Joshua Reynolds's Blog, page 87

The WIP at World’s End…

…well, year’s end, really. In a few short days 2012 will give way to 2013 and where will I be? Well, I’ll be working on a number of things. If knowing what those are is the sort of thing you’re interested in–and why wouldn’t you be? You’re here after all–well, read on, by all means. 

First on the docket to be completed is the tentatively-titled sequel to Neferata, Master of Death. For those keeping track, this book will be about a certain Max Shreck looking fellow with a penchant for necromancy and treachery. I’m about a quarter of the way through the first draft, and I’m enjoying it immensely. The tone is a bit different–still dark, but slightly more absurd. W’soran is no less dangerous than Neferata, but in an altogether different sort of way.

After that’s done, I’ll be starting on a follow-up to my outing in the long running ‘Executioner’ series, Executioner: Border Offensive, tentatively titled Arctic Kill. All I’m saying about it at the moment is that it’ll involve a certain infamous German occult society, an arctic research base and a car chase on the Las Vegas Strip. You know…fun stuff.

Somewhere in between those two projects I need to finish my current short story-in-progress, “The Skein of Stars”, which features St. Cyprian and Gallowglass facing off with a band of robed gentlemen known as the Order of the Cosmic Ram. I also need to edit a new John Bass story, “Seven Heart Beats”, which has the old ghost-breaker matching wills with a deadly Cherokee devil-spirit in the Appalachians.

And that’s what I’ll be working on come the New Year. What about you?

YOU ARE THE HERO: Guest-Post by Jonathan Green

It’s Boxing Day here in the UK, and to celebrate, we have a guest-post courtesy of the redoubtable Steampunk machine Jonathan Green, whose site you can visit–and should visit–HERE.

Today, Jonathan will be talking about his current Kickstarter Project, YOU ARE THE HERO. 

♦♦♦

Everyone remembers their first.

Mine was The Warlock of Firetop Mountain. It was 1982 and I was ten years old at the time. Here was a book in which I – the reader – was the hero. Igot to choose the course of the adventure, deciding which paths to take, which traps to risk, and which monsters to fight. I had never seen or read anything like it before – and so began a life-long love affair with Fighting Fantasy gamebooks.

The Warlock of Firetop Mountain inspired me like no other book ever has. It’s why I’m doing what I doing now, and I know I’m not the only one to have been inspired to follow a career in genre writing because of Fighting Fantasy gamebooks.

Earlier this year I wrote a piece about the history of Fighting Fantasy for SFX magazine. But the more I researched the story behind the creation of the world’s premier gamebook series, the more story I realised there was still to tell. To do the subject justice I needed to write a book –and so the idea that was to becomeYOU ARE THE HERO was born.

YOU ARE THE HERO will tell the story of Fighting Fantasy gamebooks, from the early days of Games Workshop right up to the present day and beyond. I have already interviewed the creators of the Fighting Fantasy series – Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone – who are both keen to have their story told. In fact, Steve Jackson once said to me, “You are the perfect person to write this book.”

Not only will YOU ARE THE HERO tell the amazing story of how Fighting Fantasy gamebooks changed the world, it will also cover everything from spin-off novels and puzzle books, to foreign editions, board games and video games. It will even delve into such areas as the gamebooks that never were, the myths and legends surrounding the series, and how Ian Livingstone’s newest gamebook – Blood of the Zombies – almost never happened.

But I can’t do this without your support. Check out the YOU ARE THE HERO Kickstarter page today and the unique rewards available to those people who back the project and pledge your support today.

Thank you.

 ♦♦♦

You can find the YOU ARE THE HERO Kickstarter page here:http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1412864360/you-are-the-hero

You will find the YOU ARE THE HEROFacebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/ComicHeroes#!/pages/You-Are-The-Hero-A-History-of-Fighting-Fantasy-Gamebooks/449514028443744?fref=ts

Alternatively, visit www.JonathanGreenAuthor.com.

The Night Before Christmas…

Courtesy of Charles Prepolec, who sighted it in the wild and was kind enough to share it on his Facebook page.

