The original version of this page can be found at : http://forum.sfreader.com/default.aspx?f=5&m=77544
| Posted By : crystalwizard - 4/16/2008 11:59 PM | You are running out of time!!!!
August 1 is coming fast and with it, a special DOUBLE SIZED issue of Flashing Swords.
But the sad news is, on August 1 you won't be able to buy issue 10 any more.
If you haven't gotten your copy, better hurry. Remember there are no back issues available. Just go to the flashing swords home page, click on the front cover and get at least one copy for yourself (don't forget though, your friends would like one too!) |
| Posted By : Jaqhama - 4/17/2008 5:21 AM | Thanks for the great Jarn pic Johnny!
Very detailed. The kukri knife is spot on mate. As is the axe. The short hair, the baldric, the scene from the story...all very well visualised and designed.
Not had time to read any of the stories. Shall do later in week.
Cheers: Jaq.
You can read some of my stories here:
Swamp Story. Down South. Florida Haze.Wild Justice...
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| Posted By : Gustavo - 4/17/2008 12:19 PM | This thing looks beautiful - hearty congratulations to the artists and editorial team. Have read the interviews and the non fic and the poetry... and left the fiction for the weekend!!
Visit my livejournal! http://bondo-ba.livejournal.com/
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| Posted By : von Darkmoor - 4/17/2008 12:45 PM | | Now to spread that enthusiasm outwards in an ever-widening circle of influence that will seek to dominate the literary world first, the entertainment world second - and the entire world after that!
Seriously - spread the word! Outside SFReader please !
~~~~~~~~~~
Jason M. Waltz
Managing Editor, Flashing Swords Press (site soon to come)
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| Posted By : Hamstersbane - 4/17/2008 1:33 PM | After the discussions on the board, I had to read Great Hairy Boats...loved it. The ending was nothing I expected, but the whole thing is absolutely hillarious. Great narrative voice without being intrusive.
Jeff Parish
Jennings Grove, an online horror serial novel
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| Posted By : Johnney - 4/17/2008 9:58 PM | | Jaq, Glad you liked the Jarn Illo, It was fun to do , and I realy enjoyed the story. Hope we I can do more for your stories in the future. Johnney |
| Posted By : von Darkmoor - 4/18/2008 12:02 AM | Welcome to the SFReader forums, Johnney!!!
Please toss an intro on the Welcome thread and a comment in the SF/F/H Arts thread for yourself.
Swords and paintbrushes together!
~~~~~~~~~~
Jason M. Waltz
Managing Editor, Flashing Swords Press (site soon to come)
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| Posted By : Hamstersbane - 4/18/2008 10:39 AM | I should add that the illustration for "A Twist of the Knife" was great. Thanks!
Jeff Parish
Jennings Grove, an online horror serial novel
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| Posted By : Rob Mancebo - 4/26/2008 5:44 PM | 'With axe and Spear'
A good, simple overview of Norse weapons. (Which can get to be a very complicated subject, especially since the period covered a variety of peoples and generations.)
Ummm, something to keep in mind about the Norse. The whole 'Village Blacksmith' idea generally doesn't pertain. There were few 'villages' in the Northlands (I've seen it estimated at less than a couple dozen in all the northlands.) The Norse generally lived in scattered farms, sometimes with multiple families. A village would need a blacksmith, but most people never saw a village.
Iron work was generally done by the farmers themselves. This would be why sword blades were generally imported. One saga describes men working at home for days on an especially wicked spearhead. Although tools, and even a crude anvil have been found in excavations, these probably belonged to a very wealthy man. Another saga specifically describes a mighty warrior's widespread search for a proper rock to be used as an anvil on his farm. Obviously, if the farmers were beating out tools on rocks, an axe head, spear, or seax were about the limitation of the tools involved.
Only Kings, Jarls, and Vikings(raiders), could afford something crafted by a village smith, the rest of the people just made their weapons at home.
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| Posted By : Rob Mancebo - 4/26/2008 5:47 PM |
Jaqhama said...
Thanks for the great Jarn pic Johnny!
Very detailed. The kukri knife is spot on mate. As is the axe. The short hair, the baldric, the scene from the story...all very well visualised and designed.
Not had time to read any of the stories. Shall do later in week.
Cheers: Jaq.
- The new art is great throughout. I did find myself wondering where a Cossack picked up a Kukri instead of their notorious kinjal. Was that creative license or is that going to be another story?
Adventure-History-Fantasy-Folklore www.geocities.com/robmancebo/
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| Posted By : Rob Mancebo - 4/26/2008 6:01 PM |  To keep the Wolves at bay -
Nothing more needs to be said.
Adventure-History-Fantasy-Folklore
www.geocities.com/robmancebo/
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| Posted By : von Darkmoor - 4/28/2008 10:21 PM | Very sweet, folks! I just received my copy today and it is the best looking one yet! I just know y'all'll enjoy it!
~~~~~~~~~~
Jason M. Waltz
Managing Editor, Flashing Swords Press (site soon to come)
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| Posted By : Jaqhama - 4/30/2008 10:52 AM |
Rob Mancebo said...
Jaqhama said...
Thanks for the great Jarn pic Johnny!
Very detailed. The kukri knife is spot on mate. As is the axe. The short hair, the baldric, the scene from the story...all very well visualised and designed.
Not had time to read any of the stories. Shall do later in week.
Cheers: Jaq.
- The new art is great throughout. I did find myself wondering where a Cossack picked up a Kukri instead of their notorious kinjal. Was that creative license or is that going to be another story?
Creative licence. Used along the same lines as REH's Hyborian world. In the Conan books the Cossacks were the Kozaks. Conan once used a (I think I'm spelling it right?) zhaibar knife...the description of the zhaibar knife sounded like that of a Kukri to me.
His mountains were the Himelians, obviously the Himalayas.
My mythical Jarn world is similar in my mind. Jarn is a wanderer, so he's been in lots of different countries and picks up whatever weapons take his fancy or are at hand to be used.
