David Guymer's Blog, page 5
November 30, 2015
A Week of Firsts
This has been a week of important firsts for me. It’s already seen the release of my story, Plan B, in the anthology, Drainpipes for Strikeposts, featuring eight stories of bone-crushing mayhem from the galaxy’s favourite sport, Dreadball. Published by Mantic Games, this little short has the privilege of being the first story I’ve sold to anyone but Black Library. Strike one to the Veer-myn!
Alas, it doesn't seem to be on Goodreads, but you can get your gloves on it at Mantic Digital here: https://www.manticdigital.com/product...
Fittingly then, this was the week I’ve also managed to do something else that’s escaped me ever since I started writing for money, and that’s write something entirely speculatively and then send it off to a magazine. I haven’t done that since I wrote Tilean’s Talisman for the Black Library open submission window in 2012. I’ve always told people it’s because my schedule is ridiculously slammed and it is (job, toddler, novels with tight deadlines), but a couple of weeks ago I had a bit of a mini-revelation. I managed to write a 5000 word story for Age of Sigmar in one day, because I had to, and it made me realize that the only thing I was lacking to get a story of similar length done was the promise of a pay cheque and a deadline. Of course, there wasn’t a lot I could do about the first part of that, but I tried to address the second as best I could essentially by telling everyone I could (including the editor of the magazine in question, who I’m at least on e-mailing terms with) that I was writing the thing. I figured that if people were expecting a story then I’d feel obliged to produce one, and it seems to have worked.
Strike two!
4000 words of grimdark adventure on the high sea, and set in a world I hope to be able to develop into more shorts and novels one day, was dispatched to Grimdark Magazine this morning. It may pass, it may not, that’s sort of what you have to expect if you want to be a writer, but either way I’m glad I finally wrote it. Hopefully, next time I see a week or two of daylight in my writing schedule with Black Library, I’ll know exactly what to do with it.
Alas, it doesn't seem to be on Goodreads, but you can get your gloves on it at Mantic Digital here: https://www.manticdigital.com/product...
Fittingly then, this was the week I’ve also managed to do something else that’s escaped me ever since I started writing for money, and that’s write something entirely speculatively and then send it off to a magazine. I haven’t done that since I wrote Tilean’s Talisman for the Black Library open submission window in 2012. I’ve always told people it’s because my schedule is ridiculously slammed and it is (job, toddler, novels with tight deadlines), but a couple of weeks ago I had a bit of a mini-revelation. I managed to write a 5000 word story for Age of Sigmar in one day, because I had to, and it made me realize that the only thing I was lacking to get a story of similar length done was the promise of a pay cheque and a deadline. Of course, there wasn’t a lot I could do about the first part of that, but I tried to address the second as best I could essentially by telling everyone I could (including the editor of the magazine in question, who I’m at least on e-mailing terms with) that I was writing the thing. I figured that if people were expecting a story then I’d feel obliged to produce one, and it seems to have worked.
Strike two!
4000 words of grimdark adventure on the high sea, and set in a world I hope to be able to develop into more shorts and novels one day, was dispatched to Grimdark Magazine this morning. It may pass, it may not, that’s sort of what you have to expect if you want to be a writer, but either way I’m glad I finally wrote it. Hopefully, next time I see a week or two of daylight in my writing schedule with Black Library, I’ll know exactly what to do with it.
September 22, 2015
Reading For a New Project
Thanks to everyone who suggested reading material for me, my reading list has now been expanded to include the novels:
Deathwatch by Steve Parker
Legion of the Damned by Rob Sanders
Angels of Darkness by Gav Thorpe
Prospero Burns by Dan Abnett
and the short stories:
Lysander: Fist of Dorn by Anthony Reynolds
The Dread Sentinels of Dorn by Rob Sanders
The Eagle's Talon by John French
The Long Games at Carcharias by Rob Sanders
Anyone who can guess what I'm working on and with who will get a surreptitious nod from across a smokey room. Guessing 'Space Marines' gets you no prizes
Deathwatch by Steve Parker
Legion of the Damned by Rob Sanders
Angels of Darkness by Gav Thorpe
Prospero Burns by Dan Abnett
and the short stories:
Lysander: Fist of Dorn by Anthony Reynolds
The Dread Sentinels of Dorn by Rob Sanders
The Eagle's Talon by John French
The Long Games at Carcharias by Rob Sanders
Anyone who can guess what I'm working on and with who will get a surreptitious nod from across a smokey room. Guessing 'Space Marines' gets you no prizes
April 27, 2015
Writing for Fifty Shades of Geek
You might be aware that I have an occasional blog over at Fifty Shades of Geek. If anyone's interested, they've got the cameleoline cloaks on, the night scopes fitted, and are actively scouting for new talent:
"FiftyShadesOfGeek is currently looking for some new blood. They need reviewers, commenters, and editors. Whatever it is that you're into, we'd like to hear from you. Whether it's reviewing the latest movies or TV shows, painting guides, battle reports, tabletop game reviews, video game reviews, event write-ups, or semi-regular blogs.
