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

40 cent story sale

Normally, my short stories sell for 99 cents each, but for a limited time through DriveThruFiction, I've made my stories available for just 40 cents each. So, head over to https://www.drivethrufiction.com/browse/pub/16618/ and download a story or two today.

Read a sample of Echoes from the Deep

Do you have a few minutes? How about taking that time to read a sample of my latest novel, Echoes from the Deep. Go to https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B0CSQHQQH5&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_DF5WNGMGT9YSMNABEVXH&tag=jerwine20-20 and take a look today.

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?

Special deal for my blog readers

I've created a special deal just for my loyal blog readers. If you've been wanting to read my latest novel, Echoes from the Deep, you can now download it for just $2 at DriveThruFiction. Just follow this link: https://www.drivethrufiction.com/browse.php?discount=97f0470490

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?

Books2Read

Have you checked out Books2Read yet? It's a great source for buying books. Lots of authors, and lots of store listings, so you have so many choices, you can't help but buy!

Check out my page at https://books2read.com/ap/8G6lQr/J-Alan-Erwine and you can even sign up to get notifications of my future publications.

 

A Taste of the Madness Vol. 6

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.

Goatherds & Gods will soon be unleashed upon the world

I've started the final revisions of Goatherds & Gods. This is a novel that was originally written by James Baker, the founder of ProMart Publishing, and my very first editor. When he passed away, I got the rights to all of his works, and this is one book that I've never re-released. I've always loved the story that this novel tells, but I never thought the writing was quite where it needed to be.

Over the years, I've toyed with the idea of rewriting the book and working out some of the problems, and I've finally done it. I have one more revision to go, and then I hope that this will be a book with not only a great story, but with great execution as well.

Look for Goatherds & Gods by James B. Baker and J Alan Erwine later this year from Nomadic Delirium Press.

The screenplay is the Deal of the Day

My new science fiction screenplay based on my novel A Problem in Translation is currently the Deal of the Day at DriveThruFiction. You can download it for just $2.00 by going to https://www.drivethrufiction.com/product/477635/

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.

A Problem in Translation: The Screenplay

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 from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3JqojTL

Order from DriveThruFiction: https://www.drivethrufiction.com/product/477635/

Order from your choice of sellers: https://books2read.com/u/bMEY1A

A Problem in Translation is on sale

In anticipation of the release of the screenplay for my first-contact science fiction novel, A Problem in Translation, the novel is on sale for a short period of time. You can download the book for just $1.99 by going to https://www.drivethrufiction.com/product/306999/A-Problem-in-Translation or https://books2read.com/u/b6a1xx.

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.

And the sale goes on

From the Nomadic Delirium Press Blog:

There is still time to save 30% on all of our fiction titles at DriveThruFiction. Head over to https://www.drivethrufiction.com/browse/pub/2805/Nomadic-Delirium-Press and start shopping today. You can download novels, short story collections, anthologies, and even individual short stories...as well as old issues of the various magazines that we used to publish.

If you're looking for some really great science fiction and fantasy, then you don't want to miss this limited time Nomadic Delirium Press sale. So download now before you run out of time.

Echoes from the Deep on sale

For a limited time, you can download Echoes from the Deep from a variety of stores for just $1.99. Go to https://books2read.com/u/b5Y97p and order from the store of your choice. Like I said, this is for a limited time only!

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?

Bestseller for March 2024

Apparently, the announcement that we're going to be creating an Ephemeris 2.0 has created a lot of interest in version 1.0. In February, the core rulebook was my bestseller, and in March, the Ephemeris Encyclopedia Galactica was my bestseller.

Order today at:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vInm64

DriveThruRPG: https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/354466/the-ephemeris-encyclopedia-galactica

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1080614

Are you ready to embark on your largest Ephemeris adventure ever? Now, in one massive tome, all 61 sectors of the Ephemeris Encyclopedia Galactica. Explore Colonized Space, Near Space, Unexplored Space, and Deep Space all from one book. The settings and the adventures are as expansive as the galaxy itself.

