Wilson Geiger's Blog

I am most happy to announce that one of my short stories has been accepted for a new upcoming anthology from SFFWorld: You Are Here, Tales of Cartographic Wonders, edited by the fantastic N.E. White. You can find the announcement about the anthology right HERE.

You Are Here

My story is called Wetware, a military science-fiction tale that explores a future far from our own, where humanity has finally taken the great plunge into hardware-based consciousness. The pace is frenetic, but I tried to ask questions, too, about what it means to be human, about how far that line goes. I got to explore ideas that have always fascinated me, and as usual with me, it prompted further thoughts that may or may not result in longer stories in the future.

I’ll update readers on all the usual outlets once this puppy is released into the wild!

Here’s the current lineup so far in this exciting new anthology:

Walked About by Jez Patterson – a neat little piece of horror where a map leads folks to a special cairn.

The Bilingual by Andrew Leon Hudson – a tale of cultures clashing in which a map bridges the gap between understanding, but may lead to the collapse of one.

Mapping the Buzz of Insects by Daniel Ausema – living maps infuse the most unlikely of creatures in this swamp-inspired tale of an indigenous culture pressing against their boundaries.

The Final Atlas by Robert A. Francis – when searching for the devil, one need not go farther than one’s skin…an excellent horror piece that exemplifies the meaning of commitment.

Forward by Igor Ljubuncic – using a map of time, a lively investigator attempts to outsmart the very man who invented time-travel.

Wetware by Wilson Geiger – maps play an integral part to any military infiltration or defensive tactics and that proves true in this immersive far-future, military science fiction tale that will having you seeing double… or sexdecuple?

The Bronze Man and the Second Son by Lee Blevins – exploration is dangerous, even for a golem. In this quiet and thoughtful piece, seemingly indestructible explorers find the limits of their maps.

The Shape of the World’s Skin by Adam R. Shannon – a strangely satisfying tale of a boy in an post-apocalyptic world who eventually embraces his idiosyncrasies and follows his inner map.

The Map of Secret Desires by Alec Hutson – this is a fun fantastical story with an imp and a map. What can possibly go wrong?

The Cell Wall by Christopher Walker – in this meta-literary (is there such a thing?) piece, set on an alien world, we learn the importance of telling our stories.

Eleusinian Mysteries by Charlotte Ashley – a great adventure piece about a cartographer making her way to the moon.

Road to Pareidolia by P.J. Richards – this enticing study of patterns just might lead us to other worlds.

Literary Walks: The Cartographer by Martin Croft by Neil James Hudson – this follows in the footsteps of other literary pieces but the story doesn’t meander too much. At heart, this is a love story. Mr. Hudson takes us on a trip through geographic dimensions that will have you re-reading this story to find all the clues to his subtle mystery.

Flow of the Road by Jason LaPier – about the consequences of our actions, this story is set on a world much like our own, but with one key difference – a road with no end. Beset with painful memories, a young driver sets out to map the road, determined to prove it does circle back at some point, but there are darker things traveling the road and consequences to be met.

Mapping Out the Future by Kate Cole – an urban fantasy featuring a thief looking to complete a job, but finds their life path instead.

Safe Haven by Lynn Rushlau – a steam-punk tale of misadventure and unwelcomed reveals.

The Memory Monster by Joseph A. Lopez – a thoughtful piece about the regrets we have at the end of our lives, and how troublesome they can be. But so much more so when there’s mental illness involved. When a map throws a life line, there’s the possibility for some redemption.

Remnants by Lindsay Buroker – in true form, this military space-faring action-adventure features two of Mr. Buroker’s favorite characters, Alisa and Mia. When the space pilot and her engineer get swallowed by the asteroid that’s about to blow up, only a map can save them – if it doesn’t kill them first.

The post You Are Here – A New Anthology appeared first on Wilson Geiger.

As I mentioned in my last update, I am currently working on a new novel, a Western story with its roots in the weird. I don’t want to spoil too much, as some of this is prone to change the closer we get to a full release, but I wanted to take some time to highlight a few of the broader aspects of the world of Winter’s Law.

The Daeva

They are whispered of in dark, smoky taverns, little more than stories of myth and legend, tall tales not to be believed. Fades, creatures that can warp a man’s mind. Monsters that lurk in shadow, haunting the plains and harsh crags of the wild West.

The truth is far, far worse.

||||||||||

Midday had hit in Carter’s Mill, but it was hard to tell. A flurry of ominous clouds had moved in, robbing the town of much of its sunlight. Unusual in the summer heat of the desert, but Jack Bahlien was glad of the dim lighting as he sat at the bar that lined one wall of McGinty’s saloon.

