K.M. Alexander's Blog, page 56
June 23, 2016
Faiths and Creeds of Lovat
Welcome to Wild Territories, the series where I delve into the expanded lore and explore the inspiration behind small little details scattered throughout my Lovecraftian urban fantasy series, The Bell Forging Cycle. These posts will be spoiler-free, but you’ll probably appreciate them more if you have read any of books in the series. You can buy them here.
In the last entry, we explored The Mysterious Shamblers of the Scablands, and I asked everyone to vote on what topic they would like me to explore in this entry. The votes are in, and in this piece ,we’re going to examine something a bit different. Please join me as we explore part three of Wild Territories: Faiths and Creeds of Lovat.
https://kmalexander.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/pbs-wild-america.mp3
There is a lot of ground to cover and this is going to be a long article, so if there is a particular religion you’re interested in, use one of the links below to jump to that specific entry. At the end of each feature there will be a link to bring you back to this menu.
Reunified – Hasturian – Deeperism – Dulodi
Curwenism – Mysticism – Eibonianism
The Reunified ChurchMentioned In: The Stars Were Right, Old Broken Road, Red Litten World
Known Members: Priestess Samantha Dubois, Hagen Dubois, Bishop Dubois
Places of Worship: Saint Mark’s (The Stars Were Right) (Pictured)
“The Reunified Church is as old as anything in our ancient world.”
—Waldo Bell, The Stars Were Right
Shortly after the Aligning, most of the fragmented denominations of earth’s former faiths were destroyed or significantly reduce in number. Under the caring and watchful leadership of Ebenezer Alvord, the dispersed congregations were eventually reunited under a single banner, The Reunified Church, eventually establishing a hierarchy of bishops, priests, monks, and nuns. Over the years, their influence widened as congregations began to crop up across the Territories. Missionaries, called Road Priests/Priestesses, crisscross the trails and highways riding small chapelwains pulled by teams of oxen. From these mobile churches, missionaries lead simple services, serve out rust wine, and hear confessions for small communities scattered throughout the Territories.
St. Mark’s — Broadway Hill, Broadway Isle, LovatHistorically the Church had existed in Lovat since its rebirth. During the city’s tumultuous early years the Reunifieds were more militaristic and fought an extended religious war against the Hasturian Faith. These ‘Doctrine Wars’ lasted half a century, and as a result, many of the Reunified churches and cathedrals developed a fortress-like appearance. Walls and battlements ring the buildings and armed guards have been seen walking the walls, ever vigilant. While the church has become more peaceful in recent years, it still retains a small but powerful standing army, and Priest and Priestess alike are required to take self-defense classes.
Much of the Reunified faith is a continuation of its ancient Abrahamic religious heritage with a belief centered on a single divine deity. Since the Doctrine Wars, several splinter denominations have eventually spun away from the faith, notably the Reformed Movement, Salamshalla, Reunified Orthodoxy, and the Brethren. While core beliefs in each sect remain similar, overall, the church is considerably different from its pre-Aligning roots. Many of its post-Aligning practices, holidays, traditions, and saints would be unrecognizable to early pre-Aligning practitioners.
Today, many Lovatines respect the church, but Reunified history is not without controversy. While all sects of The Reunified Church openly welcome all species, that has not always been the case. Early in its formation, the church held to a strict human-only policy and banned non-human species from its services. The Purity Movement, a splinter sect of Reunified Brethren led by the charismatic Conrad O’Conner, claim to trace their roots back to the early Reunified Church and continues to preach human superiority and exclusion. Something the church and its sub-sects have vehemently disavowed.
An estimated 28.7% of Lovatines claim some connection with the Reunified Church making it the largest religious organization in the Territories.
The Hasturian FaithMentioned In: The Stars Were Right, Old Broken Road, Red Litten World
Known Members: Peter Black, August Nickel
Know Places of Worship: Carcosa Grove (The Stars Were Right)
“It’s all deplorable. Folks worshiping monsters, fish gods, squid, and then there’s those Hasturians.”
—Jeremiah Norry, Old Broken Road
Arriving with the emergence of the dauger sometime after the Aligning, The Followers of the Cold Shepherd, more commonly known as the Hasturian Faith, is structured similarity to the early Reunified Church. However, it is ‘Ministers’ not Priests or Priestesses who lead congregations and church members refer to one another as ‘sister,’ ‘brother,’ or the gender neutral ‘sibling.’
The faith centers on the worship of Hastur, a deity of some mystery. Hastur’s origins are strange, and the church’s religious text—The Pallidon—isn’t clear on the subject. Congregations are divided into two wings that teach two separate origins for their god; Monarchists preach that Hastur was once a king of a great golden city while the more conservative Traditionalists believe him to be the elevated form of a former god of sheepherders. Recently, a third more open doctrine had appeared, it teaches that Hastur is not one but many aspects allowing for both origins. All Hasturians believe he is an all-knowing deity who values knowledge above all. As a result, wisdom and the pursuit of knowledge are highly favored values within the church. Traditionally, church members wear yellow robes over their everyday clothes while at worship though the practice has begun to fade in more modern times.
