Red Wolf Blogs

 From the 12/22/23 newsletter: 21st Day of the Frost Moon, 1218th Year, Human Age of Magic ... The days have been hectic since my last journal entry. The king has appointed me executor of the late Alchemist's estate until he can find and appoint a replacement, and the sorcerer left his accounts in such disarray that I've been bombarded from all sides with petty claims for payments or for services left unrendered. Plus, I've had several unwanted visits from a powerful member of the Protectorate, the dragon Pieter. Well, the first visit was not entirely unwelcome. I'd requested help removing the Eye of Ellindrell from the forehead of the sleeping golem, and I was grateful the Protectorate sent a dragon to do it. But I wasn't expecting someone so high up in the hierarchy, and we've had a few conversations that I've found disturbing. For anyone reading this journal that doesn't already know, the dragons co-founded the Protectorate, along with the elves, for ...

 From the December 1st newsletter: When I first started writing, I did very little outlining. I had a vague idea where I wanted the story to go, and I just wrote free-form, letting the characters develop themselves and the story unfold as it would. It was magical. Nowadays, since I'm trying to make a living at it, with deadlines to meet and daily word counts to achieve, a good bit of outlining is an absolute necessity. And especially with writing an epic fantasy series. where world building needs to be intricate and detailed, I keep not only an outline of each novel, but a "bible" of sorts, with lists of characters, their descriptions and motivations, conflict maps, flora and fauna, "W" plot lines--the list goes on. All this has made my writing more efficient. I can tell an editor six months ahead of time when the book will be ready, what the word count will be, and I can get it to them on time. But, in exchange for efficiency, some of the magic has been sucked ...

 From the November 17th newsletter... Hey folks. It's time for another excerpt from the Goblin Diaries. Things seem to be heating up in Trevor' world. 18th Day of the Frost Moon, 1218th Year, Human Age of Magic ... The mercenary, Tsing, arrived yesterday afternoon having procured the Eye of Ellindrell. However, he does not carry Ka'il Idreth. The rumor that he has a sword that sings seems merely to refer to his prowess with the blade. Still, I was counting my blessings when he turned over the Eye to the Alchemist ... ... until the feces hit the fan. Tsing delivered the Eye, and the Alchemist paid him half his fee, promising the remainder once he had balanced his ledger--part of the spell he worked up to conjure the god, Vale. My master was up all night completing his work, and when Tsing arrived this morning to collect the rest of his fee, the Alchemist apparently chose to demonstrate his work. I have no idea exactly what happened, but I knew something had gone terribly wro...

 From the 11/3/23 newsletter: When people ask me why I write, I usually just say that I enjoy telling stories and that I'm enamored of the creative process in general. It's not untrue. But some of my indie writing mentors have been encouraging me to dig a little deeper--no, a lot deeper. They insist on it as a marketing necessity, that a good author brand can only come from such a searching of the soul--that I must find my true author "why" before I can connect with my readers. I'm hiding an eyeroll behind my pen here. But the folks that are pushing me to do this--well, they have some credibility with successful writing careers under their belts. So, I've overcome my natural resistance to digging into my psyche--it can get kind of scary in there--and I've uncovered what I can only describe as Survivor's Guilt. By all rights, I shouldn't be here. I had childhood illnesses that would have taken me from this world had I been born a few decades earlier...

(From the 10/20/2023 newsletter)  14th Day of the Harvest Moon, 1218th Year, Human Age of Magic ... I've been busy--too busy to keep up this journal as I had hoped. It has taken me nearly a year to bring my plan to fruition, but I'm finally on the verge of retrieving the Eye of Ellindrell and Ka'il Idreth.  I arrived in Azureth almost a year ago. I sought out the Alchemist and was able to persuade him to employ me as an assistant, convincing him of my ability to translate and otherwise interpret most of the Fae manuscripts he has accumulated. At first, I was little more than a glorified housekeeper--and let me tell you, some of the chores around here are thoroughly disgusting. When I first came on, he had me collecting hundreds of frogs daily from the marshes around Lake Marin and then cleaning the messes he made using them in his experiments with spells. Thank the gods I've been able to discourage some of that experimentation with more accurate translations of the manu...