Maybe the dim lighting hid the incredulity in his eyes as they rolled back.

“What’re you tellin’ me, Scoggs?”

Scoggs blew out through his nostrils and slammed back another shot of whiskey. He wiped a grimy sleeve over his damp forehead, and motioned towards the bartender for another shot. “I’m tellin’ ya, Jack, that it’s the honest truth. I know what I saw.”

Jack stared at Scoggs, trying to decide how best to tell the old hand that he was out of his damn fool mind, but the man was clearly rattled. New beads of sweat sprung up on his forehead, and the neck of his shirt was soaked.

“Okay, Scoggs, so let me get this straight.” He waited, holding his tongue as McGinty swooped in and refilled Scogg’s empty shot glass. He lowered his tone, as if he was giving voice to some underground conspiracy. “You saw Colby Miller, and he was…skinning a dog?”

Scoggs’ hand shook, whiskey spilling over the glass. He swallowed, licked his lips and quickly downed the whiskey, a trickle of the firewater seeping down his grizzled chin.

“Mhm.” He nodded slowly, like he was trying to convince himself. “That’s right. Colby was back behind the shed, right across from Owen’s stable…”

Scoggs’ voice trailed off, his eyes drawn like they were suddenly lost in some faraway place. Jack looked around, wondering if anyone else was watching this display. Emmit and one of his crew were enmeshed in their own private coversation at one of the tables, and a stranger sat alone at another in a dark corner, silently brooding over a half-empty bottle. No one seemed to give a whit about quivering Scoggs.

“Scoggs…”

“You didn’t see it!” Scoggs shouted, interrupting Jack as he jumped to his feet. He held the empty shot glass up in his shaking fist. “You didn’t see the way he smiled at me, the look in his eyes! It was…it was…he’s not right, Jack!”

Scoggs fell back onto his stool, and for a second Jack thought the man might start sobbing. He began to shake his head, one hand shielding his face.

Jack glanced over his shoulder. Well, anyone who hadn’t been paying them any mind before, they certainly were now.

“I think there’s something wrong with him, Jack,” Scoggs whispered. “I think maybe there’s something wrong with me, too. I…I hear things in my head, Jack…”

A shiver passed down Jack’s spine as someone pushed through the saloon’s double doors behind him. The shot glass slipped through Scoggs’ fingers, crashing to the floor in a hundred pieces.

Jack spun on his stool, but he already knew.

Colby Miller looked over as the doors swished closed, his gaze lighting on Scoggs and then Jack. He flashed them a knowing smile, and that’s when Jack noticed the blood.

Right about the same time that he noticed the smile slowly spreading across Scoggs’ sweating face.

The post Winter’s Law and the West appeared first on Wilson Geiger.

Ash & Flame: Season One

Ash & Flame: Season One Kindle Countdown Deal

On Friday, February 19th, you can pick up Ash & Flame: Season One for the low, low price of 99 cents! The deal will run over the weekend, after which the price will go up by a dollar for the rest of the week. So if you’ve been waiting to check out the collected edition, this weekend and next week will be a prime time to do just that.

I’d also be remiss if I didn’t mention that the 19th is my birthday. So double the incentive.

The Accord has been broken, the balance of Heaven and Hell shattered.

The war between the armies of Heaven and Hell has been waged on Earth, leaving the world a cracked husk. Humanity clings to life, hidden in the ruins of former cities, seeking refuge from the demons that walk the streets and the angels that soar the darkened skies.

From the mind of Wilson Geiger comes a new series, a frightening vision of the fall of mankind.

Ren and his young daughter, Emma, struggle for survival. When Ren and Emma find refuge at the Haven, a stronghold guarded by the angel Ithuriel and his band of blessed human soldiers against demonic forces lead by Azazel, they may have found the home they so desperately need.

But in the aftermath of the broken Accord, in a world where nowhere is safe, no one can be trusted, and one misstep can lead to death and desolation of the soul, the lines between good and evil blur. Angels cater to their own agendas. Demons wear familiar faces. No one is without a secret. And the dark secrets that Ren and Emma shield from the world and from each other have the power to tip the balance. But in whose favor?

This is the world of Ash & Flame, a dangerous, sinister new place, where survival is more than just staying alive.

Along with that, I would dearly appreciate that if you have read Ash & Flame, that you leave a review on Amazon and Goodreads. Positive, negative, indifferent, any feedback that you leave for the book will be extremely helpful.

