Shadow, Light, & Steel

Goldspire - update

2011-04-21T08:53:00.000-07:00

This hasn't been an ideal spring. Our sons have had the flu, strep, and now a stomach virus, and we had to clean out many items in our fridge and freezer due to a 3+ day power outage.

Despite these delays, I'm happy to report that I've finished the outline of Goldspire. Translating an outline into a story is a formidable task, of course, but I'm ready to give it a go.

Happy Easter to all,
RR

Goldspire - under construction

2011-02-16T06:38:00.000-08:00

Let it be known that, in the Year of Our Lord 2011, my sons are going to bed and sleeping through the night like good human children (as opposed to the insatiable and feral mutant-wolverine cubs they resembled in their earliest years). Amen.

What this means is that I have no more excuses for not writing. (The year did start slowly, thanks to illness and 10 straight days of icy streets and no school, but those have passed.) I have time, health, and a surprising remnant of sanity. So I've officially begun outlining my first novel, Goldspire, which stars Andreas and Tanion, who were 5th and 6th in my '20 Heroes' series, published last year at FantasyLiterature.com.

Though I was a mathematically-challenged English major, I've calculated this: 1,000 words per week yields 52,000 words per year. (And 2,000 would be 104,000--amazing!) So here we go, like Andy in The Shawshank Redemption, slowly and steadily carving out the path that leads to the heart's desire.

Cheers,
RR

20 Heroes: Yelena (part two)

2010-12-20T11:37:00.000-08:00

The nineteenth of my "20 Heroes in 2010" is now up at FantasyLiterature.com. This is the conclusion of "Love & Winter," my story that placed in the finals of the Writers of the Future Contest. (Dmitri and Ivanir should be counted with Yelena as heroes in this tale, so there are actually three heroes in the last two postings.)

Cheers,
RR

2010 - retrospective

2010-12-17T12:39:00.000-08:00

As we get older, time acquires the illusion of acceleration. A single year is 12-1/2% of an 8-year-old's life, but only 2-1/2% of a 40-year-old's. (I have a couple more years before turning forty, but it's an easier number for an English major to manipulate.)

2010 was one of the fastest years yet from my perspective. And while it was a challenging one in terms of my day job as a government attorney, it was a productive one for my nascent writing career. The highlights:

* In April, I had the honor of interviewing my favorite author, Guy Gavriel Kay, in conjunction with the release of his magnificent new novel, Under Heaven.

* In July, my essay "Servants of the Secret Fire: Why Fantasy & Science Fiction Matter" won second-place in Pyr's 5th anniversary essay contest.

* Also in July, I again had the pleasure of presenting at Wofford College's Shared Worlds creative writing camp for high school students.

* In October, Heroic Fantasy Quarterly published my story "The Sea Wasp."

* And throughout the year, FantasyLiterature.com, which has become a go-to source for spot-on book reviews and other hot, buttery goodness, published my original character sketches in the ongoing series "20 Heroes in 2010."

As for the works of art I most enjoyed this year:

* Book: Under Heaven by Guy Gavriel Kay. I didn't read quite as many books this year as I usually do, but this one stands alone. My review is HERE.

* Album: The Suburbs by Arcade Fire

* Film: Up and The Secret in Their Eyes (Argentina)

* TV Series: Burn Notice, Nikita, and the new Sherlock Holmes series on PBS. All three are secretly sword-and-sorcery tales in that they feature talented rogues who, with only a handful of allies, match weapons and wits against mysterious or (in theory) superior forces.

Looking ahead to 2011, I have two projects planned: (1) a short story set in my hometown of New Orleans--let me give one more shout-out to the 2010 Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints! Who dat!--and (2) a novel. Our children are (usually) sleeping through the night now; the time has finally come to realize a long-deferred dream and write a great novel ... one word at a time.

In the year to come, may you realize all of your good and beautiful dreams.

Cheers,
RR

20 Heroes: Yelena

2010-12-16T18:09:00.000-08:00

The eighteenth of my "20 Heroes in 2010" is now up at FantasyLiterature.com. This is part one of "Love & Winter," my story that placed in the finals of the Writers of the Future Contest.

Cheers,
RR

Ahoy!