While it is now one of the most welcoming faiths in the city, there was a time when humans were not accepted. This was initially a response to former Reunified policy and what led to the Doctrine Wars. As a result, human membership remains small. It is estimated that 12% of Lovatines are associated with the Hasturian Faith.
DeeperismMentioned In: The Stars Were Right, Old Broken Road
Known members: Unnamed Anur
Places of Worship: Unknown
“Deeper ain’t going to help you with them. Deeper can’t, not now. Not now. Not now.”
—Unnamed Anur, The Stars Were Right
You will find a variety of faiths among the subaquatic species of Lovat, but the most common among them is the Church of Deeper, or Deeperism as it’s more commonly called. In fact, many of the kresh, anur, and cephels of the Sunk count themselves among the members of this faith.
Deeperist Bonfire during NeapThe tenets and practices of Deeperism are as varied as the practitioners. But all congregations—called shoals—focus on a dreaming god called Deeper. It is said he dwells in a sunken city lost to the black abysses of the swollen oceans. Worshipers of the dreaming god dress in salt-stained sackcloth rags—often gray or black—during services and ritual gatherings. They preach that Deeper will one day awaken and return to his faithful and lead his followers to a place of prominence in the world while driving their enemies mad in the process.
Deeper holidays are celebrated during King and Neap Tides and are the high point of the Church’s year. Shoals observe the tides by lighting bonfires around massive stone monoliths, a strange practice for a faith dominated by Lovat’s subaquatic species. Scholars believe these fire rituals can be traced back to the early human worship of Deeper, and might be Pre-Aligning in their origin.
During these events, Deeper dances, feasts, and celebrations are observed around the bonfires and are held on small islands surrounded by King Tide lagoons or, during Neap, among the salt-stained remnants of ancient ghost forests lost to the sea in bygone epochs.
For a long time, some religious scholars associated the Deeperism movement alongside the Mystics who preach from their crates on Lovat’s corners. But recently, rallying under a banner rejecting institutionalized speciesism, there has been a call to recognize the Deeperists as an independent faith. Some reports indicate as many as 67% of cephels, 46% of anur, and 22% of kresh consider themselves Deeperists though the exact numbers are hard to lock down. If these figures are found to be true, this could potentially elevate Deeperism from a once disregarded faith and make it the largest religious organization in the city.
DulodiMentioned In: The Stars Were Right (Never Named), Old Broken Road (Never Named)
Known members: Wensem dal Ibble, Kitasha wen Gresna
Places of Worship: Not Applicable
“We have a family ritual to perform, a bonding between father and son. It’s long overdue already.”
—Wensem dal Ibble, The Stars Were Right
The Dulodi Religion is separated into two branches: the first is ‘Hanara’ or ‘The Familial Bond’ second is ‘Garilu Dor Dulodi’ commonly called ‘The Open Community Path.’ These two branches constitute the primary beliefs of the Maero People.
Hanara Dulodi, the traditional belief structure, tends to be a more insular family affair, focused more on building harmony within one’s chosen community rather than any personal experience with a particular deity. Maero religious leaders, called lamas, tend to act as guides and help facilitate these interactions rather than instruct. Gatherings are group ceremonies, called “kinships,” are held in rotating maero households.
Religious practices vary but involve different trials where the family places themselves within a particular undertaking. These self-imposed ordeals require each member of the family to rely on the others. During these moments it is believed that a close bonding is formed and, it is believed that with each successful trial, the individual maero becomes more refined and therefore more at peace with their surroundings and themselves.
Garilu Dor Dulodi, sometimes called neo-Dulodi is more open than the traditional Hanara and was taught first by Lama Gratin wen Urutar a few centuries after the maero’s emergence. While families are encouraged to participate together, the traditions of Garilu Dor tends to focus more on the individual’s relationship to their community rather than on unifying small, close-knit groups. Kinships tend to be much larger, consisting of hundreds of maero as opposed to the little gatherings within Hanara. Likewise, community trials are open to all opposed to isolated trials of family units. Practitioners believe that by undertaking the trails with strangers they find themselves more open to the world, their environs, and their communities.
Most maero claim to be, at least casual practitioners of Dulodi, and some non-maero species are also found within the faith. It is estimated that only 5% of Lovatines are regular practitioners making Dulodi the third largest religion in the city.
CurwenitesMentioned In: The Stars Were Right, Old Broken Road, Red Litten World
Known members: Unknown
Places of Worship: Unknown
“As if on cue, a column of Curwenites marched along in their blue jumpsuits, following a twisted icon held by a dauger at the head of the column.”
—Waldo Bell, Old Broken Road
Curwenism is one of the smaller of Lovat’s organized religions, and often the most misunderstood. Curwenites are followers of the prophet Curwen, an ancient holy man who taught of a god of many faces who was all gods. This strange and shadowy prophet wandered the wastelands after the Aligning and was said to have performed wonders and raise the dead. It wasn’t long after these miracles that he began to gain acolytes. Together with his followers Curwen retreated into the Rosalia Mountains, and it was there his teachings were gathered into The Nine Peaks, which serve as the Curwenites holy book.
