This is the official Ask Me Anything post for A Knack for Metal and Bone.
I’ll start with the big questions: What is this new series all about? What is epic fantasy steampunk anyway? Those are good questions. And this is definitely an odd duck of a book. One reviewer said, “This was an unusual and unexpected awesome read, so so different, so so riveting, so so unique!” (Reviewed by Beba Andrich on Goodreads). Unusual sums it up. A Knack for Metal and Bone is epic fantasy, but set 600 years into our future, in a time when the world has devolved back to a sort of medieval society that runs on magic. There are monsters. There are mechs (automatons that run on magic) and there are other mysterious creatures.
You might ask, “Is this Kyra’s world.” The easy answer is yes. And no. It is a world that survived a magic apocalypse much like Kyra’s world (they call the magic catastrophe the Resurgence not the Flood Wars). However, this is a completely different part of the globe and far, far into the future. People and societies have fallen and risen again. Magic, mechs and monsters are integral to their world. And everyone has a Knack—a magical talent that can be as great as the ability to heal or as inconsequential as a facility to untie knots.
Like Kyra’s world, found family is at the heart of the story. Rowan and Conall are both lone wolves in their own way, but they are run through a gauntlet of extraordinary events along with the other Rangers in Squad 54. They begin their journey as strangers and end as family.
Another reviewer said this book was “unexpected” and continued, “I started reading this with low expectations and was completely gobsmacked.”
This is how I felt when I read the first reactions to the new release. I’d been very worried at how it would be received because it mashes several genres together (a book marketing no-no) and is a far distant world from what readers were immersed in during the Valkyrie Bestiary days. But I’m somehow proud and humbled at the same time to say that reader reaction has been fabulous, so good in fact, that A Knack for Metal and Bone has worn the coveted orange “Best Seller “ tag on Amazon for the last week. I realize that you, my loyal readers made this happen, and I am forever grateful. So thank you.
Now here’s the Ask Me Anything portion. You can reply right in the comments with your questions about The Knack Series, any of my other series, or writing and publishing in general. I try to answer every comment. I am also building a FAQ page for The Knack and some of the questions will appear (anonymously) on there.
This will be my last post of 2024. In January, I’ll do a run-down of the past year and a look ahead to my publishing goals for 2025.
I wish you a happy, healthy holiday season for you and your loved ones.
I’ll start with the big questions: What is this new series all about? What is epic fantasy steampunk anyway? Those are good questions. And this is definitely an odd duck of a book. One reviewer said, “This was an unusual and unexpected awesome read, so so different, so so riveting, so so unique!” (Reviewed by Beba Andrich on Goodreads). Unusual sums it up. A Knack for Metal and Bone is epic fantasy, but set 600 years into our future, in a time when the world has devolved back to a sort of medieval society that runs on magic. There are monsters. There are mechs (automatons that run on magic) and there are other mysterious creatures.
You might ask, “Is this Kyra’s world.” The easy answer is yes. And no. It is a world that survived a magic apocalypse much like Kyra’s world (they call the magic catastrophe the Resurgence not the Flood Wars). However, this is a completely different part of the globe and far, far into the future. People and societies have fallen and risen again. Magic, mechs and monsters are integral to their world. And everyone has a Knack—a magical talent that can be as great as the ability to heal or as inconsequential as a facility to untie knots.
Like Kyra’s world, found family is at the heart of the story. Rowan and Conall are both lone wolves in their own way, but they are run through a gauntlet of extraordinary events along with the other Rangers in Squad 54. They begin their journey as strangers and end as family.
Another reviewer said this book was “unexpected” and continued, “I started reading this with low expectations and was completely gobsmacked.”
This is how I felt when I read the first reactions to the new release. I’d been very worried at how it would be received because it mashes several genres together (a book marketing no-no) and is a far distant world from what readers were immersed in during the Valkyrie Bestiary days. But I’m somehow proud and humbled at the same time to say that reader reaction has been fabulous, so good in fact, that A Knack for Metal and Bone has worn the coveted orange “Best Seller “ tag on Amazon for the last week. I realize that you, my loyal readers made this happen, and I am forever grateful. So thank you.
Now here’s the Ask Me Anything portion. You can reply right in the comments with your questions about The Knack Series, any of my other series, or writing and publishing in general. I try to answer every comment. I am also building a FAQ page for The Knack and some of the questions will appear (anonymously) on there.
This will be my last post of 2024. In January, I’ll do a run-down of the past year and a look ahead to my publishing goals for 2025.
I wish you a happy, healthy holiday season for you and your loved ones.
SHOP FOR A KNACK FOR METAL AND BONE
Book Fairs & Events
Last chance for some holiday deals before Christmas!
Just for Fun
Roger the mech valet is lighting your way to a very Happy New Year!
