Robert J. Power's Blog

Greetings from my cage.
An update for you all.
I stopped writing The March of Magnus last night.
I stopped writing because I just couldn’t write another page.
Good thing I didn’t need to.
All the best,
Rob.

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Right, I’ve had my fun.
I cannot express from the bottom of my heart, just how fuken hungover I am right now. I even sent out a tweet last night. Then I hooked up my PlayStation for the first time in months. Then I ate nachos. Then I ran to check the computer to make sure I wasn’t dreaming.
Nope.
Done.
The March of Magnus, Spark City's long awaited sequel, is fuken finished.
The Fuken End TYPED IN BOLD.

Listen, there’s not much more info to come so you dnf guys can head off now with the information while I go on about how hungover I feel. I won’t be funny today. Typing right now is so much pain. I drank like Emir during Puk.

Anyway, after I checked to make certain I’d not dreamed it I also hooked up my Xbox One….and my Xbox 360. I ended up playing a few games on my 3DS while I waited for updates. Have any of you guys tried updating multiple games consoles during a pandemic? In Ireland? Outside of Dublin? Well, it’s the morning after, they're all still updating.
So I figured I’d let you wonderful people know the good news.

I have other updates to come (Dellerin fans will be happy) but for now, The March of Magnus is heading off to the editors. And soon I'll have an official release date for you all. Anyone have a favourite month? I’ve always liked September, myself. Usually, I try and do awesome things in September. Especially if you are on my Alpha List. October is cool as well. Also, I love missing deadlines so who knows...

I’m off to sleep. Maybe seek out some day old nachos. Share them with my dogs.
Take care my wonderful lunatics, stay safe, stay healthy, buy multiple copies of my books and tell everybody why you did.
May this post bring you a smile at the right moment.
Rob.

Greetings from my cage,
My mom wants you all to know she is fighting the good fight, she’s on my case about getting Spark City's sequel done anytime I visit. Her latest argument “Write it shorter, you fuken idiot,” is an appealing notion. I’ve taken to storming out of her house, slamming the door behind me and kicking her brand new car as I leave. Ha, I jest, we all know she lives in a tent. I evicted her so I could sell the house to fund my drug habit. Obviously that too is a joke. She lives in her old car and now deletes my email update posts.

Anyway, that’s how I treat people on my back, giving me (wholly deserved) shit! Right, March of Magnus progress is excellent. Not quite halfway through, but almost. It’s about finding the right chair and level of caffeine. Apparently it's February but I haven’t seen daylight in weeks now. My Xbox and PS4 lie dormant and unloved in the corner. THERE’S A PUBG MAP I HAVE NOT YET PLAYED. Oh, come a few months and I’ll be able to sleep and game again. Truthfully, there are worse things in the world than sitting here, playing all over the Four Factions, working towards making you all smile. The last few weeks have been amazing. It’s coming.

As though you didn’t know already, the amazing people at Podium Audio are finishing the final touches on Spark City’s audio book voiced by the incredible Euan Morton. I might have lost my shit when I heard some of his previous work. Anyone with Halo and Star wars credits on their already impressive Cv suffers just a little hero worship from me. And yes, he might be an accomplished stage actor, but really, Halo guys, freaking Halo. It releases on the 17th of March (St Patrick's Day) and it's available to prebook on now at https://geni.us/SparkCity_Audible

You asked, so we did. Here it is.
Sigi’s map is available to view on my site, here at https://geni.us/SCmap. I didn’t want to do the traditional map, so we’ve done something fun. I hope you folks enjoy. Those with better acumen than me have placed the map on my store, (https://geni.us/rjpstore), where you can buy it as a print and give me money. But, don't do that. Just go into the image and click download, and you get it free #FukTheMan.

You guys need not read the next part. Most of my posts ramble off at the end. I’ve learned that the longer a message, the less engagement. What is it called, TLDNF?