In short, if it's geeky and you want to write about it, they'd like to read it. All the details can be found at www.fiftyshadesofgeek.org/subs
And if you're looking to help out on the editing side there are three positions: content editing, audio editing, and community editing. Full details can be found on the home page at www.fiftyshadesofgeek.org
If there are any questions head over to the website, Facebook page, Facebook group or Twitter and just ask away."
"FiftyShadesOfGeek is currently looking for some new blood. They need reviewers, commenters, and editors. Whatever it is that you're into, we'd like to hear from you. Whether it's reviewing the latest movies or TV shows, painting guides, battle reports, tabletop game reviews, video game reviews, event write-ups, or semi-regular blogs.
In short, if it's geeky and you want to write about it, they'd like to read it. All the details can be found at www.fiftyshadesofgeek.org/subs
And if you're looking to help out on the editing side there are three positions: content editing, audio editing, and community editing. Full details can be found on the home page at www.fiftyshadesofgeek.org
If there are any questions head over to the website, Facebook page, Facebook group or Twitter and just ask away."
December 26, 2014
Black Library Submissions Call
“Attention, servants of the immortal God-Emperor! Charge your mnemo-quills and dust off your data-slates, because Black Library is recruiting once more…”
If those two sentences are enough to electrify your nerves and make your skin tingle then you’re in the right place, because after a lengthy absence the Black Library submissions window is back!
At my count it’s been three years since the last window, and if you’re wondering why I should be counting at all then it’s worth remembering that I too am a submissions window baby. It was 2011 (remember that?) when The Tilean’s Talisman squeaked in under Black Library’s door and became my first published story, so you can understand that I’m thrilled to see Black Library opening up to submissions again.
This time, however, there are rules?
“First of all, we are only looking for short stories featuring the Deathwatch, set in the current Warhammer 40,000 era.”
Got that? Good. Paying attention to submissions guidelines and successfully not submitting a Death Guard or Deathwing story is hurdle number one. It doesn’t matter how excellent your Death Korps of Krieg tale is, it’s not what they want so it won’t get picked up. And will probably elicit a sad sigh from the reading editor too. You’re all nice people, and so obviously wouldn’t want that.
“Secondly, we only need a single paragraph which summarises your idea for a full short story, followed by a sample of your best writing from that story. The sample should be no more than 500 words (and we will be checking!) but should be of sufficiently high quality to engage/excite our editors who will be reading each and every submission.”
Note that ‘best writing’ bit.
I spent a long time perfecting the opening 500 words of the Tilean’s Talisman before deciding to submit what I felt was the best and most exciting bit from the middle. That’s fine. This is a showcase for your writing prowess and doesn’t need to do anything more than that. Will they be rejecting samples of 501 words? I don’t know, but why chance it for the sake of a few extra words? How you actually go about producing 500 words of irresistible 41st millennium action goes some distance beyond my power to explain. If I knew how I did it then I’d spend a lot less of my time in the periodic bouts of self-doubt I currently enjoy.
And then I think I’d write a ‘how to’ book and make lots of money.
Here’s a few tips that spring to mind, largely garnered from advice and writing courses I’ve been on and that have stuck in my mind for one reason or another
• Avoid overuse of adjectives.
• Steer clear of the most well-worn clichés.
• Given a choice of several words with the same meaning, use the one that produces the tone and feeling you want.
• If in a characters head, stay in the character’s head. Describe the world as they see it, as they hear, smell, and feel it. Don’t wander.
