J. C. Duncan
@jcduncanauthor.bsky.social
Author, engineer and bladesmith. Writing historical fantasy and fiction, author of 'A Song of Steel' https://getbook.at/a_song_of_Steel
Well, we'll see. If there isn't an 'official' event like a demonstration or re-enactment, there are a narrow range of times/places I can take a sharp (not fencing/sparring) sword without risking legal trouble.
But I do want to let you get your hands on it.
But I do want to let you get your hands on it.
July 19, 2025 at 10:28 AM
Well, we'll see. If there isn't an 'official' event like a demonstration or re-enactment, there are a narrow range of times/places I can take a sharp (not fencing/sparring) sword without risking legal trouble.
But I do want to let you get your hands on it.
But I do want to let you get your hands on it.
What is the world coming to!
July 19, 2025 at 10:24 AM
What is the world coming to!
Also, I could bring a show and tell item...
July 18, 2025 at 11:22 PM
Also, I could bring a show and tell item...
I'm very late to this, but I am attending world fantasycon, and I am interested in observing? maybe dipping my toes?
I was quite impacted by you disarming me in Glasgow like I was a child, not twice your size.
I was quite impacted by you disarming me in Glasgow like I was a child, not twice your size.
July 18, 2025 at 11:20 PM
I'm very late to this, but I am attending world fantasycon, and I am interested in observing? maybe dipping my toes?
I was quite impacted by you disarming me in Glasgow like I was a child, not twice your size.
I was quite impacted by you disarming me in Glasgow like I was a child, not twice your size.
I've had Viking dinners with a lot of my favorite histfic authors, been to Worldcon with a lot of my fantasy writer friends, had dozens of lovely emails from excited readers, and just really had a huge amount of joy from the craft.
I wouldn't stop for anything. Let's go 2025.
I wouldn't stop for anything. Let's go 2025.
a fireworks display with the words happy new year written on the bottom
ALT: a fireworks display with the words happy new year written on the bottom
media.tenor.com
December 31, 2024 at 6:34 PM
I've had Viking dinners with a lot of my favorite histfic authors, been to Worldcon with a lot of my fantasy writer friends, had dozens of lovely emails from excited readers, and just really had a huge amount of joy from the craft.
I wouldn't stop for anything. Let's go 2025.
I wouldn't stop for anything. Let's go 2025.
So 2024? Mixed year personally, pretty superb as an author.
No sane person becomes an author to get rich, and riches are the only thing authoring hasn't brought me in 2024.
I've had the joy of writing what I love, made amazing friends, had wonderful reviews, and paid some bills
No sane person becomes an author to get rich, and riches are the only thing authoring hasn't brought me in 2024.
I've had the joy of writing what I love, made amazing friends, had wonderful reviews, and paid some bills
December 31, 2024 at 6:34 PM
So 2024? Mixed year personally, pretty superb as an author.
No sane person becomes an author to get rich, and riches are the only thing authoring hasn't brought me in 2024.
I've had the joy of writing what I love, made amazing friends, had wonderful reviews, and paid some bills
No sane person becomes an author to get rich, and riches are the only thing authoring hasn't brought me in 2024.
I've had the joy of writing what I love, made amazing friends, had wonderful reviews, and paid some bills
And early reviews are biased towards fans, so that rating will slip a bit with time.
What it does do is help convince me to keep going, planning the next series. Imposter syndrome can be combated with such things.
Maybe one day I'll even get to make a living out of this.
What it does do is help convince me to keep going, planning the next series. Imposter syndrome can be combated with such things.
Maybe one day I'll even get to make a living out of this.
December 31, 2024 at 6:34 PM
And early reviews are biased towards fans, so that rating will slip a bit with time.
What it does do is help convince me to keep going, planning the next series. Imposter syndrome can be combated with such things.
Maybe one day I'll even get to make a living out of this.
What it does do is help convince me to keep going, planning the next series. Imposter syndrome can be combated with such things.
Maybe one day I'll even get to make a living out of this.
On goodreads 'The Last Viking' series averages 4.56, which as far as I can tell, is just about the highest for any historical fiction series out there. Of them all. Ever.
How do I deal with the cascade of wealth such critical success brings?
HA! that Isn't how writing works.😂
How do I deal with the cascade of wealth such critical success brings?
