K.M. Alexander's Blog, page 12

The GLEAM UPON THE WAVES swag set is complete

Up until now the Gleam Upon the Waves swag set has been missing a key piece. Remember, a few weeks ago, when I mentioned I was working on a top secret bookmark? Well, I am please to say it has arrived in all its horrific wriggly glory. Avert thine eyes from the madness-inducing tentacled terror of The Bookmark of the Deep!

The Bookmark of the Deep in all it’s horrible glory

Isn’t it super cool? I thought it be a fun way to create something a little different for this launch. Funny enough, I kinda went about making this backward. I got the bookmarks printed and cut, then had them laser cut to knock out all those little details. That said, I am really happy with how great these things turned out. There’s even a subtle spot gloss to mimic a moist-effect on the bookmark’s flesh and its eyes. You can see it below.

Closeups of The Book Mark of the Deep

The Bookmark of the Deep and the rest of the swag set will be include alongside any Gleam Upon the Waves paperback purchase from my store (it’ll also come in the 2021 Roader Pack.) I’m hoping to have it and all my other swag at conventions when we get to do those in person. (I miss y’all.)

I’ve released a lot of awesome swag over the years. But, I think this one might be my best set yet. I mean check this out, how cool is this?

The full Gleam Upon the Waves swag set – three bookmarks, a button, and four stickers

Signed trade paperbacks of Gleam Upon the Waves, the fourth book in The Bell Forging Cycle, will be available tomorrow on store.kmalexander.com. You can also pick up the book from any of the links below, they just won’t include all the cool stuff above.

Paperbacks Amazon  •  Barnes & Noble  •  IndieBound eBooksKindle • Kobo • Nook • Apple Books • GooglePlay

Raunch Review: Foundation

Raunch Reviews is a series about profanity. Not real profanity, but speculative swearing. Authors often try to incorporate original, innovative forms of profanity into our own fantastical works as a way to expand the worlds we build. Sometimes we’re successful. Often we’re not. In this series, I examine the faux-profanity from various works of sci-fi and fantasy, judge their effectiveness, and rate them on an unscientific and purely subjective scale. This is Raunch Reviews, welcome.

The Author: Isaac AsimovWork in Question: Foundation The Profanity: “Space!”

Look, I realize that Isaac Asimov wrote the first Foundation stories in the nineteen-forties, and the first book didn’t arrive until the nineteen-fifties. I also recognize that white Americans, in particular, like to pretend that this was some glorious era of American history where the nuclear family was the norm, everyone washed their hands before dinner, and children always called adults “mister” and “ma’am.” But, I also know this is an era where terms like FUBAR and SNAFU were invented, and a glance through the Green’s Dictionary of Slang records plenty of new vulgarities emerging. So, it’s important to acknowledge that the wholesome mystique of the fifties is mostly myth wrapped up in attractive propaganda. Foul language was common even then, despite what folksy feel-good television programming would like to tell us.

All that said, there’s a reason why that propaganda is effective. Much of the content from that era seems clean—but, publishing was operating under different rules in the middle of the twentieth century, and censorship was in full swing. Publishing something even mildly vulgar was difficult—J. D. Salinger notwithstanding. But that’s not an excuse when it comes to fictional profanity, which makes Asimov’s choice of “space” for a futuristic oath a bit silly, even for its era.

Throughout Foundation, it’s common for characters in the book to shout out a “No, by Black Space, no!” or “Great Space!” and every time it stands out a little more than it should—coming across more cute than effective. I’ve talked about the impact of oaths in the past, especially oaths that are blasphemous, and how they tend to extend beyond the standard lifespan of your typical run-of-the-mill profanity. That’s not what’s happening here. The concept of “space”—at least within the first book—is never treated with a particularly deific reverence. The titular Foundation’s faith is based on knowledge and nuclear energy/power. So when the “space” oath gets referenced, it feels out of place and awkward. Even swearing by “nuclear” or the “atom” would make more sense within the story’s context, and neither would have come across so twee.

