The insane cost of health care

We finally received all of the bills for Alexis' surgery.  Even with 90% "coverage," we owe over $1,000.  Keep in mind, this was a morning procedure, and then a one night stay in the hospital.  Given that we have 90% "coverage," it would seem safe to assume that the insurance company is paying $9,000, but this isn't the case.  Due to deals they strike with doctors and hospitals, they're only paying a little under $4,000.  They should be assigning the 10% we owe after they get their discounts, but of course that's not how it works.  Let's face it, corporations, especially the likes of the insurance companies are basically what's running this country these days.  Anyone that thinks that "We the People" truly have a voice is deluding themselves.
Needless to say, this has put a serious dent in our finances, and since Rebecca still hasn't gotten her promotion, we may be forced to rethink a lot of things we have going on right now...which will only make life more difficult.
Let's just say that I'm not at all happy with insurance companies right now...

The Ephemeris Species Compendium of Deep Space Species

In the Ephemeris Encyclopedia Galactica volumes about Unexplored Space, you were introduced to five new species that live out in Deep Space, an area of space more than two hundred light years from Earth.  Now you can learn all about these species…
The Alexans: Small explorers that mostly want to be left alone
The Ernya: An aggressive species that wants to conquer
The Julahmo: The Beaten Ones, as they’re known…victims of countless wars with the Ernya
The Khruntha: The grand conquerors of Deep Space, a species so violent that they make the Ernya look tame
The Lomisians: The Librarians of the galaxy, a peaceful species that wants to learn everything they can, but that has been forced into war over and over again.
Learn about all five of the species: their languages, their points of view, their variant species, and the special classes that are only available to them.
Order from us at: http://nomadicdeliriumpress.com/blog/product/ephemeris-species-compendium-of-deep-space-species/
Order from DriveThruRPG at: http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/130262/The-Ephemeris-Species-Compendium-of-Deep-Space-Species
This e-book will also soon be released in print...

The Martian Wave: 2014 pre-sale

The 2014 issue of The Martian Wave will be released on July 1st, and when it is released, the cover price will be $10, but you can pre-order it now for just $9 by going to http://nomadicdeliriumpress.com/blog/product/the-martian-wave-2014/
The e-book is also available for pre-sale, and you can order it for $3.99 by going to https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/436463
What do you have to look forward to in this issue:
The Martian Wave features stories about the exploration and colonization of space, with special emphasis on our solar system. In this issue, you'll find alien microbes and aliens that are like nothing you've ever imagined. You'll be taken to icy worlds, and the sands of Mars. You'll even get a look at Earth trying to regain its place in the stars.

The volcanoes of Io and the deep dark of space are also waiting for readers. Many stories paint a possibly grim future for humanity, but others are truly optimistic. No matter the tone, all of the stories and poems in this issue capture the adventurous spirit that make Humanity what it is.

Step inside, and be transported to places you've never imagined...maybe even places you never could imagine.

The Ephemeris Encyclopedia Galactica: Sectors 22 & 23

Welcome to “Unexplored Space.”  The EEG Sectors 22 & 23 introduces you to the sectors beyond “Colonized Space” and “Near Space.”  This tome introduces you to the systems that the six species are only just starting to colonize, the systems that they could colonize in the future, and also tells you about some long dead civilizations.  In addition, it brings you some surprises once you reach the outer systems of Sectors 22 & 23…
Order from us: http://nomadicdeliriumpress.com/blog/product/ephemeris-encyclopedia-galactica-sectors-22-23/
Order from DriveThruRPG: http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/129775/The-Ephemeris-Encyclopedia-Galactica-Sectors-TwentyTwo--TwentyThree
Order the Kindle version: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KBGKLN4

The Martian Wave: 2014 cover

Here's the cover for the 2014 issue of The Martian Wave. The official release date is July 1st, but we will be starting a pre-sale very soon, so get ready to order your copies.

Eryn wants to go to Washington D.C.

Our oldest has the opportunity to go to Washington D.C. during the Summer of 2015 on a trip that's run by Worldstrides.  She will have the chance to visit most of the monuments, see the National Museum, and get a better idea of the history of our country.  Unfortunately, it looks like her school isn't going to be doing anything to help them with fundraising, leaving them to raise all the money on their own.
Given that, we're doing everything we can to help her raise the money, and we've set up a page on Go Fund Me for anyone that would be willing to help her.  The site can be found at http://www.gofundme.com/8wknt8.
We know money is tight for everyone, but if anyone is able to help her out, it would be greatly appreciated.  This would be one of the most amazing experiences she'll have as a young lady, and we really want to send her.

April recap

Nomadic Delirium Press titles on Kindle
The Ephemeris Encyclopedia Galactica Sectors Five & Six
What's next for the Ephemeris RPG
The Ephemeris Encyclopedia Galactica: Sectors Seven, Eleven, Twelve, & Fourteen
I love weeks like this
The Ephemeris Encyclopedia Galactica: Sectors Fifteen-Twenty
The Ephemeris Encyclopedia Galactica: Near Space
My oldest is going to D.C.

My oldest is going to D.C.

