Tag: dark fantasy

Revisions – An Inside Look

I have made it known for a while now I’m working on revising all my books and issuing new editions. Some are wondering what kind of revisions I’m working on. I’ve been asked if I’m changing the stories a few times, so I thought it might be insightful to share a little of what I’m working on.

First and foremost, I want to be clear I’m making no major changes to any of the books. The goal of the revisions is simply to polish things up. So if you already have a copy, there’s no need to get the new edition (unless you want to collect ones with the new covers!).

Right now, I’m working on finishing up The Hunter’s Apprentice for its upcoming release on February 19th. Here’s a look at one paragraph from the book that’s a good example of the changes being made. First, the text from the second edition:

Gareth and Miles both waited for further explanation, which was not forthcoming. Finally, Nikolai realized that they were waiting for him to say more. “The ground beneath the cliffs is rich in salt from the sea. The entire city, actually, sits atop salted soil. The bodies buried by the first settlers here were probably set to rest directly in the soil, and the salt would have preserved their flesh and kept them from rotting away. Some centuries old cemetery, actually, is the ideal place to find subjects for such experimentation.” At this, Nikolai almost sounded excited by the prospect.

And now, the revised text for the upcoming third edition:

Gareth and Miles both waited for further explanation, which was not forthcoming. Finally, Nikolai seemed to realize they were waiting for him to say more. “The ground beneath the cliffs is rich in salt from the sea. In fact, the entire city sits atop salted soil. The bodies buried by the first settlers here were set to rest directly in the soil, which has preserved their flesh and kept them from rotting away. Some centuries-old cemetery is the ideal place to find subjects for such experimentation.” Nikolai seemed excited by the prospect.

This paragraph has more changes than most, but that’s why I chose it as an example. I may go several pages with no changes, or tweak a comma here and there, or run across a paragraph like this that needs some hammering.

As you can see though, there’s no changes in the substance. My focus is polishing things up.

I hope this helps clarify things for anybody who was wondering, and might be insightful even if you weren’t! I’d like to say this is finally the last time I’ll be going through these, but who knows what the future might bring. But I have to say, I’m very pleased with the progress being made right now!

Available now!

Coming February 19th!

Seahaven is Available Today!

The third edition of Seahaven, book one of The Ravencrest Chronicles, is available today. With a fresh round of editing, new formatting, and all-new cover art and design, this is the ultimate edition of the highly-popular, fan-favorite first outing of Gareth Vann, master thief of Seahaven!

Gareth Vann is an renowned thief in the city of Seahaven. The rugged scoundrel is mostly concerned with coin and drink, but has an altruistic streak he tries to hide. He never intended to be a hero, but when Gareth becomes the target of a pair of vampires, he finds himself trapped in the middle of a conspiracy that reaches all the way to Castle Ravencrest itself. To protect those he cares most about, Gareth must reluctantly hunt the creatures of the night the only way he knows how: From the shadows.

Get it now from your favorite bookseller!

Paperback and eBook available at Amazon.

Find the eBook at other retailers.

Parting the Veil is Here!

August 9, 2019

Parting the Veil releases today from Kyanite Publishing. It is available in eBook and Paperback formats. You can buy it directly from Kyanite Publishing, or find it at major online retailers.

Length: Novel, approx 250 pages
Genres: Horror, Cosmic Horror, Alternative History, Archaeological Adventure

Order now from Kyanite Publishing!

Also available from
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo.

Find it on Goodreads.

American socialite Richard Jericho is a world-renowned treasure hunter.  British professor of archaeology Wilkins Chapman is his stoic compatriot. Together, the two have uncovered antiquities from South America, Africa, and Southeast Asia. On their most recent trip to the jungles of Peru they discover something more than they expected. As the fabric of reality comes apart, the two must journey across the globe chasing clues. As one answer leads to more questions, they begin to piece together a puzzle older than primal memory itself. 

And the more they part the veil, the more of what lies beyond the veil spills into our reality.

Praise for Parting the Veil

“Finished this gem in 5 hours…I just couldn’t put it down. The rich history and landscapes bring the imagery right to you and the descriptive horror had me reeling. Can’t wait for more of this story!”
5 Stars from Michael Nadeau on Goodreads

A quick trip down the gothic rabbit hole. This story includes aspects of Lovecraft, Verne and the Indiana Jones series, yet the author has a voice that is distinctly his own. Bass is excellent at combining craft elements we usually expect in literary fiction (strong character development,interiority, and carful attention to setting) while not taking away from the action (or fun!)
Full disclosure: I was lent a digital ARC to review, but have an order in for my print copy – it’s that good.
5 Stars from Professor Cognome on Goodreads

