Hugo Negron's Blog

The convention fever keeps rising as we get ready for CodCon April 17-19th at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn IL!! Come by to talk fantasy and get the lowdown on the upcoming addition to the Forging of a Knight series - Glaive!!

https://www.codcon.com

First convention of the year! March 7-8th was PeoriaCon located (where else) at the Peoria Civic Center in Peoria IL! A competing St. Patrick's Day parade hampered crowds a bit, but it was still a good turnout despite.

Always good to see some familiar faces -both Forging of a Knight followers and fellow vendors like Eugene Lutz, Todd Black, Jeremiah Lambert, Sam Concklin, and a bevy of others - all of em amazingly creative folks!

The message I received was loud and clear - people are anxious to know when the upcoming Glaive novel will be out! I'm hopeful by end of April to have it ready to submit to Gatekeeper Press to format and produce. Which convention I will officially launch at outside of the usual online retailers is still up in the air, but time will definitely tell!

You can check out some of the pics I took at my official website below:

https://www.forgingofaknight.com/blog

I've had a few Knights ask me this before at various conventions and the like: "What are your favorite top ten fantasy-based movies?" Well, after mulling it over, I figured I should answer that and share it here.

Now, some stipulations to my list. These are based solely on movies I've seen, so I'm sure I might be missing some great flicks I've never had a chance to catch. Also, sometimes fantasy and swashbuckling flicks can get interchanged. To separate the two, I added the caveat of having some sort of fantasy/magical element to the list, and finally, I didn't include any of the Lord of the Rings flicks, just because that's an obvious one which is definitely on my list, but I wanted to go back a little further and maybe showcase some movies folks may not be aware of.

So with that being said - outside of Lord of the Rings/Hobbit/related bits, here in random order is my top ten list of fantasy genre flicks:

1. Krull - I've mentioned this one before - sci fi meets fantasy as the medieval-ish world of Krull is invaded by space beings that use horses...yeah. This 1983 British movie has a million holes in the plot, but the actors take their roles seriously, and with a cast including Ken Marshall, Freddie Jones, Alun Armstrong, David Battley, Francesca Annis, Lliam Neeson, and Robbie Coltrane, among others, it's a fun-filled quest to find allies and weapons on Prince Colwyn's trek to seek out the Black Fortress and rescue his beloved from the clutches of the Beast. The glorious score provided by the late James Horner only adds to the epic feel.

2. Excalibur - the 1981 John Boorman version of the classic tale, taking the original version of the story where Percival finds the Glaive (instead of Galahad, son of Lancelot, in Malory's later revision). With lavish scenes of battling knights (yes, I know plate mail armor was probably not around during the mythical time of King Arthur's reign, but never mind) and sylvan landscapes, it's a beauty to see.

The bulk of the epic saga is presented, from the birthing of King Arthur to the grandeur of the Knights to their eventual fall with Lancelot's affair with Queen Guinevere, the evil grooming of Mordred, and their final attempt to restore the land and their king via the quest for the Holy Grail. Some early appearances by Lliam Neeson and Patrick Stewart, along with Nicol Williamson playing a wonderfully nutty Merlin. A lot seems forced and crammed into this tale, and the tone is pretty grim/dark, but still a wonderfully lavish production, and the use of classic musical excerpts from Wagner (specifically from Twilight of the Gods (Gotterdammerung)), and Carl Orff (O Fortuna) really resonate well here.

3. Legend - Another dark fantasy flick from 1985, this one starring Tom Cruise and Tim Curry, is a simple enough tale of Cruises' faerie like character Jack who lives in the forest and speaks with animals and his paramour Princess Lili (Mia Sara) rescuing unicorns from the clutches of the evil Lord of Darkness, a Hellboyish looking demonic entity played by Curry.