He doesn't have the kukri in the other stories, or the axe.
The 'Lost City' rock formation that most of the action takes place in is actually a real place down the coast from me.
I'll have to take some photos next time I'm trail biking down that way. Which won't be until the summer arrives again in 4 months time.
Cheers: Jaq.
You can read some of my stories here: Swamp Story. Down South. Florida Haze.Wild Justice...
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| Posted By : TRtheJ - 5/1/2008 7:10 PM | I finally found some time to read the first two stories of ish 10 and a good opening they are. 
And now that it's available, I'll be getting a hard copy, too. I'm also keeping fingers crossed a number of people I know will be picking up one, too, now that I've brought it to their attention.
Still unpublished. But hard at work trying...
When not reading submissions. |
| Posted By : RHFay - 5/1/2008 8:41 PM |
Rob Mancebo said...
'With axe and Spear'
A good, simple overview of Norse weapons. (Which can get to be a very complicated subject, especially since the period covered a variety of peoples and generations.)
Ummm, something to keep in mind about the Norse. The whole 'Village Blacksmith' idea generally doesn't pertain. There were few 'villages' in the Northlands (I've seen it estimated at less than a couple dozen in all the northlands.) The Norse generally lived in scattered farms, sometimes with multiple families. A village would need a blacksmith, but most people never saw a village.
Iron work was generally done by the farmers themselves. This would be why sword blades were generally imported. One saga describes men working at home for days on an especially wicked spearhead. Although tools, and even a crude anvil have been found in excavations, these probably belonged to a very wealthy man. Another saga specifically describes a mighty warrior's widespread search for a proper rock to be used as an anvil on his farm. Obviously, if the farmers were beating out tools on rocks, an axe head, spear, or seax were about the limitation of the tools involved.
Only Kings, Jarls, and Vikings(raiders), could afford something crafted by a village smith, the rest of the people just made their weapons at home.
I believe that some Viking swords actually had Frankish-made blades.
"I'm going to do what the warriors of old did. I'm going to recite poetry!"
Richard H. Fay - Azure Lion Productions
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| Posted By : RHFay - 5/1/2008 8:43 PM |
crystalwizard said...
The May 1st issue is now live on the web and in print.
Just go to our home page, click on Shane's very cool cover and have at. How did I miss this? I must post links.
"I'm going to do what the warriors of old did. I'm going to recite poetry!"
Richard H. Fay - Azure Lion Productions
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| Posted By : Nik - 5/2/2008 1:19 AM | Just placed my order. I'll be back....
Nicholas Ian Hawkins
Forthcoming
"Knowledge and Dust," in Magic & Mechanica, from Ricasso Press, Spring 2008
Published
"What Heroes Leave Behind," in Return of the Sword, Flashing Swords Press, March 2008
"The Weald Maiden's Will," in Every Day Fiction, March 5, 2008
"Relativity," in FLASHSHOT, September 28, 2007
Visit my website, Trampler of Beautiful Phrases, at nihawkins.wordpress.com |
| Posted By : ennubi - 5/2/2008 8:32 PM | sent out requisite email to family/friends with the link? <shrug>
hope it helps.
ennubi |
| Posted By : Rob Mancebo - 5/3/2008 12:00 PM |
"Jaqhama said...
Cossacks were the Kozaks. Conan once used a (I think I'm spelling it right?) zhaibar knife...the description of the zhaibar knife sounded like that of a Kukri to me. "
- See, I always thought that was simply a variation of a 'Khybar' knife like the Waziri favor. (although you'd have to add a little curve to it.)
"My mythical Jarn world is similar in my mind. Jarn is a wanderer, so he's been in lots of different countries and picks up whatever weapons take his fancy or are at hand to be used.
He doesn't have the kukri in the other stories, or the axe."
- Well, there you go. Wanderers can pick up what ever they like. I always liked that Conan--far from the comic barbarian--generally took up local fashion and weapons. It added a dimension of color to the character.
Adventure-History-Fantasy-Folklore
www.geocities.com/robmancebo/
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| Posted By : Rob Mancebo - 5/3/2008 12:11 PM |
RHFay said...
Rob Mancebo said...Only Kings, Jarls, and Vikings(raiders), could afford something crafted by a village smith, the rest of the people just made their weapons at home. I believe that some Viking swords actually had Frankish-made blades.
- 'Vikings' did. The Franks actually made it a crime to sell/trade sword blades to the Norse. Remember though, 'Vikings' were traders and raiders. The majority of the Norse stayed at home and farmed or fished. Farmers were still expected to duel and protect their homes and families. Every free man needed weapons (Swords were even given in their wedding cerimonies--although again, 'sword' might simply be a seax.)
- 'Vikings' had access to more access to advanced military hardware than farmers and fishermen.
Adventure-History-Fantasy-Folklore
www.geocities.com/robmancebo/
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| Posted By : Christopher_Heath - 5/4/2008 7:00 PM | I just finished up Return of the Sword and was quite entertained throughout the book, and was pleased to see some familiar names in Flashing Swords #10. Right now I'm in the middle of Parish's story for FS, which is coming along nicely. Looking forward to the rest.
Christopher M. Heath
"Azieran: Ghost Crane by Sunset" in Paper Blossoms, Sharpened Steel by FE
"Azieran: Kaiburr the Rotund" in Strange Worlds of Lunacy Antho by CyberAliens
"Azieran: Claimed by Birthright" in Return of the Sword by Flashing Swords Press
"Azieran: Oathbreaker's Promise" in Flashing Swords
"Azieran: The Hollow Kings" in Flashing Swords
"Azieran: Adairos" in Tower of Light Fantasy
"Azieran: Savior in a Flask" in Magic and Mechanica by Ricasso Press
"Azieran: The Travelers Four" in Black Dragon, White Dragon by Ricasso Press
"Azieran: The Breaking of Hell's Bones" in Black Sails by 1018 Press
"Azieran: Distilling the Essence" in Sails and Sorcery by Fantasist Enterprises
+ others
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| Posted By : Jaqhama - 5/9/2008 2:59 PM | A couple of guys on an Adventure Motorcycle forum bought a download copy of FS # 10 after I advertised it there.
