Howard Andrew Jones's Blog

Con Schedules 2024

There may be tumbleweeds blowing through my web site, but I’ve been very busy. Book 3 of the Hanuvar series has long since been turned over, and the final map is about ready to be turned over as well. I’m hard at work on Hanuvar book 4. Check out Dave Seeley’s great cover for book 3!

I’ll also be out and about at three conventions this year: LibertyCon, GenCon (at the Writer’s Symposium) and DragonCon. So far I have my schedules for the first two:

LibertyCon PanelsDayStartLocationName of EventFri4:00 PMCC – Mtg Rm 6A Writer Walks into a DojoFri5:00 PMCC – Ballroom EOpening CeremoniesFri7:00 PMM – Plaza Ballroom CWorld Building for Epic FantasySat10:00 AMM – Plaza Ballroom A/BGuest of Honor Brunch Banquet / SpeechesSat2:00 PMCC – Ballroom EBaen Travelling Road ShowSat4:00 PMM – Plaza Ballroom CHow the Romans have influenced FictionSat6:00 PMCC – Ballroom F/G (Dealer’s Room} – Autographs in Hall OutsideAutograph Session: Shane Gries, Devon Eriksen, Howard Andrew Jones,Sat8:00 PMCC – Mtg Rm 2 (Readings 2)Reading: ML McIntosh & Howard Andrew JonesSun10:00 AMM – Plaza Ballroom A/BKaffeeklatschGenCon PanelsSelf-Editing: When, Why, and HowThursday12:00 PM EDT1 hrNew Books! New Games! New Love! (Session C)Thursday2:00 PM EDT1 hrMeet the WritersThursday6:00 PM EDT3 hrSword & Sorcery for Contemporary AudiencesFriday10:00 AM EDT1 hrFreePulp Fiction for Contemporary AudiencesFriday11:00 AM EDT1 hrWorking with an AgentSaturday1:00 PM EDT1 hrFighting Writers talk about Writing Fight ScenesSaturday2:00 PM EDT1 hrBook Signing and Meet and Greet: Howard Andrew Jones and Ben RiggsSaturday4:00 PM EDT1 hr

 

Hanuvar at GenCon

The Hanuvar series will officially debut at GenCon in Indianapolis, Indiana, in just a few days, and I couldn’t be happier.

If you happen to be attending GenCon, my schedule can be found below, and I hope you’ll swing by to say hello.

In addition to a number of panels, I’ll be showing up for two book signings as well as a meet the author event on Thursday evening, although I probably won’t be able to turn up until about 7:00 for that (it runs from 6-10).

If you haven’t yet ordered Lord of a Shattered Land, there are many North American locations where it can be found, including directly from Baen Books, my publisher

Amazon

Baen Books

Barnes & Noble

Books-a-Million

Chapters Indigo

My GenCon schedule can be found below:

THURSDAY

Playing TTRPGs Feeds Your Craft

Panelists: Erik Scott de Bie (moderator), Kelli Fitzpatrick, Carlos Hernandez, Howard Andrew Jones, James Lowder.

10:00 AM
Marriott Ballroom 4

There’s a special sort of alchemy that happens when a group of writers play a TTRPG together that can feed directly into their craft as published authors. How does practicing “yes, and” at the table, for example, flex specific creative muscles? How does the safer, relaxed space of an in-character Discord channel offer a chance to experiment with new writing? Why explore character arcs and collaborate on relationships to flesh out the storytelling experience of a campaign? Join our panel of writers as they discuss the specific ways in which collaborative storytelling through their gaming groups has supported their professional craft, and what strategies might be useful for you.

Timing the Perfect Heroic Fight

Panelists: Bradley P. Beaulieu (moderator), Howard Andrew Jones, Katherine Monasterio, Gregory A. Wilson.

2:00 PM
Marriott Ballroom 4

As the writer, how do you build tension, timing, and dramatic turns during combat to make the audience cheer and not groan? How do you handle pace, technique, and blocking? Join our expert panelists as they discuss this and other nuances of writing combat scenes.

Meet the Pros of Writers’ Symposium

Meet the writers of the Gen Con Writers’ Symposium in this special evening event. Authors will have their books or other works available for sale and signature.

