Sunday, May 26, 2024

A great idea for a Star Wars novel

I have, what I think is a great idea for a Star Wars novel. They only problem with that is that you can't just write a Star Wars novel. If I wanted to pursue this idea seriously, I would have to draw up an entire outline for the book, write the first few chapters, and then wave some kind of magic wand to land an agent who could present the idea and hopefully sell it for me.

I'm not sure if it would really be worth it, but unfortunately, the idea just won't leave me alone...

Tuesday, May 21, 2024

Don't forget your sixth Taste of the Madness

The sixth volume of A Taste of the Madness is now available at https://amzn.to/3U9JLBE, and remember, this is a free download for KindleUnlimited members.

A collection of six previously published short stories, that are available only for a limited time. Travel to distant planets and travel to different mad visions that prize-winning sf author J Alan Erwine has come up with, but beware, you can never be sure where his weird mind might take you.
Again, this collection is only available for a very limited time.


Monday, May 20, 2024

Another excerpt from Echoes from the Deep

I thought you might enjoy another excerpt from my latest science fiction novel, Echoes from the Deep. Get your copy today at: https://amzn.to/44RJsQN

Dark water frothed and churned around Phineas. The darkness broken only by the occasional brilliant flash of lightning from above. He swam in one great circle, a circle with a one kilometer diameter. He’d been swimming for more than two hours. Swimming since sunset. Swimming since the storm started. During this time, he continually cast his echolocation towards the reef, but only an echo of the reef came back. He never caught a glimpse of the nothingness that had been there three days earlier…or hadn’t been there. He still wasn’t sure how to think about it.

In all of his experiences both on Earth and here, Phineas had never encountered something like this…or not encountered it. Whatever, he thought to himself. It was frustrating. How do you think about something that wasn’t there, but obviously was there at the same time? He sent another wave of echoes towards the reef, and still the reef came back to him. What was he supposed to do?

Maybe it was time to give up and return to the pod, he thought. Just as he was about to swim away, he suddenly received back a massive echo, a terrifying echo. There was a behemoth swimming away from the reef; swimming directly towards him.

Phineas sent off a desperate plea for help before turning and heading for open sea; the place where it was virtually impossible to escape the behemoths, but he couldn’t think rationally anymore.

Phineas didn’t need to turn and use his echolocation to know that the massive double jawed beast was chasing him. He could feel it. That feeling was enough to convince him to swim faster.

Two kilometers later, there was a sudden surge of electrical charge passing through his body. Without thinking, he dove. A bolt of lightning struck the water where he’d been. It passed into the water just behind Phineas, his skin crackling with electricity.

A call reached him from the shore. The pod was coming to help him, but they were too far away to really do anything. Phineas spun in the water and headed back in the direction of the behemoth. He knew the orca-sized creature wouldn’t be able to detect him until he got close because of the static charge in the water near him.

He began porpoising as he approached the gray-green terror from the depths. His echolocation told him he was about to reach the creature. Acting purely on instinct, he jumped into the air and cleared the gaping jaws of the behemoth by less than a foot. He continued to flee, but he had no idea where he was going.

The creature turned behind him, and continued the chase. Phineas headed for the reef, diving in amongst the crevices as he got there. He felt his belly skin against the sharp sea creatures, but he continued to swim. The blood would only make it that much easier for the terrifying creature to follow him.

He spun as lightning flashed in the skies above him. The behemoth crashed through the reef, sending the reef creatures, sand, and debris scattering through the water. Turning slightly, Phineas could see the four strange tentacles beside its moths flailing madly, in obvious blood lust. The “death flailing” was what the dolphins called it, and it was something that none of them wanted to see, especially up close. That would usually be the last thing that they’d ever see.

Sending out a shriek, Phineas began to zig-zag, swimming frantically, knowing death was about to take him. Suddenly, he was surrounded by darkness. It wasn’t the absence of light he’d experienced just before the behemoth had come after him. No, this was an absence of everything. No light, no sound, no echo. He knew that he was in whatever it was he’d detected days earlier. He swam and thrashed about violently. He had no idea of direction. Even gravity seemed oddly distorted. He had no idea where the behemoth was, and he was hoping, at the same time, that the behemoth had no idea where he was.


Wednesday, May 15, 2024

Save on my latest titles

Looking to save on my latest titles? Now's your chance. A screenplay, a novel, a short story collection, each is now available for just $2.


Originally available as a novel, now you can read A Problem in Translation in the format that many have said it should have been written in...a screenplay.

Humanity's first contact with an alien species, the Lemec, is complicated by the fact that the aliens don't use an entirely verbal language...not only that, but the other aliens in their "domain" seem to worship the Lemec as some type of gods, and as they seem to anticipate every move that Captain Shiro Takahashi and his crew make, humanity begins to think that maybe the other aliens know something that they don't.

Order today at: https://books2read.com/u/bMEY1A

 

 

 

The first human and dolphin colony team has arrived on Epsilon Eridani 2, a planet that was once inhabited by a highly advanced species that has gone extinct.

On this exciting new world, the humans have brought all of their typical problems with them, while the dolphins adjust quite easily to their new home.

All of this changes when bizarre events begin to happen to the colonists. Is the stress of a new colony causing unknown neuroses and psychoses to suddenly surface? Is there something in the atmosphere that the colonists didn't know about? Or is there something else behind the bizarre occurrences?

