In this year, the eyes of the Desert Stars witnessed fire in the heavenly sphere, among the peaks nearest the wastes. The desert roses bloomed early, withered soon after, and came forth a second time. . . .

Year 33

Codex: Dawnbreak

Dawnbreak was the term by which most civilized folk spoke of the beginning of the earthly realm. It commonly referred to the formation of the land and its denizens, human and critterly, by the Wright.

Scribes sometimes invoked the word more narrowly, when commenting on the point at which earthly time began, which clerics associated with the triumph of the Scion host over Livyat and her minions at the climax of the primordial Dawnbreak War. Over the epochs, pious and cultish folk alike placed their hopes in a second Dawnbreak, in expectation of the heaven-lord or the Mother of Serpents, respectively, emerging victorious from a final, apocalyptic clash.

Author Note

Summer event season is in full swing here, with comic con appearances giving way to brewery pop-ups and the like. Yet crowdfund prep for the upcoming Watchers / Vaporous Realms at War Beta campaign proceeds apace! (A little more info below.)

Here are my recommendations (beyond my weekly liking and restacking of my favorite stories and articles) and updates from June:

3 Recommendations

• “On the Cozy Genre and Writing Female Characters: I’m Not Good at Either One,” by K. M. Carroll

• “The Return of the King Read-through: Week 9 Recap,” on the scouring of the Shire, by Noah Nevils on Patrick Lawrence’s Ringfolk Substack

• for a different sort of fiction fun, Mercedes de Santiago’s voiced-over video readings from her Sinardia book series, including “How Toringen III married Abalina, Duchess of Tandras”

3 Publishing Updates (Other Folks)

• Mary Hare is offering the ebook version of Hearth and Helm: Voices from the Epics for free right now, in advance of its print publication.

• The eminent Brothers Krynn have their latest crowdfund campaign underway, for Akuma no Ran!

• If you haven’t checked out Kathrine Elaine’s “Everlasting” and D. S. Brandt’s “La Bella Morte,” you can now read both completed serials.

3 Publishing Updates (Vaporous Realms)

• For those of y’all inclined toward tabletop gaming, the Watchers / Beta Rulebook crowdfund campaign will run on Kickstarter from July 31 to August 31! This version of “Watchers” will be a further refined edition of the short story and complementary, narrative-driven skirmish scenario (now in editing). Accompanying the “venture” scenario will be a much expanded, tested, and refined version of the beta rules for the Vaporous Realms at War tactical roleplaying game (now half-drafted and counting).

  • The main reward tiers will be the PDF book and/or spiral-bound print book, with a sticker and crafted terrain piece as bonuses for print-level backers.

  • Higher tiers will offer a card-based adaptation of the venture and/or handcrafted miniatures (superior to the prototypes I’ve shared previously).

  • There’ll be a brand-new cover illustration if the campaign meets its minimum goal. If it succeeds beyond that, I’ll include additional illustrations and character stickers.

• In an unexpected twist, embracing the world of conventions and pop-up events has compelled me to spend less time designing and carving character miniatures and much more time felting terrain pieces and critters. So expect fewer pics of pegfolk and more of rocks, fields, prowlers, and all sorts of prehistoric beasts. Whatever it takes to get my books written, published, and in readers’ hands!

• I’ve kept delaying my poll on handcrafted miniature styles until I had sample photos I was satisfied with. As a compromise, since I’m already knee-deep in Kickstarter prep, I’ll share a recent work-in-progress pic but limit the poll to general descriptions, just to get the gist of your collective wisdom:

Thanks, y’all, and happy reading!

At this time, the ears of the Wind Trackers heard restless mutterings on uneasy currents off the Fangs. And rumors spread that Livyat was stirring.

Year 32

Year 33

Codex: Boulderbeast

The boulderbeast, sometimes called a stone-beast, was a hulking herbivore that roamed the temperate woodlands of the Elder World, grazing upon leafy branches. It was wont to wander in small herds.

A boulderbeast had the body of a great behemoth, but tough, wrinkly, and nearly hairless. Its ponderous frame sprouted legs and neck like tree trunks. Its comparatively small head featured a beaky nose, twitchy ears, and sometimes little horns or tusks.

