2014 in review

Another year is coming to an end, so I suppose I should take a look back at this year, although I might not want to.  From a professional standpoint, I didn't do anywhere near as much writing as I would have like to this year.  I started several stories, and I even started a new novel, but I only finished two stories.  The simple fact is that I don't have enough time to write.  At the moment, our financial situation is a bit grim, which means I have to focus more on editing and game design because I see the money from those endeavors more quickly than I do from writing.
As an editor, I saw the release of Taurin Tales this year, and I also completed A Robot, a Cyborg, and a Martian Walk into a Space Bar, which will be released in just over two weeks. And from the game design perspective, I wrote a lot of supplements for the Ephemeris RPG. Most of these were written early in the year before I had to go back into the "real" work world.
On a personal level, 2014 was mostly a good year.  The kids continue to grow and I'm very proud of most of the things they're doing.  Marriage is still bliss.  I couldn't ask for a better partner to navigate the harshness of reality with.
The biggest downer of the year has been our deteriorating financial situation.  Alexis had surgery early in the year, and even though she was insured, the bills have been outrageous.  We're still paying a little bit each month, and hoping to keep them off of our backs until we get our tax return.  We quickly learned that just one of us working wasn't enough to pay our bills, so I had to go back into the "real" work world.  Rebecca is still hoping to get promoted at some point in the coming year, but until then, things will be a struggle.  Sadly, rent and other bills go up by a much larger percentage than the annual raise she saw...and that's how it always seems to be.  This, to me, seems to be the main reason why we're seeing a shrinking of the middle class.
2015 will hopefully be a good year, we have big plans...we just have to come up with the means to make all of those plans a reality...
Happy New Year, everyone. See you in 2015!

Cutting it close

At the end of October, I was asked to submit a story for an upcoming anthology.  The deadline for the story was Dec. 31st.  I just finished the story and sent it off.  Needless to say, I cut this one close.  This story was a bit of a departure from what I usually write, so I'm not sure how it will go over, but I'm certainly hoping it gets accepted.
I'll let everyone know at some point in the future...

Don't forget to pre-order your copy of A Robot, a Cyborg, and a Martian Walk into a Space Bar

The pre-sale for A Robot, a Cyborg, and a Martian Walk into a Space Bar is in full swing now, and you can order the e-book or the print version from a wide variety of places.  Here are a few, but any bookstore should be able to get it for you...
Order from Nomadic Delirium Press
Order from Smashwords
Order from Amazon
Order from Barnes & Noble

Thank you!

Copied from the Nomadic Delirium Press blog:
We wanted to thank everyone for supporting our Kickstarter for A Robot, a Cyborg, and a Martian Walk into a Space Bar.  The project was successfully funded, and we are all very grateful for that.  Even if you weren't able to help financially, but you reposted our links, we appreciate that as well.  Every little bit helps.
I'm sure the authors would like to thank you as well, since this means that the book is that much closer to making a profit, which means more money for them.
Thanks again!

Last chance

Today is your last chance to back our Kickstarter for A Robot, a Cyborg, and a Martian Walk into a Space Bar. Pledge soon: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1521750492/a-robot-a-cyborg-and-a-martian-walk-into-a-space-b

$120 to go

The Kickstarter for A Robot, a Cyborg, and a Martian Walk into a Space Bar ends Sunday night, and we only need an additional $120.  This is very doable, so any last minute pledges would be greatly appreciated!
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1521750492/a-robot-a-cyborg-and-a-martian-walk-into-a-space-b

$240 to go

Our Kickstarter for A Robot, a Cyborg, and a Martian Walk into a Space Bar has almost come to a close, and we still find ourselves $240 short. If you've given any thought to possibly donating to this Kickstarter, we ask that you now do it. We're offering some really great rewards.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1521750492/a-robot-a-cyborg-and-a-martian-walk-into-a-space-b

The Space Bar pre-sale has begun

We've officially kicked off the pre-sale for A Robot, a Cyborg, and a Martian Walk into a Space Bar.  The list price for the print version will be $10, but you can order it for $9 from the Nomadic Delirium store by going to http://nomadicdeliriumpress.com/blog/product/a-robot-a-cyborg-and-a-martian-walk-into-a-space-bar/
Smashwords has the e-book at https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/499752
And you can order the Kindle version at http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QSCJRF8
The official release date for the book is January 15, 2015.

