Back on the meds

Now that we have "real" insurance once again, I went to the doctor earlier this week and he put me back on the meds that actually do something to help with my chronic pain, so hopefully some time in the next week, my pain levels will be back down to a manageable level most of the time.
While dealing with the doctor and the pharmacy, I started thinking about all of the complaints about "Obamacare."  When it went into effect, our insurance rates did go up, but only because we added me to the insurance.  If it had stayed Rebecca and the girls, we would have been paying slightly less.  Now that we're on a new, and slightly better insurance, our rates are even lower.  Not enough to make a huge difference in our financial lives, but when so many people are complaining about their rates skyrocketing, I wanted to make  the point that this isn't necessarily true...people find it easier to complain that say good things.
And as far as the pharmacy costs, on our old insurance, my prescription ran $20-25 a month.  With the new insurance, it's covered 100% by the new insurance...so that's zero out of pocket cost for us.  Maybe some people aren't happy with "Obamacare," but I can at least say that it is helping us...not to mention that under the old insurance rules, I might not have been able to get any coverage, since this is considered a previously existing condition.

Nomadic Delirium Press' May sale

From the Nomadic Delirium Press blog:
For the rest of the month of May, you can get 20% off your entire order through our store.  Simply go to http://nomadicdeliriumpress.com/blog/shop and use the coupon code "may" at checkout.
Maybe you've wanted to pick up one of Tyree Campbell's new books...or maybe you've been highly intrigued by Laura Givens' Crisis Averted...or maybe you'd like to check out one of our anthologies, or a magazine.  The discount applies to both our print and e-book titles, so however you like to read your books, here's your chance.  The discount is good on every title we carry, and it doesn't matter if you order one book, or one hundred, you get 20% off your total.
So, what are you waiting for, follow that link!

This includes several of my titles!

Tyree's new book is out!

Tyree Campbell's new novel, The Butterfly and the Sea Dragon: A Yoelin Thibbony Rescue has just been released, and it's a great book...you should really buy a copy!
“The only records that delineate and authenticate Corporatia territories are on that Palmetto. We want it back.”
“What happened?” Yoelin asked.
“A records clerk bypassed security, recorded the information and then deleted it from our computers, and departed for Havelox Rest, outside our jurisdiction, where we believe she is now.”
After the words “Havelox Rest,” Yoelin heard only the pounding of her heart. A wave of dizziness passed. Why there? Why did it have to be there?
So who’s Yoelin Thibbony? That’s what she calls herself now. She endured a cruel and abusive childhood, when there was no one to rescue her. Now she performs Rescues of people or things—sometimes for hire, sometimes for free. She’s been hired to retrieve stolen archives. But to perform this Rescue, Yoelin has to return to Havelox Rest, the world of her childhood—a world that still holds dark and bleak terrors for her.
Order a copy at http://nomadicdeliriumpress.com/butterfly.htm

