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| Posted By : Rob Santa - 4/2/2007 2:12 PM | | This week I am getting the paperwork together for the reprinting of RAGEmachine Books' first collection in the shared world of Magistria. Public thanks to GW Thomas for letting me take over. He knows more than anyone else how much I wanted to see this project continue, especially since the second book in the series was *that* close to getting completed. Once the paperwork is done, it's off to the printer. I will have this book in hand before either Magic & Mechanica or Black Dragon, White Dragon, which will give me a solid idea of the printer's workmanship and help plan the finalization process for the other two anthologies.
Updates to the first Magistria collection will be found here.
(Magistria was getting jealous of M&M and BDWD. I figured I better start a thread before it started crying)
Rob Santa Hopelessly Addicted Writer of Speculative Fiction
and CEO of Ricasso Press |
| Posted By : Bill Ward - 4/2/2007 4:04 PM | Sweet, I was always curious about these at Rage Machine.
For the unitiated could you give us a brief rundown of what Magisteria is all about? |
| Posted By : Rob Santa - 4/2/2007 4:37 PM | Absolutely. Magistria is a world where specialized mages run amok. The magic system is set up by elements: fire, earth, animal, plant, etc. and when GW conceived this I'm sure he wasn't expecting authors to chime in with Time Mages and Dream Mages as well. GW drew us a map, told us to pick a specialty, then let the invited authors go crazy. The first collection is not as much of a shared world as I expected it would be, though there is certainly crossover between stories. The second collection, forthcoming from Ricasso Press, does that more than the first one did. The third, which will begin taking submissions at the end of the year, will be an open invite to all authors, not just the ones who have previously contributed.
When GW conceived the idea, he decided to let stories take place anywhere along the timeline of Magistria's history. The mages once held dictatorial control over the land, the common people eventually displaced them, and Magistria's present has them living tenuously together. A certain writer who you might know (ahem) is currently writing a Magistria novel centered on the events that led to the mages' overthrow. GW and I originally thought of this as a co-authored work, which it still might turn into since I don't think my concept will run more than 40- or 50-thousand words.
Sit tight for a few months and you should be able to get your hands on the opening two collections of Magistria short stories. Heck, I might even know a guy who could hook you up. 
Rob Santa
Hopelessly Addicted Writer of Speculative Fiction
and CEO of Ricasso Press |
| Posted By : gwthomas21 - 4/2/2007 5:39 PM | I wanted to mention Jack Mackenzie also wrote a novel called Time Like Broken Glass about three ages of Magistria and an evil time mage who does naughty things in all three ages. It's a cool book too. Unfortunately RAGE ma c h i n e never really had a chance to publish it properly. I'm not sure what Jack is doing with it now.
As for the collab novel I haven't really written more than one chapter but I have been meaning to. I really like writing about a Death Mage (often seen as evil through-and-through but I think not). I think there is a good opportunity to talk about life and death and all that metaphysical stuff in an entertaining way using the Death mages.
GW
G. W. Thomas has appeared in over 350 different books, magazines and ezines including Writer's Digest, The Armchair Detective and Black October Magazine. He draws the web comic CHUCK THE PENGUIN. His website is www.gwthomas.org |
| Posted By : Bill Ward - 4/2/2007 6:49 PM | I'm looking forward to getting those first two, sounds very cool.
Will you be using the same cover art for the reissue? I remember those as being particularly nice. |
| Posted By : Rob Santa - 4/2/2007 10:55 PM | Mats Minnhagen did the cover art (get this - it's the second of two pieces since the first didn't "seem striking enough" to the rest of us, who do we think we are anyway?) and the interiors. Yes, Realm of the Sorcerer will be exactly the same (except for the publishing info page) as it was a few years ago. Mats graciously donated (for I wouldn't call shared royalty work anything else) the second cover as well, with lettering by Jack MacKenzie. He also (is Mats great or what?) said it was okay for me to use the back cover of the first book (his original idea) as the front cover illo of the third book, when it gets put together. How does GW find people like this?
As far as I'm concerned, Mats' illustrations are the "face" of Magistria. I'm just trying to figure out how I can con, I mean trick, I mean talk him into doing more work for me.
Rob Santa
Hopelessly Addicted Writer of Speculative Fiction
and CEO of Ricasso Press |
| Posted By : carnifexpress - 4/4/2007 4:03 PM | Sounds very interesting, I will be lining up for a copy. I'm a huge fan of shared world ideas (like my own Freehold) and look forward to it, even though I generally hate magic and wizards, lol... (insert rude Jason comment after this)
Armand Rosamilia
Visit Carnifex Press for more information!
The Freehold site is now up!
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| Posted By : Rob Santa - 4/4/2007 4:31 PM | You'd be surprised I think, Armand, how small the magical element is in some of these stories. Not mine, which has not just one type of mage casting about with abandon but a second type who isn't shy about showing off. That one won't exaclty be your cup of tea, but the follow up to my piece in Magistra 2: Shards of the Goddess deals with a combination of several types of mages, one of which is a Sword Mage (go ahead, let your imagination run wild with that specialty - I only wish I thought of it). Even at novella-length, there's less magic than in the first story.
