Last month was a very light month of blogging for me. Mostly because there were a couple of weeks there where I wasn't able to focus much. I had a nasty respiratory infection for a while that included a high fever, even forcing me to miss work (which I try my best not to do). Shortly after that, I went to the doctor about my chronic pain. We were able to get a referral to a surgeon, so hopefully at some point I'll be able to get in and see him, and maybe we'll get some answers. In the mean time, my doctor put me on a new med for the pain, which actually seems to be having an effect. However, and there's always a however, the medication has some difficult side effects. For one, I'm dizzy quite often. So much so that I actually did black out at one point, and at other times, I get these crazy tremors as I'm trying to regain my balance. In addition, I'm also much more tired than usual. All of this made for many unproductive weeks.
Now, I have to play catch up. I still need to get the copies of The Martian Wave sent out. I have two short story collections I need to edit for Nomadic Delirium Press. I have e-books to format, and who knows what else. It's going to be a busy September as I try to make up for everything I didn't get done in August.
Wednesday, September 02, 2015
Tuesday, September 01, 2015
Monday, August 31, 2015
The Fifth Di... September 2015
Borrowed from the Nomadic Delirium Press website...
A new issue of The Fifth Di... is now available, and it's still just $1!!!!
The Fifth Di..., one of the longest running on-line zines continues on with four new stories. This month we feature fantasy and science fiction stories from Fredrick Obermeyer, Tim McDaniel, Kate Runnels, and Thomas Canfield.
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/573600
A new issue of The Fifth Di... is now available, and it's still just $1!!!!
The Fifth Di..., one of the longest running on-line zines continues on with four new stories. This month we feature fantasy and science fiction stories from Fredrick Obermeyer, Tim McDaniel, Kate Runnels, and Thomas Canfield.
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/573600
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
The Ephemeris Encyclopedia Galactica: Sectors Forty-Two & Forty-Three
The exploration of "Deep Space" begins.
These sectors are home to many Julahmo colonies, and of course, wherever the Julahmo go, the Ernya and the Khruntha are sure to follow. There's a lot of unexplored areas, and only partially explored areas, plus there are a lot of mysteries waiting for brave...or foolish explorers...
Start your exploration of "Deep Space" by ordering at http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/155085/The-Ephemeris-Encyclopedia-Galactica-Sectors-FortyTwo--FortyThree
These sectors are home to many Julahmo colonies, and of course, wherever the Julahmo go, the Ernya and the Khruntha are sure to follow. There's a lot of unexplored areas, and only partially explored areas, plus there are a lot of mysteries waiting for brave...or foolish explorers...
Start your exploration of "Deep Space" by ordering at http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/155085/The-Ephemeris-Encyclopedia-Galactica-Sectors-FortyTwo--FortyThree
Saturday, August 15, 2015
The Martian Wave: 2015 is here!
Borrowed from the Nomadic Delirium Press blog:
Today is the official release of The Martian Wave: 2015!!!
The Martian Wave: 2015 brings you stories and poems that look at humanity’s exploration and colonization of space, with a special emphasis on our solar system. Within these pages you’ll find stranded astronauts, potentially dangerous aliens, people struggling with dangerous indigenous life, and dangerous thoughts from their own minds, plus much much more.
You can order from us at: http://nomadicdeliriumpress.com/blog/product/the-martian-wave-2015
You can order the e-book at: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/561565
You can order from Amazon at: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0120XUMR0
You can order from Barnes & Noble at: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-martian-wave-j-alan-erwine/1122344012?ean=2940152042474
Today is the official release of The Martian Wave: 2015!!!
The Martian Wave: 2015 brings you stories and poems that look at humanity’s exploration and colonization of space, with a special emphasis on our solar system. Within these pages you’ll find stranded astronauts, potentially dangerous aliens, people struggling with dangerous indigenous life, and dangerous thoughts from their own minds, plus much much more.
