Order in Chaos

With Games Workshop's recent release of "Betrayal at Calth" (which I'd really like to pick up at some point to start some Iron Hands), there's been some renewed interest in the good old XVII Legion.

Sor Talgron looking badass in Neil Roberts's awesome cover for The Purge. 

In the wake of that, I've had a few people ask me about the chronological order of my Word Bearers stories. Here it is:

1. Horus Heresy: Scions of the Storm (short story)

2. Horus Heresy: The Purge (novella)

3. Horus Heresy: Dark Heart (short story)

4. Dark Apostle (novel)

5. Dark Disciple (novel)

6. Dark Creed (novel)

7. Torment (short story)

8. Vox Dominus (novella)

9. The Tallyman (short story).

The stories fall into three groups: the Heresy stories, Marduk's main arc (Dark Apostle through to Torment), and the stories of what happens next (Vox Dominus and The Tallyman). I'd love to find some time to come back to Marduk at some point! 

Cheers!

Games Day US 2013

The last two and half weeks have been pretty crazy. I've been in Chicago, Memphis, California, Colorado and back to Chicago, and this evening I am flying out to the UK, which will be the first time I've been back there since 2006. Crazy! I've also been doing quite a bit of writing, having handed over a few short projects to BL, finished up working through the rules for Twelve Elements of War, and been doing some work on synopsises for two novels that I hope to start work on later in the year. So... Games Day US 2013 in Memphis, which was held a couple of weeks ago. It really was an awful lot of fun. Exhausting, but fun.

The weekend started well when I met someone on the plane from Chicago who was heading to Games Day - a friendly bloke called Jeff Durham. Jeff was kind enough to drive me from the airport to the hotel, and helped out with a number of other things over the weekend - so thank you Jeff, you are a star.

Games Day kicked off the night before Games Day really (Games Day eve), with the GW folks hosting a BBQ at their Memphis HQ for ticket holders and guests. I headed over there with author Mike Lee. I'd not met Mike before, and it was great to hang out. If you ever get a chance to chat with him, ask him about the time he almost died at the hands (or rather, hooves) of an angry warhorse. Yikes.

The BBQ was fun, and it was great to catch up with folk I used to work with in the Design Studio, chat with Dan and Mike, as well as the BL and GW staff, and meet some of the people who were coming to Games Day. After the BBQ I headed downtown to Beale Street, a pedestrian-only street filled with blues bars, street performers and seemingly everyone in Memphis) and met up with my good mate Dave Taylor. Beers were drunk, and later in the night we caught up with the other BL folk. Good times.

This was my first ever Games Day US, and I was really looking forward to it. Writing can be such an isolating past time that it's always great to go to things like Games Days and meet people who are genuinely passionate about what you've written. They are always both exhausting and energising for me. Exhausting simply because being 'on' all day, chatting to folks is surprisingly tiring, and energising because they always re-excite me about what I get to do simply through the sheer weight of enthusiasm that the fans exude. I'm getting paid to make up stories about Space Marines at the end of the day, and that's pretty damn cool.

I Talked lots about Word Bearers and World Eaters (was really pleased that people seemed to *really* like 'Chosen of Khorne'), as well as about future projects that are in the works (including HH, which I'll talk about in a future post...).

All in all, it was a brilliant day. We signed lots of books, ran seminars, and chatted to heaps of people (and Dan's line, as ever, was an impressive monster). I met loads of wonderful people who said nice things about my books. Everyone was really friendly and enthusiastic. Thank you to everyone who stopped by to say hello, you really made me feel very welcome and made the day very enjoyable. Thanks also to Desi and the US GW folks for hosting a great event, and to Claudia, Ead and the folks at BL for making sure us authors were fed and watered.

I also got a chance to look at the Golden Demon entries, which I usually don't get a chance to do, which was really cool. Some freaking amazing entries and winners.

