James Calbraith's Blog

So, here’s what I’ve been secretly working on through the summer, my Project X of 2023. A completely new story, a new series, a new world – and a new genre. Well, somewhat. I went back to historical fantasy for this one – but it’s such a weird premise that I kept wondering, what the […]

Five years after Madron’s return from Frankia, an unexpected visitor arrives at the capital of Britannia Prima: an envoy from Dux Syagrius of Gaul, ruler of the last existing remnant of the Western Empire. In the ten years since Odowakr the Skir took Rome from the last Emperor and made himself a King of Italia, no usurper, general or politician managed to gain enough […]

To his fans, the death of Ryuichi Sakamoto is as profound and tragic an event as that of his Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence co-star, David Bowie, was to the western world. He was a titan of electronic music, a genius of movie soundtracks, and a tenacious peace and eco activist, both in his home Japan […]

For the next few days, I’m giving away my small back catalog of short stories and non-fiction e-books over on Amazon. All for free until the end of the week. No real reason, other than the end of KDP Select season and having to use up the free promo days. May you find here something […]

I’m now in-between drafts for “The Shieldmaiden’s Throne” – to be released in July. This is usually the time when I start coming up with detailed ideas for my next book. For the past five years, that meant thinking up the next volume of the “Song of Britain” saga. But I’ve written nine of those […]

This may seem rather unrelated to anything else on here – especially my writing – and you might think it’s a dramatic admission to galactic-level procrastination, but hear me out 🙂 Call it an adult-onset ADHD or whatever, but I always find it more conducive to writing during the day if there’s something playing in […]

All is not well in Britannia Prima. Though Princess Madron had helped her husband Honorius defeat the four-year-long revolt, and was blessed with a second child – a son – dark clouds are still gathering over the Dux’s throne. The rebellious nobles remain unplacated, the borders are still aflame, and a new menace of the Gewisse Saxons threatens the lines of trade and communication […]

The Shieldmaiden’s Honour is done and dusted, ready for release. I’ve moved it a week ahead, so it’ll be available for purchase a week from now. About time, then, to show off the map created for the book. It’s the coasts of the English Channel and the North Sea this time: the marshes of the […]

Busy day today – finished proof-reading of the final manuscript of “The Shieldmaiden’s Honour“, and reached a one-third point in the first draft of Madron’s last story, “The Shieldmaiden’s Throne” – soon out for pre-order. It’s some two weeks until the “Honour’s” release, so it’s about Ttime for the traditional Locations post. This time, Madron […]