Welcome!
In this newsletter you'll find monthly-ish updates on whatever I'm working on: art, comics, writing, and other dubious creative ventures, as well as announcements about any upcoming events and book releases and such. Mailings will probably contain a dose of nature appreciation, too, just because I like being outside and I like sharing what I find there.
Here are some of the ongoing fiction projects you may hear about:
Tamuran - an epic fantasy webcomic
Launched in 2010, with 18 chapters (700+ pages) posted online to date. Currently on hiatus while I finish up Kickstarter print-run reward fulfillment and work on script edits for Chapter 19.
Tamuran is a collaboration with Ann "Chezhnian" Kennedy, its creator and main writer. I draw the comic and write a few of the characters, and since Chapter 17 I've been doing most of the direct editing to adapt the RP-style rough draft chat logs into comic scripts.
Tamuran tells the story of a cursed kingdom and the motley assortment of vagabonds, outcasts, shapeshifters, and monsters who, against all odds and any stretch of reason, may be its last hope. It's recommended for readers aged older teen and up, and you can read it online for free at tamurancomic.com.
Novels
I love writing high-fantasy adventure stories about magic, ancient mysteries, unconventional heroes, and things that aren't quite what they seem. Right now I have several novels in various stages of drafting. Note that everything here is a work in progress and subject to change as manuscripts evolve (including the working titles).
By Mirror, Shade, and Starlight
The story of a young woman who seeks out legendary magic to save the world, and the price she pays when she finds it. It's about heroes and monsters and whether you can really always tell the difference. It's also a story about stories - the ones we share and pass down, the ones we tell ourselves over and over till we believe them, and the shadows cast by the ones we forget.
I started this book for National Novel Writing Month in 2022, inspired by a random prompt in a writing group. Since it's a standalone novel (for now), this is the one I'm currently focusing on. It was intended to be a fairly simple, straightforward story, to be finished within the scope of the 50,000-word NaNoWriMo challenge, but around here no story ever stays simple for long.
The Self-Slaying Dragon
For centuries the Great Storm Dragon Versinthenet has watched over his island and its people, serving as a guardian deity and mediating the flow of magic from the spirit world. But when a rogue wizard's plot to harness the Dragon's magic goes horribly wrong, Versinthenet finds himself trapped powerless in the form of the wizard who bound him, facing the ire of the people he is sworn to protect… while a Dragon that seems to be their guardian gone mad rains down wild magic and destruction upon their home. Along with the wizard's adventuring partner, a shy swordswoman, Versinthenet must find a way to save his island and his people before they can destroy him. Meanwhile, a young priest of the Storm Dragon frantically seeks answers about his deity's betrayal and uncovers stranger secrets than he was prepared to find. But even long-buried ancient lore brought to light may not be enough to heal the hole ripped into the weave of the world by the unseating of a Dragon, and the consequences may be more dire than anyone can imagine.
This book is the first installment of an ensemble-cast epic fantasy series whose conceptual seeds date back nearly 20 years. Its first draft is about 75% complete, and I'll be returning to it once By Mirror, Shade, and Starlight is finished.
The Unbreaker's Tale
A young wanderer with a magical talent for mending gets himself cursed when he answers a demon's plea for help, and his search for a cure sees him entangled in a clandestine plot to restore a shattered god. As he journeys to set things right, he'll find that the hardest thing to mend just might be yourself… and that some broken things are better left in pieces.
A later installment of the same series, whose cast and story threads eventually intersect with The Self-Slaying Dragon's. On hold for now with the first few chapters drafted and more characters and plot details sketched out.
(Untitled so far)
The story of twin mages separated by circumstance and lies. One risked his hard-earned magic in a grand experiment that went badly awry, and now he would do anything to regain his lost abilities and his purpose - no matter the cost. The other was born with devastating powers he never asked for, and now he must escape the grasp of dangerous forces bent on controlling him. Together the two brothers just might stand a chance at saving one another, but first they'll have to stop running - from their pasts, from themselves, and from each other.
This one is based on two of my earliest D&D characters, whose campaigns only lasted a few sessions but whom I always wanted to write into a proper novel. They resurfaced out of nowhere with an interesting new story idea a few days before NaNoWriMo 2020, and after reaching the November word count goal I continued chipping away at their book a little at a time without any solid plans besides finding out what happens next. Currently on hold while I focus on By Mirror, Shade, and Starlight.
Someday I will figure out a proper title for this novel (and series), but I haven't found anything that feels remotely right yet.
Other creative works
At any given time I may also be working on projects ranging from painting to bookbinding to costuming and prop making to photography and videography and music. I'll be sure to report in and share any interesting developments and discoveries along the way.
Thank you for reading this far! If there's anything you're particularly curious about, feel free to ask. And welcome - it's good to have you along for the journey.
