An early April update

My health is slowly improving. I'd say I'm at about 70% right now. I'm still having the pressure in my chest, and the back pain that they didn't have an explanation for.

I've been editing furiously as I try to get caught up on everything I've fallen behind on. The 2012 issue of The Martian Wave has been delivered, and we're looking at a May release. I've started gathering up e-mail addresses and putting together files that will eventually be Wondrous Web Worlds Vol. 10. This will be the best of Sam's Dot's on-line zines for the years 2009-2011. We don't have a release date yet, but I know some of the readers of this blog are contributors, so you can expect an e-mail from me some time in the next couple of weeks.

Since I've actually had free time, and I haven't been feeling up to working, I've actually had time to read a book...imagine that. I read Warren Hammond's Kop, and even though noir isn't always my thing, I think this was a great book, and I'd highly recommend it to anyone. Now I just have to find the time to read the rest of the series...

And for the record, Warren will be signing with me (or vice-versa) at the Broadway Book Mall on June 10th.

Assuming that the baby stays asleep for a little while longer, I'm going to start working on the new game again. I haven't touched it in a while, so I'm going to have to get back up to speed on where I am in the design process.

That's about it for now. I hope to actually start doing some fiction writing soon, but time always seems to get in the way of that one...

March recap

A Problem in Translation is now available

GM's Day at DriveThruRPG

Read an e-book week

Very ill

Signed copies

So, your local bookstore doesn't have my new book?

Book signing

Book signing

I've arranged a reading and signing for A Problem in Translation at the Broadway Book Mall on Sunday June 10th at 3:00 PM. I'll be reading with Warren Hammond and Betsy Dornbusch.

My mom has been planning a trip out here (she hasn't met Alexis yet), and this would be perfect, since she's never had the opportunity to see me do anything like this. And the date makes it even more perfect, since June 10th is her birthday and June 11th is Rebecca's...so we will really be celebrating this one!

So, your local bookstore doesn't have my new book?

If your local bookstore isn't carrying my new novel A Problem in Translation, you can have them order it by using the ISBN: 978-0981636535. And any bookstores reading this blog should also feel free to use that ISBN to order copies as well...

Signed copies

I now have signed copies of my new novel available directly from me. Simply go to http://www.jalanerwine.com/translation.htm. The ordering links are at the bottom of the page.

I only have a limited number of copies, however, so don't hesitate...

Very ill

The last two weeks have been very rough on me. I've developed some horrible respiratory and sinus infection, which has pretty much knocked me on my ass. I haven't been to work, and I've barely been able to do anything around the house, which makes it hard to take care of the kids. Rebecca has done a lot to help, but she hasn't been feeling 100% either, and she does work full time, so that makes it hard.

Why didn't I go to the doctor, you might ask. Simple, I don't have insurance. Therefore, in order to get treatment, I would have to shell out a lot more money than someone who does have insurance. Some people might find that fair, but I never have. Even when I had a job that gave me insurance, I always felt that everyone was entitled to insurance...this is, after all, supposed to be the greatest country in the world. In order to add me to Rebecca's insurance, we would have to shell out an extra $100 a month, and we aren't exactly living in the lap of luxury, so that money would have to be taken from things like food and clothing. Yeah, the US insurance system is seriously broken...

Read an e-book week

March 4th-10th is Read an E-book Week at Smashwords. Both Sam's Dot Publishing and Nomadic Delirium Press are participating in these specials. This gives you a chance to pick up a lot of my titles at 25% off. This includes all three of my new novels, including the new one, A Problem in Translation. You can also pick up one of my short story collections and any of the Ephemeris products I've created. Simply go to...

The Sam's Dot page

or

The Nomadic Delirium page

Once there, they'll give you a coupon code for the 25% off deal.

It's a great chance to get caught up on my works...

GM's Day at DriveThruRPG

March 1st - March 7th is a celebration of GM's Day at DriveThruRPG. You can get 25% off of a wide variety of titles, including all of the Ephemeris titles. Simply go to http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/index.php?filters=0_0_0_0_0_31817, and search for Ephemeris.