The most notable boulderbeast was the critter Len Ghremson encountered on its lonesome in the western marches of the wastes. Dubbed Big Len, it was known to folk throughout the first epoch from a nearly life-sized statue in Danoh-town.

Author Note

Greetings to my trusty longtime readers, and welcome to newcomers, including any of the fine folks I had the chance to meet at Tidewater Comicon a couple weeks past!

Now I’m rolling up my sleeves to finish the Vaporous Realms at War beta rulebook and otherwise prep for the “Watchers” / Beta Rules crowdfund that’s slated to launch in late June. (Lots more info and previews to come once an official date is set.) I’ll also be promoting the tabletop game and my impromptu Daughters of the Rising Sun paperback at fun local events throughout the summer. If you’re one of the numerous folk who dwell or vacation in the marchlands of the Great Dismal Swamp, I hope you’ll drop by!

Look at me, sneaking in an announcement out of sequence. Here are my other recommendations and updates from May:

3 (Very Different) Recommendations

• “The Shadow of Doubt” (completed serialized novelette) by Nick Thurston

• “Backstory or Backbone: Give Your Character Something to Stand On” by GMaia

• “Men’s Quiet Nostalgia” by Patrick Lawrence

2 (Sprawling) Publishing Updates

• In case you missed my recent post, I published a revised edition of the Daughters of the Rising Sun novella in print, with the PDF book available to paid subscribers.

• I’ve updated the publishing calendar, in part to allow ample time to finish the imminent Vaporous Realms at War “Watchers” / Beta booklet and prepare the crowdfund campaign. The latest playtest of the “Watchers” venture went well, apart from a handful of oversights and ambiguities easily corrected. To my astonishment, after much second-guessing over the past several months year, I’m finally convinced this tabletop scenario (and the game system as a whole) are actual, functional fun. Side effects of all this ongoing developmental work include:

  • the unexpected decision (that I’m exceptionally excited about) to test out a card game adaptation(!) of the tabletop game as part of the beta rules

  • fully updated character profiles for paid subscribers, including all characters in the “Watchers” venture

  • upcoming revisions to the rules currently posted on the site, both the free and paywalled versions

  • a newly touched-up and reformatted version of the scenario for paid subscribers, once I’m finished tinkering

1 (Friendly) PSA

• The talented writer and gifted storyteller Bam Boncher has contributed a short story, “Decimae: The Tithe,” to an anthology being released in three days (June 2)! If you haven’t read any of her short stories, you’re decidedly missing out.

Happy reading, y’all!

If that sounds like your sort of book and you’ve only dabbled in Vaporous Realms fiction to date, Daughters of the Rising Sun may be the quick read you’re looking for.

Here’s the story, folks:

I’m halfway finished with the Vaporous Realms at War tabletop beta rulebook and starter venture (scenario). A card game adaptation is firmly in the works.

I’ll be working all summer on the novella to replace Dustsong, including Len’s expanded story as well as the “prequel” Sceg material, all with complementary tabletop resources.

But a few weeks ago, I thought, “Surely, I ought to bring something new to my biggest event of the year.” So Zshurii’s standalone story from the Eastsong cycle, previously published only as an online serial and PDF book, underwent rapid spiffing to became a print novella.

Except, only the author proofs arrived in time for the event, and my other May event got postponed several months. So it goes; the timing was a roll of the proverbial dice. Yet, I’m now in possession of dozens of fine-looking copies of a hard-wrought fantasy fiction novella in need of a home. I hope those of y’all who didn’t get to buy my Dustsong book, and aren’t keen on a paid subscription to the website, will help lighten my load.

The 100ish-page novella is available signed, with a character sticker from the Dustsong stories, from the official Vaporous Realms shop. If you’d prefer to buy from the big retailer, you’ll find it there, too. (The latter is decidedly better if you’re outside the U. S.)

Thank you for your time and support and for taking a gander! The back cover blurb is below these just-for-fun photos of the decades-old Rider of Rohan™ mini I finally painted today. Inspired by Zshurii and Cactus from the book, it’s meant to resemble a royalist rebel horse-archer.

Daughters of the Rising Sun: A Tale of the Vaporous Realms

A weaver’s daughter turned soldier and her trusty horse are swept up in the climactic siege tearing their frontier kingdom apart. For young Zshurii, upholding her family’s honor is more crucial than victory in the climactic siege. And keeping her sisters in arms alive means more than the survival of her beloved realm.