GOTREK & FELIX: ROAD OF SKULLS Now Available for Pre-Order

While it’s a bit late for Christmas, my forthcoming novel, Gotrek & Felix: Road of Skulls is now available for pre-order. As it’s my first full-length work featuring the demolition duo, I’m quite excited to see it edging closer to its release date. There’s a brief excerpt available HERE, if you’re interested. More below the cut, including the blurb. 

Gotrek and Felix: unsung heroes of the Empire, or nothing more than common thieves and murderers? The truth perhaps lies somewhere in between, and depends entirely upon whom you ask… Gotrek and Felix race to the dwarf hold at Karak Kadrin, finding it besieged by one of the grand armies of Chaos under the command of Warlord Garmr. When King Ungrim Ironfist speaks of the legendary ‘Road of Skulls’ and of the hated foe’s attempts to open a portal into the Realm of Chaos, Gotrek senses that a great doom awaits him – though it may not be the one he would choose for himself. As the king’s own son leads his army of Slayers to fulfil an ancient prophecy, it seems that Garmr’s hour of victory may be at hand…

The book will be released in January 2013. While you’re waiting, why not check out this year’s crop of novels, Knight of the Blazing Sun (which I spoke briefly about HERE) and Neferata: Blood of Nagash (which I discussed HERE)?

GRUSS VOM KRAMPUS!

While technically Krampusnacht was a few days ago, that’s no reason not to celebrate. With that in mind, starting tomorrow, the very first St. Cyprian and Gallowglass story, “Krampusnacht”, will be serialized at http://royaloccultist.wordpress.com/ !

”Krampusnacht” sees Charles St. Cyprian and Ebe Gallowglass battle the demonic Krampus in London on Christmas Eve, 1920. It was first published as the Second Annual Free Advent Day Story in 2010 via the old HUNTING MONSTERS blog, and then reprinted in 2011 by Miskatonic River Press in the anthology, Horror for the Holidays, which is available via the publisher and on Amazon. Excerpt HERE.

“Krampusnacht” will run in four parts on the site, from tomorrow through Christmas Eve. But while you’re waiting, why not check out the other free stories available via this site?

And if those only whet your appetite for more, why not check out last year’s Christmas tale, and this year’s as well?

Last year’s tale, ”Merry John Mock” sees St. Cyprian and Gallowglass dealing with ghostly swine and malevolent mummers during a Winter Solstice in the Channel Islands in 1919. It was first published as the Third Annual Free Advent Day Story in 2011 via the old HUNTING MONSTERS blog, and reprinted in the Pulpwork Press Christmas Special in 2011, which is available via Amazon. It was reprinted in 2012 in the Psychopomp Christmas Special 2012. Excerpt HERE.

And this year’s story, ”Feast of Fools” finds St. Cyprian and Gallowglass facing down the sinister Saturn Society on a bothersome Boxing Day in 1922. It was published in 2012 by Pulpwork Press in the 2012 Pulpwork Press Christmas Special. Excerpt HERE.

Gruss vom Krampus!

New NEFERATA Review

Ed Fortune has reviewed Neferata: Blood of Nagash for Starburst Magazine, and it’s a nice review, indeed. 

The frequent battle scenes are suitably gory. These aren’t the tame vampires of the Twilight generation, but rather the bloody horrors of myth. Visceral and explicit, the action never quite crosses the line of good taste, but does deliver the sort thrills that fans of fangy violence will enjoy.

 

Which, if you’re counting, makes three (here’s one and two, respectively). Three good reviews in a row. Why not pick up a copy of the book and see for yourself what all the fuss is about? The book is available on Amazon and other various on-line retailers, or via Black Library.

The Third Annual Occult Detective Awards Begin… NOW

Bob Freeman, noted creator of occult detective Landon Connors, novelist and occult detective aficionado, is once again ringing down the year’s end with his annual Occult Detective Awards. 

Why not head over to http://authorbobfreeman.wordpress.com/ and see for yourself who’ll be walking away with this year’s honours? First up is the world of four colour fantasies…

We shall begin, my friends, this third instalment of the increasingly esoteric and schizophrenic Occult Detective Awards by first looking into the world of four colours, where words and pictures converge in a sublime, brackish cesspool of innovation and creation…

New THE EXECUTIONER: BORDER OFFENSIVE Review

My contribution to Don Pendleton’s Executioner Mythos, The Executioner: Border Offensive, has received it’s second review, and it’s another good one, I’m pleased to say. 

