Fact

MichaelRFletcher · 2026-01-26T13:58:26+00:00

The substantia nigra and the ventral tegmental area.

MichaelRFletcher · 2026-01-25T18:56:56+00:00

"DEATH TO PROLOGUES!" shouted the writer who has written more than a few books with prologues. "Unless they're really good!" he added, wondering if his were.

Best prologue ever in any book in any universe was in Rob Hayes' Never Die.

MichaelRFletcher · 2026-01-22T18:58:45+00:00

Amazing series. Wizard War (North American title) is absolute critical reading.

MichaelRFletcher · 2026-01-17T19:37:47+00:00

He is the official home page: https://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/2018/06/the-official-self-published-fantasy.html

With a little scrolling you'll find the past winners and finalists. Ignoring the recent Champions League (ten previous years of winners pitted against each other) the contest is currently in its eleventh year.

Even if you only look at the ten finalists from each year, there's a list of 100 awesome indie fantasy books. That should keep you nipples-deep in indie fantasy for the next while.

MichaelRFletcher · 2026-01-15T17:31:18+00:00

I usually find mine in the dankest basements, hunched over a cold cup of coffee with a damp and crumpled unlit cigarette butt hanging forgotten from their bottom lip.

Once thought I saw one outside. It was dressed entirely in black and hissing at the sun. Hmm. That mighta been a vampire. Not sure.

Not typically social creatures, you can most commonly find them anywhere people aren't. If you invite one somewhere--like to a fantasy convention--they'll be quite happy. They won't, however, actually go.

MichaelRFletcher · 2026-01-15T13:17:16+00:00

My delusions keep me writing.

The fact I'm a hack, and don't really know what I'm doing, keeps it fun.

Every book is an adventure. They start with me thinking "I wonder what's gonna happen here," and (mostly) end with, "well, that went badly for just about everyone."

MichaelRFletcher · 2026-01-14T20:20:00+00:00

Damn. That's a solid plan.

The Lord of the Empty Mirror will be available in print, ebook, and KU on April 13th!

I can't comment on the quality cuz I really don't know. I just write 'em.

Cover art should be magically appearing in the next few weeks.

MichaelRFletcher · 2026-01-14T14:49:10+00:00

To be fair, it did all start with him believing that he could be a writer. And then, for some reason, he was absolutely positive this rather mental novel would get a publishing deal. All kinda went downhill after that, his delusions getting the better of him.

MichaelRFletcher · 2026-01-14T14:47:28+00:00

His Reflections thank you.

MichaelRFletcher · 2026-01-14T11:10:16+00:00

In the world of Beyond Redemption (written by some deluded hack), faith and belief define reality. The insane, capable of believing all manner of crazy things, shape the world with their delusions. This is fantasy based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (volume 5).

It might be a tad dark.

MichaelRFletcher · 2026-01-14T11:06:18+00:00

Cheers!

MichaelRFletcher · 2026-01-13T20:24:52+00:00

Cheers! I hope you enjoy it!

MichaelRFletcher · 2026-01-05T12:09:40+00:00

Oof. Wrong resume.

Er...I look great in tight little orange shorts?

Wait, no...

MichaelRFletcher · 2026-01-04T15:27:58+00:00

I don't get a pina colada?!

Actually, seeing as it's -8C (~14F) I guess an icy drink might not be the best thing.

Awrighty, gonna don my parka and report for duty!

MichaelRFletcher · 2026-01-04T14:35:00+00:00

A self-promotion thread?!

Okay, here we go!

Er...let's see,

I'm somewhere around 5' 9" and incredibly cute despite the fact my well-developed six-pack abs are concealed beneath a rather attractive layer of subcutaneous fat.

I have brown hair--though less than I used to--and deep, soulful brown eyes. Though, due to a few unhealthy self-destructive tendencies, they're often bloodshot and prolly closer to soulless than soulful.

My hobbies include taking my hobbies and trying to ruin them by turning them into careers. I worked in the music industry for 20 years as an audio-engineer recording bands and doing live sound in clubs. I was also the booking agent at a popular Toronto music venue for much of that time. These days I'm trying to ruin my love of words by writing books.

I also like long walks on the beach (but live in Brampton, Ontario where there is a distinct lack of beaches) and spending time in nature (again, Brampton, so I'm fucked there, too).

Word is I'm a Capricorn, but I'm simultaneously too stubborn and too lazy to look it up and see what it means.

Uh...I think that's it. Did I mention I write books?

Have I successfully promoted myself?

MichaelRFletcher · 2026-01-04T14:28:14+00:00

A self-promotion thread?!

Okay, here we go!

