Ink & Iron is more than a name, it's a stance. It's the refusal to quit, the belief that words can cut as sharp as steel, and the demand that stories carry weight, grit, and truth. This isn't a publishing house chasing trends or soft edges. It's a forge for fiction, folklore, field guides, and essays that don't flinch, that lead from the front, and that leave a mark. Ink is for the story. Iron is for the will behind it. Put together, it's a challenge, create, endure, and lead by example.
Music Sessions from the Forge
Every track here is written, composed, styled, and finished by Ink & Iron. Hand-crafted swamp rock built for lifting days, late nights, long work weeks, and anyone stubborn enough to keep going when the world says quit.
The Irish Myth Series
Last of the Púca : Volume I
The valley keeps its own ledger. Every ribbon tied to thorn, every coin left at a well, every silence held too long is counted. The old people call it courtesy, the young call it superstition, but Aoife knows the balance is real. When surveyors arrive with bright tape and maps that rename the land, when crates are moved in the dark and men laugh too quickly at old warnings, the ridge begins to stir. Drawn into its keeping, Aoife finds herself carrying more than her own voice. The braid at her throat tightens, the ledger hums in her chest, and the parish's debts press against her skin. Each truth she speaks costs memory, each silence weighs heavier than the last. To endure, she must learn the rules her grandmother whispered: salt for the ford, iron for the sill, truth for the tithe. But the ridge is not the only one counting. A shadow walks with the Crow, a Collector waits in Dublin, and hunger stretches its hand toward the parish. As Samhain nears, Aoife must decide how much of herself she can pay to keep the balance and whether one woman's steadiness is enough when the land itself demands a keeper.
Last of the Púca : Volume II
The valley keeps its own ledger. Every ribbon tied to thorn, every coin left at a well, every silence held too long is counted. The old people call it courtesy, the young call it superstition, but Aoife knows the balance is real. When surveyors arrive with bright tape and maps that rename the land, when crates are moved in the dark and men laugh too quickly at old warnings, the ridge begins to stir. Drawn into its keeping, Aoife finds herself carrying more than her own voice. The braid at her throat tightens, the ledger hums in her chest, and the parish's debts press against her skin.
THE FAOLADH GUILD
Adam Whelan's life shattered the moment he witnessed a death. The awakening was brutal. The transformation, inevitable. And the call from Ireland? Unavoidable. His father abandoned him eighteen years ago. Now Adam knows why. The Faoladh gene — ancient, powerful, and deadly — has awakened in his blood. He can become a wolf. But without training, he'll lose himself to the beast. In the fortress of Dún na Faoiligh, Adam must learn to control what he's become. To hunt the monsters that lurk between worlds. To guard the threshold between the mortal realm and the Otherworld. And to face the father who left him behind. Perfect for fans of urban fantasy with bite. Book 1 of The Faoladh Guild series.
HAIRY LITTLE BASTARDS: The Faoladh Guild, Book 2
Six months ago, Adam Whelan became the youngest Guild Master in three centuries. Six months of impossible choices. Six months of carrying weight that would crush anyone else. Now the barriers between worlds are failing. The Otherworld bleeds through with increasing boldness. And someone Adam trusts is preparing to betray him. The Morrigan's daughter warns: "Some debts can only be paid in blood." The reckoning is coming. Urban fantasy with Irish mythology, brutal choices, and a hero who refuses to quit.
Beautiful Evil Little Things
Garda Seán Ó Murchú follows a string of vanishings that leave only a hush behind, witness accounts of a figure darker than shadow, and lights that dim for a breath before the world resumes. In Galway's galleries and along the quays, the investigation bends toward an old name whispered in folklore, a patron who gives brilliance and takes life, the Leannán Sí. Out in the fields, a measured grid of stakes and mirrors at ringforts points to design, not trespass, while reports of the Slua Sí ride in on weather that does not feel like weather at all.
