Monster Punk Horizon
The Story of Edie Skye
OK y’all, it’s time for the epic story of how this whole Titan Mage thing happened, so buckle up and grab some popcorn:
It begins in 2020.
One of my jobs as writer/author wife/handler/marketer/general awesome person is to research keywords for our books’ Amazon ads. One of the places I look for keyword ideas is the also-boughts on our books, and for some reason, the also-boughts of Jacob’s anime-inspired giant mech series, Seraphim Revival, were loaded with … harem books.
The Seraphim Revival is perhaps the least spicy thing either of us has ever written, so naturally I was curious and started looking into the featured titles.
Which is when Jacob walked into my office and saw my computer screen full of booby book covers.
I joked, “We’re writing the wrong books, Jacob.”
Jacob joked, “You should write a harem novel.”
I joked, “You write the outline and design the babes and I’ll do it.”
I neglected to realize that Jacob was between projects at the time.
It was also the beginning of lockdown. Which meant he was at home. With free time.
And Jacob’s brain is not one to sit idle.
Which is why he came to me later with 5 outlines for a complete series of harem novels, complete with a sci-fi-inspired elemental magic system, a mech upgrade system, character details for the main cast, and the first few chapters, just because.
***
There’s slightly more to it than that, though. Y’all know I struggle with OCD (and it’s the primary reason why my writing/writing process is often so chaotic).
We didn’t know it was OCD in early 2020, but we did know there was a problem – manifesting heavily in my inability to write consistently, among other more practical problems – and one of Jacob’s suggested solutions to help me over this hump was for him to outline a project and oversee details of the world, and me to do the actual writing.
One of my greatest challenges pre-OCD diagnosis was simply managing the complex details/consistency of my own world in The Wizard’s Circus (the sequel to The Wizard’s Way, still in progress). This way – with Jacob in charge of the basic foundation – if I had a question about the world, I could just ask him for the answer instead of trying to make up one and thus accidentally overcomplicate things.
I resisted the idea, partly because it felt like admitting defeat – that I couldn’t write a book on my own – and partly because we didn’t really have a concept that we wanted to collaborate on at the time.
Until I was formally diagnosed with OCD in late 2020.
Being able to put a name to the monster I faced changed how I approached the monster. I now had a specific lens through which to analyse my problem and as a result could pinpoint how it was manifesting in my writing, and how to fix it.
At the time, The Wizard’s Circus was a hot mess and I didn’t have the skills to address all its flaws. So I decided to rebuild my writing techniques and style from the ground up, keeping my OCD tendencies in mind and playing to my strengths. The result was Monster Punk Horizon.
However, around that time, Jacob and I also remembered his earlier suggestion – that he outline something for me to write. MPH was already well on its way by that point – and my confidence in my own writing back up, since it was wholly of my own imagination – and so I was more open to writing something that had already been laid out by someone else.
Plus there was something totally hilarious about collaborating with my husband on a harem novel.
And the sheer ridiculousness of that situation unlocked something inside my brain while I was writing it. The first draft of Titan Mage was done in less than a month, and it required very little editing from Jacob.
It showed me that, despite my years of struggling to finish a book, I had it in me to write quickly, and well.
Titan Mage, then, sure, started as a joke.
But it – and Jacob’s help through it – also played a pivotal role in helping me wrangle the monster that is my OCD.
So in a way, it’s also a strange little love letter.
Monster Punk Horizon is a #1 Best Seller! 😀
Hey, Holo fans! 😀 I was doodling on Amazon at the ridiculous hours of last night when I came upon this delightful little screen:
Which is to say, as of Christmas night, Monster Punk Horizon is a #1 Best Seller on Amazon’s Steampunk Fiction booklist! 😮 It’s the dream of every author to see that bright orange tag next to their books – and this is the first time it’s ever happened to me – so I have to say, from the bottom of my weird, hyperactive author heart:
THANKS A BUNCH. 😊
Authors don’t become Best Sellers without the support of readers, and it’s because of you all that I was able to achieve one of my lifelong dreams.
And speaking of my new series … if you haven’t tried it out yet, this is the perfect week to do so! 😀
From now through Wednesday, December 29th, the Monster Punk Horizon eBook is just $.99 and Isekai Skies (#2) is just $1.99, so if you’ve been curious to check out this strange little product of an overactive imagination and too many video games, now’s your chance! 😀
It’s Excess’ Launch Week!
Another month, another book launch! 🥳 We’re sending 2021 off with a bang, which is to say: the third book in the Monster Punk Horizon series, Excess 😀 – and a collaboration between both Jacob and H.P. – so if you’re a fan of our new GameLit fantasy adventure comedy, read on!
