Happy Halloween!

Hey, everybody! Not much to say today except to wish you all a happy Halloween and All Saints Day!

Cannon Cruisers put out a special Halloween episode like we do every year. Aside from that, keep warm and dry and I'll see you again in November for more weekend posts.

Have a good one!

For seasonal reads, check out Mistcreek Tales!

New Release ~ Rock and Roll Mercenaries!

Find it Here!

This one has been a long time coming!

Today I'm proud to announce the official release of Rock and Roll Mercenaries anthology edited by Mistcreek Publishing, This brand new book contains fifteen exciting stories of hard rock adventures all inspired by and/or centered around the art of rock and roll music. Both a throwback and a tribute to the greatest musical style of the 20th century, and an inspiration to all the above writers, this is the kind of thing that could only come from NewPub.

You might recognize the above authors from various different projects over the years, but they all share two things in common: a love for pulp-inspired adventure stories and of the art of rock. Both of these aspects come together to form an anthology that is a celebration of two of the greatest things to come out of the 20th century as well as a look towards what might be laying in wait on the road ahead. As the world is getting gradually more and more reenchanted with has been lost by those in charge fumbling the ball, one has to wonder just how much the stories and music we lost along the way might help guide our way forward.

As the band X once said, "We knew the gutter, also the future." Despite all the sad songs, the cocky rants, the blazing fury, the overindulgent behavior, and the goofball antics, there is a truth waiting there under the surface waiting to be discovered from this nearly forgotten genre of music. If Rock 'n Roll never truly dies it will be because of that wild and carefree spirit that lies deep within its chest: a celebration of the joys of life that will never stop beating.

My stories have quite a lot of musical influence to them, some of which are even directly inspired by the music itself, and my entry into this anthology is no different. In fact, NR LaPoint of Mistcreek was kind enough to generate a song to tell you about it!

Harmonica included!

If you recognized a couple of names in there, well, there's a good reason. This tale is a new entry in my Night Rhythm stories starring the band Three Wolves. I've written three stories before, each starring a different band member. You might remember Daniel, Jordan, and Edward, three guys in a rockabilly band driving across a forgotten backwater planet in a distant future on a world time seems to have forgotten. "Spirit Rock" is a novelette starring all three, as well as their manager, who find themselves in a situation more dire than any they've seen so far. 

You see, Three Wolves are a band that exist to revive a forgotten music style in a future where such simple joys are on the edge of becoming extinct, a world where even technology has been discarded for the shadows and the shade. The band got together after rediscovering such forgotten treasures and, not seeing a future for themselves where they were, decided to wander out into the world to share it themselves. It is their life's mission and calling.

The leader and guitarist, Daniel, is the one most in touch with the intangible hidden in the gaps of the world, always distracted by things he can't explain. The bassist and rational one, Jordan, is the romantic that desperately wants to see more than he can see and tends to get caught being the band spokesman. The muscle and drummer, Edward (don't call him Eddie!), is the blunt instrument who doesn't care if the threat is man or monster, but will push through regardless. Then there's the manager who is in it to give the boys all he thinks they are owed, even at the cost of his well-being. Learn more about them all in "Spirit Rock", the grandest and best of these stories so far.

The way this story came together was rather simple. I wanted a tale that brought all these characters into the driver seat and gave a reason they would all need to act individually in a crazy situation. What better excuse than discovering a legendary town on the coast that was rumored to have up and disappeared one day? Why did it vanish? Was it even real in the first place? If so, what could possibly exist to destroy it all? What is waiting out there in the wilds of this backwoods world?

And how can a bunch of dudes that can only rock do anything about it?

Suffice to say, music is powerful. The band knows it, but its not a weapon to them: it's a way of life. That said, as Silver John taught us long ago, there is power in the audible that isn't quite understandable for those limited by their immediate physical sensations. And yes, this series of stories was very much inspired by those very stories written by Manly Wade Wellman. The difference is that I wanted to bring about the mysterious and powerful force of 20th century rock music in a place where its effects had been mostly forgotten and itself relegated to legend. Unlike the false advertising technique of selling rock as "rebellion" that's been a technique since the 1960s, I wanted to bring about rock's power to break tension and anxiety and strike through like a hammer through to the truth where emotions swirl about unchecked and entangled with hope.

Rock has been used as a weapon, an advertising technique, and an aesthetic, but I wanted these stories to cut to its essence of why it is so powerful. The depths of the blues, the warmth of the country, and the heights of the gospel, all inspiring to pick you up from the doldrums that threaten to ensnare you. Rock music consumed the music world for half a century for a good reason, and it is the same reason no other musical style can seem to replace it and never truly will. Much like how classical music has its place that can never be overthrown, so too does rock have a role no other can ever really fulfil, and I hope these stories can show how that might be.

[From L to R: Edward, Daniel, and Jordan]

I've never touched much on where the band itself comes from, but I don't think it matters as much as where they are going. The short story is they come from a small town like everyplace on this world, tucked away in a corner of the galaxy forgotten for progress among brighter stars waiting for better men, or so has been said. They are normal guys like you or me inspired to climb to greater heights than they thought they would.

Just like today we have younger generations taking inspiration from a past that was either demonized or deliberately buried. The main guys in Three Wolves find life in what was thought to be dead, finding light in what they were told was only darkness, and they have discovered adventure. In a sense, it is through the power, energy, and life, in the music, that they are able to discover more of who they are. Plus, it is eternally cool. What red-blooded male does not want to be cool?

But in "Spirit Rock" they have to face a different kind of forgotten world--one much different than the one they sought to discover. I could go a bit more into it, but I would much rather you read the tale for yourself. This is quite a fun story with a lot of moving parts (four protagonists will do that) and an ending that is the most outright cool I've penned so far. Of the four Three Wolves stories released, this one is my favorite so far. Read it and I think you will agree.

