Howdy, folks. As things continue to move along with Bane of All Things (BoAT), I have something new for you – the first look at the next book in the series, The Crucible Tree (TCT).

Please check it out at https://www.inkshares.com/books/the-crucible-tree and be sure to click that FOLLOW button!

Now, this second book is in “Draft Mode.” I am not yet taking pre-orders. That will come later – like when BoAT is actually available and headed your way. And as I said in my last update, that is likely next summer as we wait for the world of book retail and promotion to return to some semblance of normal.

In the meantime, I continue to work away and keep the dream alive, eager to share more of this story. At the link above, you will find sample chapters to read. These have been carefully selected to A) avoid spoilers for Bane of All Things, and, B) avoid as much as possible dropping you into the middle of something with no clue what’s going on. 

So, please check it out, give it a comment on the REVIEWS tab, and click that FOLLOW button. The more reviews and followers TCT has, even in Draft Mode, the more attention it will draw from other users on the Inkshares platform.

Accessing your log-in

Now, it may have been many moons since you last logged into your Inkshares account, and you have to be logged in to follow or post a review. If you have any issue, it can usually be fixed with a password reset – click the FORGOT PASSWORD link.

This is obvious and easy to do on a desktop. But if you are visiting on a mobile device – tablet or smartphone – you may have log-in issues such as being told your password is wrong or your email is already in use. Even if it’s not obvious, the real issue, and the fix, is again to request a password reset.

If you still have a problem, you can contact hello@inkshares.com for support.

That’s all for now. As always, thank you again for your continued patience and support!

Stay safe and be kind.

-       Leo 

Howdy, folks. Just a quick note to confirm that the Editorial Letter is in my hand and first round revisions have begun in earnest. My intention is to turn around the new draft of BoAT by Christmas. Only then, when Inkshares can assess how well I have executed on said revisions, will it be time for a serious conversation about a release date.

But a wordsmith can dream, can’t he? My hope would be a release for the fall of 2020, but we will see. I REPEAT – that is my hope, not a given. It may even be wildly unrealistic, but we will see where we stand in the new year.

What is the significance of next fall? Each October, Ottawa plays host to CAN•CON – the Conference on Canadian Content in Speculative Arts and Literature. This is the place to cross paths with authors, gamers, poets and illustrators of fantasy, science fiction and horror. The creative community of the National Capital Region turns out in force, joined by colleagues and special guests from across Canada and the U.S. I support CAN•CON on the media relations side as a volunteer and am also a recurring panelist.

It would be fantastic to have a launch event for BoAT at CAN•CON 2020!

But before we get there, there is lots of work to do. For Inkshares, it’s not just about how quickly we can arrive at a strong and polished product, but when it makes the best business sense to launch it into the market.

For now, my focus must be on taking to heart the awesome insight that my editor, Sarah, has provided on the manuscript and forging ahead with those revisions. She has made great observations about some things I need to work on with character and pacing and effectively getting the reader oriented and grounded in this world that I have created.

But while there is still much work to do, Sarah’s overall assessment of the manuscript was as follows:

“Bane of All Things is an exciting, rich novel that creates a truly vivid and complex world that is original and interesting. Obviously, comparisons will be drawn between your novel and A Song of Ice and Fire and perhaps An Ember in the Ashes, but it is a unique entity. Your novel is engaging because the fantasy realm that it draws us into is intricate and compelling and the themes of loyalty, faith, and loss help you to tell human stories in a fantasy setting. You’ve created a fascinating cast of characters and creatures.”

That works for me.