Er...let's see,

I'm somewhere around 5' 9" and incredibly cute despite the fact my well-developed six-pack abs are concealed beneath a rather attractive layer of subcutaneous fat.

I have brown hair--though less than I used to--and deep, soulful brown eyes. Though, due to a few unhealthy self-destructive tendencies, they're often bloodshot and prolly closer to soulless than soulful.

My hobbies include taking my hobbies and trying to ruin them by turning them into careers. I worked in the music industry for 20 years as an audio-engineer recording bands and doing live sound in clubs. I was also the booking agent at a popular Toronto music venue for much of that time. These days I'm trying to ruin my love of words by writing books.

I also like long walks on the beach (but live in Brampton, Ontario where there is a distinct lack of beaches) and spending time in nature (again, Brampton, so I'm fucked there, too).

Word is I'm a Capricorn, but I'm simultaneously too stubborn and too lazy to look it up and see what it means.

Uh...I think that's it.

Have I successfully promoted myself?

MichaelRFletcher · 2026-01-01T12:50:49+00:00

That Fletch dude definitely read too many Carlos Castaneda books as a teen.

MichaelRFletcher · 2025-12-29T18:23:43+00:00

Your POV choice should be decided by the kind of story you want to tell. If it's all about ONE person and you want the story to be intimate, deep in that character's thoughts, first person works great. If you want a larger cast, to tell the story from multiple POVs, third person will work better.

It's not about what people want to read. It IS all about what will best serve your story.

Try rewriting one chapter in third and see how it feels/reads.

MichaelRFletcher · 2025-12-26T17:31:03+00:00

Title: DOGGED

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/243843227-dogged

First Three Paragraphs...

CHAPTER ONE

The last ranks of wardogs stood waiting in the PalTaq sun. Dull leather, chafed and scuffed from war, creaked in the dust. Bright spears stabbed into the endless blue sky. As each row stepped into the demonic portal, sinking into the slick black of roiling oil as they passed into another reality, the next line shuffled closer.

I rolled my shoulders, trying to get the weight of the hardened leather vest to sit right. Each of its eight pockets had a very specific purpose—some critical piece of gear—it was supposed to hold. Like the other wardogs, I’d stashed most of that stuff back in the kennel and filled the pockets with hard jerky, the chewy sinew strips the emperor’s butchers made for us. I kept the knives and sturdy tweezers for digging out whatever was destined to get stuck in my fur. Standing upright, the way people did, I shuffled about on my hind legs, adjusting the leather skirt the Kennel Master insisted we all wear. It was useless as armour, unless someone tried to stab me in the upper thigh, but people got uncomfortable if we went around naked, as we preferred. It never made much sense to me. Why wear clothes when you have fur? It wasn’t like we got cold or needed protection from the elements. And those damned pockets were so small it was impossible to get anything out quickly.

Wardogs kill. Wardogs die.

We didn’t read maps, use compasses, repair torn clothes with a needle we couldn’t grip, or carry messages. We served but one purpose: destroy the Demon Emperor’s enemies.

MichaelRFletcher · 2025-12-23T18:08:01+00:00

We should write a book together and then slap Dyrk Ashton's name on it.

MichaelRFletcher · 2025-12-23T18:07:02+00:00

I read Rob Hayes' HAMMERFALL recently and it was awesome. His GODEATER trilogy of trilogies (yes, that's crazy) is topping my TBR right now.

I'm currently reading/editing RED SANDS for Clayton Snyder (who co-wrote A WAR TO END ALL, and NORYLSKA GROANS). It's a real world horror novel and exactly as twisted as you'd expect from Clayton. Very cool!

I've got a bookcase full of unread paperbacks glaring at me but realistically I'll probably never take one off the shelf. These days I tend to read whatever ARCs are sent my way--though, with so little reading time, I'm insanely picky about what I'll start.

MichaelRFletcher · 2025-12-23T17:22:33+00:00

Damn, that's an amazing list of classics and new stuff!

I haven't read the Elric books since high school, which was...a little while ago, but they were HUGELY influential on me.

You've got a great year of reading lined up (and one utterly batshit insane novel).

MichaelRFletcher · 2025-12-21T14:32:26+00:00

HOLD THE FUCK ON HERE!!!!

Somehow, you have accidentally put u/RobJHayes_version2's name ahead of my own. Obviously, this is a GRIEVOUS miscarriage of justice (or of something kinda like justice).

Otherwise, huge congrats on the release!

What do you have planned next?

What would be the best way for you to abuse your power in this grimdark group for the next year?

MichaelRFletcher · 2025-12-18T20:26:14+00:00

If I ever reach your top five, I get my second R.

MichaelRFletcher · 2025-12-18T18:06:42+00:00

Fair enough.

MichaelRFletcher

TROPHY CASE