Henchman Press

07/22/2024

Out now in Kindle and print from Henchman Press: Tales of the E-4 Mafia!

They are specialists, corporals, and petty officers. They are the military personnel who have learned some leadership and gained expertise in their specialty. “Work smarter, not harder” is their watch phrase, followed by “If you aren’t cheating, you aren’t trying”.

They are masters of avoiding work, getting up to shenanigans, and, when a mission needs to be completed or job done, it’s an E-4 that others turn to. They are the near mythical E-4 Mafia, and their ability to avoid work, solve problems, and create trouble is the stuff of legend.

Here are eleven stories of the E-4 Mafia in a variety of settings and situations that are sure to thrill and entertain anyone with an interest in military fiction, science fiction, a sense of humor and the curiosity to peek under the rug to see what got swept there when something needed done.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D5VYCM4W

Featuring stories by:

• Dan Kemp • Keith Hedger
• Michael LaVoice • Scott Riechek
• Andrew Heymann • Gail Sanders
• Charles R. Scott • Ray Daley
• Barb Caffrey • Joshua Hill
• Gaige Mosher • Chris Sommercorn

09/24/2022

Out now - Swords of Rasna by Gustavo Bondoni!

The Etruscan nation is about to be wiped from the face of the Earth by the advancing Roman armies.

A master tactician and the only man who knows how to effectively apply Etruscan black magic on the battlefield, General Velthur Leinie is the only man standing between his people and subjugation.

But the Romans are implacable and Velthur retreats, abandoning city after agonizing city.

His only choice is to ask the Etruscan lords of the underworld, Manus and Mania, for their help.

Velthur won’t know the price until after they’ve agreed to help... but surrender is unthinkable.

05/21/2022

Respect where due.

10/25/2021

08/30/2021

Leo and I have decided to put together an anthology or two. The first one on the docket: “Hellions in H-somewhere”

The rules for submissions: must tie into a universe for which you (or Henchman Press) hold publishing rights. (Please note that playing in another author’s world must be blessed by the author.) The story needs to take place in a location which begins with the letter H (*excluding* Hell—maximum creativity, folks). The word “hellion” must be contained in the story at least once—story title does not count.

The anthologies are Peggey Projects—not Leo—and should be submitted to Peggey Rowland at [email protected] by December 1, 2021.

07/25/2021

Out now - Stuck In Magic by Chris Nuttall, first in a new series spinning off from Schooled In Magic!

Elliot Richardson thought he’d lost everything.

He’d come home from deployment to find his wife cheating on him, his sons strangers and his life in tatters. Driving away, unsure where he was going, he fell through an interdimensional rift and found himself in a very different world, a city of magic and mystery and dangers beyond his comprehension, a land spinning out of control as innovations from the distant west unsettle the monarchy and challenge the position of the aristocrats and warlords that hold the kingdom in their grasp.

Powerless and alone, with no way home, Elliot struggles to survive long enough to make a new life. But as war looms on the horizon, he finds himself forced to use his skills to make a name for himself, all too aware that the slightest slip will mean instant death - or worse.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09B6FQ1XB/

Stuck In Magic: A Schooled In Magic spinoff

07/23/2021

Next week, Hench returns with a new title from Chris Nuttall!

Elliot Richardson thought he’d lost everything.

He’d come home from deployment to find his wife cheating on him, his sons strangers and his life in tatters. Driving away, unsure where he was going, he fell through an interdimensional rift and found himself in a very different world, a city of magic and mystery and dangers beyond his comprehension, a land spinning out of control as innovations from the distant west unsettle the monarchy and challenge the position of the aristocrats and warlords that hold the kingdom in their grasp.

Powerless and alone, with no way home, Elliot struggles to survive long enough to make a new life. But as war looms on the horizon, Elliot finds himself forced to make use of his skills to make a name for himself, all too aware that the slightest slip will mean instant death - or worse.

06/08/2021

Here’s to the henchmen! The mooks, the goons, the supporting cast – the cannon fodder, the spear-carriers, the bit-part extras whose usual role is to get their asses kicked by a hero being heroic or a villain being dangerous.

This anthology is their turn in the spotlight.

To celebrate the return of Henchman Press (the origin of our name *is* our founder’s vision of ‘publishing as a service’ – with the publishing team being back-end support), we’re requesting submissions to our first anthology… one where the nameless lackeys and uncredited extras can get their fifteen minutes of fame, or at least a bit of humanisation.

Stories can be from any moral perspective – “Redshirts” might be a white-hat counterpart, but John Scalzi’s taken that one. “Expendables” also fits, but we don’t want to hear from Sylvester Stallone’s lawyers either. However, if you want to write inside an existing universe that you do have rights to, please feel free – we will make no claim to any concepts, characters, settings, plot points or any other elements.

We’re looking for 10-12 stories of between 5-10K words, although we won’t turn down a good one that might run a little bit over, and pay (per story) will be 5% of the anthology’s revenue – starting, of course, from the first dollar. Stories are due by 1 August 2021, with a release date (ebook and print) intended for 1 November, 2021.

Please email submissions to Associate Publisher Peggey Rowland at [email protected]!

05/19/2021

Fair Warning: The HenchWench will be at FantaSci! Prepare yourselves!

04/11/2021

After consultation with author, editor, and other stakeholders, we've made a decision.

There's been a H-shaped hole in the indie publishing world for a year and a half now; I (Leo) hadn't realized just *how* we were missed; and... well, to get to the point:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scz2qcgZqDc

Os Mercenários 2 Arnold Schwarzenegger: I'M BACK!

02/19/2021

While Henchman Press has “left the table” (so to speak), I think we would be remiss to fail in our opportunity to thank Toni Weisskopf for everything she has done for Leo (and me) over the years—from offering sound advice to making us laugh at conventions. The fact that any convention would withdraw an invitation to such an amazing person offends me. When science fiction “fandom” chooses to limit itself to “the world” it cuts itself off from the rest of the universe.
They can have their world.
We’ll just content ourselves with the universe.