Next week I’ll talk some more about my newest project, the weird western I’m calling–for now–Winter’s Law. I’m really excited for where the book is heading as I near the completion of a revised draft. More to come on that soon!

 

The post Ash & Flame Countdown Deal! appeared first on Wilson Geiger.

Winter’s Law

So, as I mentioned last week, I’ve got two projects that will see most of my focus this year. One of those is a Norse-inspired epic fantasy series, featuring a clan of shapeshifting werewolf Vikings, natives cursed with a taste for blood, and a dark, mystic civilization steeped in blood magic. That should be loads of fun, and I can’t wait to share it with you.

But that’s not why we’re here right now. Right now, I’m here to share the first bit of news about my new Western series, (tentatively titled) Winter’s Law.

It’s not your typical Western, so if you’re looking for the next Louis L’Amour, this is probably not it. No, this one has that unique Western feel, sharing those traditional Western tales of revenge, greed and the hard-bitten men and women that risked their lives in those harsh, wild lands, but there’s a lot more at play here.

Oh, you’ll still find those same tiny towns, wooden shanties and saloons carved out of the desert. You’ll still find Marshals and deputies, rifles slung over saddles and six-shooters dangling from gunbelts. Want rough bandits and seedy business types? Done.

Sounds like your typical Western, right? Well, I’ve added a few wrinkles. First, there’s the Shades, shadowy creatures that haunt the West. Able to slowly break down the willpower of men and women, Shades possess their minds and bodies, committing terrible acts under another’s skin.

And what are the Shades without their human hunters, the infamous Shadowhand? Riding into town like the dark clouds before a wild storm, their unnatural gaze sweeps over all, one bare hand on the cold grip of their precious flintlocks. Stories follow them from town to town, whispers and rumors about their secretive sect.

Because everyone knows, where the Shadowhand go, death is sure to follow.

Stay tuned for more news about Winter’s Law!

Ash & Flame

Just in case you missed it, the complete first season of Ash & Flame was released right before New Year’s, so if you’ve been waiting for it to be available in one collected edition, you’re in luck! You can find it right here on Amazon. And if you do happen to check it out, please take that extra few seconds to leave a review! You can also find the book listed on GoodReads.

The post Introducing…Winter’s Law appeared first on Wilson Geiger.

The Past

2015 was a good year in some ways, and not so good in others. You know, like most years. I finally saw the fruit of months of hard work, releasing five lengthy episodes in Ash & Flame‘s debut season. And in case you missed it, the omnibus edition of that season just came out!

2015 also saw the re-release of Fairly Wicked Tales, a fun anthology with new twists on Grimm’s Fairy Tales. You can read my own short story within the collection’s dire contents, A Blue Light Turned Black. A great book, and I highly recommend it. Every story is worth it.

That was the good. The bad? Well, let’s see:

I wrote a lot of words last year. Around 140,000 of them. But the only ones anyone saw were the ones related to Ash & Flame, which was a little disappointing. I had planned on releasing at least one full-length novel, and that didn’t happen. As it turns out, I bounced around too much, too many projects catching my eye. I worked on three separate novels during 2015, and while I finished first drafts on two of them, they are still pending revisions.

The releases of Ash & Flame were too slow. It didn’t matter how well it all came together at the end, or how well the finished product of each episode turned out, the release dates for each episode were too spread out. As soon as someone finished an episode, they’d look for the next, only to find out that it wouldn’t be out for at least a month. Too slow. Lesson learned.

Now comes the hard part: I need to build upon the framework I constructed over the past couple of years. What I’ve accomplished is great, and I’m proud of it, but I’m not where I want to be.

The Future

I’ve got a lot in the works, and I’ll be spending much of my January figuring out my writing priorities. I know what I’ll be working on, and I’ve committed myself to sticking to them this year. Finished projects are my goal.

That said, I have a couple of projects that will take much of this year’s focus, and I’m super excited about both of them.

I don’t want to spoil too much, but I have been working on a particular Norse-inspired fantasy series for the better part of two years. This will see the bulk of my focus, because it’s big. Very big. Three books in the pipeline, at least, with two largely written.

The other is a novel with a definite Wild West vibe. The story centers on two demon hunters: one a young girl with untapped potential and a dangerous secret, and her older mentor, a grizzled vet who’s running out of time.

