Hey. How are you? This’ll be a rare rambling post from me. Apologies in advance.
So. What’s up in the world? Anything interesting going on? Yeah, I know: ISIS, Ukraine, Ebola, Ray Rice, Jack the Ripper. But let’s get to what’s really important: Hollow Empire – Season 1 – Night of Knives. It’s finished. It’s out. In total, it’ll be six episodes (six chapters each) for $0.99 a pop. There’ll also be a complete e-version and a paperback edition. I co-authored it with this guy here. If you like post-apocalypic medieval fantasy westerns, you’ll like it. If you like deep characters wading through deeper shit, you’ll love it. This lady here did the art. And that’s all I’ll say about it for now.
What I’m doing most days. On a side note: ever notice how ripped the Thinking Man is?
Aside from Hollow Empire, I’m struggling a bit.
I’ve stopped dreaming at night, and it’s a problem.
I don’t have writer’s block. Not exactly. What I’ve got is a wandering muse. As in wandering off. I usually pull all of my deliciously dark ideas from the corridors of sleep, but now that my dreams have stopped…well…you see? Thing is; I used to dream all night, every night. Epic space operas, terrifying horror stories, tragic romances, end-of-everything dark fantasies…I had it all bouncing in my head after the lights went out.
But now, there’s nothing. I sleep a solid six every eve, yet my head-movies are gone. The world hasn’t ended just yet; I’m still chin-deep in editing a massive novel, which means I don’t need too much muse for the moment. But it’s fair to say I’m concerned. Worried. Troubled…
See that big dark spot on the moon. Yeah, that one. That’s where my mind needs to be at night.
And that’s why, after Hollow Empire and Nether Kingdom hit the market, I’ll take a little vacation. Not a real vacation on the beach, of course. That’s too much to hope for. I mean a mental vacation. Maybe I’ll play some Halo and some Dragon Age. Maybe I’ll double down on my chin-ups. Maybe, just maybe, I’ll even pick up my ancient Dungeons & Dragons books and stage a few goblin slaughters with some friends. That’s AD&D First Edition, bitches. We keep it old school ’round these parts.
But seriously, I need to start dreaming again, and soon. I have the ideas, but all the flavor and darkness come out at night…while I’m asleep.
Next up, a trio of lists. Read and enjoy:
The Top 4 upcoming video games I’d play if I didn’t have a three-year old
1. Dragon Age: Inquisition (Because it has to be better than the second installment)
2. Destiny
3. Halo 5: Guardians (Because, you know, I still haven’t beaten Halo 4)
4. Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor
My Top 5 fantasy movies of all time
1. Fellowship of the Ring (Sorry, Academy. The first film blew Return of the King out of the water)
2. Willow
3. Legend (Despite Tom Cruise)
4. Animated version of Sleeping Beauty
5. Dragonslayer (The original. Best. Dragon. Ever.)
My Top 3 favorite book covers ever
This week was a jumble of bones. Skulls and ribs and tibias all mixed up. Next week will be more focused…maybe.
Until then,
J Edward Neill
Author of the Tyrants of the Dead dark fantasy trilogy
Author of The Sleepers and Old Man of Tessera
“So. What’s up in the world? Anything interesting going on? Yeah, I know: ISIS, Ukraine, Ebola, Ray Rice, Jack the Ripper. But let’s get to what’s really important: Hollow Empire – Season 1 – Night of Knives.”
🙂 This few sentences had me smiling.
Great post.
These* few
Thanks. I try to drag everyone down before I pull them back up.