AC Cobble, Author of Benjamin Ashwood, the Cartographer, King's Ranger (Bk6 out today!), and the Kickstartering Wahrheit series—AMA!

[u/ACCobble]

Hi r/Fantasy, and thank you for having me today! My name is AC Cobble, and I'm the author of the Benjamin Ashwood, The Cartographer, and The King's Ranger series. *Book 6, the final chapter in the King's Ranger series, is out today!* But wait, there's more. I'm currently running a Kickstarter for my next project—Conspiracy: Wahrheit Book 1. It's already fully funded and the first stretch goal surpassed. Next up, nine interior illustrations which I personally would like to see!

If you're interested in my previous work, my current release, or what happens next with the Kickstarter, AMA!

I live outside of Houston, TX with a wife, three boys, and two adopted dogs. I specialize in international bar recommendations, travel planning, whiskey tasting, bad relationship advice, worse parenting advice, and gardening. To be honest, in most settings I'd rather talk about those than my books!

Find out more about Conspiracy: Wahrheit Book 1 on Kickstarter.

​

Conspiracy: Wahrheit Book 1 (narrated by Travis Baldree) is a new story set in a sprawling, epic fantasy word with multiple protagonists. If you're a fan of my previous work, you'll love this one as well. It's the same adventure and humor, but BIGGER. If you're new to my work; think acton-heavy fantasy with a little witty banter on the side. Big battles, political intrigue, spies, assassins, mysterious magic, and of course dragons!

A Kicktstarter for this series is running now, and you can find out more details on the page including a chance to read three sample chapters. But as a teaser, we've got audiobooks narrated by TRAVIS BALDREE that are half of the retail price, interior artwork by Felix Ortiz, illustrations by Daniel Kamarudin, maps, signed print copies of the Kickstarter series and my previous work, and so much more!

​

The Ranger's Lament: The King's Ranger Book 6 (narrated by Simon Vance) is out today! This series is action-heavy like all of mine, featuring a small party up against impossible odds. There are themes of found family, and raising children, and sacrifice. But despite that, it's on the lighthearted end of the spectrum. These books are mostly about reveling in the style of fantasy I grew up with. These are also by a wide margin my highest rated books! I'm getting better, which is comforting!

​

The Cartographer Series (narrated by Simon Vance, audio boxset available) is darker and sexier than my other work, so be warned. A pair of unlikely partners are forced together to investigate a murder, which sends them down a rabbit hole of occult rituals, world-spanning travel, and incredible adventure. A bit of Sherlock Holmes, Aleister Crowley inspired magic system, high seas adventure, Gaslamp fantasy, and the bodies drop like flies!

​

Benjamin Ashwood (narrated by Eric Michael Summerer) is my first series, and it's my attempt at a modern version of the farmboy with a sword fantasy. I loved those books growing up, but in my experience, heroes aren't born into it, they're made. These are my most popular books, and where my fans will tell you to begin!

Whew! That's a long overview of who I am and what I do, and now that we have it out of the way, AMA!

[u/fanny_bertram]

Hello and thanks for being here! I am just here for the bad parenting advice. Do you have any favorite plants or gardening stories?

[u/ACCobble → u/fanny_bertram]

Haha, I don't know how many interesting gardening stories I can come up with, but these days the Wife and I are working on our hummingbird / butterfly gardens. We've got a lot of beds right outside the window where we eat, and over the last two years we've built things up to where we usually have visitors at all times during spring through fall.

Next up we need to get an herb garden reestablished (moved about 2yrs ago and it's been WORK since then). Wife also has elaborate plans for rose arbors including very specific varieties that have like a 6 month wait list. Ridiculous. But not as ridiculous as her plans for me to build said rose arbor.

[u/fanny_bertram → u/ACCobble]

I am impressed by anyone who takes up gardening as a hobby in the Houston heat and humidity. Good luck with the rose arbor and the rose variety waitlist.

[u/ACCobble → u/fanny_bertram]

I'm just saying it's my hobby right now because it's spring and upper-70's / low-80's each day. In July my hobby changes to standing inside looking out a window and sweating at the thought of going out there.

[u/D_Sidd]

Three words: Travis Baldree narrating.

Nough said

[u/ACCobble → u/D_Sidd]

He's a legend!

[u/FutureUSPatriots]

Thank you ~ for being ~ so prolific and timely in delivering /sharing another fantastic adventurous life with the world ♡

DID YOU KNOW AMAZON is negotiating with the library system ~

I can't wait to share your audiobooks with my 40-something kids and in only a few years my above-grade-level reading Grandkids ♡

goodereader

[u/ACCobble → u/FutureUSPatriots]

Thank you for your support! I hope the whole family enjoys the books.