Final Score: 2.5 Previous Raunch Reviews “petaQ” from Gene Roddenberry’s Star Trek “Felgercarb” from Glen A. Larson’s Battlestar Galactica (1978) “Hood’s [Body Part]” from Steven Erikson’s Malazan Book of the Fallen Series “Andreste’s Flaming Knickers” from David Gaider & BioWare’s Dragon Age Series “Fangbanger” from Alan Ball’s True Blood “Mit’ka” from Brad Wright & Jonathan Glassner’s Stargate SG-1 “Merlin’s Beard” from J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series “Drokk” from John Wagner & Carlos Ezquerra’s Judge Dredd “Skin Job” from Hampton Fancher & David Peoples’ Blade Runner “Frag” from J. Michael Straczynski’s Babylon 5 “Gorram” from Joss Whedon’s Firefly “Prawn” from Neill Blomkamp & Terri Tatchell’s District 9 “By the Firsts” from K. M. Alexander’s Bell Forging Cycle “Smurf” from Raja Gosnell & Jordan Kerner’s The Smurfs (2011) “Dren” from Rockne S. O’Bannon’s Farscape “Quiznak” from J. Dos Santos & L. Montgomery’s Voltron: Legendary Defender “Smeg” from Rob Grant and Doug Naylor’s Red Dwarf “Burn Me” from Robert Jordan’s The Wheel of Time “Slitch” from Robert A. Heinlein’s Friday “Yarbles” from Anthony Burgess’ A Clockwork Orange “Cuss” from Wes Anderson’s Fantastic Mr. Fox “Feth” from Dan Abnett’s Gaunt’s Ghosts from Warhammer 40k “Shazbot” from Garry Marshall’s Mork & Mindy and Dynamix’s Starsiege: Tribes “Seven Hells” from George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice & Fire/Game of Thrones “Mudblood” from J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series “Frak” from Glen A. Larson’s, Ronald D. Moore’s, & David Eick’s Battlestar Galactica “Jabber” from China Miéville’s Bas-Lag series “Storm it”/”Storms”/”Storming” from Brandon Sanderson’s The Stormlight Archives

Have a suggestion for Raunch Reviews? It can be any made-up slang word from a book, television show, or movie. You can email me directly with your recommendation or leave a comment below. I’ll need to spend time with the property before I’ll feel confident reviewing it, so give me a little time. I have a lot of books to read.

GLEAM UPON THE WAVES Now on Indiebound and in Independent Bookstores

Excite to see that Gleam Upon the Waves finally showed up on IndieBound (it generally trails bigger bookstores a bit). That means if you’re like me and you like buying physical books from your local independent, most of them should be able to get you a copy! Woohoo! Just ask. Indie shops are always eager to order a book for you.

I should have stock for my own store later this week. If you’re holding out until you can buy a signed copy direct from me, they should be available real soon. (Thanks for your patience.)

If you haven’t picked up Gleam Upon the Waves yet, here’s all the links to help you rectify that:

Paperbacks Amazon  •  Barnes & Noble  •  IndieBound eBooksKindle • Kobo • Nook • Apple Books • GooglePlay

I’ve appreciated the exciting emails I’ve gotten and the messages I’ve received. You all have made me make me feel pretty dang great. I sincerely hope everyone’s enjoying the book. Please leave an honest review when you’ve finished, and tell your friends. Word of mouth is always the best advertising for a book.

Old Haunts, New Location.

Those who tuned into DEAD DROP Live on Tuesday already know this. But for those that didn’t, I wanted to make a quick announcement that Old Haunts have expanded to their own page, and you can check it out here!

As I’ve been rolling out my Reader Resources for The Bell Forging Cycle, I thought it’d be helpful to give them their own space. While they’re similar to the stills you find on Echoes, they’ve grown into their own thing over the last few months. As new ones arrive I’ll keep adding them there. (That page also lets me show off the fun noir-esque title cards.)

If you want to see how these are made, check out Tuesday’s stream of DEAD DROP LIVE—I go into extensive detail. There’s plenty more to come! Keep following me here or over on Instagram to see, uh… new Old Haunts.

