Sunday, August 27, 2023

Grumbles from the Grave

 

Last month, I posted about Yours, Isaac Asimov, a collection of letters from one of my biggest influences. I loved to read correspondence from people I admired, even though I am definitely not a letter writer myself, although it makes me kind of wish I was...

Today, I'm posting about another letter collection. This one from another huge influence, Robert A. Heinlein. I loved reading Heinlein as a kid, and even if I thought some of his later stuff got a little strange, when I found out there was a collection of his letters, I had to get it. And that was how I found Grumbles from the Grave. Although the organization of the book can be a bit jarring, you get a look at what he thought being a writer meant, as well as many of his personal views (not all of which I agree with, but then we shouldn't all agree anyway.) He also gives a look at his relationship with his agent...those you'll just have to read for yourself to see exactly how he felt.

If you're a Heinlein fan, and you enjoy reading letter collections, this one is a must have. Order today from Amazon at https://amzn.to/3KYoWWa.

Saturday, August 26, 2023

A project I haven't mentioned

As always, I have numerous projects going on...short stories, a novel, RPG supplements, yeah, just my typical workload, but one project that I haven't mentioned is that I'm currently working on rewriting James Baker's novel Goatherds and Gods.

For those of you unfamiliar with the name James Baker, let me give you the backstory. Jim, as I knew him, was one of the pioneers of the science fiction and fantasy small presses. He helped to launch the careers of many small press writers, myself included, and a few of his early authors have also gone on to bigger things in the large press. Jim ran a small press publishing company, ProMart Publishing, out of his apartment in California. His early publications were, about what you'd expect from an older gentleman working at Taco Bell, they were photocopied and comb bound magazines. And, yes, sometimes you'd even find a page that the copier hadn't fed properly. Although the magazines weren't the glossy zines you saw from the major publishers at the time, or even that you see from the small press publishers now, there was a high quality of work in those magazines.

Some of the names of those magazines...Star*Anthology, Just Because, The Fifth Di..., and The Martian Wave. Yes, anyone that has followed my career probably knows that I continued to edit those last two magazines up until a few years ago. And even now, those magazines are still alive at Hiraeth Publishing. I can't think of any other zines from that time that are still around today. And why are they still alive? Because of Jim.

He kept a stable of authors, poets, and artists around to him that in many ways he took care of and nurtured, and even though Jim could be cantankerous (his word for himself), he took care of those that worked for him. Through emails and phone calls, Jim would help authors nurture their stories. I always thought of it as a small press version of what John Campbell created during the Gold Era of science fiction. Jim referred to us as his ProMartins.

When Jim passed away in 2002, I became the steward of his work. His novel The Poet, was released by Nomadic Delirium Press, and I put together a collection of his short stories, poems and essays that I titled Just Because, in honor of one of those old magazines. His second novel, Goatherds and Gods was never re-released however. I always loved this book, but I didn't want to release it in the format that it was in. As Jim liked to say, he loved to write, but he hated to rewrite, and the book clearly showed that. It also showed that I had a lot to learn about editing...

So, the book has sat waiting, and now, I've finally decided that it's time to rework the book. Jim was good about having talking heads in his stories...lots of dialogue with no attribution, and he also had a tendency to drop large amounts of information...telling, rather than showing. The story is amazing, and I really want to share it with people, so, this is my task now. I'm rewriting the book, and hopefully making it relevant to readers 20 years later. It will still be very much Jim's voice, but hopefully it will be easier to follow and understand. I owe it to the man to make it the best book that I possibly can.

If you'd like to get a taste of Jim's work, please check out Just Because. It gives a great taste of who he was, and it also features some notes from those of us that knew him. I will warn you that much of the work is raw, as some of it was just drafts that I had on file.

And if you read the last story, "Doppleganger," which could have been a third novel for him, you might get an idea of what I might be rewriting in the future...

Order Just Because from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CGMBYVYQ


 

Thursday, August 24, 2023

Last week of our RPG sale

 

From the Nomadic Delirium Press Blog:

This is the last week of our RPG sale at DriveThruRPG and Smashwords. So, this is your last chance to save 50% off of all of our RPG titles. This includes core rulebooks, adventures, and supplements...so it's now time for you to stock up on everything you need for those gaming nights!

Shop DriveThruRPG: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse/pub/2805

Shop Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/nomadicdelirium

 

Saturday, August 19, 2023

Marionettes on the Moon is the Deal of the Day

 

For the next 24 hours, you can pick up the re-release of my collection Marionettes on the Moon for just $2.

Do Humans control their destiny, or are they merely victims of the circumstances that surround them?

A collection of short stories from prize winning SF author J Alan Erwine examines whether we have freedom of choice, or are merely puppets on strings subject to the whims of the universe.

