Stephen Brooke's Blog: Stephen Brooke's Scribblings - Posts Tagged "fantasy-novel"
Donzalo's Destiny
I'm putting together a blog/site for the series of fantasy novels I call DONZALO'S DESTINY. It is located at: http://donzalosdestiny.wordpress.com/
The first book in the series, THE SONG OF THE SWORD is already in print (at Arachis Press) and the next, THE SHADOW OF ASAK, should be coming out fairly early in 2014. There will be more to follow--exactly how many, I'm not sure!
There is not much at the site yet and I will probably not give it a great deal of attention until next year, but the plan is to provide some 'behind the scenes' looks, some back-story, and so on.
The Song of the Sword
The first book in the series, THE SONG OF THE SWORD is already in print (at Arachis Press) and the next, THE SHADOW OF ASAK, should be coming out fairly early in 2014. There will be more to follow--exactly how many, I'm not sure!
There is not much at the site yet and I will probably not give it a great deal of attention until next year, but the plan is to provide some 'behind the scenes' looks, some back-story, and so on.
The Song of the Sword
Beware the Ides
All is on track to release my newest novel, THE SHADOW OF ASAK, on the Ides of March. At least, March 15 is the official date, though it might show up on line a tad earlier.
Any serious rewriting is finished. This does not mean I will not make little changes in wording or such up until the last moment. There are always things one notices! But from here on, it is a matter of design and formatting, getting the ISBNs assigned, creating a book trailer to put up at YouTube.
I am into that project already. The music is written, recorded, and ready — not a song this time, but a shorter instrumental. The slide show needs be designed and put together, which is not difficult but somewhat time consuming (and a bit tedious, as is all the work at this point).
At any rate, SHADOW is definitely a finished novel. It came out only about 1200 words longer than THE SONG OF THE SWORD, my first installment of DONZALO’S DESTINY, so it is still a fairly short book. And again, it is really a group of novellas (or two novellas and one novelette this time) telling a continued story.
Or one could consider DONZALO to be one rather long novel — there should be at least two more books to it. Here is the back cover blurb/trailer text:
Young Donazalo has left his home and his familiar life in Lama, fleeing assassins and dark magic.
In the rugged hills of the Cuddon he finds love.
In the hidden land of the Fay he finds new purpose.
And on the road home, new dangers and new allies await him, in the Second Book of Donzalo’s Destiny, The Shadow of Asak.
Any serious rewriting is finished. This does not mean I will not make little changes in wording or such up until the last moment. There are always things one notices! But from here on, it is a matter of design and formatting, getting the ISBNs assigned, creating a book trailer to put up at YouTube.
I am into that project already. The music is written, recorded, and ready — not a song this time, but a shorter instrumental. The slide show needs be designed and put together, which is not difficult but somewhat time consuming (and a bit tedious, as is all the work at this point).
At any rate, SHADOW is definitely a finished novel. It came out only about 1200 words longer than THE SONG OF THE SWORD, my first installment of DONZALO’S DESTINY, so it is still a fairly short book. And again, it is really a group of novellas (or two novellas and one novelette this time) telling a continued story.
Or one could consider DONZALO to be one rather long novel — there should be at least two more books to it. Here is the back cover blurb/trailer text:
Young Donazalo has left his home and his familiar life in Lama, fleeing assassins and dark magic.
In the rugged hills of the Cuddon he finds love.
In the hidden land of the Fay he finds new purpose.
And on the road home, new dangers and new allies await him, in the Second Book of Donzalo’s Destiny, The Shadow of Asak.
Signing Off On The Sign
So, I went into obsessive author mode once again and churned out the third book/novel of the Donzalo’s Destiny saga, to be titled THE SIGN OF THE ARROW. Editing and rewrites to come but it’s pretty close to finished form.
Expect it to be published sometime later this year.
It came out just about the same length as the first two books, around 48,000 words this time, divided into three more-or-less novella-length ‘Tales.’ I’m happy enough with it, both the parts that follow my original ideas and those that were the result of inspiration as I went along. I did find a nice way to wrap this one up with the death of a fairly major character, originally scheduled to be offed near the end of the last book. This works better, I think, as well as clearing space, so to speak, for the action at the conclusion.
When will I hit the fourth and, possibly, last book? Hard to say — I’m recognizing that I probably won’t write anything else important until I get all of this story out of me, so I’d better get onto it! Don’t have a title yet.
Now, on to design, rewrites, etc, etc An author’s work is never done!
Expect it to be published sometime later this year.
It came out just about the same length as the first two books, around 48,000 words this time, divided into three more-or-less novella-length ‘Tales.’ I’m happy enough with it, both the parts that follow my original ideas and those that were the result of inspiration as I went along. I did find a nice way to wrap this one up with the death of a fairly major character, originally scheduled to be offed near the end of the last book. This works better, I think, as well as clearing space, so to speak, for the action at the conclusion.
