Skin In The Game Garry Miller Free Copy

The 2nd book in the series of superhero novels "Skin In The Game" is available on Kindle for free as part of a 5 day promotion. Hurry - expires soon! [a bit like some of the characters!]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06VVBRV6V

Paragons Of Virtue Superhero Novels Original Strip pt 3

As I continue to unearth the ancient artefacts from the past that inspired the Paragons Of Virtue superhero novel series, her's the next instalment of the PoV strip that featured in Superhero UK - an amateur fanzine produced in the mid eighties by editor and role-playing gamer Jonathan Clark. 
















































This episode features Chase [from Paragons of Virtue series book 1 SprawlBall] the melancholic SprawlBall star at the team yard, with the alien warrior Gard [from the upcoming book 3 in the series] trying on Chase's team's Slam Suit.

This is also the first time we get introduced to William de Houce, AKA Paragon, a marriage guidance counsellor who used mind persuasion powers to turn dysfunctional couples into starry-eyed teenagers.

The final scene was foreshadowing the upcoming story line - anyone in the UK exhibiting mutant powers was being exterminated by men in armoured battle-suits.

As usual  [and like most current superhero movie franchises] Jonathan was trying to cram in too many characters in too short a space, but it's fun to realise that the Paragons were a weekly group of roleplayers and the strip was trying to capture the essence of who they were.  I'm hoping that the 40-60,000 word novels give me more room to do that :-)

Let me know your thoughts.

Get Paragons Of Virtue Superhero Fiction Novel Free

Get Paragons Of Virtue Superhero Fiction Novel Free

My first superhero novel SprawlBall will be free on Kindle for the next 5 days starting Dec 8th 2017.   Get it here and let me know what you think :-)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LXVWJ5Z

Paragons Of Virtue Meet NaNoWriMo

It's November 23rd 2017 and the 3rd Paragons of Virtue novel is sitting at 51,000 words.

To be honest I've been working on and off on book 3 since April, but I'm using November as an excuse / justification / motivation to get it done. 

Part of me thinks I cheated, cos I had the outline planned out in October.  That's why forever more October will be known as...

NASTOPLAMO

Take October. Name it “National Story Planning Month.” Whatever you’re going to do in November, you don’t have to go in blind. 

NaNoWriMo, short for National Novel Writing Month, happens each year during the month of November.  Established in 1999 it encourages participants to begin writing a 50,000 word novel on November 1st to be completed by 11:59 p.m. on November 30th.

And at the moment December shall be called

NAEDYOSHIMO

December then becomes “National Edit Your Shit Month.” Or, if you need a month away from it, maybe you come back to it in January — but the point is, always come back to it.

So keep your eyes peeled for we've got a cool story about a Galactic war, Psychic powers, power and intrigue and the debut of the next paragon to hit the street.

and i do mean "hit"...

Paragons Of Virtue Superhero Novels Original Strip pt2

It's a cold, wet November night and I'm reminiscing again.

See below the second instalment of the Paragons Of Virtue comic strip that first saw daylight all the way back in 1985 in the Superhero UK fanzine.  OMG that's 32 years ago!

First there were the role-playing games, played by a fanatically loyal group of teenagers throughout high school and beyond.  Stranger Things anyone?

Then Jonathan created this comic strip as part of his fanzine.

This actually features the Yakuza Oyabun known as Albatross.  Look out for his upcoming novel where he'll be going under his Japanes name Arubatorosu.  He's also in the "SprawlBall" novel if you haven't read that yet.

Paragons Of Virtue Superhero Novels Original Comic Strip

Look what I found!

From the mid-eighties comes the first time the Paragons of Virtue superhero team appeared in comic strip form.  Drawn, written and produced by Jonathan Clark as part of the Superhero UK fanzine, this was amateurish and full of in-jokes, but it was an early attempt to turn the role-playing games into a different format that superhero enthusiasts could enjoy.

