Blackwood Marauders is doing so well at the 99c price point that I’m going to keep it there for another month. The Kindle Unlimited reads has surpassed the other two series altogether, which is honestly very surprising but is never a bad thing. So if you haven’t nabbed it yet, now is the time to feed my algorithms get it before it goes to full price. I’m excited for this project, and intend to write a few books with these characters once I wrap up the Annals of the Bitch Queen trilogy.
In case you’re not familiar with what I’m doing with Blackwood Marauders—it’s my take on the whole coming-of-age, rags-to-riches farmboy trope, with grimdark flavours. Readers coming in from my Annals of the Bitch Queen series may initially find this jarring. Set in an unassuming part of the continent, it’s hard not to use the word “generic”—but it’s one I embrace fully. Because I really have to confess—I love all the tropes that I’m working with in Blackwood Marauders. Mercenaries and battle logistics are some of my most favourite fantasy things ever. European castles, knights, dragons…I love them and see nothing wrong with them. I’m a firm believer in execution—that it isn’t so much the elements you use as a writer, but how you handle them, that matters. Originality is overrated. And I believe that a lot of the recent complaints about this genre can be addressed without straying too far from some of the things we love about it.
My plan for these books is to follow Luc, a foundling hailing from the islands of Gorent, and Roena, a noblewoman, and their trials and tribulations as they run a mercenary company together (there’s plans for more POV characters as we go on). The first few novels will run alongside the plot of The Agartes Epilogues and while they will firmly remain stories about the company, you’ll get a clearer understanding of that other series as you go along.
So. Other news. I’m also getting my head into full-out release mode for The Ikessar Falcon. ARCs are out, or still going out (my apologies in advance, as on top of my recent health debacle, both me and my trusty assistant are overworked and are handling multiple projects at once), I’m scheduling a blog tour starting with the cover reveal in the middle of next month (hosted by one of our most favourite blogs!), and I’m probably forgetting a bunch of things as I try to juggle all these balls. It’s stressful, but also exhilarating. As always, I’m ever grateful for the continued support from the community and my readers–you’re a crucial part of this journey and I wouldn’t be here without you.