• Getting an honest third party to look at your work and edit it is always helpful. The best of us are capable of overlooking the most outrageous contortions of our own prose
Next up is the summary. That’s not too scary either, although there is a practiced art to condensing a 5000 word story into a 200 word (or less) paragraph. Be complete but be succinct. Shorter is always better. I tried to find the summary I wrote for Tilean’s Talisman, but it seems to have been gnawed on by the rats and I can’t find it. As a consolation prize, here instead is the summary to my second story, The Karag Durak Grudge:
The Book of Grudges of Karak Kadrin tells of the fall of the outpost of Karag Durak and of the maiming of the Dwarf Thane, Grimnar Half-handed, as he valiantly battled the rat-kin warlord, Queek. Such was the Thane’s courage that day that the skaven were driven back, allowing many doughty warriors to escape with their lives.
With the Dwarf’s abandonment of the mountain keep, Queek’s mission that day was a great success and much warpstone and glory were showered upon him. But long has the rage within him burned over his defeat in single combat to the Dwarf, Grimnar, and long has he plotted his revenge. After many years, he receives the news he has been waiting for: Grimnar has left the Slayer Keep to reclaim the lost treasures of Karak Varn. Seizing on this golden opportunity, Queek hurriedly assembles a force and races to the seeping ruin of Karak Varn, eager to face his old foe once more to prove once and for all that the dreaded Queek Headtaker suffers no equal.
Now you’ll immediately notice that that’s two paragraphs, instantly failing me on my own advice of reading submissions guidelines and adhering to it. I get away with this kind of anarchism, but be safe and keep your to the regulation one.
“Finally, you should make your submission by email only, to blacklibrarysubmissions@gwplc.com – please attach your submission as a Microsoft Word document (not Works, not OpenOffice, not RTF or any other weird and wacky file formats) and also copy your single paragraph summary into the covering email. Failure to follow those basic requests will result in your submission being rejected.”
That’s my bolding – I figured it was important, and rather neatly emphasises what I’ve been saying all along. It ultimately boils down to: ‘do as your told.’ Also, do read your covering e-mail before sending, and not while so tired after yet another round of editing that you don’t notice that you’re writing about the skaken story your sending them. I remember that typo because it haunted me for weeks. The moral, I suppose, is that good writing (if I do say so…) will always win out, but don’t give an editor an excuse to disfavour you from the start, or even reject your story outright before they so much as read it.
Oh, and think positive and turn off your spam filter. Yahoo was good enough to shunt my acceptance e-mail into my spam folder, and it was only rare good luck that meant I saw it at all. My spam filter remains off, and it’s fine.
And finally: don’t delay!
When I first discovered the submission window three years ago, my first inclination was to give it a miss and wait until next year. There was only two weeks left to it, and I hadn’t started, and I’m pretty lazy really by nature. I figured I’d wait until the next year. But of course as we know there was no window next year, and who knows when the next one will open after this?
I’ve been ridiculously fortunate to have written what I have for Black Library these past few years, and it goes without saying that I wouldn’t have done any of it had I given into my first instinct and sat on my hands. So don’t think, don’t procrastinate; plan your story right now and then write it. Submissions close on 26th January and I hope that a lot of you are going to submit. Partly because I want you all to get the chance to do so, and partly for the very selfish reason that I want to write a Deathwatch story and for that to happen Black Library need enough high quality stories from you guys to justify an anthology.
That’s right; you’re doing this for me.
So go prepare your submissions, and read the rest of the guidance on Black Library’s website:
http://www.blacklibrary.com/Getting-S... And good luck!
Death to the Xenos.
(I first wrote this article for Fifty Shades of Geek - to hear my chitterings early, go to http://www.fiftyshadesofgeek.org/feat...)
If those two sentences are enough to electrify your nerves and make your skin tingle then you’re in the right place, because after a lengthy absence the Black Library submissions window is back!
At my count it’s been three years since the last window, and if you’re wondering why I should be counting at all then it’s worth remembering that I too am a submissions window baby. It was 2011 (remember that?) when The Tilean’s Talisman squeaked in under Black Library’s door and became my first published story, so you can understand that I’m thrilled to see Black Library opening up to submissions again.
This time, however, there are rules?