When will I hit the fourth and, possibly, last book? Hard to say — I’m recognizing that I probably won’t write anything else important until I get all of this story out of me, so I’d better get onto it! Don’t have a title yet.
Now, on to design, rewrites, etc, etc An author’s work is never done!
The Sign of the Arrow, official and unofficial release
My third book in the Donzalo's Destiny series (which is, ultimately, one fairly large novel broken into bite-sized pieces) is unofficially available. I would recommend all my eager fans to hold off on the print version until I see my copy and have a chance to check it over!
Officially, the release date is set for August 1. I should have a video trailer finished by then and be ready for whatever hype in which I choose to engage. THE SIGN OF THE ARROW, like its predecessors, is written in a format of linked novella-length (more or less) parts---three, this time.
I will, sooner or later, get to work on the fourth and probably last book, tentatively titled THE HAND OF THE SORCERER. Not a particularly original title, but then neither were the others. I do hope, once I've finished, to release the entire 'Destiny' saga in a single print edition.
Officially, the release date is set for August 1. I should have a video trailer finished by then and be ready for whatever hype in which I choose to engage. THE SIGN OF THE ARROW, like its predecessors, is written in a format of linked novella-length (more or less) parts---three, this time.
I will, sooner or later, get to work on the fourth and probably last book, tentatively titled THE HAND OF THE SORCERER. Not a particularly original title, but then neither were the others. I do hope, once I've finished, to release the entire 'Destiny' saga in a single print edition.
Three Down, One to Go
My multitude of fans out there (yes, both of you) would know this already, but today marks the official release of the third novel in the DONZALO’S DESTINY saga, THE SIGN OF THE ARROW. Available in print or as ebook at Arachis Press (http://arachispress.com).
It may or may not have shown up at sundry ebook purveyors by this time — even at Amazon for those of you insist upon dealing with the Evil Entity.
Fourth and final book in the series is in the works. You must be patient.
The Sign of the Arrow
It may or may not have shown up at sundry ebook purveyors by this time — even at Amazon for those of you insist upon dealing with the Evil Entity.
Fourth and final book in the series is in the works. You must be patient.
The Sign of the Arrow
The Hand Is At Hand
Yes, THE HAND OF THE SORCERER, the fourth and final book of 'Donzalo's Destiny' is set for official release this coming December First. Expect it, however, to be available for purchase by 'Cyber Saturday.' Either way, HAND will definitely be available for ones seasonal shopping!
This book came out a tad longer than its three predecessors (THE SONG OF THE SWORD, THE SHADOW OF ASAK, THE SIGN OF THE ARROW)---where they each stand at just under 50,000 words, THE HAND OF THE SORCERER is well over 60,000. All together, this brings 'Donzalo's Destiny,' which is truly one long novel, to a bit over 200,000 words. I expect to put out an all-in-one print edition sometime before the end of next year.
This book does bring together all the subplots into some sort of resolution. But not so much that I could not revisit many of the characters (those that I didn't kill off!) in future novels. For now, I think I shall turn my attention to that mainstream novel I've had on the back burner and leave the fantasy world for a while.
THE HAND OF THE SORCERER will be available from Arachis Press (http://arachispress.com).
This book came out a tad longer than its three predecessors (THE SONG OF THE SWORD, THE SHADOW OF ASAK, THE SIGN OF THE ARROW)---where they each stand at just under 50,000 words, THE HAND OF THE SORCERER is well over 60,000. All together, this brings 'Donzalo's Destiny,' which is truly one long novel, to a bit over 200,000 words. I expect to put out an all-in-one print edition sometime before the end of next year.
This book does bring together all the subplots into some sort of resolution. But not so much that I could not revisit many of the characters (those that I didn't kill off!) in future novels. For now, I think I shall turn my attention to that mainstream novel I've had on the back burner and leave the fantasy world for a while.
THE HAND OF THE SORCERER will be available from Arachis Press (http://arachispress.com).
Coast of Spears
My newest novel, COAST OF SPEARS, is now set for release on July 1 by Arachis Press. I am characterizing the book as a ‘fantasy adventure,’ but the fantasy element is actually fairly modest. It is certainly less prominent than in the ‘Donzalo’ novels, which border on high fantasy.
Expect the usual ebook and print editions, which should be available at the Arachis Press website (http://arachispress.com) before the official date and elsewhere sometime later.
COS follows the protagonist, Michael Meleager Malvern (which is a name he has coined for himself to fit into ‘high society’), from being cast away on a savage coast, to finding conflict and adventure, and ultimately searching for meaning and love among those he meets there.
There will be more Malvern books, by the way. But so many other projects to take my attention in the mean time!
Expect the usual ebook and print editions, which should be available at the Arachis Press website (http://arachispress.com) before the official date and elsewhere sometime later.
COS follows the protagonist, Michael Meleager Malvern (which is a name he has coined for himself to fit into ‘high society’), from being cast away on a savage coast, to finding conflict and adventure, and ultimately searching for meaning and love among those he meets there.