Again, some great visuals - Curry as the demonic lord, and an evil swamp hag named Meg Mucklebones which will really creep you out. The story itself is rather simplistic and rather flat, and not much to go off, but there are some great visuals - plus, Curry is always fun playing these evil gnashing of teeth characters (IT, anyone?) and he doesnt fail to impress as the demonic lord. Not the best fantasy movie, but for me its a guilty pleasure.

4. Jason and the Argonauts - wonderful early movie from 1963 detailing the adventures of Jason in his quest to find the Golden Fleece. Although the story's end kinda leaves you hanging (the evil Pelias who sends Jason on this quest to get rid of him is never confronted at the end), the adventure itself, with the amazing stop motion effects from the legendary Ray Harryhausen is fully worth watching.

Seeing the god Triton rise from the depths to protect Jason's crew from the clashing rocks, the imposing Talos, a giant animated statue, to the final classic battle against a horde of animated skeletons, it's a fantasy must see - and props to actor Nigel Greer who plays Hercules in a role that should have been longer!

5. Jack the Giant Slayer - this 2013 movie doesnt get the credit it deserves, as it replays the story of Jack and the Beanstalk with more monstrous effect. Another simple plot overly spread out with the proverbial holes in the storyline (Where are all the female and baby giants?!), but with Ewan McGregor as a dashing knight and Ian McShane in a wonderful role as King Bramwell, this battle against a race of imposing giants living in a mystical land high in the sky, led by a two headed giant, is a fun CGI romp.

6. This includes three flicks in a series of sorts - The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958), The Golden Voyage of Sinbad (1973), and Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger (1977). Different actors play Sinbad, but again, the magic of Ray Harryhausen in depicting the various beasts (cyclops, dragons, animated six-armed statues, a golden bull-headed golem, and more) seals the deals in these early fantasy filled epics. On top of that you get some great acting from Tom Baker (prior to his Dr. Who role) as the evil magician Koura in 'Golden Voyage, and another Dr. Who, Patrick Troughton, in 'Eye of the Tiger.

7. The Never Ending Story from 1984 - how can you not love a movie involving a giant, furry dog-faced dragon? A boy finds a magic book about the mystical land known as Fantasia, which is slowly being devoured by the Nothing - an unknown force that is literally wiping the land out from existence. Reading further, the boy starts to learn the land may not be as fictional as he first thought, nor the level of involvement he will have in attempting to save them.

8. Princess Bride - a 1987 fantasy movie starring, among others, Billy Crystal, Fred Savage, and...Andre the Giant? Part comedy, this movie deals with the traditional storyline of the humble peasant attempting to rescue yet another Princess in distress, Princess Buttercup from the evil Prince. Despite the odd premise and cast, this is a hilarious flick and one you shouldn't miss!

9. Pan's Labyrinth - a 2006 movie taking place in Spain, where a young girl encounters some very special creatures in a magical garden - who inform her she is the incarnation of Princess Moanna, and must undergo three tasks to regain her title and return to her kingdom. A faun guides her through these tasks, including a fearsome confrontation with the Pale Man, a skeletal creature with eyes in his palms.

This is a dark fantasy, and the creatures the young girl meets are not cute and warm feeling. They are fearsome, otherworldly, and sinister-looking. Directed by Guillermo del Toro, it's a darksome artistic treat.

10. Wizard of Oz - This is a no-brainer - the 1925 version of L. Frank Baum's 1900 novel which has to be a stable to any fantasy themed list! Witches, gargoyles, talking lions, animated scarecrows and metal men. Despite its surprise bombing in the theatres when it first came out, it has since become a stable classic that is seen again and again on TV and on other media.


Whew! Well, that's the list! There are a bunch more, of course - Clash of the Titans, Sword and the Sorcerer, Chronicles of Narnia, Ladyhawk, Arabian Adventures, Labyrinth (starring David Bowie), and many more recent movies (And let's not talk about the Dungeons and Dragons movie from 2000, please - one of the worst movies ever - there, you have been warned!).

