Category: Pulp Fiction

Excerpt from Five Bloody Heads

The first chapter from the new grimdark novel Five Bloody Heads. Coming Summer 2015.
Sneak Peek: Five Bloody Heads

Check out the book cover and read a short description of Five Bloody Heads, the third novel in the Hounds of the North series.
“The Liar in the Cellar” Gets 2nd Place in Flash Fiction Contest

I am proud to announce that my flash fiction story “The Liar in the Cellar” was the 1st Runner Up in Mark Lawrence’s contest.
Short Story Published in Grimdark Magazine

I’m proud to announce that my short story The King Beneath the Waves has been published in Grimdark Magazine. Get your grimdark on!
The Witch of the Sands: An Author’s Note

A lot of you may not know this but The Witch of the Sands, the first book in the Hounds of the North series, was actually written after Black River. In fact, I did not even start on The Witch of the Sands until two years after I began Black River and had a near…
Goodreads Giveaway: Win a Signed Copy of Black River

Want a chance to win a free signed copy of Black River, my latest novel? Then enter the Goodreads Giveaway. How a Goodreads Giveaway Works I have decided to give away a free paperback copy of my fantasy novel Black River and am using the Goodreads Giveaway program to give the greatest amount of readers…
Black River Book Trailer

A book trailer for my fantasy novel Black River. Father-and-daughter made. No better way to start winter break.
Black River Released

Folks, I am pleased to announce the release of Black River, a full-length novel and the second book in my grimdark fantasy series The Hounds of the North. Black River begins where The Witch of the Sands left off and follows Shield Scyldmund and his aging comrades as they return to the North after a…
Cover art: Grimdark Fantasy

This week’s cover art post focuses on grimdark from some of my favorite authors including Joe Abercrombie, Glen Cook and Mark Lawrence. First up, Lord Grimdark himself: Joe Abercrombie. One of the interesting things about Red Country is that while it is a grimdark fantasy, this one was written through the lens of a Western.…
Top 3 Viking Weapons

In my books The Witch of the Sands and Black River, my main characters, the Hounds of the North, are loosely inspired by a range of warrior peoples: Picts, Scots and Vikings. Given that, I added a heavy influence of Viking background weapons in the stories. Part of the fun in the stories was supplying…
The Witch of the Sands Released

Folks, I am pleased to announce the release of my novella The Witch of the Sands, the first book in my grimdark fantasy series The Hounds of the North. The Witch of the Sands is available on Amazon. Summary Shield Scyldmund captured his prize: the bloody head of a desert chieftain. But despite the promise…
Top 4 Lessons about How to Deliver a Better Author Reading

The best part of my recent author reading was not what I delivered. It was what I learned.
Cover Art: Bran Mak Morn

This week an assortment of covers for Bran Mak Morn, the Pictish hero created by Robert E. Howard, best known for his Conan stories.
Excerpt from The Witch of the Sands

An excerpt from the grimdark novella The Witch of the Sands published in October 2014.
Novellas Versus Novels: What a Difference a Few Words Make

One of the wonderful aspects of being an author chasing down the self-publishing route is that I can also explore literary forms that traditionally are difficult to sell, such as the novella.
How many coppers for the head of a warlock?

When two beta readers questioned how much my band of mercenaries were getting paid to kill a warlock, I knew I had to take a step back and figure out the economic system.
Join Me at a LitQuake Event on October 11th

I am excited to announce that I will be the local author host for renowned sci-fi author Hannu Rajaniemi who will be reading at the LitQuake event on October 11th in San Rafael.
The 7 Deadly Sins of SciFi and Fantasy Writing Critique Groups

While I was recently listening to the Writing Excuses podcast on writing critique groups, a flood of memories came back to me from the various critique groups in which I have participated. With these memories of marked up manuscripts and lively exchanges, another set of memories have returned: the Seven Deadly Sins of critique groups.
Trying to decide on a cover

Help me decide on the cover for The Witch of the Sands, the first book in the Hounds of the North series.
Cover Art: Edgar Rice Burroughs

In honor of Edgar Rice Burroughs’s birthday this week, I am sharing the covers of a few of his books that I have on my shelves. Which one do you like best?