The Silverhand Saga
The Silver Hand of Tara VOLI
Finn O'Reilly wakes from a car crash to find his severed arm replaced by living silver. The replacement is no prosthetic but a shard of Nuada's ancient sword, fused to his body and carrying memories older than Ireland itself. Haunted by visions of his missing sister Orla and hunted by Fomorian sea-demons, Finn must learn to control a weapon that seems to have its own agenda. The goddess Brigid offers cryptic guidance while Ireland's landscape cracks under resurfacing magic.
The Silver Hand of Tara VOLII: The Bearer's Burden
With the silver hand's power growing beyond his control, Finn is dragged deeper into a war he never chose. The Fomorians escalate their attacks while Brigid reveals the true cost of wielding Nuada's weapon — every use binds him tighter to ancient oaths and forgotten debts. Finn's search for Orla leads him through Ireland's hidden places where old magic still holds sway and the line between ally and enemy blurs.
The Silver Hand of Tara Book II: The Bird Kings Promise
Seventeen-year-old Finn O'Reilly survived the Battle of Tara and accepted the silver arm that marks him as heir to an ancient prophecy. Now he carries five hundred souls in his consciousness. But Finn's foster sister Orla is changing in ways that terrify him. Frost spreads from her fingertips when she touches growing things. Winter whispers in her dreams, and the name everyone keeps repeating — the Cailleach — makes Orla's eyes flash with recognition she shouldn't have.
The Silver Hand of Tara: The Cailleach's Hunger
After the battle at Tara, Orla thought she'd won. But something went wrong. Her root magic — once wild and green — now spreads frost instead of life. Trees blacken under her touch. The land remembers winter, and it's calling her name. The Cailleach, Ireland's ancient Winter Goddess, hasn't just awakened. She's claimed Orla as her vessel. The third book in the Silver Hand Saga blends Irish mythology with visceral body horror.
Coloring Books
Birds of Ireland: A Colouring Field Guide
An all-ages colouring journey through Ireland's birdlife, from robins and goldfinches to storm petrels and choughs. Designed for calm focus, curiosity, and a little everyday wonder.
Palatka
27 Pages of Colouring FUN! A combination of activities and animal life in & around Palatka, FL
Leadership Series
Invisible Bias
Generational tensions and cultural microaggressions are often invisible, but their impact is not. This book explores how stereotypes, outdated assumptions, and unconscious behaviors erode collaboration and inclusion, and offers strategies to dismantle those hidden barriers.
Mentor Without a Title
Leadership is behavior, not a job description. Presence, consistency, and courage matter more than rank. This field guide equips professionals at any level to influence culture, set standards, and build trust across generations.
Old School Professionalism
Professionalism is not optional, it is the foundation of trust and performance. From clarity in communication to visible ownership and accountability, these standards rebuild credibility in teams and organizations.
"Old school Professionalism is not a Boomer playbook. It is a modern guide to driving efficiency, strengthening accountability, and streamlining communication so teams can optimize outputs and build trust faster." Kenneth Lanewood, 25-year Global IT Professional
Self Help
Leaving the US
This book is a practical and honest guide for those considering building a life outside the United States. It covers planning, relocation, cultural adjustment, and the legal realities of emigration. It is not a fantasy or an escape plan, but a roadmap that helps readers make informed decisions about one of the biggest moves of their lives.
Don't F***ing Quit
A blunt field manual for when motivation dies and the excuses get loud. Built around hard principles — kill excuses, walk through pain, show up tired, choose discipline over dopamine — this book teaches you to keep moving when every part of you wants to fold.
Help! My Computer Is Smarter Than Me
A survival guide for anyone who has ever felt outsmarted by their own devices. Written with humor and plain language, it demystifies the everyday frustrations of technology. Instead of jargon and lectures, the book gives readers simple patterns, checklists, and "digital street smarts" they can rely on when panic strikes.
AI for Newbies
A clear, no-bullshit guide that shows you how to use modern AI tools in real life without a tech background or a math degree. It opens by explaining what AI actually is, how systems like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and others work, and why they are powerful but far from magic.