A Problem in Translation is now available

The long awaited release of my new novel, A Problem in Translation, is finally here.

If you'd like to read a sample chapter, you can find one at http://www.jalanerwine.com/translation.htm.

You can order the book from any of the following:
The Sam's Dot Bookstore

The e-book from Smashwords

Barnes & Noble

Amazon

February recap

Here's what I was blogging about in February. Looks like it was all about the new book...

Release date

The worst part about writing a book

A Problem in Translation blurb

The first chapter

The first chapter

Thursday, March 1st is the release date for my new novel, A Problem in Translation. If you'd like to read the first chapter, please feel free to go to... http://www.jalanerwine.com/translation.htm.

A Problem in Translation blurb

It's not finalized yet, but here's the blurb for the new book...

What is humanity to do when faced by aliens whose language is vague at best? What is humanity to do when faced by aliens that are worshipped or feared by almost every other species in the universe? What is humanity to do when faced by aliens that make decisions that seem completely illogical?

These are the questions that must be answered by Captain Shiro Takahashi and the crew of the Astrid, and failing to come up with the right answers could lead to the annihilation of humanity at the prehensile limbs of the Lemec.

Governing, but not governing, most of the nearby galaxy, the Lemec are a powerful species that no one really understands, and this is just how the Lemec want it. Captain Takahashi is trying to understand, but the Lemec try to block his actions at every turn. How can he ever hope to save humanity, and do the Lemec even care if humanity is saved?

The worst part about writing a book...

...is when the publisher asks you to help out with the back cover blurb.

I've never been good at sales, and trying to promote my own work is even harder. So, instead of writing the blurb, I'm procrastinating by writing about writing it...

Release date

We have a release date for my new novel, A Problem in Translation. It will be released on March 1st, 2012. That's not all that far off, so make sure you're saving those pennies. It will be available both as a trade paperback and an e-book.

This one isn't as dark as my first two novels, and would be more of what I would consider Space Opera, but with a twist. Hopefully you will all enjoy it once it's released.

And be sure to pay attention to my Facebook page, as I'll be doing some special giveaways in a little over a week.

January recap

Very light month of blogging. Hopefully I'll have more to say in the month to come.

Shouldn't be a surprise...

Progress Report

We have a cover

We have a cover

We're getting very close to the release of my third novel A Problem in Translation, and I'm very happy to say that we now have a cover for the new book.

Here it is...

Progress report

Work on the new game is really coming along. I'm very excited about this one, and I'm hoping it will be well received by the gaming world.

I recently sent a copy of the short story that was the inspiration for my new novel to the cover artist, Miss Laura Givens, so she and I can start bouncing some ideas around for the book cover. As the release date approaches, I'll be doing some giveaways through my Facebook account, so keep an eye open for those.

The "real" job has kept me quite busy, so I'm not making as much creative progress as I'd like...but we're getting there.

Shouldn't be a surprise...

...I've started work on the new role playing game. Any time an idea really grabs hold of me, I don't have much choice but to go with it. So, I am now in the process of creating a brand new RPG, and I'm making a ton of progress on it already. I'd say I'm half way through making my notes (other than historical notes), and I might actually start on the writing in the next couple of weeks.

Once I have everything put together, I'll be looking for play testers, so keep your eyes open if you're interested in trying the game out.

December recap

Ephemeris Holiday Specials

The Martian Wave as a bestseller

12 Days of Ephemeris Christmas

I don't understand parents

Thinking about a new RPG

2011 in review

2011 in review

This hasn't been the most productive year I've ever had. I'm sure it has a lot to do with the baby and the new job, but I did have a few publications.

The biggest was the release of my second novel, Red Moon Rising

I also had short stories published in Beyond Centauri, Aoife's Kiss, and A Taste of Armageddon. I also created several supplements for the Ephemeris RPG.

2012 is looking like it will be a more productive year. Alexis is starting to get a little more independent, so that will hopefully free up some time. Early in the year, we'll see the release of my third novel and I'm also hoping to create a brand new RPG this year.

Hope you all have a great and safe new year! See you next year!