2010-10-01T03:43:00.000-07:00

A pleasant Friday and fair October to all! My story "The Sea Wasp" has just set sail at Heroic Fantasy Quarterly. Read it HERE.

Cheers,
RR

20 Heroes: Morrigan

2010-09-28T08:07:00.001-07:00

The seventeenth of my '20 Heroes in 2010' is now up at FantasyLiterature.com.

Sold!

2010-09-17T07:53:00.000-07:00

I'm pleased to announce the sale of a short story to the excellent e-zine Heroic Fantasy Quarterly. In light of today's brutal short fiction market, this one feels really good. More details to follow, but it should be published in the October 1st issue.

Cheers,
RR

20 Heroes: Takhara and Caterina

2010-09-17T07:45:00.000-07:00

The fifteenth and sixteenth of my '20 Heroes in 2010' are now up at FantasyLiterature.com.

In light of a much busier fall than I'd anticipated, and an approaching story deadline, I'm reducing the number of heroes in the series from 25 to 20.

25 Heroes: Torsten

2010-08-13T10:16:00.001-07:00

The fourteenth of my '25 Heroes in 2010' is now up at FantasyLiterature.com.

25 Heroes: Scarlet

2010-07-27T07:36:00.000-07:00

The thirteenth of my '25 Heroes in 2010' is now up at FantasyLiterature.com.

Servants of the Secret Fire: Why Fantasy & Science Fiction Matter

2010-07-19T18:08:00.000-07:00

Pyr has posted my second-place winning essay HERE.

For your reading convenience, and pleasure I hope, the full text follows.

* * *

The Balrog reached the bridge. Gandalf stood in the middle of the span, leaning on the staff in his left hand, but in his other hand Glamdring gleamed, cold and white. …
"You cannot pass," he said. The orcs stood still, and a dead silence fell. "I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. You cannot pass. The dark fire will not avail you, flame of Udûn. Go back to the Shadow! You cannot pass."
--J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

When I was seven years old, my grandparents gave me a Dungeons & Dragons boxed set, the basic edition with an Erol Otus cover on which a spear-wielding fighter in purple armor and a fireball-hurling magic-user, one leg outthrust from her scarlet robes, confront a green dragon on the edge of a subterranean lake. The box contained the rule book, The Keep on the Borderlands adventure module, and six polyhedral dice the color—depending on your light source and mood—of either wet sandstone or cat vomit. It was the most influential gift of my life.

In concert with the original Star Wars trilogy and a variety of superhero comic books, D&D kindled in me an abiding love of heroism and an enchantment with other worlds. Years later, having assumed the responsibilities of husband, father and citizen, I still count fantasy and science fiction ("speculative fiction" or "F&SF") as my go-to genres in literature and film. Well-executed F&SF can create excitement, escapism, and pathos as effectively as any other genre; and in the past nine years, during which I've spent thousands of hours prosecuting criminals and protecting abused children, this quality of F&SF has helped shield me from burnout. But in this era, as we struggle with the transition from a natural order minimally impacted by human activity to one markedly transformed, F&SF serve us in several other ways.

First, F&SF recapture who we were. Time-travel tales and historical fantasies remind those of us in industrialized regions that, before we soared above clouds and sped along graded roads in metal capsules, we ran and rode horses and endured the seas' inexorable winds and waves. Instead of staring into the magic mirrors of our televisions and computers each night, we gathered with our communities to tell stories and make music in taverns or courts, or around bonfires beneath the stars. Nor did we dismiss the stars as distant balls of flaming gas; instead we scrutinized them as entities or harbingers whose arcs could alter the fates of all who walked the mysterious, motionless earth.

While stories set in pre-industrial times reveal that our bond with the natural world was often more visceral and intense, they also remind us of the difficulties inherent in living without refrigeration, long-distance communication, anesthesia—to say nothing of increased rights and protections for many women, children, and minorities. The reader of such a story will inevitably compare the characteristics of its societies with those of his own and form his own opinions as to which are desirable and undesirable.

Similarly, F&SF contemplate who we will be. Science fiction, in particular, operates as the shadow that precedes the imprint of technology's cutting edge upon reality. The most thoughtful stories foresee the practical and ethical issues inherent in developments such as cloning, prenatal genetic modification, artificial intelligence, and cybernetic implants—in addition to more epic possibilities, such as nuclear holocaust and alien contact. Through such imaginative consideration, we can more comprehensively debate which laws should govern technological developments, or whether certain technologies should be developed at all.