Bill enjoyed the whole magazine.
"There's some bloody good stuff in there, including your story" was how he put it.
You can read some of my stories here:
Swamp Story. Down South. Florida Haze.Wild Justice...
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| Posted By : von Darkmoor - 5/9/2008 4:29 PM | Excellent! "Bloody good stuff in there" is oh, so appropriate 
~~~~~~~~~~
Jason M. Waltz
Managing Editor, Flashing Swords Press (site soon to come)
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| Posted By : Jaqhama - 5/10/2008 1:35 PM |
von Darkmoor said...Excellent! "Bloody good stuff in there" is oh, so appropriate
That's very good.  
You can read some of my stories here:
Swamp Story. Down South. Florida Haze.Wild Justice...
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| Posted By : DraperJC - 5/10/2008 8:23 PM | Just read Ehart's story and it is an excellent one. They keep getting better and better.
Joshua 24:15b "As for me and my house..."
My blog, full of writing lessons, reviews, and the occasional travelogue: Scriptorius Rex |
| Posted By : Jaqhama - 5/28/2008 11:15 AM | Ok...I just got my paper copies of Flashing Swords # 10. (Lulu seems to be slow, most stuff I order from the USA gets here in under two weeks.)
I have to give credit to Lulu for packaging of thier international orders. Came wrapped up in soft paper inside a solid cardboard box.
Not one copy was marked or creased in any way.
I like the size of the magazine, more like a trade paperback.
I can't fault Lulu for the paper they're using. It's soft and smooth and feels great.
The cover is nice and glossy, thicker than a normal magazine's cover.
I didn't like the full sized add for ROTS on the back cover.
I think it would have been better utilised by mentioning what this issue of FS was about.
Especially as there's a full page advert for ROTS inside the last pages anyway.
My own suggestion would be to do what the old NEL books used to have in this regard.
Two thirds of the back cover devoted to information about the book and the bottom third having a cover of another novel and an advertising blurb next to it.
Kills two birds with one stone that way.
Interior layout was excellent except that the title for Jeff Parrish's story A Twist of the Knife was at the bottom of page 40 when it should have been at the top of page 41.
I'm guessing that was a Lulu printing mistake rather than an oversight on CW's part.
There was even enough space for the title above the picture.
I've dabbled around with Lulu myself and sometimes the results aren't what you expect between how one lays out a page and how Lulu printing produces it.
Seen quite a few gripes about that on the Lulu forums.
All in all I'd say that FS #10 was a top effort on the part of CW and everyone else who contributed to the production and publication thereof.
Congratulations to all.
Cheers: Jaq.
Hey that Fix review...I thought the ending of my Wolves in the Forest story was pretty obvious?
Anyone else who's read it not clear on what happened at the end?
You can read some of my stories here:
Swamp Story. Down South. Florida Haze.Wild Justice...
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| Posted By : crystalwizard - 5/28/2008 11:39 AM | Jaqhama said...
I didn't like the full sized add for ROTS on the back cover.
I think it would have been better utilised by mentioning what this issue of FS was about.
Especially as there's a full page advert for ROTS inside the last pages anyway.
Do I detect someone offering to help me write the text, and design the back cover, for the next issue? That's one of the things I always have problems with
Jaqhama said...
Interior layout was excellent except that the title for Jeff Parrish's story A Twist of the Knife was at the bottom of page 40 when it should have been at the top of page 41.
I'm guessing that was a Lulu printing mistake rather than an oversight on CW's part.
No, it wasn't lulu and it wasn't an oversight either. Through the entire magazine, there are a couple of lines of space under one story, then have the next one starts, rather than each item starting on a new page. That one did start a bit low, and I did give thought to it but decided to leave it as was. It is too low, however, so that won't happen again like that in the future. Remember, this is only the 3rd print issue of FS. Still tweaking the layout and getting a feel for what works best and what doesn't work so well.
I don't use Lulu to create the .pdfs with, I use Adobe. The people that gripe on the Lulu forums don't know enough about how distiller works with Word to prevent the problems they complain about.
Jaqhama said...
All in all I'd say that FS #10 was a top effort on the part of CW and everyone else who contributed to the production and publication thereof.
Congratulations to all.
Thanks :)
Jaqhama said...
Hey that Fix review...I thought the ending of my Wolves in the Forest story was pretty obvious?
Anyone else who's read it not clear on what happened at the end?
I believe I said something about that when I did line edits, remember? I still have no idea if that's the girl following him with the intention to kill him in his sleep, if that's the girl and she bound herself to him, if that's the girl and she's doing something else entirely or if that's a scout and they all managed to escape the fire anyway and now are silently gliding through the woods after him in preparation for an attack, or just what is going on. But that's not necessarily a bad thing. Leaving stuff like that somewhat vague leaves a nice hook for a sequel. |
| Posted By : MysticWino - 5/28/2008 2:58 PM |
crystalwizard said...
Jaqhama said...
I didn't like the full sized add for ROTS on the back cover.
I think it would have been better utilised by mentioning what this issue of FS was about.
Especially as there's a full page advert for ROTS inside the last pages anyway.
I agree with you. And I don't. Back cover blurbs are great if the book is ever going to be shelved, but pretty much insignificant in direct sales. No one sees the back cover until the book's been bought and delivered.
Do I detect someone offering to help me write the text, and design the back cover, for the next issue? That's one of the things I always have problems with
back covers are a bitch! Gyah! The only thing worse than doing the panel for a back cover is working with a committee to get it done. Maybe I just don't play well with others? Well . . . I think I'm pretty good at it, despite my above objection . . .
Jaqhama said...