Gleam Upon the Soundtrack

In the past, I’ve released my book playlists before the launch of the book. These tend to be inspiration playlists, not the music I find myself writing to. (If you’re interested in a “writing playlist,” let me know in the comments! I’d be happy to assemble something. There’s very much a “type” of music I listen to when writing a Bell Forging Cycle book.) Since Gleam Upon the Waves has been out for a little over a week, I thought I’d go a step further and not only share the playlist but give a few details, why I chose particular songs, and how I felt they reflected (and inspired) aspects of the story.

First, the playlist! Jam out, roaders.

Not a Spotify fan? The playlist is also over on YouTube.

SPOILER WARNING

The following details will contain Gleam Upon the Waves spoilers. So, if you’re still reading, I’d recommend avoiding the rest of this post until after you finished the book. For the rest of you, let’s head deeper into the playlist.

PrologueSons and Daughters – American Spirit

Sleep now child beneath
The heavy current
Dragging you along

This was the song that inspired this book. Something about life dragging you through the wringer without caring about your desires or plans cemented itself inside my head (even well before 2020.)

Chapter 1 & 2Baltimore Blues No. 1 – Deer Tick

Can you hear the sound of the crawling flesh
Now can you smell the burning desire
This place is too small to hide
All the ghosts that’s kicking around inside

There’s something gritty to this Deer Tick song. I felt it was a nice pairing to Wal putting on airs and wearing suits—despite his intentions, he can’t hide who he is. His problems will not disappear. Lovat devours.

Chapter 3Gates of Dawn – Heartless Bastards

I have awoken
The footsteps sound of thunder

While this tune more positive than Wal’s experience, I thought opening a new reality deserved a song that had a similar impact. I’m also a sucker for Erika Wennerstrom’s vocals. (Probably why Heartless Bastards make an appearance a little later.)

Chapter 1-3How Deep Is The Ocean – Miles Davis

Like I wouldn’t include this in an ocean-themed playlist.

Chapter 4bury a friend – Billie Eilish

Why aren’t you scared of me? Why do you care for me?
When we all fall asleep, where do we go?

I had this chapter in my head since Red Little World. I also read it for Dead Drop Live last week. I loved the idea of Ashton being this ghost that haunts Wal—an echo of his past. One he weirdly cares about despite understanding that he’s an enemy. Eilish’s pop-minimalism just felt right for a decoupled avatar whom you may or may not want dead.

Chapter 5Wild and Wasted Waters – Kill It Kid

Wild and wasted waters
Have come to carry me on

For something so deadly, humans have an odd fascination with water. Also, this song fits with Wal being entirely out of his element. It’s helped by the Alan Lomax sample that works too well as an undercurrent for the story happening to Wal.

Chapter 6 & 7Blood on your Bootheel – Caroline Rose

Think if you act like a man, you can alter this wheel;
You can make it in this world without that blood on your bootheels

“Altering the wheel” is something Wal has attempting for a while (since Old Broken Road, if we’re honest,) but he can’t change his destiny. He can kick against the goads as much as he wants, but fate will drag him along whether he wants it or not.

Chapter 8‘Round Midnight – Thelonious Monk

No lyrics, but man what a song. (If you haven’t noticed, any of the jazz numbers I call out in the books end up in my playlists.)

Chapter 9 & 10Glitter & Gold – Barns Courtney

Do you ponder the manner of things
In the dark
The dark, the dark, the dark

Wal’s damn lucky for a guy that can’t escape his reality, eh? There’s also an element of foreshowing here. With the cult’s interest Wal can’t escape his past just like he can’t escape fate.

Chapter 11Lovecraft in Brooklyn – The Mountains Goats

Someday something’s coming
From way out beyond the stars
To kill us while we stand here
It’ll store our brains in mason jars

If you’ve read the last three books, it should be obvious why I included this one. Also, John Darnielle is a national treasure and should be protected at all costs.

Chapter 12, 13, & 14Sirens – Lola Marsh

In a million years
It’ll all be over
Within a million years
It’ll all be over

Yael Shoshana Cohen’s voice is incredible. There is a vastness in this song that matched the tone of the Wasteland. It also deals with time on an epic scale, and that’s something I appreciated—it’s cosmicy without being overt.