Realistic, non-speculative literature also can depict the past and future; however, F&SF evoke a sense of otherness. Through the imaginations of its authors, speculative fiction has emerged as the genre that most consistently introduces places and situations beyond the scope of our available experience. This is important not only for the sake of entertainment, but also for intellectual and emotional renewal. Although children may wonderfully imagine what exists in a nearby forest or beyond and beneath snow-crowned mountains, adults risk the paralysis of bored cynicism when they realize that the habitable world has been exhaustively mapped and that no relationship or community is flawless. The spirit of manifest destiny, the romantic dream that pristine lands await us on the horizon, is dead. F&SF reassure us, though, that we aren't helplessly trapped and, on the contrary, the horizons of the mind are infinite.

In the same way, F&SF preserve the heroic tradition. (This does not diminish the artistry or importance of "dark" works that explore our ambiguities, contradictions and failures. Antiheroes and villains can still, after all, be the focal points of truths and consequences.) Unlike most modern fiction, F&SF, particularly F&SF for young readers, often transport us into realms where clearly identified and tangible evils threaten all goodness, beauty, and freedom. But if an evil is known and tangible, it is also vulnerable to a protagonist's will and courage. To those disheartened by the pace of desired change, whether adults frustrated by bureaucracy or youths by the rules of their homes and schools, the shining thrust of a sword—Éowyn smiting the Witch-King—is a glorious release. Hope endures in the blackest pit; darkness will never extinguish our light. Through the repetition of these truths in story, the eternal flame of heroism is passed from one generation to the next.

In "The Fantasy Writer's Assistant," a story by award-winning author Jeffrey Ford, the writer Ashmolean asks, "What good is the illusion of fiction if it cannot show us a way to become the people we need to be?". This concern, as evidenced by the previous observations, is almost universal in F&SF, no less than in heroic literature of the past: The Iliad, Beowulf, The Three Musketeers, To Kill a Mockingbird. In their finest hours, F&SF reveal who we are and should be in our finest hours. The authors and readers of F&SF are students of the past, architects of the future, dreamers of the other. They are torchbearers of heroism, and because of these vocations, they have both the willingness to be inspired and the vision to inspire. As President John F. Kennedy said, "The problems of the world cannot be solved by skeptics or cynics whose horizons are limited by the obvious realities. We need men who can dream of things that never were."

It hardly matters, then, whether devotees of F&SF possess the martial skill or charisma of Aragorn, Ellen Ripley, or William Adama. When we create and share in others' inspiring creations, we perpetuate the energy unleashed at the dawn of time. We become servants of the Secret Fire, with the power to bring truth and hope into the dark places around us. We remember that words and stories, even of those who are distant or dead, contain the power to unite and encourage, heal and transform.

Our words, and the stories of our lives, can resonate with this power. For each of us, there is a bridge between who we are and who we should be, and we do not have forever to cross it. We need not cross it alone, however, but with our brethren and the Secret Fire, the flame that still burns in fantasy and science fiction, to guide us.

Through the shadows of our journey, the wizard's voice spurs us on: "Fly, you fools!"

Breaking News: Pyr Essay Contest

2010-07-16T07:46:00.000-07:00

I've learned that my essay "Servants of the Secret Fire: Why Fantasy & Science Fiction Matter" won Second-Place in the Pyr Essay Contest. The official announcement is HERE.

Thank you to Pyr and editor Lou Anders for the honor.

Cheers!
RR

25 Heroes: Ophelia, The Brute

2010-07-10T11:10:00.001-07:00

The next two heroes in my '25 Heroes in 2010' series are also up at FantasyLiterature.com.

25 Heroes: Phineas

2010-05-23T05:28:00.000-07:00

The tenth of my '25 Heroes in 2010' is now up at FantasyLiterature.com.

25 Heroes: Cipher

2010-05-03T07:08:00.001-07:00

The ninth of my '25 Heroes in 2010' is now up at FantasyLiterature.com.

25 Heroes: Emilian IV

2010-04-19T18:11:00.000-07:00

The eighth of my '25 Heroes in 2010' is now up at FantasyLiterature.com. Readers who leave a comment there can win a free book.

