Hugo Negron's Blog, page 16
January 4, 2014
Book Three of the Forging of a Knight Series
It’s coming...
They have been hinted at – heroes of glorious legend, villains of infamous fable – some have made their presence known, while others only by name: Aurelus, Amali, Termenon, Qualtan, Jesepha, Darksiege, and Shaz.
Now, heroes of the past and present will unite against Those That Stand in Shadow. From the steaming jungles of the Third Continent to a Prison Planet forged by angels, the Arch-Mages and their champions will find themselves in a race against time to prevent Shaz and his agents from finding the Dark Ones’ demonic fathers and releasing them from bondage. Enemies will become allies, and allies will become foes in the ultimate confrontation with evil that will span two continents, new lands, and new terrors!
Forging of a Knight, Book Three: Prison Planet of the Mah-Lahkt…coming in 2014…
They have been hinted at – heroes of glorious legend, villains of infamous fable – some have made their presence known, while others only by name: Aurelus, Amali, Termenon, Qualtan, Jesepha, Darksiege, and Shaz.
Now, heroes of the past and present will unite against Those That Stand in Shadow. From the steaming jungles of the Third Continent to a Prison Planet forged by angels, the Arch-Mages and their champions will find themselves in a race against time to prevent Shaz and his agents from finding the Dark Ones’ demonic fathers and releasing them from bondage. Enemies will become allies, and allies will become foes in the ultimate confrontation with evil that will span two continents, new lands, and new terrors!
Forging of a Knight, Book Three: Prison Planet of the Mah-Lahkt…coming in 2014…
December 1, 2013
Interview with Forging of a Knight cover artist Lora Lee!
December already - who would have thought it? Participating in Gen Con back in August, Book Two of the Forging of a Knight series completed, a couple of draft runs done for Book Three (more on that next time!), and I feel like it can't possibly be this close to 2014 (and being the holiday nut that I am, the Christmas tree is up and STAYING up until warm weather returns, which means around May or so around here in IL...).
As it stands, I wanted to make sure I had a chance to introduce some of the people who have helped me make Forging of a Knight a success, starting out with Lora Lee, my cover illustrator.
I'm grateful that the quality of my stories has matched the quality of her cover art. So without further delay, let's get right to it!
HN: Hi Lora – to start out, how about sharing some of your background with us?
LL: Sure! I’ve been working as an artist and designer for 6 years now. I specialize in 2D & 3D Illustration, animation and graphic design and I’m the proud owner of Lora Lee Art&Design. I have a BFA in Animation and an MFA in Illustration, and I’m also an Adjunct Professor working at Hartford Art School, University of Hartford.
HN: How did you develop an interest in illustration/design?
LL: When I was a little girl I loved drawing pretty cartoon characters and the other kids would use their snack money to buy my drawings. I had so much fun and snacks doing art and I guess that happiness and passion grew and last till this day!
HN: At what point did you realize this was something you had a passion for with regards to pursuing as a career?
LL: I guess I always knew this is where my passion lies and my career will be. It all seemed very natural - I went to an art high school, then followed by an art collage, then my MFA degree. I started my professional career early on when I was still a sophomore by doing a lot of freelance jobs and working in a few design/animation companies.
HN: Was it difficult setting up your own design business?
LL: I would say marketing - getting your name out there and get clients when you’re starting out is the hardest part. I did go through a difficult time at first when I was feeling a little disappointed and hopeless. But I think that this is a natural process that happens to everybody. I believe that if you put all your heart and effort in it to get through the hard time, you’ll be rewarded.
HN: What do you enjoy most about your work? What do you enjoy the least?
LL: The most enjoyable thing is that I get paid for doing the things I love! Also I have a very flexible schedule and a lot of other benefits - I can wake up at 11 a.m., wear pajamas while I’m working, listening to music and streaming movies on Netflix without worrying about being caught by my boss, etc. The only downside is that in this freelance business it is - to use the clinical term - “feast or famine”. You could work for days on end with no sleep to meet 5 deadlines in a week, then having no jobs at all for a month. It’s really unpredictable but also full of excitement, which works for me.
