Sci-Fi, Thrillers, Contemporary
My longer novella “Goldie” will appear in the January/February issue of Asimov’s Science Fiction, available from the middle of December. Look at that amazing cover. I’m so honored to appear in Asimov’s, but to have such a wonderful cover, with the illustration by Dominic Harman, is overwhelming.
He’s captured the story so well.
More on this in January, I think.
For the last couple of years, I’ve released a new book on the 20th of each month. Sometimes a novel, sometimes a collection, and sometimes a standalone shorter piece.
Keeping that up, I’m releasing the final two for the year as preorders already. Might as well. Also, I will be starting the release schedule of a new thriller series for next year, so it’s good to get these out in the world now to give me a moment to focus a little planning for the thrillers and get ready for the first one on January 20th. More on those soon.
Both these new ones are novella length science fiction tales, albiet with very different focuses (as the covers hint, I hope), one very Earth-bound, and the other set in deep space.
Dangerous Machines – November 20th – $2.99 ebook, $5.99 print – available here – cover by Chepko Elelna
Gina Parker explores the underground alien tubes. The mystery of their existence draws her. Deeper and deeper. But the tubes hold more than mysteries. And Gina might just find more than the answers she so desperately seeks.
Load Bearing Member – December 20th – $2.99 ebook, $5.99 print – available here – cover by info793925
Coral Daimeer lugs her wrench around deep space vessel the Derlater. Sensors tell her what to fix. Coral fixes it. Coral’s intuition makes her great at her job. Mostly. A story that explores the question of what can a single crew member do when faced with impossible odds millions of miles from the nearest hardware store.
If you enjoy slightly longer sci fi stories with a heart, you’ll like these ones. Preorders up now, print available a few days before the ebook release date.
More news on the thrillers soon.
Right now I’m deep in the heart of writing the seventh Captain Arlon Stoddard book. It’s crossed the 200 page mark, with still plenty to go. Usually, as with most of my novels, these come in between 300 and 350 page marks, so enough left that I still don’t know the ending, but enough written that it’s feeling like it has some substance.
Hoping to have that out around early next year, depending on various factors. Then on to write a sequel to The Ergs, some more short stories, finish up the fifth of the new thriller series, then see where my writing goes. Feeling like another Captain Arlon Stoddard book might be fun. It had been a while since I’d written one, and I’m having a blast with this one. They really are a lot of fun.
Thanks for reading. Take care out there in the big wild world.
Yay. I may have mentioned, but my novella “Marbles” from Asimov’s, July/August last year, is on the ballot for New Zealand’s Sir Julius Vogel Award. Thank you all those who nominated the story to get it this far.
The others on the ballot are, Hexes and Vexes, by Nova Blake; How to Get a Girlfriend (When you’re a Terrifying Monster), by Marie Cardno; No Man’s Land by A.J. Fitzwater, and; Riverwitch by Rem Wigmore. I know many of these people. They are awesome writers. These are extraordinary stories. So, uphill battle there. Still nice to be among such company.
Voting is available to members of SFFANZ, and closes at the end of May.
Image by Splitshire from Pixabay
My story “Marbles” appears in the July/August issue of Asimov’s. They also have regular blog from contributors. I was fortunate enough to be asked to contribute a piece. My little post “Marbles, Runs and Modules” is up now at the From Earth to the Stars website.
It’s fun writing about writing. I get to do something a little different. Hope you enjoy it.
Taking a break from my regular programming here to shout out to fellow New Zealander Octavia Cade, who has a story in the current issue of Asimov’s.
Living, as I do, in New Zealand, my copy has only just arrived (I have a print subscription, rather than that sci-fi type electronic sub).
I’m behind on my reading, so I may not get to Octavia’s for a little while, but I know it’ll be great.
Octavia was, btw, the winner of the Sir Julius Vogel Award this year for best novella – a category for which I was also a finalist (grrr). 🙂
But do go pick up a copy of Asimov’s. Despite my late announcement here, it’s still available.