HTML for Newbies
The web is not magic. It is built from simple files, written by ordinary people who decided to learn how things work. HTML for Newbies is a clear, steady guide for anyone who wants to stop using the web and start building it. No prior experience is assumed.
Ink & Iron, Articles
Browse our collection of articles on technology, leadership, culture, and more. Click any article to read.
The Price of Playing the Game: Corporate Office Politics Exposed
The shady, underhanded world of credit theft, sycophancy, corridor whispers, and managed decline. Why the people doing the real work are never in the room when credit is handed out, backed by research.
Read ArticleFired in Slow Motion: The Brutal Absurdity of Ireland's Redundancy Process
Ireland is not an at-will employment country. When layoffs come, they come with process. This is the story of what that process costs in human terms.
Read ArticleYou Cannot Ride Two Horses With One Ass
The corporate "do more with less" doctrine is not an efficiency strategy. It is a systematic extraction of labour dressed in the language of agility.
Read ArticleGhosting: The Coward's Exit and the Damage It Leaves Behind
Silence is not a neutral choice. It is a calculated act of erasure that carries real psychological weight for everyone it touches.
Read ArticleLiving Wages in Global Cities: The $70K Illusion
Management and director-level positions in major global cities are increasingly advertised at $70,000–$80,000 annually, yet this fails to provide a sustainable living standard.
Read ArticleLife Has a Monthly Charge
Subscriptions used to be what you did for a magazine you barely read. Now, subscriptions are the water we swim in.
Read ArticleWhy Large Corporations Say They Want Leaders, but Hire for Manageability
"Not a right fit", "We feel that..." — the structural analysis behind why organisations filter out real leaders.
Read ArticleThe Vanishing Line: When Consequences Leave the Room
A culture can survive hardship, but it cannot survive pretending standards are optional.
Read ArticleThe Communication Paradox: Why Silence Isn't Protection
Why reducing communication in engineering organizations creates the exact problems it claims to solve.
Read ArticleThe Geometry of Deception: When Power Refuses the Straight Line
How governments and corporations use circular communication patterns to obscure truth and dodge accountability.
Read ArticleWay Past a Call to Arms
The colonists listed their grievances. Modern Americans can too, using ownership data, trust surveys, court records, and fiscal math.
Read ArticleThe Sacred Art of Ink: Understanding the Psychology and True Meaning Behind Tattoos
A journey into why tattoos make us feel so good and what they truly mean to those who wear them with intention.
Read ArticleThe Truth About Tariffs: Who Really Pays the Price
There's a fundamental misconception being pushed in American political discourse right now about who actually bears the cost of tariffs.
Read ArticleThe Emperor's New Acronym
The same principles that won wars for centuries, now packaged with acronyms and sold back to us.
Read ArticleA New List of Grievances
The colonists did not revolt on vibes. They revolted with a numbered list. Today the United States can draft its own.
Read ArticleThe Death of the Nuclear Family
The traditional one-paycheck household died because governments and markets quietly stripped a single wage of its power.
Read ArticleAre We Really Heading Toward World War III?
The serious work on this uses numbers: active wars, casualties, defence spending, and nuclear posture.
Read ArticleTwo Worlds, One Wiring
The same wiring that shapes your romantic relationships quietly scripts how you show up with colleagues, managers, and teams.
Read ArticleOperational Social Intelligence
In cloud and SRE work, technical depth gets you in the door. Operational social intelligence is what still belongs entirely to you.
Read ArticleSalaries Without Futures
Median salaries in the US, Canada, the UK, and Ireland now sit inside housing and cost structures that make real saving extremely difficult.
Read ArticleThe Meta Catalyst
When Meta finally admitted its metaverse bet had failed, its 11,000-person layoff gave the whole industry permission to abandon the fiction of stable tech careers.
Read ArticleThe Economic Impossibility of Student Loan Payments: A 2026 Reality Check
As wage garnishment begins, millions face a harsh truth: the math doesn't work.
Read ArticleWhat Customers Really Think of Automated Agents
Automation looks great on dashboards and terrible in the queue. Whose time are you really saving?