Procession of Moth Robe CurwenitesModern practitioners are secretive about their beliefs, but it is not uncommon to see a procession of the faithful marching in the city’s thoroughfares. Congregations tend to mimic one another in dress, and it is not unusual to hear Curwenites refer to one another based upon their wardrobes. The Sporting Jackets, Blue Suits, and Moth Robes are all common sites in the city. Curwenites have no houses of worship, preferring instead to meet in public squares or parks for readings from The Nine Peaks. The faith also has no unifying symbol. Followers of the prophet combine objects and symbols from other religions as an attempt to capture one aspect of their many-faced god. The creation of these small simulacra is considered an act of worship.
As with Deeperism, Curwenites went largely unacknowledged for generations. It wasn’t until recently they have found their place among Lovat’s major religious organizations.
MysticsMentioned In: The Stars Were Right, Red Litten World
Known members: Unknown
Places of Worship: Unknown
“It was easy to mistake them for cultists. Mystics throughout the scrape dressed in similar garb. ”
—Waldo Bell, Red Litten World
Mystics are the evangelists of the small faiths and are often seen on the street corners of the city, peddling stories of those they worship. The pantheon is as broad and varied as their servants. Often Mystics get grouped together under the banner of “Mysticism” though their practices, teachings, and doctrines rarely align. While the number of deities is enormous a few of the “small gods” have emerged as primary figures among many of the mystics.
• Bleeding James
Reviled by Hasturians, the devotees of Bleeding James were nearly stomped out during the campaigns of the Doctrine Wars. However, the Hasturians were never able to suppress the faith altogether. While his congregants often view him as a heroic outlaw type figure, the Hasturian treat him as more of a devil. Bleeding James worship has risen in popularity within the subcultures of Lovat’s warrens and several congregations now have small churches in the city’s lower levels.
• Ceneron
The anur’s desert-dwelling cousins, the bofu-anur, often worship a strange toad-like creature that is said to have come from a distant moon. Small shrines to her can be seen in corners and alleys of Level Two near bofu-anur enclaves.
• Pan
This trickster god has long been one of the most popular among the street mystics. Some claim his origins can be traced to the pre-Aligning world, though many believe this half-man/half-goat creature could be a Lengish man who rose to power and influence. Pan is quite popular among some of the elevated in Lovat’s upper reaches, and Pan-worshiping patrons have erected several statues dedicated to him in the sun-lit courts and breezy plazas of Level Eight.
• Tindalos
The bizarre time traveling beast-god has risen in popularity in recent decades, in particular among the city’s working class. While no public houses of worship exist, the pulpiteers that preach on the streets of are often seen accompanied by packs of half-feral dogs, or swarms of bats.
• Yad/Yaddoth
A giant sentient worm-like creature that is said to have come from the stars. Many of Yad’s evangelists claim the worm lives beneath Broadway Island. House of Yaddoth is the only known church of Yad. It can be found near the center of the island and holds services nightly. The church also runs a popular soup kitchen for the cities poor and downtrodden.
Conservative estimations have calculated that over two hundred organized congregations are worshiping small gods within Lovat, and much more remain in the shadows. Their popularity waxes and wanes depending on a variety of conditions. But street mystics have proven tenacious, and their influence will continue to resonate through the warrens of the city in the generations to come.
Eibonian CultMentioned In: Old Broken Road, Red Litten World (Never Named)
Known members: The Evangelist
Places of Worship: Unknown
“Well, my first assumption would be Reunified road priests, though they don’t wear pointed hoods. We can rule out Deepers, Curwenites, and Eibonians as well. None of them go for black.”
—Samantha Dubois, Old Broken Road
The Eibonian Cult is named after their holy book. The Book of Eibon, which speaks of a nameless ancient god that was imprisoned in a bleak darkness and who would re-light the world, once freed. While the actual number of Eibonians is unknown, their popularity has risen in recent months.
Devotees tend to be erudite-types and are often found having hushed discourse with one another in many of the city’s libraries and bookshops. While rites, rituals, and even the name of their god remain unknown, many scholars believe that the Eibonians are in the process of searching for a way to free their deity from its ancient prison.
Until recently, the Eibonian’s nameless god has been grouped with the “small gods” of the Mystics. However, recent revelations in the local press, revealing the faith and spiritual practices of a few high-level city officials has helped hoist the faith’s notoriety beyond that of the Mystics. Time will tell if the recent reports have had any lasting impact or, if like many small faiths before it, the Eibonian Cult will fade back into obscurity.
Thanks for reading the third Wild Territories entry. I hope you enjoyed this deeper look at some of the major religions of Lovat. I always enjoy sharing some of the expanded lore from the series and if you have any questions please feel free to leave a comment below, I’m always happy to answer.
This feature just covers a narrow sample of seven major religions found within the city, and mostly focused on faiths that have been mentioned in the novels. Obviously, there is much more history and many more details that could be explored for each of these churches, and I am sure we’ll continue to examine them (and others) in future Bell Forging Cycle novels as well.