Depression

May is Mental Health Awareness month, and so I thought I'd address a question that has come up a few times recently.  I've had a few people ask me why I'm editing the Disharmony of the Spheres anthology.  The simplest answer is that metal illness is a major problem in America, but the perception of mental illness is an even bigger problem.  For some reason, people differentiate between physical illness and mental illness...when there really is no difference.  Another reason that I decided to do this anthology is because there are a lot of people in the speculative fiction community, both writers and fans, who deal with mental illness, especially depression and anxiety.  In talking to various people I've realized that there seems to be a disproportionate number of people in the speculative fiction community that are dealing with these issues, so it's important for people to see that even the mentally ill can succeed...and not only succeed, but excel, which is what many of the characters in the stories in Disharmony of the Spheres do.
Even more importantly, depression is something that I've had a lot of experience with, as I've dealt with it most of my life.  My reason for saying this isn't so that people will say things like, oh poor you, or wow, you've done well even with depression.  No, I'm simply making a point that anyone can suffer from it.  I don't need nor want pity or pats on the back.
Although depression can be a debilitating illness, it is something that people can overcome with the right kind of support.  Unfortunately, most people don't know what the right kind of support is.  Many people think that sadness is depression, and from their point of view, it's easy to get through.  Everyone in the world has dealt with sadness at some point in their lives, but this is not the same thing as depression.  Comparing the two is like comparing a cold with bubonic plague.  Yes, there are some similarities, but they are far from being the same thing.  Sadness is only one small part of depression.
Other things that don't help people with depression are saying things like pull yourself up by your bootstraps, or look at all the good things going on in your life.  There are times when things like this can do more harm than good, because you're basically implying that a person should just get over their depression.  That's the same thing as telling someone to just stop having the symptoms of a cold.  They can't just stop being sick, and a person suffering from depression can not simply stop being depressed.
Patience and understanding is what a depressed person needs more than anything else.  Most of the time they just need to know that there are people there for them.  I can say quite honestly if it weren't for my family and the amazing friends I've had throughout my life, I wouldn't be here right now.  Sometimes a depressed person just can't take it anymore, and in this way, suicide is not necessarily a sign of weakness.  In many ways, it's like a person suffering from cancer who can't take it anymore and allows themselves to die, even if there was a chance they could survive.  In both cases, the person has given into their illness.  Most would say it's a horrible thing to say that the cancer patient was weak because of their choice, but many people will say that the depressed person was weak.  Many times, there's no difference between the two.
If you know someone who is dealing with depression, or any mental illness for that matter, the best thing you can do is be there for that person.  Let them know that you will always be there to listen to them, even if you think what they're saying is silly.  To them, it's not.  Last year, a very dear friend of mine almost left us because she was dealing with things on her own that no one knew about.  Things that maybe we, as her friends, should have been more tuned in to.  She's still going through a lot, but now she has a strong support system, and I'm hoping that she will get through this...just as I'm hoping everyone dealing with depression will get through what they're dealing with.
If you are depressed, you're not alone.  There are a lot of us out here who understand what you're going through, and there are people that will be there to help you...family, friends, professionals...all you have to do is ask.  AND PLEASE DO ASK!

Really?

I'm absolutely dumbfounded by the things I see people complaining about these days.  I'll be the first to say that people should be allowed to believe whatever they want...as long as they're not hurting each other with their beliefs...and that's where we've started to run into a problem in this country.
People are horrified about Trans people going into bathrooms.  Guess what?  They've always been in our bathrooms.  What's even worse is that people are arguing against this because they're trying to protect our children...but children are being beaten and molested in all parts of the country, but there doesn't seem to be an interest in doing anything more about this.  Really America?  This is what your priorities have become?  I'm a father of three girls, and I'm not the least bit worried about a trans person being in the bathroom with them.  I'm much more worried about someone walking into one of their schools with a gun.  That actually happens!
People are upset with Obamacare.  Some argue it should be abolished.  Some argue it should do more.  The real problem isn't Obamacare.  The real problem is the health insurance companies.  No matter which side of the argument you're on, the real enemy is the health insurance companies.  They kind of remind me of Darth Sidious in Episodes one and two...they play each side against the other, and then continue to raise rates.  Your health insurance company can now overrule the treatment your doctor wants you to have because of costs...or whatever excuse they choose to come up with.  Think about that for a minute, your health insurance has more say in how your medical issues will be treated than your doctor...and you want to argue whether insurance should be privatized or publicly funded?  There's a bigger problem than that.  And don't even get me started on how insurance companies can choose to pay less for mental health treatment than physical health treatment when there's really no difference.
There's a long and sad history of racism in this country, but for a very short while it seemed like maybe as a country we were getting away from that, but now everything seems to be about race.  Do people really think they're unsafe just because there's a Muslim on the bus with them?  Here's news for you America, there are jerks in every race...just like there are wonderful people in every race.  The whole stereotyping thing has to end.  Just because someone is Muslim doesn't mean they're a terrorist.  Just like you can't say that everyone that looks like a "redneck" is ignorant.  They're all stupid stereotypes that only a very small percentage of people fall into.  A lot of people assume that long-haired guys are dumb...that's one of the reasons why I've tended to keep my hair long.  I love messing with people who want to believe stereotypes.
A lot of people are complaining that they can't believe we might end up with a Clinton-Trump election.  Do you want to know why America?  It's because we've lost focus on the big picture and started focusing on stupid little things that don't matter.  The media has blinded us to what's really important with their fifteen second sound byte stories about nothing, and too many Americans have accepted this.
So, you know what America?  We're getting just what we deserve with Clinton-Trump.  If you want to change America, change yourself first.