Our oldest will be going to Washington D.C. next summer. We're looking for ways to help her raise money. If anyone would be willing to help her out, please follow the link below.
Thanks ahead of time!
https://olr.worldstrides.net/scripts/cgiip.exe/RegisterOnline/PaymentLogin.htm?ttype=gift&custid=102629001&custlname=Noli

The Ephemeris Encyclopedia Galactica: Near Space

All of the "Near Space" supplements have been combined into one book.  At the moment, this is only available as an e-book, but we should have it available as a print book in May.
The Ephemeris Encyclopedia Galactica: Near Space looks at the sectors of space that are near to Colonized Space, but that haven’t been completely explored yet.
You’ll find colonies that have been set up by some of the six sentient species, and you’ll find worlds that will make good colonies.  You’ll also find things that you might not expect…civilizations that have fallen, weird intrusions of hyperspace, and signs of intelligence that still might be out there.  This and more awaits players and game masters in The Ephemeris Encyclopedia Galactica: Near Space.
A useful tool for both players and game masters, this supplement will help take your Ephemeris game to the next level.
Order from us: http://nomadicdeliriumpress.com/blog/product/ephemeris-encyclopedia-galactica-near-space/
Order from DriveThruRPG: http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/129004/The-Ephemeris-Encyclopedia-Galactica-Near-Space
Order on Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JXPWC04

The Ephemeris Encyclopedia Galactica: Sectors Fifteen-Twenty

The last of the "Near Space" tomes of The Ephemeris Encyclopedia Galactica is now available.
Now’s your chance to explore the final sectors of Ephemeris “Near Space.”  You’ll learn about the colonies that have been established, the worlds that are waiting to be colonized, and the other oddities that populate these six sectors.  Learn about planets that once held civilizations, and no longer do, or learn about hyperspace rifts created by a war of Cyber Wizards, or learn about the asteroid obstacle course that the Althani have created.
These are just a few of the things waiting for you in The Ephemeris Encyclopedia Galactica: Sectors Fifteen-Twenty.
Order from us: http://nomadicdeliriumpress.com/blog/product/ephemeris-encyclopedia-galactica-sectors-fifteen-twenty
Order from DriveThruRPG: http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/128957/The-Ephemeris-Encyclopedia-Galactica-Sectors-FifteenTwenty
Order the Kindle version: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JWZU15S

I love weeks like this

On Monday night, I started on the final "Near Space" supplement for The Ephemeris Encyclopedia Galactica.  I typed the last word yesterday morning, and the rough draft of the supplement comes out at over 10,000 words.  I love really productive weeks!  It will have to go through a couple of revisions, and I hope to have it ready to go by the end of next weekend.  That will complete "Near Space," and I'll be moving on to "Unexplored Space," which will have what I hope will be some great surprises for everyone who is playing Ephemeris.
10,000 words of game writing is a little bit easier than 10,000 words of fiction, but I'm still happy with it, and I hope to be diving into fiction hard very soon.  For now, I'm just toying with it a little bit, but the game supplement writing is going strong, and for now, that needs to be my focus.

The Ephemeris Encyclopedia Galactica: Sectors Seven, Eleven, Twelve, and Fourteen

The exploration of the Ephemeris: Science Fiction RPG universe continues with The Ephemeris Encyclopedia Galactica: Sectors Seven, Eleven, Twelve, and Fourteen...
There’s more to the Ephemeris universe than just “Colonized Space.” Now you can get a chance to explore those sectors where the six species are only just starting to colonize, or even where none of them have been before.
The EEG: Sectors 7, 11, 12, & 14 continues to explore the space between the colonized sectors of the Ephmeris RPG.
It will be posted in our store shortly, but for now, you can find it at DriveThruRPG: http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/128574/The-Ephemeris-Encyclopedia-Galactica-Sectors-Seven-Eleven-Twelve-and-Fourteen
It should also be available on Kindle very soon as well.

What's next for the Ephemeris RPG

As many of you know, we recently finished releasing the supplements for the Ephemeris Encyclopedia Galactica for the colonized sectors of space, and now we're working on near space.  We still have unexplored space and deep space to go, and we have some fun surprises in store for all of you game masters and players...we may even go beyond deep space, depending on how future supplements are received.
We're also thinking about the possibility of introducing mass combat rules, so that huge space battles can be solved much easier than they can now...and this may be very important because...well, let's not get ahead of ourselves.
Hope you're enjoying the game, and if you have ideas, please feel free to pass them on to us.  The best way is on our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/ephemerisrpg/.

The Ephemeris Encyclopedia Galactica: Sectors Five & Six

The exploration of "Near Space" in the Ephemeris RPG universe continues...
There’s more to the Ephemeris universe than just “Colonized Space.” Now you can get a chance to explore those sectors where the six species are only just starting to colonize, or even where none of them have been before.
The EEG: Sectors 5 & 6 continues the exploration of “Near Space.”
Order from us at: http://nomadicdeliriumpress.com/blog/product/ephemeris-encyclopedia-galactica-sectors-5-6/
or
Order from DriveThruRPG at: http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/128195/The-Ephemeris-Encyclopedia-Galactica-Sectors-Five--Six

Nomadic Delirium Press titles on Kindle

Nomadic Delirium Press has now added all of its e-book titles to the Kindle.  This includes several of my titles, including everything I've created for the Ephemeris RPG.  Over the years, Ephemeris has done pretty well through Amazon, and now hopefully with all of the supplements also available, we'll see a further increase in sales.
For some reason, Amazon has some very screwy rules for the royalties it pays to publishers that use Kindle, so NDP was forced to raise prices on a few titles, but it was only a few.
Feel free to search Amazon for any of my titles...they should all be there now...