Read ArticleAWS re:Invent 2025: Agents, Silicon, and the End of Hype
re:Invent 2025 wasn't about promises, it was about posture. Agentic AI, Nova models, custom silicon.
Read ArticleThe Brutal Truth You Keep Ignoring
Layoffs aren't cruelty, they're calculation. Build real security: specialise, invest in your network, and stop outsourcing your survival to your employer.
Read ArticleThe Indispensable Worker
Specialization, certifications, and digital fluency build a moat around your career.
Read ArticleLeadership and Management: The Two Pillars of Work
Leadership inspires; management sustains. Both are vital, but only one builds belief.
Read ArticleAutomations That Spare the Worker from Paper Cuts
Small frictions steal attention. Steady, tactical loops for meetings, menus, budgets, documents, and schedules.
Read ArticleDigital Agents and the Future of the Middle Class
A clear look at how automated work is changing careers, stability, and identity across the next sixty years.
Read ArticleEthical Writing with AI
Prevent hallucinations, use MEAL structure, avoid em dash crutches, clean spacing, and finish with a one hundred percent line edit.
Read ArticleThe Beginner's Guide to Using AI
How to use GPT, Claude, Gemini, and LLaMA with calm structure, real commands, and respect for privacy.
Read ArticleChoosing the Right AI
GPT, Claude, Gemini, and LLaMA compared with strengths, daily uses, work applications, and sensible guidance for automation.
Read ArticleAWS Outage, October 2025
A clear examination of the recent AWS disruption in US East 1, what failed, what it interrupted, and the practical architectural lessons to apply.
Read ArticleBig IT, the New Gatekeepers
Big Tech once celebrated meritocracy, but AI-driven restructuring now locks out the average engineer.
Read ArticleIgnorance by Design: How U.S. Tech Policy Became a Political Punchline
From gag-order clauses hidden in infrastructure bills to vapid age-verification laws, U.S. lawmakers are crafting tech legislation for optics rather than oversight.
Read ArticleAmbiguity Is a Joke, But the System's Laughing at Us
From Equifax's "sophisticated actors" to vague AI ethics theatre, leaders across tech and policy deploy strategic vagueness to dodge accountability.
Read ArticleAI Is Making People Dumber: The Good, the Bad, the Quietly Catastrophic
Generative AI promises instant answers but erodes the cognitive effort at the heart of learning. Outsourcing thinking to chatbots creates overconfidence, dependency, and intellectual fragility.
Read ArticleIn Tech, When Things Get Tight, Culture Dies First
When pressure rose, companies prioritised stock performance, normalised burnout, rolled back remote work for control, and quietly cut DEI.
Read ArticleReturn to Office: A Power Grab Masquerading as Policy
Mandating butts-in-seats isn't about collaboration, it's about control. RTO is a cultural counterattack from executives clinging to relevance.
Read ArticleHow to Speak the Truth Without Getting Removed From the Room
There is a persistent belief in modern business that honesty, delivered plainly, is enough. It is not. A strategic guide to delivering truth that lands and shapes outcomes.
Read ArticleThe Erosion of Degree Value in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
AI is reshaping the economics of higher education in ways that are measurable, structural, and deeply unsettling. The contract between study and security is fraying — and the data backs it up.
Read ArticleInk & Iron Videos
These are simple real world videos. No production tricks. No polished messaging. Just work, life, Creating and Leading by Example.
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Ink & Iron, Creative Spaces
Everyone has their space that helps them "Think" or clears their mind.
Ink & Iron
How do you take your first "Sit" after work?
Ink & Iron
Clearing out the cobwebs, how about you?
Ink & Iron
What's your Motivation?
Ink & Iron
Don't Copy and Paste Your Life Away
Ink & Iron
Practice Makes Proficiency
Ink & Iron
KPI Environments
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2Cents on Certifications
Ink & Iron Tooling
Practical tools built for professionals who create and lead by example. Start with our own tools, designed to cut through corporate noise and build real capability, then explore our curated list of free, legitimate resources.
