess someone needed a goat pen pretty badly.

Let me know how you’re doing.  Feel free to drop me a line at rj@bloodlinesreforged.com with word of how you’re doing, questions about our tales, or comments about the story or the world of Stratvs.  If you enjoy our brand of ‘humor’ or just want more frequent updates, you can follow us on Facebook here; Roland’s Quest!
Until next time, ‘Crush your Enemies!’
R.J.

Notable & Quotable

I hope this week’s newsletter finds you all well. This week’s Notable & Quotable, comes from Bloom of Blood & Bone, Book II of the Lords of Order & Chaos Series.  The audiobook of Blood & Bone is in the final stages of completion! Keep an eye out for announcements and giveaways to celebrate our 5th audiobook release! 
             “You have a powerful mind,” A’Ilys said.  “The achievement of becoming the first Lord of Chaos since the upheaval of the world is not to be ignored.  However, of those possessing such powers then, none survive.  Think on that.  Those powers are the blade.  Your body and mind are the hand that wields them.  Your body and mind must be strong, agile, and adaptable.  You must learn to use the Hidden Hand in combat and negotiation.  Again!”
            With that, A’Ilys flipped the tip of his sword toward Silas’s exposed side.  Silas spun, using his left arm to knock the blade off course.  Instead of moving away from A’Ilys, Silas continued his spin inside of the drow’s weapon and hauled his own shrou-sheld in a sweeping arc at A’Ilys’s side.  A’Ilys lowered his sword arm and ducked under Silas’s blade.  With remarkable speed and agility, A’Ilys rose behind Silas’s swing, produced his dagger from within his sleeve, and struck Silas on the back of his right arm.

You can find an ever-growing glossary and geographic guide on our website here; www.bloodlinesreforged.com.  You can also find a few spoilers such as the lineage of kingdoms, the Code of the Cavalier, and so on.   

As to life here in our little corner of the world, we are all doing well. We are very excited to announce that we will be hosting two foreign exchange students for the upcoming school year. Mia (pictured below) is from Germany and arrived Wednesday. Kaya is from Denmark and will be arriving this coming week. Mia had never heard of a s’more before so we felt it incumbent upon us to correct such a terrible state. After her first bite she said, “I love America!” 


Let me know how you’re doing.  Feel free to drop me a line at rj@bloodlinesreforged.com with word of how you’re doing, questions about our tales, or comments about the story or the world of Stratvs.  If you enjoy our brand of ‘humor’ or just want more frequent updates, you can follow us on Facebook here; Roland’s Quest!
Until next time, ‘Crush your Enemies!’
R.J.

Notable & Quotable

I hope this week’s newsletter finds you all well. This week’s Notable & Quotable, comes from Stalking Shadows (Book IV in the Lords of Order & Chaos Series) which will hopefully be ready for publication by the first of 2022.
            “I said, it’s getting late,” Jonas said from behind Dunewell.
            Dunewell turned to see the Lanceilier standing behind him with his hands on his hips.  It was clear Dunewell had been so deep in thought, in conversation, that he missed Jonas’s first call.
            “Are you implying that my bedtime approaches?” Dunewell asked.
            “I’m saying it’s getting late.  We should arrive near the outer shipping lanes tomorrow.  Given our markings, I doubt any pirates will try us, but it would be best to be well-rested just the same.”
            “Tell me about your father,” Dunewell said, ignoring Jonas’s advice to turn in.  “What was he like?”
            “That’s an odd question.  You trying to gain some understanding, some insight into why I’m the man I am?”
            You mustn’t pry, came from Whitburn in Dunewell’s thoughts.  I am forbidden…
            You are, Dunewell replied.  I am not.

              

You can find an ever-growing glossary and geographic guide on our website here; www.bloodlinesreforged.com.  You can also find a few spoilers such as the lineage of kingdoms, the Code of the Cavalier, and so on.   

As to life here in our little corner of the world, we are all doing well. 
The welding trailer (after much ado) is finally finished and writing has begun again on Stalking Shadows. 

As to our gaming life, things have been wild! We are currently in a ‘Weird West’ campaign in which our ‘western characters’ (I am a former U.S. Cavalry Officer turned Pinkerton and we have an Apache scout, a quick draw artist, and an Irish pugilist) have discovered that demons have been summoned to earth by the vestiges of the early Ku Klux Klan. We are attempting to put down the Klan and dispatch the demon lords by use of the bow, knife, Colt Peacemaker, Henry rifle, and an 1841 Six Pounder cannon (which does incredible damage as you may have guessed).