6:00 – 9:00 PM
Wabash 1 (in Marriott)

Participating authors: Anthony W. Eichenlaub, Brandon Crilly, Brandon O’Brien, Bryan Young, C. S. E. Cooney, Carlos Hernandez, Cat Rambo, Dan Jolley, Daniel “Doc” Myers, Derek Tyler Attico, Dr. Chesya Burke, E.D.E. Bell, Erik Scott de Bie, Erin M. Evans, Gabrielle Harbowy, Gini Koch, Grace P. Fong, Gregory A. Wilson, Howard Andrew Jones, Jennifer Brozek, John Jackson Miller, Jordan Jones-Brewster, Kelli Fitzpatrick, Maurice Broaddus, Patrick S. Tomlinson, R.R. Virdi, Richard Dansky, Sandra Tayler, Sarah Hans, Sean CW Korsgaard, S E Lindberg, and Sheree Renée Thomas. Track: GCWS Event.

FRIDAY

Fantasy and Historical Fiction: Where Do They Overlap?

Panelists: LaShawn M. Wanak (moderator), Howard Andrew Jones, Diana M. Pho, Dedren Snead, R.R. Virdi.

12:00 PM
Marriott Ballroom 3

Historical fiction has been an integral part of fantasy from the very start of the genre and remains a core influence in the works of many prominent fantasy authors. How are authors inspired by history in classic and current works? What are the pros, cons, and pitfalls of historical influence? Join our expert panel of fantasy writers as they discuss.

Narrative Nightmares and Lessons Learned

Panelists: Sean CW Korsgaard (moderator), Jeremy Bernstein, Richard Lee Byers, Jerry Gordon, Howard Andrew Jones. 

3:00 PM EDT
Austin (in Marriott)

Join our panel of expert writers as they recount stories of narrative nightmares, some hard-learned lessons earned in the process, and how they moved past them—and examine how to recognize disasters, how to recover and course correct, and what they’ve learned in the process.

The Leading Edge of Sword and Sorcery

Panelists: S E Lindberg (moderator), Matt John, Howard Andrew Jones, Sean CW Korsgaard, Dedren Snead.

4:00 PM
Austin (in Marriott)

The sword and sorcery genre continues to evolve with new and exciting concepts and directions. Join our panel of expert sword and sorcery writers as they discuss their thoughts on this genre.

SATURDAY

Signing with Howard Andrew Jones and Erik Scott de Bie
12:00 PM
Exhibit Hall

Handling Book Releases

Panelists: S E Lindberg (moderator), Erik Scott de Bie, Erin M. Evans, Howard Andrew Jones, Patrick S. Tomlinson.

3:00 PM
Marriot Ballroom 2

Join our panel of authors, each with Summer 2023 book releases, as they discuss the process of promoting and publicizing a recent work in the current environment, on and offline, from a writer’s perspective.

SUNDAY

Signing with Howard Andrew Jones and Brandon Crilly
10:00 AM
Exhibit Hall

 

Hanuvar Charges Forward

A lot of Hanuvar related news today. First, if you can’t wait for the upcoming books, it’s possible to order an eARC of Lord of a Shattered Land right here. It’s not QUITE the final version, but it’s awfully close. You can order your own copy here.

Second, I just gave an interview to Upstream Reviews about Hanuvar and sword-and-sorcery in general, and you can read it here.

Third, here’s the inside map for Book 2, The City of Marble and Blood, once again drawn by my talented first born, Darian Jones

 

But wait, there’s more!

The rough draft is long since complete of the third book, and I’m officially halfway through the first polish pass. I’d honestly be much further along if I didn’t have to keep stopping to promote the rest of the series! I hope to have a draft polished enough to share with beta readers by no later than the middle of June.

Work outlining the next books has already been under way for a long time, and those outlines keep getting more and more solid and detailed as new ideas and events continue to occur to me.

Hanuvar Marches On

I’ve once again neglected the web site for real world matters. Rest assured, though, I’ve been writing furiously. The first two Hanuvar novels are now with Baen, and I’m hard at work on book 3. The cover for book 1 is still being finalized, so I’ll hold off showcasing it pending the final version, but here’s a copy of the map, drawn by my first-born, Darian Jones.

