Simon Kewin

The Last Post

noreply@blogger.com (Simon Kewin) — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 18:51:00 +0000

This is the last post on my old Blogger-powered website and blog. It's served me well for quite a few years, but I decided it was time to move on to greater things. My super new Wordpress-powered site is over at simonkewin.co.uk, with the blog at simonkewin.co.uk/blog.

Come on over and join the fun!

BristolCon

noreply@blogger.com (Simon Kewin) — Wed, 31 Oct 2018 18:25:00 +0000

So, had a great time at BristolCon - a very friendly and well put-together sci/fi and fantasy con. I bought some books, I met some great people, I learned some things, I enjoyed the free coffee. Plus, the panel I was on went very well: 30-40 people gathered to hear me, Jasper Fforde, Anna Stephens and Jacey Bedford talk about the trials and tribulations of becoming a published author.

It was scary, it was fun. Can't wait to do it all again...

New website coming soon. Ish.

noreply@blogger.com (Simon Kewin) — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 19:04:00 +0000

Don't tell this web site, but I've decided the time has come to create a swanky new web site to support my ongoing adventures in fictionland. It's going to be time to say good bye to Blogger after quite a few years and switch to a new Wordpress-based site. I already have hosting and a neat writers' theme sorted out - just need to find some time to get everything set up. This site has served me well, and I'll keep it running I'm sure, but it's time to create something more professional. Plus, it will give me a chance to learn some PHP and other LAMP stack malarkey. And if you're not sure what that means, stay tuned!

More news as it happens...

BristolCon

noreply@blogger.com (Simon Kewin) — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 18:18:00 +0000

Only a week and a half or so and I'll be attending my first BristolCon, Bristol's science fiction and fantasy convention. I seem to be on a panel, too, taking about becoming a published author. So that's exciting. And terrifying.

Elements of Untethered Realms available

noreply@blogger.com (Simon Kewin) — Wed, 26 Sep 2018 16:06:00 +0000

Now available from Untethered Realms: Elements of Untethered Realms.

Enter our mysterious realms where the stories are as varied and rich as the types of soil on this and other planets. Enchanted forests are knotted with roots and vines. Dreaded paths take us through strange, unexplored places.

Investigate new worlds and houses frequented by ghosts. Come across witches and wizards and an assassin tasked to kill Death.

Meet hot robots, hungry winds, and the goddess of chaos. Explore alien lands, purgatorial realms, and a shocking place where people bury the living with their dead.

Encounter paranormal detectives, imprisoned dragons, dark demons, cursed jewels, and handsome prophets. Search shifting worlds trapped in mirrors and a disturbing future where a president aims to rid the world of Otherkind.

Experience a haunted journey on a riverboat, water sprites borne of pennies, preternatural creatures, ancient serpents, and the Lady of the Lake who lurks in dark waters.

From USA Today bestselling and popular science fiction and fantasy authors comes Elements of Untethered Realms, a supernatural compilation of the anthologies Twisted Earths, Mayhem in the Air, Ghosts of Fire, and Spirits in the Water. These forty thrilling tales feature authors Angela Brown, Jeff Chapman, Cathrina Constantine, Julie Flanders, River Fairchild, Gwen Gardner, Misha/M. Gerrick, Meradeth Houston, Graeme Ing, Simon Kewin, M. Pax, Christine Rains, Cherie Reich, and Catherine Stine.

Hedge Witch and other great free books!

noreply@blogger.com (Simon Kewin) — Sun, 19 Aug 2018 19:41:00 +0000

Hedge Witch is currently available as a free download as part of the following mighty fine promotions:

Witches exploring magical realms. Space marines finding the edge of the galaxy. No matter where they are, you can get these heroines onto your ereader for a limited time! Find out more and grab the books here.

Searching for your next favorite YA fantasy story? Look no further! These bestselling authors have teamed up to offer a delightful selection of new books. Available for free for a limited time here.

Both promotions are only running for a limited time, so be sure to download the books while you can!

Looking for Beta Readers

noreply@blogger.com (Simon Kewin) — Fri, 17 Aug 2018 18:44:00 +0000

Interested in being a beta reader for my new detective/urban fantasy novel?

The book follows the adventures of Danesh Shahzan, an operative in the Office of the Witchfinder General, an arm of the British government dedicated to protecting the public from all manner of supernatural threats.

Here's the working blurb for the book:

Danesh is an acolyte in the Office of the Witchfinder General, a shadowy arm of the British government fighting threats to the realm from the magical and the unnatural.

