David T. List's Blog, page 2

September 2024 News

Late summer heat feels hotter than midsummer heat. I don’t know why. The sun’s glare is sharper when contrasted with a cool morning.
Let’s get into it shall we?

Kayak

We’ll knock this out real quick because I know you’re not here for this.
This is the fourth August for Lake Hartwell Kayak, and it’s our best August by almost $1k. If this weren’t obvious, it’s always awesome hitting new records.

Hit us up if you’re in the area. Book in advance because there’s no predicting what weekends fill up with rentals.

Lake Hartwell Kayak Writing

August has been great for writing. Kids being back at school (God love ‘em) is great for productivity. I’ll spare further details on that. Just know that progress is perpetual for V&V book 2 and happy I am.

Dragon Con

Dragon Con is ongoing but my time there was limited to Fri-Sat. Even still, I couldn’t have predicted meeting everyone I met and being so welcomed. I don’t have a ton of pictures but I’ll share what I have.

I met some fellow entrepreneurs while eating noodles. Polaris (for whom I signed and gifted a book) and ... by god I forgot his name again! Maurice? That's probably wrong. Honestly I might have gotten them both wrong. Anyway I bombarded them with prattle and they graciously tolerated me.

Terri, who purchased a book from me. She's lived everywhere from New York to Chicargo to North Carolina.
Joe Berne (JCM Berne) - who is even more welcoming than he is hospitable. He's the author of the Hybrid Helix series, which starts with Wistful Ascending.
Sebastian De Castell - who was positioned in such a way that the lighting gave his already-entertaining stories even more gravitas. He is the king of swashbuckling fiction (NOT self-proclaimed, mind you. John Gwynne said it) and the author of the Greatcoats series, which starts with Traitor's Blade.
Andy Peloquin - who has impeccable presence, contagious enthusiasm, and is the size of 1.2 regular humans. He's written a buttload of books but the one he sold me was Darkblade Assassin.

More Joe Berne - who is a bit of a Dyrk Ashton in that he knows freakin everyone.
Michael Webb - who wrote the Shadow Knights series, starting with The Last Shadow Knight.
K.E. Andrews - who wrote Hills of Heather and Bone. Judging by her face, she caught me sneaking this picture. I sorry.

J. Zachary Pike - who kept following me around DragonCon like a lost puppy! It was weird! Also his initial is in the wrong place, it's supposed to be in the middle!
But seriously he wrote the The Dark Profit Saga. It opens with the book he's holding - Orconomics - which is clever as hell and absolutely hilarious. And despite that in reality it was I stalking him, I totally failed to notice his awesome shirt.

Ganesh SE - of many places and things but particularly FanFiAddict (check his profile out!) and dressed here as .. um  .. Naruto! (I'm a Naruto-ignoramus I'm sorry!)
I posted an invitation online to approach me and say a phrase from my book to win free stuffs. He not only took me up on it, but chose the wildest of the three phrases (I won't repeat it here) and so I gifted him profusely. 

Last but far from least,
Morgan Shank - who was my con-mate, lacking a better word. Inviting and accommodating and wise beyond his years. Morgan is a stand up guy. Most recently he wrote Die Young, book 1 of the Runeborn Trilogy. But the books of his Andy Peloquin wouldn't stop gushing about are his Low Country series which starts with (believe it or not) A Low Country. 
Jonathan Koan - a book enthusiast and reviewer who reads faster than any human should. He has a YouTube channel - Jonathan Koan - to which he uploads quality content constantly.

This only scratches the surface of all the people I met. Not pictured include (but aren't limited to)
Ryan Cahill - who is the tallest Irish person I've ever met. He was nice and approachable and I surely stuffed my foot in my mouth in an attempt to resemble a normal human in his presence. He's a greatly successful independently published author and a role-model where work ethic is concerned.
Jackson Dickart - the hilarious and friendly host of the award-winning YouTube show Between two Perns. I told him I loved his Brandon Sanderson interview (watch it!) and he helpfully informed me he has other videos as well. 
Even More People - that I had long and meaningful talks with and failed utterly to remember their names. If we met at Dragon Con and you somehow see this, follow me on Twitter or FB or IG so I can follow you back.

Next Month

Unless I die I'll report more words written!

See you then

dtl

August 2024 News

Hello and welcome, future me.

Writing

Here’s what’s up:

The most pertinent news I have is that V&V is going to Dragon Con. If you’re going, let me know so we can meet up!

