Honored samurai, ruthless ronin, wayward vagabonds, shadowy ninja and helpless villagers... welcome.
Opening Volley
Before I launch into this week’s newsletter, I would like to take a moment to thank EVERYONE for making last week’s issue the most read issue ever. Not only did it push well past the established 160 reads of other posts, but it propelled readership up close to a 100. To be honest, I never thought these were numbers I could achieve. It’s very humbling. I will do my best to provide continued enjoyment.
Main Event
Since friending independent filmmaker Pearry Teo (Gene Generation) on social media, I have followed his creed of endorsing others. Sometimes it can be hard because not every project/creative endorsed receives like in return, but as a creative, you have to look beyond “what can I get out of this?” and just do it because you love doing it.
When Frivolous Comma approached with the idea of reciprocating posts, I COULD NOT say no. Here was a creative soul speaking directly to the soul of everything I believe in. So I dove into Comma’s work, both website and podcasts, and what I found, I genuinely enjoyed! Comma dives into both commercial and independent work with perfectly sized information bites, images, links GALORE! (this is something I truly appreciate), and through the podcasts, speak directly to the authors. Listening to the interview with Shingai Njeri Kagunda was a relaxing listen with plenty of easy-going laughs from both author and interviewer. Each of the current three episodes tackles different subjects not just for those interested in understanding the creative process of their favorite authors, but for those interested in being authors themselves, tackling subjects such as character building and writing in communities.
(Art from the podcast website. Copyright to Frivolous Comma.)
The Frivolous Comma is a LITERAL TREASURE TROVE of information about the CRAFT OF WRITING that can be delivered via email (my current favorite form) or through social media. It also is looking to publish speculative fiction (in wider forms of the genre) with a focus on underrepresented (BIPOC, LGBTQIA2S+) authors (please see sub page as it is truly diverse!).
From the thought-provoking to the hard-hitting. Vigilance is a no-holds-barred of pulp fiction from the 30s and 40s. Make no mistake though, it isn’t just wannabe fare, author Daniel Baldwin seems well-versed in the style, but he doesn’t just stop there as he dials up the volume several notches to slap readers in the face.
(Art copyright Daniel Baldwin/Vigilance)
Vigilance is an ongoing fiction series set in a dieselpunk sci-fi world created by Daniel Baldwin. From the back alleys and mean streets to the chaos of the battlefield to untamed jungles and secret bases, Vigilance brings modern sensibilities to classic pulp, noir, and adventure fiction. Join the heroes of the Office for the Cataloguing of Unusual Occurrences as they seek to rid the world of the Axis and their unnatural horrors.
Jump into Baldwin’s world with two different storylines. I kicked off my reading experience with The Secret Files of Lucky Ford, and was NOT disappointed as the action is hot from the get-go — blood, guts and war-grind on full-display. Going down in enemy territory, American paratrooper “Lucky” Ford is going to need more than his fellow soldiers if he is going to survive the ghoulish plot the Axis has in store for him!
We never meet without parting
Next issue... AS PROMISED, will be sharing a bit of the WIP novel, Castle Oblivion!
Until then!
Made in DNA
This post resonates with me because I also feel frustrated sometimes when I share and promote so much of other people's goodies but they rarely if ever return so much giving:(
I saw The Gene Generation, and liked it a lot. Pretty cool movie. You have awesome friends:)
Frivolous Comma sound like my kind of people. Would love to meet and interact with them.
Thanks so much for the shout out! Glad you’re enjoying the stories. Got the new Billy Club Bastard case dropping Monday, too.