Updates – J. L. Odom

Quite the Year: a summary in 4 parts

2024: The Books I wrote and related topics I published the first book in my Land of Exile trilogy, By Blood, By Salt on May 14 2024. I had been working on and off on this trilogy for nearly 2 decades. I had gone the traditional publishing route and would have held to it, exceptContinue reading “Quite the Year: a summary in 4 parts”

A Haunt for Jackals

Coming Feb 25 2025, Book 2 in the Land of Exile trilogy! And here is the cover by the artist Jeremy Adams: After capturing a jinn-devil and fleeing to the desert, Azetla has exchanged the threat of execution for the weight of high treason. Thousands of men are now under his command—for the Emperor’s brotherContinue reading “A Haunt for Jackals”

The Wisdom and Joy of the Re-Read

First of all: Perseverance is Rewarded Once upon a time, in high school, I was assigned to read a book: The Abolition of Man, by C.S. Lewis. For those who have read it, you’ll understand why the average Oklahoman teenager (such as myself) might not have totally grasped every last inch of that slim butContinue reading “The Wisdom and Joy of the Re-Read”

In the SPFBOX

I mentioned being in an indie fantasy book competition a while back, in this post. I set my expectations at: get a few eyeballs on the book, and maybe get a decent review from a judge. I did not (except in rare moments of what I would have called utter delusion) set my sights on:Continue reading “In the SPFBOX”

Update in the form of a ramble, for no one’s convenience

I did not realize till yesterday that I had let a whole month go by since writing a blog post. Not that these are strictly necessary–they are a mixture of casual joy and helpful discipline–and certainly no one has been knocking at my door, demanding I explain why I haven’t written one in a while.Continue reading “Update in the form of a ramble, for no one’s convenience”

Update. In List Form. For Our Mutual Convenience

Book 1 Updates Book 2 Updates Book 3 Updates: Meanwhile I had my birthday last week and got a gift card and ordered some books. I am very excited about that too! Just in case you didn’t know (you did know) you can get my book on: Amazon and Barnes and Noble and you canContinue reading “Update. In List Form. For Our Mutual Convenience”

Send Your Fighter Into the Ring

My experience with competition has, until now, been limited to Jiu Jitsu. I train. I work hard. I prepare. I map out my fight in its ideal form, so I won’t hesitate. I put on my gi. I shake out my nerves physically, with jumps and arm swings and jogging and swaying. I shake outContinue reading “Send Your Fighter Into the Ring”

Technical difficulties and a solution

I am working on a blog post about moral frameworks in stories (classic black-and-white, complicated black-and-white–yes that’s a thing–gray with hope? Gray with no hope?) but we interrupt your regularly scheduled programming with both a technical difficulty and it’s most practical solution. Several people who pre-ordered the hardcover (just, specifically the hardcover) on Amazon neverContinue reading “Technical difficulties and a solution”

And then what happened?

Honestly, I don’t know. Watch, wait, and work, I guess. One week out from publication and trying to hold this process with open hands. With self-publishing you kinda know going into that it’s going to be an uphill battle. You’ll have an initial surge from friends and family, but then when that tapers off youContinue reading “And then what happened?”

Publication Day! A Book about Exiles, Languages, and War

So today, as I post this, my book is now published! I’ll spare you the long saga–and it is quite long–of how this book came to be, how I wrote it, and all the hills and valleys between then and now. It’s a good story, actually, but not for today. Today, I’m just going toContinue reading “Publication Day! A Book about Exiles, Languages, and War”