Are there more stories to come after "Spirit Rock" for the band? Yes, actually. I have one half written, another outlined, and a big finale I have yet to nail down. I like these guys and I want to see where their journey through the forgotten backwoods world takes them, and I would like to take you with me through these adventures.

Of course, Rock and Roll Mercenaries isn't just about me. It also contains 14 other stories by some top notch writers who love music and pulp-inspired adventure as much as I do. It's going to be a perfect summer read, too. Make sure you pick it up today!

Nothing can stop the rock!

Yes, the band put out an LP!

Chapter 13 of Psycho Mission just went up on the Patreon!

Ready to Rock?

Find it Here!

I told you a bunch of news was coming!

The first thing I wanted to announce is that today marks another new free episode for the podcast on the Patreon. In this one I talk about the Post-Geek mentality we're going to have to decide on in order to move from the crumbling culture we're currently clinging to.

If you want more, join the Patreon for more episodes as well as the ongoing Psycho Mission serial and other goodies now and to come. I make sure to give you as much as I can for the support you give me. Believe me, ever little bit helps.

Next, you might have noticed the above advertisement. The next project I will be in is the Rock and Roll Mercenaries anthology out later this month! It's a book containing 15 adventures based on the music, spirit, and legends that formed out of the genre over its half-century history. The eBook version is up for preorder now, and even includes a custom soundtrack made for fun (which is also free!) based on the stories included.

For those curious as to what is the "tracklist" or the author roster for the anthology, I have included a helpful graphic below:

A lot of great writers included in this project. I'm excited to read it all for myself when I get my own hard copy. Until then, you can preorder the digital version here.

My story, "Spirit Rock", is a new Night Rhythms story, one that's been in the works for awhile. For those who don't know, I've written three stories each starring a member of the band Three Wolves before. "Black Dog Bend" from StoryHack #5, "Living Land" from Sidearm & Sorcery Volume One, and "Mad Wind" from Pulp Rock, each starred the bass player, the drummer, and the guitarist, respectively. the goal  was to show different aspects of this backwoods forgotten world where the unknown awaits around every corner. "Spirit Rock" is the sequel to all three of these, though you don't need to have read them to get it for yourself.

So what's it about?

"Spirit Rock" is a novelette that stars all three of the protagonists from those stories, as well as their manager. The titular Spirit Rock is a legendary town from when humanity touched down ages ago that was said to have disappeared into thin air. A beautiful woman arrives to tell them that it does in fact exist. But is she telling the truth, or is there more to this than she's letting on? What is the truth of Spirit Rock? You'll have to check out Rock and Roll Mercenaries to find out!

I'm proud of this one, as it's been a story I've had in my back pocket for some time without any real way of getting it out to readers, until now! If you like adventure, wonder, music, and myth, you'll definitely dig this one!

The commercial!

Whether it's the Patreon or an anthology of rock stories, or other things I can't reveal yet, there is plenty of stories of adventure to be found.

Rock n Roll might be dead as far as culture is concerned, but there is remains a power and mystique to the genre that has managed to last and influence the way we see things. As the hedonism and arrogance that had once encircled like a boa to crush the life from it fades into memory, what remains is a power and passion that cannot be replicated in the same way elsewhere. Art is immortal, reaching for something higher than the here and now, and of all the 20th century arts that have died in the transition to the 21st, it still retains that strength, remaining even as the worst of it fades away. And I think this anthology helps show that.

While times are changing there are truths that never will. Even if rock n roll wasn't destined to last, what originally drove its creation, its evolution, and its tenacity, over the half century it was a powerhouse, cannot be understated. There will never be anything else remotely like it, and that's probably a good thing.

But that also doesn't mean it's going away anytime soon. Rock n Roll, despite its irrelevance for nearly two decades now, still inspires and still exists on the fringes, which is the way it was always destined to end. It started in a garage, and that's where it should end. When a bunch of teenagers with more free time than sense decide to make some noise, they are telling us all the spirit will never die. And that's a fitting end to its legacy.

Thanks for reading! I know this post isn't the typical one we get around here, but I thought it was a necessary one. Times are changing and I still really don't know what that means yet, but I'm going to go with what I know regardless. What else can I do?

Rock on, and I'll see you next time!

The song based on my story! Be sure to read "Spirit Rock" in Rock and Roll Mercenaries, up for preorder here!

Weekend Lounge ~ Winter Stories

Welcome to the weekend! We're about halfway through the longest (and slowest) month of the year, but there are a few pieces of news to share so deep into the season. 

I've been spending most of my free time getting some stories in the can before I finally return to Phantom War and dive into that for the majority of my 2025 writing output. This is the best time of the year to get extra stuff done because it is the one least likely to contain nasty derailing surprises in life to get you off track, and, so far that's been working out.

Related to that, I guess I can announce here that I've been accepted to Mistcreek Tales and the related Pulp Rock anthologies with my stories "Lightning Jim" and "Spirt Rock," respectively. The former is the first in a new series of shorts about a nameless protagonist in the 2000s wandering through the backroads on the way to his destination. The second is the fourth and longest story so far in the Night Rhythm series about a traveling band in the distant future. Each of the other three starred a different band member. This one? It has all of them. These are stories I'm very excited to finally share with you. So look forward to those!

There's also been a new episode of the podcast put up. This one I decided to talk a bit about an author I don't like very much, though it is not so much on a technical level but a deeper one. I discuss Stephen King here in the newest episode.

For the weather, January is also known to be the most miserable, cold and snow-covered to contrast with the time that is supposed to be the most promising for change in the year ahead. So today's video is about a place known for its terrible winter weather, the cold white north. Enjoy three stories about the old Catholic Quebec as it deals with the frosted unknown threatening to tear into beyond their walls. When we say the old stories have more to do with the pulps than you'd think, this is what we mean. These tales of the past may hint at the future bearing down on the road ahead, too. Food for thought, I suppose.

