Issue one of By the Fire has been uploaded and is being processed as we speak. Hopefully Amazon and Barnes and Noble's systems will have them available in the next few hours. I was only ten days late getting them done. No big deal.
So what can you expect in this grand new venture? For the first issue I decided to continue my Blackthorn Knights series. The sequel is called Thorn in the Side and is being split into parts. Part 1 runs about 11,000 words and is in this first issue. I split it into parts to make it feel a little less overwhelming. My writing time is sparse. Usually done between classes or on duty on my phone. It's lean and focuses more heavily on action.
I've also started two serial novels that will run in By the Fire. One, Freedom Sun, is straight ahead space opera. Space ships. Explosions. Aliens. Stuff like that.
The other, Walk With Me, is more paranormal mystery. It's more film noir meets the twilight zone set in Louisiana.
To round it all out I'll be putting short stories from various genres in each issue. The first issue has two shorts. One, The Mask, is more weird fiction. The other, Story of a Lifetime, is science fiction. Think 2001 meets Misery.
I've got a lot planned for this year and this is a great way to get them all written. I want to finish Thorn in the Side. I have a sequel to Carrier that's percolating. I'd really like to do a series of novellas about Tim that I can put together as a fix up novel later.
I need to finish Thy Judgement Come for issue two. I've got a sequel to Storm Over San Juan called With Ax in Hand that seems like a ton of fun. Plus there is a plethora of shorter works that I've got loosely planned out. This has got me incredibly excited. But for now I have to run to duty. So I can do some writing. On my phone of course. See you back here for issue two in March.