I did want to also mention the possibility of a second season of Ash & Flame. I’ve added this to my schedule, but of course it will depend on the response to Season One. I think most who have read it have liked it, so this remains a very real possibility. Keep your ears open on this one.

The website should start seeing more frequent updates, and I’ll be working to keep up with my newsletters, as I know I’ve been a bit late with that. I’d like to also get some book and movie reviews up here on a more frequent basis.

I hope you’ll stick with me, and thanks for reading!

 

The post My 2015 and What’s Coming in 2016 appeared first on Wilson Geiger.

Ash & Flame

I am proud to announce that Season One of Ash & Flame will be available tomorrow, December 30th! The omnibus edition will be released exclusively through Amazon initially, with the other markets to follow a short while later. List price will be $4.99.

I will, of course, announce Season One’s availability just as soon as Amazon gives me the greenlight, which should be sometime tomorrow morning.

Winter’s Law, Inkshares and Sword & Laser

I have recently joined the Inkshares community, a crowdfunding site where authors can connect with potential readers. Inkshares is trying something unique, where they are blending the traditional publishing model with the perks and individuality of author-publishing.

As some of you might recall, I wrote the first draft of a weird western novel last year. I’ve chosen that novel, Winter’s Law, and put it up on Inkshares for the possibility of publication. The campaign will run for 90 days, and if I can manage 750 pre-orders, Inkshares will put their team to work and professionally publish Winter’s Law (or the possibility of less widespread publication if I reach 250 pre-orders).

I have a project page up HERE, so if you’re interested, I would definitely encourage you to check it out. I have a teaser up for easy reading.

Along with this, Sword & Laser is partnering with Inkshares to run a contest, which runs from Dec. 1 to January 15th. The top three projects (counted by number of pre-orders) gets automatically published by Inkshares, without the requisite 750 pre-orders. That is a big opportunity, and a chance for a wide audience via Sword & Laser.

I’d love to be in consideration for this. I think the book is good enough, it just needs that audience. Family, friends, robots, I need your help. All it takes is a $10 dollar pre-order (and any pre-orders grant you credits which can be redeemed, so you’re getting more bang for your buck!), and you can help me take another step towards my writing goals. I will also have some giveaways to be named at a later date to help with incentive.

I feel icky selling. I’m not great at it, definitely feel uncomfortable doing it, but this is the way it’s done these days if you want to be an author. So anything you can do to help would be most appreciated.

Details on my project page at https://www.inkshares.com/projects/winter-s-law !

The post Ash & Flame And Other News appeared first on Wilson Geiger.

I can finally announce that the omnibus edition of the complete first season of Ash & Flame is coming very soon! This collected edition will contain all five episodes of Season One, plus some extras which will hopefully make up a little for the long wait.

Currently I’m aiming for a release date of December 23rd, although I’m still ironing out the details. It will, of course, be available on Amazon, and after a short period it should also be made available on other e-tailers, like Barnes and Noble, Google and Apple. Print is still definitely an option I’m reviewing, as I’d love to have signed copies to send out, so please let me know if that’s something you’d like to see.

I started this journey over a year ago, and I am extremely proud of the work I, and my editors, put in to make this happen. Countless nights, hundreds of hours, plenty of lost sleep, all to get to this point where we can say, “It’s finished,” and let it loose in the wilds of the online marketplace. Now it’s up to the readers to let us know how we did.

So, if you’re interested, keep an eye out on this blog. I’ll be sure to announce the official release date of Ash & Flame: Season One, and any other details here, as well as on social media.

The post Ash & Flame: Season One Coming Soon! appeared first on Wilson Geiger.

Ash & Flame

So, as some of you may know, the fifth and final episode of Ash & Flame’s first season was released recently. It was a very unique experience writing a series like that, and I’m glad it all came together so well. I’ve heard some questions throughout the series production, and I thought this would be a good time to answer what I can.

So, Wilson, will you release this as a compilation now that the season is finished?

Why, thank you for asking, random stranger! Yes, yes I will. Right now the plan is to release the entirety of Season One in one volume right around Christmas time, and I’ll be revealing more details as we get closer to that date.

Will you release this in paperback?

That’s a good question. I have a couple of readers who have mentioned that they just can’t embrace this whole e-reader revolution just yet, and they’d really like to see this on paper. There’s a lot that goes into the printing process, so I’m not willing to come out and say it just yet, but I am looking into the option.

Can I get it signed?

Who the blazes would want my–oh, really? That’s very nice of you. If a print edition manages to find its way out, then yes, I’ll put something together to get signed editions out to people that request them.