This first episode features a very drunk Fusion being confronted by his artificially intelligent suit called Spirit [cos Fusion was a drunk] and being ordered to get back to base.  We also see the high class hooker code named Bounty who's written a sign to summon him back.

All very obscure, but is was fun at the time and gives you a taste of the Paragons characters.  I'm hoping that the novels take the Paragons Of Virtue to a whole new level.

Get Paragons Of Virtue Superhero Fiction Novel Free

My second superhero novel "Skin In The Game" will be free on Kindle for the next 5 days starting Sep 11th. Get it here

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06VVBRV6V

Get Paragons Of Virtue Superhero Fiction Novel Free

My first superhero novel SprawlBall will be free on Kindle for the next 5 days starting Sep 1. Get it here

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LXVWJ5Z

Is That Arubatorusu or Sensei?

Going back to the source...

The illustration you see is one of many drawn by Jonny McNair back in 1985 for the superhero fanzine called Superhero UK.

This was Jonny's rendition of a supervillain called Sensei who was one of the characters in Simon Burley's 'Megavillains' supplement - the Golden Heroes book that Games Workshop stopped supporting.

But Jonny was the guy who played Arubatorosu in The Paragons of Virtue role-playing games we played back then.  That's why you'll see an albatross symbol on the martial artist's chest.

I've managed to dig out the original character sheets, illustrations and even a short lived comic strip that featured the Paragons in their original form.  Keep your eyes peeled and let me know if you like seeing this original source material...

Superhero Novels For Adults Free Promo - The Sequel

Delighted to announce that from June 6th through to June 10th the 1st Paragons Of Virtue novel "SprawlBall" will be available for FREE on Amazon.

This is your chance to grab this intense future sport set in Canada in the year 2053.  Superstar SprawlBall player Chase and his team brace themselves for kick-off, only to find the stadium deserted and the other team slaughtered...

This book introduces you to Arthur Deal - code name Chase - who has the unusual ability to run through walls.

You can read all about it on Amazon HERE

Superhero Novels For Adults Free Promo

Delighted to announce that from May 30th through to June 3rd the 2nd Paragons Of Virtue novel "Skin In The Game" will be available for FREE on Amazon.

This is your chance to grab this intense manhunt set in Canada in the year 2053.  A deranged serial killer kidnaps two young models on a camper trip to Algonquin Provincial Park.

Unfortunately one of them has a boyfriend...

This book introduces you to Bruce McDonald - code name Renegade - who has an unusual background.

You can read all about it on Amazon HERE

Paragons Of Virtue 3 Book Trailer

Paragons of Virtue Superhero Novels Number 3

Good evening [at least it is where I am...]

As I write this I am 63% of the way through the first draft of the third novel in The Paragons Of Virtue series.

This time we go interstellar and immerse ourselves in a galactic war between three alien races.  This book dives deep into the motivations of the next Paragon, what she does for a living and how she ends up stranded on Earth.

Think vast inky blackness, starship combat and boarding actions, gladiatorial games on alien planets and more betrayal and disloyalty than even Danny Rand can endure [Oh yes - just binge-watched Iron Fist series one].

Our heroine starts off as quite an anti-hero.  A pawn in the game between rival factions vying for control of the sector they all inhabit.  But as the tyranny progresses and heads are taken, she starts to question if The Credo is wrong.  Wracked by nightmares and sick of the machinations, she's forced to choose sides when her planet depends on it.

Readers have asked me where the ideas for the series come from.  Truth is I ran a roleplaying game through the 1980's based around a superhero team who weren't very heroic - in fact each had a rather dark side that the public never saw.  And the lady above is no exception.  The guys and gals actually co-wrote the adventures as we went along, and you're getting to read the re-imagined version of the same tales.

So if you haven't already, enter your details in the box and you'll be kept up to date on latest development, and you'll be one of the first to hear of the actual release date of the 3rd book.