This time, the review comes courtesy of Ron Fortier, of Pulp Fiction Reviews. Here’s what he had to say:

“The Executioner – Border Offensive,” is an excellent addition to this long running series and kudos to Reynolds for this gritty, fast paced new chapter in the on-going war against evil by the one and only Mack Bolan.  Pick it up, pulp fans, you won’t be disappointed.

Now that’s a good way to start the week. I’ve spoken briefly about the book before. If you’re interested in seeing what all the fuss is about, why not pick up your own copy? It’s available in print and in Kindle format.

‘Only Ten Sleeps ‘Til Christmas (Eve, That Is)’

As if this week hasn’t seen enough rampant and shameless self-promotion, I figured I might as well close it out big. Christmas is closing in like a reindeer on a collision course with your elderly grandmother, and I have many wares spread out across my electronic blanket in this vast marketplace we call the Interwebs.

So, if you’re still doing your holiday shopping, and you’re looking for something for that literary-type on your list, why not give a gander to these fevered scrawlings and fanciful fictions? 

♦♦♦

♦THE BEAST WITHIN 3: Oceans Unleashed

Contains my story, ”The Wedding Seal”, which finds St. Cyprian and Gallowglass dealing with a selkie under domestic duress and her fierce kin in the Orkney Islands in 1922. Excerpt HERE.

♦TALES OF THE SHADOWMEN, VOL. 9: La Vie En Noir

Contains my story, “Nestor Burma Goes West”, which sees French sleuth Nestor Burma hunt down a runaway girl only to run into a certain Super Detective during his investigation, and to run afoul of Les Vampires and their deadly queen, Irma Vep.

♦HILLS OF FIRE: Bare Knuckle Yarns of Appalachia

Contains my story, “Saxon and the Stand-Down”, which sees Pinkerton Detective James ‘Jimmy’ Saxon entering a rough and rowdy coal mining camp on the hunt for a murderous drifter, only to wind up in an old-fashioned, bare knuckle Irish stand-down with said drifter while an angry crowd of coal miners looks on.

♦A CAT OF NINE TALES: Occult Detective Stories, Vol. 1

Contains my story, ”An Ounce of Prevention” which has St. Cyprian and Gallowglass taking on an avian entity of the Pictish persuasion in rural Cornwall in 1920.  Excerpt HERE.

♦HORROR FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Contains TWO of my stories–”Krampusnacht”sees Charles St. Cyprian and Ebe Gallowglass battle the demonic Krampus in London on Christmas Eve, 1920.  Excerpt HERE. And ”The Dreaming Dead” finds St. Cyprian and Gallowglass facing down a trauma-eating entity in Bethnal Green Infirmary in 1919. Excerpt HERE.

♦BLACK BAT MYSTERIES, VOL. 2

Contains my story, “The Black Bat at Bay!” which is a chunky little story that sees the eponymous vigilante run afoul of the Super Detective, Jim Anthony, the police and the Mob, resulting in gun-play and lots of it. Excerpt HERE.

And there’s more besides! Check out my WORKS page for more links.

BEAST WITHIN 3 Now Available

Graveside Tales’ Beast Within 3: Oceans Unleashed, which contains the story “The Wedding Seal”, is now available from Amazon! “The Wedding Seal” finds St. Cyprian and Gallowglass dealing with a selkie under domestic duress and her fierce kin in the Orkney Islands in 1922. Excerpt HERE. 

From the blurb:

The magic and mystery of the oceans has ever intrigued man. So much so that most forget just how dangerous and predatory the oceans can be. Here are sixteen stories about the denizens of the oceans that most know nothing of… and those who do, learn their lesson the hard way. Come read the stories of the Beast Within from an aquatic point of view. These are the tales of the Oceans Unleashed. Featuring stories by Rosemary Jones, Pete Kempshall, Michael West, Jennifer Pelland, Josh Reynolds, and Wendy Wagner.

For more information on the anthology, including a complete TOC listing, please visit editor Jennifer Brozek’s site. If you’d like to learn more about the world of the Royal Occultist and the adventures of St. Cyprian and Gallowglass, be sure to take a look at http://royaloccultist.wordpress.com/ and the Royal Occultist Facebook page.