This newly reworked version of Marionettes on the Moon features the original 13 short stories, plus two recent releases.

Order from DriveThruFiction: https://www.drivethrufiction.com/product/447457

Friday, August 18, 2023

Marionettes on the Moon revisited

 


Do Humans control their destiny, or are they merely victims of the circumstances that surround them?

A collection of short stories from prize winning SF author J Alan Erwine examines whether we have freedom of choice, or are merely puppets on strings subject to the whims of the universe.

This newly reworked version of Marionettes on the Moon features the original 13 short stories, plus two recent releases.

Order from Amazon: https://amzn.to/44HMHJG

Order from Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1430178

Order from DriveThruFiction: https://www.drivethrufiction.com/product/447457

Thursday, August 17, 2023

Danger on the Spectrum

 

So, people think all I do now is write stories for the Solar Federation collection and Divided States of America series? Oh, so not true. Now you can check out my latest stand-alone story "Danger on the Spectrum."

Richard doesn’t see the world like most people, and for the most part, he’d like to avoid people as much as he can, but once he reaches Foster’s Planet, he finds that even with a small population, he has to interact with people more than he’d like…and he also finds that the thing that makes him so different from everyone else might be the only thing that can save everyone on the planet…

Order from Amazon: https://amzn.to/47yX0BN

Order from Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1438632

Order from DriveThruFiction: https://www.drivethrufiction.com/product/449839

Tales of Space Exploration and Discovery revisited

 

For decades, J Alan Erwine has been writing stories about space exploration and discovery...now all of those stories are gathered into one massive tome. Travel the far reaches of space, or explore the solar system with him. Some of the stories are dark, some are optimistic, but all of them are uniquely his.
This collection also features the first four stories in Erwine's Solar Federation Series.

Order from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3KuYnr0

Order from Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1134741

Order from DriveThruFiction: https://www.drivethrufiction.com/product/388306

Wednesday, August 16, 2023

A Problem in Translation revisited

 

Humanity's first contact with an alien species, the Lemec, is complicated by the fact that the aliens don't use an entirely verbal language...not only that, but the other aliens in their "domain" seem to worship the Lemec as some type of gods, and as they seem to anticipate every move that Captain Shiro Takahashi and his crew make, humanity begins to think that maybe the other aliens know something that they don't.

Order from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3s4IZv7

Order from Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1010399

Order from DriveThruFiction: https://www.drivethrufiction.com/product/306999

 

Tuesday, August 15, 2023

Red Moon Rising revisited

 


Erik Singer is an environmental warrior overwhelmed by the battle before him. When he loses his brother, his vision starts to become focused, but he can’t overcome the overwhelming grief of the loss. But then a Native America activist named Charlie Chases Crows comes into his life, and Erik has no idea what that single event will do to his life.Troubled by wild dreams of his brother and bizarre Native American imagery, Erik suddenly finds himself on a quest to take down the corporation that he feels killed his brother, and ultimately change the world for the better…but can he fight the powers of corporate America?

Order from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3rmZNxq

Order from Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1010397

Order from DriveThruFiction: https://www.drivethrufiction.com/product/306996

Monday, August 14, 2023

The Opium of the People revisited

 


The U.S. government has been overthrown! After a near-miss of a giant comet, the American people fall under the control of a radical right-wing fundamentalist Christian government, ruled by the Grand Patriarchs, that slowly strips away their freedoms and establishes a rule of law that even Hitler couldn’t have dreamed up. Forced into virtual seclusion, Edward Silverberg, a former professor, finds himself on a path that will lead to either his destruction, or the destruction of the Grand Patriarchs…or maybe both.

Order from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3JP10E1

Order from Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1010224

Order from DriveThruFiction: https://www.drivethrufiction.com/product/306903

Sunday, August 13, 2023

Lowering One's Self Before Fate revisited

 


More than 20 years ago, ProMart Publishing released prize winning science fiction author J Alan Erwine’s first short story collection. Now as Erwine establishes himself as an indie author, read that collection in a new and improved format. Journey back and see where Erwine’s warped view of the universe started.

Order from Amazon: https://amzn.to/44fd75q

Order from Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1000978

Order from DriveThruFiction: https://www.drivethrufiction.com/product/313295

Saturday, August 12, 2023

Manic Musings of a Maniacal Mind revisited

 


For more than two decades, editors have been publishing the works of J Alan Erwine, exposing you, the reader, to the dark recesses of the author’s mind. Now, all of those stories have been combined together into one massive tome.
Get a glimpse into Erwine’s grim view of the future, and explore the universe from his slightly off-kilter point of view.
Visit the planets, the stars, the scary places in the human mind, but make sure you’re wearing a seatbelt, because you never know where Erwine might take you next…

Order from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3JN0wOE

Order from Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/877392

Order from DriveThruFiction: https://www.drivethrufiction.com/product/246612

Friday, August 11, 2023

Don't forget RPG month

 


August is RPG month at Nomadic Delirium Press, and this is your opportunity to save 50% off of all of our RPG titles. This includes core rulebooks and supplements. So, if you’re looking for a new game, or if you’re looking to stock up on one of our games that you’re already playing, now’s the time.

