These full page illustrations appear throughout The Bright Path, in addition to the regular chapter heading artwork. They are all by Aveliya Design, a fabulous freelance illustrator I work with regularly.
Did you know that Part 1 of The Bright Path is now available as a stand-alone paperback, complete with new cover art and the briefest of forewords? You did not? Dear friend, let me enlighten you.
Cyrus Stoat, Tenured Professor of Applied History at Triad University, leads an advanced practicum in dungeon crawling. Freddie Greensmith finds something in the dark. Cyrus meets an old friend with sad news.
In Bonus Episode #2 of The Bright Path Podcast, I welcome special guest Seth Brown for a conversation on storytelling, humor, navigating our fraught social landscape as a humorist, and the process of creative collaboration. Seth is a veteran humor writer and speaker, so if you’re at all interested in the creative process, I do hope you’ll enjoy what he has to share. A new chapter of The Gods We Made will enter your podcatcher next week!
In another “branch” of Jonathan’s life, he and Boris have traveled far south into Carelon, following Jonathan’s failed proposal to Merrily. Boris tells a ghost story. They meet a man named Stool, who shares a tale of his life as an Ecclesia priest in Uelland. Boris sets Jonathan on a new course, and so does Mr. Stool.
If you are enjoying The Bright Path Podcast, why not become a patron? Fabulous rewards, and especially the satisfaction of being an absolutely top-shelf human being, can be yours for the teensy price of $1/month. Or you can enjoy The Bright Path in three easy-to-hold novels (or e-books) for just $9.99 each ($1.99/e-book).
IT BEGINS! Ladies and Gentlemen: the Prologue to The Gods We Made, book two of “Preposterous History.” Two years after the events of The Bright Path, Gog the Hammer finds himself facing down a new enemy–and big guns suddenly seem not quite so big. Jonathan Miller arrives in Devi Valley with Simon and Devi, determined to find something in Vault Three–but comes away empty handed. Cyrus and Veridia have a baby together, but not much else; Merrily is irritatingly competent; and Rufus Snugg decides to fight absurdity with absurdity.
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Special guest Rob Seitelman joins Yours Truly to wrestle and chortle over the different challenges of solo creation and collaboration. We’ll share some war stories from our theater careers and bat the ball back and forth on which is ‘better’–creating alone or creating together? Also, thirty seconds of the funniest and filthiest Star Wars parody you will hear all year.
Bonus: Join The Bright Path as a patron, and get a signed copy of the single-book editions of The Bright Path with brand new cover art!
Jonathan and Merrily live the consequences of one moment of choice. Cyrus Stoat wakes up in a strange bed, and Hobb finds a remedy to two of his most irritating problems. Sir Richard signs off, ending his tale with a guest writer. Grygory, too, meets a most unexpected ending. King Simon is exposed. Ghost stories are told, and seen, and lived.
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Ladies and gentlemen, this reading of THE BRIGHT PATH is now complete. Thank you, thank you, thank you — you lovely people, who have come along for this ride. This has been a journey I will never forget, and one that has given even me some surprises. For one thing, I plan to incorporate much more music into the second and third parts of this series–and the illustrations will continue, if I can afford to continue production. I hope you’ll become a patron of The Bright Path to support further artwork and music in the podcast as well.
I will also never forget the last year of reading with you because it’s written down in a book. If you like giant door-stoppers, then the full edition of The Bright Path is just right for you. But if you’d like a little more limber edition, stay tuned (and join the mailing list <—– ) for a three-part edition of The Bright Path, comfortably sized for reading in a hammock. Here’s a quick preview of the first book, QUANTA OF NONSENSE:
And finally, beautiful people, here is the complete choral number that appears in part 2.
The meaning of life is also available in attractive paperback or convenient e-book form.
Queen Anne finds herself forced to confront her parliament, and her adversary, alone. Beatrice Snugg tells us all we need to know about the meaning of life. Feat. “Expulsion” from Paradise Lost, sung by Victoria Dicce, with MaryAnn Ivan on keys. And a shout-out to Rob Seitelman, my long time collaborator on all things Miltonian.
Bonus! “All is Lost” from Paradise Lost: The Musical, feat. Victoria Dicce.
Why not support The Bright Path Podcast by leaving a review of the book on Amazon.com or on GoodReads.com?
IN WHICH Rufus Snugg brings guns to a sword fight. Boom.
Your host largely restrains his instinct to musical bombast, but this episode does feature God’s Breath from Paradise Lost as the roll-out, with Danielle Erin Rhodes, Martin Sola, Michael Marcotte, and Kevin T. Collins, and MaryAnn Ivan on Keys.
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Bonus: “God’s Breath” from Paradise Lost
Jonathan attempts the most outrageous chandelier swing in recorded history–but something is missing from his landing. Cyrus writes a letter that will cause him some trouble later; Daisy goes straight for true love; and Rolly saves the day with the awesome power of mathematics. Vicod Rayth is entirely naked.