As before the idea is to continue this series and reveal more behind the scenes information about The Bell Forging Cycle. To do that, I need your help. Vote below and decided where we go next time we visit the Wild Territories.
Filed under: Wild Territories Tagged: lore, Lovat, Old Broken Road, Red Litten World, religion, the bell forging cycle, The Stars Were Right, world building
June 10, 2016
Quick Stock Update
I’ve gotten a few emails from readers, so I figured it’d be easiest to address this here. Yes, I’m still out of stock of both signed paperback copies of The Stars Were Right [I sold out at Lilac City Comicon] and it’s associated Swag Pack over in my store. Typically I’d be replacing them ASAP. But, I rolled right from the convention into a week and a half of travel [which you can read about here], and it delayed things a bit. Ah, the joys and perils of running your own storefront.
But, the good news is more books and swag materials are on the way! Hooray! I should have copies of The Stars Were Right by next Monday, the Swag Packs a week or so after that. I’m sure I’ll announce the arrival over on Twitter when they show, so make sure you’re following me there. If you just cannot wait (bless you,) you can get unsigned paperbacks from any of the following stores:
Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Powells – BAM!
Filed under: The Stars Were Right Tagged: bell forging cycle, lilac city comicon, Paperback, simon pegg, swag pack, Travel
June 7, 2016
Trip Report – California’s National Parks
On Saturday, Kari-Lise and I returned from a ten-day road trip through California. 2016 is the 100th anniversary of the National Parks in America, so we planned on hitting as many Parks as we could. We don’t vacation like normals; laying on the beach isn’t for us. We tend to focus on adventure while on our travels. It’s a big world, and there’s a lot out there to see. As I joked on Twitter: relaxing is boring.
Since sunsetting the Friday Link Pack, I decided to try and make this blog a bit more personal. So, I figured it’d be fun to do a quick post compiling a trip report, share some of our experiences and a few photos. If you want you can click to view them larger, all photos were taken with my iPhone 6s. Since this trip was themed around National Parks, I’ll break it down by Park in the order of visitation. First up…
1. Yosemite
From the Yosemite Valley floor looking SouthWe started with America’s third National Park, established in 1890. Strangely, until last week I’d never been here. Despite having family living in California and making multiple trips to the state as a kid, Yosemite was never a destination. It’s a remarkable place and both Kari-Lise, and I left stunned by its majestic beauty. I could see why John Muir (one of my personal heroes) fell in love with the place. It leaves you feeling small and insignificant. It makes you appreciate the world on a more primal level.
“Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul alike.”
—John Muir, The Yosemite
Wildlife was out in full, we met a momma black bear and her cub, they were far away and while she was keeping an eye on us, we didn’t approach. We also saw mule deer and a lone coyote. We hiked the east side of the valley floor along the base of Half Dome and away from the campgrounds and parking lots. While it was an enjoyable hike, we didn’t discover until too late that there was a shuttle to take you to Glacier Point, and we could have hiked from there down to the valley along the Panorama Trail. Next time.
Yosemite Valley from Glacier PointThere is still so much that we left unseen. We didn’t even get to Tioga Pass, Tuolumne Meadows, and missed Hetch Hetchy completely. We’ve read nothing but good things about all those areas. Yosemite is big and a day and a half wasn’t enough time. There have already been several discussions in the Alexander household about a return visit so we can spend a bit more time spent among the spires of Yosemite.
2. Kings Canyon
Driving Highway 180 towards Kings CanyonSecond Park on our trip was America’s 26th National Park, established in 1940. This park was significantly more remote than the others, but the drive out there was incredible and worth the time. To get to the park you have to pass through Sequoia National Forest on Highway 180—the only way in and out.
Last year, a fire tore through the central portion of the valley, which left bare mountains dotted with blackened ghost trees and slopes covered in wildflowers. A thunderstorm was rolling down the canyon as we passed through and the rumbles could be heard echoing for miles. It’s way out there, and since we weren’t staying nearby, we didn’t get a chance to hike any portion of the park. We just passed through, poked around for a few hours and then headed off to the next park on our list.
3. Sequoia
Hiking through Mineral King ValleyAmerica’s second National Park, established in 1890, was third on our list. If I had to pick a favorite park from this trip, Sequoia wins. It was stunning. It was everything I love in National Parks. Huge sweeping vistas, massive trees thousands of years old, and cold alpine valleys dominated our days.
We hiked up in Mineral King—an incredible subalpine valley—on our first day. When we got there, we noticed quite a few of the backpacker’s cars were wrapped in tarps. Which we found strange. It wasn’t until later that we discovered that the yellow-bellied marmots of Mineral King are addicted to antifreeze and will chew through anything to get at it. While usually dangerous to animals, for whatever reason these marmots don’t die from ingesting the coolant. The Rangers have taken to calling them super marmots. Thankfully our rental car was unaffected.
