[From the Eye of the Storm] Jon Skovron's Newsletter #35
From the Eye of the Storm #35
Well, Bane and Shadow has been out in the world for a bit, and the response has been gratifying. Here are a couple of review excerpts:
”tremendously satisfying" — Publishers Weekly
”Step once again into the intriguing world first introduced in Hope and Red. The trilogy continues with murder and mayhem written in a captivating style that is breathtaking. Unique appellations and ingenious descriptions add flair and humor to this continuing saga." — Romantic Times
”Another phenomenal read, Jon Skovron's sequel is riveting, and I would highly recommend this series to everyone!” —The Bookbag
The Hope and Red sale has been going extremely well. Sales in the US are up more than 50%, and the Daily Kindle Deal in the UK pushed it into the number one best seller spot for contemporary fantasy that day, earning me one of those lovely orange badges. The sale ends on March 20th, so if there’s anyone out there who hasn’t picked up yet, now’s the time.
Also, we can add Italy to the list of countries publishing Hope and Red. Italian SF&F publisher Armenia just extended in offer this week.
By the way, I’ve started a blog. I’m not sure why. A lot of what’s on there will probably show up one way or another on here, albeit in a rougher, less considered format. But if you one it in smaller bites more frequently, well I suppose there you go :)
Currently Reading
Now that the trilogy is starting to wind down, it’s time to start considering what’s next. Will it be another trilogy in the same world as the Empire of Storms? Will it be something else completely? I’m not sure yet. Some of that will depend on me, and some of it will depend on my publisher. Either way, this section of the newsletter will probably start looking a little different as I shift from pleasure reading to research reading. Often, you may even wonder why in the hell I’m reading such a thing. Case in point, this biography on Dante Alighieri by R. W. B. Lewis. It’s fairly succinct and rather dryly written, but that’s what I was looking for. Some biographers tend to get a bit gossipy, perhaps even lurid in their narration, and I wanted to start with a more general and sober outlook before I start wading into the muck.
There was one passage toward then end that really tickled me, however:
”Dante’s children had led an inevitably precarious life since their father was sent into exile. Their inclusion in the new decree meant, among other things, that all three were at least fifteen years old, this being the age at which males became eligible for decapitation.
I was such a tremendous little shit at age 15, I have no doubt that, had I been living in Florence in 1315, my eligibility for decapitation would have been of great concern.
Now Listening
Research for me is more than just information. It’s collecting focused inspiration. Especially in the form of music. So I want to share with you this track by Russian musician/producer Oligarkh. It’s an intense blend of traditional Russian folk and EDM. And while that may not seem to have anything to do with Dante, trust me. In my head, it totally does.