Nick Kyme

It’s not been a great start to the new year, to be honest. I found out a couple of days ago that the reason I’ve been feeling so crappy is because I have bronchitis. Say fooking what?! Isn’t that something that usually only effects old folks and ‘ickle babies? Nope. I got it too. Balls. So not only am I full of evil lurgy, I am also ignorant of the disease in general. Well, I’ve become well acquainted with it over the last few weeks, let me tell you.

Copious amounts of mucous – check. Disgusting chesty cough – check. Cotton wool stuffed in ears, head and sinuses – check. General fatigue – check. Feeling like I’ve just gone ten rounds with Hulk in place of Loki – big check.

Ugh! It sucks.

The doctor was actually really surprised I even made it into the surgery. I was running a temperature and inflamed in my throat, even my ears! God bless the powers of Lemsip to mask all symptoms, I suppose.

In the days prior to my illness revelation (sounds like the title to a crap Bourne film), I had been online checking out the right foods to eat, the best diet and lifestyle. Of course, none of the so-called experts could agree, oh, except for the fact that there is no cure nor preventative measure for the common cold. Ah we’ll, seems there was nothing common about what I was suffering with.

So, I am sat at home, feeling shitty, bored out of my mind and trying not to answer too many work emails (bloody hell but I’ve got a lot on at work right now and not being there is actually only increasingly my anxiety levels and general restiveness – calm, calm).

I did many to finish off a couple of much shorter, and thus easier to manage, writing projects that had begun prior to and in the early stages of the bronchitis so at least I feel a little bit productive. Got a new Salamanders short story done, which is now two new pieces I have finished for 2013. One’s a micro short (and I reckon that’s what I’m going to call these types of pieces from now one), clocking in at just over 1k (I always liked the idea of writing an entire anthology of micro shorts, 100 stories in all – is that mental?) and the other is just over the 5k mark, so a normal short story then.

Like I say, fans should see these in 2013. I’d like to do more and I’ve got an idea for a long short story and a couple of sideways tie-ins featuring the Marines Malevolent (I’ve had this one in my head for a while – it was originally slated for Treacheries of the Space Marines but my schedule simply wouldn’t allow for it) and the Raven Guard character from Vulkan’s Shield.

On the subject of short stories, I just want to reiterate for anyone who wasn’t listening the first few times that Tome of Fire is a collection of all the Salamander short stories to date. There is only one story that is unique to the collection (but it’s a long one) that hasn’t been seen anywhere else, in any other form or medium, and that’s The Firebrand. You will find a bunch of other stories that are hard to get hold of (because they were in limited edition chapbooks, only available as audios or downloads and have never been in print etc, etc).

If you’re expecting an entire book of all-new stories then that’s not what you’ll get. It’s everything combined so far into one volume with a brand new short and some hard to find stuff. I don’t know about you but as a collector I like this kind of thing, where I can conveniently have my entire collection all together in one series of four books. If that’s not you and you’d prefer to trawl through Heroes of the Space Marines or if you have diligently tracked down all the shorts thus far in all their forms (and, sincerely, thank you for that) then you’re likely to be disappointed but please don’t beat me down for the book’s existence, especially if you’re a fan, just because it wasn’t what you were expecting.

Alternatively, if you loved the fact all these stories (plus new and hard to find stuff) are now available in one handy, shiny new package then please tell the world so (I.e. go review the book on Amazon). I thank you.

The demand was there for the book, my publisher and I decided it would be great to release the stories as a collection. Had we not, there’d be no Salamander book at all as I was busy writing The Great Betrayal at the time. But do fear not, as I will be returning to the Salamanders either later this year to early-ish next (not counting 30k Salamanders, which I am in the midst of writing now).

Also, on the subject of The Great Betrayal, it has come to my attention (through re-reading and some snarky, but perfectly justified, blog posts) that there are a handful of continuity… slip ups, shall we say. Nothing major, and mainly elf related, but it’s annoying (for me too, believe it or not – I have my pride too and want to get this stuff right). I’m going to see about tweaking the text to iron out these background snafoos so that e-book versions and reprints of the novel can be amended. Sincere apologies, I do really mean that – this stuff matters to me… A LOT. A quick note, however, that some of it was deliberate and will be addressed in the third novel in the series (and it’s six books, not three as some people are still stating), Elfdoom.

Okies, I’m going to get back to coughing and spluttering. Feel free to sound off about any and all of that on here, and I’ll do my best to get back to you with comments.

Unless you’ve been in a hole or outer space over the last few days, you surely noticed that Black Library (my publisher that is) is a hale and hearty 15 years old, and to celebrate they’re publishing 15 really short, short stories over the course of 15 days (see what they did there… nice).

Woot! Cake for everyone.

If you most over to the Black Library site now, you’ll be able to find the stories on the front page. Here’s a link to mine btw… it’s called Only Ash Remains.

