Bad news - Under Steel Skies CANCELED

  I have some bad news guys... A few days ago, I got an email from Sean Wallace at Masque Books, which began:

Part of being a publisher is making decisions that one does not really want to make. We are re-evaluating and re-aligning our direction with Masque Books. Unfortunately, this means we are dropping a number of titles we had already acquired. Your Under Steel Skies is one of them.

  I have no idea what's going on over at Masque, but suspect that other authors may be in the same boat. Obviously this is incredibly disappointing - I've been just about killing myself trying to get the final manuscript into shape on top of trying to get a software startup off the ground at the same time. At this point, Under Steel Skies has no publisher and no prospects, unfortunately, and with the startup sucking down so many mental processing cycles the idea of starting a new search for a publisher or an agent is, quite frankly, overwhelming.  For now, I plan to finish the final work on the manuscript of course - I'm a writer and that's just what I do, and then.... I don't know. Probably start from scratch with an agent search. Maybe make a few calls around to my contacts.

Thank you very much to everyone who's supported me by being a first reader. I'm sorry you'll have to wait to see the stories in print or on your e-reader, but please know that your efforts are not in vain; the work is truly much, much better for your involvement. Keep an eye on this space, as well as my Facebook page, for updates.

New book on the way: UNDER STEEL SKIES

  BIG NEWS! BIG NEWS!

  I'm pleased to announce that I just signed a book deal with Paula Guran over at Masque Books (a new digital imprint of Prime Books)!

  Masque will be releasing my new book, UNDER STEEL SKIES, due (tentatively) in December of this year!  I'm thrilled to be working with Paula again: long-time readers will remember that Paula was the editor who gave me my big break, when she purchased my debut novels Blood Magic and its sequel, Nights of Sin, for Juno back in 2007-2008. Paula is a consummate professional and I can't wait to get the final version of  manuscript to her (..."it'll be done by (((mumble, mumble, mumble))), Paula... HONEST!")

  ABOUT UNDER STEEL SKIES

  Under Steel Skies is a novel-length series of linked science fiction novellas, set in a near-future world that very much resembles ours.  Stories in the collection will focus on issues of ethics and the unintended consequences stemming from society's embrace of technology, including the pitfalls of drone warfare, the challenges (and perils) inherent in developing artificial intelligences smarter than ours, and the surprising sub-cultures that spring up around web celebrities, tech inventors, and recipients of artificial limb technology. If you've read and enjoyed my sci-fi work for Interzone Magazine ("The Shoe Factory", "Railriders", and "Insha'Allah"), then you'll probably feel right at home Under Steel Skies.

FIRST E-BOOK EDITION 

  The first edition of Under Steel Skies will be available, appropriately enough, as an e-book, with a "dead tree" version following thereafter if sales warrant. Be sure to tell all your friends with Kindles, iPads and PCs to be on the lookout for it around Christmastime!

  The table of contents, pricing, and other nuts-and-bolts issues are still being worked out with the publisher, but as they are I'll definitely be posting more details. Until then, be sure to check out Masque Books website, and keep your eye on this site. While your at it, be sure to Friend my author Facebook page as well!

Important announcement!

  Watch this space for an important announcement about a NEW BOOK, coming soon!  No specific details yet (sorry), but I should have something more concrete in a few days.  Sorry this space has been so quiet lately, but it's going to get busy soon!

Another SPACE BATTLES Review - Readers' Realm

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Pauline Creeden over on Readers' Realm just posted a very positive review about the just-published SPACE BATTLES anthology I'm in.

Money quote:

"In Space Battles: Full-Throttle Space Tales #6, the reader is privy to tales of characters who are attacked because of race or religion, hunted by an avenger, hunted for food, attacked by an unknown enemy, and given no quarter.  Each of the stories in this anthology brings the reader into the life or death struggle of war in the Sci-Fi medium of space travel.  This is a book both to be enjoyed as well as savored."

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Space Battles Anthology ON SALE NOW at Amazon!

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The new anthology collection, which includes my short story "The Book of Enoch" (a tale of the Seventeen Systems featuring Amish space truckers...) was just released in non-electronic, genuine "dead-tree" format. Get it at Amazon TODAY!!!

Product Details:

• Paperback: 264 pages
• Publisher: Flying Pen Press LLC (April 18, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 098459275X
• ISBN-13: 978-0984592753

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First SPACE BATTLES Review...

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The very first review for the Space Battles anthology was just posted - CHECK IT OUT HERE. If you're a lover of sci-fi you should check out the collection, which includes 17 stories of intergalactic warfare and strife. Mmmmmm.... strife.

Individual reviews for each of the stories is behind the link.

Assorted author profiles, info on the collection, and purchase links can be found HERE.

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Follow up: Who Needs Publishers?

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Penny Arcade just posted an interesting (and timely) article on how Steam's use of discount pricing for downloadable video game sales has, paradoxically, seems to have increased buyer's valuation of certain products. It's an interesting discussion particularly in light of my last post regarding the rising trend of e-publications at lower price points that I hope my writer friends will take the time to mull over.

Money quote:

Dejobaan founder Ichiro Lambe told the Penny Arcade Report that this subject came up in a discussion at Business in Gaming recently. “Someone lamented that gamers weren’t willing to pay enough to support us game developers, and my response was, ‘So what? That’s not their job,’” he said. “Steam’s not unique in offering games at these price points—you see Apple selling these wonderful little experiences for under the price of a latte.”

and...

“The market doesn’t care what I think any more than it cared what buggy whip salesmen thought when the automobile came around,” Lambe explained. “Bottom line: I can rail against lower prices, or I can adapt to how people are willing to pay for what I create. I’d rather do the latter.”

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