HN: What have been some of your most challenging projects, and why?
LL: The most challenging projects are making video games and apps. Because it is more about teamwork and collaboration, which requires more time and effort. The production phase is also relatively long and requires continued strength and passion.
HN: Give us a “day in the life” – what steps do you usually follow when you take on a new assignment?
LL: I work on a variety of projects so every time it’s a little different. But my general workflow will be: Getting to know about the new project and client - Doing research - Discussion with the client about the art direction - Start the production process with periodical discussions and revisions - Deliver final product.
HN: What are your goals for Lora Lee Art & Design moving forward?
LL: I plan to expand my business and maybe turn it into a studio with a few employees that offers more quality services such as Web Design, UI Design and App Design. It is every exciting to think about it, and I’m determined to get there one step at a time!
HN: If you hadn’t chosen to work in concept art/illustration, what do you think you would have been doing?
LL: I think I would want to be a microbiologist doing researches in a pharmaceutical company - it must be fun and rewarding to enter a brand new world of tiny organisms and develop cures for diseases!
HN: When you are not busy with client work, what do you like to do?
LL: I like to go hiking, taking pictures of the beautiful nature and then come back and do oil paintings. This is the most relaxing and enjoyable thing for me.
HN: Favorite music? Movies? Places to travel to?
LL: I love listening to Dance Pop when I’m working. The beats and rhythms keep me passionate, efficient and fired up! Also I watch a lot of thrillers because they make me feel happy and content compared to those poor people who are being chopped up in the movies! I love traveling and I really want to visit Spain and France - just to breath the artistic air and romance.
HN: What sort of skills do you think are essential for someone interested in getting into the field?
LL: First of all you have to love what you do. Otherwise you won’t be able to be fully committed and create good art. Then you have to keep moving and practicing your fundamental skills and try to achieve excellence in the field. And most importantly, you will have to be a responsible artist. You have to ensure the quality of your art and respect the needs of your clients. The trust you build up will go a long way.
HN: For anyone interested in having you work on their projects, what’s the best way for them to reach you?
LL: Welcome to visit my website at www.loraart.com and check out my portfolio! Drop me a line at lora@loraart.com or reach me at (860) 593 8035.
HN: Thanks for your time, Lora!
As it stands, I wanted to make sure I had a chance to introduce some of the people who have helped me make Forging of a Knight a success, starting out with Lora Lee, my cover illustrator.
I'm grateful that the quality of my stories has matched the quality of her cover art. So without further delay, let's get right to it!
HN: Hi Lora – to start out, how about sharing some of your background with us?
LL: Sure! I’ve been working as an artist and designer for 6 years now. I specialize in 2D & 3D Illustration, animation and graphic design and I’m the proud owner of Lora Lee Art&Design. I have a BFA in Animation and an MFA in Illustration, and I’m also an Adjunct Professor working at Hartford Art School, University of Hartford.
HN: How did you develop an interest in illustration/design?
LL: When I was a little girl I loved drawing pretty cartoon characters and the other kids would use their snack money to buy my drawings. I had so much fun and snacks doing art and I guess that happiness and passion grew and last till this day!
HN: At what point did you realize this was something you had a passion for with regards to pursuing as a career?
LL: I guess I always knew this is where my passion lies and my career will be. It all seemed very natural - I went to an art high school, then followed by an art collage, then my MFA degree. I started my professional career early on when I was still a sophomore by doing a lot of freelance jobs and working in a few design/animation companies.
HN: Was it difficult setting up your own design business?
LL: I would say marketing - getting your name out there and get clients when you’re starting out is the hardest part. I did go through a difficult time at first when I was feeling a little disappointed and hopeless. But I think that this is a natural process that happens to everybody. I believe that if you put all your heart and effort in it to get through the hard time, you’ll be rewarded.
HN: What do you enjoy most about your work? What do you enjoy the least?
LL: The most enjoyable thing is that I get paid for doing the things I love! Also I have a very flexible schedule and a lot of other benefits - I can wake up at 11 a.m., wear pajamas while I’m working, listening to music and streaming movies on Netflix without worrying about being caught by my boss, etc. The only downside is that in this freelance business it is - to use the clinical term - “feast or famine”. You could work for days on end with no sleep to meet 5 deadlines in a week, then having no jobs at all for a month. It’s really unpredictable but also full of excitement, which works for me.
