I’m delighted to see my novella “Shadowdrop,” from Beneath Ceaseless Skies issue 261, is showing up on various end-of-year recommended reading lists, such as at

Tangent Online, Featured Futures, and Quick Sip Reviews.

It seems that fantasy and science fiction novellas are becoming more popular as a form, and it’s exciting to be a part of that.

Thank you to everyone who’s read the story, special thanks to anyone who reviews it       (whatever you think), and happy new year to all.

Hi — It’s been a while! I’m very pleased to announce two recent stories:

“What Lies In Ice” is an action-packed new Gaunt and Bone story in Tales from the Magician’s Skull, published by Goodman Games.

“Shadowdrop” is a standalone novella set in Gaunt and Bone’s world. You can read it for free at Beneath Ceaseless Skies.

Many thanks to the mighty editors Howard Andrew Jones (minion of the Skull) and Scott H. Andrews (servant of the Skies) for all their advice and encouragement.

Just a quick note to say the third Gaunt and Bone novel, The Chart of Tomorrows, is on sale. This one wraps up a trilogy concerning our heroes’ rather difficult quest to retire from adventuring and raise a family. Along the way they will face dangers inspired by Scandinavian history, mythology, and folklore. Oh, and did I mention that steppe nomads are invading via balloon? This story takes us into epic fantasy territory, but Gaunt and Bone, in true sword-and-sorcery style, mainly just want to survive with their family intact as the world teeters on the brink.

Reader John Banister points out that the author’s note on distances in The Silk Map has things exactly backwards — a li is usually assumed to be around a third of a mile, not three miles as the note states. The map in the book, and the text as far as I can tell, follow the rule of a li being a third of a mile. But, embarrassingly, the author’s note is out in front saying something different.

I apologize for this glaring error. I hope it doesn’t hurt anyone’s enjoyment of the book.

Speaking of the map, John Banister also notes it’s possible to expand the view on the Kindle version: “To zoom the map, hold your finger on it until the magnifier icon appears, and then tap that icon. Also, images have more contrast at higher brightness settings.” Many thanks to Mr. Banister for both comments.

I also want to share the happy news that Kerem Beyit has just won a Chesley Award in the category of “Best Cover Illustration: Paperback Book” for his wonderful cover for The Scroll of Years. I still remember my first reaction to seeing that artwork, which was that I merely wrote about that world, while Kerem had obviously been there. Congratulations to Kerem and to all the winners and nominees. See: http://www.asfa-art.org/pages/06-currentawardspage.html

Below is the map drawn by master cartographer Rhys Davies of Gaunt and Bone’s world, or at least a good portion of it. I’m delighted by how his art transformed my scribbles into something that looks more like a real, albeit fantastical, place. (Thanks to Rhys for the file.) The map appears, appropriately enough, in The Silk Map, which went on sale this week.