From the Nomadic Delirium Press Blog:
Cometary Ghosts is currently sitting at #33 on the DriveThruFiction bestsellers list at https://site.drivethrufiction.com/top_100.php. Let's push it even higher than that!
An abandoned ship loaded with illegal goods. It’s every pirate’s dream come true, but the dream for Captain Nils Vandenbroucke quickly turns into a nightmare when he and his crew board the dead ship and realize that they’re not alone.
From the Nomadic Delirium Press Blog:
As part of the Halloween sale at DriveThruRPG, you can download all of the Rocks on the Other Side titles for 31% off. Head over to https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/publisher/2805/nomadic-delirium-press?promo=45295&rpgHalloween2025P=&src=browse2805 and download all of the titles today.
If you like post-apocalyptic RPGs, this one would be perfect for you!
Cometary Ghosts, a science fiction horror story set in the Ephemeris 2.0 universe is now available.
An abandoned ship loaded with illegal goods. It’s every pirate’s dream come true, but the dream for Captain Nils Vandenbroucke quickly turns into a nightmare when he and his crew board the dead ship and realize that they’re not alone.
Order from DriveThruRPG: https://legacy.drivethrurpg.com/product/540819/
Order from Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/s/846d3062d1
Order from other vendors: https://books2read.com/u/meJdnz
Look for a new short story from me late next week. This one is a bit of a departure for me as it's a science fiction horror story that is set in the Ephemeris 2.0 RPG universe. This one will be released by Nomadic Delirium Press, so make sure you set aside a dollar, since this one will be 99 cents.
From the Nomadic Delirium Press Blog:
The Ephemeris Guide to Guilds has just been released!
There are many powers at work in the Ephemeris 2.0 universe, but one of the most powerful is the guilds, especially the traders’ guilds. These organizations bind the galaxy together with trade, but making credits isn’t always their only goal. Many of these guilds have alternative goals, some benevolent, and some benign.
Now, step inside and explore some of these guilds, learn about who started them, and what their plans might be for the galaxy. But you won’t just find traders’ guilds here. There are some mercenary guilds, and even a couple of pirates’ guilds.
A great source if you’re looking for a guild for your characters to join…or if you don’t want to join a guild, this can be a great source for game masters to create potential enemies or allies for their adventures.
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FV9CTRN6
DriveThruRPG: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/539851/
Other retailers: https://books2read.com/u/mYvJKG
Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/s/ada0d42f37
Itch: https://nomadicdelirium.itch.io/the-ephemeris-guide-to-guilds
My birthday is this month, but I'm offering all of you the gifts. For a limited time, you can download any of my titles for 50% off at https://site.drivethrufiction.com/browse/pub/16618/. That's novels, short story collections, screenplays, and even individual short stories (50 cents each), but hurry, the sale will be over soon!
My bestselling title for September 2025 was my newest novel, Slave to the Stars. Check it out at https://books2read.com/u/3Gg068
Tilmath was born a slave, but she was no ordinary slave. Unlike most humans, she was an Espari, a human capable of sensing the emotions of other beings.
Now, having escaped from her slave masters, the teenager finds herself on the run and about to meet some of the most interesting creatures she could ever imagine, and go on an adventure that she could never dream of. Using her poorly trained empathic senses, she tries to do everything she can to survive, but quickly learns that survival isn’t the most important thing for a slave girl escaping to the stars.
Don't forget, you can still download my Tales of Fascism for just $1.99 at https://ko-fi.com/s/a2395deed1
Also, if you're a Kindle Unlimited member, you can download my Taste of Tales at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FCJ43V22. This gives you eight of my stories for free!!!
For a limited time, you can download my latest novel, Slave to the Stars for just $2 from a variety of retailers. Check it out at https://books2read.com/u/3Gg068. Not all retailers, like Amazon, are participating.
Tilmath was born a slave, but she was no ordinary slave. Unlike most humans, she was an Espari, a human capable of sensing the emotions of other beings.
Now, having escaped from her slave masters, the teenager finds herself on the run and about to meet some of the most interesting creatures she could ever imagine, and go on an adventure that she could never dream of. Using her poorly trained empathic senses, she tries to do everything she can to survive, but quickly learns that survival isn’t the most important thing for a slave girl escaping to the stars.
