About

STORY

von Darkmoor’s thoughts is home to my observations regarding all the fine arts, most often those of the written word, with a concentration upon the genres of speculative fiction and pulp adventure.

von Darkmoor’s thoughts is voiced by Jason M. Waltz, publisher and editor of Rogue Blades Entertainment. Thirty-plus years spent with his nose in a book has given Jason – besides an alternate personality – an insatiable taste for quality reading material. A strong preference for speculative fiction and action adventure led him into the worlds of Tolkien, LeGuin, McCammon, van Lustbader, Ludlum, MacLean, Brand, L’Amour, Sadler, Benteen, Wagner, Howard, Lamb, Burroughs, Zelazny, Twain, Verne, Robeson, Carter, Poe, Dumas . . . the list is endless. These in turn have led to Erikson, Cook, Clancy, Diehl, Rice, Hardy, Martin, Feist, Salvatore, Forsyth, Colfer . . . What he read so much of became so much a part of him, these words and deeds of valor, these acts of loyalty and courage, these pursuits of wonder and freedom, that his blood fair boiled with their adrenaline, his whole self fair burst with wanting to share their joy. So he began to write, for he had tales of his own to tell; he began to review, for he had recommendations to share; he began to critique and edit, for he had the desire to assist other writers. Exposure through each of these outlets led to ever-increasing opportunities over the last three years: offers to review, to write articles, to write fiction, to edit fiction for zines, and finally, for books. Until one day . . .

von Darkmoor’s thoughts was born as his place of sharing. Here are recommendations offered on every book and zine read and whether each is worthy of a friend’s time and money. Here are observations of the world of writing, of publishing and editing, of books and authors, artists and publishers, marketing, sales, reading – and their impacts upon society, and its upon them, now and in the future. Here are insights gleaned through personal experience or firsthand accounts from authors, editors, publishers, artists, and others in the business of producing and promoting books, specifically genre heroic adventure fiction.

von Darkmoor’s thoughts are for those who enjoy books – reading them, writing them, publishing them, selling them, editing them, buying them. It is home to the man behind Rogue Blades Entertainment, the small press publisher of heroic fantasy adventure. RBE’s goal is to helm the return of pulp-like genre fiction, to return readers to the era of shorter fiction thick with action, adventure, heroism, and hope. von Darkmoor’s goals are to rejuvenate the world of reading by delivering a shot of adrenaline to every author, artist, publisher, and reader that visits this site.

BIO

Career:

• July 1, 2008 – present — Publisher, Rogue Blades Entertainment
• April 2008 - July 2008 – Managing Editor, Flashing Swords Press
• August 2007 to April 2008 — Assistant Managing Editor, Flashing Swords magazine
• April 2007 to January 2008 — Fantasy Acquisitions Editor, Staffs & Starships, Sheer Speculation Press
• December 2006 – present — Online Book Reviewer for SFReader.com (as Howard von Darkmoor)
• November 2006 – March 2007 — Fantasy Book Reviewer, Clash of Steel, Carnifex Press
• March 2006 – present — Online Book Reviewer beneath the nom de plume Howard von Darkmoor
• April 2001 – present – CFO of OWW2R, Inc., and editor of The Custer-Hawk Gazette

Sightings:

• January 2009 – present — Writing Presentations, “The Write Side of the Road”
• January 2007 – present — Member Milwaukee Writer’s Workshop
• February 2000 – present — Member Writer’s Ink writer’s group (past Vice President and Treasurer)

View my page on The DGLA