Thursday, November 24, 2016

Black Friday: Sci-Fi, Fantasy, & Superhero EBooks

I considered calling this the "Blackest Friday" sale, just to put some over-the-top dramatic spin on it, but decided that was too much.  (We get enough exaggerated crap fed to us as it is, don't we?)  But I do keep changing the name of this sale.
That's because it's good for all seasons!  Election building, victories and woes, and now Christmas shopping season.  Which itself gets more and more exaggerated and out of control every year.  Now they say Black Friday is leaking into Thursday, Wednesday, all over the damn place.  Pretty soon it'll be Black November!  And the All-Hallows-Eve Discount Zombie-a-Thon!  And then Non-Denominational Shopping Frenzy September!
Makes me tired just thinking about it.  But the point is:
For a limited time
(and already there, you don't have to wait till Friday),
EVERY J. D. BRINK TITLE IS $0.99. 
(Unless it’s free, and some of them are!)
massivemontage3
You can find them all on Amazon and anywhere else you find books!  Try these links, and if you’re fave spot is not one of these big ones, try the Fugitive Fiction button farm or your favorite web-dimension directly.  (Be aware that some websites may be slower to catch up to the price change than others.)
Treat them like Christmas presents: grab as many as you can, then forget about half of them by New Years!
And once you've read these books, if you don't mind, spend a couple of minutes tracing back where you found it and leave a quick review.  Or you could drop one on Goodreads.  Good or bad, a review is great for your fellow readers, and for your author too!
Thanks and Happy Holidays!

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Space Marine

spacemarineIn the last couple days I've started playing the old Xbox Space Marine game again.  (If you ask me something like "the first one or second one?" it's probably the first, 'cuz I'm not aware that there was more than one.)
This is a really cool game, though the game play isn't the best.  The marine you control can't jump or climb anything — your path is pretty much 2D, walking only where they want you to. The targeting isn't the best as, even in sniper mode, nudging the stick generally makes a big jump and it's hard to be precise.  So I'm not going to say it's the bestest game ever.
But the visuals and very cool and the 40K-ness of it is fantastic.  It really captures the feel of the 41st millennium.   The marine armor is great, very detailed, looks like a model come to life.  But my favorite part is the bolters.  They aren't spraying light machinegun fire; they're launching mini-RPGs like a bolter should!  And at a high rate of speed!  
sm2
The challenge level is kind of weird.  It seems like you walk through large areas with no resistance, and most of the time the killing is pretty open and low-threat, but then you'll hit certain boss-type combats that are just murder to get through!  That's when I quit playing years ago, when I hit that wall over and over again and couldn't get past it.  Orks and gretchen and squigbombs in waves, and those damn squigs get right up on you and blow up.  And again, targeting isn't that easy, so you shoot the hell out of a bunch of gretchen that couldn't hurt you if they had plasma pistols in each hand, but you miss the squigs that blow your legs off.  And then when you finally make it past the squigbombs and take them all out before they get you, this big mutha of an ork comes in and beats the hell out of you! 
sm3FINALLY this morning I got past that part, first try of the day.  Then, eventually, I came to a really cool ork dropship that reminds me very much of a Reaver boat in Firefly.  You have to plasma cannon the thing while it's shooting you with some megashoota type double-barrelled machinegun and the best shot in all of orkdom is manning the thing!  And THEN, if that crackshot doesn't gun you down, they drop orks to engage you while you're trying your damnedest to shoot down the ship with an overheated plasma cannon.  
It's hard.  But it's fun!
I know this is all old news to most anyone who will read this, but since I buy mostly old games on the cheap and never quite get around to playing them (got two on clearance last Xmas that I haven't even opened yet), I'm pleasantly surprised right now to come back to the year 40,000!

(This post, btw, is simul-cast on my new blog too, BrinksChaosTheory.com.)

