Because I Said So

ARC GIVEAWAY ENTRIES: Fourteen “One Good Reason” entries, Two “Draw This Dog” entries, Two “Make This Face” entries.  Two weeks left!  C’mon, yo!  Enter now or I’ll pee on you!

…right, then.

First of all, because I told you to, look at this.  I’ve recently been taken on to do a monthly column for BSC Review.  This month’s is on the Future of Urban Fantasy, that genre which, through the work and dedication of various creative talents who subverted and twisted a tired genre into their own, has brought happiness and pleasure to millions who would otherwise never touch it.

As you well know, happiness makes me physically and violently ill.  Hence, this column is largely about me spewing bitterness upon people whose own personal fulfillment I take as a personal offense.

Moving on…

I have discovered a new webcomic that I would like to share with you.

Unsounded by Ashley Cope is a story that would be a rare feat in a novel, let alone a webcomic.  It’s one of those stories that just gets everything right: likable characters without sacrificing conflict, conflict that is deep without being edgy for the sake of shock, magic that has that intense sense of wonder and a world that is richly and deeply developed without pushing it onto the reader like Gandalf’s coke dealer.

I really, really like this comic.  To the point that I’m doing an interview with Ms. Cope this weekend, similar to what I did with The Meek’s Der-Shing Helmer.  I hope you’ll all read in preparation of such an event!

And speaking of art…

You remember the Lost Pages, right?  How would you like a sneak peek of the next ones coming out for Black Halo? Here.  Have a look at the entry for one of the newer characters, Naxiaw.

Greenshicts are creatures of legend.  Not in the sense that they’re made-up tales to scare children into behavior, but more in the sense that the tales revolving around them are completely true and terrify every sensible adult just as well as they do children.  We know a fair amount about the reclusive tribes: they hail from the southern jungles, they are the only tribes of shict to have ever beaten back human incursion and they are exceedingly fond of driving that point home.  Usually at the end of a big, heavy stick.  For some of the most reclusive and rare shicts in the world, we know a surprising amount about them.  But I suppose that’s the entire point of legend, isn’t it?

Pretty nice, right?  The sketches were done by my good friend, Michael Lee Lunsford.  Expect much more in the days to come!

Okay, good, we are all pleased, right?  Thank you and come again!