Posted on

A Date with Danger

A brief update to let you guys know that I’m over 16,000 words into the eleventh volume of Lazarus Gray. In case you’re fearful that you’ve missed something, volumes 8-10 PLUS a Lazarus Gray/Nightveil crossover are all in the hands of Pro Se’s editors. Volume 11 deals with the 30 pieces of silver that Judas received to betray Christ… and also brings back Nakam for some adventure within the confines of Nazi-held Germany. I’m pretty happy to say it features some excellent moments for every member of Assistance Unlimited, too.

I hope you guys will enjoy it as much as I am writing it!

Posted on

Spending Time in Sovereign City

nakam_bw_largeMy personal life has been topsy-turvy lately and I was really struggling with my writing as a result. I kind of sputtered my way through 20,000+ words on a Babylon sequel and about 3,000 on a Gothic-style story. I was still sad, though, and unhappy with what I was producing.

So I’ve done what I always do when nothing else seems to work: I go back to Sovereign City. A joint creation of myself, Tommy Hancock and Derrick Ferguson, the Sovereign City Project was going to be home to several characters as part of a shared universe. Tommy delivered Doc Daye, Derrick brought in Fortune McCall and I had Lazarus Gray (and, later, Gravedigger). Me being me, I also tied in The Peregrine and everything including the kitchen sink.

Writing about Lazarus and his companions brings me peace – it always feels like coming home and the words come easily. The book I’m working on now is the 11th volume… books 8-10, plus a Lazarus/Nightveil book, are already in Pro Se’s hands. Volume 11 will bring back Nakam, a character I introduced back in book 6. I may be living on my own now after twenty-three years of marriage but Lazarus and I will hopefully be spending many more years (and volumes) together.

It’s funny that fictional characters can become so real that they’re like family. I need them more than ever and they haven’t let me down yet.

The art accompanying this post is by George Sellas.

Posted on

The Reviews Keep Coming!

José Rivera posted a review of The Adventures of Lazarus Gray Volume Six on Amazon. He gave it five stars and said the following:

Reading a new volume of Lazarus Gray is like being wrapped in a blanket of comfort and familiarity. You’d think after so many volumes and the loss of Lazarus after the crossover novel that things would begin to wind down. NOPE! Even with their leader away, the team carries on. In this volume we get a few stories, one of which sees the return of Mr. Death. Our old friends Bob Benton, Abby Cross and Eidolon return, along with appearances from The Heap and Nakam, whose origin I really enjoyed.

I can’t get enough of the tales of Sovereign City. And now that 1938 is coming to a close, I can’t wait to see what 1939 has in store for Lazarus, Kelly and the entire team over at Assistance Unlimited!

Thanks, José! I feel the same way about Lazarus and his friends – when I return to Sovereign City, it always feels like coming home. This strange family unit have become pretty special to me and I’m glad that so many people have expressed similar sentiments.

1939 will be another interesting year for Assistance Unlimited so keep watch!

Posted on

Stuff and Things

rook_v2_kaslov_smallHello All!

Just wanted to give a quick update on various things – the big crossover novel should be wrapped up in the next couple of weeks. I have a big action set-piece to write and then some clean-up chapters but then it’s put to bed and shipped off to my editors. One of the questions I get asked the most is “What characters are in it?” How about: Lazarus Gray, The Peregrine, Gravedigger, The Darkling, Assistance Unlimited, The Black Bat, Leonid Kaslov, Catalyst, The Black Terror, Thunder Jim Wade, The Heap, Fortune McCall and The Dark Gentleman? That’s not even counting the plethora of villains…!

So you can bank on it being a very crowded book. I’m not sure it will see print in 2015, however. Pro Se’s publishing schedule is extremely packed these days – but it will see print eventually, I promise! Until then you’ll have Lazarus Gray Volume 5 to tide you over — that one should be out very, very soon.

Once I’m finished with this novel, I have several projects lined up that I need to work on: the second Dark Gentleman short; the first Melody Grace story (who?); the first Nakam story (who?); an Avenger novella; Lazarus Gray Volume 6 and Gravedigger Volume 3.

Woof! I’m busy for the next year or more.

Take care out there, my friends. It’s a dangerous world.