Prepping for the Next (Sixth) Book
...and what I've been working on since "Fenrik 1984"
The last month has been difficult, but I outlined all that in the last post. This one is about moving forward and what I have been doing, as well as what’s next.
To start, I finished a new short story yesterday. I still need to proofread it, edit it, and add the final flourish. That should be done by the end of the week. I would’ve liked to have done it today, but it’s big promo Wednesday, and that monopolizes a lot of my time.
This short story is going to be available in a different publication, which will be announced later, once things are made officially official. All I’ll say about it is that it is related to Barbarians of the Storm, features a solo Fenrik adventure with an appearance by the Seawolf, as well as some new characters, monsters, and challenges. It also has very light homages to Castle Grayskull and Bruce Lee’s original Game of Death concept.
Looking past that, I am in the intense planning phase of the next book in the Barbarians of the Storm franchise. Like Eyes in All Shadows & Other Stories this will be an anthology. Unlike Eyes in All Shadows, however, it will not be specifically horror-themed. This book will feature sword & sorcery tales that may still have some light horror elements in them. That’s unavoidable when stories deal with monsters, dark magic, and general evil.
People have been asking for awhile when I was planning to start writing about Elizabeth, Dan’s ex-fiancé who has been mentioned in nearly every book. Well, her first big adventure will be the largest story in this next book. It will also connect the overall saga more directly to the events of Fenrik 1984 - A Barbarians of the Storm Side Quest. How? Well, you’ll just have to wait a few months and find out.
Beyond the Elizabeth story, the rest of the new anthology will feature at least five more tales. Granted, this could change due to story length and new ideas that spring up. As of right now, there will be a Fenrik and Erzulyn adventure, as they try to obtain the Orb of Abbar and the Voidwrencher. There are also stories featuring Fenrik’s brother (and his strange fate), Palus’ origin, Kornfel and Tibrüt versus the Wild Dog (which will be very horror), as well as another adventure with Killer and the dwarf Bozmir. You didn’t think that Killer’s long trip home would be a peaceful one, did you?
Again, that story lineup could change and shift. However, all those mentioned will be done and find themselves somewhere, even if it isn’t in this next release.
Lastly, Book IV, the direct sequel to Swords Against Bastards, will be next - after the anthology. I’m also starting to plan out Frank Murdock’s story, which will cover the time between his arrival in a new world up to the establishment of the Agamemnon community.
For now, that is it. I hope you’re excited, as the Barbarians of the Storm series continues on into its next era.