Chapter 15Postcards From Hell – The Wood Brothers

I got a soul that I won’t sell
And I don’t read postcards from hell

I hope you caught how Gleam Upon the Waves reflects the other stories up until this point. Wal waking in a hospital and pushing himself out of bed is awfully familiar. Despite what he’s faced with, Wal tends not to stop. He’s relentless. Tell him things are bad, and he keeps going. His tenacity is admirable, if not a bit foolish.

Chapter 16 & 17Wicked Waters – Benjamin Booker

This must be where I lose it all, darling
Throw myself into wicked waters

Again, water. Maybe our pal acted a bit too rashly?

Chapter 18Ding Ding Dong – Waipod Petchsuphan

For all its familiarity, Empress is a foreign place, and Wal is a stranger. This poppy Thai luk thung track from ’76 sparked similar emotions for me. It’s familiar, borrowing from common themes, but at the same time it’s different from other music of the era. It’s also a bop.

Chapter 19Hello, Darling – Conway Twitty

Hello darlin’, nice to see you, it’s been a long time

Should be fairly obvious.

Chapter 20Figure It Out – Royal Blood

Nothing better to do
When I’m stuck on you
And still I’m here
Trying to figure it out

This is a fairly big reveal, and while the theme of the song is related to Wal’s relationship with Essie, it’s even more complicated. “Figuring it out” is kinda a thing here, see?

Chapter 21, 22, & 23You Want it Darker – Leonard Cohen

There’s a lullaby for suffering
And a paradox to blame
But it’s written in the scriptures
And it’s not some idle claim
You want it darker
We kill the flame

Cohen’s last album deals with death and loss, there’s a heaviness to it, and it felt fitting for this section of the book.

Chapter 24, 25, 26Mean Old World – Big Bill Broonzy

This is a mean old world to live in, I’m just travelin’ through
It’s a mean old world to live in, I’m just travelin’ through
Yes, sometime I get so blue, that I don’t know what to do

Another one that should be obvious. Poor Wal. Who’s the jerk that subjects him to this?

Chapter 27 & 28Madness – Ruelle

Nowhere to run from all of this havoc
Nowhere to hide
From all of this madness, madness, madness

Eventually, you can only experience so much before it all just begins to break down.

Chapter 29 & 30Sway – Heartless Bastards

So, I stumble and I sway into the room and I fade
I hope my darkest day are behind me
I want to stay here in the sun for a while
I hope my darkest days are behind me

There’s a spark of hope here, and I feel like there’s a spark of hope in these chapters as well. Yes, two Heartless Bastard songs in this playlist. You’re going to have to deal.

Chapter 31Remains – Algiers

While the captors boast
On how they lower your costs
The rich men gamble
At the foot of the cross

When you make a decision, you need to be ready to deal with the outcome.

Chapter 32Revival – Soulsavers

Why am I so blind
With my eyes wide open, oh?
Trying to get my hands
Clean in dirty water

A song about people doing something they feel is right even though reality clashes with that desire, and somehow, at their core, they know it. If that doesn’t fit the Deeperists, I don’t know what would.

Chapter 33 & 34The Church Bell’s Moan – Bror Gunnar Jansson

Don’t you hear them?

Ring the bell and eventually they’ll come.

Chapter 35 & 36Get Loud for Me – Gizzle

I see my goal and get cold as December when
Counting our sins, I don’t have no friends
I came here to win, my start is your end
Now let it begin now

FIGHT. FIGHT. FIGHT. Also, this is such a great reflection of the previous song that I had to include it.

Chapter 37 & 38The End – Kings of Leon

This could be the end
This could be the end
This could be the end
This could be the end
‘Cause I ain’t got a home

A song about change and facing that change. Felt like a fitting end to this playlist. 

Chapter 37 & 38… againI See A Darkness – Johnny Cash & Bonnie “Prince” Billy

And did you know how much I love you
Is a hope that somehow you you
Can save me from this darkness?

Wait, never mind. This is even more fitting.

Chapter 37 & 38… for real this timeThe Parting Glass – Hozier

Of all the comrades that ere I had, they’re sorry for my going away,
And of all the sweethearts that ere I had, they wish me one more day to stay,
But since it falls unto my lot that I should rise while you should not,
I will gently rise and I’ll softly call, “Goodnight and joy be with you all!”

No… this one.

