Stephen Zimmer's Blog: Stephen Zimmer's Blog, page 4

Participating as Professional Guest at DemiCon 32, April 30-May 2

I am honored to announce that I will be participating as a professional guest at DemiCon 32, a great science fiction, fantasy, and gaming convention in Des Moines, Iowa that is being held in a virtual format this year.

I encourage you to check out the convention and everything happening there! There will be a lot of great content and I am looking forward to being a part of it. I thank them for their invitation!

Main DemiCon 32 Website

My Guest Page on the convention site

Cover Art Reveal and Release Announcement for The Rayden Valkyrie Tales, Volume II, by Stephen Zimmer!

Today I am thrilled to bring you some great news on a new print release coming up, the second volume of the Rayden Valkyrie Tales! The new cover art is below, along with information on everything in it! Take a look!

Announcing the reveal of the cover art by Olivia Pro Design for a new print-only release, The Rayden Valkyrie Tales, Volume II, by Stephen Zimmer! For readers of heroic fantasy and sword and sorcery, this new compendium containing three full novellas will be available on April 21st!

The Rayden Valkyrie Tales, Volume II, will contain three novellas previously released in the collection invididually on eBook formats.  These novellas include Across Desert Plains, Prowling the Darkness, and Darkness Enthroned.

The novellas in the Rayden Valkyrie Tales collection will continue to be released and made available individually on eBook formats and the compendium is only being released in a print edition for readers who do not have eReaders or prefer print formats.

Here are the synopsis of the three novellas included in this exciting new compendium!

Prowling the Darkness:

Dark rumors and whisperings of unholy sorcery bring Rayden Valkyrie to the remote city of Sereth-Naga.

There she finds a populace cowering in fear of the city’s ruthless, mysterious rulers, who remain behind the high walls of their citadel.

An even greater mystery surrounds the city.

Something is prowling the darkness.

Something that has kept the enigmatic rulers for centuries from escaping Sereth-Naga to spread their wickedness to other lands.

Prowling the Darkness is a stand-alone novella that is part of the Rayden Valkyrie Tales.

Across Desert Plains:

Only the foolish deem the desolate places of the world truly abandoned.

Journeying to the Kingdom of Thrakkia, Rayden Valkyrie encounters a large contingent of nomadic Barradans. Knowing the routes through the great desert expanses and the numerous dangers encountered within them, the rugged tribal people are also hospitable to strangers and they welcome her among them.

Heading westward to avoid becoming swept up in the ambitions of a bloodthirsty desert warlord, the Barradans have only one other individual among them who is not a member of their tribe; an enigmatic Hebrennan elder.

Mysteries soon unfold, and Rayden’s own life will teeter on the edge of an abyss.

Where no man or woman dwells, things with darker intentions and ravenous hungers can set root, grow, and cast a deepening shadow across desert plains.

Across Desert Plains is a stand-alone novella that is part of the Rayden Valkyrie Tales.

Darkness Enthroned:

In the heart of a frigid northern winter, Rayden Valkyrie takes refuge in the lands of the Sarvan people when a mounted column of Attun warriors is seen passing along the outskirts of their territory heading west.

Far from their steppe domain in the east, the Attun warriors are journeying into a remote, unpopulated wilderness, drawing great alarm from the Sarvans about their purpose. Learning of the situation, Rayden joins with a band of warriors from the area’s villages to investigate.

Following the tracks of the Attun warriors, they are led to the base of an enormous, ancient burial mound, where the trail vanishes abruptly. A mystery looms, and Rayden seeks to discover the nature of the burial mound and the reason why the Attuns have traveled so far from their homelands to enter it.

Darkness Enthroned is a stand-alone adventure that is part of the Rayden Valkyrie Tales.

Stephen Zimmer is an award-winning author and filmmaker based out of Lexington Kentucky. His works include the Rayden Valkyrie Tales (Sword and Sorcery), the Rising Dawn Saga (Cross Genre), the Fires in Eden Series (Epic Fantasy), the Hellscapes short story collections (Horror), the Chronicles of Ave short story collections (Fantasy), the Harvey and Solomon Tales (Steampunk), and the forthcoming Faraway Saga (YA Dystopian/Cross-Genre).

Stephen’s visual work includes the feature film Shadows Light, shorts films such as The Sirens and Swordbearer, and the forthcoming Rayden Valkyrie: Saga of a Lionheart TV Pilot.

Stephen is a proud Kentucky Colonel who also enjoys the realms of music, martial arts, good bourbons, and spending time with family.

Website: www.stephenzimmer.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/stephenzimmer7
Twitter: @sgzimmer
Instagram: @stephenzimmer7

The Awakening, The New Ragnar Stormbringer Tale, Now Available in eBook Formats!

