Coffee + imminent new novel
The climactic finale to the Tracker Trilogy is only a few weeks away from spreading its wings to fly.
Scorpion (Tracker Book 3) will be released in November 2020. Exact date of publication to be announced soon.
Plotting vs. Pantsing: Coexisting in an alternate reality
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away …
Plotters and Pantsers enjoyed a peaceful and harmonious coexistence. The intergalactic blood feud between the two species had been miraculously averted.
Science fiction writers call this an “alternate timeline.”
In this timeline, however, Plotters and Pantsers (on their best behavior) try to coexist peacefully in public, while privately wishing the other would change their ways. Both species have solid reasons for writing as they do. They also collect comedic “zingers” aimed at those on the other side of the fence.
…Fantasy, Noir, & Thriller—oh my!
As promised, here’s a few examples of cross-genre speculative fiction — novels that have found the sweet spot of honoring genre tropes while finding creative ways to mix things up.
Fonda Lee’s Jade City was nominated for a “Best Novel” Nebula, and won the World Fantasy award in 2018. The sequel, Jade War, was released in 2019.
Dissident (T2) Book Launch
“Deeper, darker, and even better than the first one.”
“As edgy as the title suggests!”
from the back cover:
The Cascadia Enclave is the ultimate symbol of the Hoarders’ dominance. From behind its impenetrable walls, they escalate their relentless campaign to Implant the innocent, while their subhuman Trackers hunt down and exterminate the unfortunate.
The only hope for Amos Morgan, Aubrey Carter, and their team of Runners is to infiltrate Cascadia and take the fight directly to the Hoarders. But they’ll need help from inside the Enclave, and their only guide may be a double agent.
Then there’s Tracy. Hoarders stole her humanity, turned her into a Tracker, and left her for dead. The Runners took her in, but can she be trusted?
One thing is clear: she’s on a mission.
Flash Fiction Previews
Available in print and ebook at:
all links via Books2Read
Lost Humanity
(Dissident flash fiction #3)
Personality — erased.
Mind control — absolute.
Free will — non-existent.
Surveillance — constant.
Consequence of failure — extermination.
Welcome to your new life as a Tracker.
Breaking out of the genre straitjacket
At times, it feels like someone has a gun pointed at my head.
“Choose a genre. Sci-fi. Dystopia. Supernatural thriller — it doesn’t matter. Just pick one. But then don’t you ever step outside the prescribed tropes. Or your writing career’s gonna be in the toilet, capisce?”
As an author working on a couple of future releases which I’d describe as “supernatural thrillers set on another world,” I chafe at the implied genre constraints.
…Café Espresso Ambush
(Dissident flash fiction #2)
In Dissident, we are introduced to a new POV (point-of-view) character: Connor Sinclair.
Connor is typical in many ways: a history major in his first-year of university, just shy of his eighteenth birthday, with a tight-knit circle of friends and a favorite café hangout.
He’s also a Hoarder (one of the bad guys).
the Dark Side
(Dissident flash fiction #1)
“Dystopian … Ah yes, the dark side of science fiction.” (anonymous comment)
I like writing dystopian stories. As they say, “a candle shines brightest in the darkness.” In a dark, daunting, and dystopian setting, the actions of the few who refuse to be cowed into submission become truly heroic.
For example, there’s no super-powers involved. No special abilities. In a dystopian world, heroes are ordinary people, called upon to accomplish extraordinary things.
…5 Best Practices for Writing Groups
One of the best decisions an aspiring author can make is to join a local writers’ group. Camaraderie and encouragement are nourishment for the soul.
Writing groups also provide a golden opportunity for skill-sharpening. Constructive critique — giving and receiving — is crucial to becoming a better writer.
Here are some “best practices.”
1. Bring a printed copy of your WIP (work-in-progress).
This shows that you take the group’s time seriously. You came prepared. You’re not scrolling through your device, hoping a passage will catch your eye.
Feel free to preface your reading with what you’d like critiqued: dialogue, pacing, world-building, character development, or all of the above.
…Book promotion during COVID-19
There’s been a surprising amount of discussion — accompanied by a certain level of angst — about book promotion during the current pandemic.
The concern seems to be about the optics of promoting a new book you’ve written while readers may be struggling financially due to layoffs and stay-at-home sheltering orders.
Writers are understandably concerned about appearing heartless, callous, or tone-deaf about the real struggles faced by an overwhelmingly large swath of the population. Nobody wants to be lumped in with the selfish profiteers who bought up all the hand sanitizer for resale. Or those hoarding enough toilet paper to supply a Martian colony for a year.
…