When a murder takes place in Cardiff, the victim’s eyes removed but nothing else taken from him, Danesh and his colleagues are called in to help. It soon becomes clear the killings are the work of magical forces. Danesh is thrown into the pursuit of the killers.

But then he learns something about himself that he can never admit to the people he works with…

The novel is around 90K long. I'm still working on it and plan to have a completed draft ready to go by mid-September 2018. I’m looking for honest, critical feedback which I’ll use to guide my final revision prior to publication or submission of the novel to agents. All selected beta readers will receive a free digital copy of the draft manuscript, along with an accompanying questionnaire (which won't be too long, I promise). Completed questionnaires will be due 30 days later.

All readers who complete the questionnaire by the deadline will be credited by name in the acknowledgements section of the book – if they so wish – of the final published book.

Interested? The sign-up form is here.

Many thanks!

Engn reviewed

noreply@blogger.com (Simon Kewin) — Wed, 15 Aug 2018 17:06:00 +0000

"Echoing the social schisms of the Industrial Revolution without sacrificing pace or visceral threat, Kewin forges a steampunk thriller that connect with both the mind and the heart." - a thoughtful and glowing review of Engn has been posted here.

More about the book, published by Curiosity Quills Press, here.

Investments reprinted in The Arcanist: Year One

noreply@blogger.com (Simon Kewin) — Tue, 14 Aug 2018 19:19:00 +0000

My flash story Investments has to be my most reprinted piece of fiction. It's just been published again, this time in The Arcanist: Year One (home of bite-sized fantasy and sci-fi mixed with pop culture musings), along with over fifty other flash-length stories.

Check it out here.

Flash story Investments recorded as an audio story

noreply@blogger.com (Simon Kewin) — Thu, 26 Jul 2018 16:11:00 +0000

Flash-length science fiction story Investments has been recorded by 600 Second Saga and is now available to stream from:

600 Second Saga | iTunes | Stitcher | YouTube | Facebook

Or you can listen here:

Always a thrill to hear a story brought to life like this. This has been a successful little piece for me, with various reprints following on from its original appearance in the wonderful Nature.

Cover Reveal: Elements of Untethered Realms

noreply@blogger.com (Simon Kewin) — Sun, 15 Jul 2018 17:04:00 +0000

Coming soon from Untethered Realms, and including my own Cloven Land Trilogy story The Waters, Dividing the Land...

Enter our mysterious realms where the stories are as varied and rich as the types of soil on this and other planets. Enchanted forests are knotted with roots and vines. Dreaded paths take us through stranger, unexplored places.

Investigate new worlds and a house frequented by ghosts. Come across witches and wizards and an assassin tasked to kill Death.

Meet hot robots, hungry winds, and the goddess of chaos. Explore alien lands, purgatorial realms, and a shocking place where the people bury the living with the dead.

Encounter paranormal detectives, imprisoned dragons, dark demons, cursed jewels, and handsome prophets. Search shifting worlds trapped in mirrors and a disturbing future where the president seeks to rid the world of Otherkind.

Experience a haunted ride on a riverboat, water sprites borne of pennies, preternatural creatures, ancient serpents, and the lady of the lake who lurks in dark waters.

From USA Today bestselling and popular science-fiction and fantasy authors comes Elements of Untethered Realms, a supernatural compilation of Twisted Earths, Mayhem in the Air, Ghosts of Fire, and Spirits in the Water. These forty thrilling tales feature authors Angela Brown, Jeff Chapman, Cathrina Constantine, Julie Flanders, River Fairchild, Gwen Gardner, Misha/M. Gerrick, Meradeth Houston, Graeme Ing, Simon Kewin, M. Pax, Christine Rains, Cherie Reich, and Catherine Stine.

Coming October 2018

Investments reprinted by The Arcanist

noreply@blogger.com (Simon Kewin) — Fri, 15 Jun 2018 19:30:00 +0000

My flash fiction story Investments has just been reprinted by The Arcanist - home of bite-sized fantasy and sci-fi mixed with pop culture musings. If you've not read it, it's available here for free.

This story is also one of the fifty-two collected together into Other Worlds - full details of that collection here.

Cover reveal: Engn

noreply@blogger.com (Simon Kewin) — Mon, 11 Jun 2018 16:04:00 +0000

Here's the cover for the new, improved edition of Engn, released tomorrow by Curiosity Quills Press:

Pretty damned lovely, no?

Contract signed for Engn II: The Clockwork War

noreply@blogger.com (Simon Kewin) — Sun, 10 Jun 2018 14:24:00 +0000

Today I signed a contract with Cursiosity Quills press for the publication of the sequel to Engn. Engn II: The Clockwork War will be published some time next year.