HN: What have been some of your most challenging projects, and why?
LL: The most challenging projects are making video games and apps. Because it is more about teamwork and collaboration, which requires more time and effort. The production phase is also relatively long and requires continued strength and passion.
HN: Give us a “day in the life” – what steps do you usually follow when you take on a new assignment?
LL: I work on a variety of projects so every time it’s a little different. But my general workflow will be: Getting to know about the new project and client - Doing research - Discussion with the client about the art direction - Start the production process with periodical discussions and revisions - Deliver final product.
HN: What are your goals for Lora Lee Art & Design moving forward?
LL: I plan to expand my business and maybe turn it into a studio with a few employees that offers more quality services such as Web Design, UI Design and App Design. It is every exciting to think about it, and I’m determined to get there one step at a time!
HN: If you hadn’t chosen to work in concept art/illustration, what do you think you would have been doing?
LL: I think I would want to be a microbiologist doing researches in a pharmaceutical company - it must be fun and rewarding to enter a brand new world of tiny organisms and develop cures for diseases!
HN: When you are not busy with client work, what do you like to do?
LL: I like to go hiking, taking pictures of the beautiful nature and then come back and do oil paintings. This is the most relaxing and enjoyable thing for me.
HN: Favorite music? Movies? Places to travel to?
LL: I love listening to Dance Pop when I’m working. The beats and rhythms keep me passionate, efficient and fired up! Also I watch a lot of thrillers because they make me feel happy and content compared to those poor people who are being chopped up in the movies! I love traveling and I really want to visit Spain and France - just to breath the artistic air and romance.
HN: What sort of skills do you think are essential for someone interested in getting into the field?
LL: First of all you have to love what you do. Otherwise you won’t be able to be fully committed and create good art. Then you have to keep moving and practicing your fundamental skills and try to achieve excellence in the field. And most importantly, you will have to be a responsible artist. You have to ensure the quality of your art and respect the needs of your clients. The trust you build up will go a long way.
HN: For anyone interested in having you work on their projects, what’s the best way for them to reach you?
LL: Welcome to visit my website at www.loraart.com and check out my portfolio! Drop me a line at lora@loraart.com or reach me at (860) 593 8035.
HN: Thanks for your time, Lora!
November 12, 2013
Author Interview at the BookPlank!
Here is a link to an author interview I did on the Forging of a Knight series over at The BookPlank. Thanks to Jasper de Joode for the opportunity!
http://thebookplank.blogspot.com/2013...
http://thebookplank.blogspot.com/2013...
November 8, 2013
First Review of Forging of a Knight, Book Two is up!
Its a nice, crisp November, and here in Illinois that is usually heralded by the appearance of Juncos, chubby little white and black birds that migrate into our area for the bulk of winter. A Christmas nut myself (being a Christmas baby helps), that's sign enough to begin getting the tree ready and having the ornaments one step closer to being placed (my wife was insisting I should wait at least until after Thanksgiving, so I met her halfway with a naked Christmas tree waiting patiently to be decorated).
By the by, all winners have been notified from the book giveaway for Forging of a Knight: Rise of the Slavekeepers, save one that I couldnt reach out to, so Tyler S., you have a copy coming your way!
I wanted to add a link to Jasper de Joodes' blog site over at the Book Plank for his recent (and the first) review of Forging of a Knight: Rise of the Slavekeepers. Thank you, Jasper, for the very thorough and detailed review:
http://thebookplank.blogspot.com/2013...
So its time for some trail walking at Starved Rock, the Morton Arboretum, and some local preserves to see the leaves changing color, the seasons turning over, and as I say in the bio of my books, "...walking winding trails through darksome forests, searching out the mystical beings that reside therein." If anything inspires my writing, its feeling that aura of magic when you are smack dab in the middle of nature:
http://www.starvedrockstatepark.org/
http://www.mortonarb.org/
By the by, all winners have been notified from the book giveaway for Forging of a Knight: Rise of the Slavekeepers, save one that I couldnt reach out to, so Tyler S., you have a copy coming your way!
