Back at the Keyboard...

...And it's about time. This won't be about farming, nosiree. There's writing to be done!

I've completed another fantasy book. It's not Meterra; it's an idea I've been toying with for quite a few years. I laid down the foundation of the book a couple of years ago, but only now is it ready to be read and published. I've sent it to my first reader (Hi, Mom!).

I think one of the things that's held me back from getting more stuff published is the dearth of usable cover art. If I had even a modicum of artistic talent, I'd look into doing them myself, but I gave up on art when I failed stick people in second grade. And with the economy in the current state, paying someone else to do it is not a viable option, unfortunately.

But, let's face it: It's the writing itself that matters. And I have finally sat my butt down in front of the keyboard and knocked this one out. It went so well that I've already started on the sequel and gotten the first chapter of that book done as well.

I'll find something I can slap on as a cover, just to get the book out. I haven't published anything since 2020, and it's time that changed. 2023 will see more accomplished, even with the increased workload on the farm. Because writing matters to me, and it's time I gave it the attention it deserves.

So, what's this one about? It's about a wizard. An apprentice wizard, to be more precise. His name is Jandar, and he's apprenticed to a very famous and powerful wizard, the kind that makes Gandalf and Dumbledore look like the Wizard of Oz. But this is Jandar's story, and the famous and powerful wizard doesn't take up a lot of screen time. Jandar gets sent to a faraway place on a mission to serve his master, and finds himself embroiled in a very serious mess, one that he has to fix in order to save humanity from eternal slavery. And why does Jandar have to do it, instead of the all-powerful super-wizard? You'll have to read it to find out. Suffice to say, Jandar's actually the only one who can do it.

This isn't an epic fantasy in the Tolkien vein; it's a pulp-action adventure. Lots of action, lots of fun stuff going on, not a lot of deep thought and philosophical musings. Hopefully, it will also be defined as 'fun'. Because if it's not fun, what's the point of writing in the first place?

Here's a brief excerpt of the book. Jandar has been magically transported to where he is meant to be, but he's been spotted by some unsavory goblins.

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       Jandar quickly gauged his distance from the copse. If he hurried, he should be able to beat them there, so he let his cloak billow about him as he ran. The cloak made a tempting target for archers, but the goblins didn’t seem to be using them. Grateful, he outdistanced them and ducked into the copse before they could run him down.

      Once he was out of sight of the road, he called to mind one of his favorite spells, the spell of Camouflage. Though he would not actually be invisible, he would blend into the surrounding terrain well enough that only the closest scrutiny would notice him, assuming he could remain perfectly still. He stood by a thick maple tree, the only one wide enough to provide him with suitable cover.

      Closing his eyes, he focused on the words of power. He could hear the goblins approaching, but he forced them out of his mind and concentrated. With the scale of a chameleon in hand, he spoke the words in a soft voice so as not to draw further attention to himself. He felt the scale disappear as it absorbed the magic of the whispered words, and after a moment of silence he opened his eyes.

      He watched the goblins tramp into the forest, their beady eyes looking everywhere for their prey. Jandar stood absolutely still, not daring to breathe too deeply. Two of the goblins ran right past him, oblivious to his presence.

      “Where did he go?” demanded one of them.

      “He must have slipped through to the other side.”

      “We should have brought the dogs,” said the first one. “They could sniff him out.”

      Not likely, thought Jandar. The spell of Camouflage also masked the caster’s scent, making it match the surrounding smells as well as the visual terrain. But he wasn’t about to explain that to the goblins.

      Out of the corner of his eye, Jandar saw a larger goblinoid approach. Unlike the majority, who were at least a foot shorter than the apprentice, this one stood more than six feet tall, his leathery skin and hide armor nearly blending together in a form of camouflage of his own. Regally, the tall goblinoid looked around, watching his minions continue their futile search. Behind him, six other goblins guarded three human children.

      “Azrak!” he shouted, and one of the searching goblins turned back.

      “I hear and obey, Master!” he simpered with an obsequious bow. “What do you wish of poor Arzak?”

      “This human that we saw appears to be some sort of crafty woodsman. Probably from the Panther tribe.” He sniffed the air and laughed raucously. “Or what’s left of them, anyhow. If you put your nose to it, you’ll smell him out.”

      “The Panthers are crafty indeed, Master!” agreed Azrak. “But they are not crafty enough to elude the Eyes of Jenkra!”

      “Not usually, no,” admitted Jenkra with a scowl. “Why has this one eluded my Eyes?”

      Azrak shrank back, almost whimpering. “It is not known, Master Jenkra! The human must have used the copse to distract us and ran out the other side.”

      “Then why aren’t my Eyes through the copse as well?” demanded Jenkra, glaring at his cowardly minion. “Send ten, now! I want that human found before he warns his village of our approach!”

      “Of course, Master!” replied Azrak with alacrity. He grabbed the nearest two goblins and chastised them on behalf of Jenkra, ordering them to grab four other goblins each and scatter to the other side of the copse to find the errant human.

      “What troubles you, Master?” asked Azrak in a tense voice.

      “I don’t like his appearance,” answered the tall goblinoid. “It is too convenient. The other tribes may have learned what happened to the Panthers, and intend to ambush us before we return to the Temple.”

      “The humans are fools,” hissed Azrak. “They cannot stand up to your mighty magic, Master!”

      “No, they can’t.” Jenkra looked around, and his eyes narrowed. “Cease, Azrak. I must concentrate.”

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Will Jenkra discover the hidden apprentice? Will the goblins triumph? Will the other tribes suffer the same fate as the mysterious Panthers? How will Jandar overcome the odds and save the day?

You'll have to read it to find out.

In the meantime, I have other fantasy books published, including The Devil's Playground, an anthology of stories from the world of Meterra. Check it out on Amazon, and enjoy!