WIP Update

I have several projects that I'm working on, but I've made great strides in the last couple of months on my three main projects.

The second draft of my screenplay for A Problem in Translation is now done. I should start on the final draft in about a week.

I've finished the first draft of my rewriting of James Baker's Goatherds and Gods. This is a 90,000 word novel that Jim wrote many years ago. It's a great story, but the execution was lacking, so I'm rewriting the beast.

I now have 9,000 words in the short story, now novelette, Out of Hibernation. I figure there are about five or six more scenes to write, so still a bit of work to do on that one as it just keeps growing.

Keep an eye on the blogs to keep updated on my progress, and be sure to check out my website at http://www.jalanerwine.com

Other places to buy my novels

I'm often asked if there are places other than Amazon to buy my novels. It seems some people don't like to buy from Amazon, and I can certainly understand where they're coming from.

The answer to that question is most definitely! If you follow the links below, they'll take you to a master page that will show the various sites you can buy from, and from there, you can pick your favorite and download any, or all of my novels today.

Echoes from the Deep: https://books2read.com/u/b5Y97p

A Problem in Translation: https://books2read.com/u/b6a1xx

Red Moon Rising: https://books2read.com/u/mKAaYE

The Opium of the People: https://books2read.com/u/4DnLZd

Fiction sale at DriveThruFiction

From the Nomadic Delirium Press Blog:

For a limited time, save 30% off of all of our fiction titles, as well as our one non fiction title, Do You Really Want to be a Writer? at https://www.drivethrufiction.com/browse/pub/2805/Nomadic-Delirium-Press. This sale includes novels, short story collections, anthologies, as well as individual stories. Plus, all of the Divided States of America stories are also available.

Buy now, and buy often. We have a lot of great fiction available for you...

Last chance to save on RPGs

From the Nomadic Delirium Press Blog: 

We're in to the final days of our RPG sale at DriveThruRPG. So, you're almost out of time to save on role playing game core rules and supplements. You can save on title from Rocks on the Other Side, The Battle for Turtle Island, and Ephemeris. Download today at: https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/publisher/2805/nomadic-delirium-press

If you're looking to play a new game, or if you're already playing one of our games, and want to expand that game, these are your final days. Don't miss out!

Take another look at Rocks on the Other Side

The year was 2032. It will always be remembered as the year that the leaders of the world truly lost their minds. That was the year that they unleashed the massive nuclear arsenals they had been stockpiling. That was the year they tried to wipe out all life on Earth because of petty differences, differences that could have easily been overlooked if they would have just had open minds, but let’s face it, how often did the leaders of the world ever actually have open minds?
Now, two years later, civilization is gone, most of life on Earth is gone, but there are still pockets of humanity that try to eke out an existence. Some of the Earth’s flora and fauna have also survived the nuclear holocaust. Unfortunately, now everyone is trying to survive, and that means that everyone else must be viewed as a potential enemy. Even worse, nuclear mutations have created horrible lifeforms. Some used to be human, some were animals, and some were plants, but now they’re horribly deformed, and incredibly dangerous. Not to mention the fact that there are pockets of radiation all over the world that threaten life that comes anywhere close to it.
And, of course, there’s no longer a need to worry about global climate change since the world is stuck in a perpetual nuclear winter, killing more and more of the life on Earth.
Radiation everywhere, almost constant cold and snow, mutated people, animals, and plants…this is the world that waits for you in Rocks on the Other Side. Do you dare venture into this world and try to survive?

Order: https://amzn.to/3UJMWlj

Take another look at Marionettes on the Moon

Do Humans control their destiny, or are they merely victims of the circumstances that surround them?
A collection of short stories from prize winning SF author J Alan Erwine examines whether we have freedom of choice, or are merely puppets on strings subject to the whims of the universe.
This newly reworked version of Marionettes on the Moon features the original 13 short stories, plus two recent releases.

Order: https://amzn.to/42Gywoa

Take another look at The Lies of Belial

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: https://amzn.to/3I4Hfa0

Take another look at Do You Really Want to be a Writer?