Order today at: https://books2read.com/u/b5Y97p

 

 

 

Welcome to the newest collection from prize winning science fiction author J Alan Erwine. This collection gives you Erwine's 13 newest stories since the publication of the enormous tome, Manic Musings of a Maniacal Mind. In this collection you'll find five of his Solar Federation stories, two stories from Nomadic Delirium Press' Divided States of America series, and six independent stories, including the never before published title story.
Journey to distant planets, explore possible grim futures, and have your mind twisted around in a way that only Erwine can do.

Order today at: https://books2read.com/u/m2Kpxk

Monday, May 13, 2024

Insignificant


Are you looking for a great book? Are you looking for a plausible end of the world story? Are you looking for some great eco-fiction? Are you looking for a really good anti-fascist novel?

Well, if you're looking for a title that is all of these, I would strongly recommend Insignificant by Mike Morgan. Download it today at https://amzn.to/3ykIlNu

The year is 2127 and the Earth is dying, and nobody seems to notice or care. The United States, run by its single party system known as the Patriot Party refuses to allow any information about the environment out to its citizens, and the rest of the world follows along.
Those headaches everyone is getting, no, that’s not CO2 poisoning…take another pill you’ll feel better…
One man who is paying attention is Thiago Castillo. He had spent years trying to clean the oceans, but even that mission has failed. Now he’s turned his massive yacht into an air-tight ship that a few hundred people hope to live out the end of the world on, but the CIA has different plans, and they’ve sent one of their best case officers to find out what Castillo is up to, but what happens when that officer is exposed to the truth…the REAL truth, and not the Patriot truth?

Sunday, May 12, 2024

Do You Really Want to be a Writer? is on sale

From the Nomadic Delirium Press Blog:

For a limited time, you can pick up Do You Really Want to be a Writer? for just $1.50. Head over to https://books2read.com/u/bwVAy9 and download the book from your favorite store.

Do you really want to be a writer? It's a serious question that anyone thinking about entering the field of writing should ask.
In this collection of essays, prize-winning science fiction author and editor J Alan Erwine uses his usual wit and sarcasm to educate and entertain potential writers as they start their journeys.
You won't find essays about plot or character development here, but instead, you'll find 17 essays that talk about the business of writing. Erwine uses his more than a quarter of a century of experience to talk about the submission process, and more importantly, what to do with your writing and career after you've started selling.
Do You Really Want To Be a Writer? is a great source of information for the new writer as well as the experienced writer.


Thursday, May 09, 2024

The Divided States of America is on sale

From the Nomadic Delirium Press Blog:

For a limited time, you can download The Divided States of America Vol. 1 for just $2. Download it from your vendor of choice today at https://books2read.com/u/bPw87Y.

No one can say with any reasonable certainty when the United States of America began to fall apart. Many point to the presidential election of 2016, but most believe the breakup started long before this. Now, in the year 2110, the former United States is made up of 13 nation-states and The Wastelands. Some of the nation-states have prospered under self-rule, while others have declined. Some nation-states are very accepting of outsiders, while others trust no one…sometimes not even their fellow citizens. There is chaos in some places, and order in others…sometimes too much order.


Wednesday, May 08, 2024

Last chance to download stories for just 40 cents

You're almost out of time to download my individual stories for just 40 cents at https://www.drivethrufiction.com/browse/pub/16618/

There's a huge variety to chose from, and I know you'll find something you like, and I'd even be willing to bet that you'll find several somethings that you'd like...so, what are you waiting for? Start downloading before the sale is over!


Monday, May 06, 2024

Out of Hibernation

My first ever novelette is now available, Out of Hibernation is available from all of the usual sources.

Mars has moved to a new orbit, and no one can explain why. With the new orbit, the red planet begins to experience weather, and then bizarre geological events begin to happen.
Scientists argue back and forth about what’s going on, but the only thing they can say for certain is that Mars seems to be coming out of hibernation. Is it temporary? Is it permanent? Nobody knows, and what else might happen as the planet awakens?

Order from Amazon: https://amzn.to/4bsbww8

Order from DriveThruFiction: https://www.drivethrufiction.com/product/479923

Order from another vendor: https://books2read.com/u/mdwRLy


Sunday, May 05, 2024

Core rulebook sale

If you’re looking for a new RPG to play, now is your chance to download the core rulebook for any of the games we’ve created for 60% off from DriveThruRPG. You can download Rocks on the Other side, The Battle for Turtle Island, Ephemeris, or The Ephemeris Omnibus 2013. Check out the sale at https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/publisher/2805/nomadic-delirium-press


Bestseller for April 2024

I'm guessing that people must be thinking about the upcoming elections, as The Divided States of America Vol. 1 was my bestseller for April 2024.

No one can say with any reasonable certainty when the United States of America began to fall apart. Many point to the presidential election of 2016, but most believe the breakup started long before this. Now, in the year 2110, the former United States is made up of 13 nation-states and The Wastelands. Some of the nation-states have prospered under self-rule, while others have declined. Some nation-states are very accepting of outsiders, while others trust no one…sometimes not even their fellow citizens. There is chaos in some places, and order in others…sometimes too much order.

Order from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3wjd4d7

Order from DriveThruFiction: https://www.drivethrufiction.com/product/253968/

Order from Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/899361