Hello everyone!

Well it's been a bit of a week. I've actually been quite busy in several regards.

Straight into writing news, I've been getting quite a lot done. I have a new fantasy novella starring a regular character, an elf barbarian by the name of Gwaeloch Irisgarth, and it's all plotted out with the relevant world building, character development outlines and background all sorted out. It has taken a lot longer than I planned to get it all done, but I was getting some old world building redone.

All in all, I've actually written about 15,500 words this last week. I'm pleased with that, but it's a shame that its all background stuff that folks probably aren't going to properly see. I just hope that I can keep that up that average word count when I come to actually start writing this novella. I think I feel more capable doing so now I've made a few dietary changes - please see last weeks blog post.

I feel My writing has been revitalised at the moment. It may be the dietary changes, but its started warming up here a bit. I don't now if this is a sign that Spring is coming here, or if we'll get another cold spell. I wouldn't be surprised if we do, we can get cold spells and snow up until the end of March, and sometimes into early April around here.

Anyway, this evening, I'll be able to sit down and full concentrating on this new novella. There'll be a Black Knight protector spirit and the remnants of lost elves. There'll also be a mad human general worshiping egotistical gods too.

I feel like writing this will go well.

Afterwards, I think I'd better start editing a few of the stories I have in the archive and start getting them actually published, but I have a feeling that I want to get the first draft for a third novella done before that, so I can get them out in quick-ish succession. Then worry about other works and getting a certain other novella finished that turned out to basically be a full on novel. I', putting that to one side for now as it's so long. It just feels like a better use of my time to concentrate on shorter pieces at the moment. I think one of the reasons I was so grumpy before Christmas was because I'd decided to get so many first drafts done before doing any editing, so I was feeling very bogged down by things, like I wouldn't be seeing the fruits of labour any time soon, probably for a couple of years.

But regardless, things are progressing very well at the moment and I intend to capitalise on it.

Onto other literary news, I managed to get a book delivery from the dreaded Amazon arrive during the week. I got a couple of Judith Sonnet splatterpunk volumes. One, Judith Sonnet wrote a few months ago called Torture the Sinners and one has just been released recently as part of a series.

Torture the Sinners looks good. There are undead monks in a monastery. It reminds me of one of the old Giallo books and films, like Lucio Fulci and Dario Argento.

Torture the Sinners,
a splatterpunk book by Judith Sonnet

The other Judith Sonnet is called Carnage on 84th Street and was written in conjunction with Brian G Berry's Hooker Massacre of Trash City and Otis Bateman's Medusa's Son. All are part of a trilogy called Splatter Crimes and I hope they are made into an actual series, even if it's only occasional with volumes added every six months or once a year or something.

I've only started reading Judith Sonnet's Carnage on 84th Street so far and I'm enjoying it. The three books are meant to be in the old '70s Grindhouse vein and I am getting that so far, with a strong dose of other exploitatin films. I can't help but imagine stuff like the Death Wish films or some of the Mickey Spillane stuff when I pick it up to read more.

Carnage on 84th Street
by Judith Sonnet,
Hooker Massacre in Trash City
by Brian G Berry,
and Medusa's Son by Otis Bateman,
Splatter Crimes books

That's pretty much it for literary news from me this week.

The only other thing is that I'd like to share a Kickstarter with you.

It's for the first two actual issues of New Edge Sword & Sorcery Magazine. I wrote a blog post during the week about it and you can see it by scrolling down a bit once you've finished reading this fine post.

But I'm impressed by what they are trying to achieve. I got their issue 0 in late August last year and the stories were a real fresh take on the Sword and Sorcery genre, with some really nice takes on the main character being an outcast, thrust into an uncaring, vicious world.

They have articles included too. The ones in issue zero were really intriguing, with one about women in Sword and Sorcery and one about Black Agnes, one of Robert E Howard's female main characters.

If you would be interested in looking at the Kickstarter, take a look here. They have even wrangled a certain Michael Moorcock into contributing, which has impressed me. He was one of the earliest fantasy authors I ever read and have been reading his stuff since.

New Edge Sword & Sorcery
Issue 0

Michael Moorcock, author of Elric of Melnibone,
contributor to New Edge Sword & Sorcery

I even have fond memories of enjoying New Edge Sword & Sorcery's issue 0 in Derby's oldest pub, the Dolphin, with a lovely pint of Bass.

