Novel

Tailor of Echoes – a peek inside

Books, Commmissions, Fiction, Illustration, writing
Title page for Tailor of Echoes, Illustration Richard A. Kirk, Design Michael Smith

Tailor of Echoes is available for pre-order from PS Publishing!

The past week was fairly busy. As previously mentioned, I am working on illustrations for a very special book. I expect that work to continue into 2022. It’s not a project I can or want to rush and the publisher is being very patient! More on that soon. I am also working on a number of personal works including a series of oil paintings, and two very large—for me—drawings that are 30” x 44.” All of these projects will keep me busy through the winter.

I am almost finished the edits to my new novel and will pass them on to my agent next month. This morning, I caught myself thinking about another book. Hopefully, I can start it in the new year.

If you have time and you’re looking for a unique Christmas gift, please head on over to my online shop.

Well, today is a rainy day in Southwestern, Ontario, but it is nothing compared to what BC has gone through in the past week. I wish them well through this tough time.

Richard

The Point

Books, Drawings, Fiction, Illustration, ink, Process, Technique, Work in Progress, writing

Another busy week in another weird summer. My new novel finally reached the point where the main character is calling the shots. If you write fiction, you know that this is the magical moment. It’s certainly the point I wait for with great anticipation, when I start keeping a Moleskine near the shower and fill my phone’s note app with cryptic comments like Does M have any residual fear of trains!!? It’s also the point where my family does a check in to see if I’m still breathing or just THINKING ABOUT THE NOVEL.

I reached 57K words this week, a little better than half way by my estimation. It’s less like a first draft than one of those progressive digital images that gradually comes into focus. I’ve been back over those 57K words quite a few times as I refined the story. For this new project I am writing a female protagonist. I really enjoyed the challenge of writing female characters in my other novels, and this particular piece called for a certain voice. I’m working hard to avoid the tropes to create a truly unique and believable character. So, the book is progressing well and plot things are layering in quite nicely. Oh, and I finally got a haircut.

This week I also finished a new illustration for my “Big Illustration Project”—sorry, can’t share yet. I’m creating these illustrations with a combination graphite, carbon and charcoal. Tools of choice are Blackwing 602s, and Pearls, Wolff’s carbon and Generals charcoal. All of them are a complete headache to keep a point on! I think I spend as much time sharpening as I do shading. No matter, every technique has its challenges and the results in this case are interesting indeed. Using the Blackwings for the light and medium values and the Wolff’s and Generals for those areas where I really need to lay in the darks.

August is going to be busy AF. I need to turn in my illustrations for my last novel THE TAILOR OF ECHOES to PS Publications by the end of August. Those illustrations will be inked.

In lieu of an image from the Big Illustration Project, here is an older drawing I did with the Wolffs, called Nightdress.

Thanks for reading, Richard

My studio buddy catching some ZZZZs

Winter Update

audiobooks, Books, Darkling Lands, Fiction, Ink in Unfailing Supplies, webstore, Works for Sale, writing

I’m not sure how I let two months get behind me without updating my blog, but it’s nice to be back. I’m planning more or less weekly updates for the rest of the year. So let’s catch up.

The big news this week is that my novel Necessary Monsters, published by Underland Press in 2017 is now available on Audible in audiobook format (Encyclopocalypse) Senn Annis did an amazing narration. You can hear a sample on Audible.

NM_audiobook

In other book news… at the end of last year, I produced a book called The Darkling Lands, Volume 1, under my Radiolaria Studios imprint. It consists of 40 pages of my art and a new short story called Ecesis. I still have a few copies left in my webstore. They come signed, but when they are gone, they are gone.

I’ve already started compiling volume 2 and as soon as the war chest looks a little less scary, I’ll be putting it out. My hope, knock wood, is that it will be 80 pages instead of 40. Like volume 1, it will include a piece of new fiction.

darkling_lands_v_1_cover_final

Still on the writing theme, I am currently working on a new novel – well two actually. I know, it’s a sickness. One is the next book in my Irridian series and the other is a completely new fantasy novel. It’s really too early to talk much about these projects, but I will be supplying updates as things progress. I’m hoping to have news about my as yet unpublished novel Tailor of Echoes before too long.

A few weeks ago, I launched a new giclee print offering called Wandering Star. There are a few of these left on my webstore. If I may be so bold, this is a f*n nice print. Again, if you are interested, grab one now because I will not be making more.

wandering_star_print_web

A couple more things before I wrap this up. I have revived the Ink in Unfailing Supplies blog that artist John Pierro and I started 10 years ago. Basically, the blog was based on a challenge to create an interpretive work of art around a particular phrase. With the blog re-boot I am opening the challenge to the artist members of a closed Facebook Group by the same name. The first new challenge starts in March.

