The wind saved Wu Ying. It threw him up high, high above the trees and into the realm of birds and dragons. Not that there were either – thankfully – for the mortal avian companions had fled in good wisdom and the dragons had yet to seek out the disturbance in the flow of chi. The cultivators below knew better than to attract the attention of those above*.
No, this wa...
2023-05-02 13:00:02 +0000 UTC View PostI think I missed the update for April. Ooops.... Sorry about that. Things have been hectic a little, so a few things to discuss.
A Thousand Li
I finished up the edits of A Thousand Li: the Third Cut in April. That's been sent to my editor, there's a few things she raised tha...
2023-05-01 13:00:18 +0000 UTC View PostHappy May!!
Got the e-book for The Nameless Restaurant all ready for you.
Enjoy!
Download here: https://BookHip.com/XCDQNHW
There is a restaurant in Toronto.
Its entrance is announced only by a simple, unadorned wooden door, varnished to a beautiful shine but without paint,...
2023-05-01 04:00:07 +0000 UTC View PostGot a lovely novelette from the Powers, Masks and Capes Universe!
The Cultist
The Mysterious Power of the Cultist
In this exclusive interview, our intrepid reporter speaks to the enigmatic Cultist, about his past, his present and his future. Whether he is a Cape, a Mask or a Power, the Cultist has remained enigmatic and silent, a figure that p...
2023-04-30 16:00:05 +0000 UTC View PostNo backlash, no condemnation of the Heavens. Wu Ying could have sworn that the Heavens themselves had aided him, pressing enlightenment and understanding on him as he faced their enemy. Had pushed the necessary knowledge down the winds such that he had known what to do, when to do it. Helped him perfect the third cut when he most needed it.
He would be grateful. Later.
“Move. Take...
2023-04-28 13:00:38 +0000 UTC View PostJust been having some 'help, I'm a new author' conversations so thought I'd consolidate some of the advice I have given here.
Wu Ying had twenty one flags in hand, the majority stored in a storage ring on one hand and the other three already planted. The rest he held in one hand easily, as he ran along the ground from point to point. Yang Mu had cast a flurry of yellow talismans into the air which had shot off towards the edges of the clearing, emplacing themselves on the ground. These were the targets that the cultiv...
2023-04-25 13:00:01 +0000 UTC View PostIt was a battered and weary group that managed to make it to their destination two days later. Rather than stop in the evening and be beset by demonic beasts not drawn into the major conflict in the north, the group had chosen to forge ahead. As cultivators, ignoring the effects of sleeplessness was simple. Between bodies that had transcended the limits of normal humanity, practice after years ...
2023-04-21 13:00:02 +0000 UTC View PostAlright, let's talk about the ALLI Indie Author Survey (https://selfpublishingadvice.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/The-Independent-Author-Income-Survey-updated-FINAL-17-04-23.pdf). I did a quick and dirty review of the actual survey...
2023-04-19 18:00:00 +0000 UTC View PostAlright. I am working on the side on my wood elemental / city building series. I have hit a big stopping point and figured I'd see if anyone has any ideas.
Here's the problem.
Unit required - Cavalry (or cavalry type).
What's the equivalent of a wood elemental cavalry?
The options I can see is:
- fast regenerating plants (so, not faster movement, but the speed come...
2023-04-18 22:03:08 +0000 UTC View Post“Time!” Bich Trang’s voice echoed through the clearing. “To me!”
No reason to concern themselves over the demonic beasts understanding what they had to say. Instead, clarity at this moment of time was of greatest import. After all, they only had one chance to get away.
Upon the word of warning, the cultivators broke apart, streaming towards Minh Trac and Bich Trang who wer...
2023-04-18 13:00:01 +0000 UTC View PostWu Ying moved as quickly as he could, sweat gathering on his brow that even the cooling flow of the winds that constantly surrounded him could do little to relieve. He capped the clay bottle, pushing it aside before moving to the final container, cursing as his injured off-hand began trembling again. Overuse and damage was making it less reliable than ever, causing some of the potion dust to sp...
2023-04-14 13:00:02 +0000 UTC View PostAlright, you're getting a bunch of more musings in the work rather than direct post that are going to be helpful like data. I might get around to writing those, but for now, this is more philosophical.
What is Success?
I recently had a discussion with some interesting authors in different areas and times. And it, once again, drove the point in that many a...
2023-04-12 14:59:01 +0000 UTC View PostI'm giving away a hardcover copy of The System Apocalypse Graphic Novel: Issues 1-7!
Since Patreon doesn't allow chance-based giveaways, you can enter the contest by commenting below with which Class you'd pick in the System and why you'd choose it. My favorite answer wins the prize! Your answer can be funny or serious (but I prefer funny... just saying)
Ends April ...
2023-04-12 14:00:04 +0000 UTC View PostThe group was up early the next morning, stress and anticipation drawing each member from slumber early. Wu Ying eyed the others, many dressed and ready with their full araments for the first time. Even people like Yang Mu who had storage rings that she used to store her weapons was sporting others this time. He even glimpsed, beneath the robe of her dress, the flash of dark steel against her s...
