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New Release - Coming Soon

New Release - Coming Soon
Oct 02, 2024 by James D. McEwan

I’m delighted to announce my next book is almost ready. Just a few more touches, a little bit of proofing, and then I can publish it on Amazon. Have a sneak peek and read the blurb here.

How to Make a Book

How to Make a Book
Sep 28, 2024 by James D. McEwan

Have you ever wondered how to write a book? Where do the ideas come from? How does the author create those fantastical worlds and awesome heroes? That’s the easy bit. At least, it is for those who choose to self-publish their work. But how do you make a physical book? Read on to see what it takes to actually make an idea become a hard print reality.

Independent Author – A Pretentious Way of Saying Failure?

Independent Author – A Pretentious Way of Saying Failure?
May 15, 2024 by James D. McEwan

Indie-authors are everywhere these days. Amazon has given everyone and their dog the chance to publish their own pet project or imagined dream. But are these untested stories good enough, or is the path to literary independence the first step to admitting failure? Read on to find out.

The Next Adventure: Stories from Stories

The Next Adventure: Stories from Stories
Apr 15, 2024 by James D. McEwan

It’s time to explore another world and bring a new hero to the fore. The Kalleron series isn’t over, but it’s earned a rest. Now I can focus on my next project. A Sci-fantasy genre mash-up inspired by a magnificent adventure in western Canada. Read on to see how people and places give rise to the stories authors create.

New Release: Blood & Fury, Kalleron Book III

New Release: Blood & Fury, Kalleron Book III
Mar 10, 2024 by James D. McEwan

It’s been a long time coming, but the Kalleron series is now a coherent tetralogy. Blood & Fury, book III of the initial trilogy, wraps up the journey Petra and the companions first embarked on in Melody & Majesty. The series continues with Hammer & Glass set one-hundred years after the events of Blood and Fury. Read on for a spoiler-free peek.

A Quadrilogy of Epic Fantasy

A Quadrilogy of Epic Fantasy
Feb 04, 2024 by James D. McEwan
The Kalleron series is about to receive its latest addition. Publication of Book III of the original epic fantasy saga is coming soon. It will complete the initial trilogy and link it to the beginning of the sequel series, which appeared with Hammer & Glass, book four, in November 2022. Book III ties everything together, and its release means that for the first time, you’ll be able to enjoy the non-stop adventure from book one, all the way through to book four. Read on to learn more about the world of Kalleron.

Welcome to 2024

Welcome to 2024
Jan 07, 2024 by James D. McEwan

Welcome to 2024. Things will change this year as I move on with different projects that burn bright and light the recesses of my imagination. I’ll be bringing things to a close with a fantasy fable and striding out into new realms. Come see what’s happening.

Lazy Writing - A Scourge

Lazy Writing - A Scourge
Oct 06, 2023 by James D. McEwan

What is lazy writing? It’s a moment of abject disappointment when you’ll often shout at the TV screen, or apply a little too much aggressive pressure to the spine of a book. It’s the moment that tests your faith in entertainment. When all the clever things collapse and fall into the abyss of stupidity. It’s when the literary gods abandon the page, when the soul of the streaming series dies.

New Book Release - Kalleron Book II

New Book Release - Kalleron Book II
Sep 30, 2023 by James D. McEwan

Tears & Eternity: Kalleron Book II, is out now. It follows Petra’s journey as she recovers from her experience with the elemental cult. In this story, we see the retribution of the immortal King, and the coming of a new dawn. You can read about that here. I want to tell you where the story came from.

Coming soon - Kalleron Book II

Coming soon - Kalleron Book II
Aug 07, 2023 by James D. McEwan

The Kalleron series progresses as sands through the hourglass. Melody and Majesty will soon have its sequel in Kalleron Book Two. It’s got a name, but I’m not releasing that until it’s out. I’ve got to keep up the mystery. Read on for some info about the new book, when it’s out, and what to expect.

A Boring Essay on Why Reviews Are Not Boring

A Boring Essay on Why Reviews Are Not Boring
Jul 28, 2023 by James D. McEwan

A review might seem like a trivial thing. You’d probably not even consider writing one for most things. It’s something you only do when you’re blown away, or when you love a product or experience so much, you just can’t help but share it. Like those magic beans you bought at the market. For independent authors, however, reviews are vital resources. Read on to learn what it means to me…

Kalleron—the saga begins.

May 15, 2023 by James D. McEwan

I published Hammer & Glass as book IV in the Kalleron saga in November 2022. Set 100-years after the war of Kalle, it begins a new arc in the series. It follows the beginning of Chara and Goddard’s adventures, and is the first of the final trilogy (books IV, V, & VI). I wanted to fill in the blanks, however, and publish books I, II, & III, before completing the saga. After months of writing and years of planning, Melody & Majesty, Kalleron Book One, is now out.

Kalleron: Great Reviews and Imminent Releases

Kalleron: Great Reviews and Imminent Releases
Apr 22, 2023 by James D. McEwan

I like to do things in reverse, so why not release an epic fantasy without social media and marketing clout? In the past few months, I’ve worked on building a following on Instagram, and sending books to reviewers (book bloggers). Slowly but surely, things are moving in the right direction. Read on, to find out more…

The Adventures of an Independent Author

Mar 03, 2023 by James D. McEwan

Ever thought about self-publishing? Thinking about looking to get yourself a literary agent? Well, the market is king, and if you don’t know what’s going on around you, and your book isn’t mirroring the latest fad, you might want to become an independent author instead.

Marketing, Glasgow Style.

Marketing, Glasgow Style.
Dec 03, 2022 by James D. McEwan

Marketing yourself is hard. Harder still is getting noticed and standing out from the crowd. What better way to be noticed than by plugging your debut novel in a craft beer shop? Is it genius, or is it insanity? I'll find out soon enough but either way, I still get to drink the beer...

The Birth of my First Printed Book

The Birth of my First Printed Book
Nov 16, 2022 by James D. McEwan

Congratulations James—it’s a baby boy book. Hammer & Glass is now a physical product, a bundle of printed tree-pulp you can hold in your hands and read with your most excellent brains. Let’s have a look and a laugh at how this came about…

The Beginning in the Middle

The Beginning in the Middle
Oct 14, 2022 by James D. McEwan

Every book has a beginning, middle and an end—no matter how obscure those parts may be. But not every story needs to start at the beginning. This is why my debut novel, Hammer & Glass, is part four of a larger series. Why didn’t I start with book one? Let me tell you why…