On the floodplain and bulwarks outside the towering city of Danuh, the rebel host of the Prophet-King clashes with the judges’ army. Legendary heroes and earthly nightmares abound. But just as real are the peril, pain, faith, and fears of the common folk in the saddle and on the rampart.

At the crux of a bitter epoch, Zshurii is put to the test like never before. She clings to duty and courage, but friendship and hope may be the keys to preserving her soul on the blood-sodden field of battle.

Daughters of the Rising Sun is a standalone tale of ancient fantasy warfare from the Eastsong cycle of the Vaporous Realms story-world.

An orderly clan of travelers appeared in the desolate southern reach of Sand-Folk country. These southrons called themselves Scions of the Dawn, for they sought earnestly the spot where the Wright founded the earthly realm at the dawn of days. Their elder elected to guide them north through the dunes, for he dreamt that the tallest of the Fangs held the answers they yearned for.

Year 31

Year 33

Codex: Scions of the Dawn

The Scions of the Dawn were a small clan of desert-folk nomads, of unknown provenance, who appeared in the wandering wastes early in the first epoch. They attracted a reputation as obsessively devout followers of the Wright, uncommon among the Children of Dust in those days.

The Scions were the eighth of thirteen clans to join Len Ghremson’s exodus from the wastes into the valley below the Fangs. They settled thereafter in the western quarter of Danoh-town. Of all the clans that departed the capital in subsequent generations, the Scions of the Dawn were the last, establishing themselves on the mountain lake at the far end of the valley. There they instructed the descendants of the Wind Hunters and Prowler Kin in matters of faith and Wright-worship.

Author Note

It’s hard to overstate how pleased I am it’s spring y’all. Without further preface, here are my recommendations, updates, and public service announcements for April:

3 Recommendations

• Luke Warfield’s got a new story posted, “Roughin’ It —Part 1 of 2: A Yarn from the Greatness Grand Almanacs.” I think I’ve mentioned before, Luke’s worldbuilding and storytelling blend the fantastic and historical in a way that feels similar at heart to the Vaporous Realms, but the nitty gritty details and resulting “yarn” are very, wonderfully different.

• Kathrine Elaine has built a fantasy world, alternately charming and brutal, worthy to occupy a corner of your imagination—and it will, given the opportunity. If you’re only familiar with her lighterhearted fantasy fare, the immersive three-part story “Everlasting” may surprise you.

• I confess I haven’t made time for more than a couple of the Black Knight’s serials (and he’s prolific) in the long while I’ve subscribed to Shadows and Space. But even in passing, his sprawling worlds, action-packed tales, and bold viewpoint make an unmistakable impression. I can’t help but notice his storytelling style, often akin to being tossed headfirst into a rollicking tabletop RPG session, gets better all the time. That includes his ongoing serialization of Wynd of Cleansation.

2 Publishing Updates

• With a big comicon on the near horizon (and assorted monthly events thereafter), I’m throwing myself into a miniature-crafting frenzy for a fortnight. This coming week, In late May [thanks to the impulsive decision to publish a new edition of the Zshurii story as a paperback novella, in record time, for imminent in-person events], be on the lookout for a poll to gauge which style you find most appealing for Vaporous Realms at War minis: (mostly) carved or (mostly) crafted. I’ll feature a current sample of each. Thanks in advance!

• For paid subscribers, I’m actively finishing the Vaporous Realms at War character profiles for the Watchers introductory scenario. Egwae and the Herald of Livyat remain virtually unchanged, but within a few days, they’ll be joined by a slew of less familiar characters: Kel the Accuser, Rhaet the Destroyer, Læw the Hunter, C’heseh the Scribe, Tenah the Steward, a generic Watcher Captain, the Chaos Broodflogger, the Chaos Infiltrator, and the lowly Chaos Raider. A proper book with the updated beta rules and Watchers scenario is coming together at last (ETA June, more info in May).

1 PSA

• If you’ve got a Draft2Digital account for free, no-frills ebook formatting, and/or for book distribution, you probably saw the recent memo about monthly account fees for low earners. If you missed it, check your inbox (or your account). They’ll only charge you if you’ve got books in distribution through them, but they’ve created a one-button solution to unpublish everything and avoid those nasty fees. Happily, we’ve resolved the difficulty KDP was having with the Steelhearts anthology paperback cover, so it’s back in print on Amazon after a brief lapse.