March recap

The stitches are out
E-book sale
GM's Day at DriveThruRPG
Holy Crap! There's a teenager in the house
The Ephemeris Encyclopedia Galactica: Sector Ten (Human Space)
The new Cosmos
Insurance company BS
The Ephemeris Encyclopedia Galactica: Colonized Space
A debilitating sneeze
Idioms About Idiots
My writing process-Blog tour
The Ephemeris Encyclopedia Galactica: Sectors 1, 2, & 4
New print versions of Ephemeris titles
The Ephemeris Omnibus 2013 in hardback
The Ephemeris Encyclopedia Galactica: Colonized Space in paperback

The Ephemeris Encyclopedia Galactica: Colonized Space in paperback

The Ephemeris Encyclopedia Galactica: Colonized Space is now available in paperback.  This supplement lets you explore the sectors of space that are "controlled" by each of the six species.
http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/127376/The-Ephemeris-Encyclopedia-Galactica-Colonized-Space
The Ephemeris Encyclopedia Galactica: Colonized Space is a combination of the first six volumes of the Ephemeris Encyclopedia Galactica.  It looks at each sector of space that is controlled by one of the six species.  An invaluable supplement for anyone playing the Ephemeris Science Fiction Role Playing Game, especially those that have been looking for campaign settings for their games.
A useful tool for both players and game masters, this supplement will help elevate your Ephemeris game to the next level.
Before ordering, please keep in mind that this supplement contains the same information that was released individually in the EEG for sectors 3, 8, 9, 10, 13, & 21.

The Ephemeris Omnibus 2013 in hardback

Over 600 pages of hardbound rules for the Ephemeris RPG, and we're talking full size 8 1/2 X 11...a must have for any Ephemeris game master or player.
http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/113551/The-Ephemeris-Omnibus-2013
The Ephemeris Omnibus 2013 features the Ephemeris core rulebook (with some rule changes, including mutli-classing), and all of the rule supplements that have been released as of the end of 2012.  All of the species and class supplements have been blended into the core rulebook to create a massive (over 200,000 words) rulebook that will allow you to play the most extensive Ephemeris game you'd ever want to play.

New print versions of Ephemeris titles

We've released print versions of two more Ephemeris titles.  You can get The Ephemeris Omnibus 2013 at http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/113551/The-Ephemeris-Omnibus-2013?manufacturers_id=2805 and you can get The Ephemeris Encyclopedia Galactica; Colonized Space at http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/127376/The-Ephemeris-Encyclopedia-Galactica-Colonized-Space?manufacturers_id=2805.

The Ephemeris Encyclopedia Galactica: Sectors 1, 2, & 4

A new supplement in the Ephemeris Encyclopedia Galactica is now available.  We're starting to look at "Near Space."  These are systems that are close to the main systems of the six species, but actually aren't under their control.  In many places, you'll find worlds that have been colonized by one of the six species, or you might find worlds that had been colonized by an ancient species, or you might find something even stranger.
This supplement looks at three of the sectors of Near Space.
Order from us at: http://nomadicdeliriumpress.com/blog/product/ephemeris-encyclopedia-galactica-sectors-1-2-4/
or
Order from DriveThruRPG at: http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/127723/The-Ephemeris-Encyclopedia-Galactica-Sectors-One-Two--Four

My Writing Process-Blog Tour

Today I’m participating in a blog tour where authors discuss their writing process. My friend, the extremely talented David Lee Summers, posted last week. You can learn about his writing process here: http://dlsummers.wordpress.com.
So, sit back, and you'll get a chance to learn something of how I write...

What am I working on?
After spending a lot of time working on novels, I'm taking a bit of a break and going back to writing short stories.  This is where I cut my teeth as a writer, and as much fun as I think novels are to write, I enjoy short stories even more.  I think trying to condense a great deal of detail into a very small number of words is every bit as challenging as writing a novel, but in a very different way.
I've also been spending a great deal of time writing supplements for the Ephemeris RPG, which is a very different kind of writing, but just as challenging and just as fun.

How does my work differ from others of its genre?
While you can definitely see the influence of writers like Asimov and Heinlein on my work, I think my work tends to focus a lot more on the individual as opposed to the "big" idea.  Much of my work centers around the idea of the individual oppressed by society, or technology.  Although I often try to paint an optimistic picture of the future, much of my work is pessimistic.  I also think I focus a lot more on dystopias than many other writers.

Why do I write what I do?
I think the answer that "I have to" is a pretty good reason.  I've been fascinated by science fiction since I was a very young boy.  I first saw Star Wars when I was seven, and yesterday was probably the 50th time that I've watched it (or maybe it's more), and I've loved everything SF ever since.  Science Fiction also gives me the opportunity to express some of my concerns about society in a way that isn't necessarily preachy.  Authors have been using SF to talk about the ills of society for decades, and I'm just following their lead.