25 Heroes: Tasha

2010-04-05T07:06:00.001-07:00

The seventh of my '25 Heroes in 2010' is now up at FantasyLiterature.com.

25 Heroes: Tanion

2010-03-24T07:14:00.000-07:00

The sixth of my '25 Heroes in 2010' is now up at FantasyLiterature.com.

25 Heroes: Andreas val Dhari

2010-03-10T06:55:00.000-08:00

The fifth of my '25 Heroes in 2010' is now up at FantasyLiterature.com.

25 Heroes: Mad Batson

2010-02-22T07:23:00.001-08:00

The fourth of my '25 Heroes in 2010' is now up at FantasyLiterature.com.

25 Heroes: Shaman

2010-02-08T08:29:00.000-08:00

The third of my '25 Heroes in 2010' is now up at FantasyLiterature.com.

25 Heroes: Remy

2010-01-25T07:25:00.000-08:00

The second of my 25 Heroes in 2010 is now up at FantasyLiterature.com.

25 Heroes in 2010: It Begins

2010-01-11T14:09:00.000-08:00

The first of my 25 Heroes in 2010 is now up at FantasyLiterature.com.

Siltanen may very well be my favorite character (in my portfolio). I certainly won't tell the others, though.

Cheers,
RR

On the knife-edge between past and future ...

2009-12-31T07:14:00.000-08:00

It's not by accident, dear follower, that 2009 has been the least productive year for me as a writer since I seriously embraced it as a hobby/alternative career in 2003. As previously stated, I've been the only full-time attorney at my agency since late May. Coupled with our younger son's continuing refusal to sleep through the night--however unsurprising, as his brother was a similar beastie--the additional burden has sapped the energy I'd previously devoted to night-time typing. (And in all candor, there have been too many nights of procrastination via TV or social surfing.)

That said, I've continued to read, record ideas, and write reviews for Fantasy Literature, which has achieved an entirely new level of utility and popularity this year.

I'm delighted to announce that the blending of these activities has resulted in an exciting venture for 2010. During the year, FanLit will publish 25 of my original character sketches/flash fiction works as a series titled "25 Heroes in 2010." The series will appear HERE.

Because my agency will have a second attorney soon, and because I have no doubt that my younger son will acheive nocturnal nirvana this year (and, God willing, be potty-trained), I also have other writing plans and goals, one of which is to write at least 25,000 words of a first novel draft. I hope to provide updates in the months ahead and hope that my work will be some small part of a healthy, prosperous, and joyful new year for you and those you hold dear.

Cheers,
RR

10 things I've learned or remembered from Battlestar Galactica

2009-10-02T13:41:00.000-07:00

This week, I finished watching Battlestar Galactica (the 2003 reimagined TV series). Simply put, it's the best SF/F video-saga I've ever seen, with a remarkable (large) cast and strong writing that makes the most of a dynamic premise. (Of the approximately 75 episodes, I'd only classify about two as weak.) My favorite episodes were the pilot (movie); the exodus from New Caprica; the mutiny; and especially those following the appearance of the Pegasus.

Throughout the entire saga, themes and truths emerge with a powerful relevance. I've identified 10 I want to share:

1. In storytelling, all has happened before, and all will happen again. If the characters, setting, and circumstances are compelling, it doesn't matter.

2. Names matter. Appearances matter more. Words, and their delivery, matter still more. Actions matter most of all.

3. As an artistic element, divine intervention is like good liquor: a little will warm you up and help you appreciate the wonder and mystery of life; too much will give you a headache and may make you feel used.

4. Respect your story's past. Revelation is wonderful; retcons are pesky.

5. Technology (or magic) tends to outrun morality. This is dangerous because increasing knowledge and power, without increasing wisdom and compassion, creates the potential for greater and greater disasters.

6. Sometimes you've got to roll the hard six.

7. Life is beautiful but fragile, imperfect but worth fighting for.

8. We only have one world and one life. We need to honor and cherish both.

9. Every time you see someone, he or she may be a different person. And there's no guarantee you'll see him or her again.