I wanted to add a link to Jasper de Joodes' blog site over at the Book Plank for his recent (and the first) review of Forging of a Knight: Rise of the Slavekeepers. Thank you, Jasper, for the very thorough and detailed review:
http://thebookplank.blogspot.com/2013...
So its time for some trail walking at Starved Rock, the Morton Arboretum, and some local preserves to see the leaves changing color, the seasons turning over, and as I say in the bio of my books, "...walking winding trails through darksome forests, searching out the mystical beings that reside therein." If anything inspires my writing, its feeling that aura of magic when you are smack dab in the middle of nature:
http://www.starvedrockstatepark.org/
http://www.mortonarb.org/
November 2, 2013
Giveaway is over - thanks everybody!
Thanks to all the folks that signed up for the Forging of a Knight: Rise of the Slavekeepers giveaway! I will be sending out a signed copy to the five winners next week! Hope you enjoy the read, and thanks for joining the adventure!
October 30, 2013
H.P. Lovecraft
Being that we are in the Halloween season, I figured it would be the perfect time to talk about one of my favorite authors, since his work blends in perfectly with this time of year.
I am a huge Howard Phillips Lovecraft fan. I love his bizarre, creepy, macabre, and yes, very wordy writing. I came across his stories as a teen, and have enjoyed them ever since. Most of his stories usually revolved around a narrator who had researched or blundered into clues that led to discoveries of alien god-like entities too horrific for the mind to contemplate and their subservient creatures from other dimensions, attempting to break through to our own dimension with help from various worshippers and cults, (both human and non) hidden and secretive found throughout the world. The narrator usually ends up either in an asylum insane from these discoveries or being hunted down by these selfsame monsters and/or cults for knowing too much, although luckily a few of his protagonists do manage to save the day and escape more or less intact…
For those who haven’t had an opportunity to read his works (and you can obviously find better detailed biographies on the web), he was born in 1890, living most of his life in Providence, Rhode Island. His life was not a happy one and probably fueled his imagination – youth spent as a sickly child, a father sent to a mental institute, had a brief respite when his grandfather helped raise him, inspiring him with stories of classic tales, until his grandfather passed away, impacting his family’s financial status. More tragedy followed - Lovecraft’s mother was also sent to a mental institute, he had a failed marriage, and eventually died in 1937 at the young age of 46 from stomach cancer. He basically lived off a paltry inheritance and from ghostwriting for hopeful writers, in addition to having some of his works published in the various pulp magazines of the time like Weird Tales.
Although not an extrovert by any stretch, he had a very active and engaged correspondence life with writers like August Derleth (who later helped to found Arkham Publishing to keep Lovecraft’s writings in print), Clark Ashton Smith, Robert E. Howard, and others. Many of these writers expanded on the mythologies and creatures Lovecraft had invented (I want to say it was Derleth who came up with the term, “Cthulhu mythos” which most of Lovecraft’s work became associated with).
Other famous writers have been inspired by him, from Stephen King to Neil Gaiman, and many horror movies have attempted to use some of his motifs – witness The Mouth of Madness, Evil Dead II, Dagon, From Beyond, and even the Thing has parallels to some of his concepts.
I luckily came across a group called the H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society – a bunch of fans that came together and actually created some amazing works that follow HP Lovecraft’s stories more fully than anything else to date.
They have adapted some of his tales into radio dramas on CD as if they had been made back in the 1930’s. They’ve also created a bunch of props from his stories, from Cthulhu idols to Essential Saltes (which were used by a certain reincarnated warlock to summon dead beings into existence from their dusty remains to force knowledge from them). Who wouldn’t want some Saltes at their desk when reading horror tales or writing deep into the night??
Two of their products that I really have to trumpet are their movies – they have not been released beyond individual purchase, local film festivals, and select nationwide movie screenings. The first is a 45 minute silent B&W movie, The Call of Cthulhu (complete with caption cards and the occasional hair/string floating at the edge of the picture!), and a full B&W movie, The Whisperer in Darkness (with voice/sound), both filmed in the style of classic 1930’s movies like King Kong and Frankenstein.
