Image created by the Author with assistance from Copilot and Firefly
It’s clear that reading is the inhalation cycle of a writer, and writing — the long exhale. Though that exhale often takes different forms: a laugh, a sigh, an exclamation… and sometimes, it escapes from the entirely wrong end. But hey, inhaling isn’t always without a smell either!
If you’ve read any of my past work, you may have guessed what my nose was been buried in while I was creating it. No, not shit — though that’s funny. Which books, I mean! Let’s just say I read a metric ton of Malory, Monmouth, Monroe, and Sir Walter Scott before THE TOME OF AGES came out. Who would have thought it would feature Merlin and King Arthur, right?
Pratchett and Piers Anthony were basically intravenously fed to me for months before I put out THE DEATH OF SCIENCE, so you can guess why the personification of Death made his debut. Don’t worry, I still stray back into Discworld guys, re-reading PYRAMIDS or SNUFF, so we may see our friend again, and sooner than we think. Which is why I thought this article might be fun.
Because sometimes, what we write would be better off as scratch and sniff.
It usually happens after the oxygen has been cut off. When we hold our breath too long, waiting for something great — for Patrick Rothfuss to finally release The Doors of Stone?
One moment we’re gleefully writing like that Kermit the frog TikTok meme. Punching letters like mad. The next, sand is blowing around us and we’re standing noiselessly in a desert, clutching our cracked copy of The Name of the Wind, and beside us comes a voice. “WELL, THIS IS AWKWARD.” Terry Pratchett’s Death (or maybe Mort, if we’re lucky) watches, politely waiting for us to suffocate before offering his services.
So, what have I been inhaling lately? What literary oxygen has kept me alive? Perhaps it can tell us what my breath might smell like on publication day? Gas masks on everyone! Let’s take a look — before we drown in anticipation.
What I’ve Been Reading
Just a few… Book cover images taken by the author.
Where to start? A month ago? Two months, three… maybe four? Let me think back.
Well, I’m on book five of Brandon Sanderson’s STORMLIGHT ARCHIVES and have completed THIS INEVITABLE RUIN, which was book seven in the DUNGEON CRAWLER CARL series. Those were (and still are) just pleasure reads. Though WIND AND TRUTH is kind of dragging — it’s just so thick with Parshmen and Kaladin has taken a back seat. But hey, I keep it on hand for when I need something to pick at.
I also finished book two of Mary Stewart’s MERLIN trilogy (I know, more Merlin!) I enjoyed THE CRYSTAL CAVE so much while writing Tome, imagine my delight when I found out it was actually a trilogy. So, THE HOLLOW HILLS was just good, old-fashioned storytelling. Now, I’m cracking open THE LAST ENCHANTMENT to finish the journey.
Good news though — it looks like DOORS OF STONE is set to finally drop in August! That’s only three months away. Fingers crossed! For a minute, I really thought Sanderson was just gonna opt to do it, like he did WHEEL OF TIME. But hey — way to drag yourself out of the pit of despair Pat!
Lately, I’ve been on a Michael Crichton kick and was disappointed to learn that yet another great writer is no longer with us. I find myself being more and more thankful for Stephen King’s lasting health. I sure am glad he kicked the boos and shit once his career was in full swing.
Great writers need to stick around long enough for us to get a chance to met them! Can I get an amen?
A few more… Book cover images taken by the author.
Right now, I am reading PREY, which I feel must have been published before MICRO, which I read last month. PREY is written in first person, but it still cuts the mustard. I’ve almost finished half in one sitting.
I started this streak with SPHERE a few months back and since been devouring Crichton’s works — never once being disappointed. If you have never heard of PIRATE LATTITUDES, it’s fantastic! Published posthumously (Which is actually how I found out Crichton had passed). Really, one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. Of course, we all know he wrote JURASSIC PARK. I have an audio cd pack of JURASSIC in the car, just so I can listen for fun this week. I read the books as a kid and have feeling nostalgic. Who knows? Maybe it will inspire me to finish writing THE DEFEAT on schedule.
Since it had been a while since I read any Stephen King, I decided to jump back on the wagon. HOLLY turned me off with all the politics and COVID — I guess I was just exhausted by all that mess. I hadn’t read anything by King since I gave up on that title. But then I saw a book in the library I hadn’t read — JOYLAND — and I loved it! Swallowed that book whole.
It may be cliche but he really is the best writer of our time. Ask any author if they haven’t read his book ON WRITING, and if they deny it, they’re lying. Or they’re still sitting in writing classes rather than just brushing back up on his notes.
It had been so long since I had cracked open a King (and honestly, Holly is the only book by him I ever left unfinished), I’d almost forgotten how damn great he is!
That got me going again, and I was thrilled to find another I hadn’t read. It was on Audio CDs — DESPERATION, narrated by King himself. I’m almost done with it. Fuckin great!
“You have the right to remain silent. If you do not remain silent, what you say may be used against you in a court of law. I am going to kill you. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney…”
Yeah, I mean — I’ll be back in a minute. Just gonna take a quick drive around the block so I can listen to the next chapter. That cop is messed up, Yo!
“Honey, I thought you were going for the milk?”
“Oh, totally slipped my mind. Be right back!”
You know what I’m saying!
A few more… Book cover images taken by the author.