Thursday, November 10, 2016

The End of Circus Sale: 99-Cent Ebooks

I originally (just days ago) called this the "End of Civilization" sale, before the actual election results.  
Now, in the aftermath of the election, you may or may not think that first title is appropriate.  Either way, I prefer not to offend anyone's political sensibilities.  
But we can all agree that no matter who you voted for, we're all just really damn glad the Most Ridiculous Show on Earth is finally over!  So I'm changing the name, but not the deal.
From now until the end of the year,
EVERY J. D. BRINK TITLE WILL BE $0.99. 
(Unless it’s already free, and a few are!)
massivemontage3
You can find them all on Amazon and anywhere else you find books!  Try these links, and if you’re fave spot is not one of these big ones, try the Fugitive Fiction button farm or your favorite web-dimension directly.  (Be aware that some websites may be slower to catch up to the price change than others.)
Treat them like Pokemon: collect them all while they're cheap!  And once you've read them, if you don't mind, spend a couple of minutes tracing back where you found it and leave a quick review.  Or you could drop one on Goodreads.  Good or bad, a review is great for your fellow readers, and for the author too! 

Monday, November 7, 2016

End of Civilization Sale!

With the election finally (finally!) coming around the bend, we can see Armageddon closing fast.  As such, I figured it was time to throw an End of Civilization Sale! 
From now until the end of the year (and life as we know it),
EVERY J. D. BRINK TITLE WILL BE $0.99. 
(Unless it’s already free, and a few are!)
massivemontage3
You can find them all on Amazon and anywhere else you find books!  Try these links, and if you’re fave spot is not one of these big ones, try the Fugitive Fiction button farm or your favorite web-dimension directly.  (Be aware that some websites may be slower to catch up to the price change than others.)
All I ask in return is that you get out there and vote!  (Notice I haven’t said anything about which candidate—the way this thing is going, we’re doomed either way…)
Well, I might also ask that once you’ve read one of my books or stories, that you stop back where you found it, or on Goodreads, and leave a quick review.  Good or bad, a review would really help me out!  And other readers, too.

Thursday, October 27, 2016

Casting Call: Nathan Fillion or Chris Pratt?

Who will play the Jack of Spades? film
Honestly, probably neither of these guys, but that’s the fun of a fancast, right?  Today I’m going to cast the would-be movie of my new book, One-Eyed Jacks. (Which you can still pre-order at a reduced price until Halloween…)
Here’s the book description:
Rails End, California. 1980s. As a former Vegas magician, Jack knows the world is full of shallow illusions. That’s why he’s grinding out a new life for himself as a smuggler, counterfeiter and debt collector for a local crime boss, and trying to stay off of everyone else’s radar.
Unfortunately, keeping a low profile just isn’t in the cards for the Jack of Spades. After a little trouble in Chinatown, Jack’s employer decides to send him on a working vacation. He’s to retrieve some stolen museum pieces on the island of Saipan. But Jack’s not the only person on the job and the other interested parties are more than they appear.  Hell, they may even be more than human…
Urban fantasy, crime-noir, and Asian myth merge in this darkly entertaining novel of pulp adventure.
jacks-mama-miniThe story takes place sometime in the 1980s, and Edgar casts Steve McQueen and Tom Selleck in the two top roles.  (McQueen passed away in 1980, but Edgar refuses to accept that.)  If this book were being made into a movie today, here’s how I see it breaking down…
(Images omitted, unfortunately, because I’m not sure where the world stands on copyright and the internet at this point.)
JACK:  Our hero and narrator, the Jack of Spades.  He’s calm and collected with a sense of humor and sense of adventure.  He’s also the Wanderer, the Dark Stranger.
My top two picks would be Chris Pratt of Guardians of the Galaxy and The Magnificent Seven (although their names were different, as far as I’m concerned, Pratt played Steve McQueen’s character from the original movie).  He’s funny and charming and has a good disposition for this role.  Though, honestly, he may be a little too beefy for Jack’s part.
Not that Nathan Fillion is out of shape either, but I think he’s got more wisdom and subtly.  I can definitely see Jack being more akin to Malcolm Reynolds of Firefly than Star Lord on Guardians of the Galaxy.  I think Fillion might be the better pick for this role.
EDGAR:  Eddie is Jack’s partner in crime (literally) and the comic relief of the book.  He’s also a Mexican American who thinks he’s Magnum, P. I.  Therefore, Edgar would like to see Tom Selleck play his part, but…  He’s giving himself too much credit.  I’m thinking Michael Peña, who provided great comic relief in Ant-Man.  I can definitely see him as the tough but not tough looking sidekick to the Jack of Spades.
FELIX:  Felix Caterina, also known as Felix the Cat on the street, is Jack and Eddie’s employer.  He’s a relatively small crime boss, an older guy with a fast temper but a good heart underneath.  Let’s put Clint Eastwood in that part.  That would go great with one of his lines and make it very ironic: “You think you’re Clint Fucking Eastwood, Jack?”
I can’t tell you much about the rest of the characters without ruining the surprise, so these will be quickies.
ALMA:  Just a casino girl or more than meets the eye?  I have to admit that I don’t know any Filipina actresses off the top of my head, so I asked Google for help.  And they gave me many choices, but I picked the lovely Angel Locsin.  (I hope she speaks English…)
NAGASHI:  The mysterious Japanese man who seems to be watching everybody.  There are only a few Japanese actors I can think of, one of whom has that eerie quiet down to a science.  Hiroyuki Sanada, from SyFy’s Helix series.
PETEY JACKSON:  I wrote this story before I knew director Peter Jackson was a person, okay?  Just so you know.  And this casting is overkill for the role, but who cares?  We have an infinite budget!  Forest Whitaker of the up-coming Rogue One would make a cool cigar-smoking scoundrel!
MING & POH: Felix’s underworld contact from Hong Kong and her bodyguard. Lucy Liu can be both tough and sexy.  And Ken Wantanabe, from The Last Samurai and Batman Begins, has a nice, threatening presence.
All right, get those agents on the phone and let's get this thing moving!
In the meantime, here are some places you can find One-Eyed Jacks.  Give it a read and let me know who you would cast in the movie!