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.

Order: https://amzn.to/3ULz8H0

Take another look at Echoes from the Deep

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: https://amzn.to/4by9qvA

Read an e-book week

It's time for the annual read an e-book week sale at Smashwords, and this is your chance to save up to 50% on my titles. You can download novels and short story collections for one week only during this great deal.

In addition, I've thrown in a few short stories for free as well. All I ask is that you please review these stories if you like them, since I'm not making any money off of them. Many times, reviews can be worth more than money to writers, as it makes it easier for them to sell their works...so please review anything you like, whether it's by me or another author.

So, head over to https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/jaerwine and start reading now!

Bestseller for February 2024

We're getting in our "way back machine" for this one! The bestseller for February 2024 was the Ephemeris RPG. Every once in a while I'll get a surge of sales on this title. Not sure what prompted it this month, but who am I to argue with what people want to buy?

The year is 2185. The human race has gone to the stars, and found that they're not alone. Local space is teeming with civilizations, some hostile, some friendly, and some indifferent. This is the universe of Ephemeris.

Ephemeris is a game of galactic trade and galactic conquest; of inter-species conflict and cooperation. Ephemeris is a science fiction role playing game. Here you will be able to take on the role of your favorite alien species and your favorite class. You will be able to trade, fight, negotiate, conquer, whatever you'd like to do with your fellow players. You can play the role of an Althani Trader, or maybe an Arbonix Cyber Wizard, or maybe even a Human Nanist. You can create a party made up entirely of one species and set out to upset the trade routes of a rival species. Or maybe you want to create a party with a variety of species that preys upon the trading routes of the various civilizations. Or maybe you want to explore the ancient ruins on long dead planets, ruins that clearly show that there were other species roaming the spaceways in the past...but where are they now? You can fight in great wars, negotiate grand peace treaties, and explore sections of the galaxy that no sentient has ever explored. Or maybe your party has joined with one of the interplanetary corporations; corporations whose motives are never entirely clear. These are just some of the possibilities open to you.
The universe of Ephemeris is yours to do with as you please. What you now hold in your hands are the basic guidelines for the games. Here you'll find the races, classes, abilities, skills, weapons, and ships that allow you to create your own Ephemeris universe.

Now, step inside for the greatest science fiction adventure you've ever been on...

Order from DriveThruRPG: https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/63664/ephemeris

Order from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3wp3XXT

Order from Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/83508

You still need to get your fifth Taste of the Madness

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.

Order: https://amzn.to/3uDKrqa

RPG sale at DriveThruRPG

From the Nomadic Delirium Press Blog:

For a limited time, you can download all of our RPG titles for 33% off from DriveThruRPG. You can save on titles from Rocks on the Other Side, The Battle for Turtle Island, and Ephemeris. Whether you're already playing the games, or you're looking for a new game to play, this is a great chance to add to your library.

How can you pass up one-third off? Download today at: https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/publisher/2805/

Who wants a free story?

My short story "Origins" is currently available for free from Smashwords. Download it at https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/551493

Two men, who can't stand one another, sit down for what seems like innocuous drinks, but will their discussion forever change the future of humanity?

When you're working on a short story, and suddenly it's no longer a short story...

I've been working on a short story, and as I look at it, I've realized that I've almost hit the maximum length for a short story, and I'm nowhere close to wrapping it up. So apparently this short story is going to be a novelette. I don't think it will stretch out to novella length, but I guess we will see in time...

So, look for my first ever novelette probably some time in the Spring...

Have you taken advantage of the DriveThruFiction sale yet?

Many of my titles are still available at DriveThruFiction for 30% off the regular cover price. You can get novels, short story collections, individual short stories, and even my non-fiction writing guide, Do You Really Want to be a Writer? (which is still on their bestsellers list.) Head over to https://www.drivethrufiction.com/saleguide.php?src=sgrc and download any of the titles that you want, and believe me, you want them all!!!

