Happy New Year! Hope you had a great holiday time and that you get a good start on whatever goals you set for yourself.
So, updates for you! I completed the developmental edit and submitted it to the editor for round two. It was a fun task that involved a lot of juggling and slashing and gnashing of teeth and many, many, many hours of Civilization 5 keeping my focused with its turn based system of game play:-)
Also, we've settled on a concept for the cover, taking the original version and blending it with an idea suggested by a reader that touched on themes the publisher felt were significant.
Rise Concept Cover
My thanks to the Inkshares and Girl Friday teams as well as to the artist, Chris McElfresh, for the work and care they've given to see this project come even closer to fruition. September will be here before you know it!
We aren't doing this in a vacuum. All of us authors who are in development or production or who are already printed owe this community for the help and work each and every one does on their own projects. We bring more eyes to this unique community with our successes and even our failures. Taking the power of publication selection and giving it to you the reader is such a novel concept, pardon the pun, and I hope you take advantage of it to help expand Inkshares library of completed projects. I, for one, am looking forward to an entire shelf of Inkshares books and that's saying something as my wife and I went digital a long time ago. Be sure to check out all the funding projects, especially those competing in the Sword and Laser Sequel contest (https://www.inkshares.com/contests/the-sword-laser-collection-contest-the-sequel) as that competition ends in just over 10 days!
Onward and upward!
Happy New Year's Eve! Just a quick update today.
So this, this is pretty cool to see...
We have officially joined the Quill Collection page! Even though Dax is still technically in progress, this little detail makes it just a tiny bit more real and gives me the warm-and-fuzzies. Woo hoo!
Also, fantasy author Jamison Stone (Rune of the Apprentice) invited me to write a guest blog post at his site, Apotheosis Studios! I discuss a bit of my creative background, along with some of the inspiration for Dax, as seen in the dashing rogues gallery below.

Check out the article HERE.
New Year's resolutions, anyone? I have a couple.
1) Finish Dax, of course
2) Enjoy a nice break after publishing. Get through at least some of the stacks of books and video games I've amassed.
3) Maybe finally take up violin
4) Back to the gym. My back is killing me with all this sitting at the computer. (Yes, despite popular belief, it is totally possible to be a super nerd AND fit!)
OK gang! Back to writing, writing, writing...
-Tony
Blood Dawn is DONE!
Well, the big day is almost here! Everyone got all their shopping done? Made sure you got something special for everyone on your list?
Before you finish of that list, might I suggest you take a peek at Inkshares current contest (https://www.inkshares.com/contests/the-sword-laser-collection-contest-the-sequel) and sending a gift an author's way by way of supporting their project? I don't want to affect your choice, so I won't highlight any one in particular. There are a lot of good projects and I know it would mean a LOT to all of those authors if you were to throw a little Holiday cheer their way.
Also, I recommend you go check out the in production or already published list(https://www.inkshares.com/search?genres=All&scope=published%2Cin%20production). It's chock full of amazing books and many are still offering a buy one get one free deal. I took advantage of that to get presents for many a friend, spreading the Inkshares logo around the world. My daughter is now so excited to see a package arrive from Inkshares because she thinks it will be for her or be my book (she hasn't quite latched on the the September 2016 publication date yet).
As for my book, an update is in order. I'm up to me eyeballs in the developmental edit. It's a good bit of work and is taking quite a bit of time. It's not as simple as changing a word here or there. It's a full on change to conversations, weighing what to keep the same versus what to change. Needless to say it's slow work, but, in the end, I think it will be better for it.
Also, we made past round two of the cover selection discussion. We're going with a version the readers have not seen yet but one I think is a fair mix of using the original cover but with a fresh twist on it that pulls in elements others liked from the other options.
Happy Holidays!
Brian Guthrie
http://www.guthron.com
http://tiny.cc/riseonink

Thanks for the graphic, Vincent!
It's official, gang! We are OVER THE LINE!
Dax WILL be published. I can't thank you all enough. The show's not over and there's still a TON of work to do, but for now, I'm over the moon.
Now, a couple updates. First, fantasy author C. Brennecke invited me to do an interview for her blog, Myths, Mists & Musings! She had some great questions about the book, and naturally, I rambled on far too long. Haha. There's also a new exclusive excerpt from Dax to read! Check it all out HERE.
Also, be sure to check out Seven Shards: The Colors of Wine. There's about a month to go and plenty of orders to fill. Let's pay it forward and get another great book published!
And finally, a new special video update! I was planning to release it as a "4 days left" video. I guess it's now a victory video. ENJOY!
-Tony
Well hello there, supporters!