The tentative plan is to join forces with Morgan Shank, who also writes gritty fantasy such as his latest - Die Young, and improvise a mobile signing booth.

A mobile signing booth sounds wacky, Dave. Are you sure that’s a thing?

Yes, because I’ve done it before ten years ago. Only this time I’ll be collaborating with another author and bringing better ideas and a better book.

ASH at Dragon Con, 2014

Watch my socials (all at the bottom of this page) for details as the end of month approaches.

Kayaks

Busy month, but not as busy as last year. That irks me. Maybe it shouldn’t. In fairness, it was ridiculously hot and the lake is a couple feet lower than this time in the previous two years.

I won’t bother you with a pile of pictures that are already online (on our FB or IG) but here’s a couple from behind the scenes. My neighbor worked construction. He’s retired but clearly misses it because he’s helping me build a big kayak rack.

time to get our babies off the ground

rack-in-progress

August, September, and October are still popping off for kayaks, since it doesn’t actually get cold in Georgia until as late as January. But I look forward to proceeding with kayak tours this fall.

Playing

Shadow of the Erdtree. Believe it or not, my reviewing skills haven’t improved so unfortunately I can only report that Elden Ring’s DLC is surprisingly expansive in every aspect and exactly as fun and mesmerizing as the original game.

Next Month

The kids are back at school. I miss them already but writing will pick up and I look forward to reporting solid progress on Turesia Untamed book 2.

See you then

dtl

July 2024 News

We’re in the throws of summer here in the US which, for me right now anyway, means driving kayaks all over the best lake in the southeast. This will be brief.

Writing

It’s going slowly. First drafting is like chopping a new trail through a rainforest. Thankfully I have an outline to use as a map. The boys are home for summer break. Believe it or not, that does not improve writing speed.

Kayaks

Wide open.

Watching, Reading, Gaming

Minimal, all of them because of the aforementioned busy-ness. But I just started the Expanse which seems right up my alley based on episode 1. I am chipping away at SPFBOX entry Callus & Crow, by my beardbrother DB Rook. And I’m playing the DLC for Elden Ring, whatever it’s called. It’s awesome.

Pics

Because I have some good ones. (go to my Instagram for better quality versions of these)

Callus & Crow, by DB Rook, at a “Pre-4th” festival in Hartwell GA.

The above are from a boating trip we took the other day to swim at dusk and watch fireworks. Twas a cool time.

The above are some of the cooler lake spots I’ve delivered kayaks (and canoes, standup paddleboards) to in the last week.

A fearless young rabbit & a mama bird raising four young'uns on our front porch.

1 slice of individually packaged sliced “cheese”.
My brother put this on the fridge at my mom’s house March 29th, 2016. It has changed very little in the years since.

Next month

We’ll be past the midpoint as far as kayak chaos is concerned, giving me more time to write I hope.

I’ll see you then

dtl

June 2024 News

You won’t believe this (because of how smart you are) but I always aspire to keep these brief. This month I’m going to do it.

Writing

I’m so happy to catch wind of people who enjoyed book 1 and are excited for book 2. Nothing motivates me greater than demand. I know that’s not the case for everyone. Some writers will turn feral against their fans for expressing interest. I don’t understand why. Tell me why, Pat Rothfuss. Why would someone hate their fans for being fans?
Totally kidding. I don’t know anything about Pat other than that he’s got a GBBB.

As of writing this I’m 41,000 words into draft one of The Heathen Tide. In this process the “all notes” document has slimmed down from 30k to about 15k.

David, 41,000 is a far cry from the word count of V&V - 285,000.

Yes it is. I can’t focus on that. That’s a concern for later in the game, if ever. What’s important at the moment is that each scene advances at least two of the following while dropping emotional bombs and hilarity: character dev/arc, world building, or story progress. 
There are a lot of loose ends to tie up and I need to do it in a way that is epic, surprising, and satisfactory.

Kayaks

June is the first of three hell months for Lake Hartwell Kayak Rental and Delivery. In the past we’ve done about 80% of the year’s business in the next three months. I’m working some ideas to beef up the slower months, but that doesn’t change that I’ll be busting my arse and sweating all summer.

We’ve begun doing tours, as I mentioned last month. I’d call it a slow start but that sounds less than ideal and I have strict guidelines on maintaining unshaking optimism at all times. Therefore, tours are doing AMAZING. In fact there’s one scheduled for Sunday (tomorrow) to a place called Indian Rock. Check it out, and if you’re local come join us!

