Nick Kyme

I’ll keep this brief, since I’ve blogged to the hilt today…

After I’m done with Firedrake, I’ve got two brand new projects that were commissioned only today.

First up is a short story for the Sabbat Worlds anthology. It’s called ‘Blue Blood’ (at least that’s the working title) and I’m starting on it straightaway. No prizes for guessing who the story features…

Secondly is Fall of Damnos, a Space Marine Battles book (my first, as it happens) that features the Ultramarines 2nd Company duking it out with Necrons. I regard this book as the sort of spiritual sequel to Assault on Black Reach as it features a lot of the same characters and will use the three sergeants I established for the novella as points of view once more.

Really looking forward to both projects. Each presents its own challenge and opportunity.

Okies, that’s it for me for today. I’m off to figure out my short story plot in some detail… Night, night.

I received this rather nice box the other day in the office, my cheeky sample copies and thought you might like a peek…

It’s basically filled with the up coming releases from yours truly, so that includes Legends of the Space Marines (and the Salamanders short story ‘Hell Night’) and Fireborn, the first Salamanders audio. It was Christmas had come early!

These have been knocking around for a few weeks now, but here’s a quick round up of some very nice reviews for both Fireborn and Salamander.

First up, from Graeme’s Fantasy Book Review on Fireborn…

then from My Battalion for Salamander…

and lastly, but not leastly (ha, ha), here’s one for Salamander that featured in the Edinburgh Waterstones’ Geekzine, which also takes the form of a rather natty interview. Enjoy!

I tell you what, it’s close. It’s closer than it’s ever been. Honestly, as I was slogging my way through Firedrake, I did wonder if this would be the book that broke me. But no, it seems not. I’m over the 70,000 word mark now and plotting (and by that I mean honing, really, and working out just how many more words are going into the sequel before it’s done) the final act of the novel.

It’s a great feeling. To get here, despite everything, despite all the ups and downs of the past few months, despite trials and tribulations, I have almost made it. Almost.

I know I’ll have A LOT more sympathy for authors who are struggling with their novels, struggling with that particular book for all manner of reasons. I have attained empathy, people. It was a shitty process to go through, but boy, oh boy does it feel good to be on the other side.

I’ve introduced some fresh elements to the story that I didn’t know/realise would be in there until I wrote them. They sort of snuck up on me in the night and said: ‘hey!’. Likin’ it.

Firedrake has turned out (thus far, at least) to be a story that embraces more of an ensemble cast than its predecessor. Salamander, and by association ‘Fires of War’, was Dak’ir and Tsu’gan’s story. It was all about them and their destinies with the Chapter. This book still has these characters at its core but other, perhaps secondary players, get much more air time and development. Ba’ken and Elysius, in particular – oh, and Pyriel – all get their time in the spotlight.

I’ve been surprised just how much I’ve written about these guys and how their characters have developed through the telling of Firedrake. It’s been a great experience, something actually quite organic too.

In one particular scene (that I’m yet to write but is planned, semi-written to the hilt in one of my notebooks), I relate a lot of passing details about Nocturne and even name a few more of its cities and geographical landmarks. Describing it really made me think about world building again and drew me back to all of the previous stories and the first novel to reacquaint myself with what I had already established. A picture is forming of this place, slow and steady, giving the world and the culture life and a sort of referent realism that is such a lot of fun to write.

So, just over 70,000 words and counting. I need to go back to my chapter breakdown and plot the last 25-30,000 words, just to be sure I’ve got everything covered and don’t sell it short or overdo it. This feels good. To be as close as this.

Oh, and here’s a cheeky look at the cover flat. You’ve doubtless already seen the art, but here it is in situ.

I’m in my kitchen making my tea. We say ‘tea’ up north when we mean ‘dinner’ (though we actually mean ‘tea’). I figured it was high time I blogged again, since I’ve been conspicuous by my absence. Soz.

So, what’s new? Well, in approximately two minutes of microwave time (which, as we all know, is just an accelerated version of normal time and only slightly slowly than ‘24′ time), I shall have a feast of rice, peas and nut cutlets. Yum!

It’s true, I eat light (though I do like steak -medium-rare, if you please – and had a storming calzone in Derby last weekend – it was called a ‘Chicago Grinder’ and tasted flippin’ awesome), and exercise a fair bit, too. I’m not sure A-typical author in that sense. I think most of us want to exercise, or rather, like the ‘idea’ of it, but just don’t do it.

