April recap

An early April update Breaking ground on the new game A Problem in Translation e-books Earth Day sale An interesting note about Amazon Another interesting note about Amazon

Another interesting note about Amazon

I've had a few people complain to me because my publisher has not discounted my book through Amazon. The truth is, Amazon controls the pricing, and they haven't discounted my new book because my publisher only offers a 50% discount to bookstores, instead of the 55% that Amazon wants. So what this means, I will also leave up to you...

An interesting note about Amazon

If you go to the listing for my new book at Amazon, you'll see that it says that the book ships in two to three weeks, which actually isn't the case. What's actually going on here is that my publisher offers bookstores a 50% discount off the cover price, but Amazon wants a 55% discount...therefore, they will not actually stock a physical copy of my book. Now, when you place an order with them, they will immediately order it through Ingrams (the main distributor), and the book will ship within a couple of days. Why does Amazon do this? I'll let you come up with your own answer for that...

Earth Day sale

On Earth Day, Sunday April 22nd, you can order the e-book version of my environmental SF novel, Red Moon Rising for 25% off. Simply go to https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/40341 and when you're checking out use the coupon code JR98J. Celebrate Earth Day with some environmental SF.

A Problem in Translation e-books

Just a reminder that my new novel, A Problem in Translation is available from a number of locations as an e-book.

You can pick it up at Smashwords by going to https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/137568

Or you can pick it up for the Kindle at http://www.amazon.com/A-Problem-in-Translation-ebook/dp/B007O13I5M

Keep in mind that you don't need an e-reader in order to read e-books. Smashwords has formats that can be read directly on your computer, and Amazon has a Kindle reader that you can download on to your computer for free...so what are you waiting for? Go read my book!

Breaking ground on the new game

It's been a long time in development, but tonight I started on the actual writing of the new RPG I'm working on. I've managed to crank out almost 1,000 words, so that's a pretty good night for me.

Creating an RPG is quite a bit different than writing a novel, and the word counts will certainly vary from day to day, but it's nice to actually be putting some words on a page. It will probably take a very long time to write the rulebook, but I will keep all of you apprised.

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.