Music

Something Once Sacred had a show at the Boathouse in Hartwell last night. I never see pics from the shows but I never go hunting for them either, so I guess that’s on me. Twas a crazy night but no fights, no cops, no deaths, so we’ve seen crazier.
Anyway here’s one someone sent me from last night.

Something Once Sacred
Brandon Duncan - guitar and vocals
Rusty Adams - drums and vocals
me - bass and splits.

Next month

Progress!

see you then

dtl

May 2024 News

Hi there. It’s May of 2024. Brace yourself for the all the scholars who crawl out of their pits this time of year to repeat the following phrases ad nauseum, somehow with the apparent expectation that it’s your first time hearing them:

May the 4th be with you (this references a phrase from the merchandise behemoth known as Star Wars)

It’s gonna be May (this is about retired pop icon Justice Beaver Tinderpond)

Cinco de Drinko (this one is a fun union of cultural appropriation and alcoholism)

Oh goodness. My sides are already splitting in anticipation of how funny these will be this time around. I need stitches! Hahaha-OH GOD! It’s too late and my guts ruptured. Half-digested food, bile, and excrement are cascading down my shorts to spatter on the feet of the clever. Alas, I die, just as I deserve.
fin

Writing

I am still writing THT, the sequel to V&V and book 2 of Turesia Untamed.
April wasn’t as productive as March, for reasons. I hate that. But progress was made. I’ll tell ya this detail:
I paused in the writing to finally ingest some Lovecraft. Call of Cthulu and the Whisperer in Darkness, as it were. I wanted to familiarize myself with the originator of cosmic horror as I know it. (When I say as I know it, I admit I could be wrong and thus need not be corrected)
Eldritch horror has a place in Turesia Untamed book 2, believe it or not. Your very favorite Consonant Fist needed a morale boost and he gets one from an unlikely entity. He also gets visions of celestial plasma that inspire a song he plans to sing to the Heathen King … A song that’ll make his Litany of Lightning look like two rocks clicking together.

Meanwhile, Morgan Shank, the author of the Low Country trilogy, reviewed V&V and made my day. Days actually, because as you can see I’m not over it yet. He said:

"Violence and Vigilance" reads like Abercrombie's prose with the pacing of John Gwynne. The action is visceral, the pace is steady, and the characters are beautifully realized. They're broken, damaged, vulnerable people who suffer, sacrifice, and strive for what they believe in. There aren't clear heroes. Rather, there are flawed characters struggling to do the best they can while making plenty of hard decisions along the way. This makes for wonderful conversations, poignant dialogue, and some poetic prose sprinkled throughout.

He actually said even more good things than just that. Go read his full review here:

Morgan's review, incidentally on the Amazon purchase page Kayaks

Lake Hartwell Kayak has officially begun offering guided tours, and the next one is on Mother’s Day. Look at what’s in store for all who join us:

Book your spot, then come to Hartwell GA on Mommy Day and take a scenic cruise with us. Turtle spotting guaranteed, and not just snappers.

Click me for deets Podcast

The Four Beardsmen of the Bookpacolypse meets this Saturday for our first TTRPG session! Live for your enjoyment / interaction(?). I can’t predict whether we’ll crash and burn or fly high and save the prince(ss), but I’ll be wearing a smile either way. Join us on Matt’s YouTube channel - Beard of Darkness.

Something Once Sacred

It’s 31 days away still but we’re playing a show at the Boathouse, Hartwell GA on May 31st. If you’re in the area, come out!
Who’at is Something Once Sacred?

Oh that’s my band, wherein I play bass and Brandon plays guitar and sings and Rusty plays drums and sings.

You don’t sing?

Yeah, just not in a mic. The public doesn’t need to hear what I do to the lyrics of every 90s rock song we cover. In fact no one does.

Wait did you reference SoS in V&V?

I did, briefly. Here:

Watching

Shogun is still rad! But I’ll miss the last episode because we cancelled that service (Hulu+Disney maybe?). I’ll have to catch it some other time, some other way.

You’re not going to see how that last explosive scene resolved??

No need. I read the book. She dead af. 

Fallout. Also good. So good I’ve watched it twice now.

Playing

Elden Ring, again, in preparation for the DLC that launches in June, as I know it. (😉)

Kingdom Two Crowns. Boyo(12) and I are playing this co-op. It’s a cool game.