April recap

Get over it
A new novel from Tyree Campbell
E-stories and e-books
Red Moon Rising on Earth Day
Disharmony of the Spheres is still accepting submissions
Ecotastrophe II is still looking for submissions
Just a few days left
A few days left to save
The post I seem to make every four years

The post I seem to make every four years

Every time a presidential election comes along I post about the need to break the two party system and get a viable third, fourth, or even fifth party, and this year, that seems even more important!
When I look at the candidates the Dems and the Reps are giving us, I have to wonder what we've done wrong to deserve this.  And the truth is, We The People have done wrong.  We've allowed the two party system to take over America.  Although there are differences between the democrats and the republicans, the simple truth is that the one thing they most have in common is that they are owned by big business, and big business does not care about We The People.  And before you talk about feeling the Bern, let's face it, although Bernie Sanders may be the least "owned" of any candidate we've seen in a long time, he still belongs to the system that is continually screwing over the American people.
Whether you vote Democrat or Republican, you're voting for the continuation of the status quo, which continually funnels money into big business, wars, and the stripping of the American people of any real political power.
Everyone always says that voting third party is like throwing your vote away, and in some ways, this is true...but if people really are fed up with the Dems and the Reps, and all those people that are fed up vote third party, all of a sudden the status quo is broken.  This is, of course, assuming that presidential elections in the US are not rigged to some degree, and granted, this is a big assumption.
When you go to the polls this November, vote your conscience, don't vote because you have to be Red or Blue.  You can chose to be something else.  You can vote Green, or you can vote Libertarian, hell, you can even vote Communist if you really want to send a message.  My point is that voting Democrat or Republican when there are options will just continue to make this country worse.  As for myself, I will be voting third party at every opportunity on the ballot.  Granted, I am a Green, so I will vote Green wherever there is a candidate, but if there is a third party candidate running against the traditional candidates, I'm voting for them.  I don't care what party because I want to see an end to the stranglehold that these parties have on We The People.  If enough of us vote third party, we really can make a difference.
As Queensryche said, "there's a revolution calling," and that revolution is for the American people to throw the Democratic and Republican parties out on their asses!!!
Let's take back OUR country!

A few days left to save

From the Nomadic Delirium Press blog:
There are only a few days left to save on a number of our titles (both print and e-book).  Go to http://nomadicdeliriumpress.com/blog/shop and click on any title with the Sale icon, and save some money.  There are no codes to enter at checkout, or anything like that.  Just buy the titles you want, and save immediately...but the sale ends at the end of March, so order soon!

Just a few days left

There are only a few days left to get 50% off of downloads of my e-books and e-stories.  This includes titles I've written and titles I've edited.  This ends on April 30th, so head over to http://www.jalanerwine.com/blog/shop and use the coupon code "new" at checkout.  This takes 50% off of your entire order...whether you order one title or all of them, and you know you want to read at least one of them!

Ecotastrophe II is still looking for submissions

Borrowed from the Nomadic Delirium Press blog:
In 2006, Sam’s Dot Publishing released an anthology about the effects of global climate change on humanity called Ecotastrophe.  Now that it’s been almost ten years since the release, and global climate change still seems a possible threat to humanity, Nomadic Delirium Press has decided to release Ecotastrophe II.  Like the original collection, this one will be edited by J Alan Erwine.
What we’re looking for: We want science fiction stories between 3,000 and 10,000 words that look at the effects of global climate change (preferably the extreme effects) on humanity and the other creatures of Earth.  We’re not looking for stories about the change, but rather the effects of the change.  Although we’d love to have a lot of stories that look at the hard science of climate change, we also want stories that look at the soft sciences.  It’s important that the stories focus on the people, rather than the science, but we still want the science to be plausible.
What we’re paying: We will pay $10 for first rights to any story.  We will also pay two contributor copies.  If possible, we will increase this payment…but we can’t guarantee that.
Poetry Submissions: We've decided that we will be accepting four, and only four, poems for this collection. They must meet the same criteria as story submissions, and we will pay $5 per poem for first rights, plus one contributor's copy. Please keep in mind that we will only accept one poem per poet.
Where to send your little gems: All submissions should be sent to editor (at) nomadicdeliriumpress (dot) com.  Your subject should be “Ecotastrophe Submission”.
Response times: We will respond to all submissions within two months.
Publication date: We are shooting for a mid-Summer 2016 release.
Other questions: If you have any other questions, please send them to the submission address.

