Welcome back to a new year, one hopefully full of new stories both real and imagined. Although I didn't do a lot of writing on my break, I did do quite a bit of reading. With 2020 just beginning, I want to give you all an idea of where IGC Publishing will be going for the new year.
The Tropic of Serpents Review
There's something about dragons that stirs the imagination. Whether they're vicious wyrms, wise, ancient lords, or symbiotic fire lizards, dragons of all shapes and forms seem somehow fascinating (this may have something to do with why so many people go through a "dinosaur phase," which begs the question if fantasy authors writing about dragons simply never quite grew out of it). This can result in dragons, like dwarves, trolls, elves, and other creatures that frequently populate pages in various forms, that seem flat, one-dimensional, or simply indistinct. How many times can we read about how the dragons almost disappeared, but then someone finds and egg and returns the symbiotic dragonriders? So any time I come across a new and interesting take on dragons, I get excited.
Home for the Holidays
With the holidays coming up, I won't be posting for the next couple of weeks. Instead, I intend to eat too much food, spend time with family and friends, and hopefully read a few, good books in front of a fire. Some writing might go on too, of course. I start to twitch if I go too long without writing down the crazy ideas that bounce around in my head.
Thud! Review
A lot of very strange things can, and do, happen on a world that is flat, and is carried on the backs of four elephants perched upon the shell of the great turtle A'Tuan. Terry Pratchett's world and stories seem, on the surface, to be plainly fun. And they are that. Lighthearted and amusing, his stories don't feel heavy, but despite their facade, they in many cases convey unexpected significance. The well-meaning Watch Captain Vimes does just that as he investigates a dwarfish murder.
New Project
Some of you will be excited by this post; others dismayed. Rather than working on one of the many projects that I already have in process (especially ones like the second Fo'Fonas book, and the Blood Magic series), I sat down with some of the first writing time that I've had in awhile, and started something totally new. It's also very different from anything else I'm currently writing. To read the test scene rough draft, you can download the PDF below. If you want to know more about how this came to be, keep reading.
Lightbringer Review
After five books, Brent Weeks's Lightbringer series concluded with The Burning White, which I reviewed in the previous post. Since it is the end of a series, I wanted to do a review of the series as a whole, to accompany the review of the final book.
The Burning White Review
I will fully admit that I devoured The Burning White after my re-read of the Lightbringer series, by Brent Weeks. I'll be posting a review of that book, specifically, here, and will also make a later post reviewing the series as a whole. Now, I'm not some kind of literary critic, but I have read a lot of genre fiction, and I have a good idea of what I like to see. That being said, what I like to see may not be the same as what you like to see.
Happy Thanksgiving
With the holiday this week, I'll only be making one post. As much as the weather may be conducive to curling up with a good book, Thanksgiving really should be a chance to spend time with family (and eat too much, of course), not hide from them with a book (or blog post). That's how I will present an altruistic reason for selfishly taking a break from both my real job, and my website maintenance this week.
Blood Magic Preview
Below, you'll find a preview for Blood Magic. Remember, the first episode is set to be released in January or February of 2020. If you're exciting about the series, leave a comment on the series or about the preview in the comments below, or on the Blood Magic Forum page.
Blood Magic Series Update
There's still a lot of work that needs to be done. I've made two drafts of the world map, but it still needs refinement: mountain ranges, river systems, political boundaries...you know, the little things. I also have a preliminary symbol for the series, which you can see on the main Blood Magic page. Expect me to start releasing previews for the series in the coming weeks...hopefully they'll drum up some reader excitement.