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Evolution of a Book Cover


This is a post that's actually over on my new website.  I wanted to copy and paste it over here too, but the images just make such a task too BIG.  So here's a link.  Check it out!

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Pulp, Noir, and Asian Mythology for Pre-order Now!

Fourteen years in the making, the first short novel (now not quite as short) I'd ever written is finally ready to be published!  And you can pre-order it today at a reduced price!  
jacks-mama-mini
Rails End, California. 1980s. As a former Vegas magician, Jack knows the world is full of shallow illusions. That’s why he’s grinding out a new life for himself as a smuggler, counterfeiter and debt collector for a local crime boss, and trying to stay off of everyone else’s radar. 
Unfortunately, keeping a low profile just isn’t in the cards for the Jack of Spades. After a little trouble in Chinatown, Jack’s employer decides to send him on a working vacation. He’s to retrieve some stolen museum pieces on the island of Saipan. But Jack’s not the only person on the job and the other interested parties are more than they appear.  Hell, they may even be more than human…
Urban fantasy, crime-noir, and Asian myth merge in this darkly entertaining novel of pulp adventure. 
 Find it at these retailers now at $2.99.  Once the book officially launches on October 31st, the price goes up to $4.99.
(Note that this new cover may not appear on some of these sites quite yet.)

Saturday, September 17, 2016

Sci-Fi Boxed Set Still Available on a Planet Near You

OTW+ebook+cover
The Out of This World science fiction bundle is still out there!  It may have run out of time on Bundle Rabbit, but now it's a little closer to the planets you visit most often: namely, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Apple, and Kobo!
You get 16 ebooks for less than ten bucks!  You can't beat that deal with a Klingon stun baton!  (Do Klingons use stun batons?  Probably not.)
Here are your links.  Get it while you can, before this super deal goes supernova!
Kobo 
cover-fan
BTW, this is one of the LAST POSTS coming to this blog.  I've moved over to a new site, BrinksChaosTheory.com.  Come join me there to keep abreast of deals like these, up coming book releases, and more.