It has been notoriously difficult to translate his tales into the big screen without completely modifying them, or adding copious amounts of gore and sex to compensate. His stories don’t really develop his characters or his supporting characters by growth or definition beyond their names, pedigree, and identified career. It was his style of writing that marks his genius – his blending of superb detail, of amazing description, yet never fully revealing the horrors his characters were confronting, leaving much to the imagination of the reader, his dreamscapes, and his mixture of real life events and his fiction that left you wondering what was real and what wasn’t (witness the belief held by many nowadays that the magical tome the Necronomicon which he created in his tales, amongst other books and translated versions of same, is actually real).
The HPLHS kept themselves faithful to his works for the most part (The Whisperer in Darkness does add some additional scenes and characters that were not in the original story as well as a tweaked ending) and I can only hope they produce more!
Here is their website, for those interested:
http://cthulhulives.org/
For a flavor of Lovecraft's work, try sampling these stories. Most are short stories, the rest being modest novel length:
The Dunwich Horror
The Call of Cthulhu
At The Mountains of Madness
The Shadow Over Innsmouth
The Case of Charles Dexter Ward
The Colour Out of Space
The Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath
The Whisperer in Darkness
For some of his ghostwriting efforts – here are a few that for all intents and purposes are mostly the work of HP Lovecraft:
The Horror in the Museum – collaboration with Hazel Heald
The Mound – collaboration with Zealia Bishop
Under the Pyramids – collaboration with Harry Houdini
Happy Halloween!!!
I am a huge Howard Phillips Lovecraft fan. I love his bizarre, creepy, macabre, and yes, very wordy writing. I came across his stories as a teen, and have enjoyed them ever since. Most of his stories usually revolved around a narrator who had researched or blundered into clues that led to discoveries of alien god-like entities too horrific for the mind to contemplate and their subservient creatures from other dimensions, attempting to break through to our own dimension with help from various worshippers and cults, (both human and non) hidden and secretive found throughout the world. The narrator usually ends up either in an asylum insane from these discoveries or being hunted down by these selfsame monsters and/or cults for knowing too much, although luckily a few of his protagonists do manage to save the day and escape more or less intact…
For those who haven’t had an opportunity to read his works (and you can obviously find better detailed biographies on the web), he was born in 1890, living most of his life in Providence, Rhode Island. His life was not a happy one and probably fueled his imagination – youth spent as a sickly child, a father sent to a mental institute, had a brief respite when his grandfather helped raise him, inspiring him with stories of classic tales, until his grandfather passed away, impacting his family’s financial status. More tragedy followed - Lovecraft’s mother was also sent to a mental institute, he had a failed marriage, and eventually died in 1937 at the young age of 46 from stomach cancer. He basically lived off a paltry inheritance and from ghostwriting for hopeful writers, in addition to having some of his works published in the various pulp magazines of the time like Weird Tales.
Although not an extrovert by any stretch, he had a very active and engaged correspondence life with writers like August Derleth (who later helped to found Arkham Publishing to keep Lovecraft’s writings in print), Clark Ashton Smith, Robert E. Howard, and others. Many of these writers expanded on the mythologies and creatures Lovecraft had invented (I want to say it was Derleth who came up with the term, “Cthulhu mythos” which most of Lovecraft’s work became associated with).
Other famous writers have been inspired by him, from Stephen King to Neil Gaiman, and many horror movies have attempted to use some of his motifs – witness The Mouth of Madness, Evil Dead II, Dagon, From Beyond, and even the Thing has parallels to some of his concepts.
I luckily came across a group called the H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society – a bunch of fans that came together and actually created some amazing works that follow HP Lovecraft’s stories more fully than anything else to date.
They have adapted some of his tales into radio dramas on CD as if they had been made back in the 1930’s. They’ve also created a bunch of props from his stories, from Cthulhu idols to Essential Saltes (which were used by a certain reincarnated warlock to summon dead beings into existence from their dusty remains to force knowledge from them). Who wouldn’t want some Saltes at their desk when reading horror tales or writing deep into the night??
