Hey all,
First I want to thank you all for your support. It means the world to me, honestly.
So, as a thank you I am going to be moving the Patreon an extra week ahead of RoyalRoad.
So tomorrow I will be uploading a whole week worth of chapters!
Thanks again to all of you for being my first Patrons!
“So, smartass, how the fuck are we going to do this?” Bell asked.
“I have no bloody idea,” Bert smiled back. “In case you haven’t noticed yet. I tend to make this shit up as I go along.”
“Oh, I noticed.” Bell giggled.
“I’ve been trying to figure it out but don’t understand the problems. I mean, the Waystations are naturally occurring… can it really be that difficult t...
2023-06-30 08:06:06 +0000 UTC View PostBert J Hudson woke up the next morning with his face pressed against the dirt. He coughed, watching dust puff into the air, and groaned. His head felt like it had an entire foundry busily working away in it. He sat up slowly and stared blearily back across a stretch of open ground to the Waystation.
The fuck did he end up all the way out here?
His stomach roiled when he tried to stand up. He collapsed and waited ...
2023-06-28 08:26:28 +0000 UTC View PostThe last of the trees fell, revealing the remains of an old and broken roadway. Bert whistled in appreciation. It was almost as large as the new road being left behind by the Waystation. Nothing moved in the mile or so between the end of the trees and the high walls of the city.
As the gorge gave way, a large ring of bare earth separated it from the city walls. Nothing grew on the open ground; even grass gave the area a...
2023-06-28 08:25:24 +0000 UTC View PostBernice slammed the door behind her as she pushed him into the room. He laughed as she had to open it again to remove her skirt, then she threw herself into his arms and kissed him deeply.
“I’m so happy for you,” She wept as she held his face. “I want you to know that.”
“I do,” He promised, giddy after passing his test. He kissed her deeply again, his hands pulling her against him.
“Whoa, slow down,” She giggl...
2023-06-24 09:57:42 +0000 UTC View Post“I can’t believe you’re going to take the Test!” Bernice said excitedly as Dave helped himself to another portion of bacon. “Well done you.” She looked at him thoughtfully.
“I’m not committing suicide if that is what you are thinking. I intend to pass.” Dave said wearily.
Bernice laughed. “I know that, silly.” She punched him lightly on the arm, “You, Dave, are not the suicide type.” She grinned and swiped a bit of ...
2023-06-24 09:56:12 +0000 UTC View PostHis first day as a mage… and Dave spent most of it cleaning the toilets again. Some young idiot had put something in the food again. It was such an old prank that was considered ‘harmless’ by the College. They didn’t even punish the ones responsible these days.
But they didn’t have to clean the damn toilets.
There was a spell for this, Dave knew. He had paid attention to any spells to do with cleaning; it was his life up until las...
2023-06-24 09:55:10 +0000 UTC View PostChapter One -
The advantages of being invisible.
The funny thing about being a servant to the powerful, Dave thought, was that they often wholly forgot you existed. He doubted he was the first to take advantage of that fact, but he at least thought his plan held a note of genius.
No one wanted to work at the college.
He idly swept up another pile of ash as he made his way around the tables. There was always ash, no matter the lesson. Learning to be a m...
2023-06-24 09:54:03 +0000 UTC View Post
Cover image for my short story entry for RoyalRoad. I will be posting the chapters over there next week, but will post them all here today.
Hope you enjoy it and thanks for all your support!
2023-06-24 09:52:45 +0000 UTC View PostBert dove aside as the wall collapsed. Before he even finished his roll, another section of the wall collapsed.
“God damn, trap-setting, tricksy little fuckers!” Bert growled as he dodged away again. A small section of the ceiling gave the barest hint of a creak before it joined the general chaos. That last piece had come damn close to crushing his foot. As the general chaos suddenly stopped, Bert balanced on one foot. Loo...
2023-06-23 08:35:32 +0000 UTC View PostLowes watched Reed lean over the Balcony of their room in the Bear’s Fall.
“You’re going to fall if you lean much further out.” He said casually.
“I doubt that, darling.” Reed smiled.
“Still, it makes me nervous,” Lowes admitted.
“Fine, I’ll be good.” Reed smiled and stood back a little. “That machine is moving off again soon.”
“The Hudson Express.” Lowes corrected. He was a...
2023-06-21 09:15:02 +0000 UTC View Post“Are we there yet?” Bell groaned.