Friday, August 26, 2016

TWO GREAT DEALS ON SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY: BUNDLING AND KICKSTARTER

OTW+ebook+cover
Beginning August 15th, you can get 16 exciting science fiction titles worth $69 for as little as $9.99!  I’m talking about the “Out of This World” ebook bundle on Bundle Rabbit.
Bundled books include works from best-selling authors Kristine Kathryn Rusch and Dean Wesley Smith, Douglas Smith, Blaze Ward, and even me!  You can choose your own price and donate some to charity.  It’s win-win!
Stock up on your fall reading right now for less, because this amazing deal will only be around for a limited time.
cover-fan


cirsova3
The Kickstarter for Cirsova issues #3 and #4 is up and accepting all comers!  There are rewards to be had for both meager and generous contributions, not the least of which is knowing that you’re supporting a quarterly indie magazine and the authors who publish within its pages.
I myself, Captain Leonidas Hawksblood, am one such author.  Or rather, one such lively buccaneer of the Vast Empty Sea.  Join me and my crew—Mister Pug, Soot, Pidgeon, Spleen, and Comely John—aboard the Lion’s Share as we venture off for daring-do across the black canvas of stars.  Assuming The Lion’s engines don’t fail us and torpedo tubes can spit for all their worth.
Rewards via Kickstarter are greater than those without, so don’t delay!  You can’t get a better piece of the pie without stealing it, and then you’ll be running for the rest of your days.  Trust me, I’d know!

Wednesday, August 17, 2016

Wargaming Mamas from the Czech Republic


I received an email from the folks at Wargaming Mamas, a relatively new painting outfit in the Czech Republic, asking me to take a look at their site and possibly pass them along to others.  And after reading their heroing story, I'm more than happy to do it!

The good folks at Good Sailor have created a 40K hobby painting studio where over 80% of their employees are handicapped.  But this obviously isn't hampering their work.  Check out their site and their story on Flickr and the links below:

http://wargamingmamas.com

http://wargamingmamas.com/story.php


Monday, August 15, 2016

An Out of This World Ebook Bundle

OTW+ebook+cover
Beginning August 15th, you can get 16 exciting science fiction titles worth $69 for as little as $9.99!  I’m talking about the “Out of This World” ebook bundle on Bundle Rabbit.
Bundled books include works from best-selling authors Kristine Kathryn Rusch and Dean Wesley Smith, Douglas Smith, Blaze Ward, and even me!  You can choose your own price and donate some to charity.  It’s win-win!
Stock up on your fall reading right now for less, because this amazing deal will only be around for a limited time.
cover-fan

**Note that this is one of the LAST POSTINGS on this blog.  Everything is moving to my new site (just remove the "blogspot" from the address):  http://brinkschaostheory.com  

Please join me there for further adventures!

Sunday, August 14, 2016

Sci-Fi Fantasy Kickstarter: Pirates, Pulp Fiction, and Planetary Adventures

cirsova3
The Kickstarter for Cirsova issues #3 and #4 is up and accepting all comers!  There are rewards to be had for both meager and generous contributions, not the least of which is knowing that you’re supporting a quarterly indie magazine and the authors who publish within its pages.
I myself, Captain Leonidas Hawksblood, am one such author.  Or rather, one such lively buccaneer of the Vast Empty Sea.  Join me and my crew—Mister Pug, Soot, Pidgeon, Spleen, and Comely John—aboard the Lion’s Share as we venture off for daring-do across the black canvas of stars.  Assuming The Lion’s engines don’t fail us and torpedo tubes can spit for all their worth.
Rewards via Kickstarter are greater than those without, so don’t delay!  You can’t get a better piece of the pie without stealing it, and then you’ll be running for the rest of your days.  Trust me, I’d know!

**Note that this is one of the LAST POSTINGS on this blog.  Everything is moving to my new site (just remove the "blogspot" from the address):  http://brinkschaostheory.com  

Please join me there for further adventures!

Monday, July 25, 2016

LAST CHANCE for Big Savings on Fantasy Ebooks

In addition to the massive saving on all my books at Smashwords right now, my 5th Edition Dungeons and Dragons ebooks are also now available on the Dungeons Masters Guild at “Pay What You Want” for a limited time. 
I still think my D&D PDFs are a steal at $1.99 for the amount of work I put into them.  But I also thought a summer time price option might coincide well with the big Summer/Winter Sale that thousands of Smashwords books are enjoying right now
(That sale, by the way, ends on July 31st!  Click here to check out the skinny on my What’s New page, or click here to go straight to my Smashwords profile, where you can find all my books listed at the bottom.  You can also navigate from there to browse literally thousands of other ebooks by thousands of other authors, all on sale for up to 100% off through the end of the month.)
Now, exactly what’s the deal on the D&D books I’m talking about?  Glad you asked…
One is a “creative companion” with optional rules, new feats, and 10 pre-made characters to give you new ideas.  The other is a complete adventure of cultists, dark magic, and other obscenities.  The third (free) book is basically an excerpt from the first.
(I really should get around to unifying the look of the three different covers someday too.  But today isn't the day.)

