Nils Nisse Visser's Blog
October 30, 2017
Woof Woof
Dear readers of the Wyrde Woods & Time Flight Chronicles. You've seen my boasts and chest-thumping about being included in two Writerpunk Anthologies (Merely This and Nothing More & What We've Unlearned). Partially because it is an honour to have my work deemed of sufficient quality to be published in Seattle USA. It has also been a fun and inspiring journey with a great team. More importantly though, is the cause. None of the authors, editors & artists involved in these projects make a penny. All proceeds go to the PAWS animal shelter in Washington State ( www.paws.org ), which houses domestic animals but is also involved in wildlife rescue. At a time when austerity, disastrous climatic events, and poor political decisions collaborate to place ever more pressure on the animal kingdom, I am very proud that a few scribblings of mine can contribute to the efforts of those trying to combat animal misery.
Jeffrey Cook, author and inspirator, has just visited PAWS with the news that the income raised by the Writerpunk anthologies is sufficient to fund TWO dog kennels for a whole year at PAWS. I would like to very sincerely thank those of my readers who have purchased Writerpunk anthologies and thus helped us achieve this success.
We hope to bring this news again, in 2018.
Jeffrey Cook, author and inspirator, has just visited PAWS with the news that the income raised by the Writerpunk anthologies is sufficient to fund TWO dog kennels for a whole year at PAWS. I would like to very sincerely thank those of my readers who have purchased Writerpunk anthologies and thus helped us achieve this success.
We hope to bring this news again, in 2018.
The Dreamtime Tale Fantasy anthology DREAMTIME DRAGONS
I made two contributions to the Dreamtime Tale Fantasy anthology: DREAMTIME DRAGONS.
Like several other contributors, I supplied a chapter excerpt from existing work. ‘The Wyrm in the Tarn’ is part of the ‘Dragonslayers’ chapter in Escape from Neverland, in which Wenn and Puck explore the Wyrde Woods together and visit the Devil’s Tarn.
A much longer contribution is a brand new, previously unpublished, Wyrde Woods Tale. It is a standalone story but has plenty to offer Wyrde Woods initiates. ‘Freósan Draka Treów’ introduces Lewinna Wulfgardohter, better known as St Lewinna to readers of Escape from Neverland, Dance into the Wyrd, and Forgotten Road. In this story, we travel back to the time of King Alfred, when the Wyrde Woods were inhabited by the South Saxons. Seventeen-year-old Lewinna faces an enormous challenge when the Wyrde Woods are threatened by danger in the absence of her father and the fighting men. Will she be able to overcome her own doubts and the foe, with the odds stacked against her?
The story reveals how the Raven’s Roost came by its name, introduces us to a new corner of the Wyrde Woods (the Fern Sea), and also offers a few tantalizing hints as to the further adventures of Wenn, Joy and Maisy in future Wyrde Woods books. As per usual, you’ll have to pay attention to catch these hints, but they have been worked into the story for the benefit of regular Wyrde Woods readers.
The paperback is out for pre-order – and the e-book versions are on their way, with a generous surprise in store with regard to pricing.
Welcome back to the Wyrde Woods.
Like several other contributors, I supplied a chapter excerpt from existing work. ‘The Wyrm in the Tarn’ is part of the ‘Dragonslayers’ chapter in Escape from Neverland, in which Wenn and Puck explore the Wyrde Woods together and visit the Devil’s Tarn.
A much longer contribution is a brand new, previously unpublished, Wyrde Woods Tale. It is a standalone story but has plenty to offer Wyrde Woods initiates. ‘Freósan Draka Treów’ introduces Lewinna Wulfgardohter, better known as St Lewinna to readers of Escape from Neverland, Dance into the Wyrd, and Forgotten Road. In this story, we travel back to the time of King Alfred, when the Wyrde Woods were inhabited by the South Saxons. Seventeen-year-old Lewinna faces an enormous challenge when the Wyrde Woods are threatened by danger in the absence of her father and the fighting men. Will she be able to overcome her own doubts and the foe, with the odds stacked against her?