“First of all, we are only looking for short stories featuring the Deathwatch, set in the current Warhammer 40,000 era.”
Got that? Good. Paying attention to submissions guidelines and successfully not submitting a Death Guard or Deathwing story is hurdle number one. It doesn’t matter how excellent your Death Korps of Krieg tale is, it’s not what they want so it won’t get picked up. And will probably elicit a sad sigh from the reading editor too. You’re all nice people, and so obviously wouldn’t want that.
“Secondly, we only need a single paragraph which summarises your idea for a full short story, followed by a sample of your best writing from that story. The sample should be no more than 500 words (and we will be checking!) but should be of sufficiently high quality to engage/excite our editors who will be reading each and every submission.”
Note that ‘best writing’ bit.
I spent a long time perfecting the opening 500 words of the Tilean’s Talisman before deciding to submit what I felt was the best and most exciting bit from the middle. That’s fine. This is a showcase for your writing prowess and doesn’t need to do anything more than that. Will they be rejecting samples of 501 words? I don’t know, but why chance it for the sake of a few extra words? How you actually go about producing 500 words of irresistible 41st millennium action goes some distance beyond my power to explain. If I knew how I did it then I’d spend a lot less of my time in the periodic bouts of self-doubt I currently enjoy.
And then I think I’d write a ‘how to’ book and make lots of money.
Here’s a few tips that spring to mind, largely garnered from advice and writing courses I’ve been on and that have stuck in my mind for one reason or another
• Avoid overuse of adjectives.
• Steer clear of the most well-worn clichés.
• Given a choice of several words with the same meaning, use the one that produces the tone and feeling you want.
• If in a characters head, stay in the character’s head. Describe the world as they see it, as they hear, smell, and feel it. Don’t wander.
• Getting an honest third party to look at your work and edit it is always helpful. The best of us are capable of overlooking the most outrageous contortions of our own prose
Next up is the summary. That’s not too scary either, although there is a practiced art to condensing a 5000 word story into a 200 word (or less) paragraph. Be complete but be succinct. Shorter is always better. I tried to find the summary I wrote for Tilean’s Talisman, but it seems to have been gnawed on by the rats and I can’t find it. As a consolation prize, here instead is the summary to my second story, The Karag Durak Grudge:
The Book of Grudges of Karak Kadrin tells of the fall of the outpost of Karag Durak and of the maiming of the Dwarf Thane, Grimnar Half-handed, as he valiantly battled the rat-kin warlord, Queek. Such was the Thane’s courage that day that the skaven were driven back, allowing many doughty warriors to escape with their lives.
With the Dwarf’s abandonment of the mountain keep, Queek’s mission that day was a great success and much warpstone and glory were showered upon him. But long has the rage within him burned over his defeat in single combat to the Dwarf, Grimnar, and long has he plotted his revenge. After many years, he receives the news he has been waiting for: Grimnar has left the Slayer Keep to reclaim the lost treasures of Karak Varn. Seizing on this golden opportunity, Queek hurriedly assembles a force and races to the seeping ruin of Karak Varn, eager to face his old foe once more to prove once and for all that the dreaded Queek Headtaker suffers no equal.
Now you’ll immediately notice that that’s two paragraphs, instantly failing me on my own advice of reading submissions guidelines and adhering to it. I get away with this kind of anarchism, but be safe and keep your to the regulation one.
“Finally, you should make your submission by email only, to blacklibrarysubmissions@gwplc.com – please attach your submission as a Microsoft Word document (not Works, not OpenOffice, not RTF or any other weird and wacky file formats) and also copy your single paragraph summary into the covering email. Failure to follow those basic requests will result in your submission being rejected.”
That’s my bolding – I figured it was important, and rather neatly emphasises what I’ve been saying all along. It ultimately boils down to: ‘do as your told.’ Also, do read your covering e-mail before sending, and not while so tired after yet another round of editing that you don’t notice that you’re writing about the skaken story your sending them. I remember that typo because it haunted me for weeks. The moral, I suppose, is that good writing (if I do say so…) will always win out, but don’t give an editor an excuse to disfavour you from the start, or even reject your story outright before they so much as read it.
Oh, and think positive and turn off your spam filter. Yahoo was good enough to shunt my acceptance e-mail into my spam folder, and it was only rare good luck that meant I saw it at all. My spam filter remains off, and it’s fine.