Very excited to announce that the new Ragnar Stormbringer Tale, The Awakening, is now available in eBook formats! I had a great experience writing this one, and it has everything that fans of Ragnar love! This one has the warrior Thorsalla too, as she and Ragnar venture to a land called Ulstara that is very Celtic-inspired. Get a copy today and let me know what you think! Full release information is below!

The Awakening, a new Ragnar Stormbringer Tale from award-winning author Stephen Zimmer, is available today in eBook formats! The Awakening is a stand-alone novella that readers of heroic fantasy, sword and sorcery, and dark-edged, action-driven fantasy will love!

Pick up your copy now at any of the links below!Kindle NookKobo (available shortly)

Synopsis of The Awakening:

Following the end of a brutal war, Ragnar Stormbringer travels across the sea channel to the west with the warrior Thorsalla to visit her brother’s new settlement in the fertile lands of Ulstara.

Coming upon a scene of total devastation, they find no bodies, but there are a large number of strange tracks heading in one direction and signs of a few survivors in another. 

Ragnar will soon discover that some mysteries are the gateways to even greater ones.

The Awakening is a stand-alone adventure that is part of the Ragnar Stormbringer Tales.

Pre-orders for the Kindle Version of The Awakening Now Open!

I am happy to share that the pre-orders for the Kindle version of The Awakening, my new Ragnar Stormbringer Tale, are now open! The new Ragnar adventure comes out on February 17th in all eBook formats, but you can reserve a Kindle copy now and help get this release a strong launch!

Just click here to reserve your copy:

The Awakening Kindle Pre-Order Link

Synopsis of The Awakening:

Following the end of a brutal war, Ragnar Stormbringer travels across the sea channel to the west with the warrior Thorsalla to visit her brother’s new settlement in the fertile lands of Ulstara.

Coming upon a scene of total devastation, they find no bodies, but there are a large number of strange tracks heading in one direction and signs of a few survivors in another.

Ragnar will soon discover that some mysteries are the gateways to even greater ones.

The Awakening is a stand-alone adventure that is part of the Ragnar Stormbringer Tales.

Cover Reveal for The Awakening, a New Ragnar Stormbringer Tale!

Very excited to share a new cover reveal with you for The Awakening, my latest Ragnar Stormbringer Tale and the fifth overall to be released. This eBook novella (stand-alone) will be available on Wednesday, February 17th! If you like Celtic lore and settings, you will really enjoy this one!

The cover design for The Awakening was created by Oliva Design, who has created the covers for all the tales in this collection (and also the Rayden Valkyrie Tales).

Get ready for a new adventure with Ragnar!

-Stephen

Synopsis of The Awakening:

Following the end of a brutal war, Ragnar Stormbringer travels across the sea channel to the west with the warrior Thorsalla to visit her brother’s new settlement in the fertile lands of Ulstara.

Coming upon a scene of total devastation, they find no bodies, but there are a large number of strange tracks heading in one direction and signs of a few survivors in another. 

Ragnar will soon discover that some mysteries are the gateways to even greater ones.

The Awakening is a stand-alone adventure that is part of the Ragnar Stormbringer Tales.

A New Rayden Valkyrie Tale, Darkness Enthroned, Available Today in eBook Formats!

I am excited to share the news that Darkness Enthroned, a brand new Rayden Valkyrie Tale, is now available in eBook formats! The stand-alone novella is part of my growing collection of stories featuring Rayden Valkyrie! Pick up a copy today at one of the direct links below!

Pick up a copy of Darkness Enthroned at any of the following direct links!



Kindle



Nook



Kobo (Available shortly)

_______________________________________________________

Synopsis of Darkness Enthroned:

In the heart of a frigid northern winter, Rayden Valkyrie takes refuge in the lands of the Sarvan people when a mounted column of Attun warriors is seen passing along the outskirts of their territory heading west.

Far from their steppe domain in the east, the Attun warriors are journeying into a remote, unpopulated wilderness, drawing great alarm from the Sarvans about their purpose. Learning of the situation, Rayden joins with a band of warriors from the area’s villages to investigate.

Following the tracks of the Attun warriors, they are led to the base of an enormous, ancient burial mound, where the trail vanishes abruptly. A mystery looms, and Rayden seeks to discover the nature of the burial mound and the reason why the Attuns have traveled so far from their homelands to enter it.

Darkness Enthroned is a stand-alone adventure that is part of the Rayden Valkyrie Tales.

