C.J. Milbrandt's Blog, page 90
March 28, 2014
REMINDER: Newsletter
The first official edition of my newsletter will be coming out on Monday, March 31, 2014. If you don’t want to miss out on all the gossip, sketches, and story snippets, subscribe now! This quarter’s issue will include a sneak peek at some of the characters from my new children’s series, which is set to debut this summer.
Sneak peeks. New developments. Upcoming titles. Story excerpts.
First looks. Sale prices. Special giveaways. Fun stuff.
Postcards. The link above takes you to a sign-up form on...
March 25, 2014
CHIT-CHAT: Trunks
This post falls under the category of authorial chit-chat. Which means it’s story-related, but doesn’t really fit in the glossary. We’ll call it … anecdotal. Or in plain-speak, a funny story about an author, an artist, and a pair of swimming trunks.
For starters, I should introduce Hannah Christenson, my cover illustrator extraordinaire. She and I have been working together on odds and ends commissions for a couple of years. Character sketches. Painted portraits. Concept art. Things took a tur...
March 18, 2014
FOLKS: Rimbles
“So you haven’t seen him?” Aurelius prodded.
“Maybe he’s hiding from you.” Giving the other man a stern look, he added, “You could have been more polite at breakfast.”
“I was!” he insisted. “For me.”
Freydolf snorted and said, “If you don’t bridle your tongue, you’ll never win the lad over.”
“I’ll bridle my tongue when you collar your pet,” Aurelius muttered. “He’d be easier to find if you kept him on a leash.”
“Have you tried the behind the rimbles in the upper loggia?”
The other Pred blinked. “Th...
March 4, 2014
RACES: Grif
After his arrival atop Morven, Tupper befriends statues throughout the stone galleries, but one of his first and best is a fire-bearer named Brand.
Tupper liked the way his master’s eyes were sparkling. Something good was going to happen. Quick to do as he was told, the boy approached the statue of a man dressed in strange armor; there was a sword at his side, and a helm upon his head. The soldier wasn’t like any person he’d ever seen before, for he had a large, hooked nose, and there were fea...
February 28, 2014
PREVIEW: More Spot Illustrations
Things are coming along nicely with Harrow, which is scheduled to release in April. It’s been such a pleasure to go back into the storyline and spend time with Tupper, Freydolf, and their families. In less than a month, I’ll tackle final edits and add the spot illustrations. Which brings me to the point of this post.
Just like I did when Meadowsweet was nearing its release, I’m sharing a sampling of the small illustrations Hannah Christenson created for scene breaks. She worked from my lists...
February 25, 2014
COVER REVEAL: Harrow
It’s time to show off the cover for Harrow, the second book in the Galleries of Stone trilogy. Once again, it features Tupper Meadowsweet and some of the living statues that populate the Statuary atop the legendary Moonlit Mountain. I’m sure you’ll agree that Hannah Christenson’s artistry continues to lend grace and magic to the world that’s opened to Tupper since he became Freydolf’s servant.
Every spring, Aurelius Harrow returns to
the Statuary with tales from his travels.
This year, he bri...
February 23, 2014
FOLKS: The Meadowsweet Family
“Do you know what that is?” inquired the big man, pointing towards something in the foothills.
For several moments, Tupper simply stared at Freydolf’s finger, wondering how sharp its claw was, but when the man repeated his question, the boy looked down. Far below, there were rows of what looked like drab stacks of hay. “No,” he answered honestly.
“That’s Hayward, your home town,” Freydolf explained. With a searching look, he added, “You won’t be able to see it once we go around this bend, so ma...
February 18, 2014
UPDATE: Harrow Cover Reveal – Next Week
Every spring, Aurelius Harrow returns to
the Statuary with tales from his travels.
This year, he brings back more than rumors.
[COVER REVEAL: Tuesday, February 25]
Harrow continues the story of Freydolf, magical master sculptor, and his young servant. For two years, Tupper Meadowsweet has kept his promise to be brave and do his best. But during the spring when he turns thirteen, Aurelius Harrow returns to the Statuary with something other than blocks of magical stone and gossipy tidbits. Master...
ART: Meadowsweet [004]
From time to time, I’ll be sharing sketches and illustrations from Galleries of Stone on this blog. These art posts include pieces I’ve commissioned, as well as gift art. Today, I’m featuring Aurelius Harrow, a Pred who makes a lasting impression on young Tupper.
Tupper’s sigh of disappointment turned into a squeak of alarm when he turned back and found himself nose-to-nose with the stranger. “Planning your escape, sprat?” he asked silkily.
Clutching Olexi very tightly, Tupper shook his head.
Wi...
February 8, 2014
PREVIEW: Cover Sketch for Harrow
Harrow is the second installment in the Galleries of Stone trilogy, scheduled to release in April. Behind the scenes, I’m still fussing with the storyline. I wasn’t entirely pleased with where I left things back in 2012. Too many details fell into the gap at the end of Part 2, only to be found already in place at the beginning of Part 3. All those possible scenes needed to happen, so I’m adding, embellishing, and expanding the original storyline by four more chapters.
Everything’s on schedule...
