James McLeod — fantasy author and narrator

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The latest news from James McLeod's desk.
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  1. In this episode of Pixorama, we're trying to breathe life into a few cute little mechanical monstrosities. Come join the adventure!PIXORAMA EPISODE DROP - ANIMATING MACHINESThe latest episode of Pixorama has just dropped, and BEEP-BOOP! We're delving back into the glory of old school computing to tackle a uniquely retro challenge…Read the full story
  2. The next instalment of the Torril City Mysterion, 'A Trace of Treachery', will see Akteron and Piria thrown into the world of Torril's high families as an old curse threatens to overwhelm the city.A TORRIL CITY SEQUEL?Jimzip here with some great news regarding the next instalment in the Aliru Anthology! I’ve been asked repeatedly of late about the follow-up to A Pinch of…Read the full story
  3. This March (2026) Jim gave away 10 copies of his books! Congratulations to the winners!THE BIG BOOK GIVEAWAY 2026 - WINNERSWell, March is officially over, and that means it's time to announce the winners of the BIG BOOK GIVEAWAY 2026!Read the full story
  4. This March (2026) Jim is giving away 10 copies of his books! Enter the sweepstakes to experience the adventure!THE BIG BOOK GIVEAWAY 2026Good gravy, it's been been 5 years since the release of Torril City, you say? That calls for a celebration! And what better way to celebrate than by giving…Read the full story
  5. In this episode of Pixorama, Jimzip whips up a custom Pokémon sprite! Come along for the ride!PIXORAMA: CUSTOM POKÉMON SPRITEIn the latest episode of Pixorama, Jimzip is delving into the era of the Game Boy Advance (GBA) to rustle up a custom Pokémon sprite!Read the full story
  6. Fantasy author Brandon Sanderson and Apple have made an 'unprecedented' deal. This is great news for fantasy fans.A GREAT TIME FOR FANTASYIt's undeniably a great time for fantasy. Nowadays, with tech capabilities and audience demand converging pleasantly like sugar and butter, we're getting a…Read the full story
  7. Reiuk hates people and loves plants, but he’ll have to overcome his inner-furor if he’s going to survive the jungle, the people, and the ancient mysteries he’s suddenly confronted with.NEW: JAMES McLEOD'S ‘THIS EMERALD CRUCIBLE' HITS THE SHELVESLadies and gentlemen, gikkans and paddoneks; after many teasers and trailers and tantalising hints, a new chapter in the world of Aliru has officially arrived!Read the full story
  8. The Mariner is a short story by James McLeod. Find it in the Short Story Library on Jimzip.com.THE MARINER SETS SAIL!Fantasy fiends, ahoy! The giving season has officially begun, so what better time to drop a little gift on you all?Read the full story
  9. James McLeod stands atop a giant book, with a starry sky behind him.INDIE AUTHOR BOOK FAIR 2026Come and meet James McLeod at The Indie Book Author Fair SUNDAY, JAN 11, 2026. 9am to 4pm Barwon Heads Community Hall, 77 Hitchcock Ave, Barwon Heads VIC 3227…Read the full story
  10. James McLeod stands before a giant translucent Apple logo in Apple Park in Cupertino California.STORYTELLERSHere's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently.Read the full story
  11. A strong young man's arms take hold of an old rope, and release if from a pier in an old white-stone harbour. Aqua water and a blue sky mean clear sailing, ahead.THE MARINER APPROACHES!Hey there, fantasy-fiends! I’m thrilled to announce that my latest short story, The Mariner, is going to drop anchor soon, with the release date set for…Read the full story
  12. Jimzip stands in a library, proudly holding a number of small books up for the viewer to see.THE LIBRARY IS OPENFantasy fans, rejoice — because today you’re in for a treat! Recently, Jimzip.com underwent a big overhaul with an entire new section added. The new Short…Read the full story
  13. Jimzip sits in a bathtub, staring in bemusement at the viewer and holding a large cigar, spoofing the official promotional poster for 'The Phoenician Scheme', the latest film by Wes Anderson.HIJINKS AND HUMOUR AND HAND-GRENADES, OH MY!It was a chilly Friday night in Melbourne when, dressed in my shabbiest woollen jacket, I stepped from the biting wind into a small cinema lobby, proving that…Read the full story