Spiderweb gate installed by the CCC outside Crystal CaveOn our second day, we checked out the big trees around General Sherman (the largest tree by volume in the world), but the highlight was Crystal Cave. If you visit, make sure to book your tickets in advance. The tour through the cave was about an hour and well worth it. Happy we spent some time there. It also has a cool spiderweb gate entrance that reminded me of a fantasy novel.
4. The Channel Islands
Island Fox on Santa Cruz IslandThe 40th National Park established in 1980 is often referred to as America’s Galapagos! No, for real. The archipelago is home to over two thousand plant and animal species, one hundred and forty-five of which are found nowhere else on the planet. The highlight was, of course, the island fox, who are plentiful (despite being nearly extinct two decades ago) and completely unafraid of people. They were everywhere.
Sitting offshore at Santa Cruz IslandHalfway into our hike about five miles from everything, we stopped to check out a songbird hanging on a bush. When randomly this older, wrinkled, nearly naked, and quite tan uh… gentlemen, wandered past us. He reminded me of those old white people you see in tropical locations, those who have spent decades in the sun and wear only thongs, the sun-worshipper type. He noticed that we were watching the songbird, smiled at us, and told us that it was a songbird, and then he went along his way. He was quite friendly, but it was strange seeing him so far out. Here we were five miles from anything, and this guy looks like he’s wandering along a resort beach. Now, you have to realize, outside of Park and Nature Conservancy staff the Channel Islands are completely uninhabited. Yet, here was this guy in his thong and flip-flops moseying like a local and heading even deeper into the island. He wasn’t with us on the catamaran on the way in, so maybe he landed on a different beach? Perhaps he works there? It was surreal.
Overlooking sea caves on Santa Cruz IslandWe finished our hike around a small portion of the island, had lunch overlooking some rock formations and watched flights of pelicans fly below us as we took in the incredible views. Both of us wished we had more time; there are many more islands and all are distinct from each other, so there is still so much to see.
5. Pinnacles
Upper portion of Balconies Cave Trail in PinnaclesSo, we were supposed to have a down day. But as I mentioned at the start of this report for us down days are tedious. We had wanted to visit America’s newest (#59) National Park, but we were afraid we might have to miss it. Thankfully, we got the itch for a long drive and I’m glad we made the three-hour journey north.
Pinnacles is the sight of an ancient volcano along the San Andreas fault. It’s also the home to California condors, and its trails are lined with amazing talus caves. The caves were impressive and easily the highlight of our visit. Though, I’ll admit that it was a bit creepy to crawl through building-sized boulders along the fault line. After the coolness of the caves, we found the remaining trail sunbaked and exposed. We spent a few hours hiking and emerged tired and sweaty and starving.
Sadly, we didn’t get a chance to see any condors. But in the 100° heat I’m wagering they were spending as much time as they could in the shade.
6. Joshua Tree
A Joshua tree at sunsetJoshua Tree might be one of my favorite places on the planet, it’s the 52nd National Park established in 1994, and last on our trip. I’m not normally a “desert” person. I prefer snow-covered mountains, damp temperate forests, and Pacific Northwest islands to vast wastelands of the desert. But there’s something about Joshua Tree that haunts me. The strange vegetation, large piles of boulders, and the silent solitude are captivating. It’s easy to see why I’m not alone in falling in love with the place.
Joshua Tree homesteader cabin or Fallout set piece?We stayed at this incredible little homesteader cabin that we found on AirBnB. It was remote and raw and served perfectly as a basecamp for our explorations into the park. Summer is the slow season at Joshua Tree, and I can see why the temps were crazy high (reaching 110° during the day) which meant we were up very early so we could hike and enjoy the park. The hike we did was incredible. We saw jackrabbits, cottontails, antelope squirrels, and lizards of all shapes and sizes all over the place. This was our second visit to Joshua Tree in a year, and we’ll probably be back again. There’s just something about it. It’s hard to stay away.
While attending Lilac City Comicon, I had someone ask me where I get my ideas. It’s a common question, and one of my answers (among many) was travel. It’s so critical to my process, and I find it stretches me as a person. (Even something as safe as our National Parks here in America.) It forces me to get out of my small box and face things I wouldn’t typically face on a day to day basis. There’s a quote from Mark Twain I’ve posted on here many times before, but it’s one I love:
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.”
As a writer, I ask readers to go on journeys with me, so it’s on natural that I should take some myself. It’s one thing to write about the heat of the sun beating upon your neck, it’s another to experience it. A cleft of rock can inspire a thousand tales, a family of marmot running across a subalpine meadow can spark ideas for plots, and meeting interesting people along the way can usher forth a whole civilization of rich characters. Tales, plots, and characters that I might never dream up sitting in my home office. Travel isn’t necessary for writing, but I think it can go a long way to making someone a better writer. At least it does for me.
So that’s our trip! The total stat breakdown:
10 Days
6 National Parks
59.2 Miles Hiked
2159 Miles Driven
It was unbelievable, and I’ll be the first to admit it was tough coming back to work on Monday. But such is life; besides I have books to finish, stories to tell, after all, these pages don’t write themselves.
