Last couple weeks have been busy. Unfortunately, it hasn’t been with my writing. Regular business, wife and kid away visiting family, me taking care of the dog, TAXES(!) it’s left me scrambling to find some free time. Still, I move forward.
Had time to submit a short story to Grimdark Magazine. I wrote it during a weekend over holiday vacation. For those that have read my books, this story is different. Way different. First, it’s a fantasy piece. Second, it should go without saying, it is grim-dark. If you’re not familiar with that kind of fantasy story, it’s about morally grey characters doing morally grey things. Not all happy endings and heroes saving the day. While this will seem pretty opposite of my books, let me assure you, I’m comfortable writing this way.
I have a lot of stories that I hope to tell at some point that are more “adult” in nature. The “Jax Brandt” novels are written with a more young adult frame in mind. This is both for my daughter and I find it easier to write. I’ve done short stories my whole life, even if they’ve never seen the light of day. Jax has given me the chance to learn how to write books and continues to teach me. Plus, you rarely see mixed race (Japanese and German in Jax’s case) characters in a book. I wanted my daughter to see that there is a future for that.
It might be a few months before I hear anything from Grimdark Mag, but I will keep you updated as I find out more. IF they don’t pick up my short story, my plan is to have it edited and offer it up as a Kindle quick read. I like it enough that I will definitely create more short stories in that world… well, as time allows, anyway.
Today’s image is from book 1 chapter 20.
On words to more words.