Sean Oswald

Exploration- Chapter 45

This will be the last one for the weekend. My wife and daughters will be home in a few minutes and I'll be prioritizing family time tomorrow.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Chapter 45- Flame and Hammer

I stood before the forge with twelve thousand pounds of iron stacked behind me and felt a quiet sense of rightness settle in. The heat rolled outward in waves, bright enough to wash the shadows from the far walls, but it barely registered against my skin. Spot had already ...

Exploration- Chapter 44

I'm gonna try to do one more chapter today. I'd hoped for 4 chapters today, but just not gonna happen. The creative well has to be refilled and I need to watch some football.

Wife and daughters will be back late tonight, so tomorrow will be a completely off day.

Chapters will resume on Monday.

Chapter 44- Delivery

Despite the absence of light, I felt warm and surrounded. I knew that my soul was communing with Urg’s as the spell was evolving.

“Image is ...

Exploration- Chapter 43

Sorry I didn't get this done last night. It sorta went in an direction I hadn't been expecting but which felt so right.

Chapter 43- A Most Welcome Friend

I managed to sleep for several hours, which was odd given my excitement, but dad has always said the most useful skill he’d learned in the Corps was the ability to sleep anywhere at anytime on anything. Grab your sleep when you could. As woke up that thought struck me followed by another realization. By now, I’d seen more ...

Exploration- Chapter 42

Well as often happens, this chapter got a bit longer than expected, but I decided not to split it.
Things are heating up and its about time to start shaping some metal.

About 8300 words for the day. I'm still thinking that I'll do another chapter, but gonna take a break for a bit so probably won't be till late.

Chapter 42- Design Phase

I leaned over the drafting table and started sketching, charcoal moving in confident strokes as the shape of the golem took form. Tw...

Exploration- Chapter 41

After writing so much of Tad's crafting style over the past year, I feel like I haven't gotten to write Silas crafting in forever. Not really since he made his armor. There's been some little stuff, but no real process.

That's about to change.

Chapter 41- Finishing Up

Fara didn’t kneel in front of Tad and no one acted surprised by that. Tad certainly didn’t ask her to, not that he’d asked any of the others. Like me, Tad seemed uncomfortable with signs of submissio...

Exploration- Chapter 40

This one grew so I split it. The next chapter is 3/4ths done, but I'm about to hop on a planning call with Aaron Renfroe about Apocalypse Breaker 4. Then I have to pick up my grandkids from school (since the wife is out of town), so I probably won't get Chapter 41 to you for another 3 hours.

Chapter 40- Learning More

Crynane stepped forward without hesitation. The dark elf didn’t glance at anyone else or seek reassurance, and she didn’t ask what the process would cost her. ...

Exploration- Chapter 39

I forgot about the CFP playoff game tonight which distracted me some, but still just shy of 7k which isn't too bad for a slow production day where I rested my eyes.

If I can keep these habits, 2026 is going to be my most productive year. More stories and more chapters coming your way.

Thanks for understanding when I need to ease up on a given day and when other aspects of life get in my way.

Chapter 39- Liquid Magic

Coming out of this dungeon was so much easier....

Exploration- Interlude 3

Have to say that the creative tank is feeling a bit low today. I wish I had an explanation for days like this.

I'll still get one more chapter done, but I need to step away a bit and write later.

Interlude 3- Drawing Closer

Allana’s breath felt like it left her as she looked down into the bowl of water in front of her. Her mother’s face glared back at her.

“What do you mean you aren’t looking for him any longer?”

“At least not until it’s safe. ...

Exploration- Chapter 38

So as I was writing this the loot ended up taking up too much time, so I've decided to move the final dungeon encounter further down the road. Next up will be an interlude.

Chapter 38- Strings Attached

We hovered there, breathing hard, surrounded by ruin that was already being absorbed back into the dungeon floor. My heart pounded, adrenaline singing through my veins, and I could feel the dungeon recalibrating again, already preparing whatever came next.

The loot box made...