These “reviews” are vacuous to the point of completely unnecessary. I’m sorry. 

Next Month

Ah, June. Kayaks will be in full swing. More THT will be written.

See you then

dtl

April 2024 News

Happy April

Whenever I dread these monthly posts, it’s a surefire sign I’m at a productive place in my writing and I should listen to it. That said, this will be brief, he lied.

Writing

I’m drafting The Heathen Tide, which is the sequel to Violence & Vigilance, and the conclusion to Turesia Untamed. My writing process is truly a chaotic beast but I’ll attempt to give you a bit more than just “It’s going well.”

Since Turesia Untamed’s inception, I’ve collected notes which include situations, scenes, quotes, dialogue chains, visuals, descriptions, and so on. Before starting this draft in earnest I compiled those notes into a single document that was about 35,000 words. As of this moment that compilation of notes has reduced to 25,000 words, and Draft 1 of THT has reached 20,000 words, or roughly 1/14th of its total expected size. Sadly, these words aren’t yet ready to share with any audience. That’ll take another draft. After that I can begin bouncing these scenes off a beta reader if one is forthcoming. Writing group stuff. I mentioned I have some potential takers on that.

Watching

This section is more populous than usual, David whined, yearning only to resume writing THT.

The Gentlemen

The Gentlemen has that unfortunate side effect of making me yearn for a future story. Best I can do at the moment is take notes on specifics that inspire me. In this case, it’s all the little aspects and characteristics that make a mobster/crime story.

Shogun

They did amazingly capturing this novel on screen. My only complaint is that it’s flying by too fast. So many details and situations are breezed over or cut. That’s to be expected, surely. But it’s why I’m forced to read the entire novel. Again.

Three-Body Problem

The show was confusing at first. I couldn’t tell what was the premise or direction. I wasn’t sure who were the actual heroes, and none were leaping out at me. Then came a scene so brutal, horrific, and glorious that I find myself emphatically recommending this show. Holy shit. Nanofibers. That’s all I’m saying.

Physical: 100 - Season 2

I can not explain my infatuation with this show. Maybe it’s all the peak-physique humans in competition. Maybe it’s the glimpse into Korean culture, at least in their conversations and reactions. Sometimes the hero-worship they exhibit toward one another feels like an anime. I can’t explain it. Luckily I don’t have to.

Dune 2

The long and short of it: Yes. I recommend.

Pros: They built such a convincing world and displayed it confidently and competently, trusting their viewers to understand what needs to be understood, while sparing us the details that aren’t crucial to the story. For example: They could have taken 5 minutes for a character to blabber on how the hooks the worm-riders use prevent the worm-vents from closing, which keeps the worms from diving while being ridden. Instead they showed it for maybe 4 seconds, knowing that those who care about such world-building have their answer and those who don’t care… well they don’t care.

Cons: Pacing. Some story events are analyzed closely. Some are breezed over in a near-montage. I realize that’s the price of stuffing a fat novel into a film.

Kayaks

We’re picking up. Our plans for expansion are growing clearer. This week in particular I have a lot to do for said plans. Here’s some brief behind the scenes.

I’ve been dragging my little brother and my oldest son on adventures in the woods or water for the last twenty years. Before that I had to convince friends to join me on Ill-Advised Journeys (which could be the title for my first novel instead of A Sawmill’s Hope). I plan to put that same energy toward “dragging total strangers on adventures on and around Lake Hartwell and making them pay me for it”. That’s the gist of 2024’s expansion strategies.

By this time next month I’ll know more. In the meantime, follow LHKRAD’s IG or FB page to keep up with us.

Lake Hartwell Kayak - Facebook Lake Hartwell Kayak - Instagram Wildlife

#OperationOdin - I’m attempting to befriend crows. But I’m attracting a broader crowd than I expected. These pictures don’t include the squirrels, because a camera is not what I aim at them when they come gnawing and thieving…

Next Month

More words written.

Kayaks will be busier.

see you then

dtl

March 2024 News

Happy February.
It’s nice to see temperature rising here in the northern hemi. Winter is Going and I couldn’t be happier. This’ll be brief because writing time is writing time and this post is not as important as Turesia Untamed book 2.

Writing

THE HEATHEN TIDE is well underway. At last I’m in a groove again. I’ve gotten 5,000 new words down this week, and that’s not including this damn post.

