Working on new REH Foundation books.

I’m starting an experiment here. I’m not really a blogger, and I don’t usually have a lot to say, but I felt my website was missing some dynamic content. I post updates on Facebook from time to time, so why not share them here too and then link them to Facebook, either manually or automatically?

Since this is essentially my first blog post (I’ve deleted previous attempts), I’ll start by mentioning that I’ve nearly completed my fifth book project for the REH Foundation. Here’s what I’ve contributed to so far:

• Spicy Adventures (hardcover, paperback, and eBook)
• Pirate Adventures (hardcover, paperback, and eBook)
• The Early Adventures of El Borak (hardcover, paperback, and eBook)
• Swords of the North (eBook)
• Steve Harrison’s Casebook (eBook)
• Blood & Thunder (eBook)

By “contributing,” I mean that I create and assemble these books based on the edited text I receive from Paul Herman. Paul is re-editing the texts from Howard’s original typescripts, ensuring they’re as close to Howard’s authentic writing as possible. Once I have the texts, I build each book in Adobe InDesign, formatting to create a consistent look and feel across the series. Mark Wheatley provides the stunning cover art for each volume, sending me the artwork when he completes it.

We’ve partnered with a distributor/printer that operates in the US, UK, and Australia. This distributor connects with bookstores worldwide, making the books accessible in most regions. My goal is to offer these books directly through the Foundation Press website, as the distribution channel imposes a heavy discount. While turning a profit isn’t a priority for the REH Foundation Press, it would be great to see higher returns, especially since all proceeds go to the REH Foundation, which funds events like the annual Robert E. Howard Days. I work on this project voluntarily, with no compensation.

This endeavor is deeply personal for me. Howard’s work resonates with me in a way that’s hard to put into words—it’s become both a passion and an obsession. My ADHD likely plays a part, as it drives me to focus intensely until a project is finished. The waiting periods between edits from Paul can sometimes leave me feeling low or even a bit down, which echoes how I often feel reading Howard’s works. I understand the intense highs and lows, the profound mirth and sorrow he expressed, and while I may not be quite as high and low myself, I relate to it deeply.

A note about Blood & Thunder. This project came to life after Mark Finn asked me on Howard Days 2024, if I wanted to do an eBook edition of his biography. I secretly already wanted to do it having played around with making eBooks for myself for several months. Of course I said yes.

Currently, I’m wrapping up two new projects:

• Adventures in Science Fantasy
• Western Tales

These are mostly complete on my end, but I tend to work quickly and push hard, leaving me waiting for covers for both volumes. For Adventures in Science Fantasy, the artwork is finished; I’m just waiting for the cover text from Paul. Western Tales, on the other hand, still needs the cover art, which Mark hasn’t started, and the cover text from Paul. I can’t fault them—they have lives, patience, and other commitments.