For those who want audio- Magic Eater 3 is live now on Audible.

https://www.audible.com/pd/Settle-Audiobook/B0GFFDLYFT

Exploration- Chapter 37

Sorry this took far too long. I just really got into this fight. I ended up cutting off the final challenge and that will have to be Chapter 38. This one deserved it's own chapter and even then it was almost 2 chapters now.

I meant for the dungeon run to be only 3 chapters, but it'll have to be 4. I'll finish 38 tomorrow and then we'll be on to some other things.

On a negative note, I pushed my eyes pretty hard this morning. I'm probably gonna rest them in the morning and not ...

Exploration- Chapter 36

Sorry for the delay. I had been promising my son that we could watch the greatest Christmas move of all time, but we hadn't managed to do it over the holidays and its hard to watch it when his 10 year old sister is home. So we did watch it tonight and it never disappoints. The details that went into that movie always impress me.

Jake Peralta would be proud.

Anyway- Chapter 36 broke 4000 words, so I split it. I hope to have Chapter 37 to you within 30-40 minutes after I go thr...

Exploration- Chapter 35

Chapter 35- Level Appropriate

The spiral staircase led us down in loops past four doors. Each wooden door was marked with a simple number in metal. Although of course appearances could be deceptive in the dungeon. These door could probably withstand most any attack thrown at them, short of a god getting involved.

When we reached the 5th door, Samvek waited and glanced back making sure we were all ready. After we each nodded in response, he opened the door. Immediately all six of...

Exploration- Chapter 34

Chapter 34- Step Two

As much as I wanted to get moving a bit of discussion was necessary. The first thing that I did though was push out with my senses as far as I could. I didn’t extend my aura because that might be detected but I did see if I could hear, feel the vibrations in the air, or otherwise sense any oncoming threats.

Selena opened her eyes and said, “I just used my reverse scrying spell. If anyone is magically searching for us or has locked in on us, then they hav...

Exploration- Chapter 33

Chapter 33- Primordial Core

I found myself floating in what appeared to be clouds. There was light everywhere, but no source and shadows took up just as much space. I definitely wasn’t Unmoored in Time because I knew what that felt like by now. For a fraction of a moment, I looked around for pearly gates, or flaming pits, but then snorted in derision at myself. After all I’d seen, I knew one thing for sure. No one could know if there was an afterlife for humans. It was something y...

Exploration- Chapter 32

Okay, I was at the gym and some inspiration for a slight shift in direction hit me. I came home, finished this chapter. Now, I need a shower, cause I reek, but I'll get one more chapter done tonight. I'm feeling energized.

Chapter 32- Step One

After rejoining Tad and the others, Samvek teleported all us and we reappeared right outside the warehouse with a soft displacement of air, the smell hitting me first. Old stone, damp wood, iron filings, and the copper tang drifting in fr...

I don't point out how great my editor is often enough- beautiful paperback cover he made.

Thanks Josh.

Exploration- Chapter 31

Still planning on 2 more chapters today.

Chapter 31- In for a Penny…

With that the three of us went up to the room that Selena and I shared. The conversation had to start with an explanation about what training Samvek and I had done. I gave her more details than I had with the entire group and she asked insightful questions.

“Samvek has my approval to continue helping with your training. He clearly has a knack for it, but I don’t want you to forget that you can lean...

Apparently, I'm hosting a panel at UI-Con

Nothing like last minute notice...

UI Con is held in Champaign, IL on Friday Jan 30th and Saturday the 31st at the end of this month.

If anyone is local and wants to stop by, I'd be happy to hang out, sign books or whatever.

AI Concept Art for Revised WttM 10 cover

If Luciano can fit it in and get it done in time, then I'll have him make a cover using this as the concept art. This is AI- which for the record- I'm neither a huge fan of nor a witch hunter of. I use human artists but believe that AI can be useful for creating concept art like this.

If he can then the current cover for book 10 will become the cover for book 11.

Thoughts?

Exploration- Chapter 30

I'm sorry. As the poll indicated, I needed to think through this somewhat. The poll results were fairly conclusive. So I'm going to tell this story as it unfolds, and worry about how I have to make it work for Magic Eater 5 after this.