Happy reading, folks!

Len, son of Ghrem, took a notion to offer the Wright a gift, as he’d watched his brother Sceg doing. In secret, Len placed a portion of his garden yield upon a great rock and set it alight, so the lord of the heaven-realm might see and smell the tribute. The fruits and grasses smoked and smoldered but would not catch flame. Len’s temper fouled, and he stoked a sore demeanor toward his brother and the Wright.

Year 30

Year 32

Author Note

Once more, I’ve been laboring hard behind the scenes without sharing much, if anything. The main culprit this time is an exceptionally hard, fast pivot in my work life, which made March a perfect whirlwind for my household. Happily, the dust is settling, springtime is upon us, and the Vaporous Realms will consume most of my attentions for the foreseeable future.

Here are my recommendations, updates, and public service announcements for March:

3 Recommendations

• D. S. Brandt (aka The Man Behind the Screen) made a welcome appearance with “A Lord’s Wake,” part of his Pearldiver’s Adventures series.

• Nick Thurston has returned with the intrepid inspector Loucet in his ongoing Shadow of Doubt series.

• If you appreciate the fantastic imagination of the Brothers Krynn but prefer digesting their tales as shorter snippets, check out the Annals of Livania stories.

2 Publishing Updates

• Above, you’ll see I’ve got a prototype for the restyled Vaporous Realms at War miniatures. Not efficient enough yet, but at least I’ve got a feel for what I’m after (and something to show for it).

• I’ve further updated the publishing schedule. There are also several events on our summer schedule now, if you’re in the Southeastern U. S. and can afford to take your car out of the driveway.

1 PSA

• I’ve discovered that Patrick Lawrence, here on Substack, is from my neck of the woods. If you’re not subscribed to Ringfolk, it’s well worth your while. He recently posted an excellent essay on “Frodo’s ‘Failure,’” and he’ll be taking us on a Return of the King read-through journey in April.

Happy weekend reading, y’all!

In those days, desert-folk of sundry clans lingered on the northwest marches of the wastes, where the Fangs and the river valley below dwindled into the sands. These children of the sunset dunes filled their waterskins and gazed wistfully on the verdant western hills and meadows. But from time to time, fearful valley-folk drove them off.

Year 29

Year 31

Codex: Children of the Sunset Dunes

The Children of the Sunset Dunes were a seminomadic clan of desert-folk foragers that formed at the edge of the wandering wastes, near the valley of the Fangs, early in the first epoch. Though greater in number than Durbrhos’s Wanderers, they were likewise varied in origin.

Under the chieftain Hrogg, the clan was seventh of the thirteen to follow Len Ghremson out of the wastes and into the valley. They initially resided in the northern quarter of Danoh-town upon its founding, but their yearning to roam—and discord with their Bone Jackal neighbors—prompted many Children of the Sunset Dunes to settle the banks of the river below.

Author Note

As it happens, I haven’t fallen off the face of the earth.

But the past couple months have been so busy—including updates to the website (Substack) content, organization, and a few posts behind the paywall—I missed the Annals and public updates for January. Thanks to everyone for staying subscribed, free or otherwise, during the past several, slow-posting months.

Happily, I’m rarin’ to go now. Things that have been in the works, off and on and mostly behind the scenes, are getting to the point I can share and publish a lot more Vaporous Realms stuff a lot more frequently (and with an emphasis on quality).

Here are my quickish recommendations, publishing updates, and public service announcements for February:

3 Recommendations (Among My Restacks in Notes)

• Kailani B. has worthwhile things to say and says them well, including in her essay, “What Would the American Tolkien Look Like?”

• A. K. Preston recently concluded his long-running series of short sci-fi/fantasy snippets, The Helm of Seven (latter link takes you to Part 38)!

• maryh10000’s exploration of The Odyssey (the poem) has been fun, unlike the eponymous hero’s journey. The series has reached Book XXII with “Battle and Executions.”

3 Publishing Updates (Vaporous Realms)

• In case you missed it, the website (Substack) posts and permissions were thoroughly updated at the end of 2025. As of today, the Vaporous Realms at War rules, scenario notes, and profiles are now updated, too.

