Good morning, Readers!

What? A post in the morning. Be still my heart.

In any case, I haven't much to report. Life is chugging along, and I've been finding it difficult as all hell to write anything at all. Between working two jobs and trying to stretch in other areas, I'm finding precious little time and motivation available for writing.

But, there are some writing things that have me excited. Things that I'm pondering. Decisions need to be made.

As you all know, I wrote a novel called The Lioness of Shara Mountain. What many of you don't know is that I, rather rashly, decided to submit it to a relatively new publishing house that has an interesting business model. It's a long shot, and there's no guarantees with new houses, so... In any case, I had submitted it in the middle of last month-ish, and they asked for 45 days for an answer. We're approaching that number, so now I have to decide what I want to do with the manuscript.

I was feeling rather fatalistic about my publishing career, and had thought that perhaps I'll just offer it up for free as a serial on Wattpad or a similar site. I've spent a while pondering and I'm no longer sure that's what's best for me or the book. So now I'm stuck decided whether I should do that, or if I should submit my novel to Renaissance Press to see if they would like to publish it.

I'm not sure what to do. I need to think on it more.

Luckily, I have time, as the manuscript is still with my third beta reader (I told you my submission was rash), and I won't be moving forward with it in either scenario until I get it back.

In the meantime, I have managed to acquire a blurb, with enormous thanks to my friend Jim who, despite having never read the manuscript, took my pathetic attempt at a blurb and crafted something that was surprisingly accurate. I only had to tweak it a little bit to make it fit.

So, without further ado, the blurb for The Lioness of Shara Mountain​:

What do you think? Interest piqued? Would you read that book?

Alright, I have to go. And think more.

​CIao!

Good morning, Readers!

This weekend, for the first time in a long time, I went with some of my friends to the cinema to go see Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves. I have a very short review:

Holy hell it was so much fun!

As soon as I saw the trailer, I knew this was one I wanted to catch; not because it looked good (it did), but because it looked like the kind of light, silly fun that I desperately needed right now. And I'm really happy to report that it was, in fact, the light, silly fun that I desperately needed right now.

It was funny, heartfelt, full of awesome action, and a number of references for the true geeks of the tabletop roleplaying game. In fact, it was so funny, it would happily fit under the 'action comedy' title, and as such, joins Hot Fuzz as one of my favourite comedies. Shout-out to the world's fattest dragon.

For a while there, it honestly felt like most writers of the genre felt that dumb and funny were synonymous, and every comedy out there was nothing but a running litany of stupidity. I don't find stupidity funny. I don't think people being idiots is particularly amusing. I'm so, so glad that this film wasn't that. I was quite worried that it would be. Thank you to the writers for not going down that road.

There's more that I really love about this film. For starters, the two main folks of our loveable group of thieves are fast friends, who love each other deeply, and even raised a child together. But they were not romantically involved. They were friends. They remained friends. It was friendship that kept them together. I honestly don't feel like we have enough of that in our media. Everybody seems to place romance on a pedestal, as if that's the best (or even only) way for two people - particularly of the opposite sex - to interact. It's always so refreshing to find examples of something other than that.

While there is plenty of action in this film, a special mention must be made of the incredible sword choreography between Rége-Jean Page's character, Xenk Yendar, and Dralas, played by Jason Wong. It was fast, clever, and very beautifully performed. It legitimately froze me to my chair. It was just. so. good.

I would go back to watch the movie for that fight alone.

Sort of redundant to say, really, as I have every intention of heading back to the cinema to watch the movie again. It was just fun, and good, and really funny.

Most importantly for me, I feel, is that is is also, in it's updated way, a heartfelt love letter to the films of the 80s and 90s that I grew up with - the films that didn't care about snobbish ridicule; as if the exercising of imagination ought to be looked down on. This touches on those films that were as responsible for turning me into a writer as were the brilliant books I devoured. This was a nod to Labyrinth, The Dark Crystal, Willow, Lady Hawke (which I maintain still has an excellent premise and if any movie ought to be remade it should be that one). These unironic celebrations of story, and imagination, and joy shaped who I am and formed my imagination, and Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves is a return to form.