New Paragons Of Virtue Novel & A Free book

Good morning - it's Sunday morning as I write this, but it probably isn't when you read it!  Anyways, THREE quick updates on the Paragons Of Virtue Series...

Update 1: The next book in the series is well into the plotting stage as we meet the first female member of the team.  This is a military sci-fi/superhero genre mashup where we go interstellar to explore the origins and motivation of a certain armoured alien who likes to fly through the air at breakneck speed...

Update 2: After getting some feedback from loyal readers, I've gone ahead and uploaded the new cover for "Skin In The Game".  The stitched skin background is fairly disturbing, but I think the addition of Renegade's silhouette on the cover helps with the overall concept.

Update 3:  You can still get SprawlBall, the first Paragons book, free for the next couple of days up to and including March 14th  Here's the link:

https://www.amazon.com/SprawlBall-Paragons-Virtue-Book-1-ebook/dp/B01LXVWJ5Z

Stay tuned for developments with Book 3 and feel free to leave your comments and questions below.

Skin In The Game New Cover For Paragons Series?

Its 2 days since I launched "Skin In the Game".

It's #2 on Amazon.com Top 100 and #27 on Amazon.co.uk

So is now a good time to change the cover?  Probably not.

Here's the original cover, and the new one.

I think the one on the right is a big improvement, but I'm interested in what YOU think.  Comment below :-)

Skin In The Game #2 on Amazon!

Skin In The Game is number 2 in the top 100 FREE Kindle ebooks in its category right now. Result!

If you've already grabbed your copy, thank you so much.  If you haven't, let's see if you can help me get it to #1

Skin In The Game in top 100 books in Amazon category!

Woke up to this delightful news. If you've already grabbed your copy, thank you thank you thank you!

Tyra just sent Bruce a video message...

Skin In The Game Bounty Hunter Book

Delighted to say that having spent the weekend painstakingly editing "Skin In The Game", the second in the Paragons Of Virtue series of superhero novels, I have successfully uploaded the final draft and the cover to Amazon Kindle for them to review.  

The process can take up to 72 hours but in my experience is usually quicker.  Very exciting to see it listed in my account - moment of truth boys and girls!

Tomorrow I'll be doing some Facebook ads to start building interest, and I may well add the teaser trailer to my Amazon Author page.

But after months of work I'm breathing a sigh of relief, and am already researching the background for book number three.  We're about to meet the first FEMALE member of the Paragons...

Teaser Trailer for Skin In The Game - Paragons Of Virtue Series Book 2

The Bounty Hunter Superhero Book Is Coming...

Just putting the final touches to "Skin In The Game", and really enjoying the process.  Here's the latest version of the description that will go onto Amazon:

Just what price can you put on a human life?  And what are people willing to do for money?

DISTURBING. GRAPHIC. ADDICTING.

Canada 2053.  The justice system isn’t working.  Society is divided into the haves, the have nots and the have to have yours. 

Retired man hunter Bruce McDonald hung up his gun and badge to settle down in a new country and live a normal civilian life of university day job and weekend garden parties.

As if being a despised mutant psyker wasn't enough, when his model girlfriend is abducted by a gang of slavers, Bruce is forced to don his old Sanctioned Tracker uniform and Bearpaw Blaster. But these aren’t just human traffickers – they are The Dark Creed, a death cult whose origins are not from this earth. At their heart is The Quilter – a sadistic butcher who makes garments out of human skin.  Bruce – codename Renegade – has 24 hours to use his unique psychic talents to rescue his girlfriend before she is skinned alive… or worse!

But just when he thinks the case is closed, one final cruel twist will rock his sanity…

Thrilling suspense in the sleazy underbelly of human trafficking.

Skin In the Game is the second book in the Paragons Of Virtue series. These are all standalone and can be read in any order.  Check out this exciting superhero thriller that will grab you from page one and keep you at the edge of your seat!