You can order from us at: http://nomadicdeliriumpress.com/blog/product/the-martian-wave-2015
You can order the e-book at: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/561565
You can order from Amazon at: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0120XUMR0
You can order from Barnes & Noble at: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-martian-wave-j-alan-erwine/1122344012?ean=2940152042474
Saturday, August 08, 2015
One week until release
The Martian Wave: 2015 brings you stories and poems that look at humanity’s exploration and colonization of space, with a special emphasis on our solar system. Within these pages you’ll find stranded astronauts, potentially dangerous aliens, people struggling with dangerous indigenous life, and dangerous thoughts from their own minds, plus much much more.
Tuesday, August 04, 2015
Pain update
Regular readers of this blog know that I suffer from chronic pain, and I do get an occasional e-mail asking how I'm doing, so I figured an update was in order. The simple answer is...not well. The pain has gotten quite a bit worse in the last couple of months with an average day being around a 3 on a ten point scale. Although that might not sound bad, that's constant pain no matter what I'm doing. At best, I occasionally have a day where I'm at a 1, but those are becoming more and more rare, and I never have a day where I don't deal with pain.
The last week has been especially bad with the pain level being up around a 5, and last night I overdid it at work while helping to move some boxes around. After I was done, I actually almost blacked out from the pain, and this morning I'm up around a 6 or 7. If I stop moving and breathing, it helps ease the pain, but I don't see those as viable options at this point in time as a long term cure.
Now that I have insurance again, we're trying to get me in to our doctor, but so far, he hasn't had appointments that fit our schedule. We're both working, and we have back to school for the kids, so there aren't many options for us at this time. Rebecca absolutely has to go to the appointments with me since this is going to certainly have an impact on her, since I'm now pretty much convinced that I will eventually have to go under the knife, especially as long as I continue to work in retail, where lifting is almost a must.
I've looked into the rules for qualifying for disability, and it's like jumping through flaming hoops, and since I have a college education and could be retrained, it would be much harder to qualify...although I have to be able to work opposite of Rebecca's day job so that one of us is always here for the kids. It kind of sucks that if I'd dropped out of high school and had no skills, I might be able to get help...
For now, I soldier on, and try to do my best to not make the pain even worse...and that's not easy, considering I've popped ribs by sneezing...
The last week has been especially bad with the pain level being up around a 5, and last night I overdid it at work while helping to move some boxes around. After I was done, I actually almost blacked out from the pain, and this morning I'm up around a 6 or 7. If I stop moving and breathing, it helps ease the pain, but I don't see those as viable options at this point in time as a long term cure.
Now that I have insurance again, we're trying to get me in to our doctor, but so far, he hasn't had appointments that fit our schedule. We're both working, and we have back to school for the kids, so there aren't many options for us at this time. Rebecca absolutely has to go to the appointments with me since this is going to certainly have an impact on her, since I'm now pretty much convinced that I will eventually have to go under the knife, especially as long as I continue to work in retail, where lifting is almost a must.
I've looked into the rules for qualifying for disability, and it's like jumping through flaming hoops, and since I have a college education and could be retrained, it would be much harder to qualify...although I have to be able to work opposite of Rebecca's day job so that one of us is always here for the kids. It kind of sucks that if I'd dropped out of high school and had no skills, I might be able to get help...
For now, I soldier on, and try to do my best to not make the pain even worse...and that's not easy, considering I've popped ribs by sneezing...
Saturday, August 01, 2015
Friday, July 24, 2015
Christmas in July
Borrowed from the Nomadic Delirium Press blog:
For the rest of July DriveThruFiction and DriveThruRPG are running a Christmas in July sale. During this time, you can pick up our titles for 25% off. This is a chance to pick up some of our fiction, or any of the Ephemeris titles that you might need to complete your collection. Simply go to http://www.drivethrufiction.com/browse/pub/2805/Nomadic-Delirium-Press or http://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse/pub/2805/Nomadic-Delirium-Press. The sale prices are already programmed in.