Chapter 30- Decisions to Make

When we teleported we went straight to Samvek’s room. From there it was a simple matter to reach out to Selena via group chat. “Where are you at?”

There was a tension in her voice as she said, 2026-01-06 16:46:06 +0000 UTC View Post

This book is getting away from me...

Books are living breathing things, at least for me. The plot has some landmarks that it has to hit, and I know where the overall story needs to end up, but how it gets there can take many different shapes.

The problem being that sometimes as a panster, I don't realize that the trajectory has shifted enough that it's not going to end up where I thought it was. I usually don't stress about that too much unless it's the last book of a series in which case I stress a lot.

So this ...

Exploration- Chapter 29

Chapter 2 of 3 today.

Chapter 29- Spatial Disruption

Lightning answered my decision before thought finished forming. I lifted my hand and sent a crackling bolt straight into the clustered Lawkeepers who were trying to reform behind the tents. The strike didn’t arc politely or dissipate on the first body. It tore through them in a jagged path, jumping armor to armor, flesh to flesh, leaving smoking corpses where disciplined soldiers had stood seconds before. The smell of scorc...

Exploration- Chapter 28

Off to a bit of a slower start this morning. Release days always distract me, although nothing like the anxiety that I used to feel. That and my wife and daughter got back yesterday. They are flying out in about 5 hours for the rest of the week in Colorado.

So I may not get as much as much done today as I'd like, but still can expect a couple more chapters. Then it's off the races the rest of the week while they're gone.

Chapter 28- Out of Time

When Samvek’s ey...

Court (Magic Eater 4) is out today

Happy to give free copies for patrons and asking for quick reviews just because of how Amazon is. Thanks.

You should know the drill by now- I just need an email to have Amazon send it to. You have to be able to get your e-book from Amazon.com

Let me know if you want one. I can use your e-mail from Patreon unless you have a different one you want me to have it sent to.

Exploration- Interlude 2

I'm sorry all of these pieces are necessary and I think now really is the best place. This interlude ended up being as long as 3 chapters. I'm sitting at 9500 words right now for the day.

I'm definitely going to start the next chapter, and it's still fairly early so hopefully I finish it.

I am however also experimenting and trying to be mindful about how much I can write one day without being unable to write or feeling drained the next day.

I guess we learn about this ...

Exploration- Chapter 27

This ended up being a longer chapter. But here it is. Sorry, I overslept a bit this morning because on of the doggos got into something and I was up repeatedly with them vomiting or crapping on the floor.

I love my wife and daughter, but dang their dogs are annoying.

I still intend to get 4 chapters or 10k words today which ever comes sooner.

Chapter 27- Flesh Builder

The vitae began to fuse with his body and the life within his cells exploded before my eyes. He...

Exploration- Chapter 26

Dinner break then I'm going to write more. I don't know if I'll finish chapter 27 today, but if not early tomorrow.

Chapter 26- Soul Tinker

I didn’t respond for a moment and simply stared at him. I trusted Samvek a lot, but in some ways this was the biggest ask he could come up with. “And what if I’m not comfortable with that?”

“Were you comfortable when you became a Forerunner? Were you comfortable when you were forced to make life and death decisions on alien ...

Exploration- Chapter 25

3 chapters so far, still at least 1 more today- although, I'm planning on 2 more. If I can't write lots when the wife and youngest are out of town then I don't know when I'll be able to.

I did spoil myself and my son but going to the better gym. Normally we go to one that's 8 minutes away, this one is 30 minutes away. But man it's 5 times the size of the one in our town.

Anyway, more to come.

Chapter 25- PSI?

I don’t know if it was more disorienting to no long...

Exploration- Chapter 24

Freaking amazing what I can do when I'm not being constantly distracted. Sorry if that sounded arrogant or something- that wasn't how I meant it. I just am marveling at how much easier it is to write 2 chapters in 3 hours than it is when my wife and or kids are constantly moving around me- even if they aren't asking me anything.

Here's hoping that all 8 days of writing retreat time go like this.

Now, I'm gonna hit the gym and then I'll be right back at it.

Chapter 24- ...

2026-01-02 16:57:08 +0000 UTC View Post