female elf with a bow in the forestContained herein are more than 40 pages featuring customized game rules, a new, story-based experience system that does away with tracking math, and 17 powerful feats for players.  But that’s not all.
Presented for your inspiration are 10 complete characters created from new takes on existing classes, all forged via enhanced creation rules that favor player characters.  Each hero features stats, background stories, and character-building decisions spelled out to give you new ideas for your PCs and NPCs.  Examples include an archetype-defying Cthulhu warlock, steampunk mage, Shinto samurai, rogue spymaster, and Thor, godling of thunder.
Fantasy author J. D. Brink first discovered Dungeons & Dragons more thirty years ago.  Finally, with the advent of the Dungeon Masters’ Guild, he can now share some of his own ideas and game innovations with fellow players of the world’s greatest roleplaying game.  The 5eCC works in conjunction with your own imagination to develop exciting new worlds and the heroes needed to save them!
 A cup of coffee costs four bucks.  Endless possibilities for your games: half as much.
Find it only at the Dungeon Masters Guild.

The simple townsfolk of Jersey Shore generally keep to themselves.  Neighbors might describe them as quiet cow herders, able fishermen, and pious church-goers.  If they had neighbors.  In fact, no one who visits Jersey Shore ever has anything to say.  Because visitors never leave.
This adventure is for early level player characters (levels 2-4), and will require one or two play sessions to complete.  Slip it into your campaign as an unfortunate pit stop in any D&D realm and enjoy an evening chock full of action, monsters, mystery, and humor.
Fantasy/SF writer J. D. Brink ran this adventure with his own D&D players based on just a few scribbled notes.  Now after weeks of further development, it’s ready for your team of D&D heroes.  Are they up to the challenge?
A cup of coffee costs four bucks.  An evening full of adventure: half as much.
Find it only at the Dungeon Masters Guild.

blackeye_cvr-miniJansen is an intelligent, quiet young man.  A bit of an odd duck, especially in a noble family.  Quite like his uncle Hadspen.  When Hadspen mysteriously passes away in far-away Dunwich, Jansen makes it his business to find out more.  What he discovers there is a treasure-trove of strange artifacts, an other-worldly patron, and new destiny of darkness and adventure.
Three inspirational player characters to give new perspective on existing character classes:
- a mysterious Cthulhu warlock
- a gifted Tielfing knight
- a crafty steampunk mage
Each features an extensive backstory and commentary on how they were built.
The Player Characters are the heroes of your story.  Each should have their own backstory and stand out as unique in the Realms.  This free DMG title is a sample taken from the Fifth Edition Creative Companion and is intended to encourage players and DMs to take the road less traveled to enhance their tales of adventure.
Find it only at the Dungeon Masters Guild.

NOTE: This post is being simul-cast on my NEW Chaos Theory website, which will soon be my ONLY ongoing website and blog.  Please take a moment to go there by clicking here.  You can subscribe by opening the triangle tab at the bottom of the page.

Friday, July 8, 2016

Smashwords’s Massive Summer/Winter Ebook Sale


Smashwords.com, one of the oldest ebook publishing and distribution sites, is having their annual “summer/winter” sale.  The “summer/winter” bit refers to their global reach: it’s summer for us in the northern hemisphere and winter for those in the southern. 

And this sale is massive.  Literally thousands of authors and publishers (including myself) are offering huge discounts on books found on on the site throughout the month of July. 

You read that correctly: Thousands.  Huge discounts.  July only.


All you have to do is go to a book’s home on Smashwords and look at the price box on the right side of the screen.  Under the regular price and the yellow and green purchase buttons, you’ll see mention of a coupon code. 

It’s right there on the screen, already spelled out for you. 

When you go to check out, just type in that coupon code and you’ll get 25%, 50%, 75%, or even 100% off the book. 


Take advantage while you can.  Stock up.  Try out something you were iffy about before. 