For the rest of July DriveThruFiction and DriveThruRPG are running a Christmas in July sale. During this time, you can pick up our titles for 25% off. This is a chance to pick up some of our fiction, or any of the Ephemeris titles that you might need to complete your collection. Simply go to http://www.drivethrufiction.com/browse/pub/2805/Nomadic-Delirium-Press or http://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse/pub/2805/Nomadic-Delirium-Press. The sale prices are already programmed in.
Tuesday, July 21, 2015
Mental health treatment in America
A few days ago, the Aurora theater shooter trial came to an end with the accused being found guilty on all counts. No doubt this creature was crazy...after all, no one in their right mind would think about doing what he did, but clearly the jury decided that he was not insane, which is a legal term and not a psychiatric term. Basically, even though he was nuts, he was well aware that what he was doing was wrong, and that's the reason why he will either get life without parole or death.
The biggest problem I have with this whole scenario is that even though this creature was seeking treatment, he obviously never got all of the help that he really needed. And for that, the fault lies with insurance companies and the way that Americans view mental illness.
That might sound crazy, but stay with me for a minute. Many insurance companies do not cover mental health issues the same way they do physical health issues. For many, they pay a smaller percentage, leaving he patient to pay high bills, and mental health treatment can be expensive. In addition, many insurance companies severely limit the number of caretakers in their network, also making it harder for people to seek treatment. Major hospitals might be in the network of an insurance company for physical health issues, but not mental health issues. This doesn't make sense to me. Mental illness is just as real as physical illness. In the majority of cases, there is a biological reason for the mental illness, but somehow it's different in the eyes of the insurance companies.
This difference probably comes from the way that Americans view mental illness. A large number of Americans think that the mentally ill are weak. Basically saying that a person who suffers from depression is weak and just needs to grow a backbone, or some other stupid comment that you might expect to hear from people. This is like saying that a person who gets cancer is somehow physically weak. We don't shun and shame people with cancer, why should we do it with people suffering from mental illness?
I've known a lot of wonderful and a lot of strong people that have suffered from depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses, and it wasn't their fault, and yet America somehow blames them. This is wrong in so many ways, and this, in addition to the insurance BS, is a big reason why people who are suffering never seek treatment, and this can lead to the creation of monsters like the Aurora Theater shooter.
Wake up, America! Mental illness is no different than physical illness, and it's about time that we start treating them the same.
The biggest problem I have with this whole scenario is that even though this creature was seeking treatment, he obviously never got all of the help that he really needed. And for that, the fault lies with insurance companies and the way that Americans view mental illness.
That might sound crazy, but stay with me for a minute. Many insurance companies do not cover mental health issues the same way they do physical health issues. For many, they pay a smaller percentage, leaving he patient to pay high bills, and mental health treatment can be expensive. In addition, many insurance companies severely limit the number of caretakers in their network, also making it harder for people to seek treatment. Major hospitals might be in the network of an insurance company for physical health issues, but not mental health issues. This doesn't make sense to me. Mental illness is just as real as physical illness. In the majority of cases, there is a biological reason for the mental illness, but somehow it's different in the eyes of the insurance companies.
This difference probably comes from the way that Americans view mental illness. A large number of Americans think that the mentally ill are weak. Basically saying that a person who suffers from depression is weak and just needs to grow a backbone, or some other stupid comment that you might expect to hear from people. This is like saying that a person who gets cancer is somehow physically weak. We don't shun and shame people with cancer, why should we do it with people suffering from mental illness?
I've known a lot of wonderful and a lot of strong people that have suffered from depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses, and it wasn't their fault, and yet America somehow blames them. This is wrong in so many ways, and this, in addition to the insurance BS, is a big reason why people who are suffering never seek treatment, and this can lead to the creation of monsters like the Aurora Theater shooter.
Wake up, America! Mental illness is no different than physical illness, and it's about time that we start treating them the same.