Interior layout was excellent except that the title for Jeff Parrish's story A Twist of the Knife was at the bottom of page 40 when it should have been at the top of page 41.
I'm guessing that was a Lulu printing mistake rather than an oversight on CW's part.
No, it wasn't lulu and it wasn't an oversight either. Through the entire magazine, there are a couple of lines of space under one story, then have the next one starts, rather than each item starting on a new page. That one did start a bit low, and I did give thought to it but decided to leave it as was. It is too low, however, so that won't happen again like that in the future. Remember, this is only the 3rd print issue of FS. Still tweaking the layout and getting a feel for what works best and what doesn't work so well.
I don't use Lulu to create the .pdfs with, I use Adobe. The people that gripe on the Lulu forums don't know enough about how distiller works with Word to prevent the problems they complain about. I never use distiller with Word. Nearly every problem I've had with Word and pdfs is when I use distiller. If I go straight from the "Print" menu and choose Adobe, those really weird gremlin signs rarely if ever show up. It also takes less than half the time from the "Print" menu as it does from the Distiller button or menu. Also, I've gotten pretty good at tweaking pages of a pdf in Illustrator when necessary. Lot easier than harranguing Word and Acrobat . . .
Jaqhama said...
Hey that Fix review...I thought the ending of my Wolves in the Forest story was pretty obvious?
Anyone else who's read it not clear on what happened at the end I believe I said something about that when I did line edits, remember? I still have no idea if that's the girl following him with the intention to kill him in his sleep, if that's the girl and she bound herself to him, if that's the girl and she's doing something else entirely or if that's a scout and they all managed to escape the fire anyway and now are silently gliding through the woods after him in preparation for an attack, or just what is going on. But that's not necessarily a bad thing. Leaving stuff like that somewhat vague leaves a nice hook for a sequel.
I absolutely loved the ambiguity of that ending! I'd even say that ending was enough to put two solid handholds on the first rung of the ladder marked as "literary" vs. "pulp". Um . . . but I'm really a fringemonkey drifting over from the literary side . . . thanks for the entertainment! All involved.
Read me in The Return of the Sword!
Blog: http://bitterhermit.wordpress.com
Buy wine: http://fringemonkey.org
Poetry Blog: http://fringemonkey.wordpress.com
"The schizophrenic is drowning in the same waters in which the mystic swims with delight." --Joseph Campbell
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| Posted By : crystalwizard - 5/28/2008 6:09 PM | >I never use distiller with Word. Nearly every problem I've had with Word and pdfs is when I use distiller. If I go >straight from the "Print" menu and choose Adobe, those really weird gremlin signs rarely if ever show up.
Yes, but the Lulu pdf creator runs distiller and the problem that the Lulu users complain about is because they are using Lulu's pdf creator to create pdfs.
Never meddle in the affairs of a wizard unless you are soggy and hard to light!
Managing Editor of Flashing Swords
Visit my art gallery on art wanted
All my books in print |
| Posted By : Jaqhama - 5/29/2008 12:39 AM | Back cover legends and advertising another book and a blurb...my partner Linda is the gal to talk to about this kinda stuff.
She has a computer program for making busines cards/greeting cards.
She made up those front and rear covers I sent you samples of originally, using the card design program.
The program can add surrounds, put titles where ever one wants them, pictures of any size on any part of the page etc.
She could make up that two thirds/one third design I mentioned with no trouble.
Do you remember what the back of the old NEL books looked like CW?
If not I can scan a copy of one I have and post an image here for you to look at.
You can read some of my stories here:
Swamp Story. Down South. Florida Haze.Wild Justice...
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| Posted By : crystalwizard - 5/29/2008 12:42 AM | Jaqhama said...
Do you remember what the back of the old NEL books looked like CW?
If not I can scan a copy of one I have and post an image here for you to look at.
I'm not even sure what the old NEL books are, Kevin. Yes, please, if you wouldn't mind scanning the back of one, that'd be very cool |
| Posted By : Jaqhama - 5/29/2008 12:52 AM | The end of Wolves in the Forest...
Jarn had merely knocked the blue eyed silver haired girl unconsious, not killed her.
At the end of the story, as darkness takes over the forest and he's walking away between the trees, the girl has transformed back into a silver haired wolf and is running in front of him.
"Ice blue eyes look back at him. He shrugs."
Why didn't he kill her?
Jarn is often a contradiction. Even to himself.
You can read some of my stories here:
Swamp Story. Down South. Florida Haze.Wild Justice...
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| Posted By : Jaqhama - 5/29/2008 12:58 AM |
crystalwizard said...
Jaqhama said...
Do you remember what the back of the old NEL books looked like CW?
If not I can scan a copy of one I have and post an image here for you to look at. I'm not even sure what the old NEL books are, Kevin. Yes, please, if you wouldn't mind scanning the back of one, that'd be very cool Cough It's not entirely impossible that Lin can use her scanner much better than I.
I'll have a go shortly, but if my effort turns out to be less than satisfactory...I'll get Lin to scan the back cover when she returns home tonight. 
I write the stories and sketch a few pics...Lin's the design tech. 
You can read some of my stories here: Swamp Story. Down South. Florida Haze.Wild Justice...
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| Posted By : crystalwizard - 5/29/2008 1:59 AM | Jaqhama said...
The end of Wolves in the Forest...
Jarn had merely knocked the blue eyed silver haired girl unconsious, not killed her.
At the end of the story, as darkness takes over the forest and he's walking away between the trees, the girl has transformed back into a silver haired wolf and is running in front of him.
"Ice blue eyes look back at him. He shrugs."
Why didn't he kill her?
Jarn is often a contradiction. Even to himself.
So my next question then is, why doesn't she kill him? Or at least attack? |
| Posted By : Jaqhama - 5/29/2008 6:56 AM |
crystalwizard said...
Jaqhama said...
The end of Wolves in the Forest...
Jarn had merely knocked the blue eyed silver haired girl unconsious, not killed her.
