With the holidays coming (or already started), I wanted to take time to thank everyone that has contributed to the blog here. To everyone that has read my blogs, novel, short stories and what-have-you, I thank you all and hope that I can live up to the challenge of continuing to produce quality posts to keep you entertained and thinking.
With Christmas and New Year’s around the corner, I am taking the rest of the year off to spend time with family and friends. Know that I have several short stories into an editor and there should be several available for download in the first quarter of next year, which I hope you all enjoy. Then I can get back to writing book 2 in the ‘Beginnings’ series.
I will also have the results of the ‘How Much Would You Pay For an eBook?’ poll early next year to share with you all.
So, with that said, I wish you all Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year and I will talk to you all again next year!
(PS. Do not forget the contest for the naming of the Character Class of Elec Stormwhisper. I am eagerly awaiting more suggestions from fans, so please feel free to chime in!)
See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!
Please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience, see direct links to purchase Covenant of the Faceless Knights and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!
Photo from Stock.xchng.
All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios, LLC 2011 unless otherwise noted.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Is a Picture Really Worth a Thousand Words?
I have heard this said on numerous occasions and believe the concept to be sound. While the saying is somewhat true, I disagree on a few points and I will tell you why as we move along here. When you gaze at a piece of art, it is meant to engage you emotionally. It brings up or plays on many feelings and emotions without uttering a word. If you look at classic art or abstract art, you cannot help but be moved. I am told that if you gaze upon Michelangelo’s ‘The Last Judgment’ in person, that it is breathtaking. This I cannot refute.
When you look at a picture in a book depicting a scene within or even a movie based on a book, the setting is there as a backdrop and many details can be overlooked by an audience as the action and the acting takes center stage. This fact robs the viewer somewhat of important details that you could not ignore if you were reading a book. Most series or movies are trying to fit many words into an hour and half film as well, which is difficult at best. Even with a limitless budget, it is impossible to cram that much detail into movie. A series is a bit easier, but still, details are left out. It is unavoidable.
Like any artist, the writer sets the scene and describes the landscape and what someone is feeling within an environment. The detail of this can be simple or even downright unbelievably thorough. That can be easily lost in a picture. Inner-monologue that reflects the degree of emotion within is lost, and sadly so. That descriptive inner monologue can be the greatest part about a story or novel and is the driving force behind the entire journey. Getting to experience what your hero or heroine sees through his or her eyes is literally unique to the written word. A narrative or description of an environment directly told from a character’s point of view can be some of the most compelling drama ever experienced. Words can stir up more sensation and deliver a sense of impending doom, fear or elation more so than any director or actor could hope to convey in any movie.
That being said, I implore any of my readers to share passages or quotes from any book that may have affected them emotionally in some way. What passages have affected you deeply or made you walk away feeling uniquely satisfied?
See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!
Please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience, see direct links to purchase Covenant of the Faceless Knights and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!
Photo from Stock.xchng.
All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios, LLC 2011 unless otherwise noted.
When you look at a picture in a book depicting a scene within or even a movie based on a book, the setting is there as a backdrop and many details can be overlooked by an audience as the action and the acting takes center stage. This fact robs the viewer somewhat of important details that you could not ignore if you were reading a book. Most series or movies are trying to fit many words into an hour and half film as well, which is difficult at best. Even with a limitless budget, it is impossible to cram that much detail into movie. A series is a bit easier, but still, details are left out. It is unavoidable.
Like any artist, the writer sets the scene and describes the landscape and what someone is feeling within an environment. The detail of this can be simple or even downright unbelievably thorough. That can be easily lost in a picture. Inner-monologue that reflects the degree of emotion within is lost, and sadly so. That descriptive inner monologue can be the greatest part about a story or novel and is the driving force behind the entire journey. Getting to experience what your hero or heroine sees through his or her eyes is literally unique to the written word. A narrative or description of an environment directly told from a character’s point of view can be some of the most compelling drama ever experienced. Words can stir up more sensation and deliver a sense of impending doom, fear or elation more so than any director or actor could hope to convey in any movie.
