L.E. Thomas's Blog, page 5

Star Runners Universe August 2018 Update!

Star Runners: Dark Space has been out for a week. Thank you to all who have gone on the journey with me. Wow! What a week! But it didn't take long before I received some emails asking when the next book was coming out, so I thought I would provide a bit of a round-up here. If you are a subscriber to the email list, you may have already seen some of what's below. I've been asked about my writing process. I write new material every day. Then, I spend time edited what has already been finished once it's had time to "cool off." In other words, I write new stuff faster than I edit. As a result, there are a few novels in the pipeline (including a collaboration coming shortly). These novels exist in the Star Runners Universe but have new characters and situations. In fact, three of the following stories started as background material to planets Austin and Ryker visited. Then, they happily morphed into a full novel! If you're interested, read on! GhostThose who have read Star Runners: Dark Space may be asking questions about some of the new, sinister characters. The first collaboration in the Star Runners Universe between C.G. Adams and L.E. Thomas. This novel is an epic tale from numerous perspectives across the galaxy, all somehow tied up with an intergalactic assassin with many aliases. A darker story in the Star Runners Universe, this one was an absolute blast to write, and I can't wait to share more information with you. Zahl: Invasion (Working Title)This is a story about the world of Tarrafa, which was conquered by the Zahl Empire during the events of Star Runners: Scorpions. I got wrapped up in the backstory of this planet while writing Scorpions. It turned into an entire book telling the tale of a young man who is caught up in the occupation. The events of this book will lead directly into Star Runners 6. Ashia 1 and 2 The planet of Ashia first appeared briefly in Star Runners: Mission Wraith. Some of you may remember Ashia was briefly published in 2016 before it was scooped up by another publisher. The rights have now been returned to Shadow Max Publishing, and I can't wait to share two novels from this world. The plan is to release both of these novels in rapid succession. As you discovered in Dark Space, Ashia soon becomes the focus of the entire galaxy. (Note: If you can't wait, the Ashia audiobook narrated by the ridiculously talented Angela Dawe is available here!)Star Runners 6I started work on this novel in April. My ultimate goal for the past couple of years has been reaching this book. I never thought I'd make it, quite honestly. The original story of Austin Stone and his friends has been leading to what happens in this book. More than that, the events of all the books on this list have been building up to this one. Characters from the other works will appear, and I'm so excited about that. I better get back to writing!

Star Runners: Dark Space Now Available!

It's been a long road, but I'm so happy to say Star Runners: Dark Space is now available!I get a bit mushy whenever I publish a new book because they are never completed in a vacuum. Being an author is an exciting experience because so many people can affect the final product (sometimes without even knowing it). And I'm not talking about the editors and proofreaders or the cover designers. I'm talking about you. From the simple comments from friends to the emails from you or the retweets and follows, every action helps propel a novel over the finish line. I cannot thank you enough for joining me on these journeys.For the near future, it's back to writing and editing. I have numerous stories in the pipeline I cannot wait to share with you. Stay in touch (and, of course, stay frosty!). LET

