Hugh B. Long's Blog, page 6
April 9, 2015
Draugr’s Saga: Beta Readers Call to Action
Watch the Trailer:
What I need:
Beta Readers to give me feedback on the story, the characters, the plot, action etc. I’m trying to accurately represent Ireland in the early Medieval period during the main waves of Viking settlers, as well as incorporate Norse and Celtic mythology.
What do you get for your trouble?
Your name will be listed inside the book as a Beta Reader, and I can list a website or blog addres if you have one. Plus, you get first access to this summer’s blockbuster in Historical Fantasy!
When do I need it?
I want readers to have their comments back 4 weeks from when the Beta Program starts (tentatively May 1’st to June 1’st). The book should end up at 80,000 words, or 320 pages.
Who might be interested?
Readers passionate about Viking and Early Medieval history; fans of the Icelandic Sagas and Eddas; practioners of heathen and pagan religions, such as Asatru and Druidry;
What is the novel all about?
Set in Viking Age Ireland (869 CE), Draugr’s Saga is an epic tale of courage, honor, love, and loss. It weaves the vibrant threads of Norse and Celtic mythology, set in a backdrop where Christianity is making inroads into the Viking settlements in Ireland.
It’s a saga which paints Viking Ireland with as much detail as is possible, while also highlighting the mythic possibilities from our Norse and Celtic ancestors.
Here is a blurb on the novel:
Off the coast of Viking Age Ireland, Aedan Ragnarsson unleashes a terrible evil from a mist-shrouded burial mound. His entire longship crew are cursed and turned into draugar—ancient undead revenants with powers like zombies and vampires.
As sole survivor of the disaster, and an Irish born ex-slave in the middle of Viking held territory, Aedan struggles to survive, then discovers that he has unwittingly spread curse. He vows to stem the apocalyptic tide he has unleashed upon his homeland.
With an enchanted sword forged by the Norse gods, he travels to Asgard and the Land of Tir Na Nog, enlisting allies, both mortal and supernatural, for his battle against the Draugr King, Kirnubog.
Interested in becoming a Beta Reader?
Email me at beta@hughblong.com Then I’ll send you the DRAFT when it’s ready, as well as some guidelines to help you provide the most helpful feedback.
Listen to me read the first Volume:
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April 7, 2015
Viking Longphorts
In my current book (Draugr’s Saga), I’m doing a lot of research on old viking longphorts, which were temporary fortifications built by Vikings while in foreign lands. A simple example is illustrated in the black and white sketch. Ostensibly they were built to overwinter, but many turned into permanent and profitable trading centers. Many of Irelands largest cities began as longphorts: Dublin, Waterford, Cork, and Limerick.
Here’s a description of the one in my story: (btw, Luimneach is Limerick). The color picture I added is a layout typical of a more permanent fortress that they would have evolved into. The one I describe below is four times that size.
———————-
The longphort had been built taking advantage of the southern tip of the island and the surrounding river to aid in its defense. They’d built a goodly portion of the walls right up to the edge of the river bank, which would make it very hard for an enemy to mass at those points. They would have to come inland from the northern half of the island, where presumably, the vikings had other traps and tricks prepared for would be besiegers.
In addition to the natural protection the river surrounding the longphort provided, Luimneach also boasted a ditch at least three yards deep—excepting the areas that fronted the river—and an accompanying earthen rampart just as high, on top of which, an imposing palisade loomed over visitors. The sight of it swelled Aedan’s heart. This was a magnificent viking fortress, every bit as glorious and formidable as Sigurd’s stories had lead him to believe. Stout timber guard towers flanked the entrance through a tunnel in the earthen rampart and palisade. Inside Luimneach’s defensive ring, a vast open-air market bustled with trade. Huts and shanties sprang up at random around the market. In the center of the expansive palisade, stood another ring—a second, concentric fortification, though less grand than the outer ring. It seemed this is where his escorts were leading him.
They passed through a gate, also flanked by two guard towers. Inside the second ring, clusters of four viking longhouses formed orderly squares, with a common area in between the four and streets in between the clusters of four. Aedan counted sixty-four longhouses in all. This must be where the Northmen lived. Aedan deduced that they must quarter the foreigners and slaves in the outer ring—their utgard. They’d still be protected while they traded, yet this offered the Northmen a safe place to fall back to in case the worse happened—a slave revolt, or a raid by locals.