There are very few writers today who can craft a world the way B.K. Bass can. It’s rich, it’s layered, and it’s enticing. The characters are real, the story is gripping, and you are a bit sad when you reach the last page. As much as I want to gush about my favorite this or that, even the slightest detail would lead to spoilers.
Slow hand clap for Parting the Veil. 
5 Stars from J.D. Sanderson on Goodreads

An Enthralling and Epic Adventure of Twists, Turns & Mystery! 
I was given an Advanced Reader Copy of “Parting the Veil” in exchange for an honest review. 
“Parting the Veil” is hands down one the best books I have read in a long time! I am so looking forward to the continuation of this epic adventure in Book II of this “Beyond the Veil” series and see what else this author will bring us in the future! Bass’s writing is sublime, rich, seamless, and not a word is wasted! 
This story is a snappy, yet rich, action-packed journey in the midst of the turmoil of the late 1930’s & is full of mystery and adventure. I found myself effortlessly enthralled by Bass’s “Parting the Veil” from the first sentence to the last, eagerly turning each page. This is not a book to miss if you enjoy fiction, adventure, history, mystery in any combination. 
BK Bass is most definitely an author to watch! He is a rising star! 
5 Stars from Jill Squire on Goodreads

What’s Next for B.K. Bass?

As always, there’s a lot of exciting things going on in the B.K. Laboratory. I wanted to share a little of what is planned for the rest of the year and beyond, and some news about a change in direction for me as an author.

Before we get into what’s coming next, I think it would be best to take a quick look at what has come before. Last year I was plugging away at what should be a fairly long science fiction novel. I decided one weekend to take a break to avoid burnout, and wrote a dark fantasy novella.

Then I wrote another, and another, and an anthology, and a cyberpunk novella, and a heroic fantasy novella…. In the meantime, I had also started up a company and began a career as a publisher, not to mention launching my own literary magazine with the help of my business partners.

So, that weekend off turned into a year of crazy levels of productivity, but alas my novel was still simmering on the back-burner. I think this was the best thing for it, since I’ve learned lot about writing and editing over the course of the last year.

Which bring us to now. After receiving reviews of my various novellas, there’s been one common trend:

My biggest critique? I wanted more. 

I’m on the edge of my seat waiting for part 2.

I wish the next book was out already.

I look forward to Book 2 of the trilogy!

My only complaint is born merely of anticipation. I want more!

As much as I love being able to tell all these different stories, it is important to me that my readers be happy too! In the interest of that, I’ve rearranged my commitment to the publishing company to free up more writing time, and will be shifting my focus away from novellas and to full-length novels.

This first brings us back to the science fiction novel on the back burner: What Once Was Home. I’ll be committing most of April to finishing this manuscript and hope to have the revised draft to my editor by mid-May.

Find out more about What Once was Home here!

The other big change coming from this is that the project I was currently focused on – Parting the Veil – is going to be delayed. It was coming out this summer, but it will now have a release in the fall. This is not only because of the time being spent on What Once Was Home, but also because I’ll be making Parting the Veil a novel instead of a novella! The outline for the story already has a lot going on, and as a novella it was going to have to be a very streamlined plot that didn’t delve too deeply into certain things. The potential for a novel-length story is definitely there, so I’m going to make that happen.

Find out more about Parting the Veil here!

Now, there were quotes up there from readers anticipating the next book in a series or trilogy. Not to worry! Between these other projects, and contiguous with them, I’ll still be working on my novellas. The focus will be on delivering highly anticipated sequels, and I will not be starting any new series until these are out there. Among these projects are Companions of the Stone Road, the sequel to Warriors of Understone; and Night Life, the sequel to Night Shift.

All of these projects and more should be completed before the end of this year, and I’m looking forward to many more exciting things in 2020!

The Ravencrest Chronicles Omnibus and Revised Editions

Today is a landmark moment for myself, as the very first works I published as an independent author are being re-released. Each of The Ravencrest Chronicles books are being presented by Kyanite Publishing in an all-new revised edition in eBook format and collected in an omnibus available as eBook, paperback, or premium hardcover special edition.

The Ravencrest Chronicles books by B K Bass

This is truly a revised edition, as the books underwent more than a simple proofreader’s edit before being re-released. I reworked significant portions of the prose – especially in Seahaven – to apply advances in my own writing skills with the purpose of bringing the city of Seahaven even more to life. The books also went through an intensive copy-editing process by the editors at Kyanite Publishing. The end result is a version of these books that is more polished and that more clearly represents the original vision of The Ravencrest Chronicles.

Without further ado, I proudly present The Ravencrest Chronicles, Wave One!