• Take a gander at the revised publishing schedule and Vaporous Realms at War overview. Because of twists and turns in life and business, I’m spreading out the estimated publishing schedule; this spring doesn’t look conducive to churning out new novellas. It’s better I’m honest about that. There will be more emphasis on tabletop content and miniatures the first half of the year, with the new Len novella and sequels getting renewed focus thereafter.

• A corrected version of the Steelhearts anthology paperback is now working its way through the internet to the online retailers. By March, it’s likely safe to order and expect a corrected version. In the meantime, the ebook has been corrected for a while.

3 Publishing Updates (Other Folks)

• Kathrine Elaine has published One Hundred Refusals, which I had fun reading last year, as a novel. Congrats!

• The first volume of Mercedes de Santiago’s Legend of Sinardia will be published soon in English. Keep an eye out for updates on her Substack!

• Steve Rzasa is about to launch a Kickstarter campaign for The Null Razor Heist: An Eon City Caper, a “cyberpunk crime thriller.” Follow the campaign page for updates!

Happy reading, y’all.

• new mechanics based on moral alignment

• fixing Ranged Attack

There is an updated, longer version behind the paywall, but a further expanded version will also be available in an upcoming crowdfund campaign (ETA March 2026).

I’ve also made updated versions of all previously shared character profiles, to reflect the new rules and mechanics, and will post those presently (for paid and complementary subscribers). Again, if you don’t have paywall access, look for character profiles, ventures (scenarios), and novella-based campaigns in future crowdfunds.

This is the year Vaporous Realms at War takes off; the board is set, so to speak, to put a good beta version out into the wider world. (Yes, this is all preliminary, despite the 2E moniker.) Thank you for humoring my early forays into the tabletop sphere, and for your continued interest and support!

Winter 2026 Vrw Quick Rules 2e 3page

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Hampton Comicon, Hampton, Va. February 21, 2026

Longshot Comic & Toy Show, Roanoke, Va. March 21, 2026

Tidewater Comicon, Virginia Beach, Va. May 16–17, 2026

Wizardfest, St. George’s Brewing Company, Hampton, Va. June 27, 2026

Summer Toy Bazaar, YesterToys, Virginia Beach, Va. June 28, 2026

Enchanted Midsummer Wands & Wizards Market, Norfolk, Va. July 18, 2026

Artisan Caravan, New Realm Brewing Company, Suffolk, Va. July 26, 2026

Wandering Book Caravan, New Realm Brewing Company, Suffolk, Va. August 23, 2026

Myths & Monsters Market, New Realm Brewing Company, Suffolk, Va. September 6, 2026

Atlantic Shores Craft Fair, Chesapeake, Va. September 26, 2026

Hampton Comicon Ten-Year Celebration, Hampton, Va. October 17–18, 2026

Haunted Anime Market, Big Ugly Brewing, Chesapeake, Va. October 25, 2026

A stout, jovial fellow, who called himself Dubrhos, lumbered out of the far east, alongside a toothless prowler. The Wind Hunters suspected Livyat had warped his mind, and the Sand-Folk thought him sun-touched. Wherever Dubrhos wandered, he welcomed exiles and the disaffected to his tents and campfires, with a hearty laugh. None dared cross him, for they feared the foreclaws of his feline companion.

Year 28

Year 30

Codex: Dubrhos’s Wanderers

Dubrhos’s Wanderers were a loosely structured clan of desert-folk that arose in the wandering wastes early in the first epoch.

They were eleventh of the thirteen clans to follow Len Ghremson out of the wastes and into the valley below the Fangs. Their disparate origins and free-spirited ethos contributed to the varied and lively character of Danoh-town’s eastern quarter. But the consolidation of royal and priestly power late in the first epoch compelled most of their descendants to join the knoll-folk in the central valley.

Author Note

Goodness gracious, y’all—this was a heck of an autumn, and not in the way I’d like to repeat. Never in my life have seasonal illnesses, nearly unbroken for over three months, wrought such havoc on my productivity and plans. Lord willing, I’m finally back to my creative endeavors in a sustained way. And I’m especially grateful for everyone who’s subscribed (or stayed subscribed) in recent weeks.

Which brings me to some end-of-year updates and forecasts:

1. Because I’ve been so spotty in posting this past year, and had to delay a lot of the paid-only content I’d planned, I extended all paid subscriptions by several months. I appreciate y’all so much! (Please message me directly if you’re not sure when your sub renews now.)

