August 2024 Newsletter
So….. We’re almost there. Almost. But not quite. The formatting for book 1 is almost done, but not quite. We’re close, though. Once that’s done, then I send it off to the printing service and get proof copies. That’ll take ten business days. So, say we’re done formatting by August 5th, for the sake of argument, and I get it uploaded to the printer website and there’s no other issues, it’ll take until about August 20th to get proof copies of book 1.
Now, that said, we’re in full swing working on book 2. Here are some concepts from Dale Cordes (https://www.instagram.com/cordesillustration/), who also did the art for book 1.
Like the art for book 1, the cover of book 2 is emblematic of a particular scene, one that’s earlier in the book this time. I don’t want to give any spoilers, but I will say that it is in the aftermath of the Battle of Keppa. We have a few illustrations and maps in the works. Here’s the map of Keppa, the next town south of Serna. Original concept drawn by myself, but this finish by Luke Bauer, like all the others, really brings it to the next level.
And here’s a work in progress for one of the appendix illustrations. I promise that everyone will have hair and decent clothes in the end. This is an approximation of a scene where some dwarves will be introducing a gnome (seen in the palm of the left-most dwarf’s hand) to a human and an elf.
Speaking of appendices, like I said last month, the story content for book 2 is done. What remains, aside from the maps and illustrations is the text of the appendices. The appendices that I’m planning for book 2 are
a) a revised character index
b) a history of the Western Reformed Church of Orneth (the major human religious institution on the west side of the Kaskev Mountains)
c) Maybe one on Ratfolk/Rodentfolk. I am torn on this one. I still question the goblin appendix in book 1 being too early or containing too much. Goblins do appear in book 1, but not in a prominent role. Meh.
Taking the lessons from getting book 1 out the door (which, I still have more to learn from dealing with the printing and distribution services!), I plan on having book 2 ready early with the intent to publish in the December/January timeframe.
Looking down the line, I am anticipating writing the appendices for book 3 along the lines of:
a) Another updated character index.
b) Gnolls. Gnolls will make significant attempts at conquest in the southern portions of the continent throughout books 2 and 3. One of my big concerns on this is what is and is not copyrighted by Wizards of the Coast. I may have to change the depiction of gnolls from, specifically, the classic hyena-men to more of a dog-men depiction.
b) Bugbears. These reclusive large cousins of goblins and hobgoblins play a minor but shaping role in other characters’ development in books 2 and 3. I have a strong feeling they will return in book 5.
c) Lizardmen. The walking lizards of the southern marshes would be content for either book 2 and 3 or just book 3 (in which case, this appendix would go to book 3). Like the ratfolk of book 2, there is a question (for you and somewhat for me) as to whether the origins of these people are natural or unnatural. Nevertheless, their differences from humans requires them to make secluded enclaves prior to the beginning of this whole story. It is only the calamity that befalls humans at the hands of the orcs and hobgoblins that drives them into each other’s company once more.
d) I am thinking of a folk-tale amongst goblinkind here
e) The schism of the human empire. I consider this a very minor spoiler that the human lands on the eastern and western sides of the Kaskevs used to be united.
f) And there would be an update on the magic appendix from book 1, as some things will develop that require some explaining in book 3.
Book 4 appendices, for the time being, aside from an updated character index (yes, there are always more characters, some die and new ones are born), and another update to the magic appendix for some other things that happen then.
Of course, this is potentially a lot, especially for book 3 and with the aspiration of some kind of illustration with each appendix and maybe a few others. I have one in mind for book 2 which is well beyond my current skillset. Yet.. maybe we’ll be surprised.
Song of the month. So… I am rewriting this paragraph, but then I realized I was talking about one of the songs that I talked about last month (Run from the Hotline Miami 2 soundtrack - great song). So, to roll back, this month’s recommendation is the entire album Exploration 84 from Waveshaper (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZVEcYhwZlU&t=10s). Lots of good music to help productivity. So, a note on music. Most of what I talk about here for music is stuff that helps me write (meaning, I spend all of my productive time in my headphones to reduce all of the various noise distractions into one background noise that does follows me on a journey, rather than pulls me on its own journey (as most lyrical music will for me). That’s not to say that this is the same music that inspires all of my scenes. It’s just that some of the music that helps you see something in your head is the absolute wrong music to try and write with.
Aside from that, my good folks, I am working two other related projects that I hope to be able to talk about later on (but not for a bit!) and, of course, I have a regular job. I’d love to hear from anyone reading this. You can hit me up on any of the links below or use the contact form function (goes to my gmail). All the best, take care, and see you next month.