Right, sorry mom, you have a very nice new car. I didn’t kick it. It was a joke. I joke on these posts sometimes. It distracts people from the lies about March of Magnus’s progress. That’s the second book I’m writing. The first one was Spark city, it was rather successful. I told you about this. I know my sisters are very successful as well. I’m glad you are proud of them. While I have your attention, please stop asking about the Rat in the Dellerin Tales.


Right fuk this, I’m going back to work.
Did you hear me?
I’M GOING BACK TO WORK.

All the best folks
Rob.

Ho ho ho, Merry Christmas, hope Santa delivers wonderful gifts, or whatever, wait, what? I’ve missed the deadline for seasonal greetings? Well, that’s not like me to be late on deadlines at all! Too soon to jest? Oh, I hear you say “There’s nothing “soon” about what you do Rob, and now we are three lines in on a bullshit update that we’ve no interest in reading.” You might be right, this message goes downhill from here, at some point I quote Duke Nukem. You have been warned.


Right, I’ve to give you updates.

First off, March of Magnus is ticking along. I’m still only about a third way through but I was sick for a few weeks and couldn’t work on it and the work I did was just me writing as I hallucinated. Freaky stuff altogether. Anyway, nothing like lying in bed, gasping for air for a few weeks to recharge the batteries. (It’s only now I truly understand the shit Erroh went through walking through the snow). I’m pretty much recovered now, and the last few days I’ve been making some brilliant progress.

MAGNUS 2020 FOR THE WIN!!

I think I’m allowed to announce that the wonderful people at Podium Publishers have acquired the audio rights to The Spark City Cycle so I think all of you would be mad not to go out and purchase the audio book when it's released in 2020. As soon as I have a date, I’ll pass it on. I can’t name the narrator selected just yet, but I can say he’s freaking amazing and I’m humbled and it will be awesome and you should buy a ton of copies for your friends. Podium will have an official announcement soon, but I wanted you wonderful people to know first.

Right, it is new years and I want to take a moment to thank every single one of you. I have to be careful I don’t start crying here all over my brand new desk thinking of the incredible support I have received this year from you all. I work in a dusty room and I grow onions in here. Every message you guys have sent has meant the world to me, every fiercely critical email about writing quicker has been noted, every review has been cherished. Though it sucks that you haven’t walked in to a finished cycle, you have walked in at the ground floor to something I believe can be rather special. I’m just a kitten at this writing game, but you guys have made me a better kitten. This time last year I was fighting for my life to keep going, and in one fell swoop you all landed and drove me onwards. (Fuken onions.) THANK YOU SO MUCH!

And yes, to those burgeoning Dellerin fans, you are damn right Erin’s story will continue (it’s big) and yes; I have great plans for those idiots in the Crimson Hunters and a few interesting things in between. In the meantime, have you read Spark City? I hear it's rather good. And the author? Gorgeous he is.

Right, foreshadowed Duke Nukem quote joke “Get back to work you slacker!” Also, Happy New Year!

- Rob

Greetings my awesome sycophants, who here thinks I’m great? Anyone?
“But Rob, you are off doing your Dellerin shit and we just want March of Magnus,” I hear you shout, and… well… you might hate this update. I have a fantastic new novella out…. set in the Dellerin series. It's called The Crimson Hunters Go buy it and then tell me I’m great, or not. Whatever.

Anyway, you needn’t have read The Seven to enjoy this light-hearted book, but if you are going to read it, I would recommend you read the Seven first because then I’ll make more money.
If the Seven is perceived to be dark, The Crimson Hunters is the polar opposite. I had an absolute blast writing it and I just cannot wait for the world to meet these hapless heroes. They have told me to subtly drop in that you should imagine Guardians of the Galaxy in Westeros. So there it is.

THE CRIMSON IS A NOVELLA, (as I said) and there is a sequel called The Crimson Hunted ( clever eh?). It was supposed to come out far later this year but fuk it, it's done, it's sitting there, and for the first time with management, I got my way. It's out tomorrow. Buy it too.
Wow, it just dawned on me I could have started this post with the line “SEQUEL RELEASE DATE” and everyone would have had conniptions. Instead, I went with the sycophants joke. My click bait game is well off.