What are you waiting for? Scroll up and click the buy button now to find out why readers are falling in love with The Paragons Of Virtue!

Not recommended for young readers - contains violence and graphic scenes

First Draft of 'Skin In The Game' Is In The Can

Writing over Christmas and new Year proved to be a non-starter.  I took my laptop on holiday with me as we went on holiday over the festive period, but got so little private time to actually boot it up and type anything that it was a wasted effort taking the laptop with me!

Now everyone is back to work, the sessions have resumed and we're off.  A couple of cracking tweaks flashed into my brain from who knows where and the second Paragons novel is shaping up nicely.  Here's a sneak peek...

Turning to look out the window across the glinting cityscape before him, Bruce strokes his chin pensively.  This city is a concrete jungle stuffed full of stressed out citizens in a technological hive, kept safe by a security wall that keeps them in, and the bad guys out.  Well, most of the time.  If it could teleport, fly, turn invisible or shrink, it could still get past the defences.  And that’s when they called The Sanctioned Trackers.

If he'd stayed at The Pound then he could be dating other women, hunting down bad guys and banking a fortune.  No haughty shipping magnates and their insufferable social climbing.  No using children as trophies and planning chess moves for prestige and political gain. 

Now he's got to play the role of dutiful bread winner and significant other.  Be a pillar of the community.  Ha!  How ironic.  If only the community knew.

People are animals.  No scratch that.  Animals don't stab each other in the back.  In a pack of wolves, what you see is what you get.  One alpha male, one female, the strong and the weak, the young bucks and the wise old ones.  It's dog eat dog, kill or be killed, survival of the fittest.  But at least it's honest.  No strategy, no game playing or tactical moves. 

Then there are the normal humans, if you could call them that.  Some good, some bad, and most somewhere in the grey zone in the middle.  One big herd shuffling along like cattle, being given enough titillation and fear to keep them compliant.  A basic wage and a SprawBall team to support at weekends, plus as much meaningless marketing and propaganda as they can absorb. 

Some don't settle for their lot.  Some want everyone else's, and will take it by force.  And a few get away with it too.  The serial killers, the slavers, the crazies. And that's where the Trackers come in. 

It's OK to hunt down criminals for money - cleaning up the streets, protecting society.  Powder, Turk, being guided by the Watch Commander and taking those fuckers down.  It's a dirty job but somebody's got to do it, and besides, it's way cheaper to hire a mutant Gamma Hound [as the normals call the Trackers] than to train an Arbiter for the fifteen years they need to be streetwise.

"Maybe I should have joined Justice Department Psi-Corps?  Nah, then I'd have had to answer to that idiot D'Spatch," he says to an invisible confidant.

Tyra's photos seem to follow him as he slowly paces the room. His mind is all over the place, and that's even with the wine.   It's OK to make money from your looks and your body too - if you've got it, flaunt it. That's how Tyra has made her living.  But she's also kept her virginity, and her dignity.  Nothing sleazy, no porn, just glamour shots that even her mother reluctantly approved of.

So many options.  And how best to move forward from here?  Carry a Bearpaw blaster, or a class register? 

With the former, not only would he be gone for long periods of time, he'd come back smelling of who-knows-what and covered in cuts and bruises.  Plus Tyra would never be completely safe.  If one of his bounties ever learned he had a wife, she could end up a hostage, a casualty, or worse.

With the latter he's now getting used to being a University Lecturer teaching biochemistry to a group of semi-conscious youths who will probably never use it, or will use it to manufacture synthetic drugs to keep them semi-conscious.  Now he's going to do his best to fit in, enjoy the family roast on Sundays and pay his taxes.  Now he's leaving the perps to his ex-colleagues.

"God I miss the thrill of the chase..."

That's when he gets the phone call.  The sound isn't as piercing as he was expecting.  But he sensed who's calling.

"God sometimes I hate being psychic..."