From the Nomadic Delirium Press Blog:
Over the last couple of weeks, you've been able to save 50% off of our RPG titles. Now you can save 50% off of all of our fiction titles at https://www.drivethrufiction.com/browse/pub/2805/.
That's novels, collections, anthologies, and even individual short stories for half off, but only for a limited time.
Summer heat, or Winter cold getting to you depending on where you live? Stay inside and keep cool or warm and download any or all of my titles for 50% off.
You can save on novels, short story collections, screenplays, and you can even get individual short stories for just 50 cents.
Shop today at https://www.drivethrufiction.com/browse/pub/16618/
For a limited time, you can save 50% off of all of my titles at itch.io. Novels and short story collections all at 50% off, and if you really want a lot of reading material, you can download all of my titles for just $25.00 at https://itch.io/s/158873/50-off-sale
From the Nomadic Delirium Press Blog:
It's time to stock up on all of the NDP RPG titles that you're missing. Save 50% off of our RPG and RPG supplements at https://legacy.drivethrurpg.com/browse/pub/2805/
This includes all titles for The Divided States of America RPG, Ephemeris 1.0 & 2.0, Rocks on the Other Side, and The Battle for Turtle Island.
Fascism has been a part of human history since the beginning of time, and it doesn't seem like it will be going away any time soon. Now, journey into a collection of stories from prize winning SF author, J Alan Erwine that looks at just how grim fascism really is.
This is a Ko-fi exclusive title. https://ko-fi.com/s/a2395deed1
#KofiExclusiveChallenge
Nomadic Delirium Press has just released The Sixth Sense, a collection of three of James Baker's books. You can find it at https://books2read.com/u/mgddGz
The reason this book is important to me is because James Baker was the first editor to take a chance on my writing. He was also the one who brought me into editing.
My first ever published story, the horribly titled "Trek for Life" appeared in the June 1997 issue of The Sixth Sense...yes, the book was named after one of the zines that Jim published. That was a long time ago, probably before many of you were born, but that zine launched my career, and while it has been a difficult road, I will forever be grateful to Jim.
The book features two of Jim's novels, Goatherds & Gods, which was recently re-released with me as the co-author, trying to clean up some of the issues with the original book. You have to understand, Jim loved to write...he didn't love rewriting, so there was some work to be done. The other novel is The Poet, which has a surreal style of writing that I never would have dared to touch...even if it can be a bit difficult to understand at times. The Sixth Sense also features Just Because, which was a collection of his stories, poems, and essays that I put together many years ago.
Jim helped to launch the careers of many writers. If memory serves, he published five different magazines at different times. There was The Sixth Sense and Just Because, which were the influence of the two collections mentioned here. There was also The Fifth Di... and The Martian Wave, two zines which have endured for years. NDP recently brought TFD back, and they're working on the possibility of bringing TMW back as well. The final zine was Star*Anthology. I guess I'll have to come up with a way to use that title as well.
I would strongly recommend this book. Jim was a huge influence on me, and on many other authors. I won't go into a list of authors that he helped, but many of them have gone on to large publishing companies, and some have even been nominated for major awards.
Now that the Smashwords Summer/Winter sale is over (https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/jaerwine), I've noticed that many of you took advantage of downloading my free short stories. I appreciate this, and I hope you enjoyed them. If you did enjoy them, then I have a favor to ask. Please post reviews. You have no idea how much reviews can help an author sell their work. So, if you liked what you read, please consider reviewing it, and if you happen to post a review to your blog or somewhere else, please reply to this post so that I know where to find the reviews.
Thanks!!!
DriveThruFiction's Xmas in July sale is almost over. That means you only have a few more days to save 30% on all of my titles. Novels, collections, and individual stories (69 cents each!) can be yours at https://www.drivethrufiction.com/browse/pub/16618/J-Alan-Erwine, but time is limited, so head over there now!
I thought I'd share an older very short story today. This is also a story that I've considered turning into a one-act play. In an odd way, this story was inspired by Ernest Hemingway's "Hills Like White Elephants." It wasn't inspired by the subject matter, but rather by the idea of two characters having a conversation, but neither saying what they really mean. Enjoy...
Origins
“How long has it been?” the younger man asked his companion.
“Years,” the older man mumbled without looking up.
“Do you remember what we talked about last time?”