Quick update on Cannon Cruisers: we're working on new episodes and will have one up this weekend in the middle of January to tide you over. January is always the month we slow down, for obvious reasons, and this year isn't any different. We've got some fun stuff ahead, though, so hopefully it'll be ready to go by February.

Anyway, have yourself a relaxing January weekend and see you soon.

This is going to be a wild year!

To tide you over, check out Silence & Starsong Vol. 2, Issue #1 with my story Fade Away to Anywhere! Sometimes the world isn't quite what we think it is, and sometimes people aren't what they seem to be, but there's always more waiting under the surface...

Sidearm & Sorcery III

Find it Here!

Welcome back to the Wasteland! I've got one more surprise for you before we exit June. I promise, it's a great one.

The good news is just in time for the start of summer is the third volume in StoryHack's Sidearm & Sorcery anthology series! It's quite the release. For those looking for a fun read, you won't get much better than this.

In case you are unaware, Sidearm & Sorcery is an anthology series framed around the concept of classic Sword & Sorcery anthologies like Flashing Swords or Swords Against Darkness, but set in a modern context of guns, social media, and cars. Instead of the typical shell of classic S&S framework and setting wrapped around modern storytelling tropes, these tales instead are built in the classic mode but connected to our modern times. The only difference is the setting. This approach is not about correcting the past, but connecting ourselves to it.

Before we go any further, I would like to first give the description of Volume 3 as well as the list of stories contained in this new release.

Evil hides is the shadows of modern life. Mythic monsters lurk among the refuse of city streets. Wizards that peep and mutter seek unholy power in the present-day. Unfortunately, there aren't enough kindly sorcerers, children of prophecy, or battlesuit-powered billionaires to go around. So when average people are swallowed up in supernatural trouble, sometimes they have to stand against the darkness by themselves.

Included in this volume are twelve new stories of regular people facing the worst the paranormal world as to offer. These heroes may not have powers, but they refuse to be powerless.

This is Sidearm & Sorcery Volume Three.

Included in this volume:

• What's It Like in There? by JD Cowan
• Hell is in These Hills by Jason McCuiston
• Mixed Mystic Arts by Niko Haapala
• Vagrant Vigilante by Josh VanZile
• Acts of Contrition by Daniel Minucci
• Shrinkage by Misha Burnett
• Abandonment and Possession by Dale W. Glaser
• The Devouring Mother of Appalachia by Carl Brown
• Red Wine, Books, and Ammunition by Julie Frost
• Supernatural Survival Merit Badge by Jason Akinaka
• Yahoo Cafe by Jay Barnson
• Werewolf of the Redmoss Apartments by Bryce Beattie

You might have noticed a few familiar names in the list, including yours truly! My piece is not only in volume 3, but it is also the lead story! That is a first for me, but it is especially nice to see when you consider this is probably my longest short story so far, just under novella length. The reason for this will be explained below.

Aside from myself, you can see for yourself some of the great names that have contributed to both this book as well as past volumes, as well. I'd go through each of them but the titles pretty much say it all for me. You know you're in good with those writers.

Regardless, this a fun release with a lot of wild tales by great authors to get the blood pumping. You can find Sidearm & Sorcery Volume Three here!

Now that the basics are out of the way, let us get to my tale.

You might have remembered this earlier AI art from my video

Now, you might be asking, what is the deal with "What's It Like in There?" and what is it about? Surely, it can be any weirder than any of my past work. Well, you might be surprised because this is a strange one.

The story behind the story is that after I wrote the tale "City Eater" (which, funnily enough, released in Sidearm & Sorcery Volume Two) I realized that there was much to the "event" described in that story than I lead on. The obvious reason for that being that it was about a small family dealing with abject madness, but readers clearly noticed that the described event affected a lot more people than just them. Not only that, but it had happened more than once. So the question came, what happened during a similar one of these events where escape wasn't an option? In fact, this story was my attempt to understand the series of happenings that would lead to the sort of disaster that swallows the modern world so seemingly easy.

To go into it in greater detail would be to lean a bit esoteric and, even if that is much more acceptable these days, I much prefer being clear in my meanings when I write stories. Obscurity isn't what I try to do. I put a lot in here you can probably drag out yourself, but at the core is a story about a boy lost in a storm much older, and also younger, than he is. This whirlwind he finds himself a part of was always inevitable, but no one wanted to see it coming even when all the signs were there. As a result, well, the only thing that comes from it is disaster.

In truth, this is the final story in a small cycle of shorts I wrote about the end of the modern world. There are a few others, a couple of really short pieces I have on the side, the aforementioned "City Eater" as well as the upcoming "Mirage Carousal" in Cirsova's fall issue (which should help bridge some of the gap), and then there is this one. There is also a short epilogue story I'm currently working on between other projects, but that one's also a bit out there. On top of all that, I suppose with this I should have to state that this is all also related to Y Signal, as well. Take whatever you want from that last piece of knowledge.

That said, as always, each story stands on its own merits and tells its own tale. You only need to read them all if you want a more full picture of where they stand in relation to each other and the grander scheme of things. If you just want to read one on its own, you can still do that.

But how about this particular tale? Let us now go into it a bit.

Without going into spoiler territory, "What's It Like in There?" is the end result of many social and societal trends allowed to go on unchecked by those who refuse to look at the bigger picture, leading to an end worse than mere collapse. The strange vampirism everyone today seems to have in regards to everyone else and the smashing of a high trust society can only really lead in one direction. Doubly so if you have no vision for the future beyond leaving everyone alone to kill themselves. Out of sight, out of mind. That sort of destruction will only ever fold back in on itself as much as it folds out and flattens everything else around it in the process. No one wins.