Like Vadrefjord, Luimneach had proper streets, but instead of woven willow, the streets sported a layer of planed logs on top of gravel. Aedan had never seen a settlement so sophisticated. The odors of civilization still accosted his nose, though not quite as intensely as they had at Vadrefjord. Had they Roman plumbing perhaps? Wishful thinking he knew.
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April 3, 2015
Spring in Canada
Yeah, Winters are long and Spring is slow in coming. One has to try to embrace the seasons!
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March 29, 2015
Quick Impressions: Departure
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is the best book I’ve read in ages. The characterization of Harper is so engaging, and the mystery…. well, no spoilers, but “Holy fishhooks, Batman!” Riddle had me sucked in from page 1, and reeled me in through a sleepless night to finish the book!
This book, to me, is like Dan Brown meets Michael Crichton, in the best possible ways.
This is the first of his books I’ve read, and I’m already on to his Atlantis Trilogy.
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March 28, 2015
The Chronicle of the Draugr King – Chapter 1
For fans of my Draugr’s Saga tales, Chronicles of the Draugr King provides some back story and the legend behind the great evil Aedan and his Viking friends awoke.
ABOUT THE SERIES:
Set in Dark Ages England, Scotland, and Ireland, Draugr’s Saga is a series of stories about a former Viking slave, Aedan. Adopted as a blood brother by Erik Ragnarsson, Aedan must find a way to stem the tide of the Draugr, which may bring about the Zombie Apocalypse of the Viking Age.
Throughout the Draugr’s Saga, Aedan enlists new friends and allies, makes dangerous enemies, and even finds love, as he travels Dark Ages Britain in a hopeless quest to stop the ancient Draugr King.
Draugr’s Saga weaves the most exciting threads of Norse Mythology, Celtic Mythology, Zombie Apocalypse fiction, all steeped in the gritty and violent Viking age. Though a dangerous time, it was a time of magic, a time when Viking Gods still roamed the land; it was a time when men and women travelled the spirit roads of Yggdrasil and divined their Wyrd with the Viking Runes.
Equal parts Historical Fiction, Epic Fantasy, and Norse Mythology, Draugr’s Saga explodes off the pages with gut-wrenching action and mind-bending magic.
Subscribe for updates to find out when a new episode is coming out, and for other freebies.
Learn More: www.HughBLong/Draugrs-Saga/
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March 24, 2015
Illuminated Map of Early Medieval Scandinavia
Yeah, I love maps 
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February 24, 2015
Review: Unbreakable: A Novel
Unbreakable: A Novel by W.C. Bauers
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Unbreakable: A Novel by W.C. Bauers www.goodreads.com/book/show/22238182
I read a book this week called Unbreakable by a new author, W.C. Bauers. It was a very good book, in the vein of Honor Harrington and Starship Troopers. What really struck me though, was that once I was about ¼ of the way in to the book …. I thought the author was writing in Weber’s Honorverse. I heard terms like: Hexapuma, BuPers, Diaspora, LAC (light attack craft), all very common verbiage in the Honor Harrington Universe. The author even has a “pull-out quote” from David Weber on the cover: “I highly recommend it.”
After some quick research I found no direct connection to Weber’s Honorverse.
Then it hit me: this is a technique called RESONANCE. David Farland wrote an excellent book on the subject: Drawing on the Power of Resonance in Writing.
The author (whether conscious or not) is using many terms that are familiar to Honorverse readers. This causes the work to resonate with them. He also uses the term “The Verse”, like in Firefly. By using resonance, these subtle cues really anchor the story in familiar territory, even though this a new author and his first book.
In addition to the warm and fuzzy feeling created by resonance, it’s a very well written book, with a decent plot, excellent character development, and lots of elements familiar to us lovers of Military Science Fiction and Space Opera.
The main character, as in David Weber’s Honorverse series, is a woman, which is a nice change. She’s no wilting violet, but what would you expect from a woman called Promise Paine?