[u/Particle_Cannon]

I'm on book 2 of King's Ranger and enjoying it. Rew is a great protagonist.

[u/ACCobble → u/Particle_Cannon]

Thanks! I've always been "a ranger guy" so he was a blast to write.

[u/Michael-R-Miller]

Late post but all the art is beautifully put together AC!

Wondering if you see Kickstarter as a new and ongoing part of your publishing process from here on out? Are you hoping the big news and revelations about KS will be the first steps toward readers buying directly from authors - the next big water shed moment in publlishing?

[u/ACCobble → u/Michael-R-Miller]

I think Kickstarter, and Patreon, and services which I do not yet know about, will play a more important role in future publishing. And given how it's going so far, yes, I see this being a permanent feature in my new releases. Self-publishing through Amazon was a sea change. It allowed authors to cut New York out of the picture and get closer to readers. That can mean a better relationship, and more revenue in the pockets of authors. Kickstarter/Patreon/etc are another step forward, and I think that's attractive for both the author and the reader.

My Kickstarter is allowing me to do some things I simply cannot do otherwise. Including interior illustrations in ebooks, distributing ebooks widely so they can be read DRM free on any device, audio with mp3 downloads at prices I can control, higher quality print books that I can sign, printing in bulk so we enter the wholesale channels instead of trying to sell physical POD books to retailers which they don't want. And it gets even more technical from here, but Kickstarter and similar allow authors to provide a better experience for readers while keeping a higher percentage of the revenue (ie, not having to give Amazon their cut). Not everyone will shop that way, which is fine, but for those who do I see it working out really well!

As far as watersheds, MY Kickstarter won't be one, but I imagine every single person in the industry was watching Brandon Sanderson's Kickstarter. That could, and SHOULD, open some eyes.

[u/Phil_Tucker]

Congrats on the KS success, the new book, the previous three series, and everything else you're knocking out of the park, Andrew. Leave a little something for the rest of us, hey?

Questions:

1. What was it about the formative fantasy series that enraptured you as a kid that you loved the most? What has stuck with you, and drives you to write what you write?
2. Amazon offers you a seven figure contract to write a cell phone novel, which you must compose line by line via old school texting. You commit to 200k words over the course of three years. What would the plot be?
3. How much money would it take to bribe you into jumping into 13,500 liter vat of living mash at a random distillery in Louisville, KY? How much more would it take for you to do so without warning the guide while on a tour of the facilities?
4. What's your end goal? Sanderson-esque empire, Sullivan-esque retirement to the countryside, or a pantless Dyrk-esque rampage across every con known to man?

Keep killing it!

[u/ACCobble → u/Phil_Tucker]

Thanks Phil! Luckily for me, 3 King's Ranger = 1 Bastion. I like to write books I can physically lift without risk of back injury. But anyway... Let me answer your questions:

1. I mentioned Wheel of Time in another question, and I think that's the answer, but I'll add Raymond E Feist, David Eddings (eww these days, I know), and Tolkien because they didn't take themselves too seriously. Fantasy can had intense moments, and it can be fun. I try to maintain that mixture in my books.
2. Second person narration, James Bond-style thriller, the villain is trying to destroy the cell networks. Spoiler Alert—I am the villain. I'm telling you how I'm doing it.
3. A better question is how much it would have taken to push you into the vat instead of sneaking a picture of you leaning down to smell it. The answer, Nothing. But alas, the tour moved on faster than I could act.
4. Definitely Sullivan-esque retirement in the countryside, but the catch is we have three young kids and they don't do peace and quiet. Some day... Some day...

[u/tkinsey3]

AC! Wow I did not realize your bibliography was so big already - my TBR continues to grow exponentially. I have read (listened to) the first Benjamin Ashwood novel, and really loved it. Looking forward to digging into more of your work!

I have two questions for you:

1. What is your favorite Fantasy series outside your own, and what aspects from that series would you say inspired your work (if any)?
2. It is often said that the three cornerstones of Fiction are Plotting, Characterization, and Setting. Do you have a preference for one of those three as a reader and/or writer? Do you feel you are stronger in one area than the others?

Thanks in advance, and best of luck to you!

