As Lock & Load GameFest 2015 approaches, we’ve made some changes at No Quarter and at Skull Island eXpeditions that you’ll want to know about when you hit our Hangouts this coming weekend!

I: Stryker Trilogy (Aeryn Rudel)

Aeryn Rudel navigated Skull Island eXpeditions through its early days, but now he’s charting a new course: Skull Island author. And given his years of experience at Privateer Press, it should come as no surprise that his first venture into these waters would be a big tale, an epic adventure: the rise of the Cygnaran warcaster Coleman Stryker.

Slated as a trilogy covering the span of Stryker’s career, book 1—tentatively titled Flashpoint—will be published in early 2016 as a hardback release. The second and third books will follow later the same year.

“I know where the first book ends,” Aeryn says. “I’ve only just begun work on my outline, but Stryker is a fundamentally larger-than-life character. His history, both written and as-yet unexplored, covers a lot of ground.”

Flashpoint will serve as an introduction to the Iron Kingdoms for the uninitiated and as an amazing revelation for those who’ve been exploring Immoren for years. Aeryn will attend Lock & Load this year—his first public appearance as a Skull Island author—to talk about his new venture and join in the Hangout discussions.

II: Original Fiction (Miles Holmes)

Miles Holmes, author of the novella Way of Caine (Skull Island) and the ongoing serialized novella Cold Steel (No Quarter), will be at Lock & Load this year to meet and greet fans and to sign copies of the newly released Skull Island omnibus featuring Way of Caine. (Both the latest issue of No Quarter—featuring an interview with Miles—and the omnibus will be available for purchase at the Lock & Load store.)

But Miles is also the leadoff author for a new Skull Islands undertaking: original fiction. His sci-fi/fantasy novel Tales of the Invisible Hand is scheduled for release in spring of 2016 and will mark our publishing house’s first release of fiction not directly tied to the Iron Kingdoms, LEVEL 7, or other Privateer Press worlds.

Miles will be signing at Lock & Load both Saturday and Sunday, 11:30 A.M.–12:30 P.M., and will attend the event with his own WARMACHINE army, ready to battle—great opportunities to talk to him about his writing and get hints about his upcoming novel.

III: No Quarter (Lyle Lowery)

With Aeryn now writing for Skull Island, I’ve taken over as Director of Publications, and coming in to take over as the new editor-in-chief of No Quarter is Lyle Lowery, moving from marketing manager here at Privateer Press to bring his own style and vision to the magazine going forward. Lyle has some big ideas for the magazine, but that’s another topic for another day.

Of course, Lyle will be attending Lock & Load, focused primarily on live streaming, so keep an eye out for your chance to talk to him about the direction of No Quarter and congratulate him on his new gig.

IV: The Future

And all of this is just the beginning.

Discussions are underway for new Iron Kingdoms books with the biggest stories possible, all-new fiction for the LEVEL 7 line coming later this year, a new work from Doug Seacat, and as some of you may already have heard rumors of, the next book in the Malcontents series by Larry Correia. Additionally, we continue to outline a plan for publishing original horror, sci-fi, and fantasy fiction, and all of this is underscored by our move into both digital and print publications.

The Skull Island horizon is wide open. If you’re attending Lock & Load this year, come by the Skull Island and No Quarter Hangouts to talk with us about these new expeditions!