It’s been a long time since I drafted, which is nothing like editing and even less like promoting. I’ll tell ya what makes the transition back to drafting easy: Characters whose motivations are crisply defined, and whose dialogue writes itself. They’re rare in my experience but when you find one, you should cling to them like a barnacle to a basking whale’s balls. My character of choice should be obvious for anyone who’s cracked the cover of V&V:

That’s right. The Carcass.
Violence is thirsty work and these bastards aren’t going to kill themselves.

I’ll tell you something else makes it easy to return to drafting: Readers showing interest.

I don’t need an ocean of ‘em. A handful will do. It’s crucial to know that if I complete the tale of Turesia Untamed, someone will be happy I did. (That is not to be confused with the events of book 2 making them happy)

That said, I sure do appreciate every one of you who has let me know you enjoyed V&V, whether by telling me, reviewing it online, or recommending it to someone. You are why the story continues, even moreso than the truck-loads of royalty money I’m having to wade through in my home.

Playing

this digital painting is the work of Dave Rapoza, who is phenomenomental.

A million years ago I made a blog post about my favorite game at the time - Bloodborne. I’ve rediscovered it at last, and introduced it to Boyo (who is 12 and has beaten Elden Ring multiple times).

It holds up. Such an amazing game. Dark and twisted. Violent and horrifying. Now that I’ve played Dark Souls 3 and Elden Ring, I find myself better equipped to deal with the challenges of Bloodborne. I might even be enjoying it more than I did the first time.

Reading

Speaking of a hero with well-defined goals whose dialogue and actions seem to come naturally…

I don’t read a lot of fiction while drafting, for various reasons. Most are probably superstitious. But I am going to finish Sledge vs the Labyrinth, by Nick Horvath, which is taking me too long to read. So far it is violent and spectacular.

I was convinced to buy this book after watching an interview between Nick and Matt from Beard of Darkness. It’s a great interview. Nick has been places and seen stuff.

Watching

Shōgun
Based on the novel by James Clavell,
which is inspired by the exploits of William Adams, aka Miura Anjin, aka 三浦按針

I’ve been stoked about this since it was first announced and so far it’s great. The actor that plays Anjin-san was a great pick, even though he’s only exclaimed “By God!” one time so far.
I have only 2 complaints. One is that they’re drip-feeding it one episode at a time. The second is that they’re racing through the story too fast! I’m on episode two and we’re probably 25% through the book already.

Because I can’t get my Shōgun fix fast enough, I’ve put aside my regular podcast to listen to Ralph Lister narrate the audiobook yet again. I’ve mentioned this book before. I might not have mentioned that Ralph is brilliant. He also narrated the Malazan books, which I’ve not yet read, and the Ash and Sand trilogy starting with Kings of Paradise, which I’ve mentioned before and is facking great (aside from all the ideas of mine that Richard Nell broke into my computer and stole).

What’s your regular podcast?

If you must know, it’s Podcast about List. Sometimes I find myself overburdened with brain cells and this podcast is the perfect remedy.

Next Month

Time will tell. THT will be further along. Kayaks will probably be in full swing.

See you then

That’s it?? I was just getting comfortable here.

You want more of my writing? Go read V&V. Again, if you already have. It’s got great re-read value and I promise you’ll pick up things you missed the first time through. After that go review it on Amazon, Goodreads, and Audible. Yes, all three.
Do it now.

dtl

February 2024 News

Hello my fellow literates. We’re keeping it brief because I have mucho to ducho!
Main points:
V&V Audiobook is available and I have free copies to give out!
The Four Beardsmen of the Bookpocalypse was on TBRCon2024!

WritingViolence & Vigilance

The V&V Audiobook is live!

Jonathan Waters did an amazing job bringing these characters and conflicts to life!
The audiobook is 32 hours long - a real bang for your buck as grandpas once said - and is available where the ebook and pbook are sold. You guessed it: V&V on Amazin.com.

SPECIAL NOTICE: I still have some promotional reviewer codes available for the US and UK for V&V. If you want one it’s yours, all I ask is that you give it an honest review. Hit me up here or on Twitter, or FB and let me know if you’re interested!

ONE MORE SPECIAL NOTICE: If you’re not currently an Audible subscriber but want to be, even if it’s only for my book, please use one of the below links to get the process started. This is the best way to help out me and V&V! Just select your region from the following, if applicable:

US

UK

Germany

France

Australia

Canada

The Heathen Tide

The writing of book two of Turesia Untamed is well underway. Last month I mentioned the old writing group possibly being revived. That hasn’t happened yet, but I’m not actively pushing for it. I am still, at heart, a raving hermit.