Filed under: Travel Tagged: channel islands, Hiking, joshua tree, kings canyon, national parks, pinnacles, road trip, santa cruz, sequoia, yosemite
May 25, 2016
Life in the Weird and a Short Respite
Recently, I was asked by Mihir Wanchoo if I’d be interested in writing an article for Fantasy Book Critic. Mihir encouraged me to discuss how I approach combining genres in my writing and explore some of my inspirations. I was happy to oblige and decided to take it a bit further and delve into some of the tenants I’ve kept in mind while I work. The result is Life in the Weird, On the Blending of Genre. Here’s how it starts:
I never decided to write a genre-blending novel, it just happened. As a reader, I always craved weird books that are out of the ordinary. I tend to be turned off to a series that stays within traditional genre lines. It’s this predilection that drew me to Stephen King’s Dark Tower series, why I love China Miéville’s New Crobuzon stories so much, and why Neil Gaiman’s American Gods resonates with me. There’s something in those work that feels fresh, new, and free. So it’s only natural that those proclivities show up in my writing as well…
You have to read the rest of the article over on Fantasy Book Critic. Once you’ve done that make sure to follow them on Twitter and visit them over on Facebook as well. They’re a great site, with a lot of excellent content. Well worth your time.
Also, I wanted to give everyone a heads up that I’m taking the next ten days off. This spring has been hectic. I’ve had revisions on my new fantasy project, I’ve been working on Coal Belly‘s rebirth, there been some outlining on the next Bell Forging novel, and I attended both Norwescon 39 and Lilac City Comicon. So as a bookend for a busy spring, Kari-Lise and I are going on vacation. The plan is to get lost in the mountains, islands, and deserts of California, do some hiking and unplug from the internet. (That said, knowing me, I’ll still find a bit of time to post to Instagram and Twitter. So make sure you’re following me to see what I’m up to.)
Some exciting things are coming when I get back. There are quite a few longer-form blog posts in the hopper including an exciting Wild Territories post (voted on by you!) So stick around, and I’ll see y’all in June.
Filed under: News Tagged: article, california, fantasy book critic, genre, guest post, Hiatus, Travel, weird fiction, Writing
May 17, 2016
A 2016 Lilac City Comicon Debriefing
Last Saturday was the tenth anniversary of Lilac City Comicon, and I was lucky enough to be there along side my buddy Josh Montreuil. This was my second time at Lilac City and since last year they had expanded into a larger space and quite a few more fans showed up.
As before it was a whirlwind of great people and an overall success for me. I had plenty of books left over from Norwescon [Read the Norwescon 39 Debriefing Here] and I sold a ton at Lilac City. Okay, that’s a bit of an understatement. I sold out of every copy of The Stars Were Right. Which is AMAZING. Thank you to everyone who picked up a book, I left Spokane with a lighter trunk which is always a good thing.
I could ramble on a bit, but let’s get to the highlights. That’s the fun stuff:
The cosplay. Carl, a friend of both Josh and myself, made an astute observation: at most cons you see like one person cosplaying for every ten people. But something about Lilac City really brings out the cosplayers. They were everywhere. There was probably one person cosplaying in every three, and the quality was incredible. (As you can see from the pictures.) Like last year, it was really difficult to choose which to feature. I took a ton of photos.
Obviously selling out of every copy of The Stars Were Right was a huge highlight. Spokane really loves my books, and I am both touched and grateful. There were a few people who came back later in the day wanting to buy a copy and unfortunately they had to go without. I’m in the process of replenishing my stock from my store, but there are plenty of places you can still pick it up. Hit the official site for The Stars Were Right where I link to a bunch of locations where it and other books in the Cycle are available.
Seeing my mom, dad, and little sister. Since this is a business trip, I don’t have much time to hang out with family. But it was good to see them even for a brief moment.
Spending time at the table with Josh Montreuil and watching him work. Josh is a fantastic comic book artist, and you should be following him on Tumblr . Seriously. Do it now; I’ll wait.
My adorable selfie with the Lich. What a guy.
Seeing some old friends. It’s been eight years since I moved westward, so it’s nice to catch up with folks and see how things are going.
Watching Josh work on his various sketch commissions. I saw the Grinch and his dog, Ben Grimm, and the always abriffic Doc Savage. (Who is due for his own reboot, let’s be honest.)
Ain’t going to lie, my table looked great.
I had several people who sought me out specifically after picking up and reading The Stars Were Right last year. Everyone was excited to experience more of ol’ Waldo Bell’s adventures, and I was happy to learn how much they loved the first book.
Big thanks to the guy who not only picked up Red Litten World but also bought the current set of The Bell Forging Cycle for his friend as well. As I said on Twitter, that means the world to us authors. Telling your friends about a writer’s work helps keep us writing.
My table was right next to fellow Seattle author Matt Youngmark , and it was great chatting with him throughout the day. Not only is Matt is good people, he’s also the creator of Chooseomatic Books , which is are choose-your-own-adventure novels for adults. They’re great fun and worth checking out.
The Steven Universe cosplayers (see above right) who sang a stirring rendition of the Steven Universe theme song at Matt’s request.