Let me know how you’re doing.  Feel free to drop me a line at rj@bloodlinesreforged.com with word of how you’re doing, questions about our tales, or comments about the story or the world of Stratvs.  If you enjoy our brand of ‘humor’ or just want more frequent updates, you can follow us on Facebook here; Roland’s Quest!
Until next time, ‘Crush your Enemies!’
R.J.

Notable & Quotable

I hope this week’s newsletter finds you all well. This week’s Notable & Quotable, comes from Roland’s Triumph, Book III of the Heirs of Vanity Series. 
“Father is a Silver Helm?” Roland asked.  His mind had been so hung up on this bit of information he had missed much of the conversation.  He knew there was a good deal about Velryk he had yet to learn, but this he had not even guessed.
“Yes,” Brutis said.  “I’m a bit surprised you didn’t know that.  Surely in his raising of you he trained you in their ways.”
“He trained us,” Roland said gesturing to El’ and himself.  “But we didn’t know.”
“Then you knew Kyhn as well?”  Sir Eldryn asked, changing the subject.  He enjoyed hearing of tales of his father and his friends.  However, those stories should be shared near a hearth with a drink in hand, not on the road to a battle.
“Yes, he was a fellow student at one time.”
“Then you know that we will also likely meet him,” Eldryn said.
“Yes, I am sure of that,” Sir Brutis said.  “Remember this, he is only a man.  He bleeds like any other.”
“Forgive me Sir Brutis,” Roland said, clearly not taking the cue from Eldryn to move on to a more practical conversation.  “Did you say my father and his brother?  I would like to hear more of my uncle, Jonas.  I have never met him.”
“Yes,” Brutis replied lowering his face a bit and looking off into the distance.  “It is a shame about him.  We missed him on the front as well.”

              

You can find an ever-growing glossary and geographic guide on our website here; www.bloodlinesreforged.com.  You can also find a few spoilers such as the lineage of kingdoms, the Code of the Cavalier, and so on.   

Reminder regarding the email I sent earlier this week: the IASFA (International Association of Science Fiction & Fantasy Authors) has put together a fantastic bundle of FREE Dark Fantasy novels you can grab. Fires that Forge is among them. The giveaway will run from 7/13/2021 to 7/17/2021.  Check them out!


As to life here in our little corner of the world, we are all doing well. I haven’t been writing this week as I’ve been working on the project pictured below.  But, by the time you’re reading this, I should be finished and back to writing again.



Let me know how you’re doing.  Feel free to drop me a line at rj@bloodlinesreforged.com with word of how you’re doing, questions about our tales, or comments about the story or the world of Stratvs.  If you enjoy our brand of ‘humor’ or just want more frequent updates, you can follow us on Facebook here; Roland’s Quest!
Until next time, ‘Crush your Enemies!’
R.J.

Dark Fantasy Giveaway!

IASFA spotlights Dark Fantasy for July

When the horror and dread claws at you from every page and the plot wades into deep emotional distress, then you are reading Dark Fantasy. Be it a trick of the hand, a bend of a shadow, or a flash of the sword, all are a journey for the mind. Dark fantasy books take you places you dare not go in person. Climb mountains haunted by beasts. Travel rivers infested by thieves. Venture into realms of monsters, demons, and dark angels.

For the hot summer nights, IASFA has gathered a bundle of tales to delight the mind and ensnare the spirit. Books with gritty, gruesome, and gut-wrenching prose, containing fantasy that’s almost too realistic. July’s free books will do no damage to your coin purse. But to your soul? That is another thing altogether.

Toss a coin to your Witcher or pay the bard for a song, but these books are free for five days, from July 13th thru 17th. Grab them now and let them grab you.

Available only from the not-so-dark but eminently mysterious IASFA (International Association of Science-Fiction & Fantasy Authors). You can’t get there with one click because we’re fighting the scum of the wasteland. Here is what it takes to get you to your free books.

1) click this link https://iasfa.org/get-free-books/

2) Become an Insider by filling out your name (or online persona) and email address

3) Answer the math problem because we know ravagers suck at math

4) Check your email – you should have received a confirmation email thanking you for subscribing, but you have to click on this to confirm your confirmation because we know that is the kiss of death for scum-sucking bottom feeders

5) Your subscription is confirmed! Go back to your email for the final confirmation which, during the free promotion period, will include the super-secret link that takes you into the back-end of the site where you can find incredible titles from some of the top names in the genre as well as well-established newcomers. If you join before the promotion timeframe, then you’ll get an email on the first day of the promotion with the super-secret link.