Ink & Iron Web Tools
Global Immigration Navigator
Official government immigration resources for EVERY country in the world. Search 250+ countries for visa requirements, official immigration websites, and government resources.
Open ToolArticle Generator
Simple, fast article creation. Pick an Ink & Iron author, write your content, and generate clean HTML ready to publish.
Open ToolCorporate BS Translator
Cut through the jargon. Get dictionary definitions, real translations, and Mike's take on why corporate speak needs to stop.
Open ToolCover Letter Builder
Paste your CV and job description to generate a tailored cover note. Includes keyword analysis and professional templates.
Open ToolCV Builder
Type on the left, get formatted CV text on the right. Includes job requirement scanning and tailored recommendations.
Open ToolEmployee Burnout Calculator
Assessment based on Maslach Burnout Inventory. Understand your risk level with validated psychological questions.
Open ToolGlobal Relocation Calculator
Compare cost of living and calculate salary adjustments for international moves. Based on 2023-2024 data.
Open ToolJob Application Tracker
Track your job hunt without corporate CRM complexity. Log applications, contacts, next steps, and session stats.
Open ToolLinkedIn Profile Builder
Create a professional LinkedIn profile for any profession, healthcare, education, creative arts, trades, or business.
Open ToolJob Offer Comparison Tool
Compare apples to apples before you sign. Analyze salary, benefits, work-life balance, and total compensation.
Open ToolPortfolio Website Builder
Build a simple, professional portfolio site in minutes. No coding required. Generates clean HTML for Neocities or GitHub.
Open ToolShould I Take This Job?
A practical assessment tool to evaluate job offers beyond the salary. Weigh culture, growth, commute, and personal fit.
Open ToolToxic Workplace Checker
Identify red flags in workplace culture. Assess leadership, communication, respect, and psychological safety.
Open ToolTranscript Check Tool
Review and analyze meeting or interview transcripts. Identify key points, action items, and communication patterns.
Open ToolRecommended Free Tools & Resources
O*NET OnLine
The U.S. Department of Labor's authoritative career exploration and job analysis database.
Visit O*NETEuropass CV Editor
Create a standardized CV recognized across Europe. Free templates and tools to present your skills and qualifications clearly.
Create Europass CVNumbeo
The world's largest cost of living database. Crowd-sourced, real-time data on prices, property, and quality of life for cities worldwide.
Check Cost of LivingHemingway Editor
Make your writing bold and clear. Highlights complex sentences, adverbs, passive voice, and suggests readability improvements.
Try Hemingway EditorTeam Wheel Builder
Build a custom spinning wheel with your team names. Update live, spin to pick a winner, and copy the standalone HTML to use anywhere.
Open ToolWheel of Misfortune
Profile-based team selector with a spinning wheel. Filter by category, spin to pick, and export your review log as XML.
Open ToolMind Tools
Free resources on leadership, teamwork, stress management, and productivity. Articles, quizzes, and worksheets for professional development.
Explore Mind ToolsWHO iSupport
Free, evidence-based training program from the World Health Organization for managers on mental health and preventing burnout in teams.
Access iSupportfreeCodeCamp
Learn to code for free. Thousands of interactive coding challenges and projects in web development, data science, and machine learning.
Start LearningKoda
Free personality and career assessment based on the Big Five model. Gain insights into your work style and career fit.
Take AssessmentInk & Iron Training
Free, legitimate training for the complete professional. This curated library covers the technical mastery, leadership principles, and personal skills we write about. No fluff, no subscriptions, just resources to help you create and lead by example.
Core Technology & Systems
Introduction to Linux (Linux Foundation)
A free, self-paced course covering Linux history, command line, filesystems, and basic system administration. Perfect for beginners.
Start CourseMicrosoft Learn: Windows & Azure
Official free modules from Microsoft. Learn Windows Server, PowerShell, Azure fundamentals, and cloud administration with hands-on labs.
Explore ModulesAWS Skill Builder (Free Tier)
Hundreds of free digital courses on AWS Cloud. Includes Cloud Practitioner Essentials, architectural best practices, and service-specific deep dives.