The main protagonist is not only the viewpoint character for the reader but also representative of anyone coming across this madness out of context. I once said that if someone outside of the small window of the small cultural context actually watched the movie SLC Punk they would see nothing but madness and be puzzled that anyone would let this happen. That was part of the goal here, too. None of this really makes sense, and yet it's still not only being allowed to happen, it's encouraged. What possible end can come of this mentality?

In case you were wondering, the title of this tale is indeed a reference to the above Edmond Hamilton story about space exploration and how detached it is from reality. If you haven't read it, the piece stars a psychologically wounded space war vet that has to go around telling families their loved ones have died and he has to contrast it with how different space is from all those old pulp stories they dreamed it would be.

It's a rather dark and dreary story, different than Hamilton's usual and one of the few he could sell in a market that didn't want what he actually loved to write. So of course it is looked at highly by fans of the "genre" and not remembered by anyone else today. That's not to say anything about the story's quality, we are talking about Edmond Hamilton after all, but it's not what Hamilton is remembered for anymore, if he is remembered by the industry at all. I'm also fairly certain it's not the sort of thing he would want to be remembered for.

Regardless, the concept of misunderstanding space and the possibilities out there in the Unknown was funny to me. The idea of charging out into the Unknown Up There when we have spent all of modernity ignoring the Unknown Down Here is interesting. Forget what it might be like out there. How about what it's like in here? We can have arguments about how many dwarf planets we have to admit in so we can get Pluto back (all of them, who cares), but most of us no longer can even give the first names of any of the neighbors who live on our own streets. A link is missing here. We're leapfrogging over everything for the promised gold prize of progress that doesn't exist.

"What's It Like in There?" is a trip through a dead end with little more than a shotgun, a prayer, and friends in unlikely places. You can't get out if you don't even know what it is you're trying to escape. What awaits on the other end? You'll have to read and find out.

All that aside, I want to thank you for reading. These stories are always a blast to write and put out there and it's always a pleasure hearing about others' enjoyment of them. Sidearm & Sorcery Volume Three is sure to be a blast as will the upcoming Cirsova #20 in the fall. I would recommend them even if I didn't have a story in them. (Which reminds me, Cirsova's summer issue is now out! Be sure to grab it here!)

But I also have a pretty big surprise to share with you in the very near future. It will have to wait until July, but rest assured it's a big one that will change how I operate. I've got more stories on the way and you're about to be able to access them far more easily. I only want to wait a bit longer to let these things breathe before I go into yet another project with you.

Lastly, in Star Wanderers news, I gave the okay on the proofs and Cirsova is now collecting surveys and readying to ship them out! If you haven't filled yours in yet, now is the time. You'll be getting that awesome package very, very shortly!

That's all for this week! Thank you for all your support and I will see you next time. You never just what is out there waiting!

12 tales of guns, explosions, and the supernatural!

Signal Boost Weekend!

Recently funded thanks to backers like you!

Welcome to June! Summer is here!

Let's get you caught up to some of the crowdfunds currently going on right this second and see what you might have missed out on! I'm going to highlight three of them that need just that little nudge to get over the finish-line and make their goals, one of which is near its end and another that just started as of this writing.

Crowdfunding, as you might know, is now an essential part of the NewPub climate, a way for readers to get books funded and for creators to get out of the red faster. It's a way of producing stories for audiences in a much more reliable way, as long as the campaign creator doesn't fumble the ball, anyway. All the way around, it is an invaluable tool for the changing industry and also allows more creativity from creators at the same time.

Without further ado, here are a few crowdfunds you might have missed. Lets get to it. You're going to want to keep an eye on these.

Sword & Scandal

Find it Here!

J. Manfred Weichsel isn't a stranger to Wasteland & Sky. I've recommended and spoke of his material before. The difference this time is that he has created a new project to be an editor of. Sword & Scandal is a collection he wishes to produce by commisioning writers towards. The funds are pretty much just going towards that. As you can see above, the art is already done.

"You might be wondering just what the title refers to. What does Sword & Scandal actually mean? He describes it below:

""Sword & Scandal" is a play on the popular Italian sword and sandal genre of epic films. These will be stories with traditional historical and mythological settings from heroic fantasy, but with more gratuitous nudity, sex, and gore than what you usually see published. They will be subversive without becoming grimdark and will retain the sense of fun you would want from a pulp adventure, and the sense of wonder you would want from a weird tale.

"Sword & Scandal will have an open call for submissions, making the process of selecting stories democratic and ensuring that the anthology gets the best writing it possibly can. Unlike other publishers who tend to play it safe with their selections, we will be looking for the wild, strange, and outrageous. We want to publish off-beat and off-the-wall stories that would never otherwise get to see the light of day.

"Humor is also a big part of what we do. We will actively look for stories that incorporate a similar sense of humor as ours: dry, sardonic, and satirical. We enjoy humor that is character-driven, dark, and surreal. But we also like farce."

That might give you a vibe for what he is hoping to commission. If you've read Mr. Weichsel's stories then you know he isn't fooling around.

As he goes on to say:

"Sword & Scandal is not an anthology for genre purists. It is for thrill-seeking readers who want something new and different. The tales in this book will be adventures to scandalize. So, if you want to see such a new market open up to writers, and if you want to help bring such a book into existence, and if you want to hold such a book in your hands and read it, then contribute to Sword & Scandal now!"

There are only a few days left on the campaign! Help it get over the finish line and get yourself some spicy stories of the kind OldPub will no longer publish today!

Back Sword & Scandal today and get it funded! You can find it Here!

Stellar Stories Omnibus + Volume 3

Find it Here!

This one just launched, so I'm slotting it here for easy visibility. David Skinner is an author whose stories, like my own, have run in both Cirsova and Storyhack magazines, and they all have a special spin to them that make them uniquely his.