10. Faith, hope, and love--with them, you can transcend disaster and find a new beginning, a new world.

Cheers,
RR

Chafing at the status quo

2009-07-03T09:42:00.000-07:00

The status quo is this: I've been absolutely slammed at work because I'm currently the only full-time attorney at my agency, which requires, at a minimum, two full-time attorneys. I hope and expect that we'll hire another attorney eventually, but it wouldn't surprise me if the process took six to twelve months. Meanwhile, our kids are still little but seem to grow up faster every day, and the younger continues not to need as much sleep as the rest of us. Combined, these factors have severely limited my potential writing time, of which I'm not making the best use, either, because it's so much easier to escape by reading or by seeking a sense of community on Facebook or Twitter.

The status quo is good. My wife and kids are truly wonderful, and these years are ones to enjoy. My job is difficult but important and provides adequate compensation and benefits. It also seems as secure as any right now. But my dream of becoming a successful writer--dream, hope, intention, calling--seems to be indefinitely deferred, and thus languishing. I've been at peace with this in the past; I am, after all, still young as writers go. But I may be allowing peace to slide into complacency, and that cannot stand.

When a situation fails to meet expectations, we have three choices: (1) change our expectations; (2) change the situation to the extent we can control it; or (3) be at peace. For now, I'll continue to be at peace, but I also need to change the little things I can control now, e.g. by refocusing on writing as a priority, if in fact it is my priority, as opposed to being a skilled user of Facebook and Twitter.

Who is Robert Rhodes? A writer or a pseudo-writer who's squandering his time and talents? That's the question I need to answer--not in my mind, but by my actions.

This weekend, I aspire to be thankful for my freedom, yes, but also to use it with wisdom, passion, and discipline.

Cheers,
RR

The twitterverse

2009-05-11T07:30:00.000-07:00

I've succumbed and opened a Twitter account: rrhodeswriter

Thus far, the twitterverse seems a fascinating place. Am following established writers such as Neil Gaiman, Jeff VanderMeer, Jay Lake, and Tobias Buckell, as well as practical entities such as The White House and The CDC. (Am also following someone posing as Darth Vader and someone's cat--but hey, the cat is rather hilarious.) Much potential here, if and when I publish the next story/stories and the elusive first novel.

Speaking of which, am leaning toward going full-bore with Misericordia. (To oversimplify: humans versus vampires after a 150-year truce. Classic fantasy elements ... but not your classic vampires. Also, abundant room for exploration of social Darwinism.)

Cheers, RR

Lean times in fantasyland

2009-02-10T13:41:00.000-08:00

And though that caption could apply to the effect of our current economic doldrums on a certain Magic Kingdom in Orlando, it applies equally to this author's writing progress. A number of factors are responsible, not the least of which are our younger son's refusal to sleep a reasonable number of hours per night and our older one's battle with chicken pox and other forms of schoolhouse fun. Conventional wisdom for aspiring authors is to write for a certain period, however brief, every day. No excuses, no exceptions. Conventional wisdom, however, has never had to raise our kids.

That said, my plans are unchanged. As Andy Dufresne proved in The Shawshank Redemption, it's simply a matter of quietly tapping the hammer against the wall, night after night after night. I imagine some parts of the wall were harder than others, particularly at the beginning. So be it. I have one story ("Devotion") awaiting publication and two others ("Death by Water" and "Love & Winter") on submission, and my stash of ideas is far greater than my available time. I plan to write and to write things good enough to allow me, in time, to become a full-time writer. I have faith that "in time" also means this will happen "at the right time" (which could be at a time when many more people have the time and money for indulging themselves with fantasy literature).

Speaking of fantasy literature, the magnificent site FantasyLiterature.net (for which yours truly is a regular contributor) has republished my interview with Rogue Blades Entertainment. I hope you'll read it HERE.

'Tis the Season ...

2008-12-23T07:01:00.000-08:00

Those scoundrels at Rogue Blades have published an e-interview with yours truly in conjunction with the re-release of The Return of the Sword. It has fewer calories than a fruitcake and can be found HERE.

I wish everyone a joyful and restful holiday season and a productive new year. May we get every good thing we desire ... and give more than we get.