Also, if you start veering towards your buckles getting swashed, you would be looking at a whole other category of great flicks starting way back with the likes of Douglas Fairbanks, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Tyrone Power, Errol Flynn, and more. Some of these greats include Scaramouche, Captain Blood, Three Musketeers, Mask of Zorro, The Black Pirate, Robin Hood, leading up to modern day movies like the Pirates of the Caribbean series.

How about you? Any movies I missed? What are your favs??

Huzzah – Glaive’s own story is just about here at last! With Erin hammering away with her editing, polishing here and cleaning there (and you know how Glaive feels about being clean) it’s time to turn to our new cover designer. Say hello to Brandi Doane McCann!


HN: Hi Brandi – to start out, how about sharing some of your background with us?

B: I’ve always been creative and gravitated toward art and design from a young age. Over time, that interest turned into hands-on experience with graphic design, especially book covers, which eventually led me to start my own design business.

HN: How did you develop an interest in illustration/design?

B: I’ve always loved visuals and storytelling, and design felt like a natural way to combine the two. Once I started experimenting with digital tools, I realized how much I enjoyed bringing ideas to life visually.

HN: At what point did you realize this was something you had a passion for with regards to pursuing as a career?

B: When I started getting real feedback from clients and saw how my work helped authors present their stories, it really clicked. That’s when I knew this was more than just a hobby.

HN: Was it difficult setting up your own design business?

B: There was definitely a learning curve, especially with the business side of things, but it was worth it. Each project helped me grow more confident and organized.

HN: What do you enjoy most about your work? What do you enjoy the least?

B: I love the creative process and collaborating with authors. The least enjoyable part is probably administrative tasks, but they’re a necessary part of running a business.

HN: What have been some of your most challenging projects, and why?

B: Projects where the vision isn’t fully formed can be challenging, but they’re also rewarding. Helping clients clarify what they want and turning that into a strong visual concept is a big part of the job.

HN: Give us a “day in the life” – what steps do you usually follow when you take on a new assignment?

B: I start by reviewing the project details and getting a feel for the story or concept. Then I research, gather inspiration, create drafts, and refine the design based on feedback until it feels just right.

HN: What are your goals for eBook Cover Designs moving forward?

B: I want to continue growing while maintaining a personal, hands-on approach. My goal is to keep creating covers that feel unique and truly reflect each author’s work.

HN: If you hadn’t chosen to work in concept art/illustration, what do you think you would have been doing?

B: I’d still be doing something creative—likely working in another design-related field or creative communications.

HN: When you are not busy with client work, what do you like to do?

B: I enjoy spending time with my family, staying active, and working on personal creative projects.

HN: What sort of skills do you think are essential for someone interested in getting into the field?

B: Creativity, adaptability, attention to detail, and good communication skills are all important. Being open to feedback is huge.

HN: For anyone interested in having you work on their projects, what’s the best way for them to reach you?

B: The best way is through my website (www.ebook-coverdesigns.com), where they can view my work and get in touch directly.

It’s coming - Glaive is coming…and a new cover artist will be assisting in bringing his book to life! Just take a gander of the cover pic at our website below!

https://www.forgingofaknight.com/blog...

Who is behind this awesome image? Say hello to Brandi Doane McCann! She does some amazing book cover work! Check out her website link:

https://www.ebook-coverdesigns.com/

What happened to the previous Forging of a Knight cover artist, Lora Lee? Well, she is delving deep into some major graphic design projects, pivoting into other creative areas. I will miss her colorful touch to Qualtan and Co., but as you can see, Brandi is definitely up to the task!

It’s coming…

A little early, but with the official Yuletide season fast approaching (and ending, egads!), I have been asked by many for a generalized list of where I might be showing up next year - and also when will the new book Glaive be ready and what show will it be first shown?

Well, the draft itself is complete - soon to be in the capable hands of Erin Potter my amazing editor. So far I am participating at the below events - hopeful the book will be ready to officially showcase at one of the latter ones next year, but there may be others added on, so time will tell...but, I will giva ya hints here as the book moves through the proverbial progressive steps...