There will be more Malvern books, by the way. But so many other projects to take my attention in the mean time!
The Eyes of the Wind
My new novel, THE EYES OF THE WIND, is officially set for release on July 15. From Arachis Press and available there and everywhere in print and ebook formats.
This fantasy novel to some degree fits into the gap between my Malvern novels and the Donzalo's Destiny sequence, chronologically (There's a pretty big gap, thousands of years, there so it is quite unnecessary to read either of those, though, of course, I wish you would!)
The long form blurb:
Young Saj only wanted to deliver his wagon-load of goods and be on his way to a new life in the South. How did he end up kidnapping a willful young noblewoman?
Or was it she who kidnapped him? He wasn’t quite sure.
Facing pirates, bandits, and sorcerers, Saj finds himself seeking the four mystic gems known as the Eyes of the Wind for a mysterious priestly order. Accompanied by Marana, who may or may not love him, and the wily wizard Xit, who may or may not be a god, his quest takes him from the sea to the mountains and into his own soul.
For Saj has powers that lie within him, powers of which he is only now becoming aware.
This fantasy novel to some degree fits into the gap between my Malvern novels and the Donzalo's Destiny sequence, chronologically (There's a pretty big gap, thousands of years, there so it is quite unnecessary to read either of those, though, of course, I wish you would!)
The long form blurb:
Young Saj only wanted to deliver his wagon-load of goods and be on his way to a new life in the South. How did he end up kidnapping a willful young noblewoman?
Or was it she who kidnapped him? He wasn’t quite sure.
Facing pirates, bandits, and sorcerers, Saj finds himself seeking the four mystic gems known as the Eyes of the Wind for a mysterious priestly order. Accompanied by Marana, who may or may not love him, and the wily wizard Xit, who may or may not be a god, his quest takes him from the sea to the mountains and into his own soul.
For Saj has powers that lie within him, powers of which he is only now becoming aware.
God of Rain
It is time to announce the release of the next novel, God of Rain, coming officially on March 13 from Arachis Press. GoR is another 'fantasy-adventure,' the first of a projected trilogy set in the Mora world of my Malvern books, and a semi-sequel to those novels.
Essentially God of Rain and those that follow it will be related stand-alone tales --- there is no 'continuing story' here. Here's the official blurb:
Hito had tired of war, of knowing he would never be more than the second to the hero Aranu. It was time he sought his own destiny, to leave fighting behind and seek more. Peace, he desired, and a wife and home. If a bit of wealth came his way, too, that was to the better. But was that what he truly sought? Should there not be more?
From the Mora homeland to the jungled valley of the Gurang, from a new life as a trader to that of a Kohari prisoner, condemned to be sacrificed to the Sun Bird, his quest carries him. And does he find love, as well? Perhaps.
In Teva, the God of Rain, must he seek who he is truly meant to be. In the end, it will be Hito himself he finds, in the first novel of a new Mora Trilogy, GOD OF RAIN.
Essentially God of Rain and those that follow it will be related stand-alone tales --- there is no 'continuing story' here. Here's the official blurb:
Hito had tired of war, of knowing he would never be more than the second to the hero Aranu. It was time he sought his own destiny, to leave fighting behind and seek more. Peace, he desired, and a wife and home. If a bit of wealth came his way, too, that was to the better. But was that what he truly sought? Should there not be more?
From the Mora homeland to the jungled valley of the Gurang, from a new life as a trader to that of a Kohari prisoner, condemned to be sacrificed to the Sun Bird, his quest carries him. And does he find love, as well? Perhaps.
In Teva, the God of Rain, must he seek who he is truly meant to be. In the end, it will be Hito himself he finds, in the first novel of a new Mora Trilogy, GOD OF RAIN.
Release the Crocodile!
So, I have churned out yet another 'fantasy adventure,' officially set for release on June 3 by Arachis Press. Print and ebook, of course, having the title THE CROCODILE'S SON and following Qala the Pirate Queen, a secondary character in THE EYES OF THE WIND. A quick write, when I actually sat down to write, under three weeks to turn out something close to the final version of 60,000 words.
But that followed months of making notes and outlining and just plain thinking. Exactly how much time was involved I could not say as it was only one of several projects being developed. But I don't do the 'first draft and rewrite' bit; the kinks were worked out in that lead-up period.
Now editing and formatting and proofreading and all that stuff, which takes longer than getting a good draft. And we set a release date to make sure I work on this — while getting going on the next novel, of course.
But that followed months of making notes and outlining and just plain thinking. Exactly how much time was involved I could not say as it was only one of several projects being developed. But I don't do the 'first draft and rewrite' bit; the kinks were worked out in that lead-up period.
Now editing and formatting and proofreading and all that stuff, which takes longer than getting a good draft. And we set a release date to make sure I work on this — while getting going on the next novel, of course.