The older man looked away, staring out the window of the orbiting café at the swirling clouds of the gas giant below them. Browns, whites, oranges, and reds danced together in organized chaos blending into new colors never before seen by the human eye, or imagined by the human mind.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” the younger man said with a smile, revealing his perfect white teeth.
“Take it however you like,” the older man said with a grunt as he stood, “I’d just rather you take it somewhere else.”
“Please, Endrick, there’s no reason for hostility,” the younger man said, motioning for Endrick to sit down.
Endrick sat. “How’d you find me?” he asked, staring out the window again at the stars tracing a slow path across the inky darkness of space.
“It wasn’t hard. You left a virtual trace everywhere you went. It’s impossible to hide when you insist on using computers.”
Endrick grunted and nodded. He still wouldn’t look at the younger man.
“Truth is, Endrick, you wanted me to find you.”
A bellowing laugh burst forth. “You flatter yourself too much.”
“Orders, please,” a small waiter robot asked as it rolled up to their table.
“Nothing for me,” Endrick said.”
“Just an Eridanian tea for me.”
“Swill.”
“Me or the drink?”
Endrick smiled.
The younger man nodded. “I see you haven’t lost your pathetic excuse for a sense of humor. Too bad.”
The robot rolled back with his drink, which the younger man downed in one shot. “Staring at those stars and the gas giant aren’t helping us solve our problem.”
Endrick finally looked at the younger man. He was tall and of strong build with perfect hair and perfect complexion. The most striking feature, however, were his royal blue eyes. Obviously the young man had gone through extensive gene modification in the womb. “I wasn’t aware that we had a problem, other than the fact that I was sitting here trying to enjoy the view until you came along and ruined it.”
The younger man let out a short laugh and shook his head. “We could all day if we wanted, but I have clients waiting for me. Do you have the item?”
“And what item would that be?”
“The artifact.”
Endrick nodded, stroking his unmodified profound chin slowly. “I have a number of artifacts. After all, I do sell them.”
The younger man’s face grew as red as the methane clouds of the gas giant below. “Come on, old man, the artifact from Tau Ceti 2. The one we talked about the last time I saw you.”
Endrick looked confused. “I’m not sure I remember our previous conversation. I am getting old, after all. I’m nearly 120.”
“Damn it, old man, you remember the conversation. You’re just being an ass.”
Several people in the café turned to glare at the two men. Loud outbursts were rare. Most of the clientele wanted to keep things quiet and private. Endrick shrugged and pointed at the younger man, who just glared back at him.
“This isn’t the place for us to have this discussion.”
“Oh, I think it is,” Endrick said with a suddenly serious expression. “I conduct all of my business in public, and that includes with you…you little sniveling shit. I wouldn’t want to be alone anywhere with you. A knife in my back or throat really isn’t how I want to end my evening.”
The younger man looked away to watch the glow of two ships docking a few hundred kilometers away. “Fine, we’ll do this your way. Do you have the artifact or not?”
“And what artifact was that?”
“The one you excavated in the cave atop Clarke Mountain on Tau Ceti 2,” the younger man whispered.
“Why do you want it?”
“I hardly think that’s any of your business.”
“That’s what you said three and a half years ago.” He looked away at a giant storm forming on the gas giant. The multi-colored, turbulent clouds were beginning to coalesce into one giant rotating mass. “Are you going to tell the people on Earth?”
The younger man shrugged.
Endrick nodded. “Fine, but the price hasn’t changed.”
“The money’s not a problem.”
Endrick motioned for a waiter robot. The robot rolled along on its wheels with an annoying squeak, drawing a glare form one or two of the customers. Sitting on its serving tray was a flat stone two feet by two feet with what looked like writing on it.
“You’re sure it’s a match?”
“Absolutely. It’s definitely cuneiform writing matching Sumerian script.”
“And its place of origin…”
“Was definitely Tau Ceti 2, dated to more than 3,500 years ago.”
The younger man smiled. “Very good. I’d assume you don’t want a credit transfer.” He tossed a small sack onto Endrick’s lap. “I think that should more than cover it.”
Endrick picked up the sack and felt the gold coins jingle. “Should be more than adequate, but I have to warn you. If you tell everyone about that,” he said, pointing at the stone, “It could destroy everything we think we know about ourselves.”
“I’m counting on it.”