HA! that Isn't how writing works.😂
December 31, 2024 at 6:34 PM
On goodreads 'The Last Viking' series averages 4.56, which as far as I can tell, is just about the highest for any historical fiction series out there. Of them all. Ever.
How do I deal with the cascade of wealth such critical success brings?
HA! that Isn't how writing works.😂
How do I deal with the cascade of wealth such critical success brings?
HA! that Isn't how writing works.😂
Either on Goodreads or Amazon, the reviews have been superb. I get so much joy out of reading the written ones, and just out of the overall reception.
It's really a great platform to continue doing this stupid thing that I love.
It's really a great platform to continue doing this stupid thing that I love.
December 31, 2024 at 6:34 PM
Either on Goodreads or Amazon, the reviews have been superb. I get so much joy out of reading the written ones, and just out of the overall reception.
It's really a great platform to continue doing this stupid thing that I love.
It's really a great platform to continue doing this stupid thing that I love.
The old series trundles along nicely, and should get a boost early in 2025 now that I have actually managed to finish it (sorry everyone!).
But the new series has massively increased my readership, as well as being very well received.
From an artistic standpoint, I am thrilled.
But the new series has massively increased my readership, as well as being very well received.
From an artistic standpoint, I am thrilled.
December 31, 2024 at 6:34 PM
The old series trundles along nicely, and should get a boost early in 2025 now that I have actually managed to finish it (sorry everyone!).
But the new series has massively increased my readership, as well as being very well received.
From an artistic standpoint, I am thrilled.
But the new series has massively increased my readership, as well as being very well received.
From an artistic standpoint, I am thrilled.
So how did 2024 compare to 2023? Ehhh, good and bad.
Income wise, static. I brought in ~£25k last year and the same again this year. But, due to the much smaller royalties of trad, my sales were massively up. In 2024 around 30 thousand copies of my books were sold worldwide.
Income wise, static. I brought in ~£25k last year and the same again this year. But, due to the much smaller royalties of trad, my sales were massively up. In 2024 around 30 thousand copies of my books were sold worldwide.
December 31, 2024 at 6:34 PM
So how did 2024 compare to 2023? Ehhh, good and bad.
Income wise, static. I brought in ~£25k last year and the same again this year. But, due to the much smaller royalties of trad, my sales were massively up. In 2024 around 30 thousand copies of my books were sold worldwide.
Income wise, static. I brought in ~£25k last year and the same again this year. But, due to the much smaller royalties of trad, my sales were massively up. In 2024 around 30 thousand copies of my books were sold worldwide.
My self-pub series got only a novella, Steel in the Morning, which had arguably the best name and definately the best cover of the series so far, both slightly wasted on a novella.
Oh well! It's so pretty though.
I was, however, finishing the final book, which is out Feb 15th.
Oh well! It's so pretty though.
I was, however, finishing the final book, which is out Feb 15th.
December 31, 2024 at 6:34 PM
My self-pub series got only a novella, Steel in the Morning, which had arguably the best name and definately the best cover of the series so far, both slightly wasted on a novella.
Oh well! It's so pretty though.
I was, however, finishing the final book, which is out Feb 15th.
Oh well! It's so pretty though.
I was, however, finishing the final book, which is out Feb 15th.
So, year in writing? in 2024 I published 2 books (target was 3).
Raven Lord and Emperor's axe, both entires in my trad pub series 'The last Viking', about the life of Harald Hardrada.
This series has been my focus for much of the last year, and I've been very happy with it.
Raven Lord and Emperor's axe, both entires in my trad pub series 'The last Viking', about the life of Harald Hardrada.
This series has been my focus for much of the last year, and I've been very happy with it.
December 31, 2024 at 6:34 PM
So, year in writing? in 2024 I published 2 books (target was 3).
Raven Lord and Emperor's axe, both entires in my trad pub series 'The last Viking', about the life of Harald Hardrada.
This series has been my focus for much of the last year, and I've been very happy with it.
Raven Lord and Emperor's axe, both entires in my trad pub series 'The last Viking', about the life of Harald Hardrada.
This series has been my focus for much of the last year, and I've been very happy with it.
I am now the CEO of a startup tabletop gaming company that makes Modular hex terrain for RPG, wargaming etc.
It's a topic for another time.
Regardless, I was no longer trying to become a full time author.
instagram.com/lorescapeter...
