February 2nd, 2016
In late April of 2015 I launched the Facebook group for my literary fantasy series, titled Gold & Steel. Since then, I’ve been talking to people across the island at Sci-Fi conventions in St. John’s and Corner Brook about Gold & Steel. There have been business cards and manuscripts handed out, questions about the series have been fielded and through it all there’s been steady growth on the Facebook group. All the while, more and more people have been curious about the release date for the first book and at last, I can finally say that we have it: April 1st, 2016 at the Sheraton Hotel in St. John’s, Newfoundland is where you’ll want to be to get your hands on a hardcover copy of As Fierce as Steel, the inaugural entry in the Gold & Steel series. I’m honoured to be able to present my book for the first time at Sci-Fi on the Rock 10, the biggest convention of its kind on the island that I so proudly call home.
I endeavored to keep as much of the process here in Newfoundland as I could and a big part of that was to find a local artist to help me bring my characters to life visually. The artist I chose is a greatly talented young woman who I met at last year’s Sci-Fi on the Rock and is also appearing this year: Christina Hamlyn. The work she has done in illustrating the character of Orangecloak (as you can see above) is nothing short of awe-inspiring. I’m incredibly excited to have her working on that and future Gold & Steel artwork. I’m sure many SFOTR fans are already familiar with the work of my wonderful friend and even if you don’t know her name, if you have been about St. John’s and Mount Pearl you have definitely seen her art adorning several of the traffic boxes around the two cities. For more of her work, you can follow her Facebook page or check out her Tumblr page and her Website, which is under construction.
It goes without saying that I would be nowhere on this endeavour without my family and friends. Thank you all for your kindness, support, patience and understanding. To my mother goes a great deal of thanks, she’s been beyond patient and my biggest fan. Anyone who knows her will agree that she’s one of a kind in the best kind of way.
For some of my friends, I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve neglected to keep in touch at times and it means a great deal that you haven’t given up on me.
Writing has been something I have loved to do in my spare time, but this is the first time I earnestly tried to produce something I thought others might want to read. My dear friend Stacey helped me find the confidence within to really bring this project to life. She’s been my closest confidant, a voice of reason and my second set of eyes.
Lastly, for those who may still not know what Gold & Steel and As Fierce as Steel are all about, why not have a look at the official synopsis?
As Fierce as Steel is the inaugural entry into the world of Gold & Steel, a new fantasy series from Canadian author, Christopher Walsh. It is centred around the lives of two women, those of the Lady Orangecloak and Lady Marigold Tullivan. One is the leader of a brave group of young men and women in open rebellion of their government. The other was born into that patriarchal world and destined for greatness, as a trophy wife, a fate she will do anything to alter.
In As Fierce as Steel you will be introduced to those characters and that of other men and women of the nation of Illiastra and beyond, who all have aims on seeing a new day dawn in their country. Look into a world on the cusp of its own industrial era, filled with robust characters of all walks of life as they navigate adventures and drama on their road to a new Illiastra.
Also, if you missed the announcement, there will be a prequel short story set a season prior to the start of As Fierce as Steel that is going to be released exclusively in the Sci-Fi From the Rock compendium published by Engen Books, which, as the name implies, will also be on sale at SFOTR 10.
Last but not least I would like to extend thanks to the fine folks at Ingram Spark, you’ve helped in making my goal of being a published author into a reality.
Remember, your first chance to have a read and get a signed copy will be April 1st to the 3rd, 2016 at Sci-Fi on the Rock 10 at the Sheraton Hotel in St. John’s. After that it will be available both in print and digital formats in both bookstores and online. Stay tuned in the coming weeks as I announce where you can find As Fierce as Steel after its debut.
I hope to see many familiar and new faces alike at Sci-Fi on the Rock 10. I can’t wait to share my story with you all.
Christopher Walsh,
Author, Gold & Steel
The Official Gold & Steel Site 