Author

Ian H. McKinley

Ian H. McKinley is a Canadian diplomat and writer of “fantastic realism,” fantasy that escapes the tropes of pure good versus ultimate evil. Rather, Ian’s narratives are driven by alignments and/or collisions of human interests and values.

He is also an avid Blood Bowl player having won the prestigious 2021 Border Princes tournament as well as the Championship of the Longueuil Conference of the mighty Kasse Gueule. He is currently notorious for his offensive contributions to the Ottawa-Gatineau Blood Bowl League Facebook page.

WHERE TO FIND IAN’S BOOKS
Harbinger: Book One of Northern Fire (Amazon.ca)
The Broken Dream: Book Two of Northern Fire (Amazon.ca)
The Gallows Gem of Prallyn (Amazon.com)
Hard copies (ask Ian directly)

(Full biography)

Webseries

36: Now you die!

Ian H. McKinley
Nytmir Curseweaver’s screech filled Umberto’s ears as he bounded up the stone staircase that curved around the outside of the cylindrical granary in the El Bosque Quarter. He hoped the Xonyxas were following him because he’d need help … if he made it on time. His heart was pounding in his chest, he…
Webseries

35: We can’t actually murder the little shit

Ian H. McKinley
We can’t actually murder the little shit. Right, Karolyse said in response to his declaration, because murder’s bad. Umberto shook his head. No, it’s not that. We need him alive, see. They were using Cassandra Thordwall’s “office” in the Kingfisher Inn down by the docks. He had asked Karolyse as the…
Webseries

34: Viper-bitten Dark Elves!

Ian H. McKinley
As unappealing as the thought was, Jacyntha realized it was her only chance: striking out for Dark Elf land. She could finally see the shadowed shore off to starboard and now she needed courage. Saying it out loud, even if only to herself alone in her darkened cabin, helped. Mytilan’s navy wasn’t…
Webseries

33: She’s gone into hiding.

Ian H. McKinley
The players reacted to his news well-enough, or so Umberto thought at any rate. The Xonyxas glanced at each other and he recognized the same trepidation he had seen in the eyes of his foes many a times just before a fight started. And yet, despite whatever worry they felt, they looked ready … for…
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32: Our captain has deserted us?

Ian H. McKinley
Cassandra Thordwall had been sitting with her feet up on the table she used as a desk in the Kingfisher Inn: now she slipped her boots off the table, sat up straight, and glared at Umberto. “Hard to say, boss,” her bodyguard answered. “I spoke to a stevedore down on the wharves, see. He attended two…
Webseries

31: I’m not going back.

Ian H. McKinley
Jacyntha planted her fists on her hips, trying to project the image of a determined footy player. Such pretences were become easier and easier to pull off. Indeed, they were feeling less and less like pretences at all. “Don’t be daft, daughter. Of course you are.” Her mother’s cabin on board her…
Webseries

30: Æthelstan the Angry!

Ian H. McKinley
As the echoes of the stadium crier’s voice died down, half of the already rancorous crowd erupted in fury. Some lunged at the wooden palisades separating them from their rival fans, others pulled up the benches and flung them onto the pitch, yet others threw missiles consisting mostly of worm-eaten…
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29: Out loud!

Ian H. McKinley
Karsgaard Neuvil extended a quivering hand to Jacyntha, a hand that gripped a league broadsheet. She was to read out the Sommer Sea Football League standings to her teammates so that everyone might understand their situation. She unfolded the document and laid it on the table of the groundskeeper’s…
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28: Out of my way!

Ian H. McKinley
Pierce Rosethorn despite carrying a grand bouquet of flowers, dodged out of the way of the hand Jacyntha thrust at him to push him away. “I keep telling you,” he said, “the moment you lay a finger on me is the moment I retire.” She turned on him. “Gimme those!” She snatched the bouquet of flowers,…
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27: Foul play most vile!

Ian H. McKinley
Cassandra Thordwall rolled her eyes. Duc Tancred de Baston blustered on. “I doth concede the abduction and ransom are meet given the nature of the campaign and my personal defeat.” He certainly hadn’t thought his abduction was fair play in the aftermath of its occurrence. He’d squealed like a stuck…