It's a topic for another time.
Regardless, I was no longer trying to become a full time author.
instagram.com/lorescapeter...
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December 31, 2024 at 6:34 PM
I am now the CEO of a startup tabletop gaming company that makes Modular hex terrain for RPG, wargaming etc.
It's a topic for another time.
Regardless, I was no longer trying to become a full time author.
instagram.com/lorescapeter...
It's a topic for another time.
Regardless, I was no longer trying to become a full time author.
instagram.com/lorescapeter...
Well, it was an interesting journey, but it didn't work out for two reasons. Firstly, the sales simply weren't there. They stopped going up and flatlined.
Secondly, I founded a new company with some old colleagues and friends, and split my time with that.
x.com/JCDuncanauth...
Secondly, I founded a new company with some old colleagues and friends, and split my time with that.
x.com/JCDuncanauth...
x.com
December 31, 2024 at 6:34 PM
Well, it was an interesting journey, but it didn't work out for two reasons. Firstly, the sales simply weren't there. They stopped going up and flatlined.
Secondly, I founded a new company with some old colleagues and friends, and split my time with that.
x.com/JCDuncanauth...
Secondly, I founded a new company with some old colleagues and friends, and split my time with that.
x.com/JCDuncanauth...
Some of you may have come across my #oneyeartopro threads in late 2023 and early 2024. My big plan when I lost my job was that i was going to write full time.
That thread is below. The deadline was today, the end of 2024.
x.com/JCDuncanauth...
That thread is below. The deadline was today, the end of 2024.
x.com/JCDuncanauth...
x.com
x.com
December 31, 2024 at 6:34 PM
Some of you may have come across my #oneyeartopro threads in late 2023 and early 2024. My big plan when I lost my job was that i was going to write full time.
That thread is below. The deadline was today, the end of 2024.
x.com/JCDuncanauth...
That thread is below. The deadline was today, the end of 2024.
x.com/JCDuncanauth...
Awesome!
And..... did you like it?
And..... did you like it?
a close up of a cat with big eyes
ALT: a close up of a cat with big eyes
media.tenor.com
December 13, 2024 at 4:43 PM
Awesome!
And..... did you like it?
And..... did you like it?
Bonus moment was me, very confused and surprised to have been stopped by someone who recognised me, pointing at the rest of the group and saying 'Did you spot who I was with?' and Jon staring straight at Matthew Harffy and saying 'no, fraid I don't know them.'
😂
😂
December 6, 2024 at 12:06 PM
Bonus moment was me, very confused and surprised to have been stopped by someone who recognised me, pointing at the rest of the group and saying 'Did you spot who I was with?' and Jon staring straight at Matthew Harffy and saying 'no, fraid I don't know them.'
😂
😂
I think that was definately true in the 19th century, lots of unifications there, and maybe true until somewhere in the last century too. But my impression is that countries are splitting up more than they are joining now, although that is biased by the post Cold-war soviet mess.
December 1, 2024 at 11:27 PM
I think that was definately true in the 19th century, lots of unifications there, and maybe true until somewhere in the last century too. But my impression is that countries are splitting up more than they are joining now, although that is biased by the post Cold-war soviet mess.
Because genuinely, that is far more realistic than some pre-modern tech or even future tech planet with a unified government. We can't even make a solid case to Scotland to remain in our union (I sympathise) while we are neighbours, but this three eyed alien speaks for his entire planet?
a south park character says nuh uh in a cartoon
ALT: a south park character says nuh uh in a cartoon
media.tenor.com
December 1, 2024 at 1:35 AM
Because genuinely, that is far more realistic than some pre-modern tech or even future tech planet with a unified government. We can't even make a solid case to Scotland to remain in our union (I sympathise) while we are neighbours, but this three eyed alien speaks for his entire planet?
I just want sci-fi fiction occasionally, where the visiting spacecraft tries to contact the ruling power, and there are 40 days of arguing on the surface about who that is, how to build the delegation, and then a war breaks out to gain position as the ones who can trade with the space people.
December 1, 2024 at 1:33 AM
I just want sci-fi fiction occasionally, where the visiting spacecraft tries to contact the ruling power, and there are 40 days of arguing on the surface about who that is, how to build the delegation, and then a war breaks out to gain position as the ones who can trade with the space people.