Nick Kyme

It has to be said, it’s taking me an age to get to the halfway point of Firedrake. I think, occasionally, ever author has a project that just won’t go down easy. 

This is that project for me.

I can’t really put my finger on what the problem is. I don’t think it’s writer’s block or anything as cliched as that. It’s probably a confluence of a lot of different things that are just making this book a bit of beast to wrestle under my control.

It’s annoying because  I know what I want to do and how the story will be told. All the characters are where they need to be and I’ve set up the various plot points and done the foregrounding that I need to do, but for some bloody reason I just can’t seem to get the cogs working properly.

I’m close, I’m definitely close and certain scenes are frankly a piece of piss to get down on the page and I’m really pleased with them, but I keep hitting little speedbumps that either slow me right down or force me to an undignified halt.

The fact the book has been hanging around (at least in my mind) for a while doesn’t help. I started late, under something of a sticky cloud (which, thankfully, has passed), and I’ve not yet been able to shake that completely.

Once I get going again I think it’ll be fine but right now it’s a laborious process. I totally sympathise with other authors who’ve suffered with this sort of thing.

Still, fear not Salamander fans as I will get this one nailed. 

Regarding the saga, I have to say it’s very gratifying to think about the sheer volume of stories associated with the Tome of Fire trilogy, despite the fact that I’m only actually one book into it!

I was chatting with my boss, George, the other day over a brew and he’s been reading the Salamander short stories. It seems there’s a real attraction to having a main body of work (i.e. a novel trilogy) supported by various satellite stories and projects. Certainly that’s true of the Salamander stuff that I’m doing.

Honestly, it was never something I actually intended. I always knew I wanted to write a trilogy. Even when I was planning ‘Fires of War’, I knew there were three more books to write these characters’ story, but it’s funny how it’s grown in the telling.

Truth be told, ‘Fires of War’ is sort of the prologue (albeit a very large one) to the Tome of Fire trilogy. I remember chatting to Steve Parker about the story when I was writing it. He picked up straight away (quite rightly) that in writing ‘Fires of War’ I really wanted to be writing the novel. I think that’s why it’s such an integral part of the story. In fact, there’s probably only really this one that you really need to read if you’re delving into the novel trilogy.

However, the other stories really add to the saga and have allowed me to develop characters and add in backstory that I can refer to later in the books. But I never expected it to morph into the saga it is.

Not including ‘Fires of War’, there’s actually five addiitonal Salamander short stories I’ve written as part of the Tome of Fire saga. It’s interesting to think about them (from a creator’s view), how they came about and their significance. Of all of them, probably ‘Vulkan’s Shield’ is the least directly linked. It’s a story of Ko’tan Kadai after all (a character that I want to come back to in another novel series), but one that I enjoyed penning immensely. ‘Hell Night’, too, due to its place in the chronology, is fairly stand-alone. Of the others, though, ‘Prometheus Requiem’, ‘Fireborn’ (which is actually an audio book but one of short story length) and ‘The Burning’, because of the fact that they sit, chronologically speaking, between Salamander and Firedrake are pretty pertinent to the next novel installment.    

It’s been a surprise, it has to be said, that the series has taken this route but a pleasant one. Despite my issues with Firedrake, I am totally loving writing about the Salamanders and I have aspirations to do more with them for both Space Marine Battles and Horus Heresy but it remains to be seen if I’ll get the opportunity to do so (I really hope I will, as I’ve got some kickass ideas for both series).

Thinking back to the start of the project, way back when I was pitching for Heroes of the Space Marines, I never expected to be writing this sort of saga and making a little niche for myself. Originally, I was going to do three books and that was it – story told, nothing more to see here. I’ve since revised that opinion and think there’s more legs in the Salamanders and the cast of characters I’ve created for the Tome of Fire trilogy.