Two of their products that I really have to trumpet are their movies – they have not been released beyond individual purchase, local film festivals, and select nationwide movie screenings. The first is a 45 minute silent B&W movie, The Call of Cthulhu (complete with caption cards and the occasional hair/string floating at the edge of the picture!), and a full B&W movie, The Whisperer in Darkness (with voice/sound), both filmed in the style of classic 1930’s movies like King Kong and Frankenstein.
It has been notoriously difficult to translate his tales into the big screen without completely modifying them, or adding copious amounts of gore and sex to compensate. His stories don’t really develop his characters or his supporting characters by growth or definition beyond their names, pedigree, and identified career. It was his style of writing that marks his genius – his blending of superb detail, of amazing description, yet never fully revealing the horrors his characters were confronting, leaving much to the imagination of the reader, his dreamscapes, and his mixture of real life events and his fiction that left you wondering what was real and what wasn’t (witness the belief held by many nowadays that the magical tome the Necronomicon which he created in his tales, amongst other books and translated versions of same, is actually real).
The HPLHS kept themselves faithful to his works for the most part (The Whisperer in Darkness does add some additional scenes and characters that were not in the original story as well as a tweaked ending) and I can only hope they produce more!
Here is their website, for those interested:
http://cthulhulives.org/
For a flavor of Lovecraft's work, try sampling these stories. Most are short stories, the rest being modest novel length:
The Dunwich Horror
The Call of Cthulhu
At The Mountains of Madness
The Shadow Over Innsmouth
The Case of Charles Dexter Ward
The Colour Out of Space
The Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath
The Whisperer in Darkness
For some of his ghostwriting efforts – here are a few that for all intents and purposes are mostly the work of HP Lovecraft:
The Horror in the Museum – collaboration with Hazel Heald
The Mound – collaboration with Zealia Bishop
Under the Pyramids – collaboration with Harry Houdini
Happy Halloween!!!
September 18, 2013
Forging of a Knight, Rise of the Slavekeepers, is here!
Forging of a Knight, Rise of the Slavekeepers, is live on the Kindle!
At last, Book Two is out - and just in time before Halloween! It will be available soon in paperback version at Amazon.com, Barnes&Noble.com, and other online vendors, as well as for the NOOK and iBookstore!
Both paperback AND an epub version are currently available at lulu.com.
But for those looking for Kindle accessibility, here's the link:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F9UB85M
New heroes, new villains, and an ending that will hint at the biggest threat of all in Book Three of the series coming out next year!
The second book in the Forging of a Knight series! Qualtan has become a knight at last. With Glaive, the half-orcne thief by his side, he will join a host of new friends: Jesepha, the strong-willed female knight; her mentor, the elder knight Bartholomew, who carries a strange secret; the young and hot-headed knight Euric; the glum and impatient knight Richard; and the dashing merchant lord Visandus.
A seemingly routine mission will unravel into one of greater horror, involving inter-dimensional creatures, rival sea-faring pirate nations, and a face-to-face confrontation between Qualtan and Darksiege, one of Those That Stand in Shadow, at last! Should they somehow prevail, it will just be a precursor to an even GREATER threat!
I'll be setting up a giveaway of 5 free signed paperback copies soon, so be on the lookout for it...
At last, Book Two is out - and just in time before Halloween! It will be available soon in paperback version at Amazon.com, Barnes&Noble.com, and other online vendors, as well as for the NOOK and iBookstore!
Both paperback AND an epub version are currently available at lulu.com.
But for those looking for Kindle accessibility, here's the link:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F9UB85M
New heroes, new villains, and an ending that will hint at the biggest threat of all in Book Three of the series coming out next year!
The second book in the Forging of a Knight series! Qualtan has become a knight at last. With Glaive, the half-orcne thief by his side, he will join a host of new friends: Jesepha, the strong-willed female knight; her mentor, the elder knight Bartholomew, who carries a strange secret; the young and hot-headed knight Euric; the glum and impatient knight Richard; and the dashing merchant lord Visandus.