At the end of the story, as darkness takes over the forest and he's walking away between the trees, the girl has transformed back into a silver haired wolf and is running in front of him.
"Ice blue eyes look back at him. He shrugs."
Why didn't he kill her?
Jarn is often a contradiction. Even to himself. So my next question then is, why doesn't she kill him? Or at least attack?
Why would she attempt to kill the man who has let her live?
Jarn wiped out her entire pack...so he's obviously capable of slaying her also if he has to.
She would realise this.
You can read some of my stories here: Swamp Story. Down South. Florida Haze.Wild Justice...
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| Posted By : MysticWino - 5/29/2008 8:43 AM | Well, I was actually speaking of Adobe and ignoring lulu altogether. I've never used lulu myself, but may soon for ARCs.
I've had more difficulty with online pdf creators than with Distiller itself. Part of it seems to do with the server situation. Could it have something to do with the way the server parses the information as well as the usual gremlins in Distiller? Seriously, I've gotten some really wierd weasel farts from online pdf-ers.
crystalwizard said...>I never use distiller with Word. Nearly every problem I've had with Word and pdfs is when I use distiller. If I go >straight from the "Print" menu and choose Adobe, those really weird gremlin signs rarely if ever show up. Yes, but the Lulu pdf creator runs distiller and the problem that the Lulu users complain about is because they are using Lulu's pdf creator to create pdfs.
Apologies for the brief hijacking . . .
Read me in The Return of the Sword! Blog: http://bitterhermit.wordpress.com Buy wine: http://fringemonkey.org Poetry Blog: http://fringemonkey.wordpress.com
"The schizophrenic is drowning in the same waters in which the mystic swims with delight." --Joseph Campbell
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| Posted By : MysticWino - 5/29/2008 8:52 AM |
Jaqhama said...
crystalwizard said...
Jaqhama said...
The end of Wolves in the Forest...
Jarn had merely knocked the blue eyed silver haired girl unconsious, not killed her.
At the end of the story, as darkness takes over the forest and he's walking away between the trees, the girl has transformed back into a silver haired wolf and is running in front of him.
"Ice blue eyes look back at him. He shrugs."
Why didn't he kill her?
Jarn is often a contradiction. Even to himself. So my next question then is, why doesn't she kill him? Or at least attack?
Why would she attempt to kill the man who has let her live?
Jarn wiped out her entire pack...so he's obviously capable of slaying her also if he has to.
It's also basic dog psychology. He's alpha male now. He proved it. She may begrudge him that, but she'll still be his bitch sorry, couldn't resist. Anyway, she's only likely to turn on him if he shows weakness - unless the human in her falls in love with him. He is her best hope for survival, too. If he's willing to have her along, then she'd tag along because he's proven himself capable of helping her survive. And his virility/vitality makes him a viable mate. Survival of the species . . . Of course, the woman in her might just as easily turn once she has offspring. That human element is just so . . . unpredictable . . .
Read me in The Return of the Sword!
Blog: http://bitterhermit.wordpress.com
Buy wine: http://fringemonkey.org
Poetry Blog: http://fringemonkey.wordpress.com
"The schizophrenic is drowning in the same waters in which the mystic swims with delight." --Joseph Campbell
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| Posted By : MysticWino - 5/29/2008 8:55 AM | | Definitely! I really loved this installation. Enough to order "Servant of the Manthycore". Looking forward to more, too.
"The schizophrenic is drowning in the same waters in which the mystic swims with delight." --Joseph Campbell
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| Posted By : Jaqhama - 5/29/2008 10:09 AM | |
Here's the scan of the NEL book, rear cover.
Shows the legend about the book itself, followed by two pics of other books in the series.
Plenty of room for one advertising pic and a blurb instead of two advertising cover pics.
(Edgar Rice Burroughs Warlord of Mars. NEL July 1973 edition.)
You can read some of my stories here:
Swamp Story. Down South. Florida Haze.Wild Justice...
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| Posted By : TRtheJ - 5/29/2008 12:28 PM | Well, I finally ordered my Lulu copy of Flashing Swords. Ordered two 'cause my Father wanted a copy. 
I'm left to wonder how many more of the crowd I made aware of its release bought a copy. I'd like to think it was a large number, but whether it was will probably never be known.
The Outcast |
| Posted By : Jaqhama - 5/29/2008 12:41 PM |
crystalwizard said...Thanks, Kevin :)
By Jove they knew how to do book covers in those days.
It wasn't all half naked women. Many of the NEL ERB John Carter covers have athletic swordsmen and exotic backgrounds.
Warlord of Mars was the first sci-fi book I ever bought. In fact it was the first book I ever bought.Yes, that's the copy I scanned.
You can read some of my stories here: Swamp Story. Down South. Florida Haze.Wild Justice...
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| Posted By : Jaqhama - 5/29/2008 12:41 PM | Note from Linda: He means it's the copy I scanned for him.
You can read some of my stories here:
Swamp Story. Down South. Florida Haze.Wild Justice...
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| Posted By : MysticWino - 5/29/2008 1:17 PM |
WRONG PICTURES! Those are Venus covers, not Mars! That slays me! Two totally different ERB series . . .
Jaqhama said...
Here's the scan of the NEL book, rear cover.
Shows the legend about the book itself, followed by two pics of other books in the series.
Plenty of room for one advertising pic and a blurb instead of two advertising cover pics.
(Edgar Rice Burroughs Warlord of Mars. NEL July 1973 edition.)
Read me in The Return of the Sword!
Blog: http://bitterhermit.wordpress.com
Buy wine: http://fringemonkey.org
Poetry Blog: http://fringemonkey.wordpress.com
"The schizophrenic is drowning in the same waters in which the mystic swims with delight." --Joseph Campbell
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| Posted By : MysticWino - 5/29/2008 1:21 PM | That aside - now that I'm finished giggling and have stomach cramps - I like your UK covers! This was the first series I ever purchased. I think back in 1983 when they were coming out every other month and I was having anxiety attacks awaiting the next re-issue. That was the DelRay version with the AWESOME Michael Whalen covers. Whalen is my favorite alltime cover artist so far. [Anne is a close second  ]
I liked the Venus series, but it paled next to John Carter, et al.