I especially enjoyed the details on the suits of armor and weapons. A really cool feature of the Marine’s energy rifles is the concept of a ‘reserve’ – a last ditch built in backup of 30 shots – designed to be used when the shit hits the fan and you need to evac asap.
To quote David Weber, I highly recommend it!
View all my reviews
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February 13, 2015
Draugr’s Saga 6 – Available now!
Available now for Kindle and all ePUB devices on Kobo. (ePub is used by Kobo, Nook, B&N, iBooks and more)
KOBO – http://goo.gl/vKxPFH
Amazon USA – http://goo.gl/1qq8dA
Amazon CAN – http://goo.gl/JtH1z4
Amazon UK – http://goo.gl/i8S3Ut
Draugr’s Saga
The Zombie Apocalypse in the Viking Age
Draugr’s Saga 6
In order to stem the swelling draugar horde, former Viking slave, Aedan, along with his allies, set out on a perilous journey to enlist the help of the Irish people, hoping to cement an alliance and build a cohesive army. This is their only hope of saving the islands, and indeed, perhaps the entire world.
They first land in Viking controlled Vadrefjord, south west of Dubhlinn. There they get an unexpected welcome and enlist new allies … as well as make new enemies.
As they push on through the Irish countryside, they are set upon by fellow Vikings, and assaulted by the local Hibernians. Nowhere seems safe for Aedan.
Their journey has them pushing towards a mountain called Slievenamon—the mountain of the women, an ancient and storied peak. There Aedan will need to call upon the Viking gods and spirits for aid in his quest battling against the Draugr King.
ABOUT THE SERIES:
Set in Dark Ages England, Scotland, and Ireland, Draugr’s Saga is a series of stories about a former Viking slave, Aedan. Adopted as a blood brother by Erik Ragnarsson, Aedan must find a way to stem the tide of the Draugr, which may bring about the Zombie Apocalypse of the Viking Age.
Throughout the Draugr’s Saga, Aedan enlists new friends and allies, makes dangerous enemies, and even finds love, as he travels Dark Ages Britain in a hopeless quest to stop the ancient Draugr King.
Draugr’s Saga weaves the most exciting threads of Norse Mythology, Celtic Mythology, Zombie Apocalypse fiction, all steeped in the gritty and violent Viking age. Though a dangerous time, it was a time of magic, a time when Viking Gods still roamed the land; it was a time when men and women travelled the spirit roads of Yggdrasil and divined their Wyrd with the Viking Runes.
Equal parts Historical Fiction, Epic Fantasy, and Norse Mythology, Draugr’s Saga explodes off the pages with gut-wrenching action and mind-bending magic.
Other Volumes: 1 – 12
http://hughblong.com/mywriting/short-stories/draugrs-saga/
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February 10, 2015
Review: Starplex
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was truly an incredible book. Starplex was a rare exploration of the Space Opera sub-genre, and as Robert J. Sawyer intended, did not focus on a military plot as the central theme, but rather, a peaceful group of scientists who’s mission was to make peaceful contact with other races via a vast network of ‘shortcuts’ or stargate type devices. Yes, there is certainly space combat and battles, but what makes this book so different is the anchoring in real science fiction roots — at it’s core it’s about science, and the extrapolation and exploration of ‘what-if’ scenarios. It seeks to tease apart answers to current scientific knowledge.
To say this book was riveting was an understatement. I read it in 24 hours, and wished there was a whole series like it. But alas, this book is, and must be, fully self-contained. Starplex plucks the most melodious strings of science fiction, and turns them into a symphony for the mind.
The various races described in the novel were also fascinating, each with distinct cultures and idiosyncrasies. Sawyer is a man with an incredible imagination.
Almost 20 years after publication this book remains singular and utterly engaging.
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January 29, 2015
Impressions: American Sniper
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Fascinating story and a revealing tale of one man’s experience as a Navy SEAL. I don’t subscribe to Kyle’s politics, but it was an engaging story, equally fascinating, touching and humorous. I laughed a few times while reading this. Whatever we think of war, Kyle was trained and sent to war by a duly elected government to do a job that officials felt needed doing.
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