A seemingly routine mission will unravel into one of greater horror, involving inter-dimensional creatures, rival sea-faring pirate nations, and a face-to-face confrontation between Qualtan and Darksiege, one of Those That Stand in Shadow, at last! Should they somehow prevail, it will just be a precursor to an even GREATER threat!
I'll be setting up a giveaway of 5 free signed paperback copies soon, so be on the lookout for it...
August 19, 2013
Gen Con 2013! Part Two
Well, Gen Con 2013 in Indy has come and gone - but not before I had an amazing time - making new friends, discussing fantasy and role playing with some wonderful people, reaching out to new Forging of a Knight readers such as Leighann Pittman (many thanks, Leighann, by the by!) and connecting with supporters of Forging of a Knight such as James Buckhorn (thanks, James, it was a blast meeting you face to face!)!
I added a photo album on my Forging of a Knight Facebook page of just a few of the great cos-players, fellow authors, and fans I met. If you are on Facebook, take a quick look! From evil wizards to evil knights, comic book heroes to role-playing villains, you will see some fantastic costumes. The person in the ape spaceman costume from Escape from the Planet of the Apes was utterly awesome!
Lesson learned #1 - next year my 14 month old son will be staying with the in-laws. Both he and my wife (who got sick while we were at the 'Con) soldiered through, but he could only handle being in a stroller for so long in a crowd of people, the poor guy. Despite some activities offered for children at the event, he was having none of it and was pretty much insistent on calling it a day after day one! When the boss speaks, you better listen...
Lesson learned #2 - bring a partner! There were so many events, vendors, authors, and gaming going on it was impossible to see the majority of it from behind a booth. Luckily, I was positioned near a signature area, so I was able to glance over from time to time to see Walter Koenig of Star Trek fame and Peter Davison (the 5th Doctor Who) mingling with fans. Usually I would sneak through some of the convention floor at closing time, begging vendors not to tarp up their tables, or taking a quick walk through various aisles during morning setup or on the way to grab a quick lunch. I did bag a mini-Cthulhu plush, though, that will now sit at my writing desk to inspire Those That Stand in Shadow in their nefarious plans... 8 )
Lesson learned #3 - bring some treats! You get awfully hungry standing for 8 hours each day (its the manning the job fair booth thing in me from my day job), and you hate missing out on talking to some great people if you happen to leave your table for breaks and quick snacks...
We will definitely be there again next year. I was thinking of dressing up as a knight - I do have actual real armor from a costume I wore at a comic-con the weekend prior - but I think there wouldn't be anything left of me inside it if I tried.
If anyone went, would love to hear your thoughts on your experience at the 'Con!
I added a photo album on my Forging of a Knight Facebook page of just a few of the great cos-players, fellow authors, and fans I met. If you are on Facebook, take a quick look! From evil wizards to evil knights, comic book heroes to role-playing villains, you will see some fantastic costumes. The person in the ape spaceman costume from Escape from the Planet of the Apes was utterly awesome!
Lesson learned #1 - next year my 14 month old son will be staying with the in-laws. Both he and my wife (who got sick while we were at the 'Con) soldiered through, but he could only handle being in a stroller for so long in a crowd of people, the poor guy. Despite some activities offered for children at the event, he was having none of it and was pretty much insistent on calling it a day after day one! When the boss speaks, you better listen...
Lesson learned #2 - bring a partner! There were so many events, vendors, authors, and gaming going on it was impossible to see the majority of it from behind a booth. Luckily, I was positioned near a signature area, so I was able to glance over from time to time to see Walter Koenig of Star Trek fame and Peter Davison (the 5th Doctor Who) mingling with fans. Usually I would sneak through some of the convention floor at closing time, begging vendors not to tarp up their tables, or taking a quick walk through various aisles during morning setup or on the way to grab a quick lunch. I did bag a mini-Cthulhu plush, though, that will now sit at my writing desk to inspire Those That Stand in Shadow in their nefarious plans... 8 )
Lesson learned #3 - bring some treats! You get awfully hungry standing for 8 hours each day (its the manning the job fair booth thing in me from my day job), and you hate missing out on talking to some great people if you happen to leave your table for breaks and quick snacks...
