Nick Kyme

I’ll be at Travelling Man in Leeds on April 30th signing copies of Fall of Damnos. Come along and say ‘hello’…

Howdy folks,

It’s day two of ‘Poorly Kyme’ and I freely admit I am slowly losing my mind inside this torpor of illness. I haven’t been out of the house for two days and it is freakin’ me out big style.

My only connection to the outside world at the mo is my pc, so I’m making best use of email, Skype and Facebook when I don’t feel like such crap that I need to sleep and reduce the mucous content clogging up my head to a barely tolerable level.

Pretty much spent this morning watching season three of 30 Rock and my plans this evening revolve around eating some gnocchi that’s going off if I don’t stick in a pot and then in my mouth and a bit of Spartacus: Gods of the Arena (shout out to Dan for that one – nuff said) and Boardwalk Empire (which, as we all know, is bloody excellent so I won’t bang on about it here – go read Sky magazine or some such guff for all that shizzle). Ah, good times.

It has meant that my work on Nocturne has slowed to a crawl (or, rather, stop) but it does at least give me a chance to think about what I’ve already got down and what’s to come in the story.

As a writer (and editor) you kind of live in two worlds, both operating in different chronologies – there’s the ‘now’, which is everyone else’s future (i.e. I’m writing Nocturne now, but you guys won’t be reading it until later this year) and the ‘then’, which is everyone else’s ‘now’ – any of this making sense? Told you I was losing it. My ‘then’, by the way, is Fall of Damnos which is out very, very soon. So soon, in fact, that pre-release copies are already getting the review treatment. Here’s another great one from The Founding Fields.

Good health withstanding, I should be heading out on a signing tour of sorts in the next few weeks to coincide with the book’s release. More details will follow; if not on here then definitely on the BL website. Another ‘then’ novel for me is Firedrake, which is nearing its six months since release mark (this is generally when us writing folks find out how well, or not, a book has done). Apparently, the received wisdom so far is ‘pretty darn good’, so thanks to everyone who bought and loved it.

Okay then, that’s your lot. Go and check out the Damnos reviews if you haven’t already and lemme know what you think when you read it. Ta, ta.

Just a really quick one. Fall of Damnos is slowly getting out into the world (ahead of its actual release), and I’ve been delighted by the reaction so far.

Here’s a great review on The Emperyan…

I’m a bit short of time this evening so I can’t really go into much more detail than that, but huge thanks to everyone so far for all the support.

Well, happy weekend y’all!

It’s Kyme here and in an effort to increase my general bloggage I have a cheeky little update for you.

After taking the month of December off for A) Christmas and B) so I didn’t lose my mind, it’s been a bit of a journey to get back up to speed writing-wise. A long weekend in Youlgreave on a writer’s retreat definitely helped moisten the joints (see previous post) and I’m pleased to say that I’m firmly back in the saddle as of today.

Stress levels have lessened a bit with the successful completion of 4,000 words today (which is a good target for me, especially with no evening session). I usually write in blocks, kicking off in the morning with a couple of thousand between several cups of coffee and probably a piece of toast and then another couple post-lunch and maybe the odd 500 or so of notes for the next whilst I’m cooking dinner.

Today I cooked at lunch, a big fat plate of pasta with kabanos sausage, green pepper and tomato. It was good. I took a long shower mid-afternoon to help get my brain working again (something about the action of the water just helps for some reason) and was pretty chuffed with my total.

I’m 9,500 words into Promethean Sun. This is a BL novella set during the Horus Heresy and featuring the Salamanders. Oh, and Vulkan is pretty much in it all the way through. And… start the wooting now.

Very happy with how it’s progressing so far. It took a while to find its momentum but almost hitting the first third mark helped. My target for the weekend was actually 10,000 words and with another full session tomorrow I’m easily going to achieve that. Good times.

It’s been a pretty good day all round as my fantasy football team kicked celebrated ass too with both Van Persie and Berbatov both scoring hat-tricks (you get extra points for that in the game – ker-ching!). I’m currently lying in second behind Alex Davis in the BL mini-league and have my eye set firmly on that top spot. I’m coming fer ya…

In other news, I got the first copies of Fall of Damnos in my hands the other day. Here’s a sneaky pic…

Like other SMB books, this one features a real cool insert section with a force organisation chart and planetary map. If you’re a fan of the Ultramarines in any form, but especially if you liked Assault on Black Reach: The Novel and Cato Sicarius’s Second Company, then this is the book for you. For those not familiar with the story, it features the Ultramarines going up against the necrons as they try to save the world of Damnos from certain destruction. Expect to see the return of Scipio, Iulus and Praxor as the sergeants’ complicated relationship is explored further. In the past, quite a few fans have asked me when/if I was going to do anymore with these characters and this is my response.

See? Sometimes wishes do come true…

Fall of Damnos is out in April of this year so not long to wait.

Meanwhile, Firedrake continues to do well and I’m thrilled at all the great reviews it’s been getting. When I’m done with Promethean Sun, I’ll be heading forward in time to 40K again and finishing of the Tome of Fire trilogy with Nocturne.