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 J Alan Erwine's Do You Really Want to be a Writer? for 30% off at DriveThruFiction. Download it today at: https://www.drivethrufiction.com/product/466362/

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.

Presidential candidates or Lord of the Rings?

As I was in that state between wakefulness and sleep, a weird thought came to me. Here in America we're faced with two presidential candidates, neither of whom are very good choices. It's not just their age, but it's many factors. As I was thinking about this, I suddenly realized that we're actually facing an election between Gandalf and Saruman.

On the one hand, you have Gandalf. He seems like a decent fellow, albeit a bit odd. However, as you get to know him, you realize that he's a bit forgetful and unobservant...well maybe more than a bit. Sure he never realized that the Ring of Power had been in the Shire all these years. Sure he forgets the password to enter the Mines of Moria, and then can't find his way through the Mines very well. And never mind that when he's resurrected, he can't remember his name, but he seems like a decent guy, and his personality wants to make you follow him, although a nagging voice in the back of your head tells you that he's leading you to your death...

Then you have Saruman, an old man that has only power on his mind. He will do whatever he has to, and sacrifice anyone and anything that he has to in order to gain power for himself. In his quest for power, he creates the Uruk-hai, a group that is so dedicated to him that the only thing they care about is increasing the power of Saruman, no matter what that takes. Saruman will burn Middle Earth to the ground if he has to in his insane quest for power and self-glory.

These seem to be the two candidates that we're faced with, and neither is exactly appealing. But if we want to stretch the metaphor even further, we have to remember that Middle Earth was actually saved by the "little guys," literally. Maybe, We the People, the voters are the hobbits, and we're the ones that can actually save our nation.

Of course, if we want to stretch the metaphor even further, we have to begin to wonder, where is Sauron? Maybe Russia, maybe China, maybe...

A sale at DriveThruFiction

For a limited time, you can save 30% on my science fiction titles at DriveThruFiction. You can download novels, including my most recent, Echoes from the Deep, and short story collections, including my most recent, The Lies of Belial, and other stories. All of these at 30% off their regular price.

And if you've never read any of my work (and why haven't you?) and you're curious about what kind of insanity I create, you can download individual short stories for just 69 cents. That's a deal that you can't pass up...no, you really can't pass it up!

Head over to https://www.drivethrufiction.com/browse/pub/16618/ and start downloading today!

Is there an echo in here?

Yes, it is definitely one of the best lines from Star Wars The Bad Batch, but it's also a great way to talk about my new novel again. There is an echo available, and it's called Echoes from the Deep.

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 from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3uleZgp

Order from Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1509505

Order from DriveThruFiction: https://www.drivethrufiction.com/product/467842/

Don't forget your fifth Taste of the Madness

The fifth volume is here!
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.

And Kindle Unlimited members can read it for free. So, download it today at https://amzn.to/3wk9vCU

The Rocks on the Other Side Gallery of Rogues

From the Nomadic Delirium Press Blog:

Do you need a quick ally for your Rocks on the Other Side characters? Or maybe the game master needs to come up with a quick enemy, or the mayor of the local town. The Rocks on the Other Side Gallery of Rogues gives you 50 characters that can be quickly added to your game for whatever reason you might need.
Each listing gives the characters basic stats, their preferred weapon, and a brief description that can help you add them to your game, but feel free to adapt each of the characters to the needs of your campaign.

Order from DriveThruRPG: https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/470359/

Order from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CV97B7MS

Order from Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1519579

Rio

 

On Saturday, February 3^rd, our beloved kitty, Rio passed away. She was no ordinary cat, however, and the grief we are all feeling is quite intense. We’ve been lucky to have a few great cats over the years. The type of cats that aren’t just cats, but have their own unique personalities that make them something special. In the past we had K.J. and Mosi, and we still have Stryker, and Rio was one of these special family members.

When she passed, we think she was about 14, and we were lucky enough to have her enrich our lives for ten years. When our girls were younger, Rio would often sit with them while they were playing school or store, acting like she was just one of the girls playing along with them. She would even let them push her around in a little plastic shopping cart. As we all got older, she would sit with us while we played games, like she was waiting for her turn.

