Make me write faster on Patreon

Love the books? Want more of Kip's wild antics, or more incredible  adventures and battles with Hestea?

Well, time is limited and I have a day job. But with enough patrons supporting just a couple dollars a month or more, and increasing sale of the books: I can achieve more. Much more.

Kip was my first professional cover and edit, but readers of my Hammerblood books know they are quality, fun stories with depth. I have high expectations for my stories. Help me get there faster and get cool rewards to boot. (And help Hestea get his own pro-covers. Remember, he has a really big hammer, knows how to swing it, and has a temper.)

How's it work?
You pledge a small amount monthly to support. Patreon takes care of collection and distribution with a small 5% fee (which is a great deal for what they offer) and patrons get special rewards on my Patreon page. There's a snippet of the sequel of Kip the Quick up there now.

Check out my Patreon page, become a patron today, and thanks for your support!

Think about it like a digital tip jar, and me with my book in hand, reading aloud on the street corner, entertaining passerby. (Perhaps a guitar would work better?)

Win Veil of a Warrior

Epic Battles. An Unknown Power. A Terrible Enemy.

Reader T. Gors said “And that ending, holy smokes that was frenetic!”

2 copies of the trade paperback (6x9) are being given away on Goodreads to celebrate the launch of the Prequel Novel, Seeking the Veil.

Enter to win an Epic Fantasy Debut (Published 11/2014 on Amazon). And read Part 1 of the Prequel Novel, Seeking the Veil, for FREE (on Amazon & Kobo). Or sign up for the Newsletter and get the complete 3 Parts of Seeking the Veil for Free. Get to know Hestea, and get ready for the battle to come.

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Veil of a Warrior

by Clifton Hill

Giveaway ends August 17, 2015.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway

Hestea Hammerblood left everything behind to fight in a war of the centuries.

Finding himself in a fractured land, under a foreign general, with a power he can not explain, Hestea will stand against any odds, even when death is certain. 

But even a warrior of legend has secrets and a man that seems invulnerable can still be hurt. 

In Veil of a Warrior, the enemy is powerful. Magic will fly, armies will collide, friends will die and the dark magi strike fear with their power.

Part 3. Done!

Seeking the Veil is done, the prequel novel is complete. I cut down my last copyedit with a bloodied sword and I strangled the MOBI file into proper submission — at long last!

Sign up for the Newsletter and get the epic fantasy adventure for FREE. Or find it on Amazon and Kobo stores, if that better tickles your fancy.

Follow the remnants of the Band of Orangebeard as they flee for their lives in a desperate attempt to warn Becken of what comes.

Seeking the Veil comes to an exciting culmination, secrets are revealed, and the question of true power is put to the task.

Amazon / Kobo

Seeking the Veil is a 3-part series following the adventures of Hestea Hammerblood and a prequel to the novel: Veil of a Warrior

Pre-Debut Fantasy Author

Support up-and-coming writer, @JReinmiller! His work on Wattpad is haunting and his first fantasy piece is done and coming soon to the light of day. If what I've read of his so far is any indication, I expect great things.

Here that, Jeremiah? Don't disappoint. The bar has been set. You only have yourself to blame.

Check out some of his short fiction on Wattpad, the Hush piece is fantastic, but also: disturbing. Click here for a quick read that will have you quaking in your office chair.

And sign up for his newsletter and be first to know when the fantasy novel comes to fruition.

http://www.jqpdx.com (put in your e-mail in the Mailing List box to the right).

Mmm... Smells like Hammerblood

What's that smell? That subtle, but distinct aroma? Why I do believe it is a tasty batch of my Hammerblood, Book1: Veil of a Warrior. All baked, frosted and ready for a bite.

What is Veil of a Warrior?

"One man leaves everything behind to fight in a war of the centuries. He finds hope in a foreign general, love in a woman as strong as steel, and fear in the mysterious power that he had thought was a blessing."

This is a story of growth and a story of struggle, both on the page and in my own life.

I started writing years before, but this book is the one where I truly learned the craft. I’ve moved cross country twice since the idea was conceived, I’ve had the birth of my two children, I’ve lost one job, and I've seen many good people lose theirs.

My life has been a fight at times, but like anything worth having, it is worth fighting for. Veil of a Warrior has been a fight, an epic struggle over seven years in the making. It has grown, changed, and though I know it is not perfect, I know that I still have room to grow, the book is finally ready to be seen.

And the opportunity to share something with you, fair reader, to open your eyes into a part of my soul, into a part of my life, to speak of things that have only existed in my head, to share this creation... It is truly special.

Some, like Patrick Rothfuss, say they want to make the world a better place, a more enjoyable place with their fiction. And how can I not agree? I love a good book that can transport you, sometimes hanging on for dear life, sometimes laughing along with the characters, but also looking at life through different eyes and different perspectives.

I hope to bring that to my work, dear reader. Please step on through, and welcome.

Veil of a Warrior - Chapter 4

Hammerblood started as an exercise in telling a story in battle. Have at thee!

