Update

Well, 2020 was a … year. Good riddance to that bag of tripe. Though I was perhaps more fortunate than others given my location here on Vancouver Island, and by working for myself, but it was still one hell of a slog from January to Dec.

I’m not going to dwell on anything 2020-related. That’s why I only stuck to the good stuff in my yearly montage last week. Continuing along that vein, let’s look forwards to 2021, and all the good stuff that’s coming your way.

Mas Libros!

For those of you like Ron Burgundy who don’t speak Spanish: MORE BOOKS. Just like last year, this year’s all about books.

Heavy Lies The Crown is the sequel to the new Forever King and book 2 in The Scalussen Chronicles. I’m beavering away on that as we speak. The cover is coming shortly, too!

In the meantime, I’m also working on the book I’m co-authoring with phenomenon David Estes. It’s currently called Blades of Tarlena and it is so weird but dark and awesome and I’m loving working on it.

My goal is also to tackle book 3 of The Scalussen Chronicles as well, and hopefully finish that by the end of the year. That’s called To Kill A God, and it’s going to be one mental finale to this new series. I might not know the path there, but I know how it’s going to end.

I’m also still tinkering with my super secret project Dread Rising. That’ll one day see the light of day. I’ve also got this burning need to write a book called The Dead Men, which is an idea that burrowed into my head over December and refuses to come out.

Bookplates

To help you awesome people get signed copies without expensive shipping from here in Canada, I’m releasing bookplates next week. These are square stickers you can put in any book, signed and stamped by me. They’re much easier and cheaper, and though not quite the real deal, the more options, the merrier.

Emaneska Hardbacks

Whether I have the time to do a Kickstarter this year, or whether I just get it done myself, this will be the year that hardbacks of The Written, Pale Kings, and Dead Stars appear. My plan is to create illustrated editions to celebrate 10 years of Emaneska. These will be individual hardbacks for definite and possibly a big ole omnibus edition, too. I’m planning these for spring.

Audiobooks

Today I got to announce the news I’ve been sitting on for a week or two now. I’ve just signed a deal with the excellent Podium Audio to produce The Scalussen Chronicles in audiobook! We’re working out narrators and schedules, etc, but you will be able to listen to The Forever King in audio format later this year. So pleased.

Work smarter not harder

I worked hard last year, and I mean haaaaard. I think it was my way of coping, I think. The schedule I put in place at the start of last year to maximise writing time was spot on. However, it was a difficult year to trial it in. It ended up being an excuse to just work, work, work, and then work some more. I felt a pressure of productivity I’ve never felt, and despite my few respites, it actually became too much. it was only until the Forever King launch in December that I realised I need to chill the fuck out. That’s why, for the last few weeks, I’ve been doing nothing but creative and enjoyable stuff: writing, gaming, painting minis, even drawing, as you might have seen. It was a reminder that my true joy comes from creativity (and travel, but I can’t do that right now!) and I really needed that reminder. That’s why I’m making more time for creativity and less on admin in 2021.

Illustrations and arty stuff

When I was but a smaller human, when I wasn’t writing or reading, I was drawing. Over Dec, I dabbled with some sketches both digital and on paper, and frickin loved it. Each week, I’m going to draw… something. Mostly scenes from Emaneska and Chasing Graves. Here’s the first attempt: Farden approaching Carn Breagh in The Written.

And breathe. That’s a lot to accomplish this year, but I’m determined as always. What else is there to do at the moment but stay indoors and make the most of lockdown, right? 

Hope you’re excited. I certainly am. Stay tuned to social media for daily updates and stay safe out there, peeps.

Well here we are: barely days away from the launch of book 6 in the Emaneska world. My 14th book overall, as it happens. (I promise I will sleep then I get to 15). 

Because we’re so close, I wanted to give you all the deets on what The Forever King is about, what you can expect, and why I’m fidgeting around my apartment with abject excitement.

The Forever King is and isn’t a sequel

The Forever King is set in the same world as my nordic Emaneska Series, 20 years after its epic conclusion. BUT WAIT. It’s also the start of a new series – the Scalussen Chronicles. This means it can be read without reading the Emaneska Series. All the new characters act as a vehicle to introduce the existing world and bring you up to speed as swift as a squirrel on meth. So for you returning readers, it’s going to be a fresh look at a new Emaneska, and for new readers, you’re in for a real ride/education/bloodbath.

It’s set 20 years after Emaneska

A lot has gone down since the Emaneska Series ended, some familiar people have disappeared. Some people have changed. Some people have gotten OLD. And some haven’t…

It’s darker and fiercer than ever

Fear not – I haven’t piled on the doom and gloom and gone depressing grimdark. Instead, the stakes are higher, the action is more visceral, and the implications for Emaneska are direr than ever before. You know me – I’m not one for romance or erotica. There’s almost no romance at all in The Forever King, but it is certainly more brutal, chaotic, and adult despite the fact it’s led by a YA character.

Meet Mithrid

You may have noticed from the cover or blurb that there’s a new main character in Emaneska: Mithrid Fenn. She’s the young badass on the cover and is the POV that welcomes you into this new-ish world. She’s a fire-haired cliff brat from Hâlorn on the western coast of Emaneska, and thanks to the empire’s ban on magick, hers is a tranquil life spent playing games on the wild shores. When an illegal spellbook washes up after a storm, she is dragged into a war that has silently raged for decades.