The traditional post-Games Day drink turned into an epic night out, which was heaps of fun, though left me feeling a little worse for wear the next day. There were drinks, there were blues bars, there was karaoke, there were bizarre moments, and there was a lot of laughter. The term of the day was 'lobe stench', though I cannot really remember why, now. A highlight was swapping ghost stories/bigfoot stories with Dan and Mike. My skin was crawling for days.

As I said, I'm now getting packed up to head to the UK - and I'll be around in the UK for long enough to go to UK Games Day in late September. Hopefully it will be just as much fun as US Games Day!

My new Horus Heresy short story

Dark Heart, the Horus Heresy story that I wrote for the forthcoming anthology Mark of Calth is now available to download here.

The story is set during the Word Bearers' attack on Calth, and is designed to tie in with Dan Abnett's awesome Know No Fear. It features a certain young Word Bearer called Marduk  taking part in the attack on the Zetsun Verid Yard - and the subsequent counter-attack against the Word Bearers led by the big man in blue himself...

I've also written a short blog about writing this story for the Black Library site - check it out.

An update at long last. And a squid.

Yikes. Has it really been that long since my last blog update? That's a little crazy... In an effort to make up for that, here is a photo of me with a squid on my head.

So, erm, I'll try and blog a bit more often then...  And in the meantime:

What I'm reading: 

The Omnivore's Dilemma, by Michael Pollan. Very thought provoking. I saw him speak at the Opera House some months back, talking about food, food production, factory farming (and how it's bad for us, the animals, the environment), sustainable farming methods, etc. I really want to have my own little farm now. One day!

Also doing quite a lot of re-reading of Dan Abnett's Know No Fear...

What I'm listening to: 

Xavier Rudd's Spirit Bird. Dead Can Dance's Anasastis. Fiona Apple's The Idler Wheel...

As well as plenty of Rage Against the Machine, System of a Down, Red Fang, etc. Was listening to lots of Sun Kil Moon until I saw him in concert - wonderful musician, but geez he acted like an arse, and I can't bring myself to listen to his music for now.

Oh, and Nine Inch Nails and the soundtrack to Inception are still my go-to writing music choices.

What I'm watching: 

Not very much, which is rather nice actually. My TV viewing is pretty much restricted to watching the rugby - which of late has meant watching the Wallabies lose to the All Blacks. Sigh. Hopefully we can beat the Springboks on Sat night.

I've also been watching the latest season of True Blood - I'm about half way in to the season. Good fun.

What I'm writing: 

Something that may or may not involve Word Bearers...

Games Day

Oh, and it's Oz Games Day on Sunday in Sydney! I'll be there along with fellow authors Gav Thorpe, Matt Farrer and Henry Zou. Be sure to pop along to the Black Library stand to say g'day. Hope to see some of you there!

Look what I picked up from the post office...

Hurrah!

The package seems to have had quite an adventure to get here. According to its delivery form, it went from the UK, to the US, to Australia, back to the US (Hawaii, no less), then back to Australia. Curious.

The omnibus is officially released in January.

Torment snippet

A sneak peak at the short story I've written for the Word Bearers omnibus is up on the Black Library website. Go here to check it out.

Word Bearers Omnibus, Torment, and Q+A

Hey folks, Hmmm, it's been a long time since I posted anything on my blog, huh... especially since I said a few blog entries ago that I'd finally answer all those unanswered questions that folks had sent in. Ok, now I feel bad. Consider me suitably chastened. I've been busy, m'kay?

To make up for it, here is the cover of my Word Beaerers omnibus that comes out January next year, if you have not already seen it on the Black Library site. It's been done by Clint Langley, and I'm sure you will agree that it is rad to the power of sick. Pure awesomeness.

Spiky, isn't he? I wonder if he gets stuck to chairs often? In all honesty, I couldn't be happier about the cover, I really think it is gonna look awesome on the shelf.

Right, I promised some answers, and so answers you shall get.