One route, of course, is to explore the career of Ko’tan Kadai, as intimated in ‘Vulkan’s Shield’. Lots of half-formed ideas are knocking around my shelllike regarding this at the moment (because, if your writing mojo is on the fritz then you might as well get some solid thinking done and ideas down for when the creative wheels are turning again). I’d like to do more with the relationship of the Chapter with the Adeptus Mechanicus (though, you’ll see some of that in Nocturne - oh, incidentally, that’s what I want to call the third book) and also explore how the Salamanders get on with the Raven Guard. I think a duel campaign with the Raven Guard would be cool, maybe involving the Black Dragons too, as this was Ushorak’s Chapter and there might be opportunity for foreshadowing here. Could have a lot of fun with that.

Something else that’s been on my mind of late are the Marines Malevolent. I keep reading little snatches of stuff on forums about how folks seemed to have liked the way I presented them in Salamander and would like to see more.

Well, I have good news for MM fans – they will definitely make an appearance again in both Firedrake and Nocturne, and I would also entertain the idea of doing a one-off novel with them as the protagonists.

It’d be interesting to think about how to pitch them, though. I really think of the MMs as total war-mongering sociopaths – hard to imagine them as anything but villainous, really. It would certainly present an interesting challenge and could also add to the depth and texture of the saga in much the same way as Graham McNeill’s excellent Storm of Ironadds to his Ultramarines series.

Of course, another option could be to give them some air time in an Armageddon-based Space Marine Battles book. The reason I put the MMs in Salamander was because of the documented antipathy during that particular conflict between the two Chapters.  I do feel that there’s more life in Vinyar, Lorkar and the rest of those bastards. They are a hoot to write, so who knows…

Something else I’d like to do in the not-too-distant future is tell the story of the Dragon Warriors i.e. how they came to be and just what did happen at Moribar to send them over the edge. Not sure what form it would take yet, possibly a novella. Much like the MMs, though, it’d be a lot of fun to write a Salamander story from the PoV of their enemies.

Lot’s to chew over there and all this talk of the series is slowly getting me fired up for the novel. Perhaps that’s the key to it? If I keep up the bloggage (which has been lax of late – sorry about that) and the lyrical waxing about the Sallies, maybe it’ll translate into some hard and fast words on the page.

Let’s keep our fingers crossed for that shall we folks…

Coming soon: I hope to bring you a cover image for Fireborn. I’ve got it, but not sure I can release it into the wide world yet. It’s on the chapbook ad page but only small and in black and white. I shall ask the powers that be. Watch this space.

How do, Black Library fans!

Yeah, I know I’m rubbish. Must be well on the way to a couple of weeks since I’ve blogged. I have no excuses – none!

Stop whinging, I’m here now…

So, are we all recovered from BL Live? What a storming event that was. Bloody great and knackering, too. I think I was one pretty much every panel, and when I wasn’t doing that I had Seer Councils (thanks to Robin for attending that and asking me lots of interesting questions so I didn’t look like a total authorial waste of space… ‘preciate it), signings and two readings – TWO, count ‘em! (I feel like that dude in Grosse Point Blank when he meets up with John Cusak’s character and says: ‘Ten years, man! Ten years!’).

Safe to say when it was all over I was pretty much done. The night before we went to Zizzi’s for food and drinks (and when I say ‘we’, I mean most of the editors and a bunch of the authors). It was a good night but next time I’m plumping for a square instead of a rectangular table. Dunno if you’ve ever been there but Zizi’s is pretty noisy (it’s a good noisy, a pleasant sort of ‘buzz’ in the air - a hubbub, if you will) and when you’re on a long table the conversation tends to divide into two groups. Consequently though, Graham McNeill and I were able to debate the merits of Calzoni, Black Books and 30 Rock amongst other things. Afterwards, messrs McNeill, Swallow, Bowden, Brunt (sort to be Mrs Bowden) buggered off to the Turf Tavern in Nottingham to soak up the local flavour and alcohol. Needless to say, I was pretty knackered the next day. Still, it was a good one.

Thanks to all who came to the event, but most especially those who bought my books, came to my readings, seminars etc. You have a special place in my heart and all those others can do one (just kidding).

It was as special thrill for me to get a story into the chapbook. Not had one of those before. Hope it goes down well with everyone who bought a copy. The Salamanders saga goes on.

