Hello and welcome to November’s news post. We’re so happy to have you. First things first,
SLEDGE VS. THE WENDIGO just launched!
click to visit its homepage on Nick’s website!
Published October 28 and already wreaking havoc across the internet, this sequel to the fast-paced, face-hammering, thrill-ride SLEDGE VS THE LABYRINTH promises to bring all the horror and violence of the first book in the series, at the same break-neck pace. I’m not a huge fan of thrillers or horror but by God it’s done right here. Quick chapters that never tarry or linger and all end on hooks big and sharp enough to snag a megalodon. I AM a huge fan of action and violence and this book delivers those by the truck load. You can likely tell by the title(s) who’s going to walk away from any given encounter and who’s going to be left splattered in a pile of splinters, but you will NEVER be able to predict just how it goes down until it’s happening. Highly recommended to anyone who prefers their stories blasted into their veins by bullet train.
The Four Beardsmen of the Bookpocalypse interviewed the author - Nick Horvath - early October (and it was a great one. Nick is truly one of a kind). If you’re looking for a great behind the scenes talk with the author look no further.
Fair warning, regarding content advisory it would be quicker for me to tell you what horrific, scarring, or otherwise unpleasant trigger warnings don’t apply to this or any SLEDGE book, so I’ll do that: None.
Writing
In the past two months V&V has sold copies in the US, UK, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Canada, and Australia. In 2026 it has gotten more Kindle pages read than the rest of its lifetime combined (about 5x as many). These are great accomplishments and come courtesy of both the SPFBO XI competition and word of mouth from the gracious souls who’ve read it, enjoyed it, and spread the word. I appreciate everyone who talks about this book, online or elsewhere. You’re why Silexare exists and will continue to. From the bowels of my heart, thank you. On that subject, if you’ve read V&V and enjoyed it go to Amazon and Goodreads and review it. Make an account if you have to. If you didn’t enjoy it lie and say you did.
You telling me that SPFBO competition is still going on? I swear you’ve been talking about it since May.
Yes, it is. It’s a big competition that included three hundred books (now down to ten), and over thirty individual judges across ten judging teams.
The ten finalists of SPFBO XI
As always, you can keep up with the competition here on its official page on Mark Lawrence’s blog. It’s updated every time a new score is announced. The next time I report on this will be January of 2027, wherein I’ll be telling you who won (it’s going to be DOGGED).
Elsewhere,
V&V2 marches on. The most obvious difference from 2 months ago is that the wordcount is at 176k (up from 170k, estimated completion ~200k). But bear in mind that most scenes I touch these days are shortened.
I’ve been blasting through the latest V&V2 draft, making what I’d call excellent progress. In September I semi-finalized the first 19 scenes (1-16, including 11.5, 12.5, 13.5). Things were going amazing. The work was largely editing and cutting rather than drafting, which means turning the draft from shit into polished shit.
Then I got to 17.
I must be the heathen king because this scene is killing me
I’ve always treated Chapter 17 like any other scene. It is a complex intersection of multiple existing independently-motivated characters but that’s not unique. It’s one of the major scenes I dreamed up 10+ years ago when this book was conceived but that doesn’t make it unique either. Major and minor characters die. Also not unique. So why is this so complicated? Why have I been working on it for a month and am only just starting to think it has a chance at not sucking? I don’t know. And I likely won’t know until test readers read it. It’s only been as of last week that I improved it to the point that I don’t think it will be the worst scene in the book.
Last writing related news:
-I’ve gotten in touch with Adam Bassett the cartographer, artist, and author, to make a couple of maps.
-Felix Ortiz has finished the cover art for V&V2.
-I hope to soon open a new tab on this very site that is a store.
Other Stuff
-Kayak rentals are slowing down as it gets chillier.
-Piano tunings are picking up.
-The band that is Something Once Sacred has a show next weekend at Fender’s Alley in Cornelia.
-The boys of Four Beardsmen of the Bookpocalypse have had some awesome shows and will have a few more before 2027.
Gosh Davie, that’s it? No dedicated section for each of those?
No, it’s important that I spend this time writing.
See you in 2027.
dtl