The Forever King launches on The Written’s 10th birthday

I swear I didn’t plan it, but as it happens, this new chapter of Emaneska will hit the shelves exactly 10 years to the day since The Written – book one – was launched.

It’s part revenge story, part siege epic

That’s right. Think John Wick meets Kingdom of Heaven. The Battle of Helm’s Deep meets The Joker. Vengeful Mithrid drives one half of the story, and an epic siege drives the other half. We’ve had battles aplenty in the Emaneska Series. The Forever King needed a different stage, and that ended up as a siege story where the situation grows tenser each passing day.

Farden will return

If you think that because there’s a new main character in the, there will be no Farden in The Forever King, you are sorely mistaken. How dare you. You might have to wait a while to see him in action, but he’s back.

When can you get it?

The Forever King launches December 1st (in like 4 godsdamned days). It will be launching on Amazon in ebook, paperback, and hardback. You’ll also be able to get the physical copies from all local and major bookshops, online and offline. Try out bookshop.org as well.

HARDBACKS

YES THERE WILL BE HARDBACKS. I’m publishing both at the same time, so you can either get a 5.5×8.5 paperback at 665 pages, or a 6×9 hardback at 600 pages.

The Forever King is a beast

One of the reasons this book took me over a year to write was the fact the story kept getting bigger and bigger. With the wider range of characters, extra info to remind existing readers and explain to new readers, and the fact it’s an epic fantasy, Mithrid’s tale is the largest of the Emaneska books. If you’ve seen the cover spread on my Fb page, you will know it’s a chonk of a book.

You’ve got 4 days left to pre-order your ebook copy on Amazon if you want to get it the second The Forever King comes out. Click it like it’s hot. If you want paperback or hardback copies, then they will appear on launch day, Dec 1. Follow me on Amazon to be notified.

In the meantime, I’m also giving away a KINDLE. Hell yeah. You’ve got 4 days to enter the competition on my Fb page.

Hope you’re as excited as I am. I’m slowly wearing a furrow in my floor.

Take it easy and stay safe out there, people.

Ben

Ben’s Books

Greetings all. Somehow we’re already into March. 2020 year, for me at least, seems to be flying by as if somebody’s been toying with the clocks and calendar. However it could be something to do with spending most of the month with my head buried in a laptop 🙃

February was a damn productive month, so in this newsletter, I thought I’d give you an update on the smorgasbord of fantasy nonsense that I’ve been working on.

Progress Report

As well as increasing the words I write per hour, I’ve also been rejigging my entire schedule to focus almost solely on writing. This reshuffle means I’ve been giving my keyboard an absolute thrashing this February. Truth be told, it’s been bloody great. As well as writing my own books, I’ve had plenty of time for other side projects without slowing down on books like the Scalussen Chronicles. And, with many fingers in many pies, it’s keeping my week fresh and varied, which has been real fun and keeps productivity at a handy peak. So long as I remember to relax – that’s key. Lots of gaming and binging Netflix. Doctor Galleys recommends.

As such, I’m currently almost at the halfway point of my “secret project” which I think you’ll be excited to hear about when I finally reveal it. Early shares with editors and fellow authors have been really promising. If you’re a member of the ELITE CIRCLE you will know this by now, but what I can reveal is that it’s called Dread Rising. More soon…

At the same time, book one of the Scalussen Chronicles – The Forever King, and sequel to Emaneska – is coming along nicely as well, looking plump and fat Farden’s adventures are bigger, badder and full of more of what you liked in Emaneska: magic, dragons, and both physical and emotional clashes. I posted a first and second look a little while ago on this blog if you haven’t yet devoured them. It’s satisfying writing from a brand new PoV of a young and curious mage – Mithrid, and showing more of Farden. Especially a good decade and a half after Dead Stars – Part Two, now that he’s evolved once more. Magick runs rife, bubbling up like lava across the lands, and a certain somebody (no spoilers) now runs the Arkathedral. I’ll be showing you an exclusive Guild sneak peek in the next update. If you haven’t yet read Emaneska, find it on my site.

Lastly, the game I’m writing for – Veil of Ruin – is also making great strides. We’re almost wrapped up with our DnD 5e adaptation, and the full board game is also looking fantastic. I’ve still got a lot of story and encounters to write, but building this outrageous jungle world has been a blast. Having my writing playable is a strange sensation, but amazing to see. Check out the site, and Kickstarters will be coming soon.

In the meantime…

I may have treated myself and bought a sword…. It’s a replica of Captain Nathan’s sword from Last Samurai. Carbon steel, sharp, and tastily balanced. I am happy to report no bandages have been needed, though many melons and loafs of bread have been destroyed.

And on a more serious note, I wish you all well with the current coronavirus situation. Without delving too deep into the subject and the sociopolitical landscape, I hope you all stay safe and untouched by its effects. Now, with all seriousness aside, at least it’s a good excuse to stay inside and catch up on some reading.

Catch you next month, or in the meantime, on my Twitter, YouTube or Facebook feeds.

Peace,

Ben

Ben’s Books