PeoriaCon (in Peoria IL), March 7-8!

CodCon (in Glen Ellyn IL), April 17-19!

DragonDays (in Lake Geneva, WI), Oct 4-5!

RockCon (in Rockford IL), Nov 6-8!

Goddess of Thyme Ren Faire - initially scheduled for June - sad to say, after a wonderful event last year, the organizers have decided to go their own creatively separate ways, cancelling the event!

There are a few more events, possibly in May and September, which I'm still looking at. It's going to be a fun year, with Glaive finally shining on his own, and thoughts are already percolating for a Part Two...or maybe a combination Glaive Part Two and the original Forging of a Knight series Part Eight...depending on how much help Glaive might need! We shall see!

* * * *

It was again another banner year for Forging of a Knight, topping the previous one! Many, many hearty huzzah's and thank-you's to all who have been following the series, or were just introduced to it for the first time. The pleasure for me has been not only in its creation, but the many friends and comrades I have made who have joined the adventure with me. It's those relationships that really count: the tales read, the stories shared, the hobbies explored. When meeting readers at these various conventions, I've given hugs to those who needed it during tough times that my books helped ease just a little, and I've given high-fives to others who have asked for critiques and feedback, looking to write stories of their own. It's a wonderful tribe, made up of gamers, creatives, hobbyists, artists, writers, poets, and all sorts of imaginative, ingenious, and inventive individuals! Thank you for allowing me into your worlds to share mine!

The RockCon adventure is over for now - the good men and women of the RockCon community who traveled to the Tebala Event Center for three days of gaming fun have gone their separate ways but will surely return next year for RockCon 2026 (Nov 6-8!).

It’s always a blast to see familiar faces (and new faces as well) - a tip of ye olde helmet to Jeff, Joe, Ed, Turtledove, Rich, and of course, Josey and her family (waving to ya from afar) - amazing folks, one and all. Even Andy from Dragon Days was present, heading his ship into unknown dangers.

And last but not least, the awesome RockCon staff led by Antina Richards-Pennock - thanks again for letting Forging of a Knight be present!

https://rock-con.com/

Our last adventure for the year! Rock-Con Nov 7-9 at the Tebala Event Center, Rockford IL! Forsooth, it is not to be missed!

https://rock-con.com/

I’m getting ready to say “hello” again to Dragon Days October 4 & 5 in Lake Geneva WI!! Din’t miss the second year of amazing fantasy and gaming fun?

https://www.dragondays.org

...and here we have our final official contestant in the hunt for the dreaded, unseen, mysterious object - Darksiege, the last of Those That Stand in Shadow:

Glaive continued to run about, despite his lethargy, hoping to find hint, or perhaps a living soul, to explain what had happened. He called out Royal’s name once, twice, before a voice answered him.

“I am here.”

Glaive quickly stopped. The voice that replied was not the sea captain’s, but that of somebody else. It was a deeper, hollow utterance from one of greater power, and deeper evil. It was chilling and soothing at the same time, seductive in its melody, but harboring a hunger and savagery barely restrained beneath a semblance of calm and control.

Red eyes stared at Glaive, from a corpse-white face, bedecked with black hair and projecting antlers. Armor the color of jet-black clinked underneath a cowl of similar darkness, a cowl which held whispering and chattering things in its many folds. The being was imposing, and like some netherworld prince, stood tall and stately. An armored hand moved, and before Glaive could react, the ground rose, forming earthen tentacles that took hold of the thief. He struggled, but could not escape.

A hint of recognition tinted the being’s brow. “I remember you, half-orcne. The servant to my hated enemy. You were with him on that other world, in pursuit of the object I coveted. I remember your weapon, which struck me in your pitiful attempt to do me injury. I also wonder, does he pursue this new object as well?”

Whew - will Darksiege be the one to finally lay claim to the object? Hopefully not...!

Well, that wraps up the sneak peeks of the main players in this upcoming book! Who will win? What will happen...and what happens next?

The countdown begins...!