The story reveals how the Raven’s Roost came by its name, introduces us to a new corner of the Wyrde Woods (the Fern Sea), and also offers a few tantalizing hints as to the further adventures of Wenn, Joy and Maisy in future Wyrde Woods books. As per usual, you’ll have to pay attention to catch these hints, but they have been worked into the story for the benefit of regular Wyrde Woods readers.
The paperback is out for pre-order – and the e-book versions are on their way, with a generous surprise in store with regard to pricing.
Welcome back to the Wyrde Woods.
November 7, 2016
'nother wee update
SOME MUSINGS ON CURRENT (fictional) PROJECTS
The ‘punked’ Edgar Allan Poe anthology "Merely This and Nothing More" has received some raving reviews and recognition in the form of awards (Best 2016 Anthology by Metamorph Publishing, Best Punk Book by Virtual Fantasy Con 2016 and Literary Valour in Short Stories by Birds of a Feather Literary Awards). I am very proud that my short story ‘The Oval Sky Room’ is part of this anthology as it was my first outing into the steampunk genre. In a curious mix of genuine excitement and calculated opportunism most of my current projects seek to build on this initial success.
So what WIPs may translate into new publications in 2017?
'Smuggler’s Song' is a short story which I intend to submit for the new Writerpunk anthology. If it’s accepted it will appear in the classics anthology planned for Spring 2017. The story is based on Rudyard Kipling’s A Smuggler’s Song and allows me to translate my fascination with the Sussex smuggling heritage to the same steampunk ‘Verse my other steampunk projects are based in, namely Brighthelmston and environs.
'Windmills on Hollingbury Hill' is a short story which I intend to submit to a Brighton steampunk anthology which doesn’t have a title yet, though "The Yellow Book Chronicles: Brightonesque" is a candidate. This should be published somewhere in 2017 and is inspired (and blessed) by the Writerpunk project in Seattle. My story will be set in the aforementioned Brighthelmston ‘Verse.
"Amster Damned" is a steampunk novella which claims to be a Sussex Steampunk Novella but this first of a series is set entirely in Amsterdam! Eventually the main characters will end up in Sussex, but they may need to go to Paris, El Kahira, Nouvelle Orleans, Kathmandu and some other places first. The series will be called Time Flight Chronicles and in some distant future the novellas will be lumped together and published as the novel Time Flight. The story is set in my Brighthelmston ‘Verse.
"Hidden Spring", the new Secrets of the Wyrde Woods novel, is still in production but I am engaged in a tug of war with the protagonists about some of the finer details of the story. So far, we have agreed that the story will be set in the Wyrde Woods, but that’s about all we agree on. Hence, they are striking, I am striking, we are all on strike, though I do suspect we’ll reach a settlement soon.
Sooo? Can I count this little itty-bitty update for Nanowrimo? I’m well behind schedule, yet to reach 10,000.
The ‘punked’ Edgar Allan Poe anthology "Merely This and Nothing More" has received some raving reviews and recognition in the form of awards (Best 2016 Anthology by Metamorph Publishing, Best Punk Book by Virtual Fantasy Con 2016 and Literary Valour in Short Stories by Birds of a Feather Literary Awards). I am very proud that my short story ‘The Oval Sky Room’ is part of this anthology as it was my first outing into the steampunk genre. In a curious mix of genuine excitement and calculated opportunism most of my current projects seek to build on this initial success.
So what WIPs may translate into new publications in 2017?
'Smuggler’s Song' is a short story which I intend to submit for the new Writerpunk anthology. If it’s accepted it will appear in the classics anthology planned for Spring 2017. The story is based on Rudyard Kipling’s A Smuggler’s Song and allows me to translate my fascination with the Sussex smuggling heritage to the same steampunk ‘Verse my other steampunk projects are based in, namely Brighthelmston and environs.
