Voyager Impulse to Publish Digital Submission Winners.

August 10th? Seriously? Is that really the last time I posted?

Well, unfortunately, it is. I’ve been on a deadline.

I’m working on Cursed Necropolis: DC for Mummy: The Curse. For the record, it’s gone well although slower than I’d like. I have a lot of other projects to catch up on when this is done, but I’ve had a great time writing a roleplaying supplement again.

However, great when I’m on a deadline is a relative term. My memory has been shot. I’ve been stressed like crazy (because I really want to do a good job). I’ve been distracted. A very good friend of mine had a goodbye to America dinner before she left the country to go teach. I talked to her the day before the dinner. I planned to see her, and my daughter had a small meltdown in her fencing class so I forgot about it completely.

Okay, but that’s not the bad part. I didn’t just forget for a night. I forgot for THREE days! Furthermore, I still need to write her an apology, and everytime I think about it, I decide that I’m not sure how to write it and stop. Well, she left in August, and it’s October. So, if she’s reading this, I’m really, really sorry and definitely owe you.

And this is the sort of thing that happens to me on deadline.

So, my apologies to everyone and anyone who I haven’t responded to, who I’ve forgotten and who thinks I’m not acting like myself. I promise that I’ll get better.

Wait… I just had another idea for a character… hold on, I have to write this down…

All the best,

Harry

I had a fantastic time at the Hanover Book Festival with Blue Oranda, my small press publisher. I met a number of good people, including several authors and a web designer/media guru, but the highlight of my day was the arrival of my grandfather.

I had a number of his books with me, and he did a fine job greeting people and autographing copies for them. I was happy to spend the time with him.

The day ended with several peals of thunder as a severe storm came through. It knocked out my power at home, but fortunately, we didn’t have any damage. Several people in the surrounding neighborhoods were not so lucky. However, we did regain electricity this evening.

I’m sure I’ll have a number of follow-ups to do later, but most of all, I want to say “THANK YOU!” to everyone who bought a copy of In the Service of the King, Souls of the Everwood or Balefire and Brimstone. I also want to thank all of the organizers and volunteers. I’ll be back next year.

All the best,

Harry

It seems like a lot of my time as a writer is spent waiting, caught between hope and fear about my writing. Currently, Charming, is still being reviewed at the publisher to see if it will be published. I’m extremely excited and nervous, hoping to hear one way or the other, unable to move forward and not wanting to go back. It could be months still, and I don’t begrudge a major publisher a minute of that time, so I wait.

On the other hand, I suddenly have a deadline for Mummy: The Curse and the superhero anthology I’m working on, tentatively called the HeroNet Files #1. So, while I’m waiting, I’m also rushing to make sure everything gets done for those projects. I’ll get to wait after the editors get their hands on both of those and hope things work out well.

The second Krueger book is now out of my hands. Balefire and Brimstone should be coming any day now. I’d love it if I had an announcement before the end of next week. And to think that at one point, I was shooting for Halloween 2012 for that one. My apologies for keeping all of Krueger’s fans waiting.

I promise that the Hawks are going to be the full focus of my attention once the deadlines pass.

And I’m proud to note that my grandfather’s book now comes up first in Amazon when you enter “Harry Heckel.” I wonder how many other people have their first book published at age 97.

I hope everyone is well, and I’m keeping the people of Oklahoma in my prayers.

All the best,

Harry

There’s a meme going around in the writing world traversing blogs and websites where authors write about their “Next Big Thing.” A friend of mine and fantastic writer, John Rossomongo, mentioned me on his blog, so I thought it was time to contribute. Who am I to get in the way of ideas traversing the internet?

I’m working on several projects, including the sequels to both the Krueger (almost done) and Crimson Hawks novels (close but slightly behind Krueger), a superheroic anthology (also very close but needs art), and Charming with my co-author, John Peck. I hope any or all of those could turn out to be a “big thing.” However, I have a book that I’ve been working on in one form or another for years, and I’m really hoping that it will be published in the next year or two. So, I’m going to write about The Lantern. This should be the first book in an epic fantasy trilogy.

Where did the idea for the book come from?