Many more details to follow...

Other Worlds released

noreply@blogger.com (Simon Kewin) — Sat, 02 Jun 2018 11:00:00 +0000

Today is the release day for my latest and greatest short story collection, Other Worlds.

A constellation of wondrous stars...

Other Worlds collects together fifty-two science fiction and fantasy stories that graced the pages of some of the planet's finest speculative fiction magazines and anthologies between 2012 and 2018.

Starships and sorcerers, aliens and demons, space exploration and forbidden magics throng these pages, in stories that are by turns thrilling, amusing, thought-provoking, terrifying and delightful.

Other worlds await...

Available at all good ebook shops:

Full contents:
Investments * Climbing Olympus * Demonic Summoning, Ratings and Reviews * What the Darkness Is * Congratulations on the Purchase of Your New Universe! * Junker Joe * The Waters, Dividing the Land * Nicholas Semper's War * Bean Sí * A Ring, a Ring o' Roses * And Now the Zombie Forecast * Anax Britannica * The Hunter and the Hunted * Leviathan * Lord Lion's Design * Her Father's Eyes * In the Detail * Viral * Professor Pandemonium's Train of Terror * For All Time * Welcome to Vega IV! * The Last Trap * The Infestation * Corvus The Mighty * Your Call May Be Recorded For Training Purposes * Jumpjacker * The Monster * The Day The Books Left * The Chronicles of Zer * Threads * Eighteen Million Butterflies * If You Could Choose One Day * Hellfire Unleashed * Malware * The Last Fight of the Carrion Crow * A Mote in the Void * A Sarcophagus in Obsidian * A Troublesome Speck * The Sword of Power * The Stars are Tiny Lights on a Perfect Black Dome * A Midwinter Sacrifice * Safe Waters * A Distant Glimpse * Problem Hair * Adrift * The Brass Doors * The Tale of the Dog * The Cat's Tale * The Seven Other Dwarves * Earth Station Six * The Wrong Tom Jacks * Her Long Hair Shining

Science Fiction & Fantasy books for 99p/99c

noreply@blogger.com (Simon Kewin) — Sat, 02 Jun 2018 07:00:00 +0000

June promises to be a busy month, with lots of exciting things coming up. To kick things off, there's this:

Yes, The Genehunter: The Complete Casebook is on sale at 99c/99p this weekend as part of this science fiction and fantasy promo. There are a whole bunch of other fine books in a variety of speculative subgenres available, so grab them while you can.

Full details of what's available here.

Witches' Night Adventure Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Simon Kewin) — Tue, 08 May 2018 18:01:00 +0000

Searching for your next spooky adventure? Look no further! The Witches' Night Adventure Giveaway offers a creepy selection of new YA and Middle-Grade adventure fantasy books - including Hedge Witch.

28 witchy books available for free - until May 14th. Grab your copies here.

New Genehunter cover

noreply@blogger.com (Simon Kewin) — Mon, 07 May 2018 19:29:00 +0000

I've been meaning to give The Genehunter: The Complete Casebook a new cover for a while as the old one wasn't cutting the mustard anymore.Today I updated all editions of the book with the new artwork.

Here's it is:

What do you think? I'm also interested to see if a new, improved cover has any discernible effect on sales. We shall see...

Corvus the Mighty reviewed

noreply@blogger.com (Simon Kewin) — Wed, 28 Mar 2018 21:19:00 +0000

It's great when a reader or a reviewer really gets what you were trying to do with a story. The review of fantasy short Corvus the Mighty over at Quick Sip Reviews nails it pretty perfectly, though.

The piece does a nice job of complicating the rather classic idea of the lone warrior hero, the living legend. It leans on the way that these stories often show a battle-worn and weary hero being pulled back into one last campaign, only here things are twisted and subverted nicely. For all that it bends expectations, it treats the tropes seriously rather than as a joke, and the payoff is solid and satisfying.

Check out the complete review here.

Other Worlds available on pre-order

noreply@blogger.com (Simon Kewin) — Sun, 25 Mar 2018 11:31:00 +0000

My new collection of fantasy and science fiction short stories is officially released on June 2nd, but it's available now for pre-order. After release the price for the collection will be $3.99 (£2.99 in the UK) but as a subscriber you can order it now for the special pre-order price of $2.99 (£1.99 in the UK).

A constellation of wondrous stars...

Other Worlds collects together fifty-two science fiction and fantasy stories that graced the pages of some of the planet's finest speculative fiction magazines and anthologies between 2012 and 2018 - including Analog, Nature, Daily Science Fiction, the British Fantasy Society's Horizons, Abyss & Apex, and many others.