When Rebecca was especially sick, Rio would stay in the room with her, trying to take care of her. We always called her Nurse Rio because she really thought she was helping to take care of her, and the truth is, her love really did help. She was just such a good little girl.

When I would be working, she would often lay on the back of my chair, and when she wanted attention, she would tap on my shoulder. I don’t know where she learned this, but she would often tap on us when she wanted something. I’ve never had a cat that did this, and this was just one of the many things that made her so special.

She would often sit with me and Lex as we watched Clone Wars or Bad Batch, never wanting anything more than to love on us and be loved.

She was never the type of cat to get in trouble. She didn’t bite or scratch, she didn’t get into stuff, she just wanted to love and to be loved, and she was loved so much. As Rebecca has said, there is a Rio sized hole in all of our hearts, and we’re all struggling to try to come to terms with this loss.

I know there are people out there that will say she was just a cat, but animals aren’t duplicitous like humans. Their love is so pure, and Rio was an extra special little feline. There has never been a cat like her before, and there will never be another one like her.

 

 

Echoes from the Deep has been reviewed

It's a short review on Amazon, but it's always good to hear that you're a favorite author to somebody. Check out the review at https://amzn.to/3Us4277

Another Echoes from the Deep excerpt

Phineas found the waters to be warmer than he would have expected, but there was nothing strange below the boat, and there was no sign of the probe. He dove as far as he dared, but found nothing, not even a behemoth. Nothing. He began to re-surface when he heard the identity echo of Long Fins from above. He paused in his swim for a few seconds. Long Fins was his favorite female in the pod, and he couldn’t help but feel a slight arousal when he realized how proud she’d be of him if he could learn something. He decided to stay under a little longer.

He suddenly felt a strange sensation in his tail. It was the same sensation he felt when there was a behemoth nearby, or the same feeling he used to feel on Earth when there had been sharks nearby. He spun around, but sensed nothing. The feeling was still there however, so he sent off more intense echoes, but nothing came back to him.

Nothing came back to him! From the south, there were no echoes returning, but there was a reef not more than half a mile from him, but nothing returned. He swam in a quick circle and sent off another series of echoes. Nothing!

“Phineas, what is it?” The call was from Long Fins, but he didn’t respond. There was something to the south. He couldn’t see it or sense it, but he knew it was there. He couldn’t detect anything, and he knew that meant there had to be something there.

The water suddenly cooled to a temperature that he would have expected, so he sent off another series of echoes. This time, the echoes of the reef to the south came back to him. It was then that he realized that his lungs were burning from lack of oxygen. He shot to the surface, shaking his head violently once he was above the water, and gasping for air.

“Phineas, what did you see?” It was Eric’s voice being translated into Delphin that he was hearing.

“Nothing.”

“Did you detect anything?” Eric asked.

“No.” He had no idea why he was lying. He just knew he had to. Of course, it wasn’t really a lie. He hadn’t detected anything, not one damn thing.

Just then, Shark Lover swam up to the boat. Without thinking, Phineas lunged at him, dragging rows of teeth along the smaller dolphin’s dorsal fin. It made Phineas feel better.

“Phineas, stop!” It was Long Fins’ echoes.

Phineas just swam away from Shark Lover, away from the boat, away from the shore, away from the impossible lack of echoes he’d experienced. Phineas just swam.

Order from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3OvQd3P

Order from Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1509505

Order from DriveThruFiction: https://www.drivethrufiction.com/product/467842/Echoes-From-the-Deep

Bestseller for January 2024

It's probably not much of a surprise, but my best selling title to start off the new year was Do You Really Want to be a Writer? Apparently a lot of people do want to write. And it's still holding strong at #30 on the DriveThruFiction Bestsellers list.

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.

Order from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3OfhN5t

Order from Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1503357

Order from DriveThruFiction: https://www.drivethrufiction.com/product/466362/