How does your writing process work?
Much of my writing is done in my head before I even sit down in front of a keyboard.  Since I have three kids, ages 3-13, actual writing time can be difficult to come by, so I more or less have to write whenever I have time..
If I'm working on a hard SF piece, I will also spend a great deal of time researching the science I'm going to use because I want to make sure I get it right.
Once I start writing, I'm not the revise as you go type.  I tend to plow through a story until I get to the end.  Once I'm done, I let it sit for a bit and then go back and do massive revisions.  A lot of times my rough drafts are deficient in description, so I go back and add that in the second draft.  Once that's done, I let it sit again for a while before I do a third draft.  After that, I hope the story is done, and I move onto the next story I want to write.

Next week:
On Monday, March 31st, please visit the following blogs to learn about these wonderful authors:

Ian Brazee-Cannon - Ian Brazee-Cannon is a writer, film maker, game designer, podcaster as well as a husband and father. His short stories have been published in The Fifth Di..., Wondrous Web Worlds, Forgotten Worlds, Tales of the Talisman and May-December Publications' anthology 'Say Goodnight to the Bad Guy'. Ian has been working with Nomadic Delirium Press on supplements for the Ephemeris RPG. He is one of the founders and regular co-hosts on the Amateur Skeptics podcast. Ian has also involved with Dangling Carrot Films, Running Riot Productions and Ijin Productions as a writer and director on their projects.

Michael Merriam -
Michael Merriam is a science fiction and fantasy author living in Hopkins, MN with his wife and an overly energetic Maine Coon. Like most writers, Michael has done a variety of odd jobs over the years including: actor, late night disc jockey, short order cook, bassist, and booking agent for a puppet troupe. Michael is legally blind due to retinitis pigmentosa. He has published three novels, two short story collections, three single-title novellas, and over 80 pieces of short fiction. Michael is also an active blogger and spoken-word performer who enjoys burgers, single-malt scotch, and attending SF conventions. Visit his website at www.michaelmerriam.net

Idioms about idiots

It's a new t-shirt vendor that offers you the chance to express your opinion of some of the truly frustrating people in the world...http://www.cafepress.com/idiomsaboutidiots.

A debilitating sneeze

I had just gotten Lex to sleep on Thursday night when I felt a really powerful sneeze coming on.  I wanted to do my best to not wake her up, so I did everything I could to restrain it.  Once I did sneeze, I felt my bad ribs pop and move around like crazy.  Needless to say, I've been in almost debilitating pain ever since, and have not been getting much sleep.  If I had to rate the pain, I'd call it a seven or an eight, and you have to keep in mind that I have a very high threshold for pain.  I can't get comfortable unless I'm sitting up, and then it has to be on something soft like the couch...not the best way to sleep.
This made us decide to do some research on possible corrections.  One thing we found is that there are very few surgeons that will actually re-do the procedure I had on adults.  And of course we also found that in general, insurance companies won't cover it, and the procedure runs $10,000-$30,000.  We don't know if a complete re-do would be necessary, because we were having trouble finding surgeons who even had any idea of what they might be able to do for the pain, and the one we did find was a quack and a half.  Once I'm insured again, we will renew the search.
Also in our research we began to wonder if my procedure had been screwed up.  Even all those years ago, it was typical for a surgeon to insert a bar to support the sternum, and given that I had the worst case my surgeon had ever seen, I'm forced to wonder why this bar wasn't inserted.  Yes, it would have been another procedure two years later, but maybe that would have helped me avoid all the pain I'm in now.  I'm sure no doctor will say that because they'd worry that I'd sue my surgeon, but he wasn't all that young at the time of the procedure, so I'm not even sure if he's still with us.
For now, I just have to try to deal with the pain.  The 800 mg of Ibuprofen every 4-6 hours just isn't doing the trick anymore.  No matter what, this is an awful place to be, and so far we haven't found anyone that might be able to help me out of it.

The Ephemeris Encyclopedia Galactica: Colonized Space

We've combined the first six volumes of the EEG into one tome, and it's now available:
The Ephemeris Encyclopedia Galactica: Colonized Space is a combination of the first six volumes of the Ephemeris Encyclopedia Galactica.  It looks at each sector of space that is controlled by one of the six species.  An invaluable supplement for anyone playing the Ephemeris Science Fiction Role Playing Game, especially those that have been looking for campaign settings for their games.
A useful tool for both players and game masters, this supplement will help elevate your Ephemeris game to the next level.
Before ordering, please keep in mind that this supplement contains the same information that was released individually in the EEG for sectors 3, 8, 9, 10, 13, & 21.
 Order from Nomadic Delirium Press at: http://nomadicdeliriumpress.com/blog/product/the-ephemeris-encyclopedia-galactica-colonized-space/
or
Order from DriveThruRPG at: http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/127376/The-Ephemeris-Encyclopedia-Galactica-Colonized-Space
We are also working on releasing this as a paperback.  More details as they are available.