Browse AWS CoursesCisco Networking Basics
Free course covering networking fundamentals: protocols, IP addressing, routers, switches, and basic network security.
Learn NetworkingGoogle Cloud Skills Boost (Free)
Free hands-on labs and courses on Google Cloud Platform. Includes data, ML, infrastructure, and security tracks with $300 in free credits for labs.
Boost Cloud SkillsIBM SkillsBuild
Free courses in cybersecurity, AI, data analysis, and soft skills. Designed for career growth with industry-recognized digital badges.
Build Skills with IBMLeadership & Management
Google Project Management (Coursera)
Audit the full professional certificate for free. Covers traditional and Agile methodologies, stakeholder management, and project documentation.
Audit CourseMIT OpenCourseWare: Leadership
Free course materials from MIT Sloan. Includes readings, lecture notes, and assignments on organizational leadership, change management, and ethics.
Access MIT MaterialsHigh Performance Collaboration (Coursera)
Free audit option. Learn leadership, communication, and conflict resolution strategies for effective teamwork from Northwestern University.
Audit Collaboration CourseCarnegie Mellon: Strategic Leadership
Free open learning modules on decision-making, strategic thinking, and leading innovation in complex environments.
Study StrategyPersonal & Interpersonal Skills
Yale: The Science of Well-Being
One of Coursera's most popular courses, free to audit. Psychology-backed strategies for increasing happiness and building productive habits.
Audit Yale CourseCritical Thinking (University of Auckland)
Free course on logic, argument analysis, and avoiding cognitive biases. Essential for clear decision-making and problem-solving.
Learn Critical ThinkingLearning How to Learn (Coursera)
Powerful mental tools to master tough subjects. Covers focused vs. diffuse thinking, chunking, procrastination, and memory techniques.
Master LearningToastmasters International
Global organization dedicated to communication and leadership development. Find a free club meeting near you to practice public speaking.
Find a ClubCareer & Business Acumen
Khan Academy: Finance & Capital Markets
Completely free lessons on stocks, bonds, accounting, valuation, and personal finance. Build essential business literacy.
Study FinanceStanford eCorner: Entrepreneurship
Free podcasts, videos, and articles from Stanford entrepreneurship thought leaders. Insights on innovation, venture growth, and leadership.
Explore EntrepreneurshipDataCamp: Introduction to Statistics
Free introductory course. Learn statistical thinking, probability, and data analysis using Python or R with interactive exercises.
Learn StatisticsDuke: Business English Communication
Free specialization on Coursera. Improve professional writing, speaking, and presentation skills for the global workplace.
Improve CommunicationAbout Ink & Iron Authors/Content Creators
Mike Dunn
Michael Dunn is an American born author living in Kenmare, Ireland. A father of five, technologist, and PhD researcher in generational impact, technology, and communication, he writes stories that crack open myth and weave it into modern life. His work has been featured in the Irish Examiner, and his nonfiction includes the book Exit Strategy, Old School Professionalism, Invisible Bias, Mentor Without a Title and Help! My Computer is Smarter than me!.
His fiction centers on the Silverhand Saga, where memory, family, prophecy, and choice collide with ancient debts.
Before full-time writing, Michael led global technology teams across insurance, government, logistics, and cloud infrastructure, grounding his essays and research in reliability, security, and culture.
Kenneth Lanewood
Kenneth Lanewood is a technology executive with over two decades of global IT leadership across biotech in San Diego, e-commerce in Seattle, complex infrastructures in the UK, and multi-site operations in Taiwan. He currently serves as Director of IT Operations Engineering at Coupang Taiwan, driving automation, resiliency, and large-scale transformation.
His expertise spans infrastructure, cybersecurity, end-user services, and compliance, with delivery under ITIL, SOX, and ISO 27001. He has cut resolution times, launched alpha pilots, and rolled out programs that saved millions while elevating organizational readiness.
Known for mentorship and team development, Kenneth builds high-performing groups and bridges executive vision with actionable roadmaps that scale across regions and cultures.