So, that’s Gleam Upon the Soundtrack, a Gleam Upon the Waves playlist! I hope everyone enjoyed a glimpse into my musical inspirations. It’s really fun to assemble these things and reflect on why particular songs spoke to me over another. I totally understand why other authors do it as well. This isn’t the only playlist I’ve made for my novels, you can check out the other ones here.

Once again, thanks to everyone for picking up Gleam Upon the Waves. I’m really proud of it, and I hope you enjoyed your time back in the Territories. If you haven’t nabbed your copies yet, you can do so from any of the links below.

Buy the paperback: Amazon  –  Barnes & Noble  – IndieBound Buy the eBook: Kindle  –  Kobo  –  Nook  –  Apple Books  –  GooglePlay

Finally, if you’ve finished Gleam, please leave an honest review, and if you liked it, tell your friends! Thank you for making Gleam Upon the Waves one of the books you chose to read this year. Time is finite and it’s an honor you decided to spend some of yours with my book.

GLEAM UPON THE WAVES, One Week Old

It’s Tuesday, which means Book IV of The Bell Forging Cycle, Gleam Upon the Waves, has now officially been out for a week! There’s always a bit of trepidation launching a late-series book. Series are fickle, and sales tend to drop dramatically between each installment. But I’ve been pleasantly surprised! Sales have been solid. And, based on early feedback, people seem to like this one. Hooray! So big thank you to everyone who’s picked up a copy of Gleam or dropped me a note. It means the world to me, and I hope you enjoy your time in the Territories.

Finished? Leave a Review!

Already finished Gleam Upon the Waves? Please leave an honest review either where you purchased the book or over on Goodreads. (Or both! Both is great.) Not only will your reviews help me out, but they’ll also assist your fellow readers in finding books they’ll enjoy. Oh yeah. Tell your friends! Word of mouth is key to any books success.

DEAD DROP Live Returns Tonight

It’s Tuesday, which means tonight I’m going to do another live stream. Please join me from 6–7 PM PDT over on twitch.tv/kmalexander. I’ll be giving a behind-the-scenes look at the different work that goes into creating an Old Haunt and answering any questions you might have. Should be a good time and you should come.

Signed Copy Update

Right now, Amazon is telling me I’ll have my copies in mid-April. (Right around the 15th) Signed copies will be available in the store immediately after they’re received. Thanks for your patience. I know a few of you are as eagerly awaiting this shipment as I am. I wish it could be faster, but I couldn’t order copies of Gleam until the book went live, which delays their production and shipment.

I know I sound like a broken record when I tell you how much I appreciate your excitement and passion about my weird little series. But it does mean a lot, and it keeps me going. Thank you for making Gleam Upon the Waves one of the books you chose to read this year. That is an honor I don’t take lightly. I hope you enjoy your time with Wal as he embarks on his latest adventure. There’s more to come and I cannot wait to sharing it with you.

Old Haunts: Red-Light Nite

West Lovat Warren
Level Three
Late Night

PHOTOSENSITIVE WARNING

PHOTOSENSITIVE WARNING

“A tall figure passed the throng. It was clad in black, its head topped with a tall sharp pointed hood. It drifted silent and unnoticed through the crowd, like a lingering shadow. Dark robes floated about its form like an ebony fog. Where a face should have been was… nothing. No eyeholes were cut into its hood, no outline of a nose pressed at the back of the fabric.”

—Waldo Bell, Red Litten World

Visit Previous Haunts: Lucky Star

Denny Lake Warren
Level Four
Midmorning

Rhapsody

King Station Warren
Level Four
Early Evening

Serenade on Two

Martello Warren
Level Two
Late Night

Local Service

Martello Warren
Level Four
Mid-Day

Licensed Dir. Agents

Unknown Warren
Level Three
Late Night

Happy Auseil

Hickman-Franklin Warren
Level Three
Early Morning

Social Climber

Frink Park Warren
Between Level Four & Five
Early Afternoon

Order Up

Shantak Coffee
Deck Three
Mid-Morning

All of Me

Wilcox Warren
Level Four
Morning

Study Related Ephemera: Echoes of the Wasteland: The Repository Glossary of the Territories Read the Bell Forging Cycle Explore Distant Margins: This Green Sunrise Shore No Lips Dare Speak Aloud Did you think this was over? A telegram arrived Credits:

Music sample: “Rainy Day Blues” by Jump Jackson and his Band
Other audio from Freesounds. Special thanks to: efike, giddster, ramston, and ynef.