Insurance company BS

We got a letter from our health insurance notifying us that they aren't going to pay for Alexis' overnight stay after her surgery because they deemed it unnecessary.  I'm not exactly sure what their criteria are for "necessary," but I think it's ridiculous that a health insurance company thinks they know more about health care than the actual doctors.  From the beginning, it was expected that she would stay overnight.  The only reason she wouldn't have is if they only had to remove the cyst, but the fact that they actually had to remove part of a bone from her neck made the overnight stay necessary in the eyes of our doctor.  This is the kind of BS that needs to stop.
When I was unsuccessfully trying to get treatment for my chronic pain, the health insurance company wanted to refuse a cat scan for me.  I really love these guys.
Based on the rambling letter they sent us, it sounds like they actually aren't going to screw us over, but instead they're going to screw the hospital over.  And people wonder why health care is so expensive.
We need a complete dismantling of the insurance industry, not stop gap fixes.

The new Cosmos

I watched the new Cosmos series last night.  I have to admit that being a huge fan of the original series, I was a bit skeptical about this one.  After watching the first episode, I'd have to say that I'm not as skeptical as I was, but I'm also not completely sold on it either.  I liked that they made it different enough from the first series that it didn't seem like a rehashing of that series.  I also liked that they paid tribute to the original series, especially showing Carl Sagan's planner with the name Neil Tyson on one of the Saturdays...it was a nice way to show some continuity.
Will this show be able to live up to what the original series did?  It's hard to say.  The original series had a huge impact on a lot of people, especially me.  I was only ten at the time, and fascinated by science, so this hit me at the perfect time.  That's a little hard for the new series to live up to.
Thinking back to the first series, the first episode was a little slow, just like the new series...more of a tease for both than an actual episode.  Suffice it to say that I will tune in next week, and hopefully this one will pull me in like the original did.

The Ephemeris Encyclopedia Galactica: Sector Ten (Human Space)

The Human sector of space has now been charted in the latest installment of The Ephemeris Encyclopedia Galactica:
The Humans are the newest species on the celestial block.  Some view them as a breath of fresh air, while others view them as being the biggest threat the galaxy has ever seen.  Now you can learn about the planets they’ve colonized, the systems that they couldn’t colonize, and the systems that they hope will lead them to galactic colonization (conquest).
The Ephemeris Encyclopedia Galactica will be a multi-volume collection looking at each sector of space.  The Encyclopedia continues with Sector Ten (Human Space).
Pick up your copy from us at http://nomadicdeliriumpress.com/blog/product/ephemeris-encyclopedia-galactica-sector-ten-human-space
or
Pick up your copy from DriveThruRPG at http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/127192/The-Ephemeris-Encyclopedia-Galactica-Sector-Ten-Human-Space

Holy crap! There's a teenager in the house!

My oldest turns 13 today.  That's absolutely unbelievable, and something that we're not entirely ready for.  We're so proud of the young woman she's becoming, but we hate watching her fall into a lot of the pitfalls that we fell into as teens.
I remember my teen years as a mix of good memories, and truly horrible memories.  Being a teenager is never easy, and I think for girls, especially in modern American society, the challenges are one hundred times worse than they are for teenage boys.  Still, we're doing everything we can to support her as she grows up, trying to help her avoid the mistakes we made as kids (and often failing miserably.)  We hope that she realizes that we will be here for her through the good choices and the bad choices, and we hope that she will come to us, instead of giving into some of the insane things her friends (or boys) might try to talk her into.
Needless to say, the next few years will be interesting...to say the least.
And just in case she's reading this instead of paying attention in class...Happy Birthday, Eryn! I love you.

GM's Day at DriveThruRPG

Now through March 8th all Nomadic Delirium Press RPG titles are on sale at DriveThruRPG for 30% off.  This includes all of the Ephemeris titles, as well as The Battle for Turtle Island.  If you haven't tried the games, this is a great chance to give them a shot.  If you are playing Ephemeris, then this gives you a chance to pick up some of the supplements for less than you'd normally pay.
Go to

E-book sale

March 2nd through March 8th you can get any of Nomadic Delirium Press's e-book titles for 25% off. Simply go to https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/nomadicdelirium and use coupon code REW25. This sale is good all week on any of their titles, and you can use it as many times as you might want to.
This sale includes one of my novels, two of my short story collections, all of the Ephemeris products, and several zines that I edited.  Grab them while you can!
 

The stitches are out

Alexis had her stitches removed Friday.  There's still a nasty bump by the scar, but the doctor says that's caused by her neck trying to adjust to the hyoid bone being removed, and over time, everything should go back to normal.
Overall, her health is good, and we've had the best outcome we could for.  We're just very glad that this ordeal is over, and we hope to never have to go through anything like it again.

February recap

EEG pictures
Busy day
The Ephemeris Encyclopedia Galactica: Sector Twenty-One (Arbonix Space)
If only I'd had money
Why there are no black holes in the EEG
Surgery tomorrow
Healthcare in the 21st century
A reprint sale
The Ephemeris Encyclopedia Galactica: Sector Nine (Tulmath Space)
The March issue of The Fifth Di...

The March issue of The Fifth Di...

The March issue of The Fifth Di... is now available.  This issue: The Fifth Di… features some of the best science fiction and fantasy fiction and poetry. In this issue: Henry Brasater, Wayne Carey, G.O. Clark, and many more.
You can order it from us at http://nomadicdeliriumpress.com/blog/product/fifth-di-march-2014/ and if you use coupon code "zines" it will be 20% off.
You can also order a variety of formats from Smashwords at https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/411191.