Hunt down specific authors or titles, or just browse and see what they’ve got.

What have I got up for sale?  Glad you asked…

Actually, almost everything of mine on has a coupon code, from 50% to 100% off.  It’s easier just to let you look for yourself.  Click here (or any of those hyperlinks above) to go my profile page.  Scroll down to see all my books and click on one you like.  Chances are, it’s got a coupon code attached.  (If not, there’s probably a reason.  Just try another.)


NOTE: This post is being simul-cast on my NEW Chaos Theory website, which will soon be my ONLY ongoing website and blog.  Please take a moment to go there and subscribe by clicking here.

Monday, July 4, 2016

200 Word Movie Reviews: Tarzan and Independence Day: Resurgence


We see a lot of movies here on-base in Japan.  For one thing, we’re married with children, so it’s about as much excitement as we get.  And we desperately need a reason to escape from the house every other week or so.  It’s also cheap as hell: $3 for most movies, $5 for 3D shows.  One of the amenities for being far-flung from home.

I’m going to start doing quickie movie reviews on here.  I could make them long and in-depth, but I don’t think your average cyber-reader needs all that.  Most just want a quick overview to see if it’s worth their hard-earned dollars.  Should they see it at the theatre, wait for the rental, or just avoid it all together?  I think 200 words are enough to say something worthwhile, while still keeping it brief. 

Of course, everyone’s tastes are different, but if you find over time that our sensibilities align pretty well, then you might just check here before forking over a big wad at the box office.

This past week we saw two movies: 


Independence Day: Resurgence

I didn’t go in expecting much, just a couple-hour escape from the house.  And that’s about all I got.

Basics: Bigger and meaner aliens return to attack an ill-prepared future full of pretty boys and girls. 

In 20 years’ time, you’d think they’d have come up with something better.

One thing that stood out to me was that just about all the main players were young and pretty (especially Liam Hemsworth), which automatically sticks in my craw.  If it looks like 90210, it probably is.  There were a few players from the first movie called back into service, all of whom were probably waiting for this for 20 years, as they haven’t been in much else since. 

There was a little bit of characterization and a redemption storyline, but like just about everything in the movie, it was pretty shallow.  A lot of the science of it seemed wonky to me, too.  It is science fiction, but at least get gravity right! 

On the plus-side, it was a bubblegum summer movie: lots of pew-pew and ‘splosions, with a little romance between beautiful people.  Don’t expect more than that, and you won’t be disappointed.

2.5/5 stars.  “Rent it.”


The Legend of Tarzan

It was good.  Though I wanted this to be more epic than it was.  Even though it pretty much had all the elements and the approach needed, there was still just something missing for me.  (Or maybe I’m just becoming a cold, dry-hearted curmudgeon in my old age.)

Basics: Lord Greystoke, famed Tarzan of the jungle, is called back to the Congo into a trap against some historically-accurate evil-doers. 

I liked that this story takes place after he’s been Tarzan and returned to life as an English lord (which doesn’t appear to agree with him too well).  We still get the Tarzan story but in a series of flashbacks, which is way better than spending the whole movie on something we already know.  And it gives us a more complex story that really is based on the history of Belgium colonial exploitation.  So it mixes true history and social awareness with fantasy and legend (realistically done, as much as swinging like Spiderman and communicating with animals through mating calls can be). Most of the acting is good; Jane’s okay.  And Tarzan mostly naked through the movie is a bonus for the ladies.  (Worked for my wife.)

I’ll round it up to 4/5 stars. “See it.” 


NOTE: This post is being simul-cast on my NEW Chaos Theory website, which will soon be my ONLY ongoing website and blog.  Please take a momentto go there and subscribe by clicking here.


Sunday, July 3, 2016

July 4th Fantasy Fiction for $0.99


For one week only, you can snag Tarnish: Thunderstrike Edition -- two books in one, normally $8.99 -- at deep discounts on Amazon.com.

The price drop begins at just $0.99 on July 4th!  

From there it'll slowly crawl back to it's original price over the next 7 days.  So if you miss it on the Fourth, it's not too late to get a great deal!

Act fast!  Click here to begin!