And finally: don’t delay!
When I first discovered the submission window three years ago, my first inclination was to give it a miss and wait until next year. There was only two weeks left to it, and I hadn’t started, and I’m pretty lazy really by nature. I figured I’d wait until the next year. But of course as we know there was no window next year, and who knows when the next one will open after this?
I’ve been ridiculously fortunate to have written what I have for Black Library these past few years, and it goes without saying that I wouldn’t have done any of it had I given into my first instinct and sat on my hands. So don’t think, don’t procrastinate; plan your story right now and then write it. Submissions close on 26th January and I hope that a lot of you are going to submit. Partly because I want you all to get the chance to do so, and partly for the very selfish reason that I want to write a Deathwatch story and for that to happen Black Library need enough high quality stories from you guys to justify an anthology.
That’s right; you’re doing this for me.
So go prepare your submissions, and read the rest of the guidance on Black Library’s website:
http://www.blacklibrary.com/Getting-S... And good luck!
Death to the Xenos.
(I first wrote this article for Fifty Shades of Geek - to hear my chitterings early, go to http://www.fiftyshadesofgeek.org/feat...)
July 1, 2014
And the winner is…
It’s always reassuring to find out that even in this, the age of the ebook, people will still go to great lengths for a free piece of former tree. The insane genius behind the respectable front of Black Librarium went so far as to write a short story, clearly learning from my loose-lipped minions that I love Chaos Dwarfs, and even resorting to a bit of ratty flattery, appealing to my self-aggrandizing nature by describing Kinslayer as the most anticipated book of the year. Good man. I was offered a kidney (what just one?), but as I will put into writing on my website at the next opportunity – not until I have independent medical verification of a blood-type match. I was also greatly tickled by the suggestion that Gotrek should perish while checking Felix’s poorly made shelf.
Nearly, man. So, so nearly.
But the winner, or should I say winners, are…
Drum roll…
Kay Mansfield for Gotrek v Malekith. This has badass tattooed all over its straining biceps. Kay wasn’t the only person to call on the Witch King to bring on the pain, but I liked the plot bonus of Gotrek teaming up with Teclis again to fight him. Characterful in every way. Free book for you, Kay!
The runner up, landing themselves an identical but, you know, always less shiny prize is Chris Quinn for Gotrek v Zavant Konniger. I have no idea what grudge the great detective could have against poor Gotrek, but as soon as I read it I had visions of a very different kind of Gotrek & Felix where its Felix’s wits rather than Gotrek’s axe that comes to the fore. And I liked it, so a free, but perhaps slightly grubbier and artificially scuffed book for you, Chris! Maybe I’ll smudge ink on the signature or something.
Thanks to everyone that didn’t win for amusing me over the last couple of weeks with your suggestions. I hope you’ll all still go out and get the most anticipated book of the year (good man) when it comes out in September.
Nearly, man. So, so nearly.
But the winner, or should I say winners, are…
Drum roll…
Kay Mansfield for Gotrek v Malekith. This has badass tattooed all over its straining biceps. Kay wasn’t the only person to call on the Witch King to bring on the pain, but I liked the plot bonus of Gotrek teaming up with Teclis again to fight him. Characterful in every way. Free book for you, Kay!
The runner up, landing themselves an identical but, you know, always less shiny prize is Chris Quinn for Gotrek v Zavant Konniger. I have no idea what grudge the great detective could have against poor Gotrek, but as soon as I read it I had visions of a very different kind of Gotrek & Felix where its Felix’s wits rather than Gotrek’s axe that comes to the fore. And I liked it, so a free, but perhaps slightly grubbier and artificially scuffed book for you, Chris! Maybe I’ll smudge ink on the signature or something.
Thanks to everyone that didn’t win for amusing me over the last couple of weeks with your suggestions. I hope you’ll all still go out and get the most anticipated book of the year (good man) when it comes out in September.
June 15, 2014
Kinslayer Competition!!
That's right big axe lovers, Kinslayer is due out in September and my author copies are in. Four of these hefty hardbacks is just too much for any one shelf, even a dwarf-made one of sound Karaz-a-Karak stone, so I'm hoping to get shot of at least one before the release date. Boring scheduling reasons mean that I can't send them out before September, but you'll still be getting yourself a signed (and free!) copy of Kinslayer a good day or so before those elf-loving fools who didn't put in the effort to win a competition.