Finally, I have decided to discontinue my writing blog, Amnesiac’s Library, and consolidate everything here. On reflection, I figure it’s best to have everything under one roof.

Thanks for reading. With my next posts, I’ll be showing you some of my new art. I hope you’ll check it out. As always, you can check out work, old and new, on my artist website.

– Richard

 

 

 

The Lost Machine and Necessary Monsters Audiobooks

Books, Fiction, Media, Work in Progress, Works for Sale, writing

My first two novels will soon be available as audiobooks! They are currently in production at Encyclopocalypse. Over the weekend I heard a 15 minute sample of the narration for The Lost Machine and it sounds absolutely fantastic. The audiobooks will be available on Audible. More information about this release soon.

Richard

Furthermore

Books, Fiction, Illustration, Magpie's Ladder, Process, Works for Sale, writing

odin's_girl

Further to my last post, PS Publishing has just posted its December newsletter. It includes the full wrap around illustration for Odin’s Girl by Kim Wilkins, which I share here. It also shows a little of an interior illustration, which you can see by following the link.

I am currently hard at work/ play creating the illustrations for Magpie’s Ladder (also mentioned in the newsletter). I will be posting some teasers on my Instagram account. So if you are interested, please follow me there. The link is at the bottom of this page.

Finally, I would be remiss not to throw in a plug for my novel Necessary Monsters published in June by Resurrection House. You can find it on Amazon or, in your local bookshop of choice.

  • Richard

 

Search Party

Books, Drawings, Fiction, Works for Sale, writing

Search_Party_web

Search Party, 2017, ink on archival board, 8″ x 10″

Search_Party_web_detail

Search Party – detail

This is a new piece called Search Party. I’m taking a break from some large pieces to execute some smaller ideas. For this drawing I used brush and ink for the main subject and a dip pen for the background. It was done on archival Cranson board. I’ll probably do a few in this vein. It behooves me to mention that this drawing is available for purchase in my webstore, where earlier in the week I added a few other small originals.

Earlier in the month I sent the copy-edited manuscript of my novel Necessary Monsters back to the publisher. The publication date has been changed to June 6. It is available for pre-order on Amazon and other on-line sellers.

I also sent a revised to manuscript of my short-story collection Magpie’s Ladder to another publisher. I hope to have an announcement around this project in then next few weeks.

  • Cheers, Richard.

 

Exciting News

Books, Fiction

I am surfacing for a moment to announce some great news. If you follow my blog you will know that for the past few months I’ve been very focused on writing a new fantasy novel. I’m getting really close to finishing, which is exciting and incredibly rewarding creatively. But that’s not the news. The news is that I’m now represented by literary agent, Martha Millard at Sterling Lord Literistic, Inc. This has been in the works for a while and I’m very excited about this new relationship and where it will take my writing.

Naturally, as things progress I will be updating this blog with news about the new novel and other projects such as NECESSARY MONSTERS, (Resurrection House 2017). The blog will also continue to be a platform for my visual art and illustration work. You can follow updates on my fiction by clicking on the “fiction” category in the sidebar.

Thanks for the support!

  • Richard

Spreading Roots

Books, Drawings, Illustration, Prints, writing

Well, I should write something here before I gain the sad distinction of  being the first man to be fired by his own blog. I have spent the last two months, give or take, writing my face off. What am I writing? It’s a new novel, a cool, weird, trippy and exciting novel (IMHO) – I’ll reveal the title in a later entry. So far it has been challenging, exciting and possibly the most creative fun I have had in recent memory. How is it going? Very well, its about 2/3 complete. I am learning at an exponential rate. I will have much more to say about this in the coming weeks/ months.

My novel NECESSARY MONSTERS is in the process of being edited at Resurrection House. I’ve even had a peek of an early cover concept, which was very exciting.

There is much brewing beneath the surface on the art front as well. I have a couple of illustration gigs coming up that I’m looking forward to and two group shows, both happening in July. In general, I am paring back my show schedule this year to focus on these other projects, but I plan to post lots of new stuff on the blog so stay tuned.

I should have a print of my drawing AMNESIAC’S LIBRARY in the webstore before too long as well.

If you are linked to this blog, please note that the domain has changed. It is now: https://richardakirkblog.com/

All for now – Richard.