Onto Chapter 4...

The novel releases tomorrow, 11/20/14. Pre-order it now on Amazon. Limited time price of $3.99 for the e-book. Print version should be available as well (give or take a couple days).

Veil of a Warrior - Chapter 3

As a longtime fan of fantasy and the Epic Fantasy genre, I have a soft spot for magic systems and for books that can capture the mystery of magic without becoming a save-the-day plot device. This story has magic, but the focus is on Hestea. A future novel planned will dive more into the nuances of Quan in this universe, one I look forward to returning to work on in the coming year.

With that said, onto Chapter 3 and meet Sethil...

11/20/14, on Amazon for pre-order now.

Veil of a Warrior - Chapter 2

Hammerblood started as a short story back in 2007. And it grew, and was revised over the years into the book unfolding before you.

Onto Chapter 2...

11/20/14, on Amazon for pre-order now.

Veil of a Warrior - Chapter 1

Onto Chapter 1...

11/20/14, on Amazon for pre-order now.

Veil of a Warrior - Prologue

The novel has been seven years in the making, four years since the first Beta and the release is here.

11/20/14, on Amazon for pre-order now.

I'm releasing the Prologue and the first four chapters on the blog prior to the book's release. Come get a taste.

Published!

The short story that became a novelette is up and done. Seeking the Veil, Part 1 is live on Amazon. And the novel is coming in days. Click here to go to the Amazon page.

A young man seeks his purpose in a foreign land. To do something against an age-old enemy. But he is no magus, he has never lifted his war hammer in anger and he must struggle to find his place in a band of unlikely heroes. 

There is humor, friendship, battle, magic and the discovery of a mysterious power that lies within.

Lots to do, so I'll make this brief. The release of the novelette is something of a test run. Seeing how everything works and so on. Good thing my expectations were low, I spent an inordinate amount of time on Amazon last night, trying to tweak the formatting of the short story to look the best it could. Then I see the "Look Inside" rendering isn't even true to the Amazon online preview application.

Bah. Either way, the story is up. I'm happy with the results and now is when the magic starts. I started writing the short stories just a few months ago, but the novel has been brewing in my head for 7 years with story elements churning for decades. As much fun as I've had writing, the best part is sharing. That's when it truly takes its first breath, when it exists apart from me. And that is true magic.

Unveiling the Cover - Hammerblood, Book 1: Veil of a Warrior

I finally have a cover that I feel good about. And the book is coming... (Have I said that anywhere before? Don't answer that.)

I'm still working on the cover for the Short Story and I'm doing some last pass copyedits for the book, but it is all coming together. More to come...

Running Behind, a Pack of Savages on my Heels

I’m going on a Social Media Blackout. I’m running behind on the Hammerblood short stories by two weeks and it’s going to take me another week to finish the first.

As much as I want to keep up with the recent blogging, it is NOT the reason I wake up in the morning.

It is disappointing to see my little production schedule crumbling, but things happen. And though part of that reason is my ancient eight-year old laptop causing more trouble than it’s worth, at least I finally broke down and bought a new one that can blow through some of the speedbumps I’ve had to endure.

So, until the short stories are done… See you on the flip side. Know that I will break that rule if I see something really shiny.

(For the newsletter crowd, you’ll continue to get weekly updates on further chapters. It’s because I love you more.)

The Beta Runs Before the Wind

Yes, I had to tinker and
make a beta cover. 

I submitted Veil of a Warrior to a few beta readers in 2010. Though I liked the response, I realized eventually that there was more to do and the story was not ready. Back to the drawing board and four years later its off to beta one more time.

The book is ready to fly and in my excitement to finally publish, I had to hit the brakes. None of this round of beta readers uses an e-reader, so I had to look into my print options.

I don’t own a laser printer and quickly found that printing a 692 page behemoth on an inkjet to be a really bad idea. So,

Newsletter Fondness of the Fantastical

The book is coming.

Say it with me: The book is coming.

Did you feel a shiver? Me too, or maybe that was a nervous shake from fatigue.

Either way, Hammerblood is almost here, and as I have looked at its release, I lament one thing: That there is only one book. Yes, it will be part of a series of four (a tetralogy), but those books will be down the line. No cliffhangers. I swear. (My wife would give me the evil eye if there were.)

Anywho, it got me thinking, this lack of multiple books. It seemed so lonely. Should I not have something else? Something to kindle the fire of your Hammerblood-hunger? And then inspiration sparked!

And what about my Newsletter? What perks can I offer to the dedicated few? Ah...even better. A plan forms.

The Individual, the Writer: Keep Out of My Box!

Every individual is, surprising enough, an individual. I think we lose sight of this sometimes. We, as fellow writers, all want to write something that is accepted and adored, published broad and wide, bought by millions and enjoyed by more. And...in doing so, we are desperate—we push, we strive, we seek advice, read how-to manuals, we do everything possible to be better. Better writers, better creators and better artists.