This sale includes all of our titles for Rocks on the Other Side, The Battle for Turtle Island, and Ephemeris.

Order today from DriveThruRPG at https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse/pub/2805 or from Smashwords at https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/nomadicdelirium

Tales of Twisted Realities revisited

 


Science fiction author J Alan Erwine has always had a twisted view of reality, and now he’s chosen to share that twisted view with his readers.
This collections features stories about an astronaut who has suffered brain damage and can no longer distinguish between the realities in his mind and the realities of the world…a man obsessed with the concept of entropy and what it might be doing to our universe…the last man on Earth trying to cope with his dilemma, but is he really the very last man on Earth…a pothead netrunner who can’t decide what’s more important to him, his pot, or his work…a soldier who is slowly going crazy and is sent to a computer therapist, but which one of them is actually crazy…and parents who hear their child begging to die, and are then shocked when the devil shows up to grant the child his wish.
These six stories will have you questioning what reality is, and what we can possibly do with it.

Order from Amazon: https://amzn.to/46GAkik

Order from Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/643923

Order from DriveThruFiction: https://www.drivethrufiction.com/product/313302

Thursday, August 10, 2023

Tales of Dystopia revisited

 


J Alan Erwine’s Tales of Dystopia brings you six bleak futures that hopefully will never be possible. Are the stories dire predictions, or warnings of futures possible? It’s the author’s sincere hope that none of these stories will be taken as a blueprint for the future, but with the way the world seems to be going…he can’t be too sure…

Order from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3D8qacI

Order from Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/643522

Order from DriveThruFiction: https://www.drivethrufiction.com/product/313296

Wednesday, August 09, 2023

Tales of Interstellar Space revisited

 


Welcome to fifteen stories from prize winning science fiction author J Alan Erwine. Be prepared to explore a variety of locals throughout interstellar space. You’ll find wars, exploration, aliens, humans struggling to survive…and sometimes failing, and sometimes succeeding…but more than anything, you’ll find yourself questioning what’s possible…

Order from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3O4FY6T

Order from Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/643116

Order from DriveThruFiction: https://www.drivethrufiction.com/product/313297

Tuesday, August 08, 2023

Tales of the Solar Sytstem revisited

 


Seven stories from prize winning science fiction author J Alan Erwine that look at possible futures for our species throughout the solar system.
Some stories are optimistic, most see us carrying our Earth-bound limitations into the future and out to the planets.
These may be cautionary tales, but no matter what, they’ll leave you feeling that humanity does indeed have a future of exploring our solar system…if we can learn to survive on Earth.

Order from Amazon: https://amzn.to/44fjm98

Order from Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/642681

Order from DriveThruFiction: https://www.drivethrufiction.com/product/313300

Monday, August 07, 2023

Tales of the Earth and Moon revisited

 


Seven stories from award winning science fiction author J Alan Erwine that explore the future of both the Earth and the Moon.
Stranded astronauts, intelligent dolphins being used by the government, a soldier struggling with orders he knows he shouldn’t have followed, lovers waiting for the end of the world, politics even dirtier than what we’re seeing in the modern world (maybe), a man resurrected because he wanted to see the future, but now feeling very much alone, and manipulation on the moon.
These are the stories that are waiting for you in this collection.

Order from Amazon: https://amzn.to/43avBCM

Order from Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/641482

Order from DriveThruFiction: https://www.drivethrufiction.com/product/313303

Sunday, August 06, 2023

Tales of Mars revisited

 


Three stories from prize winning science fiction author J Alan Erwine that are set on the planet Mars.
A soldier set on crushing a rebellion begins to question his own loyalties once he’s captured by the “enemy.”
One woman fights to save microbial life in Valles Marineris.
And a young woman forced into a bad life because of her race suddenly finds herself to have abilities she never could have expected…abilities that might just be able to save her people.

Order from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3XIQy6t

Order from Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/640809

Order from DriveThruFiction: https://www.drivethrufiction.com/product/313299

Saturday, August 05, 2023

Seedlings on the Solar Winds revisited

 


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 collection from prize winning science fiction author J Alan Erwine.
Seedlings on the Solar Winds contains sixteen stories that will have readers questioning what reality really is, and wondering what the future of humanity might be.

Order from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3D1y6gb

Order from Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/16551

Order from DriveThruFiction: https://www.drivethrufiction.com/product/65440