Friday, July 1, 2016

Werewolf Art to Go with My Detective Story

I just noticed on Crimson Streets that my urban fantasy story published there now has some art to go with it!  When it was first published back in March, there had been a problem with the artist signed up to do it and it became the only tale on CS without a visual aid, so to speak.  But that's now corrected.  Yeah!

Click here to see the picture and read the story (for free!).

Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Epic Coming of Age Fantasy on Kindle Unlimited


For a limited summer engagement, Tarnish: Thunderstrike Edition is now on Kindle Unlimited.  This extended edition includes the 400 page novel and the prequel novella, The Prince of Luster and Decay in one volume.  Click here to find it on Amazon.

Here are the quick-version blurbs:

Tarnish

Billy Cole is the sixteen-springs-old son of Ian the Black.  Being the heir of a legend is a heavy burden to bear, and though he wears it well, it takes more than strength to become a man. And more than a sword to become a hero.  When evil rises from the Blood Marsh, Wil Thunderstrike gets his chance at both.  Epic fantasy on a more personal scale.

The Prince of Luster and Decay
Sergeant Knox leads the Head Knockers, scout-saboteurs in the war against the Dread Duke and his armies.  After an ambush kills half the company, Knox and his boys are sent on a final mission to investigate the possible source.  And though the town appears empty, something waits for them there in the darkness.  And they’ll need both heart and steel to defeat it.


Tuesday, June 7, 2016

Sci-Fi Fantasy Pulp Fiction Mag on Kickstarter


Cirsova Issue 2 is on pre-order via Kickstarter right now.  It's all set and ready to rock for July, just needs some more pre-orders to make it happen.  You can get a PDF copy for as little as 2 bucks, a PDF and paperback both for only 10 bucks!

Check it out by clicking here.

Saturday, June 4, 2016

D&D 5E: New Titles Via Dungeon Masters Guild

Hey there, fellow nerdites.  I'm happy to announce that I now have two pdf ebooks on Wizards of the Coast's Dungeon Masters Guild.  The Guild is a marketplace where players can contribute to the gaming community by publishing material through OneBookShelf and their consortium of gaming companies.  There is a cornucopia of D&D material to be found there, with prices ranging from free, to a few dollars, to paying whatever you think is fair.

What I have decided is fair is $1.99 for each of mine, which is less than I'd charge for an equivalent work of fiction, given the word counts and amount of time I put into them.  One is a full story adventure module in a creepy small town.  The other is a source book with new feats, custom rules, and new ways to imagine existing character classes, without having to reinvent the rules for them.

Here's what I mean:


 
The simple townsfolk of Jersey Shore generally keep to themselves.  Neighbors might describe them as quiet cow herders, able fishermen, and pious church-goers.  If they had neighbors.  In fact, no one who visits Jersey Shore ever has anything to say.  Because visitors never leave.

This adventure is for early level player characters (levels 2-4), and will require one or two play sessions to complete.  Slip it into your campaign as an unfortunate pit stop in any D&D realm and enjoy an evening chock full of action, monsters, mystery, and humor.

Fantasy/SF writer J. D. Brink ran this adventure with his own D&D players based on just a few scribbled notes.  Now after weeks of further development, it’s ready for your team of D&D heroes.  Are they up to the challenge?


A cup of coffee these days costs four bucks.  An evening full of adventure: half as much.




Contained herein are more than 40 pages featuring customized game rules, a new, story-based experience system that does away with tracking math, and 17 powerful feats for players.  But that’s not all. 

Presented for your inspiration are 10 complete characters created from new takes on existing classes, all forged via enhanced creation rules that favor player characters.  Each hero features stats, background stories, and character-building decisions spelled out to give you new ideas for your PCs and NPCs.  Examples include an archetype-defying Cthulhu warlock, steampunk mage, Shinto samurai, and rogue spymaster.

Fantasy author J. D. Brink first discovered Dungeons & Dragons more thirty years ago.  Finally, with the advent of the Dungeon Masters’ Guild, he can now share some of his own ideas and game innovations with fellow players of the world’s greatest roleplaying game.  The 5eCC works in conjunction with your own imagination to develop exciting new worlds and the heroes needed to save them!

A cup of coffee these days costs four bucks.  Endless possibilities for your games: half as much.



* * * 

Check 'em out and let me know if you have any questions or suggestions!