Right to matters of the Spark.
It’s going slower than I’d like. Nothing serious, I wrote the last draft 5 years ago and I’d like to think I’ve improved as a writer since then. In layman's terms, I suppose what I am doing is not just a simple hd remaster. It’s more a full remake on many lines and the further I’ve dug in, the more I’ve discovered this. Some days are wonderful, others are difficult, but every day I work and rework through thousands of words. This is my absolute priority. Have heart my friends, since Spark City launched a year and a half ago, I’ve written, edited, rewritten, re-edited, and released 4 books. Keep that in mind when lamenting my apparent idleness. I love Spark City, and I’m loving writing March of Magnus. I’ve always had potential release dates in my head but fuk it, you’d be surprised how distracting a ticking clock can be. As if the tremendous pressure I’ve put on myself trying to get this right for you all wasn’t enough already? I would imagine I’ve another few months ahead of grinding. Months. Not Grrm or Rothfuss months by the way. (All hail my heroes.) So with edits and reedits, it’ll be later than I expected. When it's ready, I promise I will make this the best frigging sequel the world has ever seen. (Apart from the Crimson Hunted, of course.)

Right, that’s it. Take care, guys.
Rob.

I need a new chair. There, that’s my update. My back is sore because I need a new chair. Maybe it's just a new desk I need. A nice wind up and down desk. I don’t know. I’m always swapping desks and chairs. I think I have a problem. Also, my new book is out tomorrow. It's called The Seven, from the new Dellerin series. Of which there will be (hopefully) several books and novellas to come over the next while. I’ve mentioned this book before and a sneaky few of you have already pre-booked it already. You thought you’d just get away with it without me knowing. Actually, you would have, because they keep me away from business dealings and such. Probably better for all. My suggestion of its launch price differed significantly to their suggested price. They suggested something like 99 cent. Ha, idiots, as if I’d charge such a low price for a brand new book from such a talented…. Apparently, (because this is good business) there WILL be a wonderful shiny launch price (of something like 99 cent) for a very limited time. I know little else; I didn’t catch the details. I found myself suddenly violently ill once I realised how little I’d be making off each copy. If you only knew the tears, the agony, the desk rearranging I’ve thrown into this monster you would likely buy at least seven copies on launch. BUY SEVEN COPIES ON LAUNCH! Or, you know, a solitary copy, if you are that way inclined. I know I’m not the gentlest of authors but I still wish to add a subtle warning and delicate reminder about The Seven. Though there are swashbuckling adventures to be had, this book wears its darkness more extravagantly than Spark City. Anyway, swiftly following The Seven’s criminally undercharging release, there are two new novellas set in the same world which need no warning. (Unless you are offended by naked Vector demons, hopelessly inept mercenaries and vomiting. Oh, so much vomiting.) Also, I will have an amazing announcement about Audio books coming soon which has made me feel all snugly inside. Aaaaand that’s probably it for updates... What? Quit fuken around with everyone? Right fine, update on March of Magnus? How do I say this without getting a kick. I’m not going to have it out this year. I’m sorry. I tried! I don’t want to keep you amazing people waiting any longer than you have already. What can I say, I’m still editing and so far I think it’s a great read. Thing is, it’s a freaking monstrous book and my desk is so very annoying. But hey, it is not all doom and gloom. With Dellerin all tidied up (for now) and the book as a product in other people’s far more capable hands, I’m now finding it far easier to rearrange my desk, peruse Ikea websites in search of the ultimate office setup, and come up with imaginable ways to completely ruin Erroh’s day. The shit I’ve already done to him so far this edit is just criminal and there’s so much more to come. You were given but a taste of the Four Factions in Spark City, but March of Magnus will open the door to the entire world. It will be worth the wait. Anyway, hope you enjoy all seven copies of The Seven in the meantime. Take care you legends. Rob.