(Or, if you’re totally new to it, peruse our videos for Book 1 and Book 2 to see what it’s all about! 😄)
As always, we’re packing this week with a series of videos that provide a deeper look into Excess and the general world of Monster Punk Horizon, leading up to an official launch party on Thursday, December 23rd, complete with live chatter and prizes galore! Check out the schedule below to see what we have in store this time around, and be sure to follow us on Facebook, YouTube, and Twitch to receive notifications when our videos go live! 😀
And of course, don’t forget that you can preorder Excess now on Amazon – or read it starting Thursday on Kindle Unlimited!
Excess Launch Week Events
- Monday, December 20th @ 8PM EST – H.P. and Jacob Talk Excess
- Tuesday, December 21st @ 8PM EST – The Art of Monster Punk Horizon
- Wednesday, December 22nd @ 8PM EST – H.P. and Jacob Read Excess: Chapter 1
- Thursday, December 23rd @ 8PM EST – Excess Virtual Launch Party ✨ LIVE WITH PRIZES ✨
The Isekai Skies audiobook is out!
Another month, another audiobook! 😀 Monster Punk Horizon #2: Isekai Skies is now out on Audible and ready for your enjoyment! 😄
Tess Irondale once again did a fabulous job bringing all of H.P.’s characters to auditory life, and we’re excited to continue sharing her work with you.
Especially since readers, thus far, seem to be enjoying Book 2 as much as – if not more than – the first one! 😄
Check out what some have had to say:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I loved the first book with all my heart and the second one has ear wormed right into my very being! Sometimes you worry that a sequel just won’t stand up to the first. Especially when the first book was as amazing as Monster Punk Horizon … but fear not. Isekai Skies has risen to the challenge and surpassed my hopes! New characters to love and new monsters to awaken our imaginations. Jaz, Pix and the Dragon Pig Pirates are kicking ass and taking names once again! Don’t miss an exciting moment! On to book 3!
Frances Cooper
Amazon Reviewer⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ WOW. This book is unlike any other I have ever read! Being the second book in a series, I was pretty nervous, because I feel like second books tend to be less spectacular than the first. But this sequel did not disappoint one bit! It was so enjoyable to read – there are few books that make me audibly laugh out loud, but I’m so glad that this is one of them!
The way the author ties in these classic nerdy elements is incredible and nostalgic. The character development is outstanding – the characters stay consistently themselves, so you still know and love them while reading, but they also have so much growth throughout the story as well.
I had no idea where the plot was going to go after the first book, and I definitely didn’t expect it to go the way it did, but I have zero qualms about it. And the magic systems and fantasy world building is so awesome – unlike anything I’ve ever read. Literally, just wow. Such a fun read – can’t wait to read the third book!
Melisa Longhurst
Amazon Reviewer⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ … Imaginative, inventive and light-hearted …
Isekai Skies follows in the same vein as Monster Punk Horizon, where the two main protagonists Jaz and Pix become embroiled in more shenanigans. This time with the aid of Kaito, who has mysteriously been sucked through a portal from a future Earth. Kaito thinks he is in some sort of fantasy adventure, and it is up to Jaz and Pix to keep him in one piece.
I love [this] pair, they are such a refreshing change from the normal, run of the mill heroines. They are so good as a double act, and yet they are as different as chalk and cheese. I find the banter between them clever and full of humour. They are backed up with an array of terrific characters, friends and foes alike. Kaito’s initial naivety does make for interesting reading as he gets to grip with his new surroundings … Isekai Skies is more character-driven than anything, and it is not surprising, considering the talent on show. That does not mean the storyline is lacking because it isn’t. It is packed with action and adventure, and there is never a dull moment.
Isekai Skies is a thoroughly entertaining and engaging read, and I enjoyed every little bit.
John Derek
Goodreads ReviewerWe hope you enjoy it as much as these did! 😄
It’s Isekai Skies’ Launch Week!
Monster Punk Horizon has been out in the wild a little over a month, which means that it’s almost time for Monster Punk Horizon #2: Isekai Skies to make its debut! 😀
Like last time, H.P. has planned a fun week of readings and chats to lead up to its release on Thursday, November 18th. Check out the schedule below to see what she has in store this time around, and be sure to follow us on Facebook, YouTube, and Twitch to receive notifications when her videos go live!
