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I needed a pallet cleanser after finishing Crimson two, before starting the final Crimson Book, and The Four Gates is the best thing I’ve done in a long time.
Doing a collection of short stories might be something I’ll never do again, or it might be something I drop into every now and then, but right now, in my near but not quite as sleep deprived state, I can pledge it was something I’m impossibly proud of.
Because it is fuken awesome.
Let me be deep for a moment.
Part of the agonies of being a writer is having to differentiate between what crazy ideas become books and what gets left behind. So it was nice for a few weeks, to allow some lesser works to get a crack at the limelight. And I think I chose some fun tales to put together.
Instead of just leaving the announcement there, I thought I’d offer a brief synopsis to entice your pallet.
My own author’s note, without having to do an actual author’s note, so to speak.
Story 1 - Spring time with the Troggs
I would like to call this an homage to Spark City. The closest story in the style of what makes you guys fork out all those delicious dolla dolla bills because you enjoy my reading. I’ll admit, a safe start, and perhaps a little relevant in today’s lonely world, but one that gets me emotionally every time I read through it.
Story 2 – Frolicking in the Summer
Let’s go a little gothic with this one, but let’s keep it fun… but also a little dark… fuk it, let’s throw in a little twistedly demented while we are at it… and make it an absolute blast to read. Death? Drugs? Dialogue? Delightful!
Oh, and gratuitous over the top violence? With some swords?
And some monsters with a plan.
A simple plan.
Perfect.
If that doesn’t entice you, nothing will.
Story 3 - Autumn’s Bane.
Right, gather around my dudes. This is a very, very old idea I nearly did instead of Dellerin. However, the emergence of the dreadfully made Mortal Engines film kind of tempered the enthusiasm (and then I saw the movie and barring one very glaring similarity, they are radically different across the board… plus this story is actually good… there I said it… Oh Robert Sheehan, my boi… they gave you nothing to work with). Autumn’s bane could easily be a standalone series. This might become a standalone series. This might also be just perfect where it is. Every time I read over this story, I seriously consider not publishing this book, and just writing this tale in a larger five book epic. And then I get too excited at how much you guys will enjoy this. In the here, in the now. Admittedly, there is a taste of apocalyptic sci fi to it. Just a little… not much…. a squinch amount.
Think Battle Star Galactica hanging out around the corner with some Gears of War while they wait for a little Mortal Engines to show up with its pocket money so they can get Generation Kill to go buy them some beers.
And can I just say, The Syduri are my favourite baddasses ever.
Story 4 - Eternal Winter War
I really don’t think I should say anything about this. This story is what will probably get me a Netflix deal.
Ah, you twisted my arm.
How about this, your favourite author has been asked to write a Christmas Story for the holidays. He has been given free reign to just go crazy.
I’ll start with the first line…
Santa was having a right fuken shit night of it. It was Christmas Eve. Most Christmas Eves were real fuken shit, and this was turning into a right dour affair.
I mean, it’s perfect.
Right, I’m pretty much done.
Expect The Four Gates to land at some point in the next month or so.
And fuk it, maybe “Crimson Hunters: The Gathering of Fools,” a little while after that.
I don’t know. That book is done too. I probably should have talked about it. I’m heading off now to sleep again, and then begin writing Crimson Hunters 3- Rise of the Machines. This will complete the Dellerin Tales and I'm very excited about it.
Also.
I’m thinking about writing another Spark City Book.
I love you all.
Take care of each other.
The ROB
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