In this crowdfund he is funding both for the third volume of his short story collections, but also for an omnibus containing all 25 stories as well as the cover illustrations in said earlier volumes. In other words, you can either continue your collection, and catch up in one swift move.

As you can tell from the title, Mr. Skinner writers wonder stories, though not always in the way you might expect. Like all the best ones, they can get weird!

Here is the campaign description:

"My name is David Skinner. I write wonder fiction: science fiction without much science in it. I have been collecting most of my wonder stories in a series of volumes called Stellar Stories.

"It is time for Volume 3.

"It is also the perfect time for an omnibus of all three volumes.

"I am offering Volume 3 to those who already have Volumes 1 and 2, and an Omnibus to those who are just joining Stellar Stories. Even those with previous volumes might want the Omnibus, since omnibuses are neat."

Here is a listing of the included stories:

• The Fourth Gift
• Banana Man
• The Girl With the Nuclear Bomb
• The King's Portion
• Some Things Missing From Her Profile
• Due a Hanging
• Ambit of Charon
• The Spare Midge
• An Uncommon Day at the Lake
• Mae Walks
• Tainted by Grace
• The Courtship of Jay and Elusivebeth
• Dead Neighbor
• O Po Teef
• The Escalating Wish
• Poof Poof Ya Does Me a Favor
• The Impossible Footprint
• The Unshrouded Stars
• Motive of Man
• Wayward Scarecrow
• Lament for a Sister
• The Baron of Nevada & His Branded Broads
• End of the Sigh
• His Own Ends
• A Devil's Intuition

A description for each story is included on the campaign page. Volume 3 contains the final eight stories listed while the omnibus contains them all.

Once again, you can find the Stellar Stories crowdfund Here!

Ursula of Ulm (De re dordica, Book Two)

Find it Here!

For our third crowdfund, let us get to one that is already funded but should still not be missed out on. This book is a sequel to another (which can be picked up in this campaign, should you wish to catch up), and continues the theme today of weird stories being on the docket.

You see, what has returned to prominence through the new climate of publishing isn't just forgotten story styles, but inventive approaches to classic predicaments and ideas, filtered through a lens of creators who don't slide carefully in modern genre boxes. Every campaign featured today is like that, and the De re dordica books are no different.

Head back to the 1970s and dive into a mystery quite unlike any other. As you might suspect, it gets weird.

The description of the book is as follows:

"In this follow-up to the cult classic Shagduk, the mystery of Professor Sherwood's disappearance deepens. As does Steven Miller's involvement with Fort Worth's occult underbelly and with his secretive colleague, Diane. Find out what happens when impish shenanigans go too far and when doors best left closed lead the fledgling sorcerer to the world's very edge. Ursula of Ulm is the second book in the De re dordica saga."

"Unless I am experiencing the final stages of Philly fever-induced dementia, the events of the last four months can not be dismissed as paranoia. One need look no further than my bedside table for damning evidence. I lay wide awake, mentally juggling nucleotides of mutant conversational DNA. Randy's toast: "Por la razón o la fuerza!" Wailing bagpipes. A name: Shagduk."

You can back Ursula of Ulm Here!

As for Star Wanderers, I can give you the most recent update from Cirsova about what is happening. We funded well above our goal (thank you so much!) which means we are extra focused on getting the final product polished and out the door.

From the campaign updates:

"The proofs should be shipping out soon. I don't anticipate any problems with them, but we want to give JD a chance to go over everything; since JD is in Canada, it'll take the books a little longer to get to him once they ship--we're looking at them showing up in mid June.

"The trading cards should be here next week.

"Barring any disasters, we'll be shipping books out by sometime in the middle of July.

Hopefully the mail isn't as slow as it usually is and I can get this done ASAP, but rest assured that we are on schedule to get the books out the door.

And that's it for this edition of Crowdfund signal boosts! I'm sure there are many more to come, and that I've potentially missed some, but that is just par for the course with these things. There are just so many to go over.

I'll leave you with the same trailer for an upcoming project I left in a recent post and I will see you next time. As for what that actually is, you're going to have to wait a bit longer. We've still got Star Wanderers to get out the door, after all!

Until the next! NewPub only gets better from here.

What is Phantom War? You'll learn soon enough!

Weekend Signal Boost!

Back it Here!

As I said last time, I'm still in the word mines for the final Gemini Man story, so keeping up with the blog is a bit tough. That said, there are a few things to update you with, such as some recent releases from various NewPub authors!

The first one up is a brand new manga Kickstarter by Yakov Merkin called Amaranth Angels. This is a brand new series from the author who brought you the Light from Another World light novel series and the Galaxy Ascendant space opera books. This time he is trying his hand at something quite a bit different. You can even read a 31 page free chapter here ahead of time.

The description:

Amaranth Angels is an original sci-fi adventure manga, done fully in manga style, including being drawn to be read from right to left. It's a cute-girls-doing military-things story in the vein of anime like Girls Und Panzer, High School Fleet, the Magnificent Kotobuki, and Lycoris Recoil. So you can expect cute, likable characters, and fast paced, exciting starfighter action, brought to you with a gripping story and amazing art.

You can find Amaranth Angels here!

Now as for something completely different let us take a look at a more "disgusting" and less clean project. We have to keep mixing it up for you, the readers, after all. Next is the newest entry in J. Manfred Weichsel's Tales to Make You Vomit book series!

You can find it Here!

For those who remember, Mr. Weichsel is an author that uses the macabre and the degenerate to highlight the good and true of the world. As a consequence his work can be very controversial and not for everyone, which leads to his newest book extending the invitation for others to do the same under his watchful eye. You definitely won't read anything else like it.

The description:

The librarian is back with her first misanthropic anthology!

