R.A. McCandless's Blog, page 9

Indie Web Series AFK Needs Your Help!

Elves, and Orcs, and Rangers—OH MY!
Making a public appeal for support today. Not for myself (although, you’re welcome to buy my books) but for a free web series that kicks ass and takes names.
AFK.
All you have to do is give it your vote. It's not even competing against other shows!
This is a brilliant show that takes one of the what-if scenarios from our modern culture, and really extends it through the story: What if you could actually go into that computer role-playing game that you love so m...

Company of the Damned - Cover Reveal

Did someone order a rogue demon banishment with extra awesome sauce!?
Chapter 1—The Night that Covers
Del smashed her boot heel against the door with all her Nephilim strength. The frame buckled inwards, and the door tore free of the hinges. It flew into the room, striking sparks as it skidded across the floor and drove itself into a concrete column. A large chunk of masonry broke free and fell with a ka-thumpon top of the door.
“Breach!” Del rushed through the open doorway. “Go, go, go!”
Del’s t...

August Newsletter News!

We're gonna need more grenades.
The August Steampunk and Urban Fantasy newsletter will release tomorrow. There will be sneak-peaks at the new COMPANY OF THE DAMNED cover art, a giveaway or two, and some other fun updates and surprises.
You can subscribe/unsubscribe anytime and rest assured that I don’t spam or any of that nonsense.
Speaking of COMPANY OF THE DAMNED, the cover reveal will release here on Wednesday, August 7th. We’re still looking to Friday, August 16th for the book release, so ma...

Another Cover Tease for Company of the Damned

Whose hand is that, anyway!/
Some news:
Wednesday, August 7th—Cover Reveal for COMPANY OF THE DAMNEDFriday, August 16th—Release Dayfor COMPANY OF THE DAMNED
Yep, we have a release day! So, let’s do another teaser for the COMPANY OF THE DAMNED cover reveal and some more teaser text:
“Del,” Joshua said, “allow me to introduce you to my father, Jaccob Smalls, and our associates, Vince Anastagi and Mariya Samusenko.”
“Anastagi?” Del nodded to the man. “As in The? I thought you were dead?”
“The The is d...

Lloyd Alexander Lives On

Why photo-realistic for the third book!?
Somewhere, in a box, are my copies of Lloyd Alexander’s Westmarktrilogy. Unfortunately, I don’t know where that is. The other day, in lieu of television or games, I made my boys sit down and listen to me read. I was going to read to them from this series.
No problem, I thought, I’ll just buy an ebook version from Amazon.
Nope.
It’s not available for digital download.
I’m not clear why Penguin wouldn’t put this book out in a digital format.  Afterall, w...

Company of the Damned - Cover Teaser

Isn't she lovely!?
“I doubt any of the elves are going to be willing to give up limb or life.” Del kept her voice flat, and let the others wonder if she was being sarcastic or not.
“No, no they’re not.” Freyja tapped her finger against her chin. “Well, perhaps. Perhaps if it meant a permanent peace with the Throne. Perhaps if it was placed to them as a choice to save all of us. Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps. But unless I was certain of it, I wouldn’t put it to any of them based on perhaps. Even the...

Newsletters and New Covers

Why yes, I have a newsletter. You can have one too!
Johnathon, my super-awesome urban fantasy publisher, let me know today that if all goes well, the new cover art should be available Friday or Saturday. These things aren't a precise science, even after you push the "Go" button, but unless life gets in the way, the new covers will be available next week:

Tears of HeavenHell Becomes Her

I don't have a definite date on COMPANY OF THE DAMNED, but soon. So, we'll tease the new cover TOMORROW!
Also,...

A Lovely Tea Party

Nope. Not creepy at all.
We had a pretty good weekend, in that I didn’t have to do a lot, and that’s what made it good.
Middle son up and decided he wanted to play baseball. I have no idea where this came from, but there we were, Saturday morning, waiting for his exhibition game to start. I found a spot under a tree right near third base, and we were in the shade the entire fifteen hours of the game.
After that, we hosted a dinner with a couple of my former speech/debate competitors who are abou...

Company of the Damned - Coming Soon!

It's gonna be one of those days!
Success!
I submitted COMPANY OF THE DAMNED to my publisher yesterday. While we don’t have a release date yet “sooner than later” is not a bad estimate.
Way back in 1992, I was asked at a high school graduation party what I’d be doing in ten years.  “Signing copies of the third book in my trilogy,” was my response.
On the cosmic scale, 17 years is only a rounding error, which makes me technically right.  That’s my favorite kind of right.
As soon as I have...

Hell Becomes Her Re-Cover

We’re doing this a day early. We finished the re-cover for HELL BECOMES HER a few hours ago, and I just couldn’t wait to share it with everyone.
Here’s a brief teaser for the book, and then the new cover:
Del turned around and a cowboy, complete with boots and hat, carrying two longneck bottles of beer, stopped short in front of her and cut off her retreat. His blue eyes sparkled as he grinned a set of perfect teeth at her. He used one of the bottles to push the brim of his hat up a little high...