If nothing else, this month’s cover art – a dark portrait lit with unnatural neon colors, our standard background “frame” warped and washed in black and gray – should tip you off that there are changes afoot in the world of the Elect. From the first page of this month’s installment, “Negotiation,” or, “The Various and Sundry Businesses of Mister Jonathan Guess,” we are introduced to a man who goes by the name of Guess (at least for the time being) and lives by his wits on the mean streets of Vessena (again, for the time being). Guess is a charming rogue, a loveable scoundrel… but he has been living that life for over 30 years now, and it is all catching up to him in more ways than one. He is nearing rock bottom at the end of a downward spiral of regret, self-loathing, and addiction to a mind-altering mushroom called drefft. In other words, Guess’ life of sex, drugs and the fantasy equivalent of rock-n-roll could not be farther from Palm and Timriel’s holy quest, or See and Saren’s courtly lives at House Yesidreel, or the bucolic peace of Gelgarth and Emily Arbekka’s farm. There’s a bleak and sinister sense of humor to Guess and the stories devoted to him, and the cover art by Bella Bergolts and a design by our own Todd Sharp reflects that beautifully.
Paint It Black
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How Changing A Male Hero To Female Opened My Eyes To My Own World
John Crye, , BTS, Designing The Characters, Developing The Story, 0
One of the criticisms that I received in the first draft of the manuscript was that the genders were...
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Fae lore in The Elect Stories
John Crye, , BTS, Developing The Story, 0
A quick search around Amazon will reveal that “the fae” are enjoying a bit of a moment. While the...
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Chapter 11 is available NOW!
John Crye, , Announcement, News, Story, adventure, book, fantasy, the elect stories, 0
The end is near! “Reckoning, or A Gathering Darkness” is the second-to-last chapter in this volume and it’s now...
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SPOILER ALERT? “Previously On…” A Fast Refresher Before Chapter 8
John Crye, , Announcement, News, Story, 0
“The Elect Stories” is back! After a pause to catch up on our paperback releases, brand new chapters are...
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Swords & Cowboys: Genre mash-up time!
John Crye, , BTS, Developing The Story, News, 0
This month’s cover art by Todd Sharp features the blood-red silhouettes of three men mounted on galloping horses. The...
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Mapping Out Story (in my trusty red Maps notebook)
John Crye, , BTS, Designing The World, Developing The Story, 0
I am fascinated by story structure. That’s why I’ve created my own “day job” as an editor and development...
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So, about Chapter Two…
John Crye, , Announcement, BTS, News, 0
For me, the hardest part of writing this book is talking about it now that it is written. I...
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Why is it so hot in the valley?
Todd Sharp, , BTS, The Circle, 0
We spent the afternoon at AJS Costumes, picking out wardrobe for an upcoming photo shoot for The Elect Stories....