by Ian Fallis

The House in the Old Wood has had an unintended consequence.

Across the country, work is being neglected and friends are being ignored because, I am told, “I can’t put the book down!”

And from people who are finishing the book, I am hearing vociferous cries of, “When is the next one coming?! My soul is in mortal anguish and deep turmoil awaiting Book 2!” Well, perhaps I exaggerate slightly. Nonetheless …

Let me help you with both of those problems.

If you’re having trouble getting your work done because you can’t stop reading the book, get all your co-workers reading it too. If you have to, buy copies for them. (Really, that’s fine with me.) But it’s imperative you get them reading too – it’s in your own best interests. See, if they’re all engrossed in the book too, you won’t look so bad.

Friends complaining you’re ignoring them? Get them reading, again, even if you have to buy copies of the book for them. They might even think you’re being nice. Until they get sucked into the book. But at least then, they’ll be reading quietly so you can read.

There you go. Helpful, am I not?

Now, for those of you who have finished The House in the Old Wood, and are eagerly awaiting word on Book 2 …

I’m working on it.

This weekend I started going through the manuscript slowly in order to smooth out any rough spots and generally improve the writing. I’m through about 20 percent of the book so far. I know that may not sound like much, but it’s progress. I’m staying on track to complete the book in time for an October release.

Does that still seem like a long time to you?

Tell you what. That just means you can re-read The House in the Old Wood in September, and notice some of things you may have overlooked the first time around. Trust me, there’s a lot of stuff in there that might seem insignificant, but is worth remembering for Book 2 … and for Books 3, 4 and 5, for that matter.

I think the re-reading value makes it like getting two books for the price of one. Then of course, I would say that, wouldn’t I?

Tags: The House in the Old Wood

Karia, glancing back as she pushed through the brush, crashed into a clearing. She fell, her left shoulder slamming hard into the ground and almost knocking the wind out of her. She lay still for a moment.

Battling the feeling of fear tingling at the back of her neck, she lifted her head and listened. Hearing Narek crashing through the brush was no problem. She needed to figure out how close he was. When the rustling stopped, she knew.

“Oh, poor Karia,” he called out, taunting her. “Left your shoe wedged under this root, did you? It’s hard to run with just one shoe, isn’t it? You stay right where you are, and I’ll bring it to you!”

Now she heard only Continue reading →

Tags: The House in the Old Wood

When a game of hide-and-seek opens the door to a magically hidden house in the woods, Karia has to grow up quickly.

She’s just turned fifteen, and her people say that makes her a woman. But she still feels like a kid. She pictures herself as an unattractive stick. She plays games with the neighbor boys. And she doesn’t understand why she’s supposed to sew and cook instead of working in the fields. It’s a confusing and difficult time of life for her.

What’s in the magical house, and the truths it causes to come spilling out, make things worse. Far worse.

It all comes back to magic, the force that has ravaged her world, the force she has grown up despising. Now magic desires to consume and control her.

She will not allow that. She will fight back. She will end magic.

Now, if she only knew how …
Get your copy of The House in the Old Wood

Tags: The House in the Old Wood

Well, that was fast.

Yesterday, Amazon told me it would take five to seven days for the paperback edition of The House in the Old Wood to be available online.

They did it overnight.

Considering how many people told me, “I’m waiting for the paperback edition,” I am most definitely not complaining.

Get your paperback >>

Tags: The House in the Old Wood