It’s bee a long time since I’ve consistently had so much fun writing. I think I liked writing the initial Dabir and Asim stories as well, but I was less in control of what I was doing at that point. I just hope my enthusiasm for these adventures translates into enthusiasm for those reading the works.

Anyway, here’s the map:

 

GenCon Schedule

I’ll be attending the GenCon Writer’s Symposium this year in Indianapolis. I hope to see some of you there.

I’m scheduled to the max most days, but can be found on the following panels in the following places on the following days. With the following people!

Thursday, August 4

10:00 Ballroom 1 Plot it Out

How do you plot out your novel, anyway? Howard Andrew Jones, Jerry Gordon, Bryan Young, David Mack, Steve Diamond

1:00 Austin/Boston Writing Tools

Tools to help organize your writing Katherine Monasterio, Marie Bilodeau, Jason Sanford, Howard Andrew Jones, LaShawn Wanak

2:00 Ballroom 1 So You Want to Write

Find out how our authors each got started, and what they recommend to new writers: Toiya Kristen Finley, Gregory A. Wilson, Jerry Gordon, Howard Andrew Jones, Steve Diamond, R.A. Salvatore

Friday August 5th

10:00 Austin/Boston Back to Pulp

Jaym Gates, Richard Byers: Howard Andrew Jones; Jason Ray Carney, S.E. Lindberg

11:00 Ballroom 1 Spit and Polish

Once you finish your manuscript, what’s next? Jennifer Brozek, LaShawn Wanak, Katherine Monasterio, Patrick S Tomlinson, Howard Andrew Jones

1:00 Austin/Boston Action

Writing action scenes, and how that doesn’t have to mean combat. Mary Fan, Jerry Gordon, Howard Andrew Jones

4:00 Ballroom 1 Sword-and-Sorcery Renaissance

Jaym Gates, Howard Andrew Jones, Matt John, Jason Ray Carney, Paul Weimer, S.E. Lindberg

6:00 Hyatt Studio 1 Appendix Next Seminar

Michael Curtis, Joseph Goodman, Howard Andrew Jones, Bob Brinkman

Saturday

1:00 Austin/Boston Submitting Your Work

Bye-bye, SASE! Modern methods of submitting work, the good and the bad. Howard Andrew Jones, Jason Sanford, Carlos Hernandez, Steve Diamond

5:00 Ballroom 4 Sword-and-Sorcery Pastiche

Howard Andrew Jones; Matt John, S.E. Lindberg

Moving to Baen

I am pleased to announce that I just signed a five hardback book contract with Baen Books, the famed science fiction and fantasy publisher, home to many of my favorite writers, like David Drake, Alan Dean Foster, and Tim Powers.

The first two books of my new series are already written. They star Hanuvar, the last general of Volanus. The Dervan Empire has leveled his city and carried its last few survivors away in chains. Against the might of a vast empire, Hanuvar has only an aging sword arm, a lifetime of wisdom… and the greatest military mind in the world, set upon a single goal. No matter where they’ve been sent, from the festering capital to the furthest outpost of the Dervan Empire, he will find his people. Every last one of them. And he will set them free.

Those familiar with Hannibal of Carthage might recognize the broad outlines here, inspired by a single question – what would Hannibal have done if Rome had destroyed Carthage in his lifetime? If you’re not familiar with Hannibal, just imagine a soldier of Sherlock Holmes level intellect whose genius is focused upon the protection of his people and the preservation of his culture.

These books are straight up sword-and-sorcery. They are adventures in a secondary world inspired by the ancient Mediterranean, where magic is real, but rare and dangerous and unpredictable. Those familiar with Conan of Cimmeria or Elric of Melniboné paperbacks will be familiar with how the books are structured. Each consists of smaller adventures that build upon one another, with arcs and returning enemies and allies throughout. You might also picture each book like many a modern TV series, complete with an explosive “season finale” to wrap things up.