“Where?” Bert asked.
“Anywhere!” Bell yelled in his ear and giggled.
“Fuck sake, Bell,” Bert grumbled under his breath. “We aren’t even moving!”
“That was kind of my point,” Bell sighed. “I mean, what’s the plan here, oh mighty Caretaker?” Bell pointed ahead.
“I’m thinking about it,” Bert tapped the arm of his chair.
“Do we h...
2023-06-21 09:14:06 +0000 UTC View Post“I still think it would be easier just to run them all over.” Bell grumped.
“Any chance you want to tell me why you are terrified of rabbits?” Bert asked, for about the tenth time since they got back to the Waystation.
Bell ignored the comment entirely as she continued to pack food into five new leather backpacks. Bert had made them at Bud’s request.
“Okay, the kids have food and drink… knives… poisons...
2023-06-16 07:57:33 +0000 UTC View Post“Go away,” Bell groaned and tried to hide under the blankets. “I’m dying, just let me die in peace!” She burrowed further as Bert tried to dig her out of the cradle. “I want to die! Just let me die!” The miserable pixie hid her face from the light.
“You’re just hungover,” Bert whispered. “But I think you might want to come and meet our new guests.”
“Stop shouting!” Bell snapped, “Ow. Too loud.” ...
2023-06-16 07:55:49 +0000 UTC View PostBud felt himself relax as Slothy ambled down the drawbridge. Being around when Bell and Bert lost it was never a good idea. After briefly warning the other residents and guests of the Waystation to stay indoors and ignore anything that happened, Bud climbed up on Slothy and left.
As they cleared the drawbridge and began to trot away, the sounds started to fade. They found themselves in a region of light forest. It was nowh...
2023-06-14 09:22:50 +0000 UTC View PostBert stretched as he walked over the connecting bridge to Trailer One. The farmland was looking… strange. He leaned on the railing for a while, trying to make heads or tails of the fields below him.
He was only gone for a day or two at most.
Scruff kicked open the door to the cottage, making Bert wince, emerging with an armful of what appeared to be scrap metal. Yawning hugely, Scruff tottered over to the nearest cleared row. ...
2023-06-14 09:21:41 +0000 UTC View Post“Well?” Bert asked as the rogue stared at him open-mouthed.
An arrow flew from the Hunter, only for Bert to block it without looking.
“Am I taking that as a no?” He sighed as another arrow came flying out of the canopy. “Will you fuck off, mate?” Bert snapped.
The rogue tried to slip away while he was distracted, only for the Caretaker to kick the tree hard enough to spill the rogue from its perch.
Another ar...
2023-06-09 08:47:30 +0000 UTC View Post
A new cover to go along with the other changes coming in Vol. 2!
2023-06-07 14:49:53 +0000 UTC View PostBert marveled at his lack of vertigo. It had always been a problem for him. Until he lost Gwen, anyway. He didn’t care about or fear anything very much after that.
It seemed that the fear had not returned despite his happiness and connections with the Waystation.
It was not that he actively wanted to die anymore; he did want to live these days. This world was simply too fascinating to leave so soon. But he still didn’t fear death...
2023-06-07 12:08:01 +0000 UTC View Post“And you’re sure about this?” Bert asked as Scruff stared defiantly up at him.
“Yes.” Their eyes shone with determination. “What’s wrong with it?”
“Nothing, nothing.” Bert quickly stammered. “Just where I come from… well, kids working the fields is not exactly a good look.”
“Where do you come from, anyway?” Scruff’s eyes narrowed suspiciously.
“Not important,” Bert sighed. “If you are ...
2023-06-07 12:06:43 +0000 UTC View PostThe Waystation -
Changes coming in Vol 2.
Hey!
I wanted to let everyone know about the changes as I move on to the second Volume of The Garbage Man Chronicles!
The Waystation was my first time writing a book; honestly, I did not expect the level of success I had so far. A huge thank you to everyone who has joined Bert and Bell on the first stage of their adventures.
The idea for this web serial is to have an episodic format with ‘adventures of the week’ and a...
2023-06-03 09:34:53 +0000 UTC View Post
Starting in the next week or two I will be posting an ongoing serialized novel over on royal road. Patrons here can expect to get chapters a week or two ahead of their debut over there.
As time goes on expect Character Art, Behind The Scenes, Sneak Peaks, and more to be available only here on Patreon.
2023-04-25 10:18:10 +0000 UTC View Post