When three brave astronauts embark on a trip to the moon, little do they know that a hidden purpose awaits them—an alien signal detected from the moon, shrouded in secrecy to prevent panic on Earth. The lunar module is damaged upon landing, stranding the astronauts on the moon's surface, with no hope of returning home. Determined to fulfill their mission, they follow the mysterious signal to a crater, leading them beneath the moon's surface and into an enigmatic library.

Here they meet the Librarian, a seemingly harmless elderly woman with a nefarious agenda. The bilious bibliosoph has decided to put humanity on trial by forcing each astronaut to read a sickening science fiction book from her liverish library. If just one can read a book without throwing up, the earth will be spared. But each time one of the astronauts gets green around the gills, the librarian will launch, by catapult, a giant rock at the earth, which will, upon impact, cause massive loss of life. As the bizarre book bazaar unfolds, the astronauts face an unsettling realization—the final rock will bring about the destruction of Earth.

Along with the frame narrative by J. Manfred Weichsel, Gruesome Futures features stories by three acclaimed authors renowned for their ability to invoke revulsion, dread, and a dark fascination. They are:

Misha Burnett!

With a penchant for crafting unsettling narratives, Misha Burnett’s latest tale, It Only Hurts When I Swallow, promises to take you on an emotional journey of grotesque beauty. In this slice of new wave fiction, Burnett’s twisted imagination births scenes of judicial punishment that will be difficult to digest.

Max Gunssler!

Prepare to be ensnared by the putrid pulp of Max Gunssler, for in The R*** and Annihilation of Babe Babylonia, he weaves a story of future professional wrestling that will disturb the depths of your puny human psyche. Gunssler’s uncanny ability to write gonzo, off-the-wall action scenes will leave you breathless, and empty your stomach.

Todd Love!

In The Secret on Subfloor 82 of Serenity Station, Todd Love offers readers an unforgiving plunge into the darkest recesses of the human condition. In this piece of Grimdark MilFic action, Love’s exploration of the grotesque serves as a reflection of our own flawed existence, challenging you to unearth the true horrors that lie within… within your gut, that is.

Gruesome Futures will invade your nightmares and make you sick. Can you read this digest of disgust without throwing up? Do you take the challenge?

You can find Gruesome Futures here!

Lastly, in case you missed it, Alexander Hellene's final book in his Swordbringer trilogy has left crowdfunding and is now available on Amazon for general purchase. He has been writing this saga for a long while so it is thrilling to see him do what many in OldPub cannot: finish a series. And if you've read anything by him, you know he goes all out.

Find it Here!

He's been neck deep in this series for at least four years, including getting an omnibus version out to backers of his campaign, while also editing the awesome Pulp Rock anthology in the meanwhile, showing just how much he loves storytelling. I am definitely looking forward to where he goes after this series.

The description:

The Reaper has landed! His mission: find the secret of immortality and destroy any who stand in his way.

With the Global Union closign in and Pysh in shambles, a bitter enemy may be humanity's only hope. Garrett and Ghryxa lead an envoy to Kharvalar with a proposal for the High Lord: join forces to fight the Global Union or Yxakh will be doomed. But Kharvalar, besieged by lizardmen, giant serpents, and ancient foes from beyond the western wastes, has troubles of its own.

Old enmities, prophecies fulfilled, and interstellar war collide in the explosive conclusion to The Swordbringer, with the fates of two planets hanging in the balance!

You can find The Final Home here!

In very related news, author TJ Marquis has started a YouTube show of his own in order to highlight NewPub releases that might be flying under the radar. It is called IndieScan. You can find his channel here, as well as the first episode here.

We definitely need more folks out there highlighting the avalanche of new stories we might otherwise miss, so definitely be sure to give his show a look. It is weekly and a rather short update lengthwise so you won't be too put out or exhausted by it.

Here is the most recent episode:

And that's all for this update! Thank you for reading, as always, and I hope you'll keep sticking in this space. There is so much going on at all times it is almost overwhelming. This is a full reversal of how it was back when I started writing. I never imagined a climate like this existing for stories. Here's hoping the momentum only increases.

Enjoy your weekend, and I will see you next time!

A cross country adventure of magic, superpowers, and a strange brotherly bond! How will the Gemini Man find his way out of a mad cult's grasp?

Weekend Lounge ~ The Big Book Sale Returns!

Once again we are back with a brand new big book sale for your enjoyment! In fact there are FIFTY new books on sale for a dollar or free for your enjoyment.

I can't even mention them all here, you'll just have to see it for yourself. It's been a very big year for new books!

Here is the description:

The contributors include science fiction grandmasters, Dragon Award winners and nominees, established mainstream authors, and emerging indie talent. Authors include P. Alexander, James Alderdice, Jon Del Arroz, Jonathan P. Brazee, Jim Breyfogle, Bob Brill, Henry Brown, Howard Butcher, Kit Sun Cheah, J.D. Cowan, Nick Cook, Paul Clayton, Lucca DeJardins, Kacey Ezell, Warren Fahy, Eric Flint, Marina Fontaine, Milo James Fowler, Dennis Garcia, Karl Gallagher, Michael Gallagher, Leonard Getz, Roy M. Griffis, Chris Haught, Harry Harrison, Julian Hawthorne, Kevin Ikenberry, C.S. Johnson, Chris Kennedy, Michael Kingswood, Robert Kroese, Robert A. Lupton, Jonathan Moeller, Christopher G. Nuttall, Jonathan Oldenburg, Chad Olson, Melissa Olthoff, P.A. Piatt, George Phillies, S. Kirk Pierchala, James Pyles, A.G. Riddle, Cedar Sanderson, Glen Sprigg, Steve Stinson, Michael Tierney, Kalkin Trivedi, Donavan Walker, William Alan Webb, Marisa Wolf, and James Young.

And every title is either free or $0.99! Note: prices are set by the authors, so please confirm before you buy. And some of the offerings are short stories or novellas instead of full-length novels.

