Quick update about First Colony Book 20.
First the book is still at 70% completion. My intention was to finish the book and release it in the latter half of March. This date is going to be pushed by into April. Earlier this month on the 14th my father died. He was 83. My wife and I, my sisters and their husbands, two of my nieces, and my mother were in the hospital and were fortunate to be able to say goodbye. I won’t go into a lot of details. I’ve been blessed to have had a really good father and we were close. This whole experience has been both beautiful and terrible at the same time. It also has strengthened my faith in God. I have zero doubts that I will be reunited with my father one day, and I look forward to that day.
Over the next couple of weeks I will finish First Colony Book 20, and anticipate that it will be released in April. No sooner than mid-April.
My father was a huge First Colony fan. He loved Connor and the other characters. I am sorry that he won’t enjoy the eventual end of the series. Book 20 is definitely not the end of the series, nor will book 21 be the end either.
I usually post my book release schedule for the year and the beginning of the year. I’m late with this. I plan to write another First Colony book this year, after book 20 is complete. I also plan to release a new series this year. I like to rotate between two series. I have two candidates or ideas for the new series I plan to write this year. I’m leaning heavily toward one of those ideas, and I’m almost completely committed to it. However, I like a little wiggle room in case something changes my mind.
Thanks for reading. Happy February….
What’s the new series?
I wouldn’t leave you guys hanging about that. Confession time. I have an intense dislike for short fiction, even though I’ve written some short stories and a novella. It’s the novella that really gets me, because it has always felt like an unfinished novel and in this case series. In 2020 I wrote a novella called Acheron Rising, it was a story set before the events in the Federation Chronicles. I’ve always entertained the idea of going back and completing the story, and make it into a series. It’s been on my mind a lot lately. So that is my plan. I don’t have a series name for the “new” series, but that’ll come with time. I’m actually very excited to write that story. There is something about two friends who have a profound effect in history that shape the world to come. I just feel that this is a story that needs to be told. I sincerely hope you’ll join me for this journey.
Side Note: Why not write more in the Ascension series. That’s going to be a solid maybe in 2027. At this point I will not close the door on anything.
Shattered Nexus Audiobook: A New Adventure Awaits
Shattered Nexus – First Colony Book 19 is now available in audio!
A desperate mission to return Aczar refugees to their distant homeworld spirals into something far deadlier.
Freed from their underground exile, the Aczar wield orbital weapons that could challenge the colonial fleet. Their revolution has liberated their species from ancient manipulation, but the refugees are branded traitors for siding with outsiders.
As diplomacy crumbles, Major Ethan Gates traces mysterious signals to a forgotten relic adrift in the void. What lies hidden could shatter everything humanity believes about their greatest enemy.
In uncharted space, forgotten wars echo through the darkness. First contact may bring salvation—or herald annihilation.
Scott Aiello returns delivering a masterful performance bringing these beloved characters to life.
As always, thank you for reading my books.
Until next time.
~Ken
First Colony Book 19 is out!
General Sean Quinn leads a desperate mission to return Aczar refugees to their distant homeworld—a mercy run that spirals into something far deadlier.
The Aczar have emerged from their underground exile wielding orbital weapons that could challenge any fleet. Their revolution has freed them from ancient manipulation, but the refugees Sean escorts are branded traitors for choosing outsiders over their own people. There is no sanctuary waiting—only accusations and unknown consequences.
As diplomacy crumbles, Major Ethan Gates traces mysterious signals to a forgotten relic drifting in the void. What he uncovers could redefine humanity’s understanding of their greatest enemy.
In uncharted space, forgotten wars echo through the darkness. First contact may bring salvation—or annihilation.
Scott Aiello is on board to narrate this book and it will be out by the 1st week of December 2025.
I hope you enjoy Shattered Nexus – First Colony Book 19! After 19 books I’m so grateful for your continued support for these stories. There are more books to come in this series, and next year there will be a new series that I’m going to be working on.
As always, thank you so much for supporting my work.
~Ken
Forsaken Outpost Audiobook Out Now
Forsaken Outpost – First Colony Book 18 is now available in audio!
Every Discovery Comes with a Price…
Stranded thousands of light-years from home after a hyperspace experiment goes catastrophically wrong, General Connor Gates faces a brutal reality: their ship is failing, supplies are dwindling, and home is an impossible distance away.
Their only hope lies with a manipulative alien prisoner who offers a dangerous bargain. Freedom in exchange for guidance to an ancient outpost with technology that could save them all… or doom the galaxy if weaponized.
Every step deeper into uncharted space reveals new perils. The massive alien station they discover—a relic adrift in the void—hints at a universe far grander and more treacherous than humanity ever imagined.
Meanwhile, across the stars, a dormant threat awakens—silently calls to those who can hear it. The Vemus nearly exterminated humanity once. Their return could mean the end of everything.
As Connor races to unlock the station’s secrets before time runs out, he realizes the true danger may not be the vast emptiness of space, but what followed them into it. Some enemies are too dangerous to leave behind, even five thousand light-years from home.
In this gripping space epic, betrayal is almost certain, but survival demands risk. Ancient technologies beckon with salvation and ruin in equal measure.
Can humanity’s scattered defenders outsmart beings who think in centuries rather than moments?
Forsaken Outpost is the 18th book in the bestselling military science fiction series, First Colony. Read the 18th book in this sprawling space opera today!
Narrated by the talented Scott Aiello, who continues to deliver a masterful performance bringing these beloved characters to life.
As always, thank you for reading my books.
Until next time.
~Ken
First Colony is back!
The wait for the next First Colony book is almost over. Pre-order for the ebook is now available.
Every discovery comes with a price…
Stranded thousands of light-years from home after a hyperspace experiment goes catastrophically wrong, General Connor Gates faces a brutal reality: their ship is failing, supplies are dwindling, and Earth is an impossible distance away.
Their only hope lies with a manipulative alien prisoner who offers a dangerous bargain. Freedom in exchange for guidance to an ancient outpost with technology that could save them all… or doom the galaxy if weaponized.
Every step deeper into uncharted space reveals new perils. The massive alien station they discover—a relic adrift in the void—hints at a universe far grander and more treacherous than humanity ever imagined.
Meanwhile, across the stars, a dormant threat awakens—silently calls to those who can hear it. The Vemus nearly exterminated humanity once. Their return could mean the end of everything.
As Connor races to unlock the station’s secrets before time runs out, he realizes the true danger may not be the vast emptiness of space, but what followed them into it. Some enemies are too dangerous to leave behind, even five thousand light-years from home.
In this gripping space epic, betrayal is almost certain, but survival demands risk. Ancient technologies beckon with salvation and ruin in equal measure.
Can humanity’s scattered defenders outsmart beings who think in centuries rather than moments?
The audiobook version of Forsaken Outpost will be out by 1st week of May 2025, and Scott Aiello is onboard to narrate. Less than a month after the ebook and print is released!
I hope you enjoy Forsaken Outpost – First Colony Book 18. These books are a lot of fun and challening to write. It’s a process I enjoy a lot, and I’m looking forward to writing to the next book.
The ebook is available for pre-order and unfortunately Amazon doesn’t allow me to setup a pre-order for Print or the Audiobook. Maybe one day.
As always, thank you so supporting my work.
Ken