The Ephemeris Encyclopedia Galactica: Sector Nine (Tulmath Space)

The latest supplement in our Ephemeris Encyclopedia Galactica is now available:
The Tulmath are the most peaceful of the six species, focusing more on trade than on anything else.  They may want to dominate the other species economically, but they aren’t usually the type to go for military domination.   Now you can learn about the planets they’ve colonized, the systems they struggle to try to control, and the systems that they hope will launch them deeper into space.
The Ephemeris Encyclopedia Galactica will be a multi-volume collection looking at each sector of space.  The Encyclopedia continues with Sector Nine (Tulmath Space).
Order from us at: http://nomadicdeliriumpress.com/blog/product/ephemeris-encyclopedia-galactica-sector-9-tulmath-space/
Order from DriveThruRPG at:

http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/126737/The-Ephemeris-Encyclopedia-Galactica-Sector-Nine-Tulmath-Space

A reprint sale

I've sold the reprint rights for my story "Origins" to Tales of the Talisman.  It will appear in their Winter issue...not this winter, but next winter.  This is a great magazine, and I always love when my work appears here.

Healthcare in the 21st century

After having two days of watching the American healthcare system in action, I'd have to say that I'm very disappointed.  The people who were responsible for Alexis' care were outstanding, some of them even amazing.  Everyone did everything they could to make a scared little girl, and her scared parents, as comfortable as they could.  The problem was that the hospital was horribly understaffed.  The first time she needed pain meds, they didn't have any of them on the floor, so they had to order them from the pharmacy.  That took about an hour and a half...which for pain, especially pain in a small child, is completely unacceptable.  The other problem was that there weren't enough nurses in her section of the hospital.  They were friendly and seemed skilled, but there were too many patients for them, so we had to remind them often of what she needed.  In fact, when it was time for us to be discharged, there was actually only one nurse working.  The desk was being run by a nurse who was supposed to be on her lunch break, so she was eating and working at the same time.
So, kudos to everyone for taking care of my little girl, but something needs to be done about staffing in hospitals.  I realize that a lot of this has to do with the insurance companies, and whether someone thinks Obamacare is the best thing to ever happen, or the worst, I think most people would agree that there is a desperate need for an overhaul of the insurance companies in this country.

Surgery tomorrow

Tomorrow will be Alexis' surgery.  The surgeon, of course, tells us how it's just a very routine and simple surgery, but there's nothing routine or simple about having your three year old operated on.  The surgery is expected to take 45-75 minutes, but I can already imagine that that will be the longest 45-75 minutes of our life.
She's expected to stay overnight, but we will hopefully be bringing her home on Thursday.  Obviously we will both be staying at the hospital tomorrow night, while the older girls stay with grandma and grandpa.
Even though she's young, she's expressed some fear about the surgery, so we're doing everything we can to keep her mind off of it.  Rebecca will be taking five days off, so we can both be here to help her recover.  We'll obviously be watching a lot of movies, especially a lot of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles...her current favorites.

Why there are no black holes in the EEG

I've had a few people ask me why the volumes of the Ephemeris Encyclopedia Galactica don't include things like black holes, pulsars, quasars, nebulae, etc.  The answer is pretty simple.  When we designed the game we wanted it to be as close to hard SF as we could make it.  Yes, we did include hyperspace and yes, all of the species are basically at the same technological level, but those were necessary for the game.  All of the stars listed in each of the volumes are all actual stars, and we've done our best to use what modern science knows about those systems to create planets that might be realistic.  Granted, when we get to the systems that are more than 200 light years away, we're going to have to create some stars because it's a lot harder to see some of those stars (like G and M stars.)
Having said this, as far as science knows, there are no black holes, pulsars, quasars, or nebulae with a couple light years of us...so we didn't include them.  We want the game to be as realistic as possible.

If only I'd had money

Looking back to late 2012, early 2013, I can honestly say that I wish I'd had money at the time.  If I'd had money, I think I would have tried to talk Tyree Campbell into letting me take over Sam's Dot Publishing.  It was an amazing small press publisher, and when I see what's happened to it after Tyree left, I'm truly sad.
When I first started working for James Baker at ProMart, Tyree was an unpublished author, and then I picked up his first story, and the rest was history for him.  When Jim was sick in the hospital and dying of cancer, he'd really wanted me to take over ProMart, but I wasn't able to because of finances, but luckily Tyree stepped in and took the company to the next level and beyond.
Now, I wish I could have taken over and continued the things that Jim and Tyree started.  There would have been a lot of authors and editors who wouldn't have been left hanging.
Still, even if I can't save Sam's Dot (which I still wish I could), I'm going to do the best I can to keep Jim's dream alive at Nomadic Delirium Press.

