Writing Update

What I've been working on and what's coming up.

I apologise for the lack of posts here on Iconoblast, but I’ve been so busy working on other projects, I needed to stayed off this platform. I’ve turned off paying subscriptions for the time being and will turn them on when I am back to regular posting.

I’ve just turned in the 60-page script for Otto: Vampire Knight to comic artist Thim Montaigne and here’s a snippet from his reply:

“I can picture so many images, and it's going to be fucking epic!!!”

I can’t wait either - Thim is an exceptional artist!

Now that Otto Vol 1 is complete, I may move on to Vol 2, while I’m still in the zone, or I may pivot onto another Requiem spin-off story, planned with another artist. That will be decided over the next couple of weeks.

In the meantime, Lisa and I are working together on a slightly reimagined Sean Stone thriller from what we posted on here as MI7 Assassin. We will be co-authors on it, and are planning at least a 4-book series. It’s a lot of fun, but the research is pretty intense, even with my thorough knowledge of WW1.

I’ve got a big whiteboard in my office with key events, dates and characters mapped out, and I can’t wait to get writing! It’s going to be a noir-ish spy thriller, based on real events and characters, including my favourite rogue: Major Hugh Pollard.

In addition to brainstorming plot twists and compelling characters, Lisa is doing a lot of rather tedious back end work on our business, while waiting for the Hellbreaker proofs to arrive. I salute her fortitude. And I’ve got a big pile of bookplates and Hellbreaker Bible cover sheets to sign and send off to Ian Ashcroft. Speaking of which, all paid subscribers on Iconoblast will be getting a free digital edition of Hellbreaker - that’ll be coming very soon, so look out for that in your inbox!

Lisa’s also planning the next Kickstarter: Sha Volume 2, which she wants to run in late Summer. Sha 1, our first ever Kickstarter, was a huge success and we know fans are keen to read the next book.

Gary Welsh has finished drawing Ragtime Soldier, and Phil Vaughan is currently inking. My last job on the story is to convert some of the script into authentic Dundonian!

That’s all for now, my next update will likely be to share our first look at the Hellbreaker proofs.

I’ll leave you with Ken Reynold’s excellent design on the deluxe dust jacket: