Craig Comer's Blog, page 17

A Yeti Hunt

There are probably thousands of Where do writers get their inspiration? posts out there and an equal number of answers. But for me, nothing compares to getting out and seeing the world. I've been fortunate enough to live abroad and have traveled to many interesting places--both down the street and across the seas. And I use little nuggets from these places throughout my writing. The cultures, the sights, and the smells provide a bounty of rich details.

My friend, Ahimsa Kerp, and I have shared many of these treks, but his travels in 2013 formed a year of a lifetime. From New Zealand to Oregon to Southeast Asia, the photos from his year in review are jaw-dropping.

If you want a little inspiration, I highly recommend you check out his site: are we there Yeti?

A New Year, A New Publisher

The Roads to Baldairn Motte is a mosaic fantasy novel written by three authors, each relating a different perspective of a war of succession. Rather than a cohesive narrative, the overall tale is told in unrelated storylines which sometimes contradict one another. The goal was to show the chaos of the war from the point of view of commoners--sailors, soldiers, farmers, and tradesmen--whose hopes and struggles were not those of their liege lords.

In 2011, L&L Dreamspell took a chance on the idea. Garrett Calcaterra, Ahimsa Kerp, and I were ecstatic. The book, while struggling in sales as any book from unknown authors at an independent press could expect, did garner some critical acclaim. James Blaylock, Misty Massey, and others praised its high adventure and unique world. Sadly, L&L Dreamspell closed its doors in 2013 after the passing of one of its co-founders.

We thought that would be the end of it. But thankfully, Mary C. Moore at Reputation Books saw potential in a new, expanded version of the book. She had worked with Garrett on his novel, Dreamwielder, and eagerly dove into re-editing The Roads to Baldairn Motte. The new version, coming out this January, has additional material, a reordered narrative, and a kickass cover from Ben Thornton.

We're thrilled the novel will live again in its new format and hope you will enjoy it, too. As I kick off this new blog, I want to thank everyone out there who's stumbled upon this page and read it thus far. Here's to a Happy New Year, and to the great books we'll discover this year!