  14. The Matrix trilogy was a phenomenon in its day. Here, the cast of the Matrix Reloaded pose in a line for a promotional image, with the iconic green code backdrop.TIME TO RELOAD?Ask people what they think of The Matrix Reloaded and you’ll often get a half-smile and a shrug. “Bit of a letdown,” they might say. “Got too talky,” or…Read the full story
  15. Originally recommended to me during a TV-writing phase, McKee’s foundational screenwriting book is a secret weapon for any aspiring writer, and a north-star for existing ones.WHY 'STORY' BY ROBERT McKEE STILL MATTERSIt was back in 2007 while working on a TV series called 'Frontier' (which was politely rejected from a local network exec, but remains one of my prouder early…Read the full story
  16. A dramatic title image for This Emerald Crucible, featuring an ancient window beyond which looms a mysterious jungle city.ENTER THE CRUCIBLEIn anticipation of my upcoming fantasy adventure novel, ‘This Emerald Crucible’ (set for release this year in 2025!), I am excited to announce that we have an…Read the full story
  17. A Jimzip-droid stands in a futuristic glass tank, eyeing nobody and nothing in particular.A.I. M.E.?On the 1st of October 1950, Alan Turing published an article in the philosophical journal Mind, in which he proposed a test designed to answer the question…Read the full story
  18. Reiuk, the protagonist of 'This Emerald Crucible', is going to get more than just mud on his hands…A New Chapter in Aliru: This Emerald Crucible UpdateIt's hard to believe, but I've been working on my latest book 'This Emerald Crucible' for close to four years now. And I do feel a touch of guilt that it's…Read the full story
  19. James McLeod sits at a table amidst the bustle of the Midsumma Street Festival in Fitzroy, Australia, smiling.THANK YOU, AWESOME NERDS!A big shout out to everyone who came out to yesterday's Midsumma Street Festival. In true Melbourne fashion, the weather was unpredictable but perfect and it…Read the full story
  20. James McLeod sits at a table amidst the bustle of the Midsumma Street Festival in Fitzroy, Australia, smiling.MEET & GREETIt’s that time of year, again! The Melbourne Midsumma Street Festival will be taking place on Sunday, Feb 9th in Smith St., Fitzroy/Collingwoord. It’s a…Read the full story
  21. A small toy-model spanish galleon sits beached on the sand on a tropical island.THE R.C. PRINCIPLEOne of the most challenging aspects of writing fantasy is finding ways to navigate similes, metaphors and sayings.Read the full story
  22. James McLeod stands in the archway of an ancient ruined city, looking curiously at the camera.A Lost Civilisation?A while ago while enrolling at Manchester University, I was asked why I wanted to study Egyptology. My answer was simple: I’ve always loved ancient history…Read the full story
  23. Adventureland is a place in Disneyland where you can lose yourself to a sense of exotic exploration.AdventurelandTo all who come to this happy place, welcome. […] Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams, […] and the hope that it will be a source of joy and…Read the full story
  24. James McLeod and Michelle Miazga smile cheekily at each other in a photo promoting the Lemon Lime Vodcast.Flashback: The Lemon Lime VodcastBuried deep within the hidden corners of my YouTube channel, a series of deactivated videos sits like an unused bassline, patiently thrumming away as if…Read the full story
  25. A mysterious stone statue lies half-buried in a humid jungle clearing.Progress Report: This Emerald CrucibleIt was in February of 2018 that I recall wiping my forehead dry and taking my first deep breath of humid jungle air. Cambodia was in the midst of a stifling…Read the full story
  26. A friendly young man with stubble wearing a hawaiian shirt is sitting at a table smiling and holding a book up, as if presenting it.Come Say HiIt’s summer in Australia, which means it’s time for festivals, fairs, flings, and fun. And one festival which happens on my doorstep just happens to be…Read the full story
  27. A small pile of gourmet chocolates and a tophat with a purple ribbon sit on a wooden table.Am I Detecting Notes Of Cynicism?I sat down to watch Wonka a few nights ago. And while I do have criticism, overall it was a passable addition to the 'Roald Dahl Universe' (yes, that is…Read the full story