New Edge Sword & Sorcery issue 0
in The Dolphin, Derby

Well into New Edge Sword & Sorcery
Issue 0 that I needed a 2nd pint of Bass
in The Dolphin, the oldest pub in Derby

There isn't much in the way of any wargaming news this week. I've been knuckling down with my writing mainly this last week. But I have ordered a few more things from Oakbound Studio to go with my The Woods warbands. Hopefully I'll get it all painted up soon. I want to get some games in and hopefully start getting some of those games filmed for YouTube.

Delivery from Oakbound Studios
that I received last week.
Reinforcements for The Woods'
Pixie Badger-Rider warband

But otherwise, I've been slowly painting up the models I had ordered last week and trying to finish off the human Druid warband I received from Oakbound Studio's Patreon.

The Druids of Anglesey warband
for The Woods by Oakbound Studio
Patreon exclusive

It's time for a regular slot now, just before I go. As probably usual, I've been drinking a nice mug of refreshing tea while writing this. I'm getting used to having it without sugar now that I've had a bit of a health scare with diabetes. But I am also watching the lovely, tipsy guys from Battlehammer play a game of Dystopian Wars. I think they're great, but I will say as a bit of a warning, there is some swearing and drinking in this, so it may not be fully safe for work.

And with that done, I wish you all safe travels and wellness.

 Hello everyone!

This is a bit of an impromptu blog post today.

There's a Kickstarter that went up today that will be of interest to fantasy fans. Its the first two proper issues of New Edge Sword & Sorcery Magazine.

If you would like to take a look before I start waxing lyrically about it, then you can take a look here.

I managed to get their trial run Issue 0 towards the end of September 2022 and was suitably impressed.

New Edge Sword & Sorcery
issue 0

It can still be ordered off amazon in the UK here and in the USA here.

I liked that they were including stories that broadened the scope of the characters beyond just the clone of Conan - Clonan the Librarian - and were generally involving characters who were termed as 'outcast', with quite a diverse range of character types involved, with there own diverse struggles.

In Issue 0, about a third of the large magazine was taken up by articles too, one delving into Sword and Sorcery in the modern age and another about one of Robert E Howard's female characters - not Red Sonja. Though I still need to do a better review of the volume, I still want to say, I was suitably impressed by the production and the intent to modernise the genre.

Issues One and Two look to expand on that and solidify those new changes as a 'New Edge'. And I'm welcoming that. There are some very curious tales that can be told and some erudite things to be said about it.

The new magazines will be roughly 45,000 words in length, in softback and hardback as well as e-book forms, with some luscious artwork by talented and established artists and illustrators.

As youcan probably tell, I've already backed the Kickstarter for issues one and two of New Edge Sword and Sorcery because one of the biggest selling points for me as a fanboy, is a tale by Michael Moorcock of Elric fame. This is something I'll be looking forward to.

Michael Moorcock, of Elric of Melnibone fame,
contributor to New Edge Sword & Sorcery

There are some tasty looking stretch goals too. There is even a first day backer incentive too.

Again, I'll post the link to the Kickstarter here. So try and take a look and seriously consider backing it.

Launch day special for
New Edge Sword & Sorcery issues 1 and 2,
backers on Kickstarter

If you would like to follow progress further, they can be found on Twitter here. They look to be posting regular updates about the Kickstarter as things happen. The most recent two are that they were 20% funded within 2 hours, and then 30% funded in 3 hours, which looks promising.

That pretty much ends my rambling for today. and I shall leave you with another couple of photos of me enjoying this excellent sword and sorcery fantasy magazine in Derby's oldest pub - The Dolphin.

New Edge Sword & Sorcery with Bass
In The Dolphin, Derby

Further enjoyment of
New Edge Sword & Sorcery
with Bass in The Dolphin, Derby

Nothing like Bass and
New Edge Sword & Sorcery
in Derby's oldest pub

New Edge Sword & Sorcery,
with Bass in The Dolphin
in Derby

 Hello everyone!

Straight into a couple of health things first. Don't worry, things are generally alright. But I've had a bit of a journey over the last few months with diabetes. I haven't developed it yet, but I was close to getting type 2 diabetes. I've been going to a clinic to help prevent it, which has been useful. As part of that, I've managed to give up sugar, and managed to cut down on a couple of other bits too which should improve my health.

So far, I have actually seen improvements! I feel a lot clearer inside. Much like how you can feel the benefits of having a shower after a week of not washing, this feels like an internal version. I feel a bit clearer inside.

This has had the brilliant effect of... me getting over the sort of writer's block I'd been going through. I'm most of the way through working out a story I'm going to finish.

