Greetings my fellow random response generators! Josh Stoodley here with another post on the thought processes behind my upcoming projects: No Blood for Business, Brockhold, and Legends of Infernia. This post covers the thoughts behind Brockhold. The first post, covering No Blood for Business, can be found here: https://falconlord5.com/2022/03/20/writing-philosophies/. Next week will cover Legends of Infernia.

Before we get into the thought processes behind Brockhold, I want to share with you some good news: No Blood for Business has a release window! Yes, after working on it off and on for five years, No Blood for Business will finally release next year, in 2023! Isn’t that exciting? It is for me, that’s for sure. I have some backlog to clear on other projects first, but you will see more consistent updates on No Blood for Business later this year.

In the meantime, if you enjoy my work, you can support me on Patreon or buy me a hot chocolate.

Now, on to Brockhold!

A Tribute To Brian Jacques

Redwall!

Even today, that battle cry brings back such memories. Like most of the Redwall fandom, I was introduced to Brian Jacques’ world through the Nelvana cartoon. In many ways, it was a poor adaptation: much of the book’s violent content was bowdlerized, the characters were voiced by obvious Canadians trying on different British accents (badly) and it was only three seasons long, covering Redwall, Mattimeo and Martin the Warrior, but leaving out the vital Mossflower or other such worthies as Mariel of Redwall.

But even allowing for its limitations, the cartoon captured much of what made Brian Jacques’ novels special to so many kids. It respected its audience and never talked down to kids. War was treated, not as some grand adventure, but as the horror show it really was. True, the series morals were a bit simplistic (it’s not quite as bad as ‘all rats are always chaotic evil and all mice are always lawful good’ as some would have it, but it can get pretty close at times), but even then many characters show great depth and character development.

And, above all, there was Redwall Abbey. A place where anybody could go, (you were constantly invited to join them at Redwall at the end of each book. I mean you, personally, the reader), with huge feasts and an open, inclusive atmosphere. Contrast the villains, who ruled through fear and brutality.

Brockhold is a love letter to Redwall. The goal is to capture the spirit of the original novels that I loved so much as a kid, while updating it to more modern sensibilities.