StanleyWheeler

  Accidental Pirates is actually the only novel that I had published this year. However, I did get a number of short stories selected for publication. "A Stardust Memory " was published in Sultry Murder Jazz . I found its placement as the final story in the anthology entirely appropriate.  " Seventh Hussar and Aide to the Mage " came out in Wyrd Warfare , receiving special attention for containing the best line of dialog in an anthology filled with great dialog - but the anthology is loaded with action. I got to dip into my love of Napoleonic history and warfare for this story, and the characters, especially Beaujeu were a hit with some youtube reviewers. The anthology Dames, Derringers, and Detectives includes my story, " Calypso's Count ." Cats, or "moggies," are featured in every tale in this noir collection. My submission continues the adventures of Noah Vail/Duncan Kane from my Smoke novel.   Editor Nick Nethery again delighted me by s...

    General Antoine Charles Louis de Lasalle led the Infernal Brigade (the 5th and 7th Hussars) in the 1806 campaign against Prussia. The brigade moved rapidly through enemy territory in search of information and supplies. Lasalle and his 500 hussars arrived at the fortified city of Stettin following the Battle of Jena. A garrison of 5,000 and over 150 cannon guarded the fortress. Lasalle pretended the entire French army was with him and demanded the surrender of the city or 50,000 troops would assault the town. His bluff succeeded, and the city surrendered without resistance. Napoleon wrote that if the light cavalry continued to capture fortified towns, he would have to melt down his artillery and discharge his engineers. Tactical creativity and audacity marked the hussars, and the daring Lasalle was the perfect commander for this flamboyant cavalry. The general was known for his wit, charm, and personal exploits, including affairs and duels; he remarked that any hussar ...

  Check it out. Accidental Pirates is number 1 in Teen and Young Adult Pirate Action & Adventure  Now that I've got that out of my system, I could ramble about the sequel, which is nearing completion with Chis struggling as a mage-in-training without a trainer, and Kenny, as a youthful knight with the help of some additional enchantment, on a quest that will determine the fate of two kingdoms - and they still have to get back home. These boys know how to press the adventure pedal to the metal. This is going in the newsletter, but I can't resist adding it here because it goes so well with Accidental Pirates . It's the pirate hymn. You'll have to see the newsletter for the complete story. Here's the pirate version of a hymn that's popular in some congregations with which I've attended:  I'll never be able to hear the hymn without thinking of pirates now.     I recently finished reading Carthage Conspiracy by Dallin H. Oaks and Marvin S. Hill. A few y...

  Empire of the East , by Fred Saberhagen, contains the first three books in the four-book series - which explains why the book is so long. It really did feel like reading three books. In fact, I read two other books, or at least one and a half books, before I finally finished this one. A post-apocalyptic feudal society is the setting where the West struggles against the demon forces of the East. In Book One, The Broken Lands , Rolf loses his family and, while looking for his sister, finds a tank, among other things. Other players include Chup who sets up Rolf to slay another rebel in the arena--who happens to be the boyfriend of the rebel girl he wants to be sweet on; and Charmian, who is a a beauty with a frightening ability to manipulate men. She's Chup's wife, and the daughter of the local headman for the East. Rolf and his allies, with the help of the tank, liberate the fortress. The battle costs Chup the use of his legs and Charmian flees. Against the sorcerers and demons...

   I picked up Fred Saberhagen's Merlin's Bones to read another take on the Arthur legend. This story was certainly unlike any other. I first encountered King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table as kid. My parents had a series of flip over books--two books in one with each upside down to the other, with two covers--I'm not sure, but I believe the King Arthur book was opposite Howard Pyle's Robin Hood . I loved both of those books. In King Arthur , the knights were always fighting and at some point one of them would smash through the other's helmet to bury his sword in the brain pan of the other. In Robin Hood , the hero was always sending a clothyard shaft to its mark. Later, my high school librarian got me a copy of Mallory's Le Morte d'Arthur . She found it at a yard sale and thought of me--which, of course, was fabulous. I still have that one and read it again only a few years ago. Other retellings of the tale I've read include Bernard Cornwe...

 In case you thought reading was a safe activity:   Here's the interview with me  about Accidental Pirates -- paperback available Nov 26 - Get your boys reading for Christmas. The sequel is half finished with 15 of 30 chapters already filled with slam bang action and adventure.   I think I've been remiss in sharing some fun facts lately, so here's a helping of history: FUN FACT:  In 1111, Al-Mustazhir bi-Allah served as Caliph of the Abbasid Empire and spiritual leader of the Sunni branch of Islam. He married Ismah Khatun. In March, she headed for Isfahan to take her place in the Caliph's palace. In February, a delegation of Sufi's, disgruntled merchants, and lawyers from Aleppo had arrived in Baghdad to complain that they had lost that lovin' feeling of support from the Caliph, and they were tired of fighting the infidels who continued to storm, besiege, kidnap, and kill. With the recent loss of Sidon to King Baldwin, they feared Tyre, Damascus or Aleppo ...

  Interview with Sam Robb Author of Sigils, and much more   Please tell me a little about your current newest release. Sigils is an urban fantasy set in Pittsburgh. It’s kind of boy-meets-girl-meets-eldritch horror, so, you know – classic literature. J More seriously, James O’Neil is James a high school senior; he’s done some graffiti in his life, but wants to turn that into a stint at art school. Unfortunately, he’s about to learn the hard way that names have power, and his graffiti tags can open doors in the forgotten byways of Pittsburgh. After he accidentally summons a powerful and malevolent Fae, he only manages to escape by the intervention of other taggers. On the run, James needs allies, and answers, but everything seems to be conspiring against him and his world is falling apart around him. Where did you get the idea for this book or series? I work in downtown Pittsburgh (“dahntahn” for my fellow Yinzers). I’ve spent a lot of time over the past few years explo...