2. Going forward, the Vaporous Realms site and archives will be better organized: certain kinds of posts will always be free, others will always be paid, and there will be a thorough (and hyperlinked) overview of the site contents.

3. In the next few days, Steelhearts campaign backers and Vaporous Realms paid subscribers will get access to a version of the anthology ebook with typos and errors corrected.

4. Before Christmas, paid and complimentary subscribers will get a new version of the Annals, redrafted for the upcoming Legend of Len the Wanderer. A full draft of the new prologue, in a new style, ought to be ready before New Year’s.

5. I’m planning regular, short livestreams for the new year, for Vaporous Realms and my editing Substack. Livestreams and synopses will be available to everyone, but recordings will be paid perks.

6. A detailed Vaporous Realms at War beta rulebook, and much-improved miniatures, are in development for a January–February release. A crowdfund for The Legend of Len the Wanderer (and possibly its sequel) is tentatively set for this spring.

7. I’m forgoing a monthly “top reads” list this time, because I’ve been enjoying all the same writers and serials (and restacking my favorites more often). That said, shout-outs to Bill Hiatt for his addictive fantasy and mythology serials and to J. M. Robinson for his thought-provoking theological essays focused on reenchantment. For what it’s worth, I think both writers have been in especially fine form lately.

Happy reading, folks—and Merry Christmas!

A band of Wind Hunter pilgrims, beset by dust-storms, became separated from their clan-folk. Through clouds of sandy vapor, two Wind Trackers among their number glimpsed a star in the dome above, which they perceived to be a beacon of the unseen realm. By following this light, they escaped the onslaught of storms and were preserved. That same night, both Trackers dreamt of a coming chief of chiefs, from the threshhold of the heavenly kingdom. The pilgrims, calling themselves the Desert Stars, elected to wander henceforth with an eye to the heavens instead of an ear to the winds.

Year 27

Year 29

Codex: Desert Stars

The Desert Stars were a desert-folk clan of the wandering wastes, originating as an offshoot of the Wind Hunters.

Last among the desert-folk to ally themselves to Len Ghremson, they were one of three lesser clans that claimed space in the eastern quarter of Danoh-town. By the end of the first epoch, their descendants had migrated west of the city and numbered among the knoll-folk.

Author Note

Thank you all, so much, for staying subscribed and for taking the time to read my little snippets and updates when you’re able. It’s taken me a lot longer than some folks to pass the hundred-subscriber mark, but I appreciate y’all a great deal. I’m keeping my sights set on finishing the new Len novella by year’s end, amid persistent editorial busyness and the onset of the sick season.

This month is also my truncated fall event season, which poses its own challenges. I know “it used to be better” is an old refrain of the comic con and craft fair circuits, but based on what I’ve experienced the past year and a half, I believe it, at least for small and mid-sized events. We’re keeping a tight rein on our finances, too, so I get that most folks’ impulse spending habits have changed. But I’m not keen on devoting my life to making books and tabletop games for an ever-shrinking pool of interested folks with substantial discretionary income, or on my livelihood being entirely internet-based. As I recommit time to the creative and retail sides of things, affordability is near the forefront of my strategizing.

Practical musings aside, here’s a non-exhaustive list of recommendations from my past several weeks on Substack:

1. The Man Behind the Screen’s The Jarl’s Son—having reached its intense climax and fitting finale

2. Nick Thurston’s The Isles of Esgarona—vividly depicted, approachable, and intriguing

3. A. K. Preston’s The Tombs of Elysium—eerie, horror-tinged military science fiction, with moral substance

4. Bill Hiatt’s The Story of Creation as Told to Musaeus by Dionysus—clever and entertaining

5. Joe’s (of the Brother’s Krynn) Brotherhood of the Gemstone—sprawling adventure for those ready to immerse themselves in a grand mythic narrative

6. Patrick Lawrence’s “Power as Burden, Not a Privilege”—an incisive commentary on morality and heroism in The Lord of the Rings

7. With a special mention of GMaia’s newly released, seasonally inspired tabletop adventure, “Promenade Macabre.” (And a Yuletide module, for which I got to preview an early draft, is on the horizon!)

Happy reading, y’all!