I’ve managed to get the notes and synopsis for THT all organized and boiled down to their core elements. Long story short: I’m really stoked, and this is the best news. The opposite is burnout or indifference. Those will surely come. But for now I can’t wait for Kale to finally meet Irdessa and Kraus. For Obsydia to meet Tivali. For Vretos to meet Kalderys. For the heathens to meet the monks.

When this story was bouncing around in my head as little more than space dust, there was an expanding collection of awesome events that were scheduled to happen. For those events to go down, a lot of build up was necessary. V&V did just that, leaving THT to bring you epic scenes that I’ve been dreaming of for years. I can’t wait. That’s surely as good a place to leave this as any, but just for gits and shiggles, here are some fun things to look forward to in The Heathen Tide:

Oekner’s History - Spoiler: his birth was not like yours

Interrupting Monks - Not unlike Leeeroy Jenkins

Meet the Deceiver - And put his name to the test

Infiltration - aka Riding Wild Barksharks!

Assassination Attempt #1 - If at first you don’t succeed …

The Lightning Sprite - … call down plasma from the upper atmosphere!

And of course, the book’s namesake.

Lastly on the subject of writing, I’m applying to get into Dragon*Con. We’ll see how that goes!

The Four Beardsmen of the Bookpocalypse

We were on TBRCon2024!

CHECK US OUT!

TBRCon is a yearly online author / writer convention that spans just over a week and has panels for all sorts of subjects, with fantasy and scifi authors of all shapes and sizes, not limited to Christopher Paolini, Anna Smith Spark, Nick Eames, Rob Hayes, Michael Fletcher, Josiah Bancroft, Adrien Tchaikovsky, Sebastien de Castell, and a billion more. If you’ve read a fantasy or scifi book that released in the past ten years, chances are you’d recognize some of the guests of this amazing convention. Go here for a full list of ALL the panels that took place. My beard brothers Tom Bookbeard and DB Rook were on some really fun D&D streams.

But, obviously, the winner was our panel and it is right here. We interviewed new author Alex Valdiers about his journey and his debut novel - A Wolf in Space. It was a pile of fun, and I managed to talk about passing blunts on TBRCon, because I have no filter.

Next Month

That’s right, we’re done here. No kayak talk because it’s winter. No Zeal the Paludarium talk because I’m still in the process of exporting the wildlife and shutting her down. No Schala talk because she is (painfully) backburnered at this moment in time.

Let’s see how many V&V reviews and THT words we can accrue between today and March 1st, shall we?

see you then

dtl

January 2024 News

Happy January the 1st of 2024.
It’s only right that I open by shining light on some things I loved in 2023. Then some accomplishments of 2023, then a quick update on book things.

~

Books

I’m god awful at reviewing books, no matter how much I try to improve. The best I can do is tell ya what works for me. Your kilometerage may vary.

Lonesome Dove
by Larry McMurtry

One of my favorite authors, Joe Abercrombie, talks about this book a lot in interviews and in general. I had not read a solid, classic western ever but I had read some historical fiction and enjoyed it so I gave it a go. Considering I listen to, rather than read, most books I ingest, this one was a good investment at 945 pages. And it was so good I listened to it twice back to back. This book was a great source of ideas for an eventual stories or set of stories I have planned (more on that below).
If I had to attempt to pin down what worked for me it would be:
- a bleak setting that never lets you forget how cheap life is.
- a deep dive into an occupation that was adventurous, dangerous, and almost entirely unrelatable to common day.
- the wide range of characters through whom we experience this world. You’ll see that sorta thing reflected in Abercrombie’s writing and in V&V. I love a deep world explored from many angles.
- the characters are amazing and believable and no matter how cool or interesting they are, they can be snuffed out with no warning. Speaking of the characters,
- Augustus McCrae. What a damn masterpiece. When we meet him he comes off like a washed up bloviator. A has-been “remember the old days” blabber mouth. But by god he puts his money where his mouth is. Still a bad ass. And his quips are gold. I soon learned if he was in a scene I was bound to laugh at something he said at least once per page. In fact it’s a quote of his that best sums up the plot of this thousand-page epic:
”Call’s gone to round up a dern bunch of cowboys so we can head out for Montana with a dern bunch of cows and suffer for the rest of our lives.”