Go see it. You'll thank me later.

Good afternoon, Readers!

Image by changewire from Pixabay

This report is quite late (as is this blog post), so forgive me if I miss some details!

A couple of weekends ago, I was at Ottawa's mini-ComicCon... which I failed to mention I'd be at because, well, I was a little discombobulated due to factors explained last week.

Life vs Me

In any case, it was my first properly large event that wasn't bookish specific, and I was quite anxious about it (I did CanCon last year, but that's smaller, and much more Covid-cautious, and I know practically everyone there, which helps with the anxiety).

I did not have my own table. I, instead, manned the Renaissance Press table for them. It took a lot for me to volunteer, ashamedly. I was anxious, and sad, and not really feeling prepared to face the world yet. As it turns out, it was the best thing for me. But let me start at the beginning.

I couldn’t go Saturday, as I was teaching martial arts from mid-morning to mid-afternoon, and getting to the EY Centre after training, all sweaty and gross still in order to make it before the thing closed, was just not in the cards. Wisely, Nathan scheduled me for Sunday instead, and so I showed up, caffeinated and fed and nowhere near ready to take on the world.

Luckily, I was in good hands. Jen and Éric (of JenEric Designs and JenEric Coffee) were at the tables immediately behind Renaissance’s table. Right beside me was Saucy Frocks, run by my dear friend Jasmine and another Jen. I was able to get some quality hugs. That always makes things good.

Then I was visited by my good friend Bill whom I haven’t seen in an age, and who often volunteers with ComicCon. I got another great hug, and a lovely chat.

Despite my anxiety, Sunday turned out to be a fantastic day. I made a few books sales. Thank you to the wonderful folks who bought copies of my books, and those who bought copies of other fantastic books from Renaissance. Every book they sell, mine or not, benefits us all, and I’m very proud of what Renaissance has built. Anyway, special shoutout to Bruce, who put up with my brain completely blanking on his name despite having known him for years at this point.

I’m a terrible friend.

There were a lot of people at the convention, an awesome number of readers, and so many fantastic costumes. There was also a service cat being pushed around in a stroller. No, you read that right. A service cat. I asked if I could get a photo, but was told no, so I don’t have a picture for you. But I wish I did, because it was cute as hell.

Also, I found Wally/Waldo.

I have a few photos — not many, but a few, that I’ll be posting to Instagram soon-ish. I should have done it sooner, but, well, life.

Anyway, thanks to everyone who dropped by the table and bought books, or spared a moment for a chat. You really did make Sunday an awesome day, even if it took me a couple of days to recover!

Alright, I have to get back to work.

​Ciao!

Good Evening, Readers!

My apologies for not posting for a while. I hope I haven’t worried you.

Something came up last month that was quite distressing. It’s an ongoing situation. I will not be elaborating much, because this isn’t my story to tell. Nevertheless, I received news from home that knocked me off my rails for a little bit and left me floundering.

​I did mean to keep blogging, but it turned out to be nearly impossible; even when I had really fun things to share… like I was at the Renaissance Press booth at Ottawa mini-ComicCon on Sunday past. It was a good time. But I will elaborate further in another blog post.

The news from home is continually developing, and it might be that I may be called away home at the very last minute. Things are not great, but they’re as good as we can hope given the circumstances.

Please don’t ask me any specifics, as I won’t tell. I will, however, tell you if I’m called away, or if I will be not blogging for a while. For now, with the news being the best case of a terrible thing, I’m going to endeavour to return to my blogging scheduled.

For now, please accept my apology for being away for so long. I was doing so well getting blog posts up of late. Sigh.

I’m well, so don’t stress. I will be back Monday with a regular blog post, instead of this overly long, rambling apology.

Sending you much love!

​Ciao!