It's a fantasy novella and I'm returning to the Gwaeloch Irisgarth stories I'd originally been doing. He'll be meeting some other survivors of the fall of the elven empire. There's going to be some Black Knight stuff in there too. The huge 'novella that is a more like a novel' is still on the back burner, but I think it will still make good sense to go ahead with this current novella.

One of the things is that I want to get some manageable stories ready to be published as quickly as possible. I think I've been pressurizing myself a lot about that and it's got in the way. But I feel like I've got passed that, for now at least.

Yes, I want to try and knuckle down and get this story and another novella I have in first draft form sorted as quickly as I can and I feel I can do that. There have also been a couple of other things in my life happen over this last week that seem to have motivated me a bit along this path. I might get into it as time comes and some other things become more definite. I'm eager and intend to utilise this motivation as much as I can.

So watch this space. 

On to some wargaming stuff now for those that come here for that side of things.

I'm going to do things a bit out of chronological order here, starting with something that's happened earlier today.

Through the post, I got a delivery. It came quickly! Which surprised me, so well done to the post office, especially in the trying times with them fighting for fair pay and there being delays with the post. Compared to the service that a number of courier services have given me, the Post Office is much more impressive and something that shouldn't be lost.

There we go, I'm off my soap box now. I got a delivery from a lesser known game that I have found to be delightful, run by a single man called Oakbound Studio. the game is called The Woods and I got an RPG supplement for it and some reinforcements for my pixie badger-rider warband and a couple of gifts for a friend who I hope will also become enchanted by the game and its background - some owls and a leprechaun magic user.

So here's an unboxing of what I received:

The Woods by Oakbound Studio,
unboxing

Goodies from Oakbound Studios for
The Woods

Models catalogue and rules reference
for The Woods by Oakbound Studio

Barrow Ring Burning RPG supplement
for The Woods by Oakbound Studio

Pixie Badger-Riders for The Woods
by Oakbound Studio

Owls for a Leprechaun warband by
The Woods by Oakbound Studio

Leprechaun wizard for The Woods
by Oakbound Studio

I'm usually impressed by what they pack in, so the rules reference sheet and the catalogue are a welcome addition.

Once I've given the leprechauns to a friend - I have some other leprechaun models to make a full warband - and once we've painted them all up, I hope to start a wargaming channel and start with a few games of The Woods and see how things go. I'll want to probably cover some older editions of Warhammer Fantasy and also Warhammer 40k too. I've an Eldar force - I dislike calling them Aeldari - to build for that and I need to go into a big painting and building session to get that all sorted out. I'll hopefully manage to get around to doing all of that soon now that things seem to be warming up a touch as the room I paint in has been absolutely freezing.

So hopefully soon, I'll get my arse in gear with that.

In further news, early on during the last week, a little after I'd finished the previous writing blog post, I got my copies of the Barons' War rulebook by Footsore Miniatures and it's first supplement. I here another supplement set in the Holy lands on the crusades - Richard the Lionheart and all that - has just gone through a Kickstarter and may well be on sale soon.

Barons' War rulebook and supplement
by Footsore Miniatures

I've been tucking into these. There are rules for outlaw bands in them, which is interesting, and for Robin Hood and his Merry Men. I just need to need to save up a bit and actually choose a force to collect. I like the look of the Welsh, and the Romano-Britons too, but also the Late Saxons and Early Irish. Sigh, decisions decisions...

Anyway, I'll likely have to save up and also, there's quite a lot for me to be getting on with anyway, so I sort of need to calm my eagerness down a little.

I think that's it for this week! And it's the third outing of something I think will become a regular fixture. It's the Drink and Show Slot.

Much like last week, I've been drinking a tasty mug of tea, this time without sugar and while I've been writing this blog post, I've been watching a selection of Ashleigh Burton reaction videos on YouTube. Let me know what you've been drinking and watching or listening to in the background while reading this.

That's it for this week! Hopefully you'll tune in again for next week's post.

See you all soon!

Hello everyone!

It's the time of week when a new blog post appears. I'm writing this just after a kidney infection appears over the horizon, which is 'lovely'. So lets see how this next week goes.

But a few things have happened this past week that are good. I got a book I ordered before Christmas finally arrived. It's a collection of Clark Ashton Smith's Zothique Cycle called Zothique: The Final Cycle and is released by Hippocampus Press. I've only had a quick flick through and read the introduction so far, but I always enjoy Clark Ashton Smith. His stories are reliably entertaining and poetic. It should go well with my Averoigne collection of his too. I'll try and get reviews up of those once I've read them. There is also a collection of Averoigne pastiches that I'm about half way through that I'd like to review too.