Want to stay in touch with me? Sign up for Dead Drop, my rare and elusive newsletter. Subscribers get news, previews, and notices on my books before anyone else delivered directly to their inbox. I work hard to make sure it’s not spammy and full of interesting and relevant information. Sign Up Today→

DEAD DROP Live now on YouTube

I’ve shared a recording of last week’s DEAD DROP Live on YouTube. (And it’s embedded below.) The fun starts at the 11:00 mark (otherwise, it’s just a chill “stream starting soon” countdown). This was my first attempt at streaming, and while I think it went rather well, I’ve already made some adjustments for the next stream to make it easier to watch after the fact. Next week I’m planning on giving a behind-the-scenes look at the work that goes into creating an Old Haunt. So come join me and watch live on my Twitch channel next Tuesday, from 6–7 PM PDT. Should be a good time.

I hope you enjoy the reading and the Q&A session. If you haven’t nabbed your copy of Gleam Upon the Waves you can do so via any of the links below. Signed-books are coming soon. (I’ll post when they arrive.)

Buy the paperback: Amazon  –  Barnes & Noble  Buy the eBook: Kindle  –  Kobo  –  Nook  –  Apple Books  –  GooglePlay

It’s GLEAM UPON THE WAVES Day!

Gleam Upon the Waves is out right now! Join Waldo Bell and crew as they embark on a journey across the sea to the city of Empress, the capital of the hermit nation of Victory. As troubles mount, Wal will discover darkness runs deeper than he ever thought possible; reality is not what it seems, and a new apocalypse is closer than anyone predicted. I am so excited to finally get it out the door and in people’s hands. It’s been a long time coming.

Where to get your copyPaperbacks

For those who prefer paperbacks, you can pick up Gleam Upon the Waves from Amazon today, but it’ll begin to show up on other stores as well. (I’ll update the links below as they come online.) If you’re looking for signed copies, I’ll offer those through my store in the coming weeks.

Amazon • Barnes & Noble • Powell’s • IndieBoundeBooks

For ebook readers, you can pick up an eBook of Red Litten World from any of the following platforms. If there’s a platform you prefer that I don’t currently support, please to email me and let me know, I’d love to get my books onto your favorite.

Kindle • Kobo • Nook • Apple Books • GooglePlay

Be sure you add Gleam Upon the Waves to your currently-reading list on Goodreads, and when you finish, leave a review! I can blog and tweet and shout from my roof, but it’s my readers that make all the difference when it comes to spreading the word.

Join me tonight for Dead Drop Live!

Tonight from 6–7 PM PST I’ll be streaming on Dead Drop Live on Twitch. You’re invited to come and join the fun. I’ll be doing a reading. Answering questions. Showing off all the new swag and possibly doing a giveaway. (Trying to figure out the easiest way to do that.) Should be a fun hot-mess of a time so please, come join me!

Enjoy Gleam Upon the Waves!

Thank you all for supporting this work over the years. I appreciate your emails, comments, reviews, blog posts, fan art—everything. Your excitement means a lot to me, and I sincerely hope you enjoy your time in Gleam Upon the Waves. Welcome back to the Territories, roaders.

Tomorrow.

Get hyped. Gleam Upon the Waves is almost here.

I’m excited to get it out and into everyone’s hands. Looking for something to do until tomorrow? Here’s a few ideas:

● Preorder your ebook using one of the links below: Kindle  –  Kobo  –  Nook  –  Apple Books  –  GooglePlay ●  Read an excerpt! ●  Add Gleam Upon the Waves to your Goodreads! ●  You got question about the launch? I have answers. ● Check out some of the  new swag here!   And here! ●  Explore forgotten echoes, distant corners, and old haunts! ●  Check out the new Bell Forging Cycle Glossary! ●  Listen to my Interview on The Indie Pub podcast !● Oh, yeah! Tell your friends!

See you tomorrow, roaders.