Quicky then, it takes place after Nocturne and sort of (unofficially) kicks off the Circle of Fire sequence. It’s only 1,000 words long, so don’t expect massive swathes of story but I reckon there’ll be plenty of juicy little teases in there for fans of the series. Go check it out, and while you’re at it check out the other fantastic 1,000 word stories by my lovely colleagues and fellow writers.

You’ll also be able to find a bunch of stuff on the Black Library Facebook and Twitter feed (oh, and the website itself) where each writer comments on the process of writing a short, short story. Plus there’s some commentary from the other contributing writers on the other stories. Shazam!

Regardless of how long or short a story happens to be, there is definitely a different discipline and skill set required for varying length (oo-err, madam). I know some writers that baulk at having to write a short story and the idea of writing a 1,000 word piece would probably keel them over. Others grow pale at the thought of a novel or just can’t seem to get write that middling length, the novella.

I’ve had a go at pretty much everything. I like the short story format, especially audio (I think it’s the fact it forces me to be so immediate, have lots of dialogue and engage on a more cinematic level), but there’s something satisfying about writing a novella too. Novels tire me out, plain and simple. I am bloody shattered during and after writing a novel (especially a beast like The Great Betrayal which I’m working on now) but you can do so much more in terms of character and plot development. It’s also my bread and better, so I’m not stopping any time soon.

In running terms (as it’s an analogy I understand pretty well), a short, short (let’s say 1-5,000 words) is like a sprint, energised, rapid, urgent; a short story (about 10,000 words) is like a 5k run, you know you’re doing it and can’t fly off like a lunatic but it’s not so long that it takes much out of you; a novella (25-30,000 words) is a 10k race, you need to train a bit, figure out your route, keep a steady pace and push at the end; whereas (and, yes, you’ve guessed it…) a novel is a marathon (or even half marathon), it takes a long time, requires loads of work being put in beforehand and leaves you exhausted but satisfied at the end.

Like I said earlier, multiple posts – gadzooks!

Okies, so here’s what I’ve been working on/what’s out and coming out for my goodself at the moment.

Out now – Nocturne has been out since November and kicking celebrated ass as the finale to my Tome of Fire trilogy about the Salamanders. There are some cliffhangers and that’s because I am returning to the Chapter and some of the characters (plus new ones) in a new book around 2013.

Also… Dwarfs. If you can can’t wait for The Great Betrayal then you can always get hold of this omnibus edition by myself and fellow author Gav Thorpe. It contains three stand alone novels about the dwarfs (well, duh…), a short story by Gav and a cut down version of the old hard to find background book Grudgelore. Oh, and both authors have written an intro too.

Coming out soon – The Primarchs in which I have a novella ‘Feat of Iron’, which is about Ferrus Manus of the Iron Hands and really delves into his psyche and how he sees himself ranked up against the other primarchs. It runs concurrently with the storyline of Promethean Sun but is in no way dependent on that story. There some pretty f*!king awesome revelations in it about Ferrus Manus and a hint about what’s to come in the next phase of the Heresy storyline too. It’s previewed at BLL and released ‘officially’ in June 2012.

Perfection is my fourth (ish) audio drama and it’s all about a warband of the Emperor’s Children called the Incarnadine Host. It’s a bit different as it’s kind of a battlefield mystery story but with lots of extremely visceral action, and a killer twist. The read through was done last week and now it’s off to be recorded. Expect it around October 2012.

And what I’m working on right now – The Great Betrayal. My first Time of Legends book set during the War of Vengeance has been a right bast to get into shape. With a six book series, my first experience of working in tandem with another author, and this being the first book has meant I’ve really had to find new levels of dedication and ingenuity to make this work. It’s now well on track, over 70,000 words down (out of a likely 120,000) and slated for a November 2012 release.

And soon to be on my writing desk – Tome of Fire. For all Salamander fans everywhere, this is an anthology of all my short stories for the Salamanders. It also includes the audio drama Fireborn and will contain a brand new novella (which is where the work comes from). Rare gems such as The Burning will also be in there (that was a chapbook story from BLL 2009 – I think) and I might see if Emperor’s Deliverance will fit in too (it’s more focused on Marines Malevolent but does have a rather cool cameo by Tu’Shan).

Scorched Earth is next up. This is a Horus Heresy novella that won’t be limited edition but will be a forerunner to a later novel I have in the works. It’s set in the aftermath of Isstvan V and features two Salamander characters searching for Vulkan’s body amongst the ruins and devastation. Expect a cameo from one of the Iron Hands in ‘Feat of Iron’ too… Oh, and the cover by Neil Roberts is absolutely stunning. Very moody and something rather different for the Horus Heresy, not really seen before.

That’s your lot. Further out is well… top secret at the moment. Updates will filter through BL’s site as usual.

Catch me at BLL2012 on Saturday to get my sig on The Primarchs or anything else you care to bring.

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.