Well, it’s that time again where I realise I’ve neglected my blog and decide to update anyone curious on my current writing projects. Only 2 months between posts though this time, so I’ll consider that some growth or at least some form of minor victory.

Right now as I did through 2018, I’m  focussing my creative energy into finishing the first draft of my next full-length – In His Darkened Halls, book 2 of the Weaving Shadows Trilogy.

As I’ve stated before, I’m extremely behind schedule with writing this one, some of it being my own fault, a large part of it being circumstantial with what was taking place through 2017-2018 for me in my personal life, so all I can do is apologise to anyone who’s been waiting for it patiently and promise that the book is indeed coming, and I’m determined for it to be my best output so far.

I’ve seen some comments on reviews etc. that I’ve apparantly stopped writing – I can assure you, that that just ain’t true. I am, like most people, unfortunately required to work to make ends meet. I have a career outside of writing I recently gained a promotion in that’s had me take on a hell of a lot more responsibility than before, so my time for things is limited. I’ve also recently been back training Muay Thai, a passion of mine I’ve neglected for the last 3 years due to previous health problems following a trip to Thailand. I’m 31 now, so I’ve decided it’s time to be health-concious again as I’m pretty sure my abs have disintegrated since I stopped fighting.

Anyway, I’ve been quite tight-lipped (with a few exceptions) on what to expect with In His Darkened Halls, so I thought I’d drop a few hinty-hinty bulletpoints here on what people can expect from the book when it’s (eventually) released:

It’s currently 121,020 words long, so about 68-70% done, I would say, for what I have planned for the book as a whole.

It takes place 15-16 years after the events of the first book – yes, there’s a reason for this.
There are a couple of new viewpoint characters the story will follow.
There’s more magical elements in the book than the previous.
I’ll be commissioning the cover art in the next few months from the extremely talented Jason Nguyen, who did the cover art for Shadow of the High King
I will be revealing said cover art when it’s done.
I’m going to some very, very dark places with this book. I’ve been drawing on my years working as a mental health nurse for inspiration, and I’m hoping that these themes come through in my characters, both old and new, as the story unfolds.
Yes, Graxis will return.

Other WIPs

I also have a couple of other things I’m working on when I hit burn out/find a few free moments from In His Darkened Halls, these are:

The Wretched Ones – Book 3 of Tales of the Blackshield Dogs. Another short novella based around the characters from the Blackshield Dogs Fighting Company in the Weaving Shadows, an origin story focussed on Jorric and Torc and how they came to be recruited into the Company’s ranks. This one has regrettably fallen by the wayside a bit as right now I’m focussing on In His Darkened Halls, but as it’s a novella, this will not take long for me to complete (in theory, at least, I’m always overly optimistic about these things from my track record) once my writing time has been freed up.

 

Factorum – a standalone grimdark dieselpunk novel currently in the very,  very early stages of formulation that’s gone down well with those who’ve read what I’ve got penned so far. It’s based around a band of revolutionaries, and I’m reading up on late 19th/early 20th century revolutionary history as research for it. Again, this is on a backburner until I’m done with In His Darkened Halls, but it’s one I’m enjoying writing when I find time for it.

 

So, as always, to give you an idea of the kind of tone and atmosphere (I love atmosphere) that In His Darkened Halls will be taking, I’ll sign out with a song that’s accompanied me during the writing process. Bròn, by Saor (pronounced Seer), an incredible band from Scotland that deserves far more recognition – who’d have thought bagpipes and black metal mixed. If you’ve read Shadow of the High King, then you’ll get the celtic influence, and there’s some beautiful footage of the Highlands in the video.

Until next time.