The Sprocket the Cat cosplay! (See below left.) If you don’t know Sprocket, he’s the mascot for Lilac City Comicon. It’s cool to see he’s got some fans.
The Post-Con Decompression Dinner—It’s nice to relax and have a few beers with fellow creatives after a convention. Thanks as always to Matt, Kevin, Peter, Jen, Lars, and Josh for letting me hang with them and eat Irish food, wax poetic about running a table, and crack stupid jokes.
I was really happy with my experience at Lilac City Comicon, and I am already planning and looking forward to attending next year. It’s a really welcoming crowd and it’s nice to see something like that in Spokane. Right now I don’t have any future appearances scheduled, but that could always change. You can keep track of where I’ll be and check out my previous conventions over on my Upcoming Appearances page.
Thanks for a great convention, Spokane!
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Filed under: Con Reports Tagged: conventions, cosplay, josh montreuil, lilac city comicon, matt youngmark, Spokane, the bell forging cycle, The Stars Were Right, Washington
May 16, 2016
The Appeal of the Fantastic
“Part of the appeal of the fantastic is taking ridiculous ideas very seriously and pretending they’re not absurd.”
Those who have been following both my writing and this blog know that alongside writers like Neil Gaiman, Mark Twain, and Ursula K. LeGuin, the English novelist China Miéville is one of my biggest influences.
Recently, I just finished his latest book, This Census Taker (and it was wonderful.) The fanboy in me wanted more so I shuffled some books around in my to-read stack so while on my way to Lilac City Comicon I was able to listen to the first half of the Iron Council (which I am also loving and regrettably have never read.) So, Miéville work and his process have been on my mind.
If you want more Miéville beyond his novels, make sure to check out his dissertation at the University of Kansas: Cognition as Ideology: A Dialectic of SF Theory. I’ve featured it in past Friday Link Packs, but you can watch the full lecture on YouTube. It’s great and worth watching.
Filed under: Quotes Tagged: China Miéville, fantastic, favorite writers, ideas, Writing
April 29, 2016
Come See Me at Lilac City Comicon
On May 14th, I’ll be attending one of my favorite conventions: Lilac City Comic Con in the distant hamlet of Spokane, Washington! It’s a fantastic event with a great crowd. And, just like last year, I’m happy to say I’ll once again be sharing a table alongside the incredibly talented artist: Josh Montreuil. Josh will be bringing a bunch of prints and will be taking sketch requests. You should come by and say hello!
My side of the table will be pretty full. I’ll be bringing copies of The Stars Were Right, Old Broken Road, and the latest book in the Bell Forging Cycle: Red Litten World. I’ll also have Bell Caravans patches as well as a ton of free swag (including those new stickers I posted about a few weeks ago.) Lilac City Comic Con isn’t really a ribbon convention, but I’ll have the Caravan Master, Roader, and Shambler ribbons that I brought with me to Norwescon. If you want to draw a ribbon from THE BOX OF CHOOSING™ just ask and I’ll be happy to let you try your luck. (Full details on the badge ribbons can be read here.)
Josh and I will be lording over our small empire at table D10, which is clearly the best table and there is none better. It is known. Use the map below to see where we’re at or look for the big Bell Forging Cycle banner. You can’t miss it.
We had a great time last year, and I’m looking forward to LLC once again. There’s a ton of great and talented people participating; you can check out the full guest list and complete exhibitor list over at the official Lilac City Comicon site. So mark your calendars Spokane, I’ll see you there!
Filed under: Upcoming Appearances Tagged: bell caravans patch, josh montreuil, lilac city comicon, Old Broken Road, Red Litten World, ribbons, Spokane, Swag, The Stars Were Right, Washington
April 22, 2016
Parties Weren’t Meant to Last
“But life is just a party, and parties weren’t meant to last.”
Prince passed away yesterday; he was fifty-seven. Between the fan tributes, listening to the nonstop playlists on KEXP, and watching buildings lit in purple as tribute around the world, I’ve found myself musing over his loss and how I handle the death of someone like Prince.
2016 has been a rough year for music already; we have lost some incredible titans: Maurice White, Merle Haggard, Phife Dogg, the indomitable David Bowie, and more. The internet as a whole allows all of us to share in moments together, and following each loss comes an outpouring of love, respect, and sadness. It’s beautiful to see how many people are touched by the creations of a single individual.
I was talking with a friend of mine this morning about how I handle moments like this differently. I didn’t know Prince personally, so I don’t cry, and I don’t generally get emotional. But that doesn’t mean I don’t care. My emotions just go in a different direction. As I reflect on Prince’s life, I find myself inspired.
The quote I pulled from the lyrics of 1999, really resonated with me this morning—like a party, life doesn’t last. We are here on this earth for a finite time, and we’re lucky enough to live in an age where we can pursue whatever we wish. Often people squander this. I know I have. I can’t begin to calculate how many hours in the past I’ve wasted.