And of course, don’t forget that you can preorder Isekai Skies now on Amazon – or read it starting Thursday on Kindle Unlimited! 😄
Isekai Skies Launch Week Events
- Sunday, November 14th @ 8pm EST – H.P. Talks Isekai Skies
- Monday, November 15th @ 8pm EST – H.P. Reads Isekai Skies: Chapter 1
- Tuesday, November 16th @ 8pm EST – H.P. Reads Isekai Skies: Chapter 2
- Wednesday, November 17th @ 8pm EST – H.P. Reads Isekai Skies: Chapter 3
- Wednesday, November 17th @ 8:20pm EST – H.P. Reads Isekai Skies: Chapter 4
- Thursday, November 18th @ 8pm EST – Isekai Skies Virtual Launch Party ✨ LIVE WITH PRIZES! ✨
The Monster Punk Horizon audiobook is out!
Hey, Holo fans! 😀 You’ve been waiting patiently, and now we’re pleased to announce that the Monster Punk Horizon audiobook is now live and loose in the wild! 😄
I had such a blast working with Tess Irondale on the Time Reavers audiobook several years ago that there was no question of who I wanted to voice the Monster Punk Horizon series. She’s brought the antics of Pix, Jaz, and company alive with aplomb, and I’ve been eager to share it with you since the moment I heard the very first samples.
Speaking of which, here’s a glimpse:
I’m equally eager to hear what you all think of it! 😄 Reader reactions to the book thus far have been wonderful and wildly beyond what I expected, and it’s been a real delight to meet these new readers, whether through their reviews or on our Facebook Page. Here are some of my favorite responses:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ So imagine your gaming console, anime collection, and your box of Steve Jackson’s Munchkin got together for a wild night after you went to bed, and months later gave birth to a book. That book would be called Monster Punk Horizon.
The first few chapters left my ADD-riddled brain scrambling, trying to come to grips with the world I was being presented, and the uber-threat that soon stomps into their world, but as I became comfortable with the knowledge I’d signed on for a wild ride, I just buckled in and got my popcorn ready. MPH is an irreverent good time, loaded with wild, funny and colorful characters.
If you are at all a fan of isekai anime, or Monster Hunter or just a redonkulous good time, pick up Monster Punk Horizon.
Philip K. Booker
Amazon Reviewer⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ HILARIOUS FUN!!! … I haven’t read many books that make me audibly laugh out loud, so I’m very glad I gave this book a chance, because now I can add it to that list! SO. MANY. FUNNY. MOMENTS. As someone who enjoys nerdy, Dungeons-and-Dragons-inspired adventures, this was an absolute thrill to read. The content was very geared for nerdy fans, but the humor and relatable characters made it easy for any reader to understand and have a good time reading!
Melisa
Goodreads Reviewer⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I had to look twice when I spotted this book. I am a huge Monster Hunter fan. I’ve played for thousands of hours for well over a decade and a half. So to say I was excited to find a book about living that kind of life was an understatement!
This book was an adventure. It was exciting, suspenseful, and I loved the characters. The action kept me flipping those pages as fast as I could … This book brought so much nostalgia and I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face.
Nina Diab
Amazon Reviewer⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Monster Punk Horizon by H.P. Holo is by far the best book I’ve read all year. The writing is top notch with all the witty dialogue and narration. The whole setting is absolutely insane in the best of ways. All the characters are great as well as distinct. … I will definitely reread it again, I just freaking love it!
Read this book, you won’t regret it.
BookDragon
Goodreads Reviewer⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This was a good story, silly in all the right places, and not shying away from the ridiculousness built into the worldbuilding of many games … Well done!
Sarah
Amazon Reviewer⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I really enjoyed this book. The interactions with the main characters, Jaz and Pix, were highly entertaining. Though this book has some flaws, it’s exactly what I wanted it to be. It’s a fun and fast paced read with a memorable cast and great world building. I recommend this to anyone looking for a book that doesn’t take itself too seriously and wants a few laughs out of their books.
David Sherrer
Goodreads ReviewerI’m delighted that so many have already enjoyed it so much, and look forward to sharing much, much more of the Monster Punk Horizon universe with all of you. 😊
Listen to H.P. chat Monster Punk Horizon on the Blasters and Blades Podcast!
Hey, Holo fans! 😀 The Blasters and Blades Podcast invited me on to chat Monster Punk Horizon, and it was one of the most fun interviews I’ve ever done.
If you’d like a deeper look into the Monster Punk Horizon universe, or just a general good time, give it a listen! 😄
Also, if you enjoyed what you heard, make sure to follow them on Anchor.fm, Facebook, and Twitter, and if you really enjoyed what you heard, you can support the show here! 😄
H.P. Talks Monster Punk Horizon on the Blasters and Blades Podcast!
Join H.P. on the Blasters and Blades Podcast as she chats her first new series in years, GameLit Fantasy Adventure Monster Punk Horizon!
It’s Monster Punk Horizon’s Launch Week!