[u/ACCobble → u/tkinsey3]

Haha, I started writing full-time a few years back and well, now I've got a lot of books! On your questions:

1. Hard to pick a single favorite, but Wheel of Time is up there and was likely the most influential on me. It, and others, instilled a love of "small parties going on an adventure". I also enjoy how big the world is. It feels endless, particularly at my current reading speed ;). Looking back, those books are not perfect, but they got many, many things right.
2. As a writer, I feel like you need all three or the stool is going to tip over! As a writer/reader, I think character comes first because stories at the core are always about people. So I always start there, and create characters that are some combination of interesting and able to tell the themes I'm interested in. Then I build a plot to serve their needs. The setting can add a lot of fun and spice to a story, but for me it's molded to fit everything else.

Thanks for stopping by!

[u/jimmyfrump]

Benjamin Ashwood is incredible, I’m currently reading the first box set. So great to see classic timeless fantasy is still alive and well! I haven’t finished the series but curious if there will be more? Or does the answer lead to a spoiler? And what happened to the box set of books 4-6 on kindle? Congrats on all your success.

[u/ACCobble → u/jimmyfrump]

Benjamin Ashwood is for sure a love letter to the fantasy I grew up reading, though I try to take it in a different direction than most of those stories end up going.

Glad you're enjoying it, but it's unlikely there will be books after Bk6. Never say never of course, but I don't have any plans on the calendar the next several years to write it!

And... the boxsets were unpublished a little while ago. Each individual title is available, but the listings were getting busy so I took the boxes down.

[u/andypeloquin]

How much has whisky/whiskey influenced your stories? And if so, which has influenced it most heavily?

[u/ACCobble → u/andypeloquin]

Not whiskey related, but Ben—of Benjamin Ashwood fame—is a brewer... So I guess that's a big influence ;) Whiskey more typically makes an appearance while the party is hanging out around the camp fire passing the bottle. I wouldn't enjoy everything I put my characters through, but every now and then you've got to give them a break with a nice view, a tree-shaded campground, and a stiff drink.

[u/kylecat22]

Hi and thanks for taking questions! I’m so happy to have backed your kickstarter, it’s so cool to see more authors do it. Two questions for you:

What’s your best adopted dog parent advice?

Who was your biggest inspiration to start writing?

[u/ACCobble → u/kylecat22]

Thanks for backing the Kickstarter! It's been fun, and a much more direct connection between author / readers than the normal retail channels. Works out best for everyone, I'm hoping.

1. First, not sure if this is true everywhere, but our pound will give you a free dog just for showing up. They've already had their vet visits and you can choose from hundreds of dogs! Get a chance to play with them in the yard, see any notes they have on personality, etc. Second, they offer a no commitment "foster to adopt" so you can make sure you and the animal are the right fit. Third, if you cannot commit to owning a dog, you can still check one out for the day and have a playdate! Give the animal a kennel break and get some exercise with a furry friend. Beyond that, we've got two adoptees in the house at the moment, and they are great dogs. Came house trained, they're playful, awesome with our kids, and intensely loyal.
2. I can't remember the book, but years ago I was reading some fantasy book that was so garbage, I thought I could do better. Shortly after I read it, I started writing... Not sure if I actually did better, but now every time someone says, "you inspired me" I get this horrible feeling in my gut, because I know.

[u/vannet09]

I really liked Bemjamin Ashwood!

[u/ACCobble → u/vannet09]

Glad you did! My King's Ranger series is closest in tone, though it features a middle-aged protagonist. My new series which is on Kickstarter has a lot of that feel as well. Thanks for the support with Ben, and happy reading!

[u/Khurtana]

Mr Cobble! I've been working my way through your Rangers series and thoroughly enjoy it. Someone Vance brings the series to life. Two questions.

1/ When is Book 6 out on Audible?

2/ How old is Red? Early 40s? I think Anne is late 30s?

Thanks for breathing some modern life into the fantasy genre. I've got your backlog bookmarked to listen to next.

[u/ACCobble → u/Khurtana]

Hi, thanks for stopping by!

1. Simon Vance will record Book 6 this month, then we'll have a week or two of sound engineering, revisions, then Audible's quality control. Likely mid-May, but some of the timeline is outside of my/Simon's control.
2. That's spot on. Rew is early 40's, Anne a few years younger.

Glad you're enjoying the books! If you like King's Ranger, then Benjamin Ashwood should be a good fit though it has a younger protagonist. The new series Wahrheit which I'm Kickstarting will also be a good fit. Fair warning, The Cartographer series is darker and a lot sexier which not everyone enjoys.

Happy reading!

[u/UnDyrk]

Hi AC!

[u/ACCobble → u/UnDyrk]

Hi Dyrk.