Disharmony of the Spheres is still accepting submissions

From the Nomadic Delirium Press blog:

Disharmony of the Spheres will be a science fiction anthology in which the main character must be battling some type of mental illness.  While we will consider stories where the character is dealing with an illness like schizophrenia or multiple personality disorder, what we really want to see is characters that are battling an illness like depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, PTSD, etc.  This is meant to be an uplifting collection of stories, so the characters must overcome their illness to defeat whatever they’re up against.  They don’t necessarily have to overcome their illness completely, but they must show that even when suffering from a mental illness, a person can still achieve great things.

Story particulars: We want stories that are 2,000 words or longer.  All stories must be science fiction, and they must fit into the guidelines as outlined above.

What we’re paying: We will pay $5 per story for one time rights, and we will also pay two contributor copies.  This is less than we would normally pay for an anthology, but half of all of the profits from this book will be going to the Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention organization, which helps to battle teen suicide.  We will consider reprints for this anthology.

Poetry Submissions: We've decided that we will be accepting four, and only four, poems for this collection. They must meet the same criteria as story submissions, and we will pay $5 per poem for one time rights, plus one contributor's copy. Please keep in mind that we will only accept one poem per poet.

Where to send your stories and poems: All stories and poems should be sent to editor (at) nomadicdeliriumpress (dot) com.  The subject line should include “Disharmony submission.”

Response times: We will respond to all submissions within two months.

Other questions: If you have any other questions, please feel free to send them to the address above.

Red Moon Rising on Earth Day

Today is Earth Day, and other than doing whatever you can to help preserve the planet, the best thing you can do is order a copy of my environmental novel, Red Moon Rising.  The book is available as both a print and e-book, and the print version is even on sale...
http://store.albanlake.com/product/red-moon-rising/
J Alan Erwine takes you into a future environmental nightmare that is not only all too possible, but is in fact well on the way there. The air and seas are filthy with pollution and oil spills, the U.S. Government is an effete and toothless replica of its former self, and business decides which rules they will allow to be enforced. Corporations lie, people die.
Including Erik Singer’s brother Jeromie, killed while seeking evidence against an oil company regarding their spills in the Gulf. After five years, Erik has had enough of wallowing in loss and self-pity. Emboldened by the words and visions of a Native American environmentalist, Erik is ready to act.
And he has colleagues. The reluctant mayor of Tampa. The daughter of the most egregious industrialist. And a tree-hugging terrorist. Can just four people make a difference?

E-stories and e-books

This is just a reminder that most of my short stories that I've had published over the almost 20 years of my career, and most of the books I've written and edited are now available as e-books through my website at http://www.jalanerwine.com/blog/shop.  And if you use the coupon code "new" between now and the end of the month, you get 50% off of your entire order.
Most of these titles are also available through Smashwords at https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/jaerwine and Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B0035AMA0A.

A new novel from Tyree Campbell

The Butterfly and the Sea Dragon is now available for pre-order.
You can pre-order the print version from us for $1 off at http://nomadicdeliriumpress.com/blog/product/the-butterfly-and-the-sea-dragon-a-yoelin-thibbony-rescue/
You can pre-order the e-book version from Smashwords at https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/630127
You can pre-order the Kindle version at http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01EBA55E0
“The only records that delineate and authenticate Corporatia territories are on that Palmetto. We want it back.”
“What happened?” Yoelin asked.
“A records clerk bypassed security, recorded the information and then deleted it from our computers, and departed for Havelox Rest, outside our jurisdiction, where we believe she is now.”
After the words “Havelox Rest,” Yoelin heard only the pounding of her heart. A wave of dizziness passed. Why there? Why did it have to be there?
So who’s Yoelin Thibbony? That’s what she calls herself now. She endured a cruel and abusive childhood, when there was no one to rescue her. Now she performs Rescues of people or things—sometimes for hire, sometimes for free. She’s been hired to retrieve stolen archives. But to perform this Rescue, Yoelin has to return to Havelox Rest, the world of her childhood—a world that still holds dark and bleak terrors for her.

