Michael Clark

Butcher of Gadobhra Chapter 536

As the sun started to go down, a ring of black wolves moved forward and encircled Sedewick. As if on cue, a third of them began to howl, followed by another group, and finally the last, then the first group started up again. A chorus of howls that never ended echoed across the town. After five minutes, they sorted themselves into three rows: the first running around the town clockwise, the second in the opposite direction, and then the third running clockwise again.

Ben watched with ho...

Butcher of Gadobhra Chapter 535

Sleep is wonderful. With enough sleep, I can write several chapters in a day. Not enough, and I get a few paragraphs and ideas. Last night I was working on three chapters at once, for three different stories. Finishing these up today, then taking a walk with the dog, and coming back for another round. Might even get enough done that I don't feel guilty playing Project Gorgon.

I started doing Animal Handling to go with my Archery. As usual, the game is crazy in its options. A friend has...

Butcher of Gadobhra Chapter 534

"Just a bit further, folks. Keep your eyes closed and hold on tight."

Ben had scoured the countryside all day, getting people to safety. Many had fled to neighbors who had invested more time in a safe dwelling. When Billy had allowed Contract Workers to build their own houses, they had kept in mind the recent corporate war and constructed their dwellings to repel invaders. Now, as many families huddled inside fortified farmhouses, the stone walls and thick Ironwood doors were keeping ...

Butcher of Gadobhra Chapter 533

A bit rough, needed to finish this up and get a start on the weekend, but 3am is no time to start editing. :)
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As the two Snarlfangs charged, one was brought to a halt as stone chains erupted from the ground, binding it firmly in place. As it struggled to break the spell cast by Fastian, the Earth Mage, a heavily armored gnomish Battle Stenographer attacked from the rear. Helga grabbed a hind leg firmly before punching hard at a tender spot just below her fis...

Back in the Saddle

I think I've turned the corner on this latest round of illness and am back to writing. Two chapters each this week.
Butcher 527 528
Tunnel Rat 436 437

Butcher of Gadobhra Chapter 532

Wolves at the Gate.

Winter Beastmasters were confident creatures of great willpower. They had to be. The nature of their link was one of dominance. If they faltered, their beasts could turn on them and bring a fatal end to their partnership. Fatigue and stress were the two great threats to their dominance, and for the two dozen beastmasters trying to control the packs assaulting Sedgewick, they were at their breaking point. Only by letting the beasts run wild and feed, often on each ot...

Butcher of Gadobhra Chapter 531

As the horde of wolves approached Sedgewick, Baron Billy came limping in through the back gate, carried by one of his automatons. Three more of the Bloodston Golems were being dragged by the fellows, drained of mana. Betty appeared as someone began yelling for a healer. She looked at the wound on Billy's leg, muttered a few things, then handed him a piece of pie. "Eat this, it's good for you. Lots to do today, and those people on the farms need you." Her eyes held a feral flame that those aro...

About that Plague...

Turns out I picked up some type of infection, probably from wearing shorts when I play with a large dog with sharp claws. After I was 'getting better', I posted the last chapter, took a nap, and woke with a swollen leg. Off to the emergency room, where, after sitting from 8 pm to 6 am, they gave me a prescription for antibiotics and sent me home. Saturday night is a bad time to get sick.

I did have a lot of time to think about bits and pieces of stories, though, and after sleeping a...

Butcher of Gadobhra Chapter 530

Still sick, but getting better and sleeping only half the day away. I've really wanted to write and have been planning things out in my head

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The Winter forces stretched across the frozen plains, a massive army of trained troops, beast packs, and horrific monsters not seen in generations. As they marched southward, the ice storms of the far North followed, freezing the deserted lands under a film of ice and heavy snow. Wooll...

Fighting off Plague, next chapters on Sunday

Finally over the shakes, fever, and muscle cramps, but exhausted, and walking is a chore when one leg isn't cooperating. Anything but lying in bed seems like a herculean effort. Taking a couple of days off work, and my normal days off are Sun/Mon. At some point, hopefully, I'll have the energy to finish off the half-chapters I have done and get going on the next set for a possible Monday release.

I hate being sick.

Butcher of Gadobhra Chapter 529

Makken didn't often take a day off from the pepper fields, but the fall harvest was all in, and he had some extra time on his hands. He'd start a new crop soon, but not today. He was hungry for some old-fashioned dwarven barbecue, like his pappy had used to make. He could have gone into Sedgewick for a bite to eat, but even though the Butcher was handy with smoke and knew his way around a grill, that was human cookery and never tasted quite right. A good dwarven cut of meat was tough and chew...

A Second Hectic Week

I'll probably only get up one chapter of each story this week. Several things are going on, but nothing is majorly wrong. I spent an entire week editing Tunnel Rat 4 and tossing it to Aethon. We are working on that book, with Butcher 2 coming soon, and then I ned to get Butcher 3 ready.

That's not the major time sink, though. I should have a new grandchild soon. We've been helping my daughter get ready for her second, and her due date is here. If she doesn't go into labor by next Sunda...

