This is my site for information about the fantasy world known as the 
Lands of Hope. I have the usual bio and buy pages, also Maps and a free Compendium of lore, plus a cool notification feature if you want to see posts in your email box. Sign up for that and you get two quick Tales for free. Because no one should have to wait for a little Hope.
Continue reading Welcome to the Lands
This is probably the most sophisticated tale I’ve told to date.
No question, it’s the most overdue!
Mirkwood is the story told by Steve Hillard that spans the current day, earlier decades, and both the Alleged Real World and the Fourth Age of Middle Earth! I got to pull out all the stops setting the scene between two realms, shifting between foul sorcery and the more subtly sinister spells of the modern city.
And it’s a tale that features a female protagonist, strong and getting stronger. In fact, two of them, one in each world.
I was privileged to work on this project for Steve Hillard about a year ago, and my labors were wrapped up before midsummer. Because of the long-rumored advent of a new streaming series set in Middle Earth, he wanted to wait and “catch the wave”. Conditions can never be certain these days but all the rumors seem to agree on “soon”, so now is the time.
I hope you will enjoy this world-spanning epic tale.
As of February 15th 2021, my first release in the series of shorter tales by pulp-giant Clark Ashton Smith is now available at retail outlets.
The Double Shadow tells the grim and eerie tale of an ambitious acolyte to a great wizard, searching for secrets and unable to resist exploring forbidden lore when they find an incantation from impossible ancient times. I’m hoping fans of the erudite, elevated prose of this master storyteller will enjoy a quick bite of the horror and strangeness in his work.
The Double Shadow is the first of a half-dozen CAS tales I’ve targeted for recording, after obtaining the gracious permission of CASiana Literary Enterprises. I’ll be recording and releasing them throughout the spring and I hope you enjoy curling up in a corner for a quick dose of the weird.
Here are the retail locations where you can get the tale.