Zothique: The Final Cycle,
Clark Ashton Smith,
Hippocampus Press

A copy of Zothique: The final cycle can be purchased here, for anyone interested.

Now, a bit on wargaming. I think I mentioned that I was expecting a few things through the post because I'd finally made the plunge into buying some Aeldari - Eldar for the old school - for Warhammer 40K. Well, it arrived. I'm now the pleased owned of two of the Aeldari Combat Patrol boxsets, the codex and a Fire Prism.

Eldar/Aeldari force
for Warhammer 40k

Sorry for the bad photo, it was taken on a phone that in phone years, is possibly considered a penshioner.

If I keep referring to them as Eldar, its because I'm so old, that's what they were before I gave up for a while. I still think the game is fun, but I see that there have been numerous bits of drama in the community which has felt a bit daunting for someone wanting to casually start up in the game again.

Regardless, I'm looking forward to painting them up. I've been chatting with a few folks in an Eldar group and am in the process of reading the codex from cover to cover. The only problem now is, I want to buy a load more.

Also, I still do have a big hankering for investing in the Barons' War game by Footsore Miniatures, the makers of Saga. Their Welsh and Romano-British miniatures are lovely, and they're in the process of releasing a early Crusades supplement, possibly with Richard the Lionheart and all. It looks curious, but my eyes are still currently on the Welsh and Romano-British.

Barons' War Wargame Rulebook
Footsore Miniatures

Welsh force for Barons' War
by Footsore Miniatures

Arthurian/Romano-British Cavalry,
for Saga or Barons' War,
by Footsore Miniatures

Also, I see that the DnD subculture is in uproar about Hasbro's OGL. Having expressed an interest in TTRPGs and RPGs on here numerous times I thought I might just mention that, for the foreseeable future, I'm happy with the numerous other companies that provide us with many enjoyable evenings, rolling dice and slaying great beasts in catacombs. Of my favourites, Old School Essentials, Dungeon Crawl Classics and Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th edition are three of my favorites, and well supported. There are others too out there.

Old School Essentials Player's Tome
RPG

Dungeon Crawl Classics Rulebook,
DCC RPG

Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay
4th Edition

But onto some writing. I've had a really productive week. I've been planning a new series of fantasy stories inspired by the Anglo-Scottish Borderlands, with the Border Reivers. I've completed all the background information for the series. I found George MacDonald Fraser's The Candlemass Road and The Steel Bonnets a great help and great for anyone wanting to look into that region during the years 1066 and 1600. It can also give greater context to the Sawney Legends which has influenced things like The Hills Have Eyes.

The Candlemass Road,
George MacDonald Fraser

The Steel Bonnets,
George MacDonald Fraser

But there have been a few other things that have been influential, like the galloglass mercenaries from Ireland and Scotland.

I also managed to finish a pile of notes planning a novella and a short story in this series, with loose plans and plot hooks done for numerous other stories depending on how these ones are received. These will be a sort of fantasy, swords and sorcery swashbuckler, with an exiled noble and a galloglass teaming up and heading out around a land similar to the Anglo-Scottish borders.

The plan is that on completion of these two stories, I then start editing the big stack of first drafts I have piled up. They'll join the heroic fantasy/swords and sorcery stories about Gwaeloch Irisgarth, the Elf Barbarian.

I really need to start getting some stuff ready for publication soon. I want to have two or three novellas as the first stories out there, and then work through editing a hand full of short stories for magazines and anthologies. There had been a time when I was getting bogged down by all of this. I was working on so many stories that I was feeling that I wouldn't see the end of it.

I feel things renewed now. I'm eager to get some stuff out there. It gets a bit tiring trying to also think ahead of what writing will make good 'business sense' but things are coming along. If I can get into the swing of things, increasing my daily word count three-fold, that could help, at least with getting the first drafts out in quick time.

Here we are near the end, and because I quite liked it last week, its the bit I might call the Refreshment Watch segment. While writing this post, I was drinking nothing very exciting, it was a lovely refreshing glass of water, gasp. For what I was watching or listening to in the background, it was a Gopher Live playthrough of The Outer Worlds: The Murder on Eridanos. Let me know what you were drinking and listening to while reading this.

Anyway, that's it for this week. Hopefully this infection won't be two disruptive and I'll have plenty to tell you about in next week's writing blog.

Bye bye everyone!