I can honestly say that I’ve never had as much fun writing books as I’ve had writing these. I can hardly wait for you to read them. I’m delighted by Baen’s support and the incredible level of backing they’ve already provided, and thrilled that their passion for classical sword-and-sorcery matches my own. We can hardly wait to share Hanuvar with all of you.

The first book, Lord of a Shattered Land, will come to bookstores near you in August of 2023.

Advance Praise for Lord of a Shattered Land

“This wonderful work put me in mind of the stories I read when I was editing Baen’s Robert E. Howard library.”―David Drake, author of Hammer’s Slammers

 “Howard Jones creates engrossing fantasy tales by combining historical authenticity with his thoughtful modern sensibilities and shapes events with his keen understanding of great adventure writers like Harold Lamb, Robert E. Howard, and Leigh Brackett.”―S. Craig Zahler, novelist and writer/director of Bone Tomahawk

 “Howard Jones writes not-to-be-missed epic fantasy with immersive worldbuilding and the highest stakes for the characters, fighting for personal survival and the survival of their world.”―Martha Wells, Hugo, Nebula and Locus award-winning author of the Murderbot series

 “’History, real or feigned’ was Tolkien’s recipe for a good story. Howard Jones’ new novel has deep roots in history, real and imaginary. It’s a heroic fantasy set in a deeply imagined, fantastical world, but its hero has a strong resemblance to Hannibal, especially in his tragic post-war years. The book is a riveting portrait of a hero trying to keep his civilization alive in the wake of a devastating military defeat; it’s a series of ripping yarns that collectively add up to a greater story with a deeper impact than any of its parts; it’s another triumph for Howard Andrew Jones, premier wielder of the new edge in sword-and-sorcery.”—James Enge, World Fantasy Award nominated author of Blood of Ambrose

“Howard Andrew Jones is the leading Sword & Sorcery author of the 21st Century. He’s taking the entire field in new directions, with work that is deeper, more adult, and more ambitious than heroic fantasy has any right to be. His Lord of A Shattered Land is his best work yet, a heroic fantasy retelling of one of the great tales of antiquity, the fall of Carthage and its legendary general Hannibal. It’s a rich canvas on which Jones has sketched an engrossing and fast-paced tale with a stellar cast. At the center of it all is one of the great fictional creations of modern fantasy, Hanuvar himself, whose quest to free his enslaved and scattered people is the epic story of a single brilliant mind arrayed against the apparatus of an entire empire. It’s a magnificent achievement, destined to become a modern classic.”—John O’Neill, World Fantasy Award Winning Publisher of Black Gate

“In the pages of Howard Andrew Jones’s latest epic (and I mean epic!) fantasy novel-in-stories, we meet the weary, resolute, and utterly compelling Hanuvar: great general of a shattered land. Thought dead by his foes, now Hanuvar has dedicated his life to saving his enslaved countrymen, journeying ever deeper into the heart of enemy territory. On the way, he keeps company with poets and gladiators, actors, priestesses, and circus performers—and we keep company with him. As we follow Hanuvar on his many adventures, fighting alongside him against increasing odds and unspeakable monsters (both human and otherwise), and befriending his friends along the way, somehow the light around us seems to grow more golden, the shadows more restless, the ghosts more bittersweet, and the darkness more fanged. Lord of a Shattered Land reads like a heroic classic we all grew up with, yet in Jones’s work, the familiar combines with the unknown in a heady elixir of battle, blood, magic, triumph, and tenderness.”—C.S.E. Cooney, World Fantasy Award Winning author of Bone Swans

 

 

April 2022

With the third book of my newest trilogy out, it’s been a looooong time since I’ve dropped by to update my web site.

Once upon a time I regularly created content here, but as I may have mentioned, I’ve decided that if I’m going to be spending time writing I’d rather be drafting stories. And so I have been. One complete volume of Hanuvar’s adventures is circulating among publishers, and I’m halfway through the rough draft of its sequel volume. That’s a lot of work to have achieved in less than a year, especially since I’m not a particularly fast writer, and I’m pleased with that, although I’ll be more pleased when I sign a contract.