Short-ish and sweet from me today. I’m still buzzing off too much caffeine, so I’m going for a bit of chill out and a sandwich with Shakespeare before heading off to a murder mystery party tonight.

Well, not strictly true I guess. I was mashed while playing for Moose, Evil Crimson Moose Inc. to be exact. And, no, I haven’t joined a strange and nefarious corporation dedicated to deeds most foul, it’s the name of our charity football team.

This is old news now (pre-Children in Need), but BL put a team of desperate wannabees (neverbees?) together to play in a 5-a-side footy tournament to raise some money for the kiddiwinks – foolishly, I agreed (spurred on by my colleagues).

Here’s the team, btw… (from left to right: Neil, Anthony, Ed, Darius, Christian, Me and Ragnar)

So, the reason for the late post? Well, during the course of one of the games (we had three and only managed to beat a team of girls – they did have 10 players on the pitch against our 5 but the score was tight: 6-5), the first one as my bad luck would have it, a big fella the size of an artic lorry bodychecked me and bruised my ribs to the bejesus. There was no malice, it’s just a physical game is all. It was painful, though, and I reckon I was down to one lung for much of the matches after that. Over a week on, it still hurts.

Still, we raised over a grand for charity combined with a cheeky bake sale done earlier in the week (now, that is a much better money raising idea).

So, it’s meant that running has been knocked on the head for the next two weeks (at least – and I’d just joined a really nice running club and was starting to build on my fitness level). I did manage a session of badminton last week, which was fine for the first game (when I kind of crushed my girl friend – sorry, Anth), but soon as the painkillers wore off I was rubbish. Imagine Kryten from Red Dwarf swinging a badminton racquet and you’re about there. Smeeeg heeed.

I had been really enjoying running club too, despite the shockingly cold and (up until a couple of weeks ago) wet weather. Still, I fully plan to return, hopefully week after next.

Prior to being kiboshed on the footy pitch, I did manage to do a bit of hiking in the Peak District. This involved tromping through peat bogs, getting lost in the mist and running up rocky river beds – nice. The two pints of Celtic Gold and the pie and chips afterwards were well-deserved and like the nectar of the gods. I’d recommend it.

Christmas is on its way and for those who celebrate it, like me, there’s stuff to do in preparation. I am really looking forward to it this year as it’ll be mine and Anthea’s first Xmas together. I even ventured into the Thunder Dome that was Nottingham City Centre yesterday to purchase gifts (I usually do my shopping online, but had a few things I need to see and hunt down in the flesh, as it were). It was freezing, but I didn’t mind that – I actually quite like winter, so long as I can come back to a warm house (my heating broke down last year and for a few days it was frikkin’ cold as a bast), and very, very busy. Not New York or London busy, but brutal none-the-less.

Had a few bevvies with my journo mate, Dan, which was very civilised, in one of my favourite Nottingham pubs (the Malt Cross, if you’re asking). I like the vibe in there, it’s bustling but friendly and kind of bohemian. Cool. We discussed all things Walking Dead (stunning TV show, by the way – when we were talking about it, a total strnager came up to us and joined in briefly on the conversation – see, friendly. You wouldn’t get that in most of the ‘pastel shirt’ pubs of Nottingham; more likely a bottle in your face), Lost and all manner of other geeky pursuits.

Speaking of London, by the by, me and the good lady are taking a trip to the ‘Big Smoke’ in a couple of weeks for a spot of shopping, sight seeing and luncheon (maybe even a show). We’re going by coach, which will take about twice the time but has none of the associated hassle. I’m prepared for the three hour journey, though, as I purchased God of War: Ghost of Sparta and Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep to pass the time. Combined with a bit of DS action for the missus, I think we’re covered.

Maintaining the frosty, wintry theme, I’m taking my brother and his wife sledging at the Tamworth Snow Dome next week. I’ve been before on a stag do and it was awesome. Just hoping my bruised ribs are more or less mended by then (come on healing factor, come on…). Fingers crossed.

Like I’ve said in earlier posts, I’m taking December off. Partly, this is because my output this year (especially under post-apocalypse of ‘09 fall-out) has been insane and I need a rest, and because it’s the holidays and I want to focus on seeing my loved ones, having a good time and not work. I have a couple of days before the end of November, though, and with Fall of Damnos going to proof readers and ‘Forgotten Sons’ for Horus Heresy: Age of Darkness in the can, my slate is pretty clear. So, I’m going to use it to work up a few pitches for next year’s efforts.

First up, there’s a Horus Heresy novella that I can reveal anything about, then there’s Nocturne, of course (which is pitched and green-lit, I just need to plan out the details) and a healthy batch of short stories and at least two other novels I want to write (which could be a sequel to Fall of Damnos, an inquisitor novel and possibly even something set during the Heresy – nothing has been confirmed at all with regards to this last one, I am working on pitches that is all).

Okay then, that’s me for now. I’ll try and post a bit more often. Oh, keep those Firedrake reviews coming in. If you love the book get your five stars up on Amazon and the BL site please. It’s tough in the shadow of The First Heretic, so I need all the help I can get.

Bazinga!