Beary Bad: The Bear who Visits Us

This late summer has been eventful, if anything. We’ve been visited nightly by a bear–a BIG bear. This bear is about 6 to 7 feet long from rump to shoulders, which might make it a grizzly. My spouse only saw him once from above and at 3 am, which made it difficult to determine the actual species beyond “big fucking bear.” Could be a black bear or a grizzly. Either way, he was BIG. He was on my front porch, if you want to know how up close and personal it was.

Alarm Llamas and Electric Fences

The reason why we know he’s been around is that Llorelei the llama has been alerting Hel herself that the bear has come around. Llamas have this alarm call that is unmistakable. Sounds like a cross between a neigh and someone yodeling. And loud!

She lets us know he’s around, which is usually around 3 am, although he’s shown up at 9 pm and 5 am. Llorelei does her job well and herds the goats behind her into the barn. We have an electric fence that serves as a deterrent, but I suppose a bear could get into the goat pen. The amperage is pretty strong on the fence, so if a bear were to touch it, it would be pretty unpleasant.

The Beary Lowdown

The bear appears to be habituated, making him dangerous to humans. He’s definitely a “trash bear,” which puts him looking towards humans for food. Not good. Some people don’t secure their trash around here, thus aggravating the problem. And according to Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, there’s been four known grizzlies in the area.

Grizzlies are protected in Montana, so unless one attacks you, you can’t shoot them. You can hunt black bears, but since the bear comes around at night, shooting isn’t an option anyway. Self defense and attacking livestock, yeah. Just being a nuisance? No.

But this is why we carry bear spray when outside, except during the coldest times when it would just freeze. Bears hibernate, but have been known to take a walk around on warmer winter days. So, we’re always prepared.

Possible Ordinances

I read on a local news site that our county is going to require bear-proof trash cans and dumpsters for all residents. We already have a bear-proof dumpster. We switched over after years of deterring bears with bungee cords on the lids. It took just one time when a bear decided it should get in our trash for us to make the switch. If this ordinance becomes law, they give everyone three years to comply. Sigh. Three years of trash bears is so not worth it.

Getting people to comply is going to be difficult. Sure, those with dumpsters will get changed over by their trash company, but those who want to just leave their stuff on the side of the road will do so. Still, stopping bears from eating trash and associating humans with food is the best way to reduce conflicts. And maybe, maybe the bear who is visiting us will figure out somewhere else to go.

Ironspell Chronicles Characters — Tuzren

Tuzren is a Daemon from the Onoys plane. He’s quick to point out that he isn’t a Christian demon, but a creature from another universe. Originally summoned to Earth’s plane by a mad wizard, Tuzren has decided that Earth is far nicer than Onoys. Don’t you dare call him a gargoyle.

Updated Website and More

Well, I’ve been behind on just about everything, so I’ve decided to at least get a quick update in and say I’ll be posting here at least once a week, which is highly ambitious for me. Even so, I need to do this to stay in touch with my fans–that’s you!–and let you know what’s been happening here. The truth is a lot of things have happened and I need to do a better job telling you what’s going on.

What to Expect in the Next Posts

What you should expect in my next posts are more newsworthy items. What I’ve been doing. Where I’m at on the next book. What promos I’m running. What cons I’ve been to. Which critters are driving me crazy…

You know, the usual stuff.

So, if you’re interested in basically everything about the Ironspell Chronicles as well as the crazy life I lead in Montana, you can find out about all that shit right here.

In the Upcoming Posts…

In the next posts I’ll be covering the following topics:

  • Miscon
  • Updates on Book 16
  • Skadi’s cancer
  • A new addition to the homestead
  • Goats
  • Free eBooks
  • Sneak peeks on the latest books

So, if you read this and leave an interesting comment here before August 1, 2023, I will put you in a drawing for something cool. What? I don’t know yet, but it will probably be something fun!

Daemon For Hire | Kindle Vella

Daemon for Hire, the new Urban Fantasy by MH Bonham (author of the Bestselling Ironspell Chronicles) now has a newly released Episode 4! First three episodes are FREE for readers. Check them out! #kindlevella #urbanfantasy

https://www.amazon.com/kindle-vella/story/B09DX38CZ6

Finished Yes, Ironspell, There is a Santa Claus

Tonight I entered “The End” on Yes, Ironspell, There is a Santa Claus. Normally, I give myself some time between editing and the first draft, but given the publication date (Christmas) and when it’s actually due on Amazon (Solstice), I’m pretty convinced I have to get it in top shape now. By the way, you can read the first chapter HERE.