That being said, I implore any of my readers to share passages or quotes from any book that may have affected them emotionally in some way. What passages have affected you deeply or made you walk away feeling uniquely satisfied?
See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!
Please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience, see direct links to purchase Covenant of the Faceless Knights and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!
Photo from Stock.xchng.
All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios, LLC 2011 unless otherwise noted.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Class-Naming Contest for D&D RPG Supplement!
Elec by William Kenney |
Elec by Justine Babcock |
When naming the class, we came up with several different tentative names. He is a striker class that uses alchemical potions to enhance his combat and grant him certain effects. His alchemical unions grant him either a speed or strength augmentation as a class in 4th edition D&D.
The first working name was a simple one called the Alchemical Warrior. Then the Alchemic Warrior followed. After a brief research into alchemy, we were using another one called the Hermetic Warrior, based on the definition of hermetic: of, pertaining to, or characteristic of occult science, especially alchemy. Then there was the name Alchemystic, which was thrown about as well. Some of us liked some names, others likes different ones.
What would you name this class if it was yours?
First off, let me know if you like one of the names listed above.
If we decide to use your suggestion, you will be given credit in the supplement; you will receive a signed hardcover of Covenant of the Faceless Knights and be given a free copy of the RPG supplement once it becomes available!
Good luck and I am really looking forward to seeing some creativity here! Let the naming begin!
See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!
Please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience, see direct links to purchase Covenant of the Faceless Knights and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!
Photo from Stock.xchng.
All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios, LLC 2011 unless otherwise noted.
Photo by Alexandre Jaeger Vendruscolo. Elec sketches by William Kenney and Justine Babcock.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Ashenclaw Studios 2012 Game Plan
With the New Year fast approaching and my new job demanding much of my attention, I wanted to address a post concerning what Ashenclaw Studios has in store for 2012!
Firstly, I have been writing and editing and generally poring over a series of short stories that I intend to release soon, hopefully in the first quarter of the year. I am targeting around April to have at least the first of the six out, with the others to follow shortly after. The short stories will include the happenings of the three High Council members Tiyarnon the High Priest of The Shimmering One, Nimaira Silvershade, the half-elven mage and Rolin Hardbeard, the dwarven warrior, prior to the Prologue to CotFK*. If you read the book, it may explain why they had to go and find help! Then I will add tales (from approximately 12 years or so prior to the novel) concerning our protagonists, which will add to the character building and give a glimpse into their history, describing important events in their past that put them on the paths they currently walk. These will theoretically be ninety-nine cent downloads straight to your kindles, Nooks, iPads and other reading devices.
Secondly, Nick Titano (of Infernal Titans & Ashenclaw Studios) and I, as well as the rest of the gang at the studio (Tom, Liz and the others) are working on a role-playing aid that we intend to publish as a supplement to 4th edition Dungeons and Dragons as well. The work has stalled a bit with the holidays approaching, but we plan to accelerate the work after the first of the year. This is requiring quite a bit of work, as we are intending to give the audience a broad and general lay of the land with all of the important towns and hotspots in Wothlondia clearly marked and a brief description of the towns. We figured a general description of the cities and areas might be just the spark that a Dungeon Master might need to spice up his own campaign or even start a new one in the Realm of Ashenclaw setting. We are also working on a brand new character class based on the alchemistic stylings of Elec Stormwhisper in the first novel. He is being designed as Nick describes it as “an At-Will, Encounter, Daily, Utility class,” as well as a few new monsters that we have play tested and are—if I may say so—awesome! We are also working on a shield-bashing Ranger defender essentials build.
As a side note, I will be having a contest shortly to give the potion-popping class of Elec Stormwhisper a name where you can win a signed copy of CotFK if we choose your suggestion! We have a few ideas, but I am not going to give any indication of what we are thinking and leave it strictly up to you.
There are also several themes being worked on as well for the RPG. I am shooting for a midsummer release of this with possibly more supplements to come. I will keep anyone posted that asks. This will certainly be available as a download for sure and we are looking into a possible print version, though I would like more feedback from you gamers out there what you would like to see. Is a download to your laptop or tablet good enough?