The Pariah
by Anthony Ryan

This book gave me a comfy feeling. I knew from early on that I was in good hands. The writing is consistently good and the hero, Alwyn, is capable and smart. I look forward to reading the rest of this series.
Did I mention I was shit at reviews? Just wait for this next one…

The Book that Wouldn’t Burn
by Mark Lawrence

This book felt like sunshine to me and I’m not sure why. There’s plenty of darkness in it, but there’s also magic galore. There are easter eggs throughout in the form of references to other worlds, Mark’s and others. This one will be fun to reread because now I know what to look for.
Yes, I know this is a bad example of a review. I warned you.

Films

I don’t think a film changed me in 2023, which is sad. Granted, I don’t watch a lot of movies. Super Mario Brothers was great, nostalgia-fueled fun but I haven’t felt the need to re-watch it. D&D: Honor Among Thieves was also fun but as you can see, it didn’t even inspire me to search out and post an image.
If I think of a film that changed me I’ll update this.

Shows

Live action One Piece was cool, but I have to give the top spot to Yellowstone.

A bunch’a disagreeable cnuts

For me the story and the characters are good but they aren’t the primary appeal (in fact some of the characters can go f*ck themselves). It’s the setting and world-building that do it for me. A modern family-owned cattle company that owns so much land they can pretty much create and enforce their own laws on it. It helps that the majority of the family holds offices or occupations of power. As with all good stories, conflicts abound.
I have ripped a hundred ideas out of this show (and Lonesome Dove) for eventual use in stories. These take place in Halandor and involve giant hunters, ranchers (but not of cattle), train heists, airships, redcap goblins, crime families, gods & demigods, railroad tycoons, experimental weapons of mass destruction, and so on. Good times, I tell ya’.

Games

The problem with a game like Elden Ring is that it’s too good. It dropped in February of 2022 and for me nothing has managed to follow it.

Against the Storm, on Steam

I have been playing Against the Storm on Steam. I really dig it. Sometimes these cozy colonizer sims crank the anxiety up to eleven early on and really stomp out any enjoyment I was hoping for. Not this one, or at least not in the first 25ish hours. It’s nice and chill, and I gather I can increase the difficulty if I get bored.

Accomplishments

On August 4th I finally published Violence & Vigilance, which I’ve been tinkering with since 2013. Ten years is too long for a book, but luckily book two (the finale) is about halfway written. It shouldn’t take another ten years. Chuckles in Rothfussian.

buy it again, then rate/review it

thanks again to Felix Ortix and Shawn T King for prettying my baby all the way up

Some buddies and I launched a fantasy novel-focused live podcast called the Four Bookbeards of the Bookpacolypse. We’ve got two episodes in the books and have plans for many more.

4BotB Playlist on YouTube

Maximus Festivitis

Record year for Lake Hartwell Kayak had a record year, for the second year straight. Good times. I miss the Summer.

LHKRAD on IG aka the best Lake Photography

pic taken in November from my favorite peninsula in Hartwell

Updates

V&V Audiobook

We’re up to chapter 33 of 60

The audiobook is over halfway done. I sure am loving listening to Jon Waters narrate this story. That’s partly because I’m so green at all this that I’m just happy anyone’s reading it. But he’s great at the emotion and humor and delivery of complex sentences. I can’t wait for it to be public.

The Heathen Tide

I’ll admit to you I’ve not been giving V&V’s sequel enough attention since August, instead focusing on pushing V&V out to the world and trying to make it all it can be. But I think a couple of buddies are about to revive the old writing group, which will force me to churn out at least a chapter a week. I sure do benefit from deadlines.

~

Until next time

May you make yourself worthy of your resolutions

dtl

December 2023 News

When I first drafted this, it opened with a rant about Thanksgiving and my breakdown of each of the USA-beloved dishes. I called them all mediocre at best, which is true. Ham and turkey especially. Deli meat, both of ‘em.
The post was salty, alienating, and I found it funny. But I scrapped it to say something earnest. Brace yourself.

This is known as a wonderful time of year. The jolliest. For a lot of people it is. For some it’s not. It’s dark and cold and feels like something’s missing, or even a great many things. For some it takes effort to wear a smile and dry eyes while working or decorating or eating or just existing in December. Everything reminds them of what’s gone. For them, festivities are the opposite of festive.