'Windmills on Hollingbury Hill' is a short story which I intend to submit to a Brighton steampunk anthology which doesn’t have a title yet, though "The Yellow Book Chronicles: Brightonesque" is a candidate. This should be published somewhere in 2017 and is inspired (and blessed) by the Writerpunk project in Seattle. My story will be set in the aforementioned Brighthelmston ‘Verse.
"Amster Damned" is a steampunk novella which claims to be a Sussex Steampunk Novella but this first of a series is set entirely in Amsterdam! Eventually the main characters will end up in Sussex, but they may need to go to Paris, El Kahira, Nouvelle Orleans, Kathmandu and some other places first. The series will be called Time Flight Chronicles and in some distant future the novellas will be lumped together and published as the novel Time Flight. The story is set in my Brighthelmston ‘Verse.
"Hidden Spring", the new Secrets of the Wyrde Woods novel, is still in production but I am engaged in a tug of war with the protagonists about some of the finer details of the story. So far, we have agreed that the story will be set in the Wyrde Woods, but that’s about all we agree on. Hence, they are striking, I am striking, we are all on strike, though I do suspect we’ll reach a settlement soon.
Sooo? Can I count this little itty-bitty update for Nanowrimo? I’m well behind schedule, yet to reach 10,000.
June 6, 2016
An Update
A number of projects have recently been completed.
The (non-fiction) book Invisible Voices of Brighton & Hove on homelessness in Brighton contains a 25,000 word journal written by me. The book will soon become available for order on www.invisiblevoices.co.uk
Writerpunk Press in Seattle, USA, has published the anthology Merely This and Nothing More which contains 21 stories based on Edgar Allan Poe’s work, including my ‘The Oval Sky Room’. It is available via the usual channels.
The sequel to Will’s War in Brighton has been published. It’s called Will’s War: Exile from Brighton and is available via the usual channels. It completes the Will’s War series quite nicely with a proper ending to my historical series whilst also forming a go-between for the Secrets of the Wyrde Woods series.
Current projects
I am working with a number of (semi)local authors united in the Brighton Steampunk Collective on a possible Brighton anthology of steampunk stories. My contributions would be twofold: Dr Beesworth, I presume and The Smuggler’s Song. We’re still in the early stages and combining it with a Yellow Book fanzine. Watch this space!
I am about a quarter of the way through the sequel to the second book of the Secrets of the Wyrde Woods series, which will be entitled Hidden Springs. This book will be followed by Fool's Folly and Ufmanna's Lament after which that series will be complete and I will progress to the third and last Wyrde Woods series called Shims of the Wyrde Woods.
Two major non-fiction works are under way. The first co-authored with Richard Hornsby entitled Archers At War which will focus on archery in 20th century warfare. The second, Archers of Amsterdam, will be co-authored with Magén Klomp and will cover the Amsterdam (and Holland) city militias and their extensive use of archery.
A third work of non-fiction, the sequel to Invisible Voices of Brighton & Hove is planned for 2017 and that will see another mix of writers, poets and songwriters collaborating under the editing guidance of Annie Fletcher, Bren Hall and myself.
The (non-fiction) book Invisible Voices of Brighton & Hove on homelessness in Brighton contains a 25,000 word journal written by me. The book will soon become available for order on www.invisiblevoices.co.uk
Writerpunk Press in Seattle, USA, has published the anthology Merely This and Nothing More which contains 21 stories based on Edgar Allan Poe’s work, including my ‘The Oval Sky Room’. It is available via the usual channels.
The sequel to Will’s War in Brighton has been published. It’s called Will’s War: Exile from Brighton and is available via the usual channels. It completes the Will’s War series quite nicely with a proper ending to my historical series whilst also forming a go-between for the Secrets of the Wyrde Woods series.
Current projects
I am working with a number of (semi)local authors united in the Brighton Steampunk Collective on a possible Brighton anthology of steampunk stories. My contributions would be twofold: Dr Beesworth, I presume and The Smuggler’s Song. We’re still in the early stages and combining it with a Yellow Book fanzine. Watch this space!