$265 to go

There are only a few days left in our Kickstarter for A Robot, a Cyborg, and a Martian Walk into a Space Bar, and we still need to raise an additional $265. This book is going to be a really fun read, so please help out with whatever you can.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1521750492/a-robot-a-cyborg-and-a-martian-walk-into-a-space-b

One week to go

There's just one week to go in our Kickstarter for A Robot, a Cyborg, and a Martian Walk into a Space Bar, and we still have a long way to go.  Any help you can give us would be greatly appreciated.
Please pledge at: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1521750492/a-robot-a-cyborg-and-a-martian-walk-into-a-space-b

November recap

E-book sale
A Robot, a Cyborg, and a Martian Walk into a Space Bar contents
A 4th birthday
A Robot, a Cyborg, and a Martian Walk into a Space Bar cover
The Space Bar Kickstarter has begun
Breaking the silence
Two weeks to go

Two weeks to go

There are just two weeks to go in the Kickstarter for A Robot, a Cyborg, and a Martian Walk into a Space Bar, and although the Kickstarter got off to a great start, it has slowed quite a bit since.  This is going to be a really fun read, and we really need your help in getting it off the ground...so anything you can contribute would be appreciated.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1521750492/a-robot-a-cyborg-and-a-martian-walk-into-a-space-b

Breaking the silence

I haven't posted much of late because, as always, I've been crazy busy.  I'm still working the "real" job while I try to continue to get stuff done at home...not always easy.  Plus, the holidays are crazy time with three kids, so I don't always do everything I'd want to do, and most of the time, the first thing to suffer is blogging.
Professionally, here's what's been going on lately:
Much of my time has been dedicated to promoting the Kickstarter for A Robot, a Cyborg, and a Martian Walk into a Space Bar.  With a name like that, you know it has to be worth picking up, and if you want to help the Kickstarter (which would be greatly appreciated), you can at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1521750492/a-robot-a-cyborg-and-a-martian-walk-into-a-space-b.
I've also been working on putting together the anthology, which means a lot of editing and formatting...tedious, but fun work.  I'm also getting the December issue of The Fifth Di... ready.  And I wouldn't be me if I wasn't annoying people by promoting my two most recent releases, Taurin Tales as an editor and Where the Fleet of Stars is Anchored as a writer.
Not to be forgotten, I have been doing some work on the next installment of The Ephemeris Encyclopedia Galactica, although not as much work as I might like.
Finally, I've actually been doing some writing.  I've started working on a story that I should have written a long time ago, and this became very obvious to me with the recent passing of a writer friend.  I don't want to say much about the story right now, but I will blog about it as it progresses.
Hopefully that's a good enough update for now, and I'll try to blog more as time allows...

The Space Bar Kickstarter has begun

We've officially launched the Kickstarter for A Robot, a Cyborg, and a Martian Walk into a Space Bar.  It can be found at: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1521750492/a-robot-a-cyborg-and-a-martian-walk-into-a-space-b, and any support you can offer is greatly appreciated.
There are some great rewards associated with this Kickstarter, so what are you waiting for...

A Robot, a Cyborg, and a Martian Walk into a Space Bar cover

Here is the awesome cover for A Robot, a Cyborg, and a Martian Walk into a Space Bar.  The book will be released on Jan. 15th, and we will be launching a Kickstarter very soon for this project, so keep your eyes on this page.

A 4th birthday

It's hard to believe that four years ago today Alexis came into our lives.  In those four years we've watched her grow and change so much.  She's now a young lady with so much personality, and we all love her so much.  Every day we are so proud of the things she does, and we can't wait to see who she grows up to be.
She will be having a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles party in a little while, and she is so excited.
Happy birthday Alexis!