For me, the death of a titan like Prince doesn’t depress me. Sure, I will miss seeing performances like the halftime show from Super Bowl XLI, but looking back on his life and seeing what he was able to do in only fifty-seven years leaves me in awe. Prince’s life shows us what can happen when you are willing to put aside distractions and pour 100% of yourself into your creations. Look at his impact on music. Look at his influence in songwriting. Look at how he inspired so many generations of performers. A skinny kid from Minneapolis, Minnesota profoundly changed music forever. We won’t forget that, and that’s incredible. That energizes me, motivates me, and it makes me want to put aside all distractions and do the same.
The party of life may not last, but if you throw a good one, the memory will never fade. Rest in peace, Prince. Thanks.
Filed under: Inspiration, Quotes Tagged: creation, death, Inspiration, Life, Motivation, music, prince
April 19, 2016
Join by Steve Toutonghi
“Join is a searing, ballistic plunge into the mysteries of identity and mortality. Its ingenious core is revealed and amplified by high voltage suspense and murder. Delicious.”
If that quote doesn’t make you want to read this book, you’re probably dead. I’m happy to say that today is the launch of Join by author Steve Toutonghi. Now before I continue, full disclosure: Steve is a friend of mine, a former co-worker (and boss), and I was lucky enough to be an early a beta reader of the manuscript that became Join.
Join is good, it’s real good, and you should buy and read it. As I mentioned in my review on Goodreads, Join reminds me of the work of Philip K. Dick, Kurt Vonnegut, or, more recently, Jeff VanderMeer. A strange and cerebral tale that is both intimate and engaging. The story is set on a familiar near-future Earth that has been ravaged by extreme weather events. In this setting, we find ourselves confronted with the technology of Join: the merging of individual’s consciousnesses (and bodies) into a single person with the memories comprised of each former individual. The Join technology is the crux of the story, the partial cause of tragic events on a personal and, ultimately, global scale. Throughout the novel, Steve takes us on a journey into the ramifications of Join, masterfully weaving beautiful prose with his dark humor, while examining ideas of individualism, mortality, gender, and consciousness.
A great novel doesn’t have to provide answers, often all it needs to do to achieve greatness is asks the right questions. The thing I like—and this is something a lot of authors can glean from this book—is Steve’s use of restraint. This was something that was present even in early drafts. Steve goes just far enough, poking and prodding at ideas and asking difficult questions. Ultimately this tactic challenges us the reader to provide the final answers. As a result, the story left me dwelling on Join’s themes long after it had ended.
Join a beautiful first book, and one I am happy and excited to recommend. It arrives today from Soho Press, and you can purchase it pretty much everywhere: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, IndieBound, and more. I’m sure you local library or independent bookstore can get it as well. Make sure to follow Steve on Twitter and check out his website at stevetoutonghi.com. When you’ve finished, make sure to leave a review on Goodreads.
Filed under: Reading, Recommendations Tagged: consciousness, gender, goodreads, individualism, jeff vandermeer, join, Kurt Vonnegut, mortality, philip k. dick, review, Sci-fi, steve tontounghi
April 13, 2016
New 2016 Stickers
I ran out of stickers (and buttons, actually) at Norwescon, which is great. I love that people love my swag, it’s why I make it. Plus, it allows me to expand the world of The Bell Forging Cycle beyond the page.
However, I felt a few of the stickers were looking a little dated. They just weren’t as cool as the others, so since I ran out, I used this opportunity to refresh a few of the sticker designs. For those who aren’t familiar, stickers are available in my free swag packs, or you can get them by purchasing any book from my store, and of course all are available for free at conventions (along with a bunch of other stuff) as long as my stock holds out.
Let’s take a look at the new designs!
The Stars Were Right Sticker Set
There have been two new updates with The Stars Were Right set, the St. Olmstead sticker has been completely redone and now includes the logo’s lockup. I’ve also added a new skeletal maero hand, taken from the mysterious Fig. 12. It’s very metal.
Old Broken Road Sticker Set
The Old Broken Road sticker set got a pair of updates as well. This is the first time everyone is getting to see the City of Syringa seal. As with Lovat, Syringa is built upon the site of another city and there’s a reference to it in their seal. I’ve also included The City of Lovat Caravan Authority badge, the same mark that officially recognizes the Bell Caravan patches. Since Old Broken Road is about caravans I felt it was fitting.
Red Litten World Sticker Set
The Red Litten World sticker set is only six months old, so it doesn’t have any updates for 2016. But I love it, and its awesomeness is a big reason why I felt like I needed to update the previous sets. Plus I wanted to include it in this post so you can see all sets side by side.
That’s the update for the stickers this year. The outdated images on my store should be updated sometime this weekend. Remember, I give away these stickers and more in my free swag packs, just hit the Free Stuff page and learn how you can get your hands on ’em. (All I ask is you pay for shipping.)
Thoughts? Judgments? Hatred? Why not leave a comment below and tell me what you think?
Filed under: Swag Tagged: 2016, city of lovat, free stuff, maero, Old Broken Road, Red Litten World, saint olmstead, Stickers, syringa, The Stars Were Right, updates
