Category Archives: News

Hey! A couple of pieces of news!

First of all, I recently wrote a post for Joseph Campbell Foundation (my “day gig”) entitled “Where Do Stories Come From.” It’s talking about the source of narrative, and also mythologist Joseph Campbell’s own fiction writing. Check it out!

Also, the final volume of my friend Heather Albano’s steampunk time travel trilogy Keeping Time is coming out on November 22! Timebound is a wild, roller coaster-ride of a conclusion to what was already a fun series — a mashup of HG Wells, Jane Austen, and Mary Shelley, if you can believe it.

In preparation for the release of the conclusion of the trilogy, we’re lowering the price for the ebook of Timepiece, the first book in the series, to just $0.99! Just November 22, though, so don’t wait! Continue reading Stories & Keeping Time news →

Article

What’s with Kee Sun’s accent?

July 21, 2018 Risuko Leave a comment

Kee Sun is one of my favorite characters, and I’m not alone. I get asked about the Korean cook a lot — especially about his accent. I recently was asked a question over on Goodreads:

Hi David – enjoyed Risuko and will be adding my review soon. Curious about the Korean cook and the odd way he speaks. Is that on purpose to indicate he might have some type of accent? Also, is there any particular reason for him not being Japanese? Perhaps I missed something 🙂 — Steve

Great question! Continue reading What’s with Kee Sun’s accent? →

Preview

Bright Eyes Preview: The Torii Arch

June 10, 2018 Risuko 2 Comments

Waiting for next Seasons of the Sword book? Author David Kudler just shared this sneak preview from the next exciting installment in Risuko’s adventures:

Bright Eyes Preview: The Torii Arch

Continue reading Bright Eyes Preview: The Torii Arch →

News

Join the YA Scavenger Hunt

October 3, 2017 Risuko 2 Comments

Welcome to YA Scavenger Hunt! This is my second go-around with this bi-annual event, which was first organized by author Colleen Houck as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors…and a chance to win some awesome prizes! At this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each author, you also get a clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize–one lucky winner will receive one book from each author on the hunt in my team! But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for 120 hours! Continue reading Join the YA Scavenger Hunt →

News

Review: Tower of Dawn is the eye of the hurricane

September 10, 2017 Risuko Leave a comment

Here’s my review of Tower of Dawn, Sarah J. Maas’s latest book. Have you read the Throne of Glass books? What do you think?

By the way, I avoided spoilers for the book as best I could, and have hidden spoilers for the series behind the cut. — David Kudler

In Tower of Dawn, Sarah J. Maas turns a corner from sprawling epic to thrilling psychological fantasy.

In epic fantasy, the action usually centers around outsized acts of valor and evil committed by prodigious heroes and villains. It’s true in The Lord of the Rings. It’s true in A Song of Fire and Ice. It’s true in the first five of Sarah J. Maas’s Throne of Glass books. But the latest installment in the series, Tower of Dawn, looks at action and heroism of a different kind.

Continue reading Review: Tower of Dawn is the eye of the hurricane →

Book, News

Risuko Audiobook Now Available

August 31, 2017 Risuko Leave a comment

I’m ecstatic to tell you that the Risuko audiobook is now available on Audible, iTunes, Amazon, and Stillpoint Digital Press!

I’m so excited, in fact, that I’d love to make you an offer. If you send me a purchase receipt for the Risuko audiobook, I’ll send two download codes good for any audiobook on Audible.com!*

In any case, hope the end of summer is treating you well (or the end of winter, if you’re in the southern hemisphere).

Back to work on Bright Eyes for me! (By the way, thanks for the help choosing a cover — I’ll be announcing the winner in the next few weeks.)

David Kudler

david@risuko.net

P.S. If you’ve read Risuko but haven’t had a chance to share your thoughts, I’d love it if you’d post a review on Goodreads or Amazon or your favorite ebook store. Or you can even respond to this email and let me know what you thought directly!

*If you’re in Britain, let me know and I’ll send you codes good on Audible.co.uk.

News, Poll

Poll: Help us choose the Bright Eyes cover!

August 15, 2017 Risuko Leave a comment

I’m hard at work on the Risuko sequel, Bright Eyes — and designer extraordinaire James Egan of Bookfly Design has come up with options for the cover! We’d love for you to help us choose your favorite Bright Eyes cover art.

Vote in the poll, and enter to win a copy of the soon-to-be-released Risuko audiobook!

VOTE NOW!

Continue reading Poll: Help us choose the Bright Eyes cover! →

News, Website

YA Summer Scavenger Hunt #4!

May 28, 2017 Risuko Leave a comment

Welcome to the fourth port in the YA Summer Scavenger Hunt!

YA Summer Scavenger Hunt: Audiobook cover — Risuko: A Kunoichi Tale (Seasons of the Sword #1)

I’m David Kudler, and I’m writing Seasons of the Sword, a historical adventure series about a young girl who’s been pulled into a plot that may save Japan—or may destroy it. Along with another 138 members of the Alliance of Young Adult Authors, I’m participating in a word-search treasure hunt. Gather up the words, put them together to tell the story, and enter to win prizes, including free books and a $500 Amazon gift card. Read to the bottom to collect my word and get one step closer to the treasure. Continue reading →

News, Website

YA Treasure Hunt coming in June!

May 20, 2017 Risuko Leave a comment

In June, the Alliance of Young Adult Authors is sponsoring a massive young adult scavenger hunt — and Risuko is part of the fun! This is a chance to meet some new authors, grab a bunch of free books, and sign up to win a whole bunch of epic prizes!

RULES

Each author will be given a special keyword, which will be bolded and all caps like this: BUTTERFLIES.

All you have to do is visit all the author’s sites in this order, write down the special keywords to discover the short story, then enter the giveaway with the completed short story HERE (link will be posted soon).

There will be one main giveaway for the main prize, but most of the participating authors (including here!) will also have smaller giveaways for free books, Amazon credit and author swag, so make sure you read their post carefully to see what else they’re offering while you’re on their site for the keyword.

THE MAP (participating authors)

Continue reading YA Treasure Hunt coming in June! →

Article

Twelfth Night: Training Kunoichi, Pt. 2

March 16, 2017 Risuko 2 Comments

I’ve always been a writer. But for most of my life, I have also been an actor. As a matter of fact for many years, I was a classically trained professional stage and screen performer.

That meant I had to learn how to use a sword.

I took classes in stage combat, but I also joined my college fencing club, picking up the saber (which was the closest thing to the kind of sword fighting I had already learned as an actor).* Continue reading Twelfth Night: Training Kunoichi, Pt. 2 →