The idea for the book originally came from a roleplaying campaign that I played in during high school, but it was refined over the years with a lot of inspiration added from Tolkien, Tad Williams, Frank Herbert and George RR Martin.

What genre does this fall under?

Epic fantasy.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie version?

This is a tough question for me. Between my day job, my various hobbies and trying to write at night, I don’t watch as many movies or TV shows as I’d like. Sadly, I’m going to wimp out and say I’d trust the casting director. For Polaris, the young man at the heart of the novel, I’d want someone with strong eyes and the ability to go from emo wreck to noble prince within a few heartbeats.  For Gareth the swordsman, I could see Hugh Jackman pulling him off. I’d want someone with a good sense of humor who can play battered, confused and tough at the same time. For Freyja, I’d like an actress with an ethereal quality, but with the bright intelligence of Jenna Louise-Coleman from Doctor Who. James McAvoy might make a good High Mage Aren. For Mithra, I have no idea, but I think it would be great opportunity for someone. If they could play overconfident arrogant jerk yet still make people not hate them, that would do.

What is a one-sentence synopsis of the book?

Nine years after a great hero vanishes, the fate of the world depends on his son’s ability to unravel the mystery of the lantern left at his bedside.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

Well, I’d hope that it would be published by a major publisher, however, if I try for a year or two or three, I might self-publish or find a smaller e-publisher.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

I’d say that I’m still writing it, but honestly, about two years for the very first draft.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

I’d compare it to David Eddings’ Belgariad or Tad Williams’ Memory, Sorrow and Thorn series.

Who or what inspired you to write this book?

I’ve always wanted to write an epic fantasy novel. I’d probably blame my grandfather for giving me a copy of Beowulf when I was younger, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t credit Tolkien, CS Lewis, Lloyd Alexander, and Michael Moorcock. Frank Herbert did a fair share of inspiring me as well, and in recent years, George RR Martin has helped keep me going.

Besides my grandfather, I have so many friends who inspired me from my high school gamemaster to all my friends at American University and everyone at White Wolf Game Studio to everyone who believed in me at Games Workshop. My greatest source of inspiration these days is my daughter, who I suspect will grow up to be far better at telling stories than me. Of course, none of this would be possible without my wife, who has always believed in this story.

Five Folks Whose Next Big Thing Has Me Excited

I’d love to know what Brad White, Myke Cole, CA Suleiman, Wayland Smith and Bill Bridges will be doing next (Phil Brucato keeps me well informed 😀 ).

Hi everyone,

National Novel Writing Month 2012 has ended. Unfortunately, I got sick immediately afterward. So, I’m recovering from a nasty cold, but I have some good news:

I finally reconnected the dots and got over 50,000 words with about 5 hours to go. I’ll be posting the later chapters, but I’ll warn everyone this year’s effort was definitely a rough draft. I wrote in spiral notebooks, three different computers, a few pads of paper and accomplished my turning point in word count while at my daughter’s Nutcracker day-long rehearsals and shows. It was fun. I’m hoping that I’ll be back to semi-regular blogging soon.

Okay, well one of my characters yelled at me, so I changed the end of Chapter 5. These things happen. 🙂 Here’s the new ending below.

“Of course, I’m coming. As you said, we’ve been friends forever. I can’t leave you.”

“Achelos, you don’t have to do this.”

Achelos smiled. “You’re right, and thanks, after all, Furies? Egypt or Khem or whatever they call it? They have people there with animal heads. I’d be lost. Not to mention having to travel across the sea to get there. You have pirates, sirens, even mad sorceresses and Cyclopes living on the islands if the stories are true.

Peleus chuckled. He wanted Achelos to come with him, but he understood. Leaving Corinth was madness. “Thank you, Achelos. I’ll miss you, my friend.”

Achelos raised his hand. “Hold on. What I was saying is that with that much stuff out there, that much danger, well, someone has to keep you out of trouble.” With an exaggerated sigh, he said, “And the Fates have decreed that it will be me.” He grinned.

The two men grasped forearms. “We are soldiers, we are brothers, we are Corinth,” they said together, repeating one of the many phrases said by the phalanx.

Peleus and Achelos headed for the Egyptian ship. It was time to leave.