  28. A pleasant scene on the Egyptian Nile. A small Egyptian boat sails before colourful foliage on a calm river.Egypt: Land of MysteryTwo days ago I returned from a month-long trip to Egypt, not quite as tanned as I'd expected, definitely thinner, and with my mind still reeling from the…Read the full story
  29. A male and female explorer enter a mysterious jungle temple…UPDATE: This Emerald CrucibleI first toyed with the idea for This Emerald Crucible back in the summer of 2018 while travelling through Cambodia, for few things can charge up your…Read the full story
  30. A papercraft Jimzip sits at his desk in a Hawaiian shirt, typing away on an iMac.A Quick-Take on AII'm an optimist but I have to admit, things are pretty crazy right now. As a writer, graphic designer, and content-creator who’s with two decades in these…Read the full story
  31. A book sits on a 1950s-style sideboard, with a tropical background.A Wardrobe-Change is in OrderOnce upon a time, in a past life (see, from uni until my 30s!) I was a graphic designer. So, when the chance came up to try my hand at the cover for my…Read the full story
  32. A wizard and a sorceress stare at a glowing ball of fire.Magic and MeaningAs a fantasy author, I believe there's a unique power in this genre. It can inspire and uplift like no other, giving us a chance to rekindle a little childlike…Read the full story
  33. A collage showing various awesome people holding up their copies of The Torril City Mysterion.Torril, A Year On…Believe it or not, today marks the one year anniversary of the release of The Torril City Mysterion, and I can’t believe how time has flown by.Read the full story
  34. James McLeod stands, brandishing a copy of 'The Torril City Mysterion'.TIME TO LAUNCHIf you’re like me, you get a bit excited when it’s finally time to lift the lid on a project. After all, as Zac Efron once eloquently put it, “The deep…Read the full story
  35. A man sits over his typewriter, thinking thinky thoughts.A Little Spit 'n PolishIn 1963, Ian Fleming gave an interview about the craft of writing. His advice was pretty clear. He followed a set schedule every day, in those hours he wrote…Read the full story
  36. A charcoal illustration shows a man operating an old printing press.The Road to Publication - PT. 2READ PART ONE HERE So, Siltari had been rejected. I'd been rejected. Not as many times as J.K. Rowling, but who was I kidding? I wasn’t going to keep pitching…Read the full story
  37. A charcoal illustration shows a man operating an old printing press.The Road to Publication - PT. 1Ah, traditional publication! Cue the heavenly chorus! What greater music is there to an aspiring author?Read the full story
  38. 80s fantasy is in, baby! Seven Citadels by Geraldine Harris is strange and touching.The Quadrilogy Is OverI pushed my chair back and stood, gazing at my computer screen for a moment without moving. I was done, but finishing a project always brings with it a…Read the full story
  39. Jimzip sits at his laptop with the 'Masterclass' website on-screen and gives it a suspicious look.Masterclass: The VerdictI promised in an earlier post (see 'Masterclass') that I’d follow up my experience with Masterclass, so here we go.Read the full story
  40. The 'Masterclass' homepage is flashy and stars abound. But is it worth the hefty pricetag?MasterclassLast week, I did something I don't usually do. I actually let an online ad get me interested in something.Read the full story
  41. Update on Torril CityNot that it matters, but it was satisfying to see that I'd cracked 60,000 words in my first draft of Torril City, yesterday. For those of you who like…Read the full story
  42. All blocked upMaybe I'm just lucky, but I've never really had a problem with writer's block. Whoa, whoa! Hold on, there, before you grab that pitchfork — that's not to say I…Read the full story
  43. So, What have we learned?Learning is odd. I feel it’s one of the only facets of the human experience which continuously gets more rewarding, for there is no law of diminishing returns…Read the full story
  44. Welcome back, kidWelcome to jimzip.com, my online home for almost fifteen years. It's undergone a lot of changes in that time, but I think now it will be easier than ever for…Read the full story