2023-04-11 13:00:02 +0000 UTC View PostDays later, the team had finally left behind the Ma Than Vong, the abandoned city and the angry demons within but a memory. Even so, the danger to the group had only increased as the number of creatures corrupted and forcibly strengthened had increased in number. Each day, the team found themselves forced to do battle, often utilizing overwhelming force in combined attacks to finish the battle ...
2023-04-07 13:00:02 +0000 UTC View PostOne of the most interesting things whilst having a conversation online (or heck, in-person!) is the fact that, sometimes, we have no idea who we're speaking to. In many ways, we live in silos and outside of the few household names that manage to breakthrough, we mostly have no idea who the other individual might be.
This can lead to a number of interesting situations in discussions,...
2023-04-05 14:00:03 +0000 UTC View PostLooking for feedback on this draft timeline for A Thousand Li, trying to make sure all the books line up with the appropriate age timeline and also that the shorts are in the correct order or so. All feedback is welcomed this is a working draft.
By the time Tou He returned, Wu Ying had managed to extract himself from the roots holding him down. He had just begun to walk towards the clearing when his friend returned, looking exhausted and sodden but gratified at the same time.
“Your opponent?” Wu Ying asked.
“Will not be bothering us further.”
The wind cultivator frowned, cocking his head to the side. The wind ...
2023-04-04 13:00:01 +0000 UTC View Post
A blade cuts both ways
Newly minted an Elder of the Verdant Green Waters sect, sword prodigy Elder Cheng Zhao Wan - the Sundering Blade - is forced to leave the sect to fulfil an old obligation. A benefactor from the past is injured and has demanded Elder Cheng l...
2023-03-31 17:00:04 +0000 UTC View PostThe formation failed, fire roaring outwards, fed by the wind that had picked up around Wu Ying. The air had never stopped moving, from the cyclone in the south, from the column of fire that rose above Tou He’s face, from Wu Ying’s own ministrations. Now, a second cyclone of fire emerged as Tou He’s aura was no longer contained.
Under his control, the air around him stacked upwards, ...
2023-03-31 13:00:01 +0000 UTC View PostWe've hit the goal for 300 patrons (again), but due to the drop that usually happens after the first of the month, I'll be waiting till after that to plan for the live stream.
If we're still at 300 *fingers crossed*, I'll plan for a live stream in April, where you'll be able to ask me anything about my books and writing!
Thank you for your continued support.
2023-03-30 18:30:01 +0000 UTC
View Post
I'm sure I have other things to write about and I will, but the current discussion is all about quality in self-pub (and quality in writing in general, see discussion about whether Brandon Sanderson is a 'good' writer).
I'm sticking this post under Business, but it's also a Craft post because, hey, it's quality of writing.
For those who want a TLDR, here it is from my perspective - ...
2023-03-29 17:00:04 +0000 UTC View PostTou He was on his feet and moving under his own volition. While he might have been injured, the injuries were mostly superficial – at least for a cultivator at their rank. A few long cuts down one side, a limp from bloody thighs on the other. Healing pills and a few days rest were sufficient to fix all of that.
No, what caused Wu Ying concern was the unconstrained flames that erupted fr...
2023-03-28 13:00:01 +0000 UTC View PostIn case you missed it, I'm running a Kickstarter for The Nameless Restaurant and it hit stretch goal three last night!
As patrons, you'll already get copies of the book, but there are other backer reward options you might be interested in.
With stretch goal number three, the eBooks and paperbacks will now have professional formatting, including custom heading illustrations ...
2023-03-24 15:39:57 +0000 UTC View Post“’Ware, above!” Wu Ying roared, the flicker of a descending shadow catching his attention as the demonic beasts dropped from the tall chimney above. They descended without warning, dropping through the smoke whilst holding their weapons in-hand. A dozen descending figures, but Wu Ying only had eyes for one, the Core Formation cultivator that sought Phuong Vy’s life.
Controlling th...
2023-03-24 13:00:01 +0000 UTC View PostOver the last year (give or take), I've been slowly stepping back from speaking with and/or aiding authors in certain groups or other forums. Not that I was the most prolific of posters, but I still used to post corrections or provide information when it was necessary.
In particular, I did it in smaller groups that were specific to the genres where I write mostly. Partially because so man...
2023-03-22 14:59:01 +0000 UTC View Post
Ask me anything about my books, writing, author business or life in general (within reason obviously)
2023-03-22 13:30:01 +0000 UTC View PostThey caught up with Phuong Vy as she reached the massive doors of the temple, the way closed and barred. A deep hand imprint in the center of the doors indicated an attempt to enter once already, and now the woman was standing back, glaring at the doors while sorting through her pouch.
“What, exactly, are you thinking of doing?” Yang Mu asked, scandalized as she stared at the tiny sch...
2023-03-21 13:00:01 +0000 UTC View PostMinh Trac immediately started extracting formation flags from his ring, casting his gaze around the square and muttering to himself. The ground in the square had been crushed down, few weeds growing from the ground in-between cracked paving stones, a testament of a better time for the city and square itself. Moonlight from a waning moon shone down on the group, it’s angle low and occasionally...
2023-03-17 13:00:02 +0000 UTC View Post