Get Over It

This song pretty much sums up my feelings about quite a few people in the world right now...

https://youtu.be/1H-Y7MAASkg

March recap

GM's Day
F'ing health insurance
Order e-stories and e-books
The Ephemeris Encyclopedia Galactica Sector Forty-Four (Lomisian Space)
Save on my e-books and e-stories
Nomadic Delirium Press is having a sale
Dealing with chronic Pain

Dealing with chronic pain

There are a large number of people dealing with chronic pain, myself included, and I think people who don't deal with it don't always understand what it's really like, so I'm going to try to put into words some of the things I deal with and some of the things I've heard and read from others.
When you're dealing with chronic pain, life becomes something like a jigsaw puzzle, with the pieces of the puzzle being different aspects of your life, and as the pain takes over, you can visually see the different pieces of your life puzzle disappearing.  For example, my little one will ask me to pick her up, but I know if I do, it will hurt...and a piece of my life disappears.
As the pain increases for anyone dealing with chronic pain, more things disappear from their lives, more puzzle pieces vanish, and you can never be sure if you'll get them back.  Eventually, the pain begins to effect everything and everyone in your life.  It begins to effect your relationships with your family, friends, co-workers, and even people you don't know, because the pain drains your energy and will often leave you angry and depressed.  Again, more and more pieces of the puzzle that is your life are gone, and sometimes there's no way of getting those pieces back.
As the pieces slowly disappear from your life, you're eventually left with only one puzzle piece, and the only thing that piece says is pain, and it says it in large bold letters.  The pain takes over your life and dominates everything.  It's at this point that many sufferers take the final way out, and if non-sufferers realized what they were going through, they might understand why they take this option.  It's not cowardice that causes people to take this option, but when personal strength is one of the puzzle pieces that disappears, sometimes this seems like the only option.  If you know you still have twenty, thirty, or forty years to live, and you know you'll suffer every day of those years, sometimes it seems like the option...but hopefully people that feel this way, can find something to hold on to.
For myself, I'm now to a point where a four hour shift leaves me almost doubled over in pain, and even sitting up at the computer for a couple of hours leaves me almost debilitated, but there is still hope.  We'll have new insurance in May and I can get back on the meds that work.  Granted, I can't stay on meds forever, but we also have a surgeon that we'll be meeting with, and hopefully he can fix things, and maybe I can pick my little girl up again, and I can be the person I was before pain become one of the few pieces left in the puzzle of my life.

Nomadic Delirium Press is having a sale

From the Nomadic Delirium Press blog:
You can get a number of our books for 10% off now until the end of April.  There are short story collections, anthologies, magazines, games, and game supplements.  This even includes a couple of our most recent releases (Crisis Averted by Laura Givens and Quantum Women by Tyree Campbell.)
No coupon codes, just go to http://nomadicdeliriumpress.com/blog/shop and click on the titles with the "Sale" icons.

Save on my e-stories and e-books

Now through the end of April, you can save 50% off of your entire purchase of e-books and e-stories through my website at http://www.jalanerwine.com/blog/shop.  It doesn't matter how many, or how few titles your order, just use the coupon code "new" at checkout, and it will take 50% off of everything in your cart...and since they're e-books, there's never any shipping and handling.

The Ephemeris Encyclopedia Galacitca: Sector Forty-Four (Lomisian Space)

From the Nomadic Delirium Press website:
The exploration of "Deep Space" continues.
Welcome to Sector Forty-Four, the home system of the Lomisians. Here you'll find their homeworld, and many of the worlds they've colonized.  You'll also find worlds that have been taken from the Lomisians.  Plus you'll find worlds that even the Lomisians avoid, and damaged systems that are a danger to all, but a challenge for the brave.
Available from us at: http://nomadicdeliriumpress.com/blog/product/ephemeris-encyclopedia-galactica-sector-forty-four-lomisian-space/
Available from DriveThruRPG at: http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/177714/The-Ephemeris-Encyclopedia-Galactica-Sectors-FortyFour-Lomisian-Space
This title will also be available as a digital download from all of the usual distributors...