What about a Season Two?

I’ve definitely got some great ideas for a second season of Ash & Flame, but a lot of this will depend on timing and the feedback I get. The reviews I have received have been great, and I appreciate every one of them; that’s time that readers have given to let me know what they think. Ultimately, I’ll have to judge whether there will be a good return on the sizable investment that is put into each and every episode.

Readers will be the ones that answer this question. Do you want a season two?

We’ll see how things shake out, and go from there, but I am hopeful. I think it’s got great potential as a series.

Other Updates

First and foremost, I’m going to try to be more active on the ol’ blog. I had been much more focused on writing and production, and while that’s still the case, I can’t ignore this site. I want to have fun on here, and I want potential visitors to do the same. There will be more than just writing updates, too. I need to make it personal, let you guys into my little speck of the internet.
One of my early loves was art. I mean, not classical art, but the geek kind: comics, fantasy, science-fiction art. I used to sketch and draw all the time. I’d love to get back to that place. So with that said, I may be using the blog to highlight some rough ideas for some comic-centric projects I’ve had in the background.
Throughout November, I’ll be working to finish my current project, a military science-fiction novella. That novella may stretch into a full-fledged novel, but once that draft is done I’ll be looking for a few readers, so keep an eye out if you dig that sort of thing.

So that about does it. Do you have any comments or questions? Anything you’d like to see the blog focus on?

The post Ash & Flame Updates and More appeared first on Wilson Geiger.

Sorry for the delay, dear readers, but I’m proud to announce that the fifth and final episode of Ash & Flame‘s first season is now available on Amazon!

This episode completes the first arc of the story, and I am proud of the work we did in putting this together. Sure, I wrote it, but I had a lot of help along the way, from alpha reads to line edits. I’d like to thank the crew at 7th Titan for their patience, hard work and perseverance in ensuring this series came out looking as good as it did. I believe that the quality shows.

I’ll have some announcements soon on what the future may bring to Ash & Flame, and I hope you all enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it. I’ve got what I think are some cool ideas in the works, and we’ll see how it all plays out now that the framework for the world of Ash & Flame has been laid.

Details on episode five below, and stay tuned for more news going forward on future projects!

 

The survivors of Haven have withstood attacks from all sides, but lost their home in the process. With Ithuriel missing, Kevin struggles to hold the frayed ends of his people together. When an unexpected visitor arrives, Kevin is faced with another game-changing dilemma.

Together again, Ren and Emma must choose their path. But when the forces of Heaven and Hell use them as pawns, and behind every choice lies the possibility of damnation, how can they be sure which path leads to redemption?

Ithuriel struggles to find purpose in a world devoid of his Father. Lilith, continues to track Emma, but will interruptions lead her astray from reuniting with her daughter? In this dramatic conclusion to Ash & Flame, who has the power to win the divine battle made manifest?

 

The post Ash & Flame: Episode Five Released! appeared first on Wilson Geiger.

When someone asks me why I write, it’s always a difficult question to answer. Because the thing is, I don’t have a great answer.

I have been a creative person my entire life. Always loved to sketch and draw, or write background, or try to design my own small games. I used to attempt my own comics, and even though it never went far enough where I actually produced anything, the ideas were always stuck in my head. I have a feeling that if I had learned to finish what I started back then, I might be in a far different place right now.

I’m good with computers, good at troubleshooting issues and designing application systems. But that isn’t my passion. I still have these ideas in my head, things like what eventually became Ash & Flame, or my Norse werewolf stories, and they want out. I have characters up there, and plots, and settings and backgrounds that are awe-inspiring and exciting. I want to share them with an audience that might appreciate those worlds, and those characters. I want to show them the disappointing losses, the savage betrayals and the fleeting glimpses of a soul’s redemption.

So I write.

There are other reasons, too. I’m getting better at telling stories, I think, better at pacing and flow, better at characterization, better at finishing what I start. I’m pushing for that because wanting to write, while I have to also maintain a 40- to 50-hour, mentally exhausting work week, is hard. Closing the office door at 9PM and telling the family that I have my own work to do, after I’ve been gone all day, is hard. Trying to juggle a career with a tiring job is hard. That’s not a complaint, just a fact. Just what it is.

I write, because it’s what I want to do. I want to use my imagination, my mental energy, and my time on the things that matter to me. Fixing a server for salesmen, working for someone else who doesn’t have my best interests at heart, that doesn’t matter to me all that much in the end. It’s not the contribution to the world that I want to leave behind.

So I write.

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