Black Library released a new volume of Inferno this weekend, and it includes a new Topek Greel story by me. “Bonegrinder” sees Greel’s attempt to engineer a gang-war derailed as he’s forced to fight for his life, and his honour as a Steelgate King, against a savage denizen of the underhive – a monstrous sumpkroc called Bonegrinder. Continue reading “Bonegrinder”
Author: Josh Reynolds
I'm a writer of moderate skill and exceptional confidence and I have written quite a bit. Some of it was even published. By real publishers. For money. How awesome is that?
On Dark Wings
There’s a new short story for patrons available at my Patreon today. “On Dark Wings” is the first solo outing for Baron Palman Vordenburg, first introduced in the Royal Occultist novella, “The Coventry Street Terror”. Continue reading “On Dark Wings”
Monmouth’s Giants
Today I’ve got a special treat for fans of the Royal Occultist – a look at the top-notch cover for Monmouth’s Giants, the first volume of the Casefiles of the Royal Occultist. The book collects several previously published stories, as well as a brand new tale. It will be out soon from the kind folks at 18thWall Productions, publishers of Cryptid Clash. The fantastic art-deco cover is by Johannes (Cryptid Clash, The Chromatic Court). Continue reading “Monmouth’s Giants”
The French Connection
Today’s look at the world of the Royal Occultist features on another ally of Charles St. Cyprian, the French occultist, Andre du Nord… Continue reading “The French Connection”
Reader Mailbag #5
On Twitter, @schafecast asks:
How is it going?
‘s going fairly well, actually. I’m surprisingly busy for this time of year, even accounting for a six month old daughter and an imminent change of scenery. I’ve got a collection of short stories coming out in a few weeks, Doug Bradley (of Hellraiser fame) had some nice things to say about my contribution to The Wicked and the Damned in a recent interview, and the new projects I’m working on are both financially and creatively rewarding.
So, all in all, things are good.
Wicked Maledictions
Today sees two new efforts from Black Library up for preorder. Maledictions is an anthology of horror stories by a host of authors, including Cassandra Khaw, Peter McLean and myself. And The Wicked and the Damned is a portmanteau novel, made up of a trio of interconnected novellas written by David Annandale, Phil Kelly and myself. Continue reading “Wicked Maledictions”
Reader Mailbag #4
@Psyker_Scum asks:
A few for now:
When working for an established IP, what is the process for making a pitch?
Depends on the IP. Most publishers have their own process for pitching. It might take the form of an elevator pitch via email, and then a full write-up later. It might be more involved, requiring meetings, either in person or via Skype.
Once, I pitched a story to an editor over a beer or twelve and had a contract the next morning when we sobered up.
Favourite joke or reference you’ve hidden in a story?
See, I have a bunch, but I hate spoiling them. Maybe the Frankenstein reference in Fulgrim: The Palatine Phoenix, but only because I’m surprised it made it past the editors.
Are there/we going to see some Royal Occultist stories featuring St Cyprian’s predecessors? Or perhaps Gallowglass when she’s inherited the role?
Yes to both! There are in fact a few stories about St. Cyprian’s predecessors available. There’s a story about the first Royal Occultist, John Dee:
- “A Tiger’s Heart, A Player’s Hide”, Shakespeare Vs Cthulhu, Snow Books, 2016; The first Royal Occultist, Dr. John Dee, and his assistant, William Sly, investigate a mysterious plague afflicting the playhouses of London.
There are also a few stories about Thomas Carnacki and a younger St. Cyprian:
- “Monmouth’s Giants”, Carnacki: The New Adventures, Ulthar Press, 2013; Thomas Carnacki makes the acquaintance of one Charles St. Cyprian as they investigate ghostly giants in Guildhall.
- “Hochmuller’s Hound”, Blood Trails, Emby Press, 2014; Thomas Carnacki and his assistant, Charles St. Cyprian battle the monstrous Hound of Mons.
- “The Charnel Hounds”, Patreon Backer Story #5, 2017; Thomas Carnacki and his assistant, Charles St. Cyprian confront an infestation of ghouls in the trenches.
- “Dead Men’s Bones”, Kaiju Rising, Ragnarok Publications, 2014; Thomas Carnacki and his assistant, Charles St. Cyprian join forces with an American ghost-breaker to battle a giant made from the corpses of fallen soldiers.
There’s a story about Carnacki’s predecessor, Edwin Drood, coming soon:
- “The Disagreeable Bridegroom”, Their Coats All Red, 18thWall Productions, TBA; Edwin Drood and his apprentice, Thomas Carnacki, investigate a peculiar haunting, involving the East India Club and a debt generations in the making.
And there’s a Gallowglass story, set in the 1950’s, forthcoming in the next year or so:
- “Unquiet in the Earth”, Sockhops & Seances, 18thWall Productions, TBA; Ebe Gallowglass and her assistants investigate ghostly giants and government conspiracies in a Cornish village.
I’ve also got an Aylmer Beamish/Edwin Drood story, tentatively titled “The Flesh Engines”, that I’ve been working on off and on for a while. I’m hoping to get it finished this year, schedule permitting.
End the debate: What is the best cryptid?
The Lizard Man of Scape Ore Swamp, obviously.
Nobody works in a vacuum, so was there anything in particular that influenced your writing in 2018?
Honestly? The imminent birth of my first child. That’s the sort of event that develops its own gravity – all things begin to bend towards it. And now that she’s been born, all things still bend towards her. She has rapidly become the centre of my universe and I honestly wouldn’t have it any other way.