The Ephemeris Encyclopedia Galactica: Sector Twenty-One (Arbonix Space)

The latest supplement in our Ephemeris Encyclopedia Galactica is now available:
The Arbonix are the only race in the Ephemeris RPG that can fly.  They basically want peace, and the chance to colonize, but they’re ready for a fight when they need to be. Now you can learn about their sector of space. Learn about the planets they’ve colonized, the systems they battle to try to control, and the systems they’ve devoted to their religious need to find out about their origins.
The Ephemeris Encyclopedia Galactica will be a multi-volume collection looking at each sector of space.  The Encyclopedia continues with Sector Twenty-One (Arbonix Space).
Order from us: http://nomadicdeliriumpress.com/blog/product/ephemeris-encyclopedia-galactica-sector-twenty-one-arbonix-space/ Use coupon code "ephemeris" to get 20% off.
Order from DriveThruRPG: http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/126131/The-Ephemeris-Encyclopedia-Galactica-Sector-Twenty-One-%28Arbonix-Space%29

Busy day

Yesterday was quite the busy day.  Our middle child, Juliah turned nine, which is almost impossible to believe.  When I first met her, she was only two, and now here she is almost a tween.  So there was much cleaning, cooking, and baking yesterday...and as I look around the house today...I notice that it's quite trashed.  I guess I know what I'll be doing soon...
Yesterday was also Alexis' pre-op appointment.  There wasn't much to it.  The doctor asked if we had any questions.  He explained what was going to happen, and they gave us scrips for antibiotics and pain medication for after her surgery.  It's getting closer, and it's getting all too real...

EEG pictures

I've been asked a couple of times why we're using pictures of stars on the covers of The Ephemeris Encyclopedia Galactica when there are so many more dramatic images from space that we could use.  The simple answer is that each of the stars shown is actually in that sector...
Sector 3 is Miaplacidus
Sector 8 is AU Microscopii
Sector 13 is Zeta Doradus
We're not sure what the star will be for Sector 21 (Arbonix Space), but we wouldn't be surprised if it was Mizar...

January recap

14 days of '14
A glimpse of The Ephemeris Encyclopedia Galactica
The Ephemeris Encyclopedia Galactica: Sector Three (Melanathee Space)
The Nomadic Delirium Press Bookstore
Alexis' surgery
New Year, New Game
EEG Sector 8
A new collection
A preview of EEG: Sector 8
The Ephemeris Encyclopedia Galactica: Sector Eight (Althani Space)
The Ephemeris RPG, a rebirth?
EEG Sector 13
The Ephemeris Encyclopedia Galactica: Sector 13 (Culthan Space)
Really people?

Really people?

Today was the first day that I've been back at the OfficeMax I worked at since I left a little more than two months ago.  I needed ink and paper, and the main reason I went in rather than ordering on-line was because I had cartridges I could recycle, so I could save money.
Before I left, the place was in trouble.  Very few people were doing their work including the assistant manager and some of the other supervisors.  It always fell on me or the store manager to finish the work they couldn't get done, and when the district manager came in, he ripped into me and the store manager, basically saying it was our fault the store was in such bad shape.  This was one of the main reasons I decided to leave, and then when they transferred the store manager, I decided it was definitely time to go.  I never had time to do my work, except when he would take things over and let me have the time...I knew without him, I would never get anything done, so I left.
Now I find out that after I left, a lot of the people in the store, including supervisors that I was constantly bailing out threw me under the bus...saying the store was screwed because I didn't do what I was supposed to do.  Anyone who knows me knows that this is not who I am.  However, here it is more than two months later, and some of the things I was not able to finish, still aren't done.
But, hey, it's not my problem.  I never counted those supervisors as my friends, and all I can say is that I'm much happier being gone.  I can honestly say that I've never once missed the place, and I certainly won't now.
From now on, I'll be doing my ordering on-line...probably from Staples.

The Ephemeris Encyclopedia Galactica: Sector 13 (Culthan Space)

The Ephemeris Encyclopedia Galactica: Sector 13 (Culthan Space) is now available.  You can find it at http://nomadicdeliriumpress.com/blog/product/ephemeris-encyclopedia-galactica-sector-13-culthan-space or at http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/125624.

The Culthan are known as the mad race in the Ephemeris universe. Now you can learn about their sector of space. Learn about the planets they’ve colonized, the systems they battle to try to control, and the systems that even they fear to enter.  You’ll also learn about just how far their madness has taken them, in good ways and bad ways.

The Ephemeris Encyclopedia Galactica will be a multi-volume collection looking at each sector of space.  The Encyclopedia continues with Sector Thirteen (Culthan Space).

EEG Sector 13

Working at home is certainly conducive to getting things done.  Today I finished the first draft of the new volume of The Ephemeris Encyclopedia Galactica.  This one looks at Sector 13, otherwise known as Culthan space.
It will be a look at just what the mad race is up to in the sector that they'd love to control...

The Ephemeris RPG, a rebirth?

Over the last couple of years, sales of the Ephemeris RPG and its various supplements have been steady...slow, but steady.  Early this year, we started releasing the various volumes of The Ephemeris Encyclopedia Galactica.  This, paired with a wonderful sale at DriveThruRPG, has given us the best month of sales since the release of the game.  Apparently people are starting to take an interest in the game, and I'm very glad to see this.
We made a few mistakes with the early game, but we've hopefully corrected those over time, and we are still planning on releasing a lot of supplements in the future.  We're hoping that this apparent rebirth will continue, and more and more people will start playing the game.