This Book Surprised Me

Unsurprisingly, (see what I did there?), the ending changed from what I planned. I realized as I was writing it that the running gag was actually a major piece in the story. Since I don’t want to spoil the surprise, I’ll keep quiet about it. Order a copy, if you haven’t yet.

Frost and Fire should be out in March; You can thank Yes, Ironspell, there is a Santa Claus for that

I know, I know. I promised Frost and Fire after Hellfire, but after writing the first two chapters, I suddenly looked at the calendar and discovered it was October. So, I made up my mind to write the Christmas story first. And yeah, there is a Santa Claus in it, but this isn’t the type of bedtime story to read to your kids. Unless they’re at least teenagers. Look for Frost and Fire on Amazon. I just got the preorder up, so it might be a bit before it shows up on my series list.

If you don’t hear from me sooner, have a Merry Christmas, Happy Yule, Happy Hanukah, Merry Kwanzaa, Happy Solstice, or whatever you celebrate.

Check out a Free eBook Promo!

I love getting free stuff, and I bet you do too. That’s why I’m telling you about the Free Paranormal and Fantasy Tales promotion going on right now through the end of December. Check out the free books, and maybe you’ll find another author you enjoy.

CLICK HERE to go to the PROMO

Sneak Peek at Yes, Ironspell, There is a Santa Claus

I thought I’d offer my fans a sneak peek at the upcoming book, Yes, Ironspell, there is a Santa Claus.  My blurb for the book is as follows:

The Krampus is kidnapping children. Santa makes an unscheduled stop to ask Ironspell and his Jotun partner, Vetr, for help. Together, they must visit Hel to gain entrance to the Krampus’ stronghold. But can they rescue the children and stop the Krampus from enacting his dastardly plan?

Check out the first chapter, and be sure to preorder it right here!

Continue reading “Sneak Peek at Yes, Ironspell, There is a Santa Claus”

The Myths and Legends Behind The Ironspell Chronicles

If you’ve been a fan of mine for some time, I’d wager you probably know I take quite a bit from myths and legends. It’s not surprising to see werewolves and vampires in an urban fantasy. But what about the gods and the creatures, such as the Jotun? Well, in the next several posts, I’m going to give you insight into my crazy world and what I’ve borrowed and from where.

Norse Legends

Not surprisingly, I take from the Norse and Viking legends. The Norse had some pretty cool ideas when it came to their pantheon and the landvaettr (land spirits) that inhabited their world. The Norse had their own version of zombies, vampires, and yes, even werewolves, so I tried to blend that into my writings to provide richness in that particular world.  If you’re a fan of the Marvel comics, you know that Jotun are giants. In the myths, Jotun could be frost giants, fire giants, or something else. I tried very hard with Winter of Our Discontent and Oathbreaker to add these creatures to the story and make them believable. You’ve already seen Eir, Loki, Odin, Thor, and Tyr, not to mention Fenrir and Jormungandr, so I figure that’s pretty well covered.

What About the Christian Side?

I’ve decided to add the archangels and demons (not to be confused with Tuzren, the daemon) to the mix because Christianity has its own rich lore. I decided that dealing with the Watchers and the Angels gives me enough to work with without adding Yahweh and Jesus to the story. Sure, the Christian god is part of people’s faith, which is why I keep the story focused on the angels and demons. I figure the Christian god has enough to do without worrying about what our hero, Ironspell, is doing. Plus, he’s got angels to handle the tasks at hand.

What About Other Pantheons?

I’ll probably be adding more pantheons as the series progresses.  The Roman/Greek gods are always interesting, and probably the best known. But there are Celtic gods, Slavic gods, Hindu gods, Native American gods, and Egyptian gods. I suspect I’ll be bringing those in as the stories progress.  After all, there are plenty of rich tales in that folklore.

I’m hoping to give a little background in some of the legends I use right here as the books come out. Anyway, be free to ask questions in the comments.