Aeryn’s Archives – Act of War: Flashpoint
It’s probably about time I talk about the novels I’ve written for Privateer Press in a more detail. I mean, I’m always telling you people I have written novels, so I guess it’s time to put my cards on the table. Today, I’m going to talk a bit about the first novel I wrote for Privateer after I left the company and began working with them in a freelance capacity. It’s the first in a trilogy called Acts of War, and it’s titled Flashpoint. Here’s the snazzy cover.
So, what’s the book about? Well. here’s the back cover text.
An Untrustworthy Ally Is More Dangerous Than a Known Enemy
Lord General Coleman Stryker is one of the greatest heroes of the Iron Kingdoms. As a warcaster, Stryker leads the armies of Cygnar and commands the power of the mighty steam-powered automatons known as warjacks.
Chosen by his king to liberate the conquered lands of Llael from Cygnar’s long-standing enemy, the Empire of Khador, Stryker finds himself forced to work with one of his bitter enemies—the exiled mercenary Asheth Magnus, a man to whom Cygnar’s king owes his life. Unchecked, Magnus could easily betray Stryker, undermine the mission, or even bring Cygnar to its knees. But to claim victory for his king, Stryker will have to find a way to put his faith in a man he can’t trust.
As the war against Khador and its own fierce commanders looms, Stryker’s success or failure will become the flashpoint that determines the fate of the Iron Kingdoms.
That’s a whole bunch of names and places and stuff, huh? Well, the reason for that is this is a media tie-in novel, which, if you’re unfamiliar, is just a novel that’s based on an IP where fiction is not its primary expression. Often times, that primary expressions is a video game. a movie, a TV show, a comic book, or, in this case, a tabletop miniature game. Being a media tie-in book, all the major characters mentioned in the sell text are not my creations, they are existing characters that are represented as playable figures in the game of WARMACHINE. Sure, I put my own spin on their personalities, and the book is written in my style and voice, but, at the end of the day, this book belongs to Privateer Press, not to me. I am absolutely fine with that, by the way. It’s the name of the game in media tie-in, and I was paid well, and I got to write two more books. I still write for Privateer Press, though I’m more focused on their new sci-fi setting WARCASTER, and I’m having a blast with that. That said, I wouldn’t mind returning to the steam-powered fantasy world of the Iron Kingdoms one of these days. 🙂
Questions about writing media tie-in, especially for tabletop game companies? Feel free to ask me in the comments, and I’ll try to impart what little knowledge I possess. 🙂
Effectively Wild – A Baseball Horror Story
Night Walk & Other Dark Paths
Acts of War: Flashpoint
Acts of War: Aftershock
Acts of War: Stormbreak
Aeryn Rudel's Rejectomancy 