Lucian: Yes, Grail Knight is part of the Knights of Bretonnia Omnibus (out next month, woo!), but it is not a full blown novel. Both it and Questing Knight are novellas of around 30,000 words. In an ideal world, I would have liked to have written half a dozen extra short stories about Calard's various exploits while engaged on his quest for the grail, and turned Grail Knight into a novel, but there is only so much that you can realistically fit into an omnibus, and it is already a pretty dense book. Also, doing it that way would have probably taken another year or two, which would have been a shame. As it is, I think the novellas round things off really well, and it certainly is nice to have the whole sequence, start to finish, in the one volume.

Lloydy: Awesome, glad you liked Dark Creed! Writing the Necrons was fun, though I'd say I probably enjoyed writing about the Dark Eldar in Dark Disciple more. I can’t wait to see what - deleted by the Inquisition - does with them (you know he’s writing a Dark Eldar novel, yeah?)

Gary: Hi there, very cool to hear that my Bretonnia books made you start an army, and your first wargaming army at that! Awesome. That Army Book is one of the few of mine that are still current, written back in the day when I was in the Studio. Wow, that was quite a long time ago now!

Chilon: I wrote 80% of a Death Guard/Word Bearer short story, with the intention of it going into the Word Bearers Omnibus, but I reached a point where I realised that story was bigger and further-reaching than would fit comfortably in the omni. The repercussions from the story opened up quite a few doors, and I didn't feel it was the right place to do that in a self-contained omnibus, where those hooks would be left hanging. I felt that would be a little unsatisfactory to the readers. The story that I've just finished that will appear in the omni is much more self contained, and fits well into the framework of the omnibus story arc. It focusses on what happens to one of my favourite characters from the trilogy, and I think you'll dig it. I've put the Death Guard story idea aside for the moment, with the intension of coming back to it at some point and develop it up further - into a longer piece, most likely. Stay tuned...  Oh, and you also asked about Raven Guard. The idea I have for them is probably my favourite 40K novel idea at the moment (and has been for the last year and a half or so), but I'm not sure it is the right time for BL, what with other Raven Guard action going on (notably from Gav Thorpe). I'm sure it will be something I can come back to down the line. I've also a hankering for some Space Wolf action. Hmm, too many ideas, too little time!

Bastiaan: for a teaser as to the short story in the Word Bearers omni, see the previous answer. The story is called Torment, and it takes place after the three novels... As to you other question, I'd like to come back to the Word Bearers down the track, but it won't be for some time. No current plans are afoot for future books.

George: I saw the star fortress as a mobile space station, a one of a kind leftover remnant from an earlier era.

Martine Rice: Thanks for the compliments, I'm pleased you liked the books. No plans to write more Dark Eldar at the moment, though I'd definitely be keen to. And as I said above, I'm looking forward to seeing what - Deleted by the Inquisition - does with them. It’s been too long since he’s had a hand in anything 40K related. As to killing Abaddon, I don't think that's gonna happen! He's too big a player in the 40K universe to be killed in a book. Plus, I believe Aaron has some plans for a Black Legion book/series - I'm sure he'll show the Warmaster as the terrifying (and competent) badass that he really is. The man can write - I was very impressed by the First Heretic.

Albert: Thanks for the kind words, and I hope that the Bretonnian omnibus, and the completion of the saga, fulfils your expectations. Keep up with the writing, too!

Till next time, guys...

Shiny!

Hey folks, Received this in the post yesterday, and thought I'd share...

It's always a great feeling to finally hold a book in your hands that you've toiled over - it makes it all seem worthwhile, and actually real. I can't believe I've finished my first trilogy of 40K novels - it really only feels like yesterday when I was first pitching BL with a handful of Chaos Space Marine novel ideas, having just finished writing my first novel, Mark of Chaos. I pitched ideas for the Alpha Legion, the Deathguard, and the Word Bearers - I'm glad that BL liked the Word Bearers one most.