I’ve mapped out enough content for four full books, wrapping things up in a fifth or sixth. We shall have to see how it all develops. Right now I’m enjoying writing more than I have in long ages, and I have high hopes that readers will like what I’ve created.

I’ve signed up for the GenCon Writer’s Symposium this year, so I hope to see many of you there. What other conventions I attend will be partly determined by whether or not/which publisher I land with my Hanuvar series.

In Tales From the Magician’s Skull related news, I’ve been laboring long with magazine preparation, and the rest of the staff has been working just as hard. Issue 7 has been released, issue 8 is at the printer, the Kickstarter issue is in layout, and issue 9 is with the copyeditor. This month I’m going to make a final pass through issue 10.

I haven’t had time for any boardgames lately, but I’ve managed a little tabletop role-playing with my wife, and that’s been enjoyable. I’ve been reading a long arm length of historical fiction, mostly by Simon Scarrow, John Maddox Roberts, and Steven Saylor, all based in the ancient Roman Republic or Empire, depending upon the author, and all the final research steps for the Hanuvar books. It’s one thing to read a non-fiction description of a society, which I’ve been doing for years. It’s another thing to see that society brought to life by a skilled author.

Later this month I’ll update a couple of pages on the web site here with my upcoming schedule and my publications.  And I’ll try to remember to update this site a little more frequently. If you don’t see anything new from me, though, remember: I’m too stupid to stop. Silence means that I’m working hard on a new product.

And because I still miss my loyal hound, I’m going to add her picture in again. She sure loved checking in with us as we cleaned up the yard and planted things every spring. As I worked in the garden yesterday I felt her absence pretty keenly. But then since she was my office pal I continue to feel that absence.

When the Goddess Wakes

With the trilogy complete and soon-to-be available on bookstore shelves, reviews are starting to roll in. I hope you’ll help spread the word!

I just saw a new one come in from Andrew Mather at Quill to Live. He began by telling people they needed to stop sleeping on the series, and concluded with: ” the three books in The Ring-Sworn Trilogy add up to a winning equation, and I think the series is criminally under-read. Jones has gifted me with one of my favorite casts of characters of the last few years and I am very much excited to see what he does next. If you like sword and sorcery fantasy, you are doing yourself a great disservice if you don’t check these out – especially now that the third and final book is out.”

In other news, I’ve been out and about talking about the series, my writing, favorite books, Tales From the Magician’s Skull, and my new not-so-secret writing project. You can find those interviews

Here, at Dicegeeks

And over here, at FanFiAddict.

Coming up, I’m scheduled to have an AMA over at Reddit Fantasy on September 3rd. I’ll have links as that gets closer.

As always, please help spread the word! I want more readers!

 

 

Farewells

July 30th we had to bury an old family friend. Sometimes you have a pet, and sometimes you have a friend who happens to be a dog, and that’s how it grew to be with Keena.

The shelter found her on the streets alone at around two months, and we adopted her and brought her into the family. She remained just a little nervous for years and years, but eventually grew to be confident and, later in life, even assertive.

Most dogs are alike on many basic levels, so it always surprises me how very different they can be on that template. I mean, most love their walks and are happy to see you when you’ve been gone, and they live to go out and smell things. But they still have individual personalities and develop their own habits and some are simply just more fun to be around, like Keena, who so easily brought us smiles. When Keena was really happy she’d go and grab her red rubber bone and frolic around with it. Later in life she’d get your attention and lead you to the red carpet in the kitchen, where we finally figured out that she wanted to wrestle. Only on that rug, though. Nowhere else in the house would do.

She made my study her home, so much so that in the last year or two, as she slept more and more, it felt more like her space than mine, for she was frequently stretched out under the writing desk.
I work from home, so I interacted with her every day, being the person who let her out in the morning and put her up at night. She was a constant companion for more than a decade, a joyful, silly, clever creature who knew what she wanted and knew how to communicate to get it, getting your attention and leading you to whatever it was — water bowl, door, treat closet, wrestle rug, food bowl, or just her, to give her some pats.

