The Passing of C Dean Andersson (Asa Drake)

I recently learned of the passing of C. Dean Andersson.

I am truly saddened. Dean really helped my writing get a boost with his blurb of Flank Hawk. We communicated off and on over the years and I really enjoyed (among other things) the sharing of his interactions and anecdotal stories with some of the big name authors in the 1980s and early 1990s.

I had the opportunity to interview him twice for this blog:
Interview with Fantasy & Horror Writer C Dean Andersson (2013)
Return Interview with Fantasy & Horror Writer C Dean Andersson (2020)

Many years ago I came across his Bloodsong Series through the recommendation of a bookseller at a convention. 

The Bloodsong Series really caught my imagination. 

When Flank Hawk had been accepted by Gryphonwood Press, Dean was one of the authors I contacted, to see if he would read my novel and, if he enjoyed it, would offer a blurb for the book. Obviously, he replied and enjoyed my debut novel enough to put his name behind it.

Dean remained kind and supportive over the years as we talked about writing and the changing landscape of being an author, and more.

I know I will miss him, and I only knew him in a small way. Certainly those who loved and knew him better will miss his presence in their lives far, far more.

Here is a link where you can learn more about C Dean Andersson and his passing:
Rest in Peace Dean Andersson (at Realms of Night)

Here is C Dean Andersson's website:
C. Dean Andersson Fantasy and Horror

Wikipedia Page:
C. Dean Andersson

C Dean Andersson's Amazon Page:

C Dean Andersson (on Amazon) where you can find access to all of his works, fantasy and horror. If you already haven't, consider picking up one or more of his works, if any pique your interest. As an author Dean's goal had been to share tales readers would enjoy, and I know he'd love for his works to continue doing just that.

Pawn now Available via Audiobook

 

Hey Folks,

Monsters, Maces and Magic: Pawn is now available via audiobook, narrated by Jonathan Waters.

Below are the links and novel description. If you already haven't, this book as a good place to jump into the series.

Links:
Audiobook via Audible
Audiobook via iTunes

Ebook vendors
Print via Amazon

Description:

Higslaff the Pawnshop Owner needs a job done, but the Guild War has taken a toll. Those he’d normally call upon are engaged in some other vital assignment, or dead.

He decides to hire Gurk, Jax, Marigold, Lysine and Kalgore instead. The adventuring party has proven themselves resourceful and effective on previous jobs, not only for himself, but for the local silversmith, and the Church of Apollo. This particular assignment shouldn’t be a problem.

What Higslaff doesn’t know is that details of his job have been compromised. Agents of the Riven Rock Thieves’ Guild are on the move, ready to wrest control of the enchanted item that could tip the balance in the Guild War.

===

If you enjoy Fantasy and/or RPGs, especially tabletop, this series might be just right for you.

Visiting the New Myles' Pizza Pub

One of my and my wife's favorite places to eat, Myles' Pizza Pub in Bowling Green, Ohio closed back in 2016, due to the owner retiring. A places dined at pretty much every Friday night while attending BGSU, and visited regularly when I lived in Toledo, and on occasion when I moved to Piqua and then St. Paris, Ohio.

16" Pizza (with Bacon Strips and Pepperoni) ready to eat

Well, a few years later, Chip Myles came out of retirement to open a new Myles' Pizza Pub in Greenville, SC. On the way back from the Atlanta area, visiting my wife's sister and brother-in-law, we swung a little out of our way to stop and dine at the new Myles'.

Kathy and Myself at Myles'

It was super-busy (not unexpected). And there were both local folks and fans from the previous establishment eating a meal there. They even ship frozen pizzas, which I think says something. Of course we brought the leftovers home in a cooler.

Chip Myles working the Oven

The pizza and garlic bread tastes exactly the same--not a surprise. And as can be seen from the pics, the owner (Chip Myles) is still at it. Watching him work, he looked both serious but often smiled and joked a little with the workers there.

Hope to make another visit someday, hopefully in the not too distant future. Eight hours is a long drive for pizza, but ultimately worth it. If you live in the region, give it a try.

What's left of the Pizza & Small Open-Faced Garlic Bread w/ Cheese

Outpost as a Comic is a Possibility in Progress

 

Some pretty Cool News!

Monsters, Maces and Magic: Outpost is in the process of being made into a comic book. There's a lot of work and more than a few hurdles to overcome, but the effort has begun.

Here's a sample of the concept art:

Hopefully it will all come together. Will keep you updated with progress along the way.

Mapping Things Out

Readers of my blog probably know that I outline my novels. A rough sketch, hitting the high points in the plot, maybe with some notes on places and dialogue and people.

Also, while writing scenes, especially action scenes, I will use pen and paper to map things out. Nothing fancy. I do this so that I can keep it all straight, consistent, and help to draw a better picture with words so that readers can see it all in their mind's eye.

That's just what I am doing now, for the tenth or eleventh time in my current novel in progress, Revived. The party is about to spoil an intended ambush by a band of goblins. :)

A Tree after 30 Years of Teaching

After 30 years of teaching, my school planted a tree in my name. Actually, I have taught at Upper Valley Career Center for 31 years. But, due to delays brought on by COVID-19's impact, the purchase and subsequent planting was delayed a year. 

Actually (#2), I have 33.6 years of teaching service, counting teaching and substitute teaching at the Toledo Public Schools early in my career.

I expect to teach at least another decade. I get up every morning and look forward to the work day. That's a definite plus. Dreading each workday would be difficult, although, for a myriad of reasons, I know some people manage it.

One of the advantages of working at a Career Tech school is that the Landscape Management class picked the spot (near where I park each morning so I can see the tree) and planted it.

If you cannot tell from the picture, it is a dogwood tree. I picked the tree, thinking that having the tree featured on my novel Fairyed's cover would be neat. (Cover art created by Drazenka Kimple) Plus, it's an attractive tree, especially in the spring. 

I'd wanted a white pine, but the Landscape Management instructor said the soil and other factors made it a poor choice, so I went with the dogwood.

My planned third choice was a hawthorn. However, the thorns, and the odor of the otherwise nice blossoms, would've probably made it a less than optimum alternative. And a tree that produces hedge apples, even less so.

Maybe that all says something about me.

And So it Begins (again)...

 

Yes, another year of mowing.
Round One completed.