Let me know how you’re doing.  Feel free to drop me a line at rj@bloodlinesreforged.com with word of how you’re doing, questions about our tales, or comments about the story or the world of Stratvs.  If you enjoy our brand of ‘humor’ or just want more frequent updates, you can follow us on Facebook here; Roland’s Quest!
Until next time, ‘Crush your Enemies!’
R.J.

Notable & Quotable

I hope this week’s newsletter finds you all well. This week’s Notable & Quotable, comes from Stalking Shadows, Book IV of the Lords of Order & Chaos Series (in progress).
              “Free?  Really?  I thought to myself, ‘Silas,’ yes, I know.  You’re surprised I don’t address myself by some great title.  Yet, vanity has never been my sin; I have many others.  As I was saying, I thought to myself, ‘Silas, how can you bring the mighty demon captain into such a scene.’  It wouldn’t do to simply pop your consciousness out of… well, out of your consciousness, and present the scene in a flash.  I decided the scene needed to build.  I wanted the slow seconds to watch realization come to you, to watch your expressions shift as understanding and denial grew.  I must say, I am a bit disappointed that you so readily clung to anger as your defense.  It just seemed so… so base a response from someone of your… station and quality.”

You can find an ever-growing glossary and geographic guide on our website here; www.bloodlinesreforged.com.  You can also find a few spoilers such as the lineage of kingdoms, the Code of the Cavalier, and so on.   

The FREE Young Adult series starters for all genres is on now through June 30th! Click the picture below to browse these free starters.



As to life here in our little corner of the world, we are all doing well. Pinker continues to grow and (on most days) gets better behaved.  She becomes very attentive when I happen to have beef jerky in hand.


Let me know how you’re doing.  Feel free to drop me a line at rj@bloodlinesreforged.com with word of how you’re doing, questions about our tales, or comments about the story or the world of Stratvs.  If you enjoy our brand of ‘humor’ or just want more frequent updates, you can follow us on Facebook here; Roland’s Quest!
Until next time, ‘Crush your Enemies!’
R.J.

Notable & Quotable

I hope this week’s newsletter finds you all well. This week’s Notable & Quotable, comes from our last pen&paper RPG gaming session.  One of our player’s character is a Space Marine carrying a heavy plasma repeater. He attacked a minion of a cabal of demons with same. When the GM read the damage of the attack, the player said with considerable incredulity, “16 hits and a critical? Is that all?” To which the GM replied, “no, I said 316 hits and a critical.”  The room was completely silent for about 1.5 seconds for the first time that day.  Then the room erupted in cheers. Folks, if you’re not gaming, you’re not living.

You can find an ever-growing glossary and geographic guide on our website here; www.bloodlinesreforged.com.  You can also find a few spoilers such as the lineage of kingdoms, the Code of the Cavalier, and so on.   

Amazon Prime Day Deals! Did you guys know there was such a thing as Amazon Prime Day? I didn’t until recently (probably a reflection of my age and/or old fashion nature). Anywho, it’s a thing.  Amazon Prime Day {June 21 and 22 (June 21 at 12:01 AM PDT through June 22 at 11:59 PM PDT) 2021} is the e-commerce giant’s annual sale that typically runs for 48 hours. It began in 2015, the year Amazon celebrated 20 years of e-commerce success. Shoppers can expect to see sweet deals on a range of top-rated products in various categories: kitchen, personal care, electronics, pet supplies, smart home—you name it. According to Amazon, shoppers saved $1.4 billion on markdowns last year. This year’s deals include 53% off on Audible.com memberships for 4 months! Oh, and did I mention we’re making Roland’s Path FREE for the same 48 hours and Fires that Forge FREE for the first 24 hours? Yep, free. So, hop on over and check it out.

As to life here in our little corner of the world, we are all doing well. Here’s a pic from that legendary gaming session on Memorial Day this year.


Young Master William and Pinker have become fast friends.  They bond over being told ‘No!’ in regard to many of the same prohibited acts that each attempts with great frequency.



Let me know how you’re doing.  Feel free to drop me a line at rj@bloodlinesreforged.com with word of how you’re doing, questions about our tales, or comments about the story or the world of Stratvs.  If you enjoy our brand of ‘humor’ or just want more frequent updates, you can follow us on Facebook here; Roland’s Quest!
Until next time, ‘Crush your Enemies!’
R.J.