But let’s think about this.

Art is SO subjective. So, why do we put such stock into the advice of others? How do we know that what they have to say will help us? Simple answer: We don’t. And yet someone that has sold millions, worked for years, and has name recognition in league with Bill Gates, captures our attention with their how-to book on how we can become better writers.

But will their success be an echo for you?

Book Review: Feed, by Mira Grant (a.k.a. Seanan McGuire)

(This is a repost, of my review that appeared on SF Signal recently - reposted here for posterity)

Mass Market Paperback: 608 pages
Publisher: Orbit; 1 edition (May 1, 2010)
ISBN-10: 0316081051
ISBN-13: 978-0316081054

In a world where we are all, quite literally, zombies—just waiting for a bad day to shuffle away, seeking a hot meal—bloggers rule the news, social fear is taken to new levels and politics are (as always) the true evil. As a blogger vying for the big leagues, Georgia Mason tells the news the way it should be: full of fact and clean of bias. Shaun is her reckless brother, more interested making the news, than living life in something resembling a sane fashion. Together they take a ride that flies them higher than their wildest hopes and plummets them worse than their deepest fears.

No NaNo, I’m Busy.

No NaNo for me this year. Heck, I only just recently finished the 50k word goal from the novel started for last year’s competition.

Part of me is ashamed to admit that, but I won’t feel too bad. I didn’t give up and the developing novel is something I can be proud of. It’s incredibly rough, still in that first draft stage that can make eyes glaze over with the pain of the prose and the agony of the scene breaks, but there are moments of glory that make me smile.

In keeping with the spirit of things, I will do NaNo in my own way: I will finish the first draft of Felling Abberfaun this November.

The gauntlet is thrown.

I started the month at about 76k words and estimate the book will end up around 110-120k. As of this writing (11/7/11) I’m at 83,400 words. Decent, but I need to step it up a notch. The NaNoWriMo goal breaks down to1,667 words/day. I probably won’t manage that pace. I have a few scenes coming up that will take some careful plotting. But I am starting to feel like I can get this first draft done by month end.

The sooner the better.

Once that’s done I’m ready to finally return to my Hammerblood series and revise Veil of a Warior, for what should be enough (in my humble opinion) to submit it to agents and editors. Read an upcoming post for some exciting news on that book (at least to me).

Carpe that NaNo. Write on!

The Grueling Life of a Book Reviewer

As far as things go, I'm pretty new to reviewing books. I've long enjoyed them, always had personal critiques for my favorites and ranting laments for the disliked. But, yeah, I'm still a padawan trying to tread in the path of greater jedi.

Immersing myself further in the process has brought about some interesting events. I started down this path initially, because I wanted to start blogging; as a beginning writer, I was either going to focus on sharing my developing work or talk about the writing process.

Yes. Unsettling.

Let's be honest, after all, a learning writer sharing their work is rife with danger for anyone's good sense of fiction, and talking about the writing process seemed...well...ridiculous. (Yes, I still do it, but hey, it's not the focus...or at least it wasn't.)

I'd like to say I gave this all a lot of conscious thought, and through a well-formed plan took on book reviews as the main focus of my blog posts, but I didn't.

Whoops.

Perhaps I'll save face a little, by noting that I wanted to take the time to analyze books and see why they worked for me and why they didn't, to help further my own writing process and because talking about books is just a lot of good nerdy fun...or perhaps I've already lost you. *sigh*

Through my involvement with SF Signal, I like to think that I've started to reach that next level of book reviewing expertise, and recently had the pleasure of being sought out for a review by Daniel Polansky, for his debut book: Low Town. In my talks with him, I ended up getting a free book and the chance to see more of the publishing process.

I've gotten some free books before through SF Signal's Books Received, but this time it was all solo, just me, and that was pretty freakin' cool.

I was expecting a "galley" copy, of which, I can still only guess the actual appearance of, because Doubleday sent a first edition hardcover. (I'll try not to complain.)  Anyone not used to the process, this does not encourage you (me) to write a positive review, but it does encourage me to read the book. I see room for improvement in Polansky's debut, but it is a debut and for anyone that has read enough, you start to see that a first book always has room to improve. (Perhaps that sounds horrible, but there it is.)

I also got a chance to do my first book interview with Polansky, now on SF Signal.

I'm certainly eager to cram more book reviews in amongst the writing, the day job and the family life. A few more free books would be welcome too. Should I just post my address here?

Book Review: Low Town, by Daniel Polansky

(This is a repost, of my review that appeared on SF Signal recently - reposted here for posterity)

Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: Doubleday (August 16, 2011)
ISBN-10: 0385534469
ISBN-13: 978-0385534468

Low Town has lords with hidden agendas, willing to kill on a whim even as they smile behind veils of lace; gang lords with blood on their hands that riff poetry about their beloved deity; and artisans of magic that are powerless to stop the horrors of life. Low Town is a conundrum that tries to portray reality, with a touch of compassion, in an age where little was pretty.