The Ravencrest Chronicles: Omnibus One

The Ravencrest Chronicles Omnibus One by B K Bass
The Ravencrest Chronicles Omnibus One Premium Hardcover Edition by B K Bass

In the city of Seahaven, dark threats loom around every corner. In such a desperate place, it falls upon the shoulders of thieves, pirates, scoundrels, and even orphans to fight to protect the people from things lurking in the shadows.

The Ravencrest Chronicles Omnibus One includes the first four books of the series: Seahaven, The Hunter’s Apprentice, The Giant and the Fishes, and Tales From the Lusty Mermaid.

Within these three novellas and a collection of short stories, flash fiction, and poetry, the world of The Ravencrest Chronicles comes to life with a level of gritty realism seldom seen in print.

Premium Hardcover edition available with alternate cover art, character profiles, world-building notes, an expanded introduction by the author, and a piece of original and exclusive short fiction!

Seahaven

Seahaven by B K Bass

Gareth Vann is an accomplished thief in the city of Seahaven. He is mostly concerned with coin and drink, but does have an altruistic streak. He never intended to be a hero, though, until an encounter with vampires, dreaded undead creatures of the night. Now, he finds himself trapped in the middle of a conspiracy that reaches all the way to the highest levels of nobility and must reluctantly hunt the creatures of the night the only way he knows how: from the shadows.

The Hunter’s Apprentice

The Hunters Apprentice by B K Bass

Miles is a young orphan growing up in Seahaven. The coastal city has always been his home, and the streets have always been where he laid his head. Now, he is learning the shadow craft from his mentor, Gareth. Life seems to be looking up for Miles until he hears news of grave danger in the city. Together, Miles and Gareth must uncover the secrets behind a most sinister plot. Miles discovers that there are deadlier things awaiting in the shadows than he could have imagined, and with Gareth’s help he must learn to hunt them down.

The Giant and the Fishes

The Giant and the Fishes by B K Bass

Fergus always dreamed of setting sail out on the sea, free of the confines of the city of Seahaven. He never thought he would actually get the chance until tragedy befalls his family. Suddenly, he is thrust into a world of violence, adventure, and coin! Fergus lives the life he always wanted as a pirate, but he is haunted by his past. As the shadows behind him grow ever darker, the challenges ahead muster like a furious storm on the sea. Will he be consumed by his own mind, or will he finally find the atonement for which he strives?

Tales From the Lusty Mermaid

Tales From the Lusty Mermaid by B K Bass

Pull up a seat and grab a full flagon of ale, because tonight is bound to be a night full of action, adventure, and romance! At The Lusty Mermaid, tall tales of all sorts are told every night. You’re in luck, because tonight is no exception. From a castle gala to a giant octopus, the city of Seahaven has all sorts of strange tales to tell.

Featuring an exclusive novelette: The Sparrow’s War.
Master thief Gareth Vann has trained an army of orphan children to act as his spies in Seahaven. When they learn of a foul plot targeting their own, they take up arms and fight the darkness from the shadows!

The Ravencrest Chronicles: Wave two

The Ravencrest Chronicles: Wave Two

The next wave of Ravencrest books are coming up in the second half of 2019. Unlike the episodic nature of the first wave – which focused on introducing key characters and the setting – the second wave will be a serialized epic told over the course of four novellas.

A mysterious cult has infiltrated every part of Seahaven, from the most respected nobility all the way down to the dockworker’s guild. Gareth leads the charge in unraveling this dark conspiracy, joined by friends old and new.

Keep an eye out for more information about Midnight Masques, Tapestry of Lies, Cult of the Shadow Queen, and Upon a Black Wing, all coming in 2019!

The Burning Sands: Cressus

Cressus is the southernmost city on the northern peninsula. Situated near the Cressian Oasis, there is a sufficient water supply to sustain the city. Surplus water is still imported from Shem, and then traded to the lands of Kosh in the south.

Cressus lies near the edge of The Great Sand Sea and is plagued by regular sand storms. Outlying villages near the city are also subject to raids from the nomadic orcs of The Burning land to the southeast, although they rarely venture so far north.

The city itself is walked and features mostly simple sandstone architecture. The wealthier district is dominated by large palaces with towers topped with brass minurats that shine in the sun. The wealthy traders of Cressus trade lumber, food and water from the north for precious metals and gems from the Emerald Coast beyond Koth.

The government of Cressus consists of a council of the wealthiest merchants in the city called the Circle of Gold. Each of the twelve merchant princes controls their own private army. There is no organized military if the city itself, and the council must work together to police and defend their interests. Corruption is rampant within the government, and quarrels between the merchant princes often lead to small civil conflicts.

Most of the common people live in a maze of small homes clustered around the outside of the city walls. Most of the poor barely survive, and while work inside the city would afford them a better life many cannot afford the tax simply to pass through the gates.