We will definitely be there again next year. I was thinking of dressing up as a knight - I do have actual real armor from a costume I wore at a comic-con the weekend prior - but I think there wouldn't be anything left of me inside it if I tried.
If anyone went, would love to hear your thoughts on your experience at the 'Con!
August 3, 2013
Cover image for Book Two of the Forging of a Knight Series
Hi all - I just wanted to share this, as I was so excited with the results. My illustrator, Lora Lee, completed the front AND back cover images for Forging of a Knight, Rise of the Slavekeepers, which should be out around October this year at the latest. I was hoping it would be ready by August 14th when I will be boothing for my book in full armor at the Indy Gen Con this year, but the timing just couldnt be done. Still, it should be a fun time out there as I will have handouts showing the cover, discussing the series overall and saying hi to all the fellow mythological/fantasy buffs at the convention!
You can check my initial drawing for the cover and her translation of it at the Forging of a Knight facebook fan page:
https://www.facebook.com/Forging.of.a...
The second book in the Forging of a Knight series! Qualtan has become a knight at last. With Glaive, the half-orcne thief by his side, he will join a host of new allies: Jesepha, the strong-willed female knight; her mentor, the elder knight Bartholomew, who carries a mysterious secret; the young and hot-headed knight Euric; the glum and impatient knight Richard; and the dashing merchant lord Visandus.
They will stand together against a new menace that unravels from a seemingly routine mission into one of greater horror, involving other-dimensional creatures, rival sea-faring pirate nations, and a face-to-face confrontation between Qualtan and Darksiege, one of Those That Stand in Shadow, at last! Should they somehow prevail, it will just be a precursor to an even GREATER threat!
You can check my initial drawing for the cover and her translation of it at the Forging of a Knight facebook fan page:
https://www.facebook.com/Forging.of.a...
The second book in the Forging of a Knight series! Qualtan has become a knight at last. With Glaive, the half-orcne thief by his side, he will join a host of new allies: Jesepha, the strong-willed female knight; her mentor, the elder knight Bartholomew, who carries a mysterious secret; the young and hot-headed knight Euric; the glum and impatient knight Richard; and the dashing merchant lord Visandus.
They will stand together against a new menace that unravels from a seemingly routine mission into one of greater horror, involving other-dimensional creatures, rival sea-faring pirate nations, and a face-to-face confrontation between Qualtan and Darksiege, one of Those That Stand in Shadow, at last! Should they somehow prevail, it will just be a precursor to an even GREATER threat!
June 24, 2013
Book Two...
Hello all - its been a hectic 1/2 of the year - especially with a little 1 year old baby keeping me on track, but Book Two - Forging of a Knight, Rise of the Slavekeepers, is on the role! My own illustration has been sent to fantastic artist Lora Lee to continue her great work on the series covers, and my editor Erin Potter has sent me back my manuscript with her edits. Once I review, its off to the publisher and out of the gate! Book three is already in rough draft, in order to complete the FIRST trilogy, for further fleshing out around the end of the year, although that depends on the schedule my son decides to give me, as he's a pretty tough boss... 8 )
All set for Gen Con this August - I was hoping to have Book Two at the ready, but that may be cutting things too short, so at the least I will have pictures/flyers with the cover for 'the Slavekeepers to present. Considering the actual arm/leg armor that I will be wearing, Im hopeful for a less than humid near end to summer around that time...
I do plan on having a giveaway here for the second book once everything is all set.
And just as I complete this very last sentence, a little voice is crying for dinner so its off to the races, or at least in my case, to the crib...!
All set for Gen Con this August - I was hoping to have Book Two at the ready, but that may be cutting things too short, so at the least I will have pictures/flyers with the cover for 'the Slavekeepers to present. Considering the actual arm/leg armor that I will be wearing, Im hopeful for a less than humid near end to summer around that time...
I do plan on having a giveaway here for the second book once everything is all set.
And just as I complete this very last sentence, a little voice is crying for dinner so its off to the races, or at least in my case, to the crib...!
