Joshua P. Simon - The Accidental Author

Podium Publishing has released the final book in the The Tyrus Chronicle, Forever Soldiers, as an audiobook.

Check it out here through audible.com.


Months have passed since Tyrus ended a decade of war between Turine and Genesha by destroying the Geneshan's sorcerous artifact. He had hoped that taking his family south would grant him the peace he desired, but even in the Southern Kingdoms, war welcomes him instead.

Ava strikes a deal with the Southern Kingdom leaders to protect her brother, taking his place in their fight to protect their lands from invading forces. Having spent her adult life entrenched in battle, Ava doesn't hold any illusions as to what awaits her. A new land, a new language, and new obstacles reinforce what she already knows - nothing in life is easy. Her men, an entire nation, and, most of all, her family, depends on her success.

Without a call of war to answer, Tyrus leads his group of settlers to their new town, taking on the role of mayor with the skills he has honed for more than a decade - assess, prioritize, plan, execute. When memories of the past begin to cloud his judgement, he is forced into a new kind of war. One he doesn't know he can or wants to fight.

Once a solider, forever a soldier.

Podium Publishing has released Resurrected Soldiers, the third book in The Tyrus Chronicle as an audiobook.

Check it out here through audible.com.


Resurrected Soldiers is the third book in the military fantasy series The Tyrus Chronicle.

Tyrus never thought he'd see war again, but to save his family he must once again accept its sickening embrace. By night, painful memories of past battles haunt his dreams. By day, the nightmare continues as he commands an army against impossible odds to destroy the Geneshan artifact responsible for the near destruction of Turine. Worrying about friends and family both near and far, he wonders if he'll ever truly know peace.

Ava promised her brother she would take his kids and those traveling with them to the safety of the Southern Kingdoms. She didn't think it would be an easy journey, but she couldn't have foreseen facing roving armies in addition to battling the unexpected obstacles of the bleak land. She is forced into a role she never wanted, being a leader. With so many relying on her, she hopes past experiences and the fraction of sorcery still under her command will be enough for her to succeed.

Just a quick blog post to let you know that Wayward Soldiers is now available as an audiobook through Podium Publishing.

Check it out here through audible.com.


Wayward Soldiers is the second book in the military fantasy series The Tyrus Chronicle.

Tyrus expected his world to change once the Geneshan War ended. He expected it to change more once he finally reunited with his family.

He did not foresee that the biggest upheaval to his world would be caused by Turine sorcerers tampering with an ancient Geneshan artifact in the capital city of Hol.

The land stands devastated and covered in a haze. Sorcerers are unable to use their power. The king and capital are likely destroyed. Raiders seek to profit in a world without law.

Tyrus decides that he must get his loved ones to the safety of the Southern Kingdoms if they are to have any chance of surviving. The quick flight he plans turns into a labored journey when local townsfolk join his party. Expecting only new dangers now before him, Tyrus fails to anticipate old ones haunting his steps.

As I referenced a few months ago, Podium Publishing is producing The Tyrus Chronicle into audiobooks.

Today is the official release of Forgotten Soldiers, the first of four books in the series.

Podium Publishing has made a strong name for themselves over the last several years as a producer of high-quality audiobooks. They've done an excellent job with this first book. Steven Brand is the narrator. He has a great reputation and has worked with several best-selling authors. I think he captured the tone of Tyrus and the story perfectly. You can find out more about them at their website, www.podiumpublishing.com.

Click here to check out a sample and/or to purchase.


Forgotten Soldiers is the first book in the military fantasy The Tyrus Chronicle.

The Turine army is on the brink of victory against the Geneshans. Sergeant Tyrus and his unit are tasked to steal an artifact from the enemy that some believe has the power to destroy the world. Taking such power from the Geneshans would end the decade long war.

Upon their success, Tyrus’s unit is among the first wave of soldiers discharged from the army. War has robbed him of time with his wife and children, but now the life he has dreamed of every day for the last ten years is just a long journey away.

Traveling home, Tyrus finds the world he left behind changed in ways he never expected. His own countrymen view returning soldiers as a threat. His own townsmen want to forget he even existed. Danger is everywhere. His dream is in jeopardy.

Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.
-Ferris Bueller

I thought that quote was a good way to start off this post. It definitely speaks to how I feel lately. Juggling family, work, writing, powerlifting, and other hobbies, I’m admittedly pretty worn out. The last few months have been especially tiring. I say all that because I know my blog posts are few and far between and honestly, I don’t know if that will change any time soon.

However, I do want to make a conscious effort to at least provide updates on my writing several times of year as news comes in.

Therefore, I’m happy to announce that The Epic of Andrasta and Rondel books have new covers!

I liked the original covers as I felt they had a pulp feel to them that fit with the sword & sorcery/action adventure genre the stories fall into. But despite positive feedback on the stories and characters themselves, the series has never really gained traction like Blood & Tears or The Tyrus Chronicle.

So in an effort to bring more readers to the series, I had Mario Teodosio (creator of The Tyrus Chronicle covers) redo the Andrasta and Rondel covers in his style. Check them out below and leave your thoughts in the comments. Personally, I think they came out great!

This was a very tough list to make this year as there were quite a few solid releases that were all roughly at the same level of quality. Not a huge gap between numbers 5 and 1. Also not a huge gap with the albums that didn’t make the top five.

5. Spiritual Beggars – Sunrise to Sundown
Such an underrated band. Hard Rock at its best.




4. Charred Walls of the Damned – Creatures Watching Over the Dead
Ripper once again strikes gold.




3. Killswitch Engage – Incarnate
Another solid release.




2. Necromancing the Stone – Jewel of the Vile
Just wanted to add that I originally checked these guys out because of their name. I thought it was a funny reference to the two 1980 movies (Romancing the Stone and Jewel of the Nile). I was pleasantly surprised to learn that these guys were way more than just a silly band name. Great musicianship.




1. Anthrax – For All Kings
Not quite as good as Worship Music, but still an unbelievable release. One of the few bands out there that seem to be getting better with age.

I have some great news that I wanted to share with everyone.

A few weeks ago, I was approached by Podium Publishing to bring The Tyrus Chronicles to audiobook.

Podium Publishing has made a strong name for themselves over the last several years as a producer of high-quality audiobooks. Most notably, they produced Andy Weir’s The Martian which won a ton of industry awards. The Martian is considered to be one of the best-selling audiobooks of all time and the first audiobook to receive over a hundred thousand ratings. Skimming through the reviews of other books in their catalog, it seems they select stories that resonate well with their target audience. You can find out more about them at their website, www.podiumpublishing.com.

Given the above, I was excited to have a discussion with them about The Tyrus Chronicles and glad we were able to reach contract terms that satisfied us both.

I don’t have a specific date on when the first audiobook will be released just yet, but based on what I know now, please keep a look out for them in 2017.