I’ve decided to re-release the first three Kozef and Ceinan (Kozef and Cainen now!) stories as an anthology/omnibus ebook, titled Crooked Streets. I’d like to think that this will make it easier for new readers to get into the series, and hopefully it will drum up some positive buzz in the lead up to publishing my novel, Emerald Sons, later this month.
So I have a new book coming out soon (a proper 150,000-word novel this time! Not just a 25,000-word novella or a dinky little short story) and I thought it only fitting that I should update the ol’ weblog.
The last theme was looking a little bit old hat, in my opinion. So I went looking through the currently available themes, and it turns out that the old black-and-orange theme I’d been using had been discontinued by WordPress years ago! I had no idea.
But I’m quite pleased with this new one. I think it looks quite a lot better than the previous one. And I made sure to include some banner images that evoke fantasy settings. Be sure to tell me what you think.
And of course, watch this space for news about the upcoming novel. I’m aiming for an ebook release this December (but before Christmas).
The latest Kozef and Ceinan adventure story, Thieves’ Boulevard, is now available for purchase on Amazon.com! It clocks in at about 25,000 words, so you can consider it a novella rather than a short story or novelette. Hope you enjoy it!
The fantastic cover art is courtesy of Milek Jakubiec.
In the Donjon quarter, the sordid slum-district of the sprawling metropolis of Auvand, the vagabond soldiers of fortune Kozef and Ceinan come into sudden possession of a treasure of unimaginable value. Knowing that such a coveted artefact will only bring grief and trouble rather than wealth and riches, they resolve to simply discard it and walk away.
But to grasp it for even a moment is to court the attention of underhanded forces who will stop at nothing to claim it for their own ends, and Kozef and Ceinan soon find themselves the target not only of the Polecats – the society of thieves and robbers that holds the entire slum-district in its clutches – but also a mysterious and beguiling woman for whom stealing and subterfuge come as naturally as breathing.
I participated in a Reddit AMA (Ask Me Anything) over at r/Fantasy last month with author Bradley P. Beaulieu (Myke Cole and Peter V. Brett were hanging around, too). I asked a question and was lucky enough to be randomly chosen for the book giveaway they had happening: Just today I received Beaulieu’s two novels – The Winds of Khalakovo and The Straights of Galahesh, the first two parts of The Lays of Anuskaya trilogy – in the mail from Night Shade Books. Not bad!
My newest ebook, “Grey Scourge”, is now available for purchase on Amazon.com! Hope you all like it.
A man-killing beast terrorizes the countryside surrounding the town of Vaudain, and the local liege-lord has offered a princely sum of money to anyone who can present him with its carcass. Drawn by the chance of some hard coin in their purses, the penniless mercenaries Kozef and Ceinan join forces with an estimable wolf-catcher and begin the hunt. The creature proves, however, to be more ravenously aberrant than they ever could have thought possible – and the mystery of its origin is revealed to be darker than they ever could have imagined.
A medieval adventure novelette. 16,500 words.
My new story, “Leathern Men“, is now available for purchase at Amazon.com. It’s a medieval adventure story, the first to feature itinerant mercenaries Kozef and Ceinan, two characters who I expect to spend a lot of time with in the future. It’s a 15,000-word short story, so it’s very long as far as short stories go, being and a few thousand words shy of novella length. As always, hope you all like it.
Kozef and Ceinan – itinerant soldiers of fortune and hard-on-their-luck seekers of glory – agree to evict a band of violent thugs from a small city inn in exchange for food, drink and lodging for the night. The ruffians, however, prove to be journeymen of the Tanner’s Guild, the criminal syndicate that dominates the city of Thieudan through violence and intimidation. Kozef and Ceinan draw down the hostility of the entire guild and must fight to save not only their own hides, but also the lives of those who they first set out to help.
Review blogger Sarah was kind enough to write a small review of “The Playwright’s Woman”. She was very generous, calling it ‘[m]oody, atmospheric, and utterly enjoyable’. How about that.
Thanks again, Sarah!
Alain Gomez of the Book Brouhaha short story blog gave Abomination a positive review, mentioning specifically the grey-and-grey morality of the characters and the psychological aspect of the story.
Many thanks, Alain!
My Gothic horror short story “The Playwright’s Woman” is now available for download. It’s available on Amazon (for 99 US cents) and Smashwords (for free, if you can’t afford 99 cents). 
Hope you all like it.
In late Victorian London, playwright Kevin Francis Darley struggles with both poor reviews and writer’s block. He begins a dalliance with the mystical spirit absinthe and meets – and falls immediately in love with – an enigmatic young woman from his homeland. She inspires and enlivens him, but the man who knows Kevin better than any other cannot help but be wary of the profound and disturbing change that he sees in his friend.
R. J. Creaney's Blog 