A Robot, a Cyborg, and a Martian Walk into a Space Bar contents

These are not in the order that they will appear in the anthology, but here are the stories that will be appearing in A Robot, a Cyborg, and a Martian Walk into a Space Bar, which is due to be released on January 15th, 2015.
Big Momma Mead’s Meandering Motherspot for Trollops, Lushes, and Loons by Francis W. Alexander
Share and Share Alike by Wayne Carey
Cultural Clash by Glen R. Stripling
Galaxy Sedge by Lou J Berger
Dizzy by Alan Ira Gordon
Baby Cubed by Scott Virtes
T. Gips and The Time Flies by Ahmed A. Khan
Slippery, dangerous by Gilda A. Herrera
American Moat by Carlos Hernandez
Tasteful by Laura Givens
Rover by Sheryl Normandeau
Escape from Planet NOPE by John Skylar
Toast by James Dorr
The Question by Robert Lowell Russell
Star-Fight in the Twenty-First Sector by John Grey

E-book sale

Nomadic Delirium Press is having an e-book sale that lasts until the day before Thanksgiving.  Many of their titles are listed for 10-50% off, and this includes a number of titles that I either wrote or edited.  For example, you can get Taurin Tales for 30% off at http://nomadicdeliriumpress.com/blog/product/taurin-tales/, or The Martian Wave: 2014 for 10% off at http://nomadicdeliriumpress.com/blog/product/the-martian-wave-2014/, or The Ephemeris Omnibus 2013 for almost 50% off at http://nomadicdeliriumpress.com/blog/product/the-ephemeris-omnibus-2013/, or Seedlings on the Solar Winds, and other stories for almost 50% off at http://nomadicdeliriumpress.com/blog/product/seedlings-on-the-solar-winds/.

October recap

I'm a day late with this because I've been sick as a dog, but here's what I was talking about in October...
My MileHiCon 46 schedule
Taurin Tales is almost here
Nomadic Delirium bundles
Taurin Tales is here!!!
Where the Fleet of Stars is Anchored is now available
Where the Fleet of Stars is Anchored is now available as an e-book
My revised MileHiCon schedule
MileHiCon 46 recap

MileHiCon 46 recap

So, MileHiCon 46 has come and gone.  Even though my schedule was not as hectic this year as it was in years past, this con seemed to fly by much faster.  It seemed like we were leaving just hours after we got there...
After checking in on Friday, we went straight to my panel on how small press publishers choose their covers.  It was a great panel, with a lot of the usual suspects, and in many ways, it turned into the praise Laura Givens show (she was in the audience.) We had a lot of good laughs on the panel, and I think we may have actually said some important things...although you'd have to check with the audience on that one...
After the opening ceremonies, I had a signing as part of Author's Alley.  I sold some stuff and signed some things, but mostly it was a chance to talk to other authors.  Many of them were the usual suspects, while I did get a chance to catch up with a couple of people that I haven't seen in years.
Saturday's first panel was about world design in games.  We had some RPG people and some video game people, and at first it didn't seem like the mix was working that well, but it did seem to come together, and I think we once again imparted some wisdom upon the SRO crowd.
A couple of hours later, I had a panel on Kicsktarters, and I really felt that panel was informative, because I definitely learned some things...things that I will be trying to implement when I do the Kickstarter for A Robot, a Cyborg, and a Martian Walk Into a Space Bar.  Watch for details soon.
That night we went to the masquerade.  Every year before the masquerade they allow kids up on stage that did masks at the mask making table.  This year, only two kids went up on stage...my two youngest.  Jul had made a rabbit mask, and did a shy rabbit pose.  Lex had on a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles t-shirt, and a red mask, so she did her best Raphael pose on stage.  The masquerade had some great costumes this year, but it seemed much shorter than usual...but it was still a good time.
After the masquerade, I managed to track Laura Givens down, and we hashed out the details for the cover of A Robot, a Cyborg, and a Martian Walk Into a Space Bar.  I think it will look very cool, and I'm sure Laura will have something for me very soon to share with everyone.
On Sunday, I didn't have any panels, which I think is a first, so we took in parts of the Critter Crunch, and then we carved pumpkins with the Pumpkin King.  Eventually we ended up at Sci-Fi Name that Tune, and for some reason that I can't even begin to fathom, I volunteered to be one of the players.  I have to admit that my geek knowledge is much more specific than most of the fans, so I knew I was going to embarrass myself, but I did any way.  Before we started, I said it was my goal to get at least one right.  I doubled my goal!
After that it was the closing ceremonies, which are always a melancholic event, since it means that the Con is over.
All things being said, it was a great Con, but it went way too fast this year...