Right, I promise I am going to get better at this blogging thing. In truth, I am always irked when my favourite authors don’t keep me updated on my favourite series so I will certainly make a better effort. So why have I been quiet? I have been busy writing, I swear I have. I’ve even stopped playing PUBG and everything. Okay that’s not entirely true, I’m allowed visitation one evening a week if I’ve been good and I’ve been very good recently. I have been in editing hell with a new universe called Dellerin. It is very pretty there but a little darker than Spark. In fact, it has been suggested that I include a warning on the cover for the first book The Seven- The Lost Tale of Dellerin. Therefore, I will put it here now. Read this with cookies n sugars. Alternatively, have a nice glass of Sine at your side. On top of just getting it over the line, I have written two further novellas set in the same world called “The Crimson Hunters,” and “The Crimson Hunted.” While the Seven will be darker, these books are a lot of fun. If you want to know more please do ask. I have another week or so of editing to do on them, then back to the editors so he can take what I’ve done, and tear it apart like Lisa did to Tommy that time. As soon as I have a date for all three, I will send along a post. Right, the big one, news of Spark City 2- March of Magnus. Yeah I really can’t be bothered to start it. Screw Erroh in the snow. I wrote myself into a corner and I can’t get out. Should have included robots…..I’ve just been told to stop lying and apologise and that I’ve brought the joke at least three lines too far. It is probably a fair criticism. The truth is that March of Magnus is very much written (as is its follow up “The Outcasts” albeit in a very early draft with too many robots). However, I will have to edit it a few more times, which takes time. For those of you who enjoyed Spark City, I think you will truly love the sequel. I am hoping to get it out before the end of this year, maybe early 2020. It really depends what I do about the robots. Cheers, Rob

Hi folks, I thought I’d put in a few quick words to update you on what I’ve been doing the last while. (Actually this isn’t my idea at all, I’m a total recluse at heart, wary of climbing out of my hole but they promised me the stinging guilt would lessen as to why March of Magnus isn’t out already. I don’t know, so far I’m just missing my hole.) Right, a quick history on how I’ve become the writer I am. A few years ago I decided to write a book. Not just any book, but a Spark City type book. So, fuk it, I threw myself into it like an idiot. Somehow, within three or four months I’d written the first draft of Spark City and I kept going. “Stupid Rob, we know this already,” I hear you saying as you reach for the BLOCK AUTHOR BUTTON. Don’t… by the will of the absent gods….PLEASE DON’T BLOCK ME!!!! YOUR LOVE IS WHAT FUELS MY DESIRE!!!!!! Okay, I’ve just been told, this is no place for my old chat up lines. It’s a shame cos I have a few witty ones. Anyway, after I finished Spark and its swift rewrite (six weeks) I took a few days, played a little Skyrim and wished it was like Oblivion (calm down- I’m old, and for the time it was a vastly superior game. Sure, Skyrim is awesome and all, that but I’m telling you, when you leave the caves at the beginning of Oblivion to all that freedom…shivers. Yes I know I play too many video games.) After my brief respite, I went on to write the first draft of March of Magnus which took a few months longer (It’s twice the length of Spark at the moment). Soon after I began to write the third in the series “The Outcasts” (Which has been read by one person who swears it’s the best of all three) Now, by then as much as I loved Spark City and only had the final part “The Actions of Gods” to complete…..I needed a break. Truth be told, I had another world I wanted to get into and get into I did. And its great, my favourite sycophants tell me so. (I also wrote a humour book under a pseudo name that went number one in a few random charts but that’s an entirely different plug update.) So here I was, with Spark City released to no fanfare whatsoever, I was happy to leave it out there shuffling along as I spent my time preparing the new world I KNEW would catapult me into the upper echelon of elitism and make all my ridiculously successful friends eat shit…. congratulate me and start inviting me back out to dinner parties and such. Problem is, Spark started to gain a little following didn’t it? Spark just went and outperformed beyond my wildest expectations and got in the way of my simple plans which were never going to work. And it’s all your fault. You guys are fuken amazing. The support has blown me away. I cannot tell you how much your kind words have infused me and torn me apart with guilt in the same moment. I sit here having ruined myself writing the first three tales from Dellerin (“The Seven.” And “The Crimson Hunters” & “the Crimson Hunted”). They are off on their merry adventures with my editor and they’re coming very very soon. I promised myself some time with “Red Dead Redemption 2,” after I completed them but alas it sits in its case. I just can’t rest. Not with the support I’ve received. I read the reviews you guys leave, I read the emails and I just want to climb back into my hole and emerge with something special for you (and at a reasonable price too). The next couple months, you’ll hear me spout about Dellerin this and Dellerin that, and you’ll be thinking “The Fuk Rob??? Where’s the main course???”. Rest assured as I promote, I’m secretly kicking ass on March of Magnus. From here on in, I’m going to do my best to keep you updated with progress. I’m still pushing for a 2019 release. Spark City was only the start. March of Magnus is the story I want to tell. It always was. Once more, thank you all for the support - now go buy a spare copy of Spark city in case the other one breaks. - Rob

