Why I Write Stories Where There Are No Good Options
A few months ago, at a dinner party, someone asked me the question every writer dreads. “So what kind of books do you write?” I gave the standard answer. Space opera. Collapsing empires, starships, the occasional alien civilisation with opinions about humanity. The questioner nodded politely, the way you nod when someone describes their fantasy […]
SFWA releases its Space is Big Bundle
I’m bursting with excitement about this new SFWA bundle. Why? On a whim, in late 2022 I decided to enter my (then) latest novel into a competition to select 15 quality sci-fi novels to be included in the March 2023 Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association Bundle sale. Nothing ventured and all that, right? I […]
What Readers Think of Audiobooks in 2021
I should more precisely call this article what MY readers really think about audiobooks, because that is the group I’ve polled twice in the past two years to come to some conclusions that run contrary to the prevailing attitudes within the indie author community. You see, audiobooks are the next big thing in publishing. We […]
Throwing Stones Part 4
“Three of four clamps deployed.” Ben realized he had been holding his breath, and he exhaled. His eyes were sore, and his nose was stuffed from his tears a few minutes before. The immediate crisis averted; he took the time to evaluate his situation. “I need a full appraisal, please,” he requested calmly. “Hull integrity […]
Throwing Stones Part 3
As Ben did up the last buckle of the restraint the AI added, “You realize we cannot choose our landing location?” “Yeah, I know. Pray it’s a good one.” “I am an artificial life form, Ben. To whom do you suggest I pray?” He sighed and prepared himself for a rough landing. He took the […]
Throwing Stones Part 2
Violent shaking roused him. He attempted to rub the sleep from his eyes, but his hand met the closed helmet visor. He cleared his head quickly and evaluated the situation. The control panel was lit up like a Christmas tree and the red warning light blinked madly. The silent klaxon told him what had happened. […]
Throwing Stones A short sci-fi story
Her voice lingered. The warning tone; the unanswered call for help; the sadness. Its timbre was a fading tendril. He hated being awakened abruptly. “Computer, repeat!” he said, now fully awake, or at least as much as possible. After surviving on ten-minute naps for the past three days, Ben wondered how effective he was anyway. […]
Don’t Panic…wise words at any time.
Times are tough It seems with the outbreak of the Covid-19 virus that the world has gone a little bit, well, panicky. Suddenly washing hands with soapy water is in vogue (is personal hygiene a new thing for some people?) and it is even becoming socially acceptable to stay home from work if you […]
Sneak Peak at Kaine’s Sanction : Part 1
Well, now you’ve done it. You’ve stumbled upon something that should be hidden from small children and vulnerable animals. It is an actual video of me reading from my latest book, Kaine’s Sanction. In case you are the queasy type, or reading this at work and don’t want the boss to peak into your cubicle […]
The Isolating Internet
As time passes, I find myself more often than not feeling old. This is particularly true when I have interactions with people under the age of forty. First, let me state for the record that I am not old. I will be 59 on my next birthday, which according to my master plan, means I […]