Jonathan Moeller's Blog, page 312
July 11, 2013
GHOST IN THE ASHES now available
I am very pleased to report that GHOST IN THE ASHES is now available at Amazon, Amazon UK, Amazon Canada, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, iTunes, and Smashwords.
It’s also available in trade paperback here, if you prefer print books.
Click here to read the first chapter.
What’s the book about? It continues the adventures of Caina Amalas, a nightfighter of the Ghosts, meaning she is essentially a spy and an agent of the Emperor of Nighmar. This is the seventh book, which means Caina has lots of old enemies now – but there’s always the opportunity to acquire new ones.
The official book description:
Caina Amalas is a Ghost nightfighter, one of the elite agents of the Emperor of Nighmar, and she has defeated both corrupt lords and mighty sorcerers.
As the Padishah of Istarinmul prepares to make peace with the Emperor, the Ghosts must keep the Padishah’s ambassador safe from assassins.
But when an escaped slave begs for Caina’s help, she finds dark plots stirring in the shadows.
Plots that threaten to devour the Empire and unleash terrible horrors.
-JM
UPDATE: Note that the comment thread for this post will contain SPOILERS.
July 3, 2013
July 2, 2013
of elves and dwarves and orcs
I’ve been writing fantasy novels for thirteen years now, and for the first time, I’m writing a novel that has elves and orcs and dwarves.
I always wanted to write a novel with elves and orcs and dwarves, but back when I started writing, there were only traditional publishers and agents, and all their guidelines said “no fantasy with elves and orcs and dwarves.” So I never wrote anything with elves and orcs and dwarves.
But! Now I can write whatever I want, and now I get to write a novel with elves and orcs and dwarves. Though I like to think I will put my own unique spin on it.
-JM
June 29, 2013
Reader Question Day #66 – all about The World Of The Demonsouled
Bob L asks:
What is the World Of The Demonsouled, and in what orders should I read the stories?
Short answer: the World of the Demonsouled are short stories and novellas set in the setting of the DEMONSOULED books. There isn’t really an official order, since all the stories take place before DEMONSOULED actually starts, but in terms of the setting’s chronology, the stories go in this order:
THE WANDERING KNIGHT
THE TOURNAMENT KNIGHT
THE DRAGON’S SHADOW
Cover image Copyright Sauderdarcher | Dreamstime.com & Antares614 | Dreamstime.com
The two KNIGHT stories deal with the younger days of Mazael Cravenlock, while THE DRAGON’S SHADOW is sort of an origin story for Lucan Mandragon.
Now for the longer answer. 
Back in 2012, I had the idea to write alternating novellas in THE GHOSTS and the DEMONSOULED series. Like, when I released a novel in THE GHOSTS, I would also release a novella set in DEMONSOULED, and when I released a novel in DEMONSOULED, I would also release a novella set in THE GHOSTS. I hoped this would tide people over between novel releases.
In practice, the idea didn’t quite work out. People were annoyed, since they wanted a full novel, but instead received a novella. Additionally, there was some confusion about chronology. For instance, GHOST DAGGER takes place between GHOST IN THE FLAMES and GHOST IN THE BLOOD, but several people thought it took place after GHOST IN THE STORM. Plus, while I am a pretty quick writer, it took at least two weeks to write each novella…which was would further delay the next novel release. I was also worried about the novellas degenerating into prequelitis and failing to move the overall story forward.
So I adjusted tactics, and instead decided to write a short story, set in the same world, to accompany every novel release. Additionally, I would give the short story away for free to my newsletter subscribers as a thank you.
That was a lot closer to the spirit of what I wanted to do, and it has worked out pretty well so far, so I will keep doing it for the foreseeable future.
That said, there will be more short stories in the World of the Demonsouled at some point. If you read to the end of SOUL OF SWORDS, you know I intend to write more novels in the setting. But before I get there, I might want to do a short story or two in the setting.
There will also be a World of the Frostborn, naturally.
Many people write to ask:
When is GHOST IN THE ASHES coming out?
Soon! If all goes well, hopefully the week after the Fourth of July.
-JM
June 28, 2013
GHOST IN THE ASHES, the first chapter
Cover design by Clarissa Yeo
Read the first chapter of GHOST IN THE ASHES right here. The rest of the book will be coming soon!
-JM
June 26, 2013
GHOST IN THE ASHES, a brief excerpt
One more brief GHOST IN THE ASHES excerpt today. A sample chapter will be coming soon:
Caina found herself looking at the tip of a crossbow bolt pointed at her face. The crossbow rested in the arms of a bald man of about forty, with cold gray eyes and the build of a blacksmith. He wore a ragged red tunic and trousers, a Kyracian sword at his belt.