So what do you have to do?
The sharpe-eyed will have noted from the cover that Kinslayer is 'Book I of the Doom of Gotrek Gurnisson.' What that ominous title means for our heroic duo is something that you'll have to wait to find out, but the endlessly debated question of Gotrek's doom will make up our competition.
I want to know which heavyweight from the sprawling Warhammer world or the pages of Black Library you would most love to see have a crack at Gotrek. How would it go? Could they win, and if so how?
Tweet me @WarlordGuymer or add your suggestion to the thread I'm about to set up on my facebook author page (https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Dav... the most brilliant, funny or bang to rights awesome will win themselves a book. If there's enough interest then I may even give away two books, so spread the word! Also, while this skaven would never condone cheating in other people, I'm not about to start cross-referening entrants on twitter with entrants on facebook, so hey, it can't hurt to vote twice.
Who do you want to see fight Gotrek and what would be the outcome? - Go!!
May 9, 2014
“Be quiet-still man-things. Queek Headtaker is speaking…”
“Are you sitting comfortably slave-meat? No? Good. This will teach stupid man-things to not have tails, Queek thinks.
‘With your small and inferior brains you are probably wondering why the mighty Queek has claimed this blog for the Under-Empire. Those of you most clever might wonder also what this has to do with you. Yes-yes, Queek sees questions on you like flies, flies that tell lies, buzz buzz buzz to blind rats’ ears. Well do not doubt-fear little man-things, Queek will not be killing you today. Not unless you are… disobedient.
“See this skull here? This idiot-meat was disobedient. He thought he could keep his blog from Queek. Hah! Who has no head now? Not Queek. No-no, Queek has many and they whisper to him, yes-yes they do. They tell him that the legendary Queek has come to the attention of those that bestow prizes on worthy heads. And who is more worthy than Queek Headtaker, he who dances in ash and feasts on his unworthy foes? It is surely only the treachery of Queek’s rivals that he has not attracted such covetous notice before now. Queek laughs at their petty scheming. He has no rivals! He can smell the musk of their rightful terror even from this rat-infested warren.
“Unfair to his inferior adversaries, perhaps, but Queek must crush them and take their heads all the same - and this is where you come in lucky man-things. In order to claim the prize rightfully his for his most magnificent of deeds he needs man-things like you to… “vote”… for him by hurry-scurrying to this place (http://gemmellaward.ning.com/page/mor...) and joining Queek’s numberless legions. Not for Queek’s slave-meat getting blown up by warpfire throwers or gassed by wicked tinker-rats. You do not believe? How back-stabbing and untrusting you furless man-things must be. No wonder you tremble. Read this scratch-scrawl of Queek’s slaughter of dwarf-things and green-things and other-things too unimportant for Queek to remember their feeble names.
“Read-read!
“See? Queek’s slave-meat almost always get-cut-stabbed. A much more exciting way to make Queek’s greatness just little bit greater, yes-yes? Does that not make guts slither with hunger-lust? Go now slave-meat. Vote Queek Headtaker - he will remember the smell of you, and should you again cross his burrow once he is crowned the most murderous warlord in all of Skavendom he will maybe not eat you.
“Unless he is hungry.
“He cannot be scourge of the dwarf-things hungry.”
‘With your small and inferior brains you are probably wondering why the mighty Queek has claimed this blog for the Under-Empire. Those of you most clever might wonder also what this has to do with you. Yes-yes, Queek sees questions on you like flies, flies that tell lies, buzz buzz buzz to blind rats’ ears. Well do not doubt-fear little man-things, Queek will not be killing you today. Not unless you are… disobedient.
“See this skull here? This idiot-meat was disobedient. He thought he could keep his blog from Queek. Hah! Who has no head now? Not Queek. No-no, Queek has many and they whisper to him, yes-yes they do. They tell him that the legendary Queek has come to the attention of those that bestow prizes on worthy heads. And who is more worthy than Queek Headtaker, he who dances in ash and feasts on his unworthy foes? It is surely only the treachery of Queek’s rivals that he has not attracted such covetous notice before now. Queek laughs at their petty scheming. He has no rivals! He can smell the musk of their rightful terror even from this rat-infested warren.
