Since my last entry, I finished writing Fracture – First Colony book 8, and I’ve started revisions. I’m probably about a month away from publication. I’ll work on my revisions, and then send it to my editor who always does an amazing job. I’ve been working with her since 2016 and this will be the fifteenth book she’s edited for me. After that, I use a separate proofreader to help give it that final polish. So we’re getting closer and progress is being made even if I’ve gone a little quiet. In a nutshell, Fracture continues the story where Vigilance left off. This storyline will be a multi-book series arc that I hope you will enjoy.  

In other news, the audiobook for Vigilance will be released in just a couple weeks. Another noteworthy item is that yours truly will be recording the Author’s Note. For anyone who hasn’t read the Author’s Note at the end of Vigilance, I included a rather personal account about my journey as a writer. I received such a great response to it that I wanted it included in the audiobook. Audible agreed but wants me to record it in a recording studio.

June marks the mid part of the year and I will be planning the projects I’ll be working on for the rest of the year. This will include the next First Colony book, which is book 9. Also, I’ll be working on a few new projects as well, but I'm not ready to say much more about them. 

I do get questions about how long the First Colony series will be. It’s not going to end with the 9th book. There are a lot of stories left to tell in the First Colony universe and more characters to explore. I’m looking forward to it and I hope you do as well. My plan moving forward is to rotate my writing projects between at least two series. 

Last month I speculated that Fracture will be released by the end of June. At this point, it’s a long shot. It really depends on how long revisions take me and I’m not going to rush it. To be on the safe side of scheduling, I anticipate releasing this book the second week in July.

When I was kid in the late 70s and 80s they played reruns of Godzilla and I loved it. My only disappointment with those movies was when Godzilla fought King Kong. I still feel that Godzilla should have won that fight decisively. He shoots nuclear fire from his mouth and King Kong doesn't have armor. Last week I saw Godzilla: King of the Monsters in the movies and loved it. What's not to like. Monsters fighting other monsters. It was just fun to watch with some pretty stunning visuals. Do you have a favorite monster?

Last week I attended a small writer’s conference with some pretty well known science fiction authors whose careers I’ve been following for years.  Special guests at the conference included David Weber. Yes THE David Weber, author of the Honor Harrington, Safehold, Dahak series, and much more! I stood in the presence of a living legend who has sparked the imaginations of so many readers. I listened as a true master craftsman told us about his writing career and I even got to hear about some of his upcoming projects. 

Sometimes meeting the people whose creative work you admire can actually be a negative experience. Be it a musician or a writer. The person who actually creates the art can be quite different than the person we imagine them to be. Getting a chance to meet David Weber was a tremendous experience. It took me a little bit of time to contain my enthusiasm. I was happy to learn just how genuine and nice a person that Mr. Weber was. Very easy to talk to. Just listening to him speak left you with a sense that David Weber is a master storyteller. One whose skill I’m working to achieve with each book that I write. I have a few authors whose skill and mastery at storytelling I’d like to emulate both in science fiction and in other genres. 

  For me it was awe inspiring to meet the man who created such rich worlds that I’ve spent so many hours of my life lost in. I’ve been on Dahak’s command deck with Colin MacIntyre as he struggle to save humanity from an invading fleet of over a million ships. I’ve witnessed Honor Harrington serve in the Royal Manticorian Navy as she ascended the ranks and overcame astonishing odds. I’ve even enjoyed seeing Merlin fight for humanity’s future and soul in the Safeholdian universe. 

Reading David Weber’s work for so many years was a major driving force that inspired me to write science fiction. It was nice to discover the person behind the stories and learn that we had some things in common. We’re both just two people who are trying to do what’s best for our family, and we’re both fathers with kids who are of similar ages. If you’ve raised teenagers then I’m sure we have some common ground too. 

No meeting would be complete without a picture being taken so here is mine with one of my favorite authors in the universe.

Last but not least, my current status. 

I’m writing Fracture – First Colony Book 8 and am making great progress. Tentative release for this will be the latter half of June. Vigilance – First Colony book 7 is currently in production for audio and also has a tentative release in June. The month of June is going to be a great month for releases.

Have you ever met an author in person? How’d it go?

I almost called this post, April Fools, but I didn't want people to think that the post was a joke.

News:

About a week ago I released Vigilance – First Colony book 7 and it has gotten off to a great start. The audiobook is currently in production, but I don’t have a release date for it yet. I included a rather lengthy author note in this book where I talk about my journey to become an author. I wasn’t sure whether anyone would be interested in hearing about that, but I’ve gotten a nice response from it which was nice.

I’ve begun writing the eighth book in the First Colony series. A tentative release date for this book will be in the middle of June. My goal for the month of April is to make some serious progress with the writing before spring break. I’ll be taking a few days off around the Easter holiday and then doing some traveling. I’ll be meeting with some other SF authors which should be a lot of fun. Then it’s back to work. 

I have a working title for First Colony – Book 8 and it’s called — Fracture. 

That’s it for this month. Thanks for stopping by.

I'm excited to share my latest book release.

They’ve spent years exploring this world, but they were living on borrowed time. Only they didn’t know it.

Six months ago, Connor learned what the alien race that populated New Earth feared—a mysterious enemy who nearly brought about the collapse of an entire civilization. To help the colony prepare for this new threat, Connor rejoins the Colonial Defense Force. 

Using alien technology, Connor opens a gateway to another universe hoping to learn more about the threat. Instead, he receives a colonial distress beacon. Six months ago, they’d left people behind on a mission, all presumed dead. The beacon might be them, or it might be a trap, but Connor will not ignore the call for help.

Fearing the beginning of another war, the colonial government would rather do nothing than risk bringing attention to the colony, but it’s already too late. The colony stands upon a crossroads. Its future is uncertain. They’ll have to adapt if they’re to survive. 

Vigilance is the seventh book in the bestselling First Colony series.