“It’s late,” said the man. “Business can wait until tomorrow.”
“Not this business, Ark,” said Caina in Caerish, dropping her disguised voice. She reached up, drew back her hood, and tugged off her mask.
Arcion of Caer Marist, the Champion of Marsis, friend of Lord Corbould Maraeus, and owner of Malarae’s newest foundry, lowered his crossbow. “Countess. I wasn’t expecting you until later this morning, when Halfdan arrives. You have a knack for surprises.”
“It’s a gift,” said Caina. “I need your help.”
-JM
GHOST IN THE ASHES, the Table of Contents
I’m making good progress on GHOST IN THE ASHES – so it’s time to share the Table of Contents!
Chapter 1 – Knives in the Night
Chapter 2 – The Gladiator
Chapter 3 – The Champion of Marsis
Chapter 4 – Three Sisters
Chapter 5 – The House of Kularus
Chapter 6 – The Gardeners
Chapter 7 – The Alchemist
Chapter 8 – The Imperial Citadel
Chapter 9 – Diplomacy
Chapter 10 – The Grand Imperial Opera
Chapter 11 – Ropes and Ladders
Chapter 12 – Safe House
Chapter 13 – Blades in the Night
Chapter 14 – Hunters
Chapter 15 – Serpents’ Nest
Chapter 16 – Paths
Chapter 17 – Blood and Steel
Chapter 18 – Elixir Rejuvenata
Chapter 19 – The Netherworld
Chapter 20 – A Bargain
Chapter 21 – The Sacellum of the Living Flame
Chapter 22 – The Master Alchemist
Chapter 23 – Ambush
Chapter 24 – Regenerations
Chapter 25 – Those Who Will Carry On When We Are Gone
Epilogue
-JM
June 25, 2013
The Tao of the Borg
Michael Spence’s comment on yesterday’s post got me thinking.
Specifically, that one of the keys to success with ebooks is to use the strategy of the Borg.
The Borg, for those of you unfamiliar with STAR TREK, are one of the series’ villains, a race of half-organic, half-machine creatures linked in a hive mind. The Borg desire perfection, and to attain that perfection, they have conquered large swathes of the galaxy, “assimilating” various civilizations they encounter by forcibly integrating them into the Borg hive mind. The net result of this is that the Borg can use the technology of their conquered civilizations as their own…and that any form of attack on a Borg drone tends to only work until the hive mind analyzes the threat and develops a countermeasure.
An ebook publisher needs to always be on the look for new techniques, new methods, and new tools, just as the Borg assimilate new technology. Additionally, you also need to learn from mistakes. I have made a lot of mistakes in the last two years, but I have learned from them, just as the Borg adapt to new forms of attack. The Borg never, ever stop or relent, and this is a good attitude for an ebook publisher. Setbacks are merely instances to be analyzed and adapted against, with the tools to avoid future setbacks of that nature assimilated.
The advantages of this approach are clear. When the Borg first show up, the Enterprise crew basically says “Ha ha! Pasty dorks in space cubes!” and Worf blows up a third of their ship. Another glorious victory for the Enterprise!
But the Borg adapt…and two years later they almost destroy the Federation. So while I don’t suggest you emulate the Borg in the whole destroyer-of-worlds department, we can learn from their tenacity and techniques.
-JM
June 24, 2013
GHOST IN THE ASHES – the cover art
Cover design by Clarissa Yeo
Here’s the cover art for GHOST IN THE ASHES. I’ve been making good progress on the book, and if all goes well, it should definitely be out in July.
-JM
June 23, 2013
GHOST IN THE ASHES, another excerpt
Let’s have another excerpt from GHOST IN THE ASHES:
“Might I…might I ask you something?”
“What is it?” said Caina, opening her eyes.
“Did you kill Rezir?”
Caina frowned. “Why do you ask?”
“Because Theodosia and Master Anton mentioned the Balarigar,” said Tanzir, “and I think they were talking about you.”
For all his timidity, Caina reminded herself, Tanzir was not stupid.
“I did,” said Caina.
“How did he die?” said Tanzir.
Caina remembered that awful night in the streets of Marsis, remembered fleeing from the Immortals and Rezir himself. She remembered Rezir lying stunned on the floor of that burned-out warehouse, his sword hand burned away, his eyes full of horror and agony as she approached. The chaos as she flung his head into the mob of his soldiers.
“Not well,” said Caina at last.
-JM