Read me in The Return of the Sword!
Blog: http://bitterhermit.wordpress.com
Buy wine: http://fringemonkey.org
Poetry Blog: http://fringemonkey.wordpress.com
"The schizophrenic is drowning in the same waters in which the mystic swims with delight." --Joseph Campbell
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| Posted By : von Darkmoor - 5/29/2008 2:13 PM | cool info, Jaq - how'd you get the image to appear in your post? That's a first for the forum, ain't it?
~~~~~~~~~~
Ever waltz with the Devil? Or devil with a Waltz?
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| Posted By : crystalwizard - 5/29/2008 6:54 PM | TRtheJ said...Well, I finally ordered my Lulu copy of Flashing Swords. Ordered two 'cause my Father wanted a copy. I'm left to wonder how many more of the crowd I made aware of its release bought a copy. I'd like to think it was a large number, but whether it was will probably never be known.
The only thing I get from Lulu are the number of copies ordered, unfortunately :( Not a clue who any one that's ordered them are (except for those I've ordered myself). |
| Posted By : crystalwizard - 5/29/2008 6:59 PM | Here's what we've sold so far:
Flashing Swords Issue 10 -- Print 27
Flashing Swords Issue 10 -- Download 2
Flashing Swords Issue 9 -- Print 27
Flashing Swords Issue 9 -- Download 7
Now, we're through selling fs 9. We're only 1 month into selling 10 and we're at the same place as it took us 3 months to get to with 9 for print, but you can see that the download is lower for 10 than 9 at the moment.
Hopefully both of those numbers will go up before august.
The more you all get the word out, the more we'll sell and the more we sell the better the magazine does.
The hope is to first get FS to the point where it's paying it's own bills.
the
Get FS to the point where it can pay pro rates instead of semi-pro
I can't do this by myself, I need every single person in this community if we're going to do it. I greatly appreciate all the help everyone's given to this point, too. Thank you :)
and an extra large helping of thanks to everyone on my staff who practically kill themselves for no more compe nsation than a free copy of the e-version and a debit of gratitude I can't hope to repay. :)
Never meddle in the affairs of a wizard unless you are soggy and hard to light!
Managing Editor of Flashing Swords
Visit my art gallery on art wanted
All my books in print |
| Posted By : von Darkmoor - 5/29/2008 10:04 PM | oh you think you can't repay it. just you wait till I come crash at your place for a month. I don't plan to shower or pick up after myself the whole time
~~~~~~~~~~
Ever waltz with the Devil? Or devil with a Waltz?
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| Posted By : crystalwizard - 5/29/2008 10:20 PM |
Did I mention that I have three cats who are excellent hunters? |
| Posted By : TRtheJ - 5/29/2008 10:41 PM |
crystalwizard said...
TRtheJ said...Well, I finally ordered my Lulu copy of Flashing Swords. Ordered two 'cause my Father wanted a copy. I'm left to wonder how many more of the crowd I made aware of its release bought a copy. I'd like to think it was a large number, but whether it was will probably never be known. The only thing I get from Lulu are the number of copies ordered, unfortunately :( Not a clue who any one that's ordered them are (except for those I've ordered myself). I understand that about Lulu.
What I was talking about was a doubt anyone I told would tell me if they got a copy. I may be surprised... But I doubt it.
The Outcast |
| Posted By : Jaqhama - 5/30/2008 1:35 AM | Ummm....Mystic old chap...I know the advertising was for the Venus series...but it's the back cover of Warlord of Mars mate.
Jason...The pic...I use photobucket to host my pics...I chose the HTML tag and then copied that into the Image option on this forums posting options.
FS 10 sales...I bought five print copies...Two Aussie guys from our adventure motorcycle forum bought the two download copies. I'm buying two more that I've already sold to another friend.
So I'll have bought 7 altogether. I'll keep one for myself and the others either got sold or were given as gifts to friends and family who specifically asked for a copy.
You can read some of my stories here:
Swamp Story. Down South. Florida Haze.Wild Justice...
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| Posted By : Jaqhama - 5/30/2008 2:55 AM |
crystalwizard said...Very cool, Kevin :) Planning to get a few copies of the special summer issue?
I'll probably buy at least two. I've told everyone that after the first free copy of FS 10 I'm giving them, they'll have to buy their own.
I expect to sell another two download copies to the two Aussie adventure bikers. I'll invite them to join the forum also, least I can do.
I can see we're going to have to come with up with some more advertising ideas apart from posting info about FS on other internet forums.
The irony here is that I posted on Sc-Fi Chrons, a giant forum, and I'm guessing that no one from there bought a copy.
Yet two bikers from an adventure bike site did. (Because they know me I admit, but they like the genre also.)
People here who get on well with their local bookseller (even used bookseller) should ask if the bookseller would be willing to display and sell some copies.
The forum member buys the mags for the regular price and lets the bookseller add a couple of dollars to the sale. The bookseller pays nothing until he's sold a copy. Unsold copies are returned to the forum member. Sure you're taking a chance the copies won't sell, but I'd suggest only starting with 3 to begin with.
I'm sure booksellers in small country towns would be happy to add a few copies to their shelves.
Especially if the writer of one of the stories is a local.
You could do the same with your local newsagent. And local RPG shop.
I'm imagineering some more advertising ideas, but I'll contact CW in private, because I don't want to tell the whole world.
You can read some of my stories here:
Swamp Story. Down South. Florida Haze.Wild Justice...
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| Posted By : Jaqhama - 5/30/2008 11:18 AM | I was going to post an advertising blurb on Amazon's Fantasy books forum...but Flashing Swords issue # 10 isn't listed at Amazon is it?