We tried to do our best for her this last week. I still think that the medicine she was on was what finished her…. I guess I don’t want to talk about that part; there’s nothing to be done now. We gave her every chance to pull through and multiple times it seemed like she was rallying. Just the day of her death she seemed better again. But late in the afternoon she took a huge turn for the worse. While I went outside to collect tomatoes from the garden, she died.

The kids and my daughter’s boyfriend helped me dig her grave, and we placed her in it last night with her favorite red bone, and some flowers, and some oregano — another distinctive thing about Keena was that sometimes she’d wander over to the herb garden and eat a little oregano — and we said our final good-byes. She had almost 13 good years, which is a long time for a husky/shepherd mix (at least that’s what we assume she was). Those years were full of good food, and long walks, and treats, and laying in the sunshine next to us while we worked in the garden, and hanging out near us while we did human things inside. I think she was very happy, and certainly she brightened our days.

Farewell, old friend. It is already a lonelier house without you.

A New Year

Yesterday I finished reviewing copyedit changes on book 3, wrote my dedication and acknowledgments, and returned When the Goddess Wakes to St. Martin’s. I’ll see it again after it goes through proofreading, and then not again until I see advanced proofs. I’m pleased with it, and I think you’ll like it. It should be on bookstore shelves at some point this summer, and I’ll make sure to alert everyone when that’s about to happen.

It’s been a rough year for a lot of people, and I’m not going to bore you with too many details of the negative here, because I know so many who have suffered a great deal worse. Before it was clear to us here at the tower just how bad things might get with the virus it looked for a time that we’d have to relocate, but my wife found a wonderful new job here in town after having to leave her former position, and she was able to start work at the new place by the late autumn. So, we experienced several stressful months, but it has all worked out.

Puny Banner poses beside Hulk’s Car.

Through late spring and into summer I was kept extra busy with home improvement projects necessary should we have to put our beloved home on the market, and so I learned how to build a stone garden enclosure, sorting a whole bunch of different shaped stones and fitting them much like a giant lego project into a wide circle — similar except that there were no interlocking bits and no picture manual. Later in the year I used my rather rudimentary carpentry tools and extraordinarily rudimentary carpentry skill and actually built a new pasture gate. I’d never done either thing before, and I’m proud with how they both turned out.

Two of my favorite restaurants closed, and I know numerous people who’ve suffered setbacks and loss. Fortunately my immediate family is doing well; my wife loves her new job and my children are prospering. Both my wife and daughter are in medical fields and have thus qualified for immunization, and I am glad of that. I’m slated for immunization in just a couple of days myself.

I swore to myself I’d write more short stories last year, and I did — I have two new Dabir and Asim stories out circulating right now, and two Hanuvar stories, and that’s not counting one more of each that were already accepted for publication. I sat down and wrote the rough drafts of four more Hanuvar stories at the end of January and first week of February, something that wouldn’t have been possible without all those detailed outlines I had ready to go.

Now I’m shifting gears. My creative energy will be directed at drafting proposals for several new books/series, with sample chapters. While those are circulating, I’ll revise those Hanuvar tales, flesh out some more, and put in more time revising the outline for the third Dabir and Asim novel. That novel is coming more and more into shape, and the outline of the entire cycle of Hanuvar’s adventures is very clear now.

It will probably sound funny to say this, but I feel like I’ve only recently learned how to write properly. I still see plenty of room for improvement, so I’m not saying that I’ve “arrived,” just that I understand how better to accomplish what I want to do. I’ve written enough short stories now that I’ve got a pretty good idea about how to make them deliver what I want, and I’ve written enough novels now that I’ve got a better handle on how to get a book on track without stumbling quite so much. I see how I want my writing to improve and it has become a joyous process, one I look forward to every single day. I’m sure there were times when I was just as excited about my writing in the past, but I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed it so much at the same time I’ve had so much control of it, and that’s a really good feeling.

In Tales From the Magician’s Skull related news, we’ve entered our second full month of submissions, and the interns and I have been working our way through vast stacks of material. It’s always a delight to find something good, or something that could be great with polish, or someone to whom you can offer a word of encouragement. I wish I could have shown myself, years ago, some of the things I’ve figured out about writing via trial and error, and so I try to take time to do that in the rejections and feedback I give. So too do the interns.