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Skull Throne ARC Contest: Sleep Through This

Posted by Meg

Before One-Arm got his infamous nickname, he was a two-armed rock demon trying to break through Arlen’s warded circle. Steve gives us Arlen’s terrifying perspective in his entry to the Skull Throne ARC Contest. Check it out.

sleep through this

I love being inside the ward circle with Arlen. The blurred wards look awesome and full of magic. Fantastic job, Steve.

In the same vein, we have an entry from Romeo entitled “Taunt”.

Scanned Document

Again, I love the perspective and the representation of the wards as somewhat translucent. Awesome job, Romeo!

You can check out all the visual contest entries over on Facebook or Pinterest.

Want a shot at getting your own copy of The Skull ThroneEnter the Skull Throne ARC contest by February 8th!

The Skull Throne will be released on March 31st in the U.S. with translations to follow. Pre-order the U.S. edition from Random House today.

Posted on January 28, 2015 at 10:15 am by Hannah
Filed under Contests, Fan Art, Fans, Meg, Skull Throne, Skull Throne Cover Contest, ST ARC Contest, Warded Art, Warded Man
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Gemini Cell by Myke Cole

Posted by Peat

So it’s pretty well known in the SF community that Author Myke Cole and I have been friends for a long time. We met in high school back in 1990, which is… shit. 25 years ago now.

Wow. I feel old.

Myke and I have a long and sordid history including Dungeons & Dragons, head-shaving and podcasts. Here’s a 1993 picture of us swordfighting on the terrace of the Ellicott residence hall at SUNY Buffalo. Check out the awesome 90’s heavy metal hair:

Fencing3repair

We also have a long history of creative support. I say with all honesty that I would likely not be a professional author without the countless hours of soundboarding, encouragement and advice he has given me. Even Skull Throne, my upcoming Demon Cycle novel, has a few distinct Cole fingerprints on it.

I say this for full disclosure of bias, but this does not change the fact I speak honest word when I tell you that Myke’s new book GEMINI CELL IS ON SALE TODAY AND YOU SHOULD TOTALLY BUY IT BECAUSE IT IS AWESOME.

Gemini Cell Myke Cole

While technically set in Cole’s Shadow Ops universe, Gemini Cell tales place many years before the other books, when the return of magic to our world is in its infancy and the rules are different. It’s a great place for readers who have never tried Cole before to jump on without any need for knowledge of the other books.

For those who have read Myke’s books before, don’t think for a moment you’ve seen all his tricks. Myke is one of the rare authors out there who gets better with each successive novel, even while maintaining the book-a-year schedule I have always felt was out of my reach. There is no harder working author out there, and Myke deserves every success.

Like his other books, Gemini Cell has muscle-clenching action scenes influenced in no small part by Cole’s real-life military combat experience, but also a deep exploration of character, giving us a warrior whose love for his family and country transcend even death.

Urban fantasy. Military SF. Zombie Romance. Black Hawk Down Meets the X-Men. Call it what you will, Gemini Cell is a waterslide of awesome that pulls you down fast and ends with a splash.

Here’s the blurb:

US Navy SEAL Jim Schweitzer is a consummate professional, a fierce warrior, and a hard man to kill. But when he sees something he was never meant to see on a covert mission gone bad, he finds himself—and his family—in the crosshairs. Nothing means more to Jim than protecting his loved ones, but when the enemy brings the battle to his front door, he is overwhelmed and taken down.

That should be the end of the story. But Jim is raised from the dead by a sorcerer and recruited by a top secret unit dabbling in the occult, known only as the Gemini Cell. With powers he doesn’t understand, Jim is called back to duty—as the ultimate warrior. As he wrestles with a literal inner demon, Jim realizes his new superiors are determined to use him for their own ends and keep him in the dark—especially about the fates of his wife and son…

For audio fans, Myke’s first novel, Shadow Ops: Control Point was just released by Graphic Audio. I am a big fan of the work that Graphic Audio does, and I am excited to hear what they’ve done with Control Point.

shadowops control point graphic audio

Want a shot at getting your own copy of The Skull ThroneEnter the Skull Throne ARC contest by February 8th!