I am about a quarter of the way through the sequel to the second book of the Secrets of the Wyrde Woods series, which will be entitled Hidden Springs. This book will be followed by Fool's Folly and Ufmanna's Lament after which that series will be complete and I will progress to the third and last Wyrde Woods series called Shims of the Wyrde Woods.
Two major non-fiction works are under way. The first co-authored with Richard Hornsby entitled Archers At War which will focus on archery in 20th century warfare. The second, Archers of Amsterdam, will be co-authored with Magén Klomp and will cover the Amsterdam (and Holland) city militias and their extensive use of archery.
A third work of non-fiction, the sequel to Invisible Voices of Brighton & Hove is planned for 2017 and that will see another mix of writers, poets and songwriters collaborating under the editing guidance of Annie Fletcher, Bren Hall and myself.
May 27, 2016
Will's War: Exile from Brighton......
....has been published, available in paperback.
December 30, 2015
Update
So some news. The sequel to Will's War in Brighton - Will's War: Exile from Brighton, has been sent to my editor for proofing. Tentative (and hopeful) publication date February/March 2016.
In the meantime I'm getting my teeth into the next Secrets of the Wyrde Woods novel: HIDDEN SPRINGS
In the meantime I'm getting my teeth into the next Secrets of the Wyrde Woods novel: HIDDEN SPRINGS
November 12, 2015
Wyrde Woods Weekend
A Wyrde Woods weekend planned with expeditions to the actual locations of the Giant Grove and the Whychwood, not to mention a cup of tea with Joy and Maisy's dad and Willick Maskall in the shade of Californian redwood giants in the English countryside (I don't make stuff like that up, being fundamentally lazy).
Prepping for no.6: HIDDEN SPRING and possibly already the last planned book in the Secrets of the Wyrde Woods series: UFMANNA'S LAMENT.
The first book of the Secrets of the Wyrde Woods series, FORGOTTEN ROAD, is available for order just about everywhere. Did you get your copy yet?
Prepping for no.6: HIDDEN SPRING and possibly already the last planned book in the Secrets of the Wyrde Woods series: UFMANNA'S LAMENT.
The first book of the Secrets of the Wyrde Woods series, FORGOTTEN ROAD, is available for order just about everywhere. Did you get your copy yet?
November 9, 2015
NANOWRIMO
Fans of Will's War in Brighton may be interested to know that I picked the promised sequel, Will's War in Exile, as my nanowrimo project.
After nine days and five minutes I was able to report that the first draft of Will's War in Exile has been completed and currently stands at 50,445 words.
The working title has been replaced by:
EXILE FROM BRIGHTON
(probably to be published in February/March 2016)
It may be ready for a first re-reading and edit, but I am not. Sleep first. Then we'll see.
After nine days and five minutes I was able to report that the first draft of Will's War in Exile has been completed and currently stands at 50,445 words.
The working title has been replaced by:
EXILE FROM BRIGHTON
(probably to be published in February/March 2016)
It may be ready for a first re-reading and edit, but I am not. Sleep first. Then we'll see.
October 29, 2015
GOODREADS GIVEAWAY FORGOTTEN ROAD
The title says it all really, there is now a goodreads giveaway, enter to win a free copy of Forgotten Road
https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sh...
https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sh...
October 23, 2015
Nils & Nisse. Who's who?
Nils & Nisse are interchangable like the English Andrew & Andy or Richard & Rick. The names are much the same to me. I am both, both are me.
The 'Nisse' books are suitable for a younger age range. Will's War is 'clean', so to say. Forgotten Road has an East End urchin who speaks like one too and that includes mild expletives (by the way, most kids use these in their speech when they think you're not listening).
The 'Nils' books contains a few Rock-n-Roll elements which might be deemed inappropriate by a prude audience.
The 'Nisse' books are suitable for a younger age range. Will's War is 'clean', so to say. Forgotten Road has an East End urchin who speaks like one too and that includes mild expletives (by the way, most kids use these in their speech when they think you're not listening).
The 'Nils' books contains a few Rock-n-Roll elements which might be deemed inappropriate by a prude audience.