Monday, July 20, 2015
The Martian Wave: 2015 table of contents
For those of you that have been wondering what the new issue of The Martian Wave will have in store for you, here you go:
Stories
From an Unnamed Rock by Jerry L. Robinette
On the Bridge by Matthew Spence
Mars Ride Along by EJ Shumak
I’ll Take the Moon by Andrew L. MacDonald
Red Sleepers by T. Fox Dunham
I’m a Little Teapot… by Robert P. Hansen
Greenie by David Castlewitz
Uhlanga Regio by Glen R. Stripling
Binaurals by Josh Brown
Fathers of Mars by David Wright
Earth Camp by Alicia Cole
The Tulku of Titan by Mike Morgan
Poems
Rip van Winkle on Mars by David C Kopaska-Merkel
The Star Chaser by Christina Sng
Observations From The Black Ball Line Between Deimos And Callisto by Alexandra Erin
Within a Flotsam Web by WC Roberts
Like A Drunken Cosmonaut by Alan Ira Gordon
A Star-Struck Night by Robert P. Hansen
Some Things Come Unbidden by Lisa Timpf
Pre-order your copy today at http://nomadicdeliriumpress.com/tmw.htm
Stories
From an Unnamed Rock by Jerry L. Robinette
On the Bridge by Matthew Spence
Mars Ride Along by EJ Shumak
I’ll Take the Moon by Andrew L. MacDonald
Red Sleepers by T. Fox Dunham
I’m a Little Teapot… by Robert P. Hansen
Greenie by David Castlewitz
Uhlanga Regio by Glen R. Stripling
Binaurals by Josh Brown
Fathers of Mars by David Wright
Earth Camp by Alicia Cole
The Tulku of Titan by Mike Morgan
Poems
Rip van Winkle on Mars by David C Kopaska-Merkel
The Star Chaser by Christina Sng
Observations From The Black Ball Line Between Deimos And Callisto by Alexandra Erin
Within a Flotsam Web by WC Roberts
Like A Drunken Cosmonaut by Alan Ira Gordon
A Star-Struck Night by Robert P. Hansen
Some Things Come Unbidden by Lisa Timpf
Pre-order your copy today at http://nomadicdeliriumpress.com/tmw.htm
Sunday, July 19, 2015
The Martian Wave: 2015 pre-release
The official release date for The Martian Wave: 2015 is August 15th, but you can now pre-order your own copy. For the moment, the only place to order a print copy is directly through us at http://nomadicdeliriumpress.com/blog/product/the-martian-wave-2015/. Amazon and other retailers will have the book in the weeks to come. The book will list for $10, but if you order from us before the release date, your price will be $9.
If you'd like to order an e-book version, you can order through Smashwords at https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/561565, or you can order the Kindle version at http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0120XUMR0.
Saturday, July 18, 2015
Featured e-book for July 18th
Borrowed from the Nomadic Delirium Press blog:
The featured e-book for today is Seedlings on the Solar Winds and other stories by J Alan Erwine. You can get this e-book for 50% off for the rest of the month by going to https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/16551.
America as a fascist state, soldiers driven to terrorism, insane computers, insane humans, insane aliens, these are just some of the things waiting for readers in the pages of this new short story collection from prize winning science fiction author J Alan Erwine.
The featured e-book for today is Seedlings on the Solar Winds and other stories by J Alan Erwine. You can get this e-book for 50% off for the rest of the month by going to https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/16551.
America as a fascist state, soldiers driven to terrorism, insane computers, insane humans, insane aliens, these are just some of the things waiting for readers in the pages of this new short story collection from prize winning science fiction author J Alan Erwine.
Tuesday, July 14, 2015
Featured e-book for July 14th
Borrowed from the Nomadic Delirium Press blog...
Today’s featured e-book is A Robot, a Cyborg, and a Martian Walk into a Space Bar. You can get it for 50% off for the rest of the month by going to: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/499752.
A Robot, a Cyborg, and a Martian Walk into a Space Bar is a serious literary work of science fiction and fantasy stories that looks to delve into…who are we trying to kid? This book is a collection of comedic science fiction and fantasy stories written by some truly talented authors.