I don’t have a point other than to say please check up on people. Ask folks how they’re doing. If they’ve experienced the death of a loved one since this time last year, the holiday season won’t be the same. It might be a long time before it’s the same. It may never be. That’s okay.

Anyway here’s me fisting a decapitated animal.

nsfw

Way to darken the mood, grinch. Why so serious?

Because I focused all my holiday cheer in VIOLENCE & VIGILANCE, a fantasy romp in a fun and exciting world where everyone gets along and holds hands and sings and never stabs each other or cuts each others’ heads off. You should get yourself a copy. I hear it pairs nicely with Sinatra.

Writing

Speaking of V&V, the ebook will be on sale from 6 December 6th 2023 through 12 December 12th 2023. 80% off! Marked down from $5 to $1. Can your eyes believe that?

Click this. Or tap it.
Bookmark it.
Eat it.

We’re progressing on the audiobook. I’d say it’s a third finished; or roughly 10 hours. Jonathan Waters embarked on quite the quest with this book and he’s proving up to the task. You’ll see.

I want to put together a companion to the book that helps you keep up with the names and factions. Maybe a bookmark or a webpage. V&V gets crowded fast, and constantly hopping perspective doesn’t help cohesion.

Sold some signed copies of the paperback this month.

Judging by these pics you’d think alcohol consumption was a prerequisite to buying/selling my book. It helps.
Thanks: Will, Clay, Prana, Daniel, (Rusty!), and all not pictured

Elsewhere, one of V&V’s editors Lee Burton, who is also a reader and a writer, mentioned V&V on a recent newsletter. He took off his editor cap for this one and gave his impression, including a bit of a synopsis. As you might have guessed since I mentioned it at all, it is quite flattering. And I cannot let flattery go to waste.

“Through Kale and Irdessa the Undying, David List explores the wonderful world he's devised with captivating precision. The characters speak through their actions and their struggle, caught up in events larger than themselves as the world itself heaves toward what feels like an inevitable clash. A spirit of impending doom looms over both countries, and we're ever in question if Kale and Irdessa are really at the helms of their own fate, or if they're merely pawns put in place by powers set to collide eons ago.”

I want you to read it. It does a far better job than I do at concisely explaining V&V’s plot and stakes.

Lee's Newsly Letter (featuring yours truly)

Praise like this, from long-time professionals in the field, really tickles my giblets. If it does yours too, and you appreciate Lee, check out his books on Amazon.

The Last Speaker - Amazon link The Third People - Amazon link Four Beardsmen of the Bookpocalypse

This is a live video podcast I’m embarking on with three other fellows who are each bearded and into books.

Matt Sorenson, David T List
Tom Bookbeard, DB Rooks

I’ve been working on my video space so that when we get at it I don’t look or sound like a total amateur. If only acting like a total amateur was preventable.

I mentioned the FBotB in passing last month and am happy to report that unless hell erupts onto earth and devours us all our first episode launches at 4pm EST (9pm GMT) on the 9th of December, on Matt’s YouTube channel: Beard of Darkness Book Reviews.
Go ahead and follow his channel so you don’t miss it!

Beard of Darkness Book Reviews Lake Hartwell Kayak

I’m going to annoy you and report that we had a record November. That’s not saying a lot though. November has never been our busiest month. I suppose it’s around our 9th busiest month.

We’re in Lake Hartwell’s dry season. There’s more beach than usual, and it’s often muddy.
That’s my boss, doing work while I take pictures.

Our store is live! Remember me telling you I’m working on this? Well she’s here at last, however scarcely populated.

LHKRAD Store!

At the moment there are only hats in there. But shirts are in the works with a local printer. More to come.

Wife didn’t know I was posting this picture.
Don’t tell her.

As I figure out how to sell online for LHK, maybe I can do the same for signed books.

Finally, LHKRAD was featured in the latest “Lake Living” magazine, which goes out to some forty-thousand people if I recall correctly (I don’t). I put together another little photo compilation for your viewing pleasure and now this news post features way more of my face than I’d prefer.

The Kingdom of Zeal

I want to retire the paludarium and return the surviving fauna to the lake. Zeal may be no mas this time next month. She’s 13 months old. A lot of animals visited and left, in one way or another. But her time has come. The design can improve.
Here are some of recent pics:

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Next Month

That’ll be the year 2024, won’t it? I guess I’ll do a best of / what was accomplished in 2023.

See you then

Merry Festivus

dtl