The Skull Throne will be released on March 31st in the U.S. with translations to follow. Pre-order the U.S. edition from Random House today.

Posted on January 27, 2015 at 8:00 am by PeatB
Filed under Myke, Pimpage, Reviews
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Skull Throne ARC Contest: Forgot to Breathe

Posted by Meg

Check out this colorfully illustrated scene of Arlen from Toby, our latest entrant in the Skull Throne ARC Contest.

Toby SkullThroneARC (1)

Beautiful work. I love the contrast of light and dark. Thanks for entering, Toby!

Want a shot at getting your own copy of The Skull ThroneEnter Peat’s fan art contest by February 8th.

The Skull Throne will be released on March 31st in the U.S. with translations to follow. Pre-order the U.S. edition from Random House today.

Posted on January 26, 2015 at 11:00 am by Hannah
Filed under Contests, Fan Art, Fans, Meg, Skull Throne, Skull Throne ARC, ST ARC Contest
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Skull Throne ARC Contest: The Battle of the Deliverers

Posted by Meg

New day, new entry to the Skull Throne ARC Contest. Today’s submission comes from Terence who wrote his very own jongleur’s ballad detailing the very last scene in The Daylight War.

The Battle of Deliverers
– by Terence Thomas

They met on a cliff
Each with seven witnesses in tow
The two men were once friends
But now they’re enemies as everyone knows
Neither would back down
They refused to follow the others plan
This led to the Battle of Deliverers
Between the Demon of the Desert and the Warded Man

The men met for Domin Sharum, two warriors is what it means
In truth it was a dance to the death
One would be the true Deliverer
As soon as the other drew his last breath
Neither would back down
They refused to follow the others plan
This led to the Battle of Deliverers
Between the Demon of the Desert and the Warded Man

The Warded Man said Ahmann Jardir must answer for his crimes
He said Jardir stole the Spear of Kaji and left him to die
The Demon of the Desert said Arlen Bales spoke the truth, but yet he denied the crime
Jardir said he violated and stole from the sacred Anoch Sun with a sigh
Neither would back down
They refused to follow the others plan
This led to the Battle of Deliverers
Between the Demon of the Desert and the Warded Man

The time for talk was done and the men faced off with spears in hand
As the fight began they both seemed more like a demon than a man
Each attack from the men’s spears was a blur
Because they moved faster than any man can
Neither would back down
They refused to follow the others plan
This led to the Battle of Deliverers
Between the Demon of the Desert and the Warded Man

Jardir engaged the battle harder
Blasting through Bales spear with a kick
As Bales recovered
Jardir stabbed him in the stomach deadly quick
Neither would back down
They refused to follow the others plan
This led to the Battle of Deliverers
Between the Demon of the Desert and the Warded Man

Surprisingly Jardir hesitated as the victory seemed in hand
Bales didn’t waste a moment striking Jardir away with the butt of his broken spear
The blood bubbled from the Warded Man’s stomach
Bales quickly healed the wound to the Demon of the Desert’s fear
Neither would back down
They refused to follow the others plan
This led to the Battle of Deliverers
Between the Demon of the Desert and the Warded Man

The fight was looking grim for the Warded Man as all he could do was defend
But once the sun set the Warded Man struck back
When Jardir next attacked Bales turned into smoke
A moment later he re-formed and stole the Spear of Kaji with a single attack
Neither would back down
They refused to follow the others plan
This led to the Battle of Deliverers
Between the Demon of the Desert and the Warded Man

Jardir vowed he’d quickly retake the spear
Then Bales did something to everyone’s surprise
He threw the Spear off the cliff
To Jardir’s eldest son Jayan’s cries
Neither would back down
They refused to follow the others plan
This led to the Battle of Deliverers
Between the Demon of the Desert and the Warded Man