  27th Day of the Frost Moon, 1217th Year, Human Age of Magic ... Humans are so willing to babble on and on, pretending to be experts on things they know nothing about, especially when their tongues are loosened with a bit of wine. However, intermingled with their babblings are often hidden gems of valuable information. I've been sitting around the evening campfires as our caravan makes its way south, pouring cups and listening, and I am convinced there are two extremely valuable elven artifacts in the area that need retrieving as soon as possible--the Eye of Ellindrell and Ka'il Idreth (The Sword That Sings). The Eye of Ellindrell appears to be a particularly large ruby with a mesmerizing, pulsating bubble trapped inside. Its intended usage is a power source for the creation and opening of portals. As unlikely as it might be that some human may discover its true purpose and use it to travel the realms, a human mule--sorry, sorcerer --can easily tap into its power to conjure al...

 From the August 18, 2023 newsletter ... 19th Day of the Frost Moon, 1217th Year, Human Age of Magic ... After only a few days spent in the human port city of Arleanne, it has become obvious that faerie spawn will be too dangerous to work with. I need to find a mule . Perhaps I should take a moment to explain my use of the above pejoratives. Not that I care so much whoever reads this might be offended--I want to leave no chance for misunderstanding in this diary. You see, the problem of having Fae artifacts in the hands of humans is compounded by the fact there is now a good bit of Fae blood present in the human gene pool and therefore humans who possess some powers they call magic. I call such half humans faerie spawn  for obvious reasons. Okay, if it's not obvious, I'll tell you straight. The Faeries have been primarily responsible for inserting non-human DNA into the local population. I know there has been intermittent intermingling among humans and elves, some dragons, an...

 (from the 8/4/23 Red Wolf Pack newsletter) Hey, Readers! If you're not familiar with R.M. Schultz (I featured one of his Caleb of the Woods books in a newsletter last year), you soon will be. Because I predict his new epic fantasy series is going to create some noise. Even before the first book was released, the series was being considered for a video game, and when Through Blood and Dragons came out this past Monday, it immediately vaulted into the top 100 in multiple categories on Amazon. I mean, who doesn't like dragons? I sure do! So, I had this book on preorder and dove right in as soon as it was delivered to my kindle on Monday. Lot's of action and plenty of dragons, so far. Plus, Mr. Schultz has included maps and illustrations with the narrative. The author informed me the special preorder price of $0.99 would be in effect for a few more days, so don't wait! (As of this post, it still was.) <Purchase on Amazon US> Steeped in blood. Ruled by those with drag...

 (From the July 21, 2023 Newsletter) 12th Day of the Frost Moon, 1217th year, Human Age of Magic ... My name is Trevor, and I should have kept my mouth shut. As any goblin will tell you, a good idea should not be voiced until all ramifications have been considered. Yet, knowing well that axiom, I could not hold my tongue when no one at the Conference of the Fae Protectorate addressed the elephant in the room--the plethora of Fae artifacts that have come into the hands of humans, and the dangers of not retrieving them before the Protectorate implements its plan to release the Vampire Scourge. Fool that I am, I should have known that as soon as I brought up the problem, the task of implementing the project to retrieve such artifacts would have been assigned to me. The Protectorate, under the present direction of the dragon Damocles, is famous for using the term implementing the project as a euphemism for doing all the work. So, here I am, living among the humans for the next century-...

 (From the July 7, 2023 Newsletter) Hi, Pack Mates! No, I'm not going anywhere. The fond farewell is for Clifford Crane, to whom I'm saying goodbye as the MC of my novels for a while. Cliff has taught me much over the last dozen years, and having just finished his 8th novel, I thought a few special words of explanation and appreciation were warranted. Clifford was an updated version of a sci-fi character I tried to write about back in the 1970's. Heavily influenced by Frank Herbert's Dune books and a character I loved in James Tiptree's Up the Walls of the World, Fedtlove was the product of a secret breeding program for galactic rulers--one that hadn't quite worked out. He had all the charisma of a great leader, but none of the other leadership skills. I started--and never finished-- The Fedtlove Chronicles multiple times over a decade or two. By the time my brain matured to the point where I could finish a writing project, I was really into Urban Fantasy, and I...