Sneak Peek 5 for Star Runners Dark Space

Today will be the final look into Star Runners: Dark Space before it releases on August 3!In this excerpt, Josh Morris realizes he's about to die. Under attack by an unknown force with lethal weaponry unlike anything he's seen, Josh decides to go down fighting against a terrifying foe! **Josh squeezed the trigger, the rifle spitting bolts toward his target. They struck without effect, the armor glowing as the creature charged. Standing, he held the gun to his belt and unleashed everything. Blasts disappeared into the protective field around his target. Other shots deflected and exploded into the rocks, erupting into sparks.The rifle ran dry. He hurled it to the floor and yanked out the revolver. Aiming, he fired. The gun exploded like thunder in the confined space, kicking his arm back with more power than the rifle. The bullet struck the shoulder, spinning him around, the shimmering energy wave surrounding the armor vanishing.His enemy, its yellow eyes full, lifted its arm and fired twice. The first gel burst zipped by Josh’s head, crashing into the rocks with a hiss. But the second struck his right forearm with blunt force, sending him staggering backward. The gun fell from his grip. His heel caught a rock, and he stumbled onto his back just as the gel covered his bicep, scalding his skin and eating through.He screamed, the smell of burning flesh filling his nose. He tried to wipe it off his arm, but only burned his palm. Arching his back, he shrieked as the substance melted his skin.His wounded foe came to a stop and loomed over him, the wrist cannon trained on his face. Drawing on his anger, Josh spat at it and knew, dimly, it would be the last thing he did in this universe.A blade pierced its chest, spilling blood onto its armor as its eyes bulged. A human male materialized behind it and twisted the sword, opening the wound. He shoved the creature to the ground and turned down the corridor, spraying machine gun fire from a weapon in his other hand.Josh glanced at the dying thing. It smelled like a rotting corpse and wheezed for an instant before it remained still.The stranger turned halfway around and tossed a blue rubber mat onto Josh's chest, his close-set eyes colorless."Use it on the wound until I get back," he said in a cold voice, "or you'll die."Without waiting for a response, Josh’s savior sprinted down the hall, his machine gun firing. More of those things shrieked, followed by the distinctive clunk of their gel weapons.Taking the blue mat and feeling its slimy texture, Josh pressed it on the wound and held it there, allowing the cooling sensation to penetrate his arm. The wound tingled, stinging as he tried to rise to his feet. More machine gun fire popped, mixing with what sounded like swords clashing and fierce struggles punctuated by the cracking of bones or slashing of blades upon flesh.**Star Runners: Dark Space is the fifth book in Star Runners Universe and is now available for pre-order! It releases on August 3!

Is that light at the end of the tunnel?

It feels like only yesterday the rights of the Star Runners Universe were returned to me when in reality the event occurred at the end of 2017. Since that time, I have been working re-editing and republishing the four titles in the Star Runners Universe as well as finishing production (editing, formatting, cover design, etc.) on the manuscripts I had already written. I did the math yesterday. Since December of 2017, I have edited and formatted about 800,000 words in the Star Runners Universe. It has been a surreal and worthwhile experience. I think the novels have been tightened up and improved overall. Revisiting the books has been fun. So what does all this mean? Star Runners: Dark Space or Book 5, is releasing on August 3 (this Friday!). The previous installment initially launched in the Fall of 2016, so I'm delighted to be sharing a story with you all once again.I have also edited two and a half other manuscripts. I wanted it to be three full and completed novels, but sometimes life throws obstacles in your way (Steven Pressfield calls it "resistance," and boy does it resist sometimes). If you don't believe in such things, well, try to do anything creatively, and you will find all manner of creative barriers in your way. Two of the novels take place on the world of Ashia, which factors in rather heavily into Star Runners: Dark Space. The third is a unique novel about the sinister side of the Star Runners Universe involving an intergalactic assassin, those hunting him, and the innocents who get wrapped up in the story. All of these titles lead directly into the events of Star Runners Book Six. If all goes according to plan, SR 6 will provide an ending to the main story that began with the first Star Runners book in December of 2014. Will there be more books in the Star Runners Universe? Of course, there will be. I don't think I will ever stop writing (even if I wanted to), but I do like to provide closure to stories without having cliffhangers forever. To sum all this up, I have many stories to share with you soon. It's not decided whether or not all of these upcoming manuscripts will be released wide or shared with Star Runners Email list subscribers, but they are coming. I want to get mushy on you all for a minute. If you're still reading this, it means you have some interest in these worlds I've spent so many hours dreaming about and creating. Maybe you've been with me from the beginning. Maybe you recently discovered Star Runners. Perhaps you just stumbled onto this website from a random search. No matter how you arrived at this website in the infinite void of the Internet, I wish I could make you realize how happy it makes me to be able to share these stories with you. From the time I was a little boy roaming the stacks at my local library, this is all I've ever wanted to do. It's why God put me here. I'll keep you posted on upcoming release dates. However, I always provide the earliest access and details to the Star Runners E-mail list. If that's interesting to you, click here. Have a great week, guys. Wherever you are in the world, know some authorin Georgia USA is sending good thoughts your way. Stay frosty, LET

Star Runners Bundle Price Drop!