You can read some of my stories here:
Swamp Story. Down South. Florida Haze.Wild Justice...
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| Posted By : crystalwizard - 5/30/2008 11:24 AM | Jaqhama said...
I was going to post an advertising blurb on Amazon's Fantasy books forum...but Flashing Swords issue # 10 isn't listed at Amazon is it?
It's not but why would it need to be? And RotS is listed. |
| Posted By : von Darkmoor - 5/30/2008 12:16 PM | Wow, excellent sales job, Jaq! Wanna job as head of marketing and sales for FS? It's a high-faluting title with lots of power, a huge platform, and only one boss to answer to.
~~~~~~~~~~
Ever waltz with the Devil? Or devil with a Waltz?
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| Posted By : Jaqhama - 5/30/2008 2:08 PM |
crystalwizard said...
Jaqhama said...
I was going to post an advertising blurb on Amazon's Fantasy books forum...but Flashing Swords issue # 10 isn't listed at Amazon is it? It's not but why would it need to be? And RotS is listed. It needs to be listed at Amazon so that people on the forum who read my advertising blurb can then right away go to the Amazon internal search engine and peruse the magazine.
That's the etiqutte that seems to be used on their forums.
Otherwise it's using their forum to advertise a product that is not listed or sold by Amazon.
Quite likely that would be reported to a mod and the posting removed.
Also I'd be posting in a thread specifically started by an Amazon author who wanted to help and promote independant authors who are listed at Amazon.
If you look under their Fantasy Forum you will find a thread called The Undiscovered Country...that's the place to go and post a promotional blurb for ROTS.
Preferably in 50 words or under.
You can read some of my stories here: Swamp Story. Down South. Florida Haze.Wild Justice...
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| Posted By : Jaqhama - 5/30/2008 2:11 PM |
von Darkmoor said...Wow, excellent sales job, Jaq! Wanna job as head of marketing and sales for FS? It's a high-faluting title with lots of power, a huge platform, and only one boss to answer to.
You did say the pay-scale was in the high income bracket didn't you?
HOMAS for FS...hmmm....I'm not sure about the abbreviated title?
You can read some of my stories here: Swamp Story. Down South. Florida Haze.Wild Justice...
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| Posted By : MysticWino - 5/30/2008 4:11 PM |
Jaqhama said...
Ummm....Mystic old chap...I know the advertising was for the Venus series...but it's the back cover of Warlord of Mars mate.
The pictures are the only Venus there. That's my point. The blurb on the back is all John Carter and Mars. Says nothing of the Venus series. Only shows two of the Venus covers. Nowhere else is Venus mentioned. That's not particularly good form on the publisher's end - laughing at them, not you.
Read me in The Return of the Sword!
Blog: http://bitterhermit.wordpress.com
Buy wine: http://fringemonkey.org
Poetry Blog: http://fringemonkey.wordpress.com
"The schizophrenic is drowning in the same waters in which the mystic swims with delight." --Joseph Campbell
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| Posted By : Rob Mancebo - 5/30/2008 4:33 PM |
crystalwizard said...
Now, we're through selling fs 9. We're only 1 month into selling 10 and we're at the same place as it took us 3 months to get to with 9 for print, but you can see that the download is lower for 10 than 9 at the moment. - I think a help to sales is offering ticklers to each story for fxxx* on-line, but not offering past issues for fxxx* on-line. Too many people wait around for e-zines to be pirated or otherwise fxxx* as it is. (No sense encouraging us . . er them.)
- Kind of like glancing through a magazine at the bookstore. If the customer finds several stories they like the beginning of, they'll buy it. If they don't, they won't. If they can pick up a pre-read copy at the Doctor's Office or Barber Shop, they won't spend money on it at all.
- A littel S&S art from each issue, some ticklers for the stories, but only as a commercial, not a fxxx* copy. An old--wealthy--bussinessman once told me that,' the word fxxx* was worse than the word f--k'. 'Never give anything away for fxxx*, that way you won't have to overcharge the next guy.'
(*insert the "f"-word here)
The Wastelander
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| Posted By : von Darkmoor - 5/30/2008 5:06 PM | hhmmmmm, an interesting idea, that. I wonder where I've thought of that and might soon see variations of it again? hmmmm .................................
~~~~~~~~~~
Ever waltz with the Devil? Or devil with a Waltz?
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| Posted By : crystalwizard - 5/31/2008 2:16 AM | Jaqhama said...
It needs to be listed at Amazon so that people on the forum who read my advertising blurb can then right away go to the Amazon internal search engine and peruse the magazine.
well if you will find out how to get flashing swords listed there AND find out who I have to talk to, I'll be more than happy to get it listed there. |
| Posted By : crystalwizard - 5/31/2008 2:19 AM | Rob Mancebo said...
I think a help to sales is offering ticklers to each story for fxxx* on-line, but not offering past issues for fxxx* on-line. Too many people wait around for e-zines to be pirated or otherwise fxxx* as it is. (No sense encouraging us . . er them.)
not real sure what you're saying Rob, but you've seen the magazine contract. The magazine issue is only 3 months long. I can archive the stories for a year (though we leave them up longer if the author doesn't ask us to take them down) but I can't publish a quarterly magazine and just leave the issues up indefinitely. Then they aren't 'quarterly'. Then they are 'non-expiring'. |
| Posted By : Rob Mancebo - 5/31/2008 12:21 PM |
crystalwizard said...
not real sure what you're saying Rob, but you've seen the magazine contract. The magazine issue is only 3 months long. I can archive the stories for a year (though we leave them up longer if the author doesn't ask us to take them down) but I can't publish a quarterly magazine and just leave the issues up indefinitely. Then they aren't 'quarterly'. Then they are 'non-expiring'.
--Past issues for free- http://flashingswords.sfreader.com/fsi9-toc.htm
--Usually people won't buy something on-line they know will be free in a few weeks.
The Wastelander
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| Posted By : Jaqhama - 5/31/2008 2:47 PM |
crystalwizard said...