Thirdly, I am hoping beyond hope to release the second novel in the Beginnings series by the end of next year. I am leaning again toward an eBook only version of this, but have not decided for sure. I had started writing this late last year with an outline and got about 1/3 of the way through before business decisions tore me away from this and back to getting the first novel published and put together. It is tentatively entitled -- Secrets of the Ebonite Mines.
As always, I would love to hear from any and everyone concerning the stories and the RPG supplement.
*Covenant of the Faceless Knights, my first full-length novel.
See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!
Please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience, see direct links to purchase Covenant of the Faceless Knights and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!
Photos from Stock.xchng & Nick Titano's camera @2011 Gencon!
All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios, LLC 2011 unless otherwise noted.
Firstly, I have been writing and editing and generally poring over a series of short stories that I intend to release soon, hopefully in the first quarter of the year. I am targeting around April to have at least the first of the six out, with the others to follow shortly after. The short stories will include the happenings of the three High Council members Tiyarnon the High Priest of The Shimmering One, Nimaira Silvershade, the half-elven mage and Rolin Hardbeard, the dwarven warrior, prior to the Prologue to CotFK*. If you read the book, it may explain why they had to go and find help! Then I will add tales (from approximately 12 years or so prior to the novel) concerning our protagonists, which will add to the character building and give a glimpse into their history, describing important events in their past that put them on the paths they currently walk. These will theoretically be ninety-nine cent downloads straight to your kindles, Nooks, iPads and other reading devices.
Secondly, Nick Titano (of Infernal Titans & Ashenclaw Studios) and I, as well as the rest of the gang at the studio (Tom, Liz and the others) are working on a role-playing aid that we intend to publish as a supplement to 4th edition Dungeons and Dragons as well. The work has stalled a bit with the holidays approaching, but we plan to accelerate the work after the first of the year. This is requiring quite a bit of work, as we are intending to give the audience a broad and general lay of the land with all of the important towns and hotspots in Wothlondia clearly marked and a brief description of the towns. We figured a general description of the cities and areas might be just the spark that a Dungeon Master might need to spice up his own campaign or even start a new one in the Realm of Ashenclaw setting. We are also working on a brand new character class based on the alchemistic stylings of Elec Stormwhisper in the first novel. He is being designed as Nick describes it as “an At-Will, Encounter, Daily, Utility class,” as well as a few new monsters that we have play tested and are—if I may say so—awesome! We are also working on a shield-bashing Ranger defender essentials build.
As a side note, I will be having a contest shortly to give the potion-popping class of Elec Stormwhisper a name where you can win a signed copy of CotFK if we choose your suggestion! We have a few ideas, but I am not going to give any indication of what we are thinking and leave it strictly up to you.
There are also several themes being worked on as well for the RPG. I am shooting for a midsummer release of this with possibly more supplements to come. I will keep anyone posted that asks. This will certainly be available as a download for sure and we are looking into a possible print version, though I would like more feedback from you gamers out there what you would like to see. Is a download to your laptop or tablet good enough?
Thirdly, I am hoping beyond hope to release the second novel in the Beginnings series by the end of next year. I am leaning again toward an eBook only version of this, but have not decided for sure. I had started writing this late last year with an outline and got about 1/3 of the way through before business decisions tore me away from this and back to getting the first novel published and put together. It is tentatively entitled -- Secrets of the Ebonite Mines.
As always, I would love to hear from any and everyone concerning the stories and the RPG supplement.
*Covenant of the Faceless Knights, my first full-length novel.
See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!
Please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience, see direct links to purchase Covenant of the Faceless Knights and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!
Photos from Stock.xchng & Nick Titano's camera @2011 Gencon!
All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios, LLC 2011 unless otherwise noted.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Is Writing A Full Time Job?
As I have started a new job this week in the I.T. field (FINALLY!), in which I had earned a B.S. last December, I am finding that it requires quite a bit of my attention! As anyone who has started a new job, the requirements, training and familiarization that comes with that is quite a job in itself. Tasked with aiding those who are both technologically challenged and those who are aces in the department, familiarizing myself with the company and its policies, and for the next week, traveling out of state, I find it can be a bit overwhelming.