I've come to really like the set of characters I created for the Word Bearers series, and I'd love to come back to them at some point. In the near future, that will most likely involve one or more short stories, allowing me to tell some cool little sideline stories involving Marduk and co. I'm definitely keen to explore what happens after Dark Creed - things were set in motion at the end of the latest book that will lead to some interesting confrontations... But that is a tale for another day.

For those of you in Australia, I'll be doing a few book signings in early December. I think the plan is to have some early copies of Dark Creed on sale (but I'll confirm that closer to the dates). It looks like I'll be signing in Brisbane and Sydney, on the 4th and 5th of December. I'll post details when I get 'em. It would be great to see some you there.

What am I reading at the moment?

Re-reading Elements of Style, by Strunk and White. Essential reading for anyone with even a passing interest in improving their writing.

I'm also reading an early version of a piece of work by my good mate, Graham McNeill. Not sure if it has been announced yet, so I will keep schtum on what it actually is , but believe me when I say it is mighty fine indeed.

Finally, I'm also reading Robert Holdstock's Lavondyss. I love his Ryhope Wood novels. The Hollowing is probably my favourite (yes, I've read the series all out of order, but don't think it matters too much), but they are all fantastic, wonderfully written and incredibly rich books. I'd love to write fantasy like his.

What am I listening to?

Alice In Chains's new one, Black Gives Way to Blue. Loving it. Current fav's are 'Check My Brain' and 'A Looking In View'. 'Last Of My Kind' really sounds like the Melvins to me, which is not a bad thing at all.

Thank you to everyone who has read my blog since it went up a few weeks ago, and especially to all those who left comments. It's great to get such support, so a big thanks to all of you! Please feel free to ask any questions, and I'll do my best to answer them. So, without further ado, here are some answers:

Mrki: Glad you are enjoying the Word Bearers series! You are keen on getting an insider scoop on Dark Creed, eh? Hmm... The story revolves around a system called the Boros Gate, which houses a series of rare, stable paths through the warp. The system would be the ideal staging ground to launch attacks into the heart of the Imperium. White Consuls of the Adeptus Praeses guard the system. The Word Bearers want it... Carnage ensues. How's that?

Xisor: Frasier is indeed pure awesome. We are halfway through season 8 at the moment. I don't want it to end!

Pyroriffic: Yeah, the autobiographical section at the start of On Writing is great. Amazing to think how tough he did it in the early days, living out of a caravan with his missus and kid, frantically writing and paying the bills with cleaning jobs. Inspiring stuff.

Bennylicious: Cheers mate, glad you are liking my Bretonnnian sequence. Warhammer kind of gets overshadowed by 40K, and the Bretonnians are hardly mainstream for Warhammer either, but they have always been one of my favourites factions. The next story takes Calard to the cursed realm of Mousillon, which is looking like a lot of fun to write.

The Gavinthrope: Definitely looking forward to Zombieland. It's not out here yet, but looks like comedy gold. Hope all is going well with Crown of Blood, I'm really looking forward to reading that. Let's get skype going, huh? Oh, and I might just use your post for the 'about' section of my blog, it cracked me up. Were-Wallaby. There Wallaby.

Bastiaan Vergoossen: Awesome, thank you very much for the high praise! Are there going to be more Word Bearers? See above. The short answer is probably, but most likely not for a little while. Would I like to write about Heresy-era Word Bearers? I'd love to write a novel for the Heresy, but there are no plans to do so at the moment. I will be sure to let you know if things change! As to the Word Bearers in 30K, I believe another author is currently working on something focussing on them, which I'm sure will be great.

Nick: Good stuff! If you do give the Word Bearers a go, hope you like 'em!

And lastly Matt: cheers mate, I don't think I would have started the blog without your encouragement, so thanks. Oh, and 'drink yer ain'.

Till next time.