Jaqhama said...
It needs to be listed at Amazon so that people on the forum who read my advertising blurb can then right away go to the Amazon internal search engine and peruse the magazine. well if you will find out how to get flashing swords listed there AND find out who I have to talk to, I'll be more than happy to get it listed there. I'm sure you're much more familiar with the in's and out's of Amazon book listings than am I?
I see that you mentioned FS issue #9 in a forum post there.
And if ROTS is listed at Amazon then you or Jason could simply start off with a post about ROTS and just happen to mention FS issue # 10 and the summer special also, could you not?
Making note that FS is only avaiable from the FS website...I'm not sure a direct link to the website is allowed/tolerated because it's outside of Amazon. But most people will simply google the FS website themselves I'm sure.
You can read some of my stories here:
Swamp Story. Down South. Florida Haze.Wild Justice...
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| Posted By : crystalwizard - 5/31/2008 3:54 PM | Jaqhama said...
I'm sure you're much more familiar with the in's and out's of Amazon book listings than am I?
not in the least. Amazon.com confuses me. I can't even find my own profile half the time, much less anyone to ask questions of or anything else on that site.
Jaqhama said...
And if ROTS is listed at Amazon then you or Jason could simply start off with a post about ROTS and just happen to mention FS issue # 10 and the summer special also, could you not?
we've done that, got very little response. On amazon.com, search for Jason Waltz. If you search for Return of the Sword, there are tons of other things that come up. If you search for Jason, RotS is at the top of the hit list.
Jaqhama said...
Making note that FS is only avaiable from the FS website...I'm not sure a direct link to the website is allowed/tolerated because it's outside of Amazon. But most people will simply google the FS website themselves I'm sure.
It's available through our store on Lulu, so people can get it from our website, or go to lulu and just go to our storefront. |
| Posted By : Jaqhama - 6/1/2008 9:21 AM | I just bought 2 more copies of issue #1 0.
Just off to Amazon to see if I can find ROTS in the forum.
You can read some of my stories here:
Swamp Story. Down South. Florida Haze.Wild Justice...
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| Posted By : Jaqhama - 6/1/2008 11:09 AM | Ok...I plugged Flashing Swords magazine and Return of the Sword over on the Amazon fantasy Forum, in the 'Undiscovered Country' thread.
I found ROTS easily enough at Amazon...I just selected Books and typed in Return of the Sword and it was the first thing that came up. So no problems there.
There are 3 reviews, all of them are honest opinions of the contents I've no doubt.
Cheers: Jaq.
You can read some of my stories here:
Swamp Story. Down South. Florida Haze.Wild Justice...
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| Posted By : von Darkmoor - 6/1/2008 11:18 AM | Jaqhama said...
I just bought 2 more copies of issue #1 0.
Just off to Amazon to see if I can find ROTS in the forum.
Dude! You're a one-man army of support! An 'army of one' as they say. Thanks!
~~~~~~~~~~
Ever waltz with the Devil? Or devil with a Waltz?
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| Posted By : Jaqhama - 6/1/2008 12:06 PM | I just emailed Kelly and yourself with details that Rose from the Undiscovered Country thread supplied to me.
Very generous offer on her part.
Cheers: Jaq.
You can read some of my stories here:
Swamp Story. Down South. Florida Haze.Wild Justice...
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| Posted By : Jaqhama - 6/1/2008 12:26 PM | Got another question...
Why aren't back issues of Flashing Swords (the ones that you guys have done since you took over FS) always available for sale on the FS website?
Makes sense that if a new reader has just discovered FS issue #10, buys it, likes it, they might want to buy previous issues also?
Seems to me there's money to be made and fans to be kept happy by always having back issues online to purchase?
You can read some of my stories here:
Swamp Story. Down South. Florida Haze.Wild Justice...
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| Posted By : Dan Nelson - 6/1/2008 7:59 PM | I think mine is honest.
Jaqhama said...Ok...I plugged Flashing Swords magazine and Return of the Sword over on the Amazon fantasy Forum, in the 'Undiscovered Country' thread. I found ROTS easily enough at Amazon...I just selected Books and typed in Return of the Sword and it was the first thing that came up. So no problems there. There are 3 reviews, all of them are honest opinions of the contents I've no doubt. Cheers: Jaq.
Dan Nelson
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| Posted By : crystalwizard - 6/1/2008 8:08 PM | Jaqhama said...
Got another question...
Why aren't back issues of Flashing Swords (the ones that you guys have done since you took over FS) always available for sale on the FS website?
Makes sense that if a new reader has just discovered FS issue #10, buys it, likes it, they might want to buy previous issues also?
Seems to me there's money to be made and fans to be kept happy by always having back issues online to purchase?
our contract with the authors, and you have one so go read it, don't allow us to keep the stories in perpetual publication. |
| Posted By : Jaqhama - 6/2/2008 10:04 AM |
crystalwizard said...
Jaqhama said...
Got another question...
Why aren't back issues of Flashing Swords (the ones that you guys have done since you took over FS) always available for sale on the FS website?
Makes sense that if a new reader has just discovered FS issue #10, buys it, likes it, they might want to buy previous issues also?
Seems to me there's money to be made and fans to be kept happy by always having back issues online to purchase? our contract with the authors, and you have one so go read it, don't allow us to keep the stories in perpetual publication.
Ah yes.
Cough...of course I read it. (Possible I looked at it...and Lin read it.  )
You can read some of my stories here: Swamp Story. Down South. Florida Haze.Wild Justice...
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| Posted By : TRtheJ - 6/5/2008 2:50 PM | Wow. Flashing Swords Ish 10 arrived today.
My Father dove right in to his ish. I'm wondering what his opinion will be.
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| Posted By : von Darkmoor - 6/7/2008 10:41 PM | well I guess you'll have to tell us. or else get him to log on here and tell us himself.
~~~~~~~~~~
Ever waltz with the Devil? Or devil with a Waltz?
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