Today’s featured e-book is A Robot, a Cyborg, and a Martian Walk into a Space Bar. You can get it for 50% off for the rest of the month by going to: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/499752.
A Robot, a Cyborg, and a Martian Walk into a Space Bar is a serious literary work of science fiction and fantasy stories that looks to delve into…who are we trying to kid? This book is a collection of comedic science fiction and fantasy stories written by some truly talented authors.
The book includes stories
from Francis W. Alexander, Lou J. Berger, Wayne Carey, James Dorr,
Laura Givens, Alan Ira Gordon, John Grey, Carlos Hernandez, Gilda A.
Herrera, Ahmed A. Khan, Sheryl Normandeau, Robert Lowell Russell, John
Skylar, Glen R. Stripling, and Scott Virtes.
You’ll be taken to alien bars, alien planets, and any funny place these authors could come up with. You’ll meet meddling appliances, aliens with strange habits, and aliens trying to live on or visit Earth. There are even time flies and a cloned genius. This collection has everything you need to tickle your funny bone.
You’ll be taken to alien bars, alien planets, and any funny place these authors could come up with. You’ll meet meddling appliances, aliens with strange habits, and aliens trying to live on or visit Earth. There are even time flies and a cloned genius. This collection has everything you need to tickle your funny bone.
Friday, July 10, 2015
Featured e-book for July 10th
Borrowed from the Nomadic Delirium Press blog:
The Ephemeris Omnibus is the featured e-book for July 10th. You can get it for 25% off at Smashwords by going to https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/306292.
The Ephemeris Omnibus 2013 features the Ephemeris core rulebook (with some rule changes, including mutli-classing), and all of the rule supplements that have been released as of the end of 2012. All of the species and class supplements have been blended into the core rulebook to create a massive (over 200,000 words) rulebook that will allow you to play the most extensive Ephemeris game you'd ever want to play.
The Ephemeris Omnibus is the featured e-book for July 10th. You can get it for 25% off at Smashwords by going to https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/306292.
The Ephemeris Omnibus 2013 features the Ephemeris core rulebook (with some rule changes, including mutli-classing), and all of the rule supplements that have been released as of the end of 2012. All of the species and class supplements have been blended into the core rulebook to create a massive (over 200,000 words) rulebook that will allow you to play the most extensive Ephemeris game you'd ever want to play.
Friday, July 03, 2015
Smashwords e-book sale
Smashwords is having an e-book sale for the entire month of July, and many of my titles are available for up to 50% off. There are a couple of my short story collections, one of my novels, several titles that I've edited, and all of the Ephemeris titles.
Check it out today at: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/nomadicdelirium
Check it out today at: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/nomadicdelirium
Wednesday, July 01, 2015
Sunday, June 28, 2015
The Ephemeris Encyclopedia Galactica: Unexplored Space
All of "Unexplored Space" can now be yours to explore, and it's all
in one volume. This book outlines everything of interest in Sectors
22-41 of the Ephemeris universe. Find new species, new mysteries, the
ruins of ancient civilizations, and unexplored worlds just waiting for
exploration.
http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/151807/The-Ephemeris-Encyclopedia-Galactica-Unexplored-Space
http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/151807/The-Ephemeris-Encyclopedia-Galactica-Unexplored-Space
Saturday, June 27, 2015
A couple of five star reviews
My short short, "Lost in the Dark" has received a couple of five star reviews over at Smashwords. If you want to check the story out, please feel free to do so...it is a free download, after all...
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/553679
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/553679
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
My short stories on Smashwords
A while back, I started publishing some of my previously published short stories on Smashwords. Life, editing, and other factors kept me from working on that for a while, but I'm now back to listing my stories there. Most of the stories are available for just 99 cents, but two of them are free. If you'd like to check out some of my previously published works, please feel free to visit https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/jaerwine.
And if you like any of the stories, PLEASE write a review. We smaller authors are dependent upon reviews from readers.
And if you like any of the stories, PLEASE write a review. We smaller authors are dependent upon reviews from readers.
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