Starships and sorcerers, aliens and demons, space exploration and forbidden magics throng these pages, in stories that are by turns thrilling, amusing, thought-provoking, terrifying and delightful.

Other worlds await...

Full contents:

Investments * Climbing Olympus * Demonic Summoning, Ratings and Reviews * What the Darkness Is * Congratulations on the Purchase of Your New Universe! * Junker Joe * The Waters, Dividing the Land * Nicholas Semper's War * Bean Sí * A Ring, a Ring o' Roses * And Now the Zombie Forecast * Anax Britannica * The Hunter and the Hunted * Leviathan * Lord Lion's Design * Her Father's Eyes * In the Detail * Viral * Professor Pandemonium's Train of Terror * For All Time * Welcome to Vega IV! * The Last Trap * The Infestation * Corvus The Mighty * Your Call May Be Recorded For Training Purposes * Jumpjacker * The Monster * The Day The Books Left * The Chronicles of Zer * Threads * Eighteen Million Butterflies * If You Could Choose One Day * Hellfire Unleashed * Malware * The Last Fight of the Carrion Crow * A Mote in the Void * A Sarcophagus in Obsidian * A Troublesome Speck * The Sword of Power * The Stars are Tiny Lights on a Perfect Black Dome * A Midwinter Sacrifice * Safe Waters * A Distant Glimpse * Problem Hair * Adrift * The Brass Doors * The Tale of the Dog * The Cat's Tale * The Seven Other Dwarves * Earth Station Six * The Wrong Tom Jacks * Her Long Hair Shining

Corvus the Mighty reprinted and recorded in GlitterShip

noreply@blogger.com (Simon Kewin) — Sat, 10 Mar 2018 15:44:00 +0000

Glittership, the LGBTQ science fiction podcast, has reprinted and recorded my short story Corvus the Mighty.

Both are available here for your reading and liestening pleasure.

Hedge Witch and the Speculative YA Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Simon Kewin) — Wed, 07 Mar 2018 22:40:00 +0000

Hedge Witch is appearing in a YA fantasy and science fiction giveaway between March 7th and the 21st.

There's a whole bunch of fantastic books waiting to be downloaded for the unbeatable price of free. Check out what's available here.

Magic Mythological March Madness

noreply@blogger.com (Simon Kewin) — Fri, 02 Mar 2018 16:18:00 +0000

Cloven Land prequel novella Hyrn is in a couple of magical promotions this month, with lots of fantasy and mythic books to download for free.

First up is Mythological March Madness, containing "an assortment of authors who write fictional works that cross Mythology into Fantasy, Science Fiction, and even the Paranormal realms. Available for free for a limited time during the month of March. These books all have some link, some essence of Mythology within their stories and characters." Check it out here.

Then there's the Magic March bundle, again containing more fantasy goodness than you could shake a wizard's staff at. Find that one here.

Meanwhile, on the off chance you don't have Hyrn, the super new BookFunnel-powered download link is here.

Selling books direct

noreply@blogger.com (Simon Kewin) — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 21:21:00 +0000

I recently set up an account at BookFunnel, originally just to give readers a smoother way of receiving books from me. I have to say I like the service a lot, and the way it makes everything so frictionless for the reader. Not sure why I didn't start using it a long time ago.

Then I noticed that BookFunnel also offer PayPal integration (along with a bunch of other platforms), which made me realise that I could start selling my books directly from my own website. PayPal handle the money and BookFunnel the book delivery and everything is integrated and seamless and I don't have to do anything once it's all set up. And the good news is it works a treat. A bit of copying and pasting of codes and URLs between PayPal and BookFunnel and it's done. My web site is now suddenly an online shop, offering my books at lower prices than they can be bought for on Amazon, Kobo etc.

Want to grab a copy of The Genehunter for instance? You can do so here and save 20% off the book store price.

There's a growing list of works available for direct purchase on the front page of this web site, as well as links on my various book pages. Really pleased with it.

And as a treat for readers of this blog, here's a secret link to download Hedge Witch, Volume 1 of the Cloven Land Trilogy, from BookFunnel for free. It'll only work until March 2nd so grab it while you can and see how easy the service is to use...

GlitterShip to reprint and record Corvus the Mighty

noreply@blogger.com (Simon Kewin) — Wed, 14 Feb 2018 18:33:00 +0000

GlitterShip - the LGBTQ Science Fiction & Fantasy podcast - is to reprint and record my fantasy short story Corvus the Mighty. It's always a pleasure to hear a story recorded. Really looking forward to hearing this one.