J Edward Neill

Biography

J Edward Neill is, more than anything in his life, a writer. He lives in the good ole southeastern US of A, where it’s hot, muggy, and hot, but his roots are in the frosted outskirts of Chicago. The winter, the wind, and the cold, endless nights on his grandparents’ corn field are where it all began for him. Someday he’ll go back there and write a book about the snow, but not yet. He has other work to do…

Eons ago, while glooming about his house during a mild North Georgia winter, J Edward sat in the shadows and scribbled the first outline of his first short story. He has been obsessed ever since. Tugging the cobwebs out of his skull and redistributing them as words on a page is his passion. He writes the kind of stories he likes to read, and he’s inspired by any book that focuses on the character rather than the plot. The plots have all been done before, but the characters…those have a chance to be unique.

J Edward’s inspirations are many. He favors Tolkien’s wordiness, Dan Simmons’ gritty characters, and Shakespeare’s hard truths made poetic. He likes fantasy, but not the sort with pretty elves and clever gnomes. He likes epic tales written for adults, stories accessible to everyone with a sharp (and maybe a bit twisted) mind. But more than any of these, he likes to lurk at night in his man-cave with all the lights off and no other authors’ books within reach. Ideally the windows will be open, the eve will be chilly, and the stars high and bright. These are the best nights to write on. He likes to think these are his nights, his and no other…

J Edward’s prime focus is the completion of his epic fantasy trilogy, Tyrants of the Dead. The Tyrants trilogy follows the lives of several people, good and evil and in-between, as the soulless creatures known as the Ur attempt to tear the mortal world apart and rebuild their haunted civilization atop the ruin of mankind. He released Book One, Down the Dark Path, in July 2013, and Book Two, Dark Moon Daughter, in May 2014. Nether Kingdom, the chilling conclusion, is planned for winter 2014. He also plans to release Hollow Empire, a post-apocalyptic, dark ages opera co-authored with John McGuire, in winter 2013.

Smashwords Interview

When you're not writing, how do you spend your time?
I'm a father of a wild-child little boy, so...

Whenever he gives me permission, I read, cook, sip wine, play football (flackle!), make chain-mail (yes, really), kickbox, pop Aleve to drive back the pains from kickboxing, run, hike, add to my collection of medieval weaponry, play too much xbox, chase down local dining hot spots, etc etc etc.

I'll sleep when I'm dead.
Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?
Yes. Back when I used to LARP (yeah, guilty as charged) I wrote an extensive history book/bible thing for the fake religion we invented to better enjoy the game. Something to do with ancient wars, pyramids, angry gods, and such. The name of my favorite villain from the Tyrants of the Dead series came out of this weird little story. Archmyr Degiliac, the Pale Knight of Thillira.
Read more of this interview.

Where to find J Edward Neill online

Books

Hollow Empire: Episode 5 (Night of Knives)
Price: $0.99 USD. Words: 16,940. Language: English. Published: October 22, 2014 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » Epic, Fiction » Science fiction » Apocalyptic
Episode 5 of a 6 part Season! Once, the empire of Vhur was the world's most powerful. But that was before the Lichy plague. Now, twenty years and millions of dead later, only a few cities remain. The survivors walk a fine line between staying alive and crumbling into the grave. Come the Night of Knives, even these last few might perish.
Hollow Empire: Episode 3 (Night of Knives)
Price: $0.99 USD. Words: 17,460. Language: English. Published: October 22, 2014 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » Epic, Fiction » Science fiction » Apocalyptic
Episode 3 of a 6 part Season! Once, the empire of Vhur was the world's most powerful. But that was before the Lichy plague. Now, twenty years and millions of dead later, only a few cities remain. The survivors walk a fine line between staying alive and crumbling into the grave. Come the Night of Knives, even these last few might perish.
Hollow Empire - Night of Knives - Episode 6
Price: $0.99 USD. Words: 21,900. Language: English. Published: October 17, 2014 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » Contemporary, Fiction » Science fiction » Utopias & dystopias
In the final Episode of Season One, learn the fates of Vadim, Cassidy, Murgul, and Nadya. Each is confronted with a different horror and a choice leading them to life...or death. Includes bonus chapters for Isidora and Little Lys.
Hollow Empire - Night of Knives - Episode 4
Price: $0.99 USD. Words: 15,360. Language: English. Published: October 3, 2014 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » General, Fiction » Science fiction » Apocalyptic
Episode Four of J Edward Neill and John R McGuire's six-part medieval dark fantasy opera. Join Vadim of the Long Ride, Nadya of the Bashir, Murgul the Maggot, and Cassidy as they fight to survive in a world that wants them ALL dead.
Hollow Empire: Episode 1 (Night of Knives)
Price: Free! Words: 15,430. Language: English. Published: September 20, 2014 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » Epic, Fiction » Science fiction » Apocalyptic
Once, the empire of Vhur was the world's most powerful. But that was before the Lichy plague. Now, twenty years and millions of dead later, only a few cities remain. The survivors walk a fine line between staying alive and crumbling into the grave. Come the Night of Knives, even these last few might perish.

J Edward Neill's tag cloud

apocalyptic    branded    church    comics    death    ebola    epidemic    extinction    grave    holocaust    horror    medieval    plague    psychic    religion    serial    superhero    superheroes    survival    western    zombie    zombies