New Chapters UP

BoG 524
TR 433

Butcher of Gadobhra Chapter 528

"By my Stars and Garters, from what twisted mortal realm does this hat-stealing fiend come from? It won't die!" The Fox Prince was upset that after putting a third lance into his Snarlfang, it wasn't being polite about the situation and quite frankly refused to die. Worse, his hat had come off, and the damned thing had eaten it. He'd placed his third lance perfectly, passing through the ribcage and into the heart...or where its heart should be. You never could tell with some monsters until yo...

Butcher of Gadobhra Chapter 527

Guild Mistress Berilianne was up to her ears in people who could cast spells, weren't registered yet, and she had no clue of their abilities. They all needed to be tested, but that took time. Time that she didn't have. Some were players, but many were from the Hamlets, local boys and girls just coming into their powers, gaining spells and cantrips from delving into dungeons and slaying beasts in the woods. She compromised by taking the players at their word and grouping them into fire teams a...

My Publisher takes a huge step forward....

Steve and Rhett joked about this. All the Aethon authors pushed them to go ahead. Now we're all bugging them for how to get bottles to go on our bookshelves next to our books.

Butcher of Gadobhra Chapter 526

Suzette was the first to see the group of women running across the fields with a pack of fifty wolves behind them. Two were injured or dead and being carried by their companions. They weren't going to make it, and she had no desire to see people torn limb from limb so close to the town.

"Ozzy, we've got injured people on the way, and wolves are nipping at their heels."

The Butcher ran for the gate and, as soon as he'd slipped through, began running toward the fleeing women. Wit...

WIP Cover for Butcher Vol. 3

This is how covers start. I toss out some ideas, and the artists at Aethon come up with something. They get feedback from me, and we figure out what is going to work best to get the attention of people on Amazon. I love this picture, but suggested less 'splash', more 'wispy smoke' and make the weapon a jagged harpoon. We'll go back and forth several times, and then the artist gets to work on his final cover.

Butcher of Gadobhra Chapter 525

Just what we're looking for in an Apprentice.

Staycation continues, catching up on sleep, then staying up too late. Grilled today and have steak for two dinners and scraps for Auggie. He's now moved into my office with his bed and bones and sits and grinds them in the background. If he had his way, he'd also be on my bed at night, probably pushing me out of it.

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Most of the farms in the Barony were close to Sedg...

Butcher of Gadobhra Chapter 524

Wolves, wolves, and more wolves.

Finished like 60 seconds ago, heading down to play with the dog, give him a treat, and put him to bed. We did 'throw the ball into interesting places' today. A new hard rubber ball that he loves, but I obviously wasn't good at throwing. It travels well. First throw bounds down the slight incline of the yard, passed his invisible barrier, across the street, and into the neighbor's flowers. I'm barefoot, and the neighbor is lonely, and if he saw me coming ...

Butcher of Gadobhra Chapter 523

The Baron Gathers his Forces

Layla was still cursing as they arrived in Gadobhra. "Damnable world, I should know better. We take a small vacation in the South, and someone decides to raid us in Gadobhra. Some things never change: The best time for a corporate takeover is when your target is focused on another objective, like taking someone else over."

The Baron nodded, but seemed unworried. "A good point, and something we should keep in mind. But I think this has been building up...

Vacation Time!....sort of...

I've been taking my family to the Jersey shore the last few years, including the older kids and there families, renting a big house and spending a week. I mostly write on my laptop on a balcony.

This year got odd. They said they'd like to do something else, maybe a nice spot in the Poconos with a pool in a small town. So I found a really cool historical villa with private pool, oddly cheap. But..."Actually, this one thinks there isn't enough to do, and those two say they want the beac...

Butcher of Gadobhra Chapter 522

"Goddamfethingovergrownmuppetfurball! That hurts!!"

"Goddamfethingovergrownmuppetfurball! That hurts!!" With one arm in the Snarfang's mouth and treated like a chew toy, Dora could only curse and stab it with her long knife. An avid believer in making every shot count, she put the knife's foot-long blade into the monster's ear and began rooting around and twisting the blade. The Snarlfang went crazy, throwing her back and forth, which hurt them both.

"Keep him bu...

Butcher of Gadobhra Chapter 521

The hordes of starving winter worgs, wolf packs, and Snarlfangs had ravaged across the northern province of Grultain for two days after being driven away from the main army and enticed by Beast Masters to head towards Hurlsford and Rowan Keep. The farms and small villages that hadn't heeded the warnings of the Couriers found themselves with no options other than to hide in root cellars or barricade themselves in attics. This saved only a few people. The animals were hungry, and few basements ...

Butcher of Gadobhra Chapter 520

The Emperor was halfway to the teleport pad when he stopped suddenly and slowly looked around at the small village and trading hub enclosed by a wooden palisade under repair. "Scribe."

A young man in a private's uniform appeared and bowed. He opened a book and expertly balanced an inkwell on the open page, pen poised to write.

To Commander Fogle,
My sincerest apologies for my abrupt departure. Events move quickly. You, sir, will be at the heart of some of them. T...