“Unfair to his inferior adversaries, perhaps, but Queek must crush them and take their heads all the same - and this is where you come in lucky man-things. In order to claim the prize rightfully his for his most magnificent of deeds he needs man-things like you to… “vote”… for him by hurry-scurrying to this place (http://gemmellaward.ning.com/page/mor...) and joining Queek’s numberless legions. Not for Queek’s slave-meat getting blown up by warpfire throwers or gassed by wicked tinker-rats. You do not believe? How back-stabbing and untrusting you furless man-things must be. No wonder you tremble. Read this scratch-scrawl of Queek’s slaughter of dwarf-things and green-things and other-things too unimportant for Queek to remember their feeble names.
“Read-read!
“See? Queek’s slave-meat almost always get-cut-stabbed. A much more exciting way to make Queek’s greatness just little bit greater, yes-yes? Does that not make guts slither with hunger-lust? Go now slave-meat. Vote Queek Headtaker - he will remember the smell of you, and should you again cross his burrow once he is crowned the most murderous warlord in all of Skavendom he will maybe not eat you.
“Unless he is hungry.
“He cannot be scourge of the dwarf-things hungry.”
December 31, 2013
Legend Awards
The year closes, it seems the TV schedules are filled with programs such as '100 greatest [insert noun] of 2013' and everyone starts assembling their 'best of' lists.
We authors are people too and the window for nominating books to the longlist for the David Gemmell Legend Award is now open until 31st January 2014
http://gemmellaward.com/page/press-1
There are three catergories, the Legend Award, the Ravenheart Award, and the Morningstar Award for the best fantasy debut novel.
In case it escaped anyone's notice, my fantasy novel 'Headtaker' was my debut full-length work and if you think it's deserving of a place on that longlist then please go to the link above, follow the instructions on 'How To Nominate' and go for it!
The skaven will thank you when they ascend.
The longlist is then published on Friday 14th February 2014 when voting begins. So I'll keep my fingers crossed and see...
We authors are people too and the window for nominating books to the longlist for the David Gemmell Legend Award is now open until 31st January 2014
http://gemmellaward.com/page/press-1
There are three catergories, the Legend Award, the Ravenheart Award, and the Morningstar Award for the best fantasy debut novel.
In case it escaped anyone's notice, my fantasy novel 'Headtaker' was my debut full-length work and if you think it's deserving of a place on that longlist then please go to the link above, follow the instructions on 'How To Nominate' and go for it!
The skaven will thank you when they ascend.
The longlist is then published on Friday 14th February 2014 when voting begins. So I'll keep my fingers crossed and see...
July 16, 2013
An interview with me
As I'm a devoted acolyte of both recycling and the minimisation of labour (as well as the Great Horned Rat), follow the link to the Black Library Bolthole for an interview with me, written by somebody else.
http://www.thebolthole.org/blog/
Enjoy
http://www.thebolthole.org/blog/
Enjoy
February 28, 2013
A Sneak Peak at Queek
An extract from the forthcoming 'Headtaker' originally printed over at http://www.blacklibrary.com/Blog/a-sn...
Queek gripped the haft of Dwarf Gouger tightly as the weapon smashed home. The impact thumped up his arm, a beautiful electricity that sent sparks of delirium flying through his mind. He watched the dwarf’s eyes go dark and savoured the moment. He squealed his triumph and wrenched back, heavy gauntlets of warpstone and scarlet steel grinding around the grip of the spiked maul that had embedded in the dwarf’s helm. His biceps strained, muscles rippling beneath coarse black fur. The dwarf rose partway off the ground, feet dangling, arms flapping like the wings of some overweight flightless bird before the gore-slickened spike at last came free. The lifeless body crashed to the ground between his footpaws.
It was so beautiful.
A scream dragged him from his reverie.
Another dwarf fell, guts drooling over the blade of a halberd. He snarled at the unwanted interruption, hissing at a stormvermin as the dark-furred warrior tugged his weapon loose. The stormvermin slunk back and Queek glared after him. For an instant of confusion he forgot where he was, reality reasserting itself in a riot of colours and sounds; screams, blood, shattered armour, the scavenged, russet-dyed livery of his warriors as they ducked and flowed around the dour, grey-cloaked dwarfs, the ripple and crack of warplock jezzails. Of course, he reminded himself, another of the dwarfs’ mine workings.
