All posts by Risuko

Review, Book

Bright Eyes has arrived — and the critics are already speaking!

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Bright Eyes reviews:

The sequel to David Kudler’s award-winning YA novel Risuko hit bookstores today — and critics are applauding!

“Once again David Kudler has fully succeeded as a novelist with a genuine flair for historical fiction populated by memorably crafted characters and decidedly entertaining plot twists and turns. Like the first novel in the author’s ‘Seasons of the Sword’ series, Bright Eyes is imaginative, original, exceptionally well written, and highly recommended” — Midwest Book Review

“The martial arts was well done, the mystery was riveting, and the ending unexpected!” — Azalea Dabill, Author

“David Kudler crafts an enthralling. unputdownable tale due in no small part to his outstanding world building. He ties enough aspects of real-life feudal Japanese culture to give the perfect balance of reality in this fictional world. […] The well-crafted mystery, well-honed history and world-building, and Risuko’s adventurousness leave the reader wanting more.” — Shailyn Rogers, Ind’Tale Magazine

Continue reading Bright Eyes has arrived — and the critics are already speaking! →

Book, News

Risuko Flash Sale!

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With Bright Eyes less than a week from release, we wanted to let you know that we are offering David Kudler’s award-winning first novel Risuko on a special sale for a limited time — both ebook, paperback, and hardcover!

This week only, you can get a special deal on the first volume of Seasons of the Sword:

The ebook is only $0.99!

Order Direct from Stillpoint • Order from Your Favorite Store

The paperback is only $6.99!

Order Direct from Stillpoint • Order from Your Favorite Store

The hardcover is only $16.99!

Order Direct from Stillpoint • Order from Your Favorite Store

We’ve never offered the book at these prices before, and won’t be likely to again — if you’ve been waiting to order a copy for yourself (or for someone else) now is your chance!

Article

Is “Gritty” Realistic?

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In response to a recent post about Ursula K. Le Guin, I was challenged on some of what I’d had to say about George R.R. Martin’s writing — specifically, I was told that Martin’s gritty, brutal fantasy was somehow more realistic than Le Guin’s.

Well, to each their own. If you love A Song of Ice and Fire, then great.

I don’t love the series, though I can see the books’ virtues and appeal. But I object to the idea that gritty somehow equals realistic.

When I started reading Game of Thrones, my youngest was seven years old. I got about seventy pages in when (spoiler)… Continue reading Is “Gritty” Realistic? →

Book, News

Win a signed copy of Bright Eyes!

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Kunoichi Companion Tales covers

Kunoichi Companion Tales introduce characters and themes from the Seasons of the Sword novels, and are currently available free exclusively to Risuko subscribers, along with news, blog posts, and other exclusive gifts!

To read the stories, subscribe now:

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Kunoichi Companion Tales

This series of short stories, set before and between the novels of the Seasons of the Sword series, is available exclusively to our subscribers and to our Kickstarter supporters. Continue reading Win a signed copy of Bright Eyes! →

Book, News

Bright Eyes Kickstarter Live!

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Optimized

We’re excited to announce that the Kickstarter campaign to support the launch of Bright Eyes: A Kunoichi Tale, is now open — and already halfway to its initial goal!

About the Kickstarter Campaign

This crowdfunding campaign, which runs through April 10, will help us create the best possible book — while guaranteeing our supporters copies at less than the retail cost.

As author David Kudler said, Continue reading Bright Eyes Kickstarter Live! →

Article

Character Mutiny, Pt. II — The Author Strikes Back

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Here’s the story of how I crushed a character mutiny and finished a book.

Back when Risuko first came out, I was hard at work on the sequel, Bright Eyes. I was cruising along, with every expectation that I’d have the book ready for publication in 2018.

Then one of my characters mutinied.

I was about to kill her off (spectacularly, I thought) in order to move the plot forward. As I began to write the scene, however, I realized that I hadn’t set up the death or the character well.

In my mind, she sat there, yelling at me, telling me the scene sucked. And the way I had written her character sucked. And because they sucked, the whole book to that point sucked. Massively.

She wasn’t very polite about it.

I realized, to my horror, that she was right. Continue reading Character Mutiny, Pt. II — The Author Strikes Back →

Article

Writing from another point of view

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Can a man write from a woman’s point of view?

Gosh, I sure hope so! I am, after all, currently writing a series of books from the point of view of a thirteen-year-old girl.

Now, she’s also Japanese, living in Japan.

In the sixteenth century.

I’m an American man living in twenty-first-century California.

Continue reading Writing from another point of view →
Article

Ursula K Le Guin — Grandmaster

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As an author of young adult books, I’ve been asked many times about the authors who had the greatest impact on me. I’ll often start by mentioning Maurice Sendak, which people assume is a joke, but isn’t.

Next, I’ll mention Ursula K. Le Guin, the late author of science fiction and fantasy.

Continue reading Ursula K Le Guin — Grandmaster →
News

Bright Eyes cover reveal! (Also, happy holidays!)

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Happy holidays!

Akemashite omedeto gozai masu!

I hope that you’re enjoying a joyful, pleasant holiday season. My whole family is home (with significant others) and so our house is (as Charles Dickens would say) “full to bursting.”

One of the things that has us all excited is the looming publication of Bright Eyes, the long-awaited sequel to Risuko: A Kunoichi Tale. In fact, I just received the first rough proofs of the new book — they’re looking great.

I hope you’re excited too — and to get you in the mood, I’m delighted to be able to reveal the Bright Eyes cover: Continue reading Bright Eyes cover reveal! (Also, happy holidays!) →

Book, News

Bright Eyes Complete!

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I’ve written nearly sixty-eight thousand words of Bright Eyes, the sequel to Risuko.

The most satisfying word of all to write? Continue reading Bright Eyes Complete! →