Right, I promise I am going to get better at this blogging thing. In truth, I am always irked when my favourite authors don’t keep me updated on my favourite series so I will certainly make a better effort.

So why have I been quiet?

I have been busy writing, I swear I have. I’ve even stopped playing PUBG and everything. Okay that’s not entirely true. I’m allowed visitation one evening a week if I’ve been good and I’ve been very good recently. I have been in editing hell with a new universe called Dellerin. It is very pretty there but a little darker than Spark. In fact, it has been suggested that I include a warning on the cover for the first book "The Seven- The Lost Tale of Dellerin." Therefore, I will put it here now. Read this with cookies n sugars. Alternatively, have a nice glass of Sine at your side.

On top of just getting it over the line, I have written two further novellas set in the same world called “The Crimson Hunters,” and “The Crimson Hunted.” I think I’m allowed to say that they will be free from my website. I think. I dunno, They said something about freedom and websites and I just ran with it. While The Seven will be darker, these books are a lot of fun.

If you want to know more please do ask. I have another week or so of editing to do on them, then back to the editors so he can take what I’ve done, and tear it apart like Lisa did to Tommy that time. As soon as I have a date for all three, I will send along a post.

Right, the big one, news of Spark City 2- "The March of Magnus." Yeah I really can’t be bothered to start it. Screw Erroh in the snow. I wrote myself into a corner and I can’t get out. Should have included robots…..I’ve just been told to stop lying and apologise and that I’ve brought the joke at least three lines too far. It is probably a fair criticism. The truth is that "The March of Magnus" is very much written (as is its follow up “The Outcasts” albeit in a very early draft with too many robots). However, I will have to edit it a few more times, which takes time. For those of you who enjoyed Spark City, I think you will truly love the sequel. I am hoping to get it out before the end of this year, maybe early 2020. It really depends what I do about the robots.

Cheers,
Rob

Got to say, I’m sad to see 2018 go. It was a great year for me. I released my long awaited Epic Fantasy SPARK CITY which has made regular appearances in the Best Sellers Chart on Amazon ever since. I also wrote and released a humour book, THE LITTLE BOOK OF LIES, which stayed at #1 in the humour bestseller charts for November and December. Knowing that my books have sold in America, Canada, Australia and more still boggles my mind. I received my first ever award nominations (fingers crossed). I debuted at my first ever convention with Octocon, the national Irish sci-fi convention this October, closely followed by my appearance at Dublin Games Fest 2018 in the RDS in November. Getting to speak to fans face to face for the first time was one of my life highlights. Depaor Press released their first range of Greetings Cards which have gone down a treat at the Cons this year. I was awarded the Artist Exemption in Ireland (which, as any writer making a career in this industry will know, is a godsend!). Oh yeah, as if that wasn’t amazing enough I also married my soul mate and coop buddy for life, Jan. Without her support, none of the above would have been possible. So I am sad to see 2018 go, it was incredibly kind to me. But I cannot wait to see what 2019 has in store! Big plans coming.