Sure, all the stories are mage-centric, but they're not all magic-centric. When I get some more free time (hah!) I'll post the ToC and some story briefs here. A review can be found on the SFReader site here:
http://www.sfreader.com/read_review.asp?book=605
Rob Santa
Hopelessly Addicted Writer of Speculative Fiction
and CEO of Ricasso Press |
| Posted By : von Darkmoor - 4/4/2007 10:27 PM | Each new type of mage you mention reinforces my inclination to pick this up once you release it, Rob. You've really started Ricasso Press with some impressive anthos. And thanks for ignoring Rmand's insults. Geesh, can you believe the guy?!!
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Jason
Ever waltz with the Devil? Or devil with a Waltz? Visit www.vondarkmoor.blogspot.com to find out. |
| Posted By : Pagadan - 4/5/2007 1:51 PM | Rob,
I want to thank you again for picking up this series and reprinting the first volume! My stories are about plant mages, crystals, and sentient plants. In my first story, Seedlings, I do make a brief connection to other mages. My sequel to Seedlings is Crystal Quest, and I think it's fun. |
| Posted By : Rob Santa - 4/5/2007 2:36 PM | That's Joy V. Smith making an appearance. Hi, Joy. I see you got my email. Updates on the business end of things will be both here and through our group emailings, but answers to other questions about Magistria and Ricasso Press will only be here.
Rob Santa
Hopelessly Addicted Writer of Speculative Fiction
and CEO of Ricasso Press |
| Posted By : Rob Santa - 4/18/2007 11:51 AM | | Exciting announcement!
Jack MacKenzie's Magistria novel Time Like Broken Glass has officially been cleared for Ricasso Press to promote. Jack sent me an email expressing his desire to keep the Magistria world together instead of breaking it up and shopping his novel to other publishers. Knowing he's not going to get rich by any means putting it in the Ricasso book store, he's going to anyway, and many, many thanks go out to Jack.
He also has his novella originally earmarked for Magistria II: Shards of the Goddess in front of another market but suspects it may not pass (it's a certain Realm-themed fantasy market we all know). If it does not get accepted there (which would, in all honesty, be the best circumstance) then the second Magistria collection will be ready for editorial eyes and will go to the printer in about two months.
All of which means, when Ricasso opens the door for business in October or thereabouts, there will be five (count 'em, five!) books available. Two Magistria anthos and a novel, with Magic & Mechanica and Black Dragon, White Dragon for those not interested in a shared world.
Told you it was exciting. Deserves an emoticon. 
Rob Santa Hopelessly Addicted Writer of Speculative Fiction
and CEO of Ricasso Press |
| Posted By : Pagadan - 4/19/2007 12:51 AM | Rob,
Yes! I've sent back my contract and updated my bio too. I love your happy emoticon, btw.
Joy V. Smith
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| Posted By : von Darkmoor - 4/20/2007 1:41 AM | Nice work, Rob. Deserves a 'well-done' and an 'atta boy'!
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Jason
Ever waltz with the Devil? Or devil with a Waltz? Visit www.vondarkmoor.blogspot.com to find out. |
| Posted By : Bill Ward - 4/20/2007 1:49 PM | | I better make some more room on the bookshelf then, a nice foundation for Ricasso. |
| Posted By : gwthomas21 - 5/15/2007 11:49 AM | Rob,
Be sure to send me any promotion images and links. I can promote the hell out of it at my website (which gets a bit of traffic) as well as in FLASHSHOT. By then I should have my kiln going and would gladly create a Magistrian artwork for a promotional prize.
GW
G. W. Thomas has appeared in over 350 different books, magazines and ezines including Writer's Digest, The Armchair Detective and Black October Magazine. He draws the web comic CHUCK THE PENGUIN. His website is www.gwthomas.org |
| Posted By : Pagadan - 5/18/2007 1:21 AM | GW,
Yes! That sounds fantastic!! I'm ready to paper the planet too.
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| Posted By : Pagadan - 5/18/2007 1:23 AM | | And I have a Magistria tee shirt too.
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| Posted By : Pagadan - 5/24/2007 1:15 PM | This weekend I'm going to Oasis 20 (literary SF con) in Orlando. Are there any fliers I could print up for Magistria?
Joy V. Smith
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| Posted By : Rob Santa - 5/24/2007 10:57 PM | I wish there were. I'm getting the book ready for the printer this week, and it's the acid test for everything Ricasso Press related. If the finished product isn't up to snuff then I'm going to have to scramble.
Pity about the timing of my vacation. I was in Orlando last week and saw the Oasis announcement online. I would have been there for one of those days, vacation or no.
Good luck at the con.
Rob Santa
Hopelessly Addicted Writer of Speculative Fiction
and CEO of Ricasso Press |
| Posted By : Pagadan - 5/25/2007 12:09 PM | Rob,
Just thought I'd check. I have two tote bags full of freebies, fliers, and stuff to donate to the charity auction.
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