How many holes into the Eight Peaks would Belegar and his dwarfs burrow before learning that there was no hiding place from Queek?
He could smell them.
He took a deep breath, relishing the scent of blood and fear, all of it mingled with the delicious tang of warpstone. Rusted chains hung from the ceiling, swaying with the ebb and flow of battle, the corroded metal gleaming darkly with the reflected glow of a dozen fires. Great stacks of coal burned in pyres, although whether they had caught a stray warpstone shell or been deliberately set alight to upset skaven dark vision and cloud keen skaven noses was a mystery.
The dwarfs had certainly been prepared this time. Rocks and scree and upturned carts had been piled into barricades, channelling the skaven hordes into killing zones and choke points to die by the axe and by the quarrel. Queek watched as a score of clanrats attempted to surmount one such barricade. Rather than defend their position, the dwarfs leapt clear and an instant later, just as the skaven were trilling their triumph, that section of barricade erupted in a geyser of rock shards and dirty flame. The explosive force of the concealed blackpowder device fired still-celebrating skaven high into the air. Body parts mingled with blasted rock, plummeting to earth like rain.
Even standing a hundred tail-lengths from the blast, Queek staggered under the shockwave. The aftershock sounded thunderously through the ancient mine, echoing through arterial tunnels and buried shafts like a systolic rhythm.
Queek took it all in and grinned. Yes, it was good to be Queek.
Queek gripped the haft of Dwarf Gouger tightly as the weapon smashed home. The impact thumped up his arm, a beautiful electricity that sent sparks of delirium flying through his mind. He watched the dwarf’s eyes go dark and savoured the moment. He squealed his triumph and wrenched back, heavy gauntlets of warpstone and scarlet steel grinding around the grip of the spiked maul that had embedded in the dwarf’s helm. His biceps strained, muscles rippling beneath coarse black fur. The dwarf rose partway off the ground, feet dangling, arms flapping like the wings of some overweight flightless bird before the gore-slickened spike at last came free. The lifeless body crashed to the ground between his footpaws.
It was so beautiful.
A scream dragged him from his reverie.
Another dwarf fell, guts drooling over the blade of a halberd. He snarled at the unwanted interruption, hissing at a stormvermin as the dark-furred warrior tugged his weapon loose. The stormvermin slunk back and Queek glared after him. For an instant of confusion he forgot where he was, reality reasserting itself in a riot of colours and sounds; screams, blood, shattered armour, the scavenged, russet-dyed livery of his warriors as they ducked and flowed around the dour, grey-cloaked dwarfs, the ripple and crack of warplock jezzails. Of course, he reminded himself, another of the dwarfs’ mine workings.
How many holes into the Eight Peaks would Belegar and his dwarfs burrow before learning that there was no hiding place from Queek?
He could smell them.
He took a deep breath, relishing the scent of blood and fear, all of it mingled with the delicious tang of warpstone. Rusted chains hung from the ceiling, swaying with the ebb and flow of battle, the corroded metal gleaming darkly with the reflected glow of a dozen fires. Great stacks of coal burned in pyres, although whether they had caught a stray warpstone shell or been deliberately set alight to upset skaven dark vision and cloud keen skaven noses was a mystery.
The dwarfs had certainly been prepared this time. Rocks and scree and upturned carts had been piled into barricades, channelling the skaven hordes into killing zones and choke points to die by the axe and by the quarrel. Queek watched as a score of clanrats attempted to surmount one such barricade. Rather than defend their position, the dwarfs leapt clear and an instant later, just as the skaven were trilling their triumph, that section of barricade erupted in a geyser of rock shards and dirty flame. The explosive force of the concealed blackpowder device fired still-celebrating skaven high into the air. Body parts mingled with blasted rock, plummeting to earth like rain.
Even standing a hundred tail-lengths from the blast, Queek staggered under the shockwave. The aftershock sounded thunderously through the ancient mine, echoing through arterial tunnels and buried shafts like a systolic rhythm.
Queek took it all in and grinned. Yes, it was good to be Queek.
