StanleyWheeler

  Interview with J.V. Hilliard Author of The Warminster Series   Please tell me a little about your current work in progress. Vorodin’s Lair is the second book in the Warminster series, an epic fantasy tale that combines sword and sorcery, a new fantasy realm and epic battles to sweep readers from the treacherous cliffs of the Dragon’s Breath Mountains to the shores of scholar city of Abacus. It is a continuation of the story of Daemus Alaric, a low Keeper from the Cathedral of the Watchful Eye, as he and his allies set out to face the menace that threatens their very existence. Where did you get the idea for this book or series? Shared experiences from my various Dungeons & Dragons campaigns have always been at the heart of my work. If you are a TTRPGer, I’m sure you get this. Playing D&D with friends and family scattered through several decades really generated a lot of ideas that I could mesh into  The Last Keeper , but also allowed me to go off sc...

All three books in the first trilogy are available for only $0.99 cents each for a limited time. This is America -- with dragons, and magic, and monsters! Here are links to each: Threading the Rude Eye  -- Available as an ebook and in paperback. Power to Hurt  -- Available as an ebook and in paperback. Clamorous Harbingers --Available as an ebook - and coming soon in paperback.

First this: The best baseball movie ever made is--and there can be no argument about this as the film is very nearly a religious experience; the angels don't quite sing but they do play instruments (and I'm not talking about the Willie Nelson number that seemed particularly appropriate)-- The Rookie , staring Dennis Quaid. Every man should watch it at least every five years as a reminder to chase those dreams. Of course, women might enjoy it too. Quaid is perfect in the role of Jim Morris. A reader this week said about reading Power to Hurt , "I finally understand those one things, but I don't know what they are." -- High praise indeed. She was referring to the gryphons. Apparently she had confounded the gryphons and their riders, not realizing that they were two separate species. Speaking of Power to Hurt (which I know I do often, perhaps too often) my author copies arrove arrived this week. They are, of course, beautiful. The fire-orange color reminded me...

A gentleman this week did me a favor. Actually, I don't mean that he's only a gentleman this week; he's probably always a gentleman. It was this week that he did me the favor. I encountered him upon another site which I frequent and suggested that he read my slightly silly noir detective novel, Smoke . I made the ebook available for free on special for two days so he could get his copy. The gentleman purchased the paperback instead; he sent me some thoughts and noted a number of minor typographical errors that could use correction. (It seems that I left out several question marks and a couple words--I will correct those errors and republish both the ebook and the paperback before the end of the month). I wasn't able to rescind the special free book deal. I did no advertising of the sale and gave away over 500 books in that 2 day period. That's a new record for me. Now if only those good people who were interested enough to get the book for free will read it and ...

Some days the writing flows smoothly like yarn passing through deft knitting needles; other days the experience is more akin to stapling down strips of cloth; and at other times it's like throwing globs of cooked spaghetti noodles at a sheet of paper stapled to a cat chasing a ball of rolling yarn. Each of those days are worthwhile, but some are more productive than others. As you can see from this link here , my newest book is live at the big river site. And the first book in the series is FREE. Here's the link to the FREE BOOK.  -- for only 4 more days. Here's the link to the SUPER LOW-PRICED SEQUEL  -- only $0.99. I really like this book. I enjoyed writing the sequel even more than writing the first book in the series. The final five chapters are worth the rest of the book (which is pretty exciting anyway). I would rather read this book than use baby chicks in place golf balls on the driving range. If that's not compassion for animals and a fine show of hu...

A couple things came up during the week--three if you count the terrific storm with thunderbolts and lightning which was very, very frightening, and which prevented me from finishing the great mowing for the week. The first two things didn't really come up; I stumbled across them. As for the first one, I've already changed my mind about linking and discussing it. The other was a guy talking about music. I've also included a book description for your consideration and comment. Here's an old guy with some musical expertise talking about, playing along with, and explaining how a song was made and why it sounds the way it does. The video takes some time but I enjoyed to watch someone who obviously loves the subject matter give an explanation for all the things that I heard when I listened to the song (and many I didn't quite hear but about which I had more than a feeling) but did not understand and appreciate. Now I understand why the sound on this song is what I h...

Cover Reveal The first draft - which is very nearly a final draft - of Power to Hurt is complete. Additionally, I'm down to a mere 100 pages left of the proof/edit before formatting for kindle and paperback. At least one of my readers has already rattled my chain, demanding to know when this sequel to Threading the Rude Eye will be available. I believe that I might have it available on kindle in about two weeks with the paperback ready another two weeks after that. The story moves along at a good pace without bogging down. While there is a good deal of conversation--as I find that a critical element in character development--the frequent action requires great swaths of writing, chapters even, with little conversation. As one might expect, I like some parts of the story better than others. In looking through the folder where I keep the novel, I noticed something that I had not realized previously: There are many other items in the folder. Most of those items are for research asso...

Ninety minutes of misery that's how I had determined to classify the concert as the first half wound down to the intermission. My wife tried to persuade my daughter to leave at that point, but daughter wanted to see more David Archuleta . He only did one number during the first half and she knew that he would be doing at least one more song. So we didn't slip away like thieves in the night. That was probably for the best as the second half showed some improvement--in fact, it would have been a nice concert if it had consisted of only the second half. Actually, there was a piano solo that I believe came before the intermission which I thought was great--the piano solo, I mean, not the intermission. I received some free tickets to a concert (a food donation was required). The concert featured Marie Osmond, David Achuleta, and Alex Boye -- that's all I knew about it. I left the decision about going to wife and daughter. Daughter decided she wanted to go--so we did. Befo...

Bond and Thor - because girl power Every time word of a movie remake with a gender swapped lead appears, the articles praising it sprout like noxious weeds. The latest word concerns the upcoming entries in the Bond and Thor franchises. This article explains that gender swap remakes have fared poorly in the past . Some claim the continuing cavalcade of lame gender swap remakes is a sign of progress. Others say it's an indication that women aren't capable of carrying their own original movies and can only climb aboard franchises already made successful with male stars. See this article . Of course they're both wrong. It's only a sign of progress if "progress" is defined as failure to learn and insistence upon a false narrative. It's like claiming that communism just hasn't been implemented correctly yet, and it's going to succeed beyond our wildest dreams if we just get the right people in charge (meaning those who want to be in charge ...

Let me first note that in the Spirit of 1776, I've completed 76K words on Power to Hurt , and I'm offering FREE pdf copies of the first book in the Tomahawks and Dragon Fire Series  Threading the Rude Eye . Contact me through the comments and give me your email address to receive your free copy. This offer is good for a limited time. I hope to give away a hundred free copies before Power to Hurt is ready for purchase. Independence Day marched in again to the sound of trumpets, drums, fireworks, fanfare, and whining. It's the latter that I'll address somewhere below. As for me and my house, we attended the veteran's march in our community. The A-10s roared over at the conclusion (or about fifteen minutes after the conclusion) for the fleeting pleasure of the happy, patriotic throng. Following the Wart hog fly-by, I had to go home to attend to a problem of no small significant. Fortunately, much like the song says, I got by with a little help from my friends-...