In celebration of the August 3 release of Star Runners: Dark Space, the Star Runners Bundle of books 1-4 is currently drastically discounted to make for the biggest sale in the history of the Star Runners Universe! For a limited time, the first four books of the series are only $2.99!The release of Star Runners: Dark Space is the first new adventure in the Star Runners Universe to release in nearly two years. If you haven't ever sat in the cockpit of a Legion Trident or heard the sizzle of an energy bolt flying past your head, this is the perfect time to leave Earth behind and experience this series for such a low cost. The discounted bundle is currently available in most online retailers. Check out this link for details.

Return of Friday Game Night

In the opening chapter of the first book in the Star Runners Universe, you find out the main characters are playing an online game full of space battles. By knowing this, I guess you would understand when I tell you I'm a lifelong gamer of both the board, card and video variety. Even when I lose miserably, I love a good game.I still play games on a regular basis (although life has a way of making the length between gaming sessions farther apart). In fact, I try to play something once a week. I believe when you stop playing and only work, well, that's the day you start dying. Why am I telling you all this? Because I'm reintroducing game night at my house on Fridays! Each week, I plan to bring an old boardgame back to the table. Tonight's game is called "Eldritch Horror" by the fantastic company, Fantasy Flight Games. I've played it before, but only a couple of times. The world's coming to an end, and it's up to the players to work together to try and save it. I'm excited! Full disclosure: I'll admit I got inspired on the plane last week when I watched "Game Night" with Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams. Of course, I plan on my game night being a bit less eventful. While I might not be able to do an actual game night every week, I'll try to keep you posted on games to share a little of my favorite hobby (besides writing) with you guys every Friday for a change of pace.Who knows? I may mention a game that will encourage you to try to establish a board game night at your house.

Sneak Peek 4 for Star Runners Dark Space

Enjoy another sneak peak into Star Runners: Dark Space! In today's scene, Josh Morris has just survived an attack from a mysterious force hunting him to the edge of known space. While traveling their next destination, Josh has a chance to speak with the deadly Douglas Foster who is on the same path (for much different reasons).**"What are you, a noble Star Runner, doing this for? You could have stayed safe and sound on your dark world, probably even avoided this the rest of your life.”Josh grimaced at Foster’s tone. "They're my friends. I won't leave them if there's a chance."A shadow fell over Foster's face, and he appeared to stare at a faraway place. "I had friends before. They caused me the same amount of trouble they're causing you. Couldn't find a place for such distractions in my line of work." He looked at the console for a heartbeat before turning back to Josh. "That can't be it, though. There's something more.""Why do you say that?""Because you're driven, propelled by something more than just saving a friend." He cocked his head to the side. "What are you hoping to find out there?"Josh swallowed, thinking for a long moment, the hum of the Lutimite Drive filling the room and vibrating his bare feet on the cold, polished deck. "Redemption, I suppose." "For what?"He interlocked his fingers and shrugged, avoiding Foster's peering eyes. "I don't know," he said, exhaling. “I took my best friend for granted, used to always put myself first even when Austin lost his dad. Guess I just want to help him, you know?”“You’re risking your life going across the galaxy for a friend?”“Wouldn’t you?”“Never met someone worth it.” Foster snorted. “So that’s really the only reason?”Josh put his hands behind his head and sighed. “Things happened to me out here, things you don't get over. My life back on Earth, well, the world I knew didn't fit me anymore. It might not make any sense, but I realize now there are things in life that, once seen, can't be unseen. There might not be any going back.""Guilt."Josh looked at him. "What's that mean?"Foster sighed, closing his eyes and turning toward the forward viewport. "You've killed and seen comrades die. Some people get over it, realizing there are times it's kill or be killed. Others ... don't. You've ended another person's life, and it's haunting you, so you're searching for answers—for meaning—in the void. Believe me, kid, you won't find it.""My best friend's a Star Runner, too. Best in the Legion, some say. I know he's shot down other ships. Doesn't seem to bother him.""You wish you were like that?"His voice faded, and Josh could only nod."It bothers him," Foster whispered. "It bothers us all ... one way or the other."**Star Runners: Dark Space is the fifth book in Star Runners Universe and is now available for pre-order! It releases on August 3!