Honestly, it’s weird, I never really feel like a ‘proper author’ at these things. I hope, in time, and with a greater body of work behind me, that I’ll be able to accept the fact that I’m part of the author fraternity too, but at the moment I’m trapped in a sort of rubbish limbo between being an editor and a writer.

So, I’m sat here listening to a bit of Owl City to chill out. My bloody laptop has died and requires a new motherboard (maybe…), so I’m tapping away on my netbook, which is fine but has such a little, shitty keyboard I keep making errors and have to go back to correct them. It also has the very annoying habit of saving my posts in a draft every few seconds and pausing my flow resulting in yet another mistake – naaarrrggg! (PCs really are balls sometimes…)

Clash of the Titans trailer, anyone…

This was one of my favourite films as a kid growing up. Something about all the monsters, gods and legends – it really left an impression. This latest Hollywood version of Clash of the Titans looks amazing with shades of 300 about it. Beasts and creatures aplenty it seems, and who couldn’t love Liam Neeson uttering those immortal (get it – ha!) words, ‘Unleash the kracken!’.

Here’s hoping that the film fulfils and even exceeds this early promise. They might not have the charm of some of Ray Harryhausen’s creations, but the CG monsters sure do look cool…

Evening peeps!

Check it out… the latest Space Marine anthology came back from the printers today. Legends of the Space Marines is looking rather awesome, and what a bloater!

This sweet baby (to emulate the linguistic idioms of Norville Barnes – 10 points if you can tell me the reference) is packing a monstrous 544 pages of pure, unadulterated Space Marine action. It’s brutal!

Coupled with a storming coming from Hardy Fowler and stories from the likes of James Swallow, Graham McNeill and some dubious fellow called Aaron-Dembski Bowden and you’ve got quite a collection. Oh, and not forgetting little old me of course… ‘Hell Night’ is the lead story in the collection, the first time I’ve been afforded that honour and for all you Salamander junkies out there it’s the next installment in the saga.

It’s a fair few months before Legends of the Space Marines hits the shelves, but you can read a little extract from ‘Hell Night’ in the latest Black Library Previews Catalogue, which you can find in GW stores in March. Splendid stuff!

On the subject of short stories, ‘Hell Night’ and Legends of the Space Marines represents the start of small flurry of Salamander stories coming to you later in the year.

Next up, or rather first up, is ‘The Burning’. This tale shares the BL Live chapbook with ‘Feast of Horrors’ by the rather fine gentleman that is Chris Wraight. I went for something a little different this time, a story from Dak’ir’s point of view but it won’t be something you’re expecting, I guarantee it.

Later in the year is ‘Prometheus Requiem’ in Fear the Alien. This is a very special story featuring one of Tsu’gan’s missions as part of the Firedrakes. I won’t say why it’s special, but you’ll hopefully figure that out when you read it.

Oh, in related news, I listened to the first fx edit of Fireborn yesterday and it is sounding very cool indeed. I’ve yet to hear the music edit, but Chris tells me it’s shaping up nicely. Hopefully, I’ll be able to show off some cover art soon…

Lastly, but not leastly (?), Firedrake is on the cusp of 30,000 words. This represents a significant chunk of the book (almost the first third). I’m really building up a head of steam with this now. I’ve hit all my mini-milestones and might (with luck) even get a little ahead. It has represented a huge effort on my part to crack this, but I’m on the way now and, man, does it feel good. I’ve been tested against Vulkan’s anvil and have emerged on the other side – reforged.

Take it easy, folks.

I’ll keep this relatively brief as, by way of a guilty pleasure, I’m going to watch Glee on E4 in about five minutes (yes, yes, I know, but it is just so wrong and damn hilarious).

Firedrake has now breached the 21,000 word mark and I’m hitting all of my mini-milestone deadlines in my new and improved ‘plan’. It’s a great relief to get some serious wordage under my belt, and as a result the novel is really starting to take some shape. Huzzah!

No sign of Tsu’gan yet, but he’ll be coming soon, just you wait and see. I’m actually really looking forward to writing his first scene – it’s the one straight off the front cover (a scene, incidentally, that I hadn’t planned on putting in the book until I’d seen said artwork – funny how that can happen).

Okies, that’s it for now peeps.