Light and rain

2008-11-10T17:06:00.000-08:00

A gorgeous, strangely warm November day. In the evening, the reddened leaves above our neighborhood wove an illusion of lavender light. Two items of note. First, the manuscript of "Love & Winter," returned with a form rejection from a major magazine (disappointing, as it's a tale that I thought deserved some positive comment, even in rejection). But second, a surprise via UPS at dinnertime: a contributor's copy of the full, 4-volume edition of Books and Beyond: The Greenwood Encyclopedia of New American Reading, which includes the essay on sword-and-sorcery with which Howard Andrew Jones generously asked me to assist so many months ago.

One will simply have to imagine the expression on my face when I discovered the set retails for $400.

I'm reminded that people, a group that includes most writers, need both success and failure to grow and to empathize with others, just as simply as plants need both sunlight and rain. Some days, it seems, bring both ...

The hardest part ...

2008-10-31T07:48:00.000-07:00

... is indeed rejection. I learned last night that "Love & Winter" is not one of the winning entries in The Writers of the Future Contest. I'd been trying, though, to prepare myself for that outcome during the last six weeks and am (very nearly) at peace with it. The Contest will continue to hold the story, in case the anthology has space for one or more non-winning finalists (who are still invited to the workshop in L.A., so this chapter is not entirely closed).

The sun is shining beautifully today, Halloween festivities are on for tonight, and I have countless other things for which to be thankful. And this story will see the light of day eventually, in the best possible place, for the ideal reader(s). All is well. Now, in the glorious turning of the seasons, I need to turn my attention to other works ...

The waiting is almost the hardest part ...

2008-09-15T18:04:00.000-07:00

... second only to rejection. Be that as it may, however, I'm thrilled to announce that my tale "Love & Winter" is one of eight finalists for the current quarter of the L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future Contest. The eight stories will be forwarded to four authors/judges, who will select the top three ...

And wait till they see my swimsuit!

Wonderful news after a grueling day of court.

What can one do with a S&S degree ...?

2008-08-10T17:58:00.001-07:00

In the fall of 2006, Howard Andrew Jones graciously invited me to assist him in completing an article--perhaps the article--on the history of sword-and-sorcery for a literary encyclopedia. We worked hard to complete the article by February of 2007, and I'm pleased to announce it will be published this October.

The article, "The Sword in the Mirror: A Century of Sword & Sorcery," will appear in the mammoth Greenwood Encyclopedia of New American Reading. I'd like to thank Howard for the experience, as at least 90% of the word count is his, and can now say that I'm officially a gentleman and a scholar, even if the latter is in as esoteric a field as S&S. (Esoteric ... but undoubtedly fun.)

"Creative Sentences" at Shared Worlds

2008-07-28T08:04:00.000-07:00

This morning, I had a great time giving my presentation on speculative fiction legal systems at the inaugural session of the Shared Worlds creative writing/world-building camp at Wofford College. The students were intelligent and inquisitive, posing questions on everything from immigration to capital punishment to 'victimless' crimes, and I hope the exercises I planned will enable them to hone the governmental structures of their worlds.

The camp looks fantastic, and I'm sure it'll only get better from year to year. I look forward to being a part of it, and if you know any teenagers who might enjoy it, please do let them know about it.

As for me, I must sadly return from the camp to a terribly busy week of court ...

Back to school

2008-07-17T08:08:00.000-07:00

It indeed appears that I'll give a presentation at the inaugural session of the Shared Worlds creative writing camp at Wofford College. The tentative title is "Creative Sentences: Designing Speculative Fiction Legal Systems" (which I hope is an example of res ipsa loquitor), and the tentative date is July 30th. I have no intention of lecturing for a full hour, so in the coming days, I'll devise a lesson plan that will likely involve the students drafting laws in their spec-fic settings, making accusations against each other, and finding defenses and loopholes. If all goes well, mayhem will ensue ...

Blade Runner

2008-06-29T11:05:00.001-07:00

I finally watched Blade Runner (the final cut version), and ... wow. Dark and disturbing and, definitely, a masterpiece of sci-fi film-making (in details ranging from the not-quite-human behaviors of the replicants to the score). Then this dark jewel from Rutger Hauer at the climax:

"I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser Gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain ..."

Two thumbs up.

Food for thought

2008-06-28T11:18:00.000-07:00

I came across these lines in the story "Gift from a Spring" by Delia Sherman (Realms of Fantasy, April 2008):

"Isn't that what art is?" I asked .... "Making things up?"