My book Y Signal is currently in the sale for a buck. Now is the time to grab it if you have not done so yet!

Keep in mind if you backed the digital bundles in the Gemini Man campaign, you will still be getting your copy once I send them out. For now, the book is the cheapest its been for those who might have been shy about pulling the trigger before. Read the book author N. R. Lapointe called "delightfully bizarre" today!

There are more books than that, however. Check out the sale page for an even larger selection of stories for you peruse!

And if you've missed some, there are also fan favorites joining the sale once again. You can find the following authors in this section:

Authors include Patrick Abbot, James Alderdice, J.M. Anjewierden, Jon del Arroz, Tony Andarian, Leigh Brackett, Graham Bradley, Jonathan P. Brazee, Henry Brown, Rachel Fulton Brown and the Dragon Common Room, Misha Burnett, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Kit Sun Cheah, Paul Clayton, Declan Finn, Marina Fontaine, Milo James Fowler, Peter Grant, N. Gray, Steve Griffiths, Eric M. Hamilton, Harry Harrison, Frederick Gero Heimbach, Alexander Hellene, Daniel Humphreys, C.S. Johnson, Steven G. Johnson, Becky Jones, Michael Kayser, Robert Kroese, Christopher Lansdown, L. Jagi Lamplighter, Moe Lane, N. R. LaPoint, Frank B. Luke, Loretta Malakie, T.J. Marquis, Yakov Merkin, Russell Newquist, Richard Nichols, Christopher G. Nuttall, Chance Paladin, Richard Paolinelli, Francis Porretto, James Pyles, David Roome, Denton Salle, Hans G. Schantz, Richard Sezov, David Skinner, Kalkin Tivedi, Henry Vogel, Mark Wandrey, David J. West, Fenton Wood, John C. Wright, Page Zaplendam.

Grab what you can and remember that this is only a fraction of what NewPub has to offer. There is plenty more to come as well!

Check out the fan favorites in the Big Book Sale today!

Swords & Maidens Livestream!

I hope the spring has treated you well. I've been a bit busy dealing with personal matters recently, but I do have something to share. It's a pretty fun little tidbit, and an update!

As for the tidbit: A bunch of the authors involved in the exciting Swords & Maidens anthology were recently on the Indie April Author Livestream run by Periapsis Press to talk about the new book. The PP channel contain an author livestream where writers get together to talk about their tales with the audience, and this one was rather stacked!

For two hours you can hear them discuss the creation of their stories in the anthology and the process behind what drove them to write. I highly recommend watching the entire piece as it is very informative and quite the good time, especially for those who enjoy learning about the creative process. I would also recommend the anthology itself, and not just because I am in it, but because it is legitimately good. I'm reading through the full thing right now and having a great time.

You can watch the full interview here:

Before you ask the question: no, I was not able to attend the livestream. However, some discussion of my story is included regardless. Thanks to the others for pulling up my slack! Quite the talented bunch was gathered for this anthology.

If you wish to know more about my story in Swords & Maidens, I already wrote more extensively about it here. Suffice to say, it is still one of my favorites I've written so far. If you haven't read "Judgement Sun" yet, now is your perfect chance!

I should also thank the readers once again. Everyone who has read "Judgement Sun" has had very kind words for it, and I very much appreciate the feedback. Please be sure to leave a review if you have read the anthology and let everyone know. The people behind the book and newer potential readers would really appreciate it!

In other news, I am halfway through my final edit sweep of the three Gemini Man books. After I am done I will be creating a crowdfund campaign specifically for the best possible covers for you, the readers, to have. It will hopefully be up sooner than later, but with all the chaos going on recently it might suffer a delay. We'll see. Nonetheless, it is three complete books (an entire trilogy) coming very soon for your reading enjoyment. I am very excited to get these out. The only question remains is how to exactly tackle a campaign. I still have my work cut out for me.

At the same time, I do have other projects on the way, including a brand new series I've already started and need to get back to. I'll say more about that when the Gemini Man books are finally in the rearview mirror, but for now I want to concentrate on getting these done and in the best quality possible. These have been years in the making, from my earliest publishing days. I thank Silver Empire (RIP) for giving me the chance to write these books, but Heroes Unleashed lives on regardless with new books from different writers currently in the pipeline. It was, and remains, quite the interesting project. If the universe interests you, I would suggest contacting Morgon and Russell Newquist about contributing. It is not as difficult as you might think, and you might have a very interesting idea that might not fit anywhere else in your plans. Either way, the option is there.

As for the crowdfund, if you have anything you would specifically like to see in it, be sure to let me know. I have never done one of these before, so knowing what the audience wants ahead of time does a lot of good for the final product. Reminder: these three books are completely done and edited. I just need to get them out to you, the reader. That means it is up to you to let me know how you would like to receive and read them. It is all about making it easier for the reader, after all. NewPub counts on us to succeed.

That is all for today! Have a good week and I will see you next time. There is much more to come, and some very cool surprises. I can't wait for you to see them.

You can find Swords & Maidens here!

New Release: Sidearm & Sorcery Volume Two!

Find it Here!

I hope you're having a good Friday as we head into spring! Winter is finally over, and I have another surprise for you to end this week. As you can clearly tell, it's a good one!

The first question you might be asking is if I planned this. No, I can assure you that I did not plan to have two anthologies release in the same week! It just worked out that way. These things are not very easy to release as it is. But it is a great surprise to have! It isn't every day one gets to have two different anthologies release in the same week. So let us get to the meat of it. Today, Sidearm & Sorcery Volume Two releases!

For those who read the first volume of this anthology series, you know the score. Sidearm & Sorcery is framed around classic sword and sorcery stories that take place in the modern day among normal people like you or me. All the power of man against magic, but in a place where technology rules and where magic is underestimated. I'm sure you can see what that can lead to! What you get is a unique expansion on a storied and treasured genre.