 (From the June 2 Newsletter) Hi, Readers! I took this picture the other day on the trail. It's the kind of decision I like to make. Whichever way I choose, I'll have a nice walk in the woods. No pressure. No big deal. But this past week I had to make a different decision--one that I wasn't so sure about. I was coming to the end of Halves and Half Nots, and I hadn't decided for certain what to do with Clifford Crane. After 8 novels with him as the MC, how should I leave him? Should I saddle him with more troubles, like I always have? Should I give him a happy ending? Should I kill him off--put him out of his misery? So, I've been thinking a lot lately about how I make decisions--and just how effective the process is. I once had a girlfriend who itemized how she decided to dump me in minute detail. She'd made a list of pros and cons. She'd talked to all her friends (yikes!). She'd prayed about it (I love when they drag God into it). A few decades later, a...

 Hi, folks! Here it is! The cover for Spaceship Huey Adventures, book 3, has been chosen! A mighty armada. A fleet of pirates. Can a desperate shifter rally a band of cutthroats to save the human colonies ... and the woman he loves? Thanks to Ivan Zanchetta and Bookcoversart.com for doing their usual great job in capturing the spirit of this book as the Huey and its crew of misfits go up against the greatest armada the galaxy has ever seen! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gigantic Giveaway Alert! If you're a fan of Guardians of the Galaxy (I am), you'll love the swag and book gift bundle included in the BookSweeps giveaway that starts today! The Cargo,  my prequel novella to the Spaceship Huey Adventures shifter space opera series, is part of the package. Contest starts May 22, 2023 and ends June 5, 2023. Click on the image above to check out all the great prizes and drop your name in the hat for a chance to win! Good luck!

 (From the May 5th Red Wolf Pack Newsletter) Earth was a playground for the Fae over 200 million years before humankind sprang from its semi-sentient predecessors and began to spread across the lands. When it happened, most of the Fae retreated to their realms to wait, watching from a safe distance to decide the fate of the new species. Some of the more fearless or adventurous ventured forth on occasion, living for a time among the humans to observe more closely. On returning to their realms, they would leave behind the results of their mingling--witches, wizards, sorcerers--orcs, dwarves, demigods--giving birth to the human Age of Magic. What these adventurous Fae would bring back with them, were stories. Most were tales of horror chronicling brutal acts visited upon man by man. After all, such tales found a more willing ear among the Fae, who stood ready to judge mankind harshly--out of convenience or self-interest. But a few stories were tales of heroism and sacrifice, examples ...

 (From the April 7th Newsletter) I was in high school when The Byrds released one of my all-time favorite songs. I think it's the best in a long line of them over subsequent decades with a similar theme--this is not as easy as it looks, and it ain't all it's cracked up to be. (My interpretation--there are others, of course.) So, what does this have to do with me? Well, I was hiking in the woods the other day. I was wrestling with my decision (see my Feb 18th blog post) of what to write next. I was fretting over my long-range marketing plan. I was asking myself, John, are you in over your head? And this song popped into my mind. The answer to my question was an immediate yes! But then I thought about it. The guys in that band worked really hard at what they loved and ended up with pretty amazing careers. And I remember David Crosby saying in an interview one time that he didn't regret any of it. So, I guess I'm okay. Besides, my pants are tight. It's gonna be all...

 (From the Red Wolf Pack March 24th Newsletter) Hey, folks. After years of asking, I finally got my MC, Clifford Crane, to agree to an interview. I tracked the legendary werewolf down to a small planetoid in the Nyx system, Stygian Sector. I cornered him just as he returned from testing a prototype fighter his team is working on. I recorded the following interview on my phone ... Me: Hi, Clifford. Long time, no see. Crane: You already? I thought I had some time before you got here. Another week at least. Me: Nope. I have a newsletter I need to get out, and my readers are anxious to have some questions answered. Besides, you won't be here in another week. Crane: I won't? Is that a spoiler? Me: Maybe. Crane: Are we being attacked? Me: I'm not at liberty to say. Crane: That means you don't know yet, doesn't it? Jesus, Hundley, you need to plan these things a little better. Ever heard of outlining? It's what real authors do. Me: Sounds like you might be having a bad...