I'm going to Disneyland!

Since I finished Star Runners: Dark Space, I thought I needed to celebrate by going to Disneyland! Okay, that might be a bit of an exaggeration. My wife had business in California a few miles from Disneyland, and we decided to have me join her for her birthday at the end of her business trip. I hadn't been to the park in 30 years, and she had never been, so we decided to go on a whirlwind trip to see Mickey's first theme park. The strange thing about going on such an epic but brief journey is I feel like I'm spending much of today allowing my brain to catch up with my body. Did we really just do that? As I sit here in my office, I keep asking, "was I really 3,000 miles away yesterday?" Walking into the park after so many years was quite literally like experiencing a tangible moment from my childhood. I rode many of the same rides I did when I was a child. Flying with Peter Pan over London was just as magical as I remember. The Pirates of the Carribean Ride was ridiculously cool (and much more than I remembered). The Indiana Jones Ride certainly didn't disappoint, either. Of course, the highlight for me was all things Star Wars. The Launch Bay was too cool with impressive models of spacecraft. Star Tours had received a nice upgrade since I rode years ago. I couldn't stop smiling.Check out my little gallery below.Despite the endless crowds filling the streets and the long lines, we had a great time (literally) in Fantasyland. I felt as if I were walking in the past and present at the same time. Strolling down each lane of the park reminded me of when I went with my parents and little brother. I couldn't help it. They were right there with me each step of the way. It's weird and hard to describe how sentimental the trip was for me.I can't believe we actually did something so spontaneous. It was so worth it.Let me close my little rambling post with something you already know: Life is short. If you can get away for little spur-of-the-moment getaways, do it! Make the memories. You won't regret it. We all get stuck in our routines, locked into life's script until the years start to pass us by. I think it's so essential we break out from time-to-time and see what's out there. For now, it's back to writing.

Sneak Peek 3 for Star Runners Dark Space

Today's scene from Star Runners: Dark Space finds the Barracudas running into a bit of trouble in the orbit of the planet Ashia following a delivery. Will they survive? **"There's another one, boss,” Tocol said, warning bells wailing from his station.Grumbling, Waylon looked away from the curvature drive display, his leather flight suit stretching. He plunged his fingers into the wild fiery beard extending from his pale square jaw as his boots clanged on the steel deck of the Sparkling Light’s bridge.“Are you sure?” Waylon asked, resting his arm on the back of Tocol's seat as he peered at his old ship’s ancient readout. "You send our ID ping?""No response."Touching his translator, Waylon pressed the headset to his ear and clenched his jaw as he listened for any local transmissions. "That blasted rat man and his giant oaf making a run on our world again?"Tocol cocked his head to the side as he fixated on the display. "It's strange, man," he murmured, ignoring Waylon's question. "I'm picking up a cluster of four ships beyond Ashia’s moon nearly halfway to the fifth planet in the system, then the signal scrambled and turned into twelve before the sensors were blinded again.” He locked eyes with Waylon. "Shrouds?"In all the years he'd traded with the natives on Ashia, the only other competition he’d dealt with had been the odd pair of Ravi and Blaine—never an outfit rich enough to afford working shrouds or numerous vessels.“That wouldn’t scramble our sensors,” Waylon said. “Pirates?”“Scanning.” Tocol’s computer beeped. “The ship types aren’t in our library. Never before seen or recorded use by any known syndicate.” “They just appeared?”“Yep. I guess our instruments could’ve missed an opening curve, but I doubt it.”“Sky’s getting awfully crowded,” he breathed.With his back rigid, Waylon rested his hands on his hips and stared out the forward viewport, watching as they left the atmosphere of Ashia.“We just got hit with a sensor sweep!” Tocol shouted. “One of the unknown ships is moving to intercept and—wait!”“What?”Tocol hesitated. “It disappeared and reappeared fifty MUs from our position!”Waylon balled his fists as his heart fluttered. “Activate the quad turrets. Start your calculations for Tormada.""Right." Tocol grabbed the handset with one hand, flicked the interior lights to battle stations with the