In this year, Len son of Ghrem saw the flock his brother Sceg tended, and he resolved to plant a garden great enough to fill a mountain meadow. So he did, in secret. Yet, Sceg happened upon Len’s field of seedlings, which whelmed him over with dismay and foreboding. Len observed his brother’s dearth of enthusiasm and forgave him not a whit.

Year 26

Year 28

Author Note

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that the Steelhearts heroic fantasy anthology I edited and published, with the backing of and contributions from Redd Oscar, , Kathrine Elaine, , and , is scheduled for release tomorrow (October 15), print on demand, from the usual suspects. I’ll make a quick post with links once I’ve confirmed the release on particular retailers.(The ebook and the remaining Kickstarter paperback run are already available.)

Regarding recommendations, I thought I’d offer something different from my habitual list of favorite posts from my favorite Substack writers over the past month (and a half):

1. I don’t always get to listen to livestreams and podcasts, but I’m glad I caught the Brothers Krynn interview with Bill Hiatt on mythmaking.

2. The Ynysfall Codex is a quality fantasy collaboration featuring several writers I’ve recommended before. Browse it here.

3. If you’re looking for longer-form indie fantasy fiction, consider these books:

   1. In the Giant’s Shadow by D. S. Brandt

   2. The Last Daughter of Wolves by

   3. Crown of Blood by D. L. and J. C. Chaput

   4. (and I’m sneaking in one serial here) The Mage Hunter by

Thank you for your time, as ever. And thanks to those who’ve checked out my ongoing updates to the Vaporous Realms at War tabletop rules and character profiles. Happy reading, y’all!

The full version of the Vaporous Realms at War tabletop tactical RPG rules are available to paid and complimentary subscribers, but I wanted everyone to have access to the basics in their current form, if interested. (See the download below.)

The tabletop game will be an optional component of most Vaporous Realms story-world books going forward, beginning with the revised and expanded story of Len the Wanderer that’s creeping along behind the scenes. (And yes, I’m keen on honoring my previous promise to send a free copy to everyone I know purchased the original Dustsong novella.)

Vrw Quick Rules One Sheet 2025

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It also features the latest version of the “Watchers” story from the Vaporous Realms, with narrative additions conducive to Vaporous Realms at War tabletop play.

If you already received the ebook by backing the Kickstarter, note that this version has a few minor changes to the copyright page, afterword, and scene break symbols, in addition to fixing a typo.

[BookFunnel download link removed. Paid and complimentary subscribers, check out this December 2025 post for the latest version of the ebook, with several additional errors corrected.]

This ebook is also available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and elsewhere. Surplus signed-and-numbered copies of the U.S. Kickstarter paperback are available direct from our shop. The POD version of the paperback is scheduled for release on Amazon and Barnes & Noble on October 15, 2025. [Note: by the end of January 2026, the POD paperback will be updated to correct several errors.]

After much ado, the post-Kickstarter publication of Steelhearts: An Anthology is upon us.

If you don’t recollect, this is the heroic fantasy anthology sponsored earlier this year, bringing me on as lead editor and crowdfund manager. The volume features exceptional stories by , , , , and .

The ebook (with a few updates)1 is available now from your friendly global monolithic online retailer—and numerous other digital booksellers, familiar and obscure.

A few leftover copies, signed and hand-numbered, from the original U.S. Kickstarter print run, are available now in my online shop. Out of respect to our generous crowdfund backers, these limited-run copies are priced similarly to Kickstarter, including shipping. [Update: we’ve lowered the price to $21.] But it’s exactly what our U.S. backers and authors received, including a bonus character sticker. [Clarification: these remain available primarily to those in the U. S. If you’re outside the U.S. and would like one, let me know. We’ll have to work out an appropriate shipping fee for your location.]

The post-Kickstarter paperback (with updates) is delayed till mid-month or so by technical difficulties. Both of our distribution channels for the internationally available post-Kickstarter paperback have been unusually disagreeable when it comes to our cover file. I know some folks outside the U.S., including our contributing authors on the Continent, have been waiting for the paperback. It will be available for purchase everywhere at some point in October. I’ll send out an update when I have a specific release date. [Update: It’s available now, but January 2026 is our first chance to upload a version that has several small errors corrected.]

Thanks for your time and support—and happy reading!