My story “The Molenstraat Music Festival”, published in the September 2015 issue of Asimov’s has surprised and delighted me with some of the notice it’s garnered.
Firstly it was a finalist in Australia’s Aurealis Awards in the Best Novella Category. The prize went to Garth Nix, a lauded and celebrated writer.
Next it showed up as a finalist in the Asimov’s Readers’ Awards in the Best Novelette Category (word counts vary as to what makes a novelette and what makes a novella). The estimable Michael Swanwick and Gregory Frost‘s co-written work Lock Up Your Chickens and Daughters H’ard and Andy Are Come to Town! took that award.
As part of the Asimov’s Readers’ Awards, most of the finalists are available to read for free at their website. Click here for The Molenstraat Music Festival.
Lastly, the story was a finalist for New Zealand’s Sir Julius Vogel Awards, losing to the extraordinary Octavia Cade. Nice to see Octavia has a story forthcoming in Asimov’s too. It was fun to hang out with other writers at Au Contraire and the awards ceremony a few weeks back.
I had a finalist in the short story category of the Sir Julius Vogel Awards too, “The Harsichord Elf” from A.C. Buchanan‘s Capricious online magazine. The talented Lee Murray‘s story “The Thief’s Tale” won the award.
I’m thrilled to be nominated, and honored and humbled to be among such remarkable company. All this feels like a kid’s dream really.
The list of nominees for the upcoming Sir Julius Vogel Awards is now available. I’m honoured to have my name among some fine company.
I’ll be attending the awards on June 5th in Wellington at Au Contraire. Now, it may not seem obvious, but I have in fact never attended a Sci Fi Con. I suspect I’m in for a fast education.
Anyone have any tips on etiquette, behaviours and mores?
Last night’s Aurealis Award Winners have been announced. Unfortunately I could not be in Brisbane for the ceremony. My congratulations to all the winners. Well done.
I missed out on the “Best Novella” award. That went to Garth Nix. Congratulations and a hearty handshake to Garth.
Of course, being up against someone who’s a New York Times Best-Selling Author, I was philosophical about my chances. Garth’s writing is spectacular, all over the board, and I’m sure he’s doing things I can’t even fathom. My learning will continue.
Now I keep my fingers crossed for June’s Sir Julius Vogel Awards (kind of New Zealand’s equivalent to the Aurealis. Double the chances there with two nominations. I’m sure the competition will be as strong. At least I will be attending the ceremony at Au Contraire this time.
I’m thrilled that my novelette published last year in Asimov’s – “The Molenstraat Music Festival” has been shortlisted for Australia’s Aurealis Awards. With baited breath, I must wait until March 25th for the ceremony. Of course, I’m on the ballot with Garth Nix so it feels like a long shot.
Since the novelette is also a Readers’ Awards Finalist in the Asimov’s Awards, it’s currently available to read for free on the Asimov’s Science Fiction website, here,. In that one I’m up against the likes of Michael Swanwick and David Gerrold, so no holding my breath 🙂
Congratulations to everyone on the shortlists – especially my friend Steve Cameron for his story “Lodloc and The Bear”.
Good luck to all.
My science fiction novella, The Wreck of the Emerald Sky, originally published in The Colored Lens magazine, is out now as an ebook and a print book. This is one of my Barris Space stories, following several others – “Barris Debris”, “Eltanin Hoop Anomaly Rescue”, published in Static Movement anthologies, as well as the recent story “Turtles” (featuring one of the same characters) published in Encounters Magazine.
Blurb:
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Light years from Earth, the liner The Emerald Sky is trapped in a Barris Space rift. No one’s ever seen anything like it. Derel Larson’s the go-to guy for Barris anomalies, but he’s on compassionate leave. The only way he’s going to rescue the passengers is if he takes his daughter along with him.
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ebook – $5.99
Smashwords
Kindle
Print – $9.99
Amazon