Sidearm & Sorcery Volume Two is even bigger than the first volume, with many more stories and authors new to the series. The second entry contains seventeen (!) different stories of magic slicing through modernity, from a chunk of the most exciting authors in NewPub. This is no small tome, and you will find no shortage of adventure in these pages.

Here is the description:

Supernatural evils lay hidden, deep in the shadows of society. Be these dangers man or beast, they will strike at unsuspecting, everyday people. What if there are no selfless wizards around when a demon steps from the alley? What if there are no supers to be found when the ancient demigod awakens? What if there is no prophesy and no chosen one to stand in the way of the dark forces? In these cases, the regular people must must courage to face the foe. The protagonists in these stories have no magic powers, but they refuse to be powerless. This collection of 17 short stories brings you new adventures and new dangers, all in modern settings.

Welcome to Volume Two of the Sidearm & Sorcery series. This anthology includes:

• Flaxen Wires by Bryce Beattie
• First Kiss, First Kill by Beth Buck
• They Delved Too Deep by Misha Burnett
• City Eater by JD Cowan
• Swamp Serpents by Nathan Dabney
• In the Hall of the Crocodile King by Michael DeCarolis
• Personal Mythologies by Dale Glaser
• Scent of the Sand Wurm by James Krake
• A Moonblessed Hunt by John Longtain
• Den of the Necrolord by TJ Marquis
• Ain't No Grave by Jason McCuiston
• The Red Horse of War by Z. M. Renick
• Souldrinker by Frank Sawielijew
• A Shilling for your Troubles by Mark Schultis
• The Baron of Nevada & His Branded Broads by David Skinner
• Infestation by H.A. Titus
• The Galveston Incident by Luke West

Over 400 pages of adventure and wonder. Combine this with Swords & Maidens and you're looking at a more excitement in one week than most people can handle. I told you 2023 would have some surprises up it's sleeve, and the year has barely just begun.

So let us get to it.

As you can see, I have a story in this collection called "City Eater" and is the fourth tale here. I suppose I should talk a bit more about it, since I've been rather vague on what this one is about since it was first revealed. "City Eater" is the longest story I've ever submitted to an anthology or magazine, and I probably could have made it longer if I didn't practice restraint. There is a very good reason it is so meaty, though.

"City Eater" is about a family that very slowly realizes the city around them is slipping into madness and the world is seemingly turning towards some sort of Armageddon. Monsters appear, and nightmares arrive, but where are they coming from? And is the city itself the monster they need to battle? Or is the source something else? Read on to discover for yourself!

A few tidbits on this one. I want to say more without ruining any of the fun. "City Eater" was quite the blast to write.

The first tidbit is that "City Eater" is related Y Signal, and not in the most subtle of ways. You should be able to figure out very fast what the connection between the two stories is. Another morsel to share is that the pink anime rabbit girl who bookends the story you might recognize as having similarities to VTuber Pipkin Pippa. What better way for a father to be mystified over current technology than coming across a computer avatar his son watches talking about esoteric weirdness and monsters? I really don't think anyone in the past could have foreseen this invention coming and it gives the story's events more context in the times we live.

A lot of this story is about old and new, strange and normal, past and future, but with a family twist. To make it out of this situation, our family will have to come together and put aside their differences to reach their goal. Or are they doomed to be consumed with everything else in the city? What even is a City Eater supposed to be?

You will have to read and find out for yourself!

And be sure to check out the other stories in the anthology. There are a lot of names in this one, and some unique tales unlike those you've seen before. Unlike others proud to ripoff the classics while dumping on them, we are excited to be able to build off and connect with those who came before us. I know I'm proud to have been in both volumes of this series so far and hope there will be more in the future. But there's only one way to make sure that happens and more projects like this come to life! Pick up Sidearm & Sorcery Volume Two today!

Once again, I want to thank the readers for all their support. We most definitely could not do any of this without you!

And we're going to keep going, because there's more on the way. There's always more on the way!

Also, Swords & Maidens is now out in paperback!

New Release: Swords & Maidens!

Find it Here!

Welcome to a new week! Let us start it off with a new release!

As the above trailer says, it is time for Swords & Maidens, an anthology unlike any you've come across before. Here are 11 stories of chivalry, high adventure, and more wonder than you can shake a blade at from some of the best writers in the world of NewPub. Hope you like a good time, because you're going to find one here.

Here are the eleven stories included in the anthology as well as the authors who wrote each of these fantastic stories for you to indulge in!

• “Wings of Ether” by T.J. Marquis
• “The Shrouded Tower” by Michael Gallagher
• “The Winged Horse” by Hawkings Austin
• “Three Swords” by Blake Carpenter
• “Harem Fantasy in Another World” by John C. Wright
• “Azrael” by N.R. LaPoint
• “Crazy Like an Elf” by Declan Finn
• “The Gift” by Anne Clare
• “The Supercomputers of Rai” by Alexander Hellene
• “Vivre Le Patriarchy!” by L. Jagi Lamplighter
• “Judgement Sun” by J.D. Cowan

This one has been a long time coming, and today it's finally here. I couldn't even begin to tell you have much time was spent putting this together, and it has been worth it!

I'm very honored to have the final story here, as I feel Judgement Sun, the story of the struggle of salvation for the last remaining souls on a dead world is the perfect note to end on. It is still one of my favorite stories that I've written to date, and I'm happy it is back in print. And that doesn't even go into the rest of the tales here!

I have more projects on the way still to release, so please be sure to keep an eye out. I've even updated my Works page with some new releases and a new Out of Print section for you peruses at your leisure. But don't think there isn't more on the way! I can't wait to show you what is coming down the pipeline very soon.

Once again, you can find Swords & Maidens here!

Where one world ends, another begins!