"No," she said. "That's what commerce is about--identifying a market and satisfying it. Art is about seeing the truth and revealing it, as beautifully and forcefully and honestly as you are able."

Amen.

One more, with feeling ...

2008-06-02T18:47:00.000-07:00

The Return of the Sword has garnered one more excellent review, and the reviewer named "To Be A Man" one of his favorite stories in the anthology. Pura vida.

In other news, the dominoes appear to be falling in the right pattern for me to participate, likely as a guest lecturer, in the exciting Shared Worlds Camp, the inaugural session of which begins in July. I'll know more soon.

In more or less random thoughts, Tori Amos's Little Earthquakes strikes me more and more as a work of genius each time I listen to it. I aspire to such emotional power in my own work ... and likely have much more aspiring to do. ;)

"Well-crafted writing" in "To Be A Man"

2008-05-03T06:23:00.000-07:00

The Fix has posted another positive review of The Return of the Sword and "To Be A Man." Good times.

As a sidebar, I've now read every tale in the anthology and can honestly say it's one of the strongest collections of speculative fiction I've seen. Not one bad apple in a barrel of crisp, fantastical bravado. (Please scroll down for the gorgeous cover and a purchasing link.)

A Review of "To Be A Man"

2008-04-10T03:23:00.000-07:00

Bryan Hitchcock, an author who makes his debut in the Lords of Justice anthology, has some fine, insightful comments on "To Be A Man":

Bryan Hitchcock's review of "To Be A Man"

A rewarding highlight for me: "This story has a moral core that caught me off guard and lifts it from the realm of pure entertainment. It's sexy and mature, and that is part of the artfulness of the tale."

Please scroll down to see the gorgeous cover and a purchasing link for The Return of the Sword.

On Tour - The Return of the Sword

2008-04-09T09:57:00.001-07:00

Welcome to those visiting as part of the web-tour for The Return of the Sword. Please look below for the book's gorgeous cover and a purchasing link. And to whet your appetite for adventure, here's an excerpt from Bill Ward's "The Wyrd of War":

* * *

It was the autumn of the world. On the hard earth of Toth, where the bones of twice ten thousand lay broken and scattered upon the plain, great hosts marched to war. From the north came proud armies beneath banners of rust red and red-gold and the stark white of wasteland snow. Assembled from fenland and mountain dale, city, town, and freehold, the able few of all tribes and nations stood within its ranks. They were the last of their kind upon the lands, the last to stand against the Animus – the living shadow at world’s end.

It had waxed strong, this unseen power, sweeping armies from the field and devouring whole kingdoms in its wars. It had spread across the lands, a blight, enslaving those it did not destroy. Now on this, the last day, the Animus brought forth its force of beasts and bestial men upon the parched earth of the ancient battle-plain, and there made war for the fate of all ...

Posted on StoryCrafters - 10 Guidelines

2008-04-02T17:38:00.000-07:00

As part of a gracious promotion of The Return of the Sword, StoryCrafters has published my list of ten things I'd like to have known by rote when first setting out, as a fresh-faced rogue, from the Sign of the Undaunted Quill. Read them here:

Rob's 10 Guidelines for Aspiring Speculative Fiction Authors

The Return of the Sword - now available

2008-03-28T03:19:00.000-07:00

Why am I here?

2008-03-23T13:14:00.000-07:00

At long last, I've done it. I've broken down and started a web-log.

I confess this isn't something I've wanted to do. I believe it was Guy Gavriel Kay--a fantasy author I admire greatly--who had no web-based presence for a long time because (to paraphrase) he was inclined to take after a Roman emperor and let people wonder why there was not a website (or statue) dedicated to him, as opposed to wondering why there was. (Since then, fans have developed an excellent site, brightweavings.com.)

In the spirit of that sentiment, and the simple fact that I'm all but unknown as a writer, let me be clear that starting a blog isn't a testament to my greatness, but rather a means of (I hope) forming friendships and becoming part of a community of people who believe that words and stories-- especially those that value goodness, beauty, and truth--can still enlighten, entertain, and encourage. (And what better day for a beginning than this glorious Easter Sunday?)

Thank you for walking with me on my writer's journey. Cheers, Rob