The Ephemeris Encyclopedia Glactica: Sector 8 (Althani Space)

The Ephemeris Encyclopedia Galactica: Sector 8 (Althani Space) is now available.  You can purchase it through the Nomadic Delirium Press store at http://nomadicdeliriumpress.com/blog/product/ephemeris-encyclopeida-galactica-sector-8-althani-space/ or you can purchase it through DriveThruRPG at http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/125303/The-Ephemeris-Encyclopedia-Galactica-Sector-Eight-%28Althani-Space%29.

The Althani are one of the most aggressive of the six major species in the Ephemeris universe. Now you can learn about their sector of space. Learn about the planets they’ve colonized, the systems they battle to try to control, and the systems that even they fear to enter.

The Ephemeris Encyclopedia Galactica will be a multi-volume collection looking at each sector of space.  The Encyclopedia continues with Sector Eight (Althani Space).

A preview of EEG: Secotr 8

This is taken from the first draft of The Ephemeris Encyclopedia Glactica: Sector 8 (Althani Space):

Gliese 832: 16.1 ly M1.5v

The star in this system may be small, but the trouble in this system is anything but.  More than a century ago, the Althani colonized a moon around the largest gas giant in the system.  The colony, called Menk, is currently home to more than three billion Althani, and they’ve transformed the atmosphere to a point that they can breathe the air without suits and breathers.  The majority of the inhabitants are military or corps employees.

The colony on Menk is not the problem.  There is a smallish terrestrial planet about .5 AU from Gliese 832, and this planet and its moon have been colonized by humans.  The colonization took place 30 years ago, and there are already one billion humans inhabiting the planet (New New York) and the moon (New Buffalo).  Humans can breathe on the planet, but they need suits to walk on the surface of the moon, which is why the colony is built completely underground.  Many of the humans work for the human corps, but a number of them work for the military, and it’s believed that many of those are working for covert branches of the military.

The humans have argued that Gliese 832 should actually be considered a part of their sector, but the Althani have been here for quite a bit longer.  The Althani don’t take well to others infringing on their space, and there have been several battles fought in this system.  So far, both species’ governments have refused to get involved, instead allowing the military forces assigned to these colonies to battle it out.  So far, things have stayed at a level of a few ships fighting at a time, but there is always a chance, and it’s a good chance, that things will boil over and all-out war will break out in the system.

Gliese 902: 37.1 ly K3V

Although this system has a planet that could be colonized by humans and a planet that could be colonized by the Culthan, the Althani have refused to allow outsiders into the system.  Their main reason for this is that there’s a large moon orbiting the largest gas giant in the system.  And on this moon is an Althani prison colony called Ten-pa.  The colony has four large opaque domes, one in each hemisphere (northeast, northwest, southeast, and southwest), under which they house some of the most violent criminals, and while most of them are Althani, there are prisoners from the other species here as well.  The atmosphere outside of the domes is highly toxic to any sentient species, with much of the atmosphere made up of methane and cyanogen.  The surface also has winds that typically blow at over 100 kph, and often gust to 300 kph.  Each of the domes is so far apart that there is no way anyone could walk to one of the other domes, even with a suit.

No one in their right mind would even try to survive on the surface, and to date, no one has ever escaped from Ten-pa.  A few have gotten out of the domes, but no further.  Ten-pa also has a highly advanced satellite system that will shoot down any ship that doesn’t have clearance to be close, and if a ship does go down, there will be no effort made to try to rescue the crew.  Instead, they’ll be left to the atmosphere of the planet, and if they happen to be close enough to a dome that they might be able to get to it, they’ll be shot before they can get inside.  There are no visiting hours at Ten-pa.

 

A new collection

I've just learned that Alban Lake Publishing will be releasing a new short story collection of mine.  These are previously published stories about space exploration.  It will have stuff from early in my career all the way up to some more recent stuff.
Now, the big question is: What am I going to call this thing?
So far, I haven't come up with a title, but I'm working on it...

EEG Sector 8

I've just finished the first draft of The Ephemeris Encyclopedia Galactica: Sector Eight (Althani Space.)  This is the second volume in the Encyclopedia, the second of what will probably be many.  I'm hoping that if I can arrange the time, that I'll have this ready for players and game masters by the end of next weekend.
So, stay tuned!

New Year, New Game

The folks over at DriveThruRPG are having a sale to encourage people to try new games. So, for the next few days, you can pick up the core rulebook for Ephemeris for just $3.98...not a bad deal.
The special sale can be found at http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/63664/Ephemeris?filters=0_0_0_0_0_44298.

Alexis' surgery

I've had several people ask me about the surgery that Alexis is going to have to have, so I figured I'd just answer everything here.  The ENT found a Thyroglossal cyst, which apparently formed in utero, because the Throglossal duct did not close as it was supposed to.  The cyst itself is not dangerous, but if it becomes infected, it can have some nasty side effects.
The procedure they're going to be doing is called the Sistrunk Procedure, and it involves removing the cyst, and if the duct is still present, they'll take that out as well, which involves removing part of the hyoid bone.  If you want the details, which I don't like thinking about, you can find them at http://www.ent-surgery.com.au/thyroid/thyroglossal-duct-cyst-surgery-sistrunk-procedure.

The Nomadic Delirium Press Bookstore

Nomadic Delirium Press now has a bookstore.  You can find all of their print and e-books there, including a number of titles that I've written or edited.
Please check it out at http://nomadicdeliriumpress.com/blog/shop.