 (Taken from the March 3rd newsletter) Hi, Pack Members! As many of you know, I'm currently working on my eighth novel with Clifford Crane as the male protagonist. After four centuries of adventuring, I've finally persuaded him to agree to an interview. I was a bit surprised he conceded, considering what I've put him through over the years. But he said he'd do it, and Clifford is a man of his word. The full interview will be published in my newsletter update later this month and also posted on this blog. In the meantime, I'm trying to gather some pithy questions for the interview. If any of you have something you've always wanted to ask Clifford, click the link to my Google Form below and ask it. Even if your question doesn't make it into the official interview, I'll make sure you get a direct answer via email. Here's the link: <Ask Clifford Crane a Question> In other news, I want to thank everyone who participated in the Decision 2023 Survey l...

 (From the February 17th Red Wolf Pack newsletter) No, this isn't a political pitch--I realized the implications of the subject line after I'd outlined most of my newsletter, and I didn't want to change it--Decision 2023 is what I'm calling my process of deciding what my next writing project should be. And I could use your help. You see, Halves and Half Nots  will bring to a conclusion a three-novel story arc in the Spaceship Huey Adventures. I've enjoyed writing the series, and it's been mildly successful as far as sales go. But it's the 8th Clifford Crane novel, and I'd like to put the character to rest--at least for a while. I've got four choices, all projects I hope eventually to work on, but I need to focus on just one right now ( now  being the next few years). There's a science fiction, an epic fantasy, and two urban fantasy options. I can't think of a more qualified group than you guys to help me make the decision. Could you look at m...

 (Taken from the February 3rd Newsletter) Hi, folks! I need some feedback. I've been working on the blurb for my next novel in the Spaceship Huey Adventures series. Halves and Half Nots is targeted for paperback release in the 4th quarter of this year, with an official ebook launch in January, 2024. The book completes a three-novel story arc and may or may not be the end of the series (more on that in a later post). This is not a romance --meaning I can't promise a happy ending--but it has romantic flavor, and I'm trying to emphasize such in the blurb. Here goes ... A mighty armada. A fleet of pirates. Can a desperate shifter rally a band of cutthroats to save the human colonies ... and the woman he loves? Clifford Crane's heart is being ripped out. He's fallen for his gorgeous, sharp-tongued partner--and she's about to leave forever. So, when an enemy armada delays her escape, he's determined to use the borrowed time to convince her to stay. Heather Felton ...

Pulled from today's Red Wolf Pack newsletter: Hi, pack members! Well, the ebook launch of Half Empty Half Full  is almost behind us. I've just got a few more follow-up emails and social media posts to make, and I'll put it behind me. I think it went pretty well. Rankings for the Spaceship Huey Adventures series have been steadily rising, and it feels great to see people reading and enjoying my books! Now, on to other things ... I was recently introduced o a cool website called AuthorsXp. It's a great place for authors and readers to meet. They do book giveaways, cross promotions, and all kinds of things to benefit authors and readers alike. I immediately signed up for a couple of giveaways--I was so impressed--where I could offer some of my own books for readers to get for free. The last two weeks of this month, I'll be alerting members of the pack to opportunities to win a bundle of books for FREE! (Hey, if you want the heads-up via email, click on my NEWSLETTER pa...

 Revised from the January 6, 2023 Newsletter: It's a new year, a new look to my newsletter, and I have big news! If you didn't already know, the next installment of the Spaceship Huey Adventures, Half Empty Half Full,  launches officially on January 12th. Pre-launch promotions are almost over. Tomorrow is the big day! If you haven't started on the Spaceship Huey Adventures series yet, I'm dropping the price on Book One to 99 cents from now until the launch of Book Two (actually, I'm keeping it discounted through launch day). Plus, you can pick up the new book through January 12th for only 99 cents. Now, do you notice anything different about my newsletter? (for those reading this on the Red Wolf Blogs site, click my NEWSLETTER page to sign up) Right! It's a new format I've added my web banner to the headline and both a Monthly Deal from me and a Featured Recommendation by another author to my monthly offerings. I think it looks very professional. (I am a pro...