The men battled hand to hand
The Demon of the Desert had the edge
They had each other by the throat
Then the Warded Man threw them both off the cliff’s ledge
Neither would back down
They refused to follow the others plan
This led to the Battle of Deliverers
Between the Demon of the Desert and the Warded Man

The battle had ended
The would be Deliverers were gone
But friends just remember the Warded Man can turn to smoke
So don’t be surprised to find him covered in demon ichor come some dawn
Neither would back down
They refused to follow the others plan
This led to the Battle of Deliverers
Between the Demon of the Desert and the Warded Man

Awesome job, Terence, describing one of the most dramatic scenes in the series. Great idea!

Want a shot at getting your own copy of The Skull ThroneEnter Peat’s fan art contest by February 8th.

The Skull Throne will be released on March 31st in the U.S. with translations to follow. Pre-order the U.S. edition from Random House today.

Posted on January 23, 2015 at 8:00 am by Hannah
Filed under Contests, Fan Art, Fans, Meg, Skull Throne, Skull Throne ARC, ST ARC Contest
1 Comment »

Tweephole #46

Posted by Meg

Check up with Peat as he starts the New Year.

  • @PVBrett – Half done with @LordGrimdark‘s Half the World which is half again better than Half a King which got less than half the acclaim it deserved.
  • @PVBrett – I may watch The Interview today—more out of spite than any real desire to see it.
  • @PVBrett – Cassie wrote 500 words in her vacation journal. 500 more than I wrote on vacation.
  • @PVBrett – 7min after posting Skull Throne ARC Contest (http://t.co/C7gToGoxrQ) I had an entry: Angela Burkhead’s ‘Secret Art of Pillow Dancing’ ebook.
  • @PVBrett – Let it Go came up on shuffle yesterday, and Cassie told me she was sick of hearing it. Maybe there’s a God after all…
  • @PVBrett – Milk I bought yesterday expires on my birthday. Feels like the universe is trying to tell me something. http://t.co/58rbF02UjW

Sell By Birthday

  • @PVBrett – As usual, everyone in #AuthorDnD wants to play a thief. Also as usual, I will take one for the team and be the cleric.
  • @PVBrett – As a writer, I am an architect. As a parent, I am a gardener.
  • @PVBrett – Sorting out weekend attire with @NatashaBardon #skullthrone http://t.co/qyRT3535Ku

weekend attire

balloon nunchucks

Pizza Break

  • @PVBrett – Added another corpse to the Christmas tree graveyard that is the streets of NYC this week.
  • @PVBrett – X-mas has been banished for another year.
  • @PVBrett – I don’t understand why the word ‘moist’ provokes such squeamishness and loathing.
  • @PVBrett – Sometimes I envy people who can see the world in stark contrasts. Sometimes. Mostly it makes me sad.
  • @PVBrett – This week thanks to @subpress & @ConFusionMI I get to literally fence @LordGrimdark#therecanbeonlyone #confusionsf
  • @PVBrett – Lots of exciting #SkullThrone developments as I finish packing for @ConFusionMI this weekend.
  • @PVBrett – Whatever could this be for? #skullthrone http://t.co/AMoasRMyBh

fiddle

photo shoot

  • @PVBrett – So @dianarowland just accidentally stabbed @PatrickRothfuss old mage Master Lambernath with a poison blade. Dead. Sorry Pat. #authordnd
  • @PVBrett – 2nd attempt to leave Detroit after a cancelled flight yesterday. Had a great time at @ConFusionMI. It’s like going home to family.

Visit Twitter or Facebook for more!

There’s a contest going on! Enter any Demon Cycle fan art by February 8, 2015 for your chance to win a Skull Throne ARC!

The Skull Throne will be released in March in the U.S./U.K. with translations to follow. Pre-order the U.S. edition from Random House today.

Posted on January 22, 2015 at 8:00 am by Hannah
Filed under Cassie, Contests, Fan Art, Fans, Meg, Skull Throne, Tweephole
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