Don’t misunderstand my point, I am grateful to be working at all in this economic environment and am thankful for that. There are so many of us out of work in the U.S. that I am grateful to not only be working, but doing something that I like! That being said, most everyone has demanding jobs, social lives and families, etc, that pull you away from your writing. How do you deal with it?
I assume that with time, my job will hopefully become less intense and the answers I need to access will become clearer. Most of us have families, children and relatives that require quality time and raising children is a lot of work, I know. But with family, work, cooking, cleaning, running errands and whatever other activities we have, when do you find time to write?
I ask you this: Is writing a full time job?
Share with my peers and I how you make time to write.
See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!
Please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience, see direct links to purchase Covenant of the Faceless Knights and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!
Photos from Stock.xchng.
All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios, LLC 2011 unless otherwise noted.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Epic Fantasy…Steady As She Goes
It lingers and lurks around every corner, waiting to dig its claws into the next unsuspecting victim. Hanging back in the shadows, it waits for an unsuspecting and wide-eyed person to wander into its midst…. What is it?
Fantasy!
The genre, along with its blurry-edged step-sibling, Sci-Fi, have been captivating imaginations worldwide for decades. It is a staple genre and one that I feel will survive anything.
As a follow up to the fairly popular topic I posted recently, Is YA Fantasy Taking Over, I add these thoughts about plain ‘ol fantasy!
Will the genre ever decrease in popularity? I don’t think so. Just like the super hero and zombie genres, they will remain constant. Why, you may ask? In my humble opinion, the fans of these genres are ‘lifers’. They remain unwavering in their commitment to the genre and will never lose interest, no matter their age, workload, responsibilities or income.
One thing we have going for us is that simple fact: fantasy literature is steady. There seems to be no swells or drops; it simply is. I take that with me when I write, knowing that the audience if faithful, intelligent, imaginative and passionate! Fantasy I filled with action, mythical creatures and even some good romance, as well as the manipulation of the supernatural to propel your story. Fantasy has taken a fantastic bump in popularity ever since Tolkien breathed life into it that fateful day in September of 1937! With The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings that followed, fantasy has never been the same. And I love him for it! And ever since 2001, when Peter Jackson breathed cinematic life into Tolkien’s words, the genre has never been more popular.
What do you think?
See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!
Please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience, see direct links to purchase Covenant of the Faceless Knights and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!
Photos from Stock.xchng.
All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios, LLC 2011 unless otherwise noted.
Fantasy!
The genre, along with its blurry-edged step-sibling, Sci-Fi, have been captivating imaginations worldwide for decades. It is a staple genre and one that I feel will survive anything.
As a follow up to the fairly popular topic I posted recently, Is YA Fantasy Taking Over, I add these thoughts about plain ‘ol fantasy!
Will the genre ever decrease in popularity? I don’t think so. Just like the super hero and zombie genres, they will remain constant. Why, you may ask? In my humble opinion, the fans of these genres are ‘lifers’. They remain unwavering in their commitment to the genre and will never lose interest, no matter their age, workload, responsibilities or income.
One thing we have going for us is that simple fact: fantasy literature is steady. There seems to be no swells or drops; it simply is. I take that with me when I write, knowing that the audience if faithful, intelligent, imaginative and passionate! Fantasy I filled with action, mythical creatures and even some good romance, as well as the manipulation of the supernatural to propel your story. Fantasy has taken a fantastic bump in popularity ever since Tolkien breathed life into it that fateful day in September of 1937! With The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings that followed, fantasy has never been the same. And I love him for it! And ever since 2001, when Peter Jackson breathed cinematic life into Tolkien’s words, the genre has never been more popular.
What do you think?
See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!
Please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience, see direct links to purchase Covenant of the Faceless Knights and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!
Photos from Stock.xchng.
All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios, LLC 2011 unless otherwise noted.
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