I’m a freak. It’s been said. It has. +Pause, as I remove the rice from the microwave and fill up my plate+

I run most days when I’m not in training for a specific race and every day when I am. When you work at a desk and then come home and do some more of the home, albeit in a freelancing capacity, it’s nice to get out and smell the… er… well, the canal, I guess. Okay, so it’s not idyllic, but running really clears my head and actually gives me energy rather than sapping it away.

I ran the world’s first ever Kilomathon a few weeks back. Considering this was the inaugural event, there was little fanfare aside from a local radio station sending out fairly vacuous platitudes to the crowd – but it was a big crowd, thousands actually. It was a 26.2 kilometre event (hence the name – it echoes marathon distance but in kilometres – clever, huh?) and I was aiming- well, I was aiming to finish. I clocked in a pretty decent 2 hours 20 minutes, not Olympic standard, not even county standard, but it’ll do for me.

Easter weekend I was slogging around Wollaton Park for 10k. That I nailed in under 45 minutes – that I was pleased with. More to follow, methinks.

Dunno how I got onto this subject. But, yeah – I run.

So, what else, what else? Well, Shakespeare is outside soaking up the sun and very chilled out he looks too, the little blighter. With all the recent-ish ups and downs, he’s coped remarkably well (but then, I guess, animals do). Anywho, me and him are settled into a nice routine and he must be happy ‘coz he runs around my feet every morning. I guess he knows who feeds him, right?

Work-wise, I am well busy – both in and out of the BL offices. Been reading The First Heretic today. As I reckon ADB will likely read this at some point (sorry, mate, I don’t have any stories about cats covered in shit, but that did make me laugh – a lot ), I won’t spoil his anticipation by saying what I think of it so far… I also had the great pleasure of reading a story by Mr Abnett and Mrs Abnett (aka Nik Vincent), today. Both are destined for the Sabbat Worlds anthology and both are very excellent indeed. As it happens (plug approaching…),  I have the very great privilege of pitching for the anthology too and am hoping to do a story about those bastards (I was going to say ‘loveable’, but they’re really not) the Volpone Bluebloods, so I’ve been trawling through my copies of Ghostmaker and Necropolis for all the gen.

This is my next job after/during Firedrake, which moves along at a fair old lick, you’ll know doubt be pleased to learn, dear readers…

It’s at 67,000 words and counting, so back well and truly broken now and all three plot threads humming along nicely. It’s surprised me, during the writing, how much I’ve been able to tie in incidents from the short stories I’ve done (including the audio, Fireborn). Wasn’t really my intention to layer it up quite so much, but it sort of happened organically. I’ve also been surprised by the amount of backstory I’ve got in regarding Nihilan’s and, ultimately, Ushorak’s fall from grace. Hadn’t planned that.

After the nut cutlets etc I’ll be working on it again tonight. my target is 70,000+ by the end of the weekend. Wish me luck.

Some short bursts of TV-related malarky…

My love for Fringe has been rekindled (I don’t suppose it ever really went away, but now I’m really looking forward to new episodes). The parallel universe stuff is really building up nicely and Walter continues to be awesome (still can’t get the image of him as Denethor, on fire, plunging to his doom from the top of Minas Tirith out of my head, though…).

Lost is on its last season and, much like with 24, I shall be said when it’s all over. Again, this season has really gripped me. At last, we’re getting some revelation and explanation, plus more questions (well, it is Lost). I wonder what’s going to replace it once all the black smoke has cleared?

Not Flash Forward, I think. This show promised much but has yet to deliver. Great concept from the novel, but not very well articulated in the show. Not sure I’m really gelling with any of the main characters, either. Still, I’ve got it on series record so I’ll persevere until season one is done.

I said to Christian today ‘Supernatural should not be as good as it is’. He agreed. This was a bubble-gum show, a teen channel ratings winner that was never meant to be taken that series by us sf aficionados. It’s great. Apart from a second season slight slump, it has gone from strength-to-strength, and season five (which was supposed to be final, but success means it will return for a sixth run) is the best yet in my opinion. Loving that, even if those douch bags from ITV2 would rather show Gossip Girl than buy the latest season of Supernatural (gawd bless Living is all I’ll say).

+Chows down some cold rice and peas…+

I eagerly await the return of Sons of Anarchy and Dexter. These two shows have more grit than a builder’s yard. Great stories and characters to boot!

Well, I’ve just finished my cold tea inbetween typing, so I’m going to roll it up there for now. Catch ya later, taters!