It’s almost time for Monster Punk Horizon to be unleashed upon the world, and H.P. has lots of fun stuff planned this week to lead up to and beyond the release day (Thursday, October 14th, BTW)! 😀
Be sure to follow us on Facebook, YouTube, and Twitch to keep up with all she has planned! Each weeknight for the next two weeks, she’ll host an online video chat exploring a different corner of the Monster Punk Horizon world, taking reader questions – and sometimes giving out signed prizes! 😮 Check out the schedule below to see what’s in store. (Links below go to YouTube and will be updated as available.)
And of course, don’t forget that you can preorder Monster Punk Horizon now on Amazon – or read it starting Thursday on Kindle Unlimited!
Monster Punk Horizon Launch Week+ Events
- Tuesday, October 12th @ 8pm EST – H.P. Talks Monster Punk Horizon
- Wednesday, October 13th @ 8pm EST – H.P. Reads Monster Punk Horizon: Chapter 1
- Thursday, October 14th @ 8pm EST – Monster Punk Horizon Virtual Launch Party ✨ WITH PRIZES! ✨
- Friday, October 15th @ 8pm EST – The World of Monster Punk Horizon
- Tuesday, October 19th @ 8pm EST – H.P. Reads Monster Punk Horizon: Chapter 2, H.P. Reads Monster Punk Horizon: Chapter 3
- Wednesday, October 20th @ 8pm EST – The Monsters of Monster Punk Horizon
- Thursday, October 21st @ 8pm EST – The Characters of Monster Punk Horizon
Isekai Skies (Monster Punk Horizon #2) Cover Reveal!
Last week, you saw a peek at Book 1 in my new GameLit adventure comedy series, Monster Punk Horizon. 😀
Now, since the second is going to crash-land soon after its release – a month, to be exact – here’s the cover reveal for Book 2! 😮
Isekai Skies (Monster Punk Horizon #2)
🌟 GameLit 🌟 Portal Fantasy 🌟 Adventure 🌟 Comedy 🌟
✨ Coming November 18th, 2021 ✨
Audio Release Date TBA
🐉🐉🐉
I Got Engaged and Ended Up in Another World!
An epic convention. An epic cosplay. An epic engagement. It was the best night of Kaito’s life—until the ground opened up beneath him.
Well, technically, a portal did. Either way, it sucked.
Now, trapped in another world with rampaging monsters, he’ll have to learn to survive. Fortunately, this world is conveniently similar to his favorite video game. And he’s got monster hunting experts (?) Pix and Jaz to show him the ropes.
With their help, he might last long enough to find a way home.
But if not, at least he’ll have fun hunting monsters before he dies!
Last week, you met my series protagonists Pix and Jaz, two girls who just want to hunt monsters and pay off their college loans. They were born and raised in the monster-dominated world under the Dazzling Skies, so named because its sky is taken up by thousands of glittering portals to other worlds, which constantly dump interesting loot and monsters for them to hunt –
And sometimes people for them to save.
Which makes the Dazzling Skies a perfect setting for an isekai story.
If you’re unfamiliar with the word – “isekai” is a Japanese term meaning “different world” and refers specifically to light novels and anime in which a character is transported from their familiar world into a fantasy world, often with distinct video game trappings.
I was indifferent to the isekai genre when I first encountered it several years ago, but as the genre developed and began to play with and parody its own tropes, I grew to love it – especially Overlord, The Rising of the Shield Hero and – I kid you not – Reborn as a Vending Machine, Now I Wander the Dungeon (Review here, btw! 😀).
And, while I hadn’t set out to write isekai stories at the inception of this series, I quickly realized that the basic structure of the world I’d set up lent itself well to such stories. This structure, in turn, would allow me to show the bizarre world of the Dazzling Skies from an outsider’s perspective.
Book 2‘s protagonist, Kaito, is from a strange world himself – a far-future version of our world where everyone has hyper-advanced biotech altering their perception of reality, and where a particularly angry breed of cow changed the course of history – but the world under the Dazzling Skies is far stranger than anything he’s ever encountered. Though, fortunately for him, it does share some similarities with his favorite Immersive Video Game series … 😉
Isekai Skies (Monster Punk Horizon #2) is set to release on Kindle Unlimited this November, and is already available for preorder.
And again, if you’d like to be one of the lucky people to read it early, be sure to join the Pug Scouts – our VIP Street Team! 😀 I’ll be sending out eARCs soon, and all you have to do in exchange for your free book is post a review once the book is live!
In the meantime, keep your eyes on the blog next week for the cover reveal of Monster Punk Horizon #3! 😀
***
Note: Holo Writing is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and, as such, may earn a small commission from any product purchased through an affiliate link on this blog.