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...