I like to keep a non-fiction in the mix because I think it’s important to be learning. So I picked up THE PERFECTIONISTS by Simon Winchester, and every time I crack it open, I find myself tearing through big swaths of it. It’s about engineering, but trust me, it’s interesting. Plus, reading about engineering while I’m also reading Crichton’s PREY — which is also about engineering — just makes it all the more satisfying.
Okay, I know I have a tendency to bite off more than I can chew. But today, I finally ordered ANIMA RISING by Christopher Moore. Got the Audible, since I remember how well FOOL and LAMB were done. If you’ve missed those titles by him, go get them immediately. I’ve got a good feeling about Anima. Already snuck off on my lunch break and squeezed in half an hour during a walk.
Really, who cares? Maybe it’ll be great, maybe not. Lord knows I have done my share of sniffing the shit while smelling the roses. Gotta come across the fertilizer sometimes! Now, let’s see what’s on my breath.
What I Am Working On
A few works… Book cover images taken by the author.
You may be surprised after seeing how much fiction I’ve been feeding myself that I am working on a non-fiction self-help book, but A MIDDLE-AGED MAN’S GUIDE TO BEGINNER GYMNSATICS has been a side project of mine for years. Besides, Piers Anthony used to be a gymnast, too.
It was probably all the drinking he did that required him to exercise so often. Don’t repeat that, I may just be projecting.
Anyway, the release date is TBA but should be Jan 2026. I have been doing a daily blog on my own journey to get back in shape at forty-five during the whole editing process. So far, down 23 pounds in 32 days but still am finding it rather hard to convince a gymnasium to let me take photos for the book. It looks like I will have to use my kids as scapegoats. The blog can be followed at https://elventesai.wixsite.com/a-middle-aged-man/blog.
Like most great writing, the exercises and everything are great, but the story of how I went from heartbroken to handsprings is pretty amazing, thanks to my mentor Mircea Petre, who hailed from Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey.
On the fiction side of things, I would have to admit that THE DEATH OF MAGIC is probably what you’ve all been waiting for. Also, it is what all my reading habits are mostly culminating into. After THE DEATH OF SCIENCE won the International Impact Book Award, I knew I needed to brush up the Rootworld Series. Besides, it’s my favorite! I could write in the realm of Rootworld for fifty years. It’s easy!
I expect to finish this novel in the next few months and have it polished and ready for release on 3/01/2026. There are some botched attempts at this rendition on royal road and wattsapp. But I tossed them and literally went with my gut feeling. However, I think they are a good hint at where I’m going this round. Wink. Wink.
Then there’s HUBUDI: A previously written Rootworld novel (don’t buy it right now, it’s terrible!) I’m nearly done re-writing it but it will need a professional to edit it after the major renovations. This one will be ready 9/01/2025.
But by far the most exciting news in the ROOTWORLD universe is about the THE TOME OF AGES AUDIOBOOK. It has an August 10th release date (Right there with DOORS OF STONE). I can’t say enough positive things about the production crew. They are phenomenal! This is going to be one heck of an audio adventure. Characters right on par with DUNGEON CRAWLER CARL, trust me on this!
Tome of Ages Audiobook. Image by the author.
I mentioned earlier that JURASSIC PARK may inspire my Halloween release target of THE DEFEAT. It is a re-write of a short story I did as a child. Right now, the ten page short has turned into a ninety-eight page adventure, so I think we are gonna make it happen. I also hope to package it nicely with some of my other novellas to make a good Halloween gift box. What would you guys think about a Spooktacular Deal for the bunch of Carpool, The Groundsman, Boiler Room, The Tale of the Killer Piano, GIVE, The Defeat, and Pumpkin Planet?
More titles… Book cover images taken by the author.
HONOR: This has stalled. I’ve gotten no feedback for this novel, even though I was excited about it. It is going on the backburner for a while… again! I guess people just really don’t want to read about a samurai caught in an EDGE OF TOMORROW or ALL YOUR NEED IS KILL dilemma! But whatever. Like I said: shit among the scents sometimes…
Lastly, A LOUSY BEDTIME STORY. (Again, don’t buy it now) The children’s edition is due out on 9/1/2025. I am so excited about this! I’ve written a lot of books for children. Heck, I started writing as a child! But, I’ve never gotten an audience with them because I have never invested in an illustrator. Well, times have changed!
As a long-time advocate for telling bedtime stories, I’ve always wanted to publish a true children’s book for those, like me, who love that particular past-time. Finally, Amazon has given me that opportunity and is formatting my self-published eBook into a true illustrated book that is compatible on all devices and kid friendly. It holds a special place in my heart because, Cecil (from TWITS DO IT BETTER) is a funny guy and deserves more parents to find him and introduce him to their kiddos. A LOUSY BEDTIME STORY is my ode to Pratchett’s CARPET PEOPLE which put him on bedtime bookshelves everywhere.
Let’s see if I can be so lucky!
So, keep breathing people. And please — try and not scrunch up your nose like that when a possible fart wafts by. It might have been mine. But we all know, whoever smelt it dealt it.
Jay Horne is the author of the science fiction fantasy realm of Rootworld, where magic came before science. His latest works explore the discovery of magic on the Earth when the first witch is born and turns water into wine. Now, both realms are trying to educate and acclimate their students into new subjects.
Jay is the father of four and works as a cardiac monitor tech while he writes. He has a newsletter at substack called Stories that Slap. The only thing he loves more than writing is fooling his children.
