Runnin' with the Chaos Horde

I've been holding off on posting here lately until I regain access to Photoshop, so I could post more of Chris's artwork from the new SENTINELS books. But that still hasn't happened. So I felt I could at least post an update on what I'm working on at the moment.

Right now it's all MARS McCOY AND THE CHAOS HORDE.

I'm hoping to finish the first draft of that one in a couple of months. It's looking like a publisher may be lined up for it, so I really need to knock it out and turn it in. Plus, folks are beginning to clamor for SENTINELS vol 4: THE SHIVA ADVENT. (I don't think "clamor" is too much of an exaggeration, really...)

So: Back here soon with more artwork from the Sentinels books, and then with some preview sections from the Mars book. Stay tuned!!

Free Comic Book Day

The four of us hit the comic shop in Belleville, IL, around noon for Free Comic Book Day. They had tons of folks in there, and two local artists doing sketches for the little kids. (I spoke with one briefly about doing some work in the future with me...)

I picked up free issues of HELLBOY, Steve Rude's THE MOTH, and ALL STAR SUPERMAN #1. Maddie got OWLY and TINY TITANS and something else. I tried to convince Ami to get a couple for me (the limit was 3 per person), but she got more for Maddie instead. Oh well! The benefits of being nine!

Later I picked up Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War computer game. Not that I will ever have any time at all to play it, but I love the WH40K universe and this lets you be the Tau! They're an alien race of soldiers who all wear armor that's sort of a cross between Stormtroopers and Iron Man. How could I resist that? Now to see if I ever actually play it...

(The way Dan Abnett portrays the WH40K universe has had a lot of influence on the way I'm writing Mars McCoy. I intend it to read like a vintage pulp revival book, but some of the mood and ideas I'm carrying over from what I've absorbed from Abnett-- whose work I tremendously enjoy and respect.)

More Mars McCoy today

At some point today, I will be turning my attention to MARS McCOY AND THE CHAOS HORDE.

The book is pretty much plotted out. I've written the first six chapters or so. I understand the main villain and his motivations. Things are rolling right along.

I'm very excited to have created a nemesis for Mars. And I think he's one who works perfectly as Mars's opposite and protagonist, in every way. I hope so!

Here's a hint: His name is Deimos. Except when it's not... Heh.

Gosh, I'd have loved to have this book done and with me at Windy City. Folks there would have eaten it up.

More news soon about the changes we've made in its upcoming publication. Plus news on cover artist, interior artist, etc. Lots to talk about with Mars!

What I'm working on now

At present, I am:

* Editing ASSEMBLED! 2 for White Rocket Books

* Writing MARS McCOY AND THE CHAOS HORDE for Ron Fortier and Airship 27 Productions

* Plotting SENTINELS (vol. 4): THE SHIVA ADVENT for Swarm Press

* Revising the interiors and receiving interior art (from Chris Kohler) for all three existing SENTINELS novels for Swarm Press

* Re-writing LUCIAN: DARK GOD'S HOMECOMING (no publisher attached as of yet) (more info coming soon!)

* Re-plotting (?!) and re-writing ALPHA/OMEGA (no publisher attached as of yet) (ditto)

* Plotting the HAND OF THE MACHINE series (double ditto)

There's what I think to be some exciting stuff here. Can't wait to say more about it. Soon...