Be sure to pick up other Rayden Valkyrie Tales available in eBook formats such as



Blood of a Queen



Winds of War



Prowling the Darkness



The Sun’s Caress



Across Desert Plains

_______________________________________________________

About the Author: Stephen Zimmer is an award-winning author and filmmaker based out of Lexington Kentucky. His works include the Rayden Valkyrie Tales (Sword and Sorcery), the Rising Dawn Saga (Cross Genre), the Fires in Eden Series (Epic Fantasy), the Hellscapes short story collections (Horror), the Chronicles of Ave short story collections (Fantasy), the Harvey and Solomon Tales (Steampunk), and the forthcoming Faraway Saga (YA Dystopian/Cross-Genre).

Stephen’s visual work includes the feature film Shadows Light, shorts films such as The Sirens and Swordbearer, and the forthcoming Rayden Valkyrie: Saga of a Lionheart TV Pilot.

Stephen is a proud Kentucky Colonel who also enjoys the realms of music, martial arts, good bourbons, and spending time with family.

Website: www.stephenzimmer.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/stephenzimmer7
Twitter: @sgzimmer
Instagram: @stephenzimmer7

Cover Reveal for Darkness Enthroned, a New Rayden Valkyrie Tale! Out in eBook Formats on December 23rd!

I have good news to share! Today is a cover reveal for Darkness Enthroned, my new Rayden Valkyrie Tale that will be released in print and eBook formats on December 23rd! The cover was designed by Olivia Design who has designed all the Rayden Valkyrie Tales (and Ragnar Stormbringer Tales) covers! I’m very excited about this one, a winter setting with lots of action and mystery! Get ready for an adventure!

Synopsis of Darkness Enthroned: In the heart of a frigid northern winter, Rayden Valkyrie takes refuge in the lands of the Sarvan people when a mounted column of Attun warriors is seen passing along the outskirts of their territory heading west.

Far from their steppe domain in the east, the Attun warriors are journeying into a remote, unpopulated wilderness, drawing great alarm from the Sarvans about their purpose. Learning of the situation, Rayden joins with a band of warriors from the area’s villages to investigate.

Following the tracks of the Attun warriors, they are led to the base of an enormous, ancient burial mound, where the trail vanishes abruptly. A mystery looms, and Rayden seeks to discover the nature of the burial mound and the reason why the Attuns have traveled so far from their homelands to enter it.

Darkness Enthroned is a stand-alone adventure that is part of the Rayden Valkyrie Tales.

Book Five in the Rising Dawn Saga is Underway!

I just began writing the 5th book of the Rising Dawn Saga, The Crimson Reign. It has been a little while since the 4th came out, but as I begin this book, I know in my heart that it is the right time for this installment.

The first 4 books tell a grand story that includes the efforts of a small group of very wealthy individuals, who control the largest banking and corporate levers, who are working assiduously to establish a global, borderless system of political and economic control. A pandemic involving an ebola-like virus is a big part of this plotline, and their global strategy.

It also involves a major confrontation between nations inspired by the USA and China, including military conflict, and a civil war within the USA-like nation. Also involves currency crisis and establishment of a new monetary, cashless system. Also the rise of an Antichrist-type figure.

All of it is set against the backdrop of a supernatural cosmic war, with many chess pieces being moved and put in place. It is multi-threaded, like the way Game of Thrones is written, because it has a richness of story and depth that grows with each volume and I know there will be a LOT of story to bring forth in this new volume at many levels.

It takes a lot of research and reflection to write books like this, but they contain a lot, as anyone who has read the first four can vouch for (and, might I say, they were finished years and years before 2020…). Definitely the right time and it is now underway….with 2 volumes after this to complete the series (The Dark Crusade and The Rising Dawn).

Onwards and Upwards.

Several Manuscripts Completed and Off to the Editor!

This past week, I finished the final passes on a manuscript for a new short story collection. I have been completing several new writing projects over the past few months, including the following:

One large novel. (epic fantasy)

Three novellas.(sword and sorcery)

The new short story collection. (horror)

All are complete and off for the editing phase. I will give each of these a more proper introduction shortly, so you can see what will be coming out in terms of new releases. This batch of five manuscripts definitely contains a lot of storytelling content, totaling over 400K words overall.

I think readers of mine are going to love all of them!

I have already dived into going over notes and doing prep for the writing of two new projects, new titles for two separate series. I will be posting details about this as well, very soon.

New Book Announcement Coming VERY Soon!

It goes without saying that 2020 has been a strange and, often crazy year, but as I always say, you have to do all you can to keep moving Onward and Upward. I haven’t had a lot of new updates as the pandemic mess wiped the calendar clean of conventions, book fairs, and all kinds of events that are central of the author world.

The good news is that I have been able to maintain a very steady writing schedule, and I recently completed a major project that I think many readers are going to be excited about. I have also made great progress on some novella-length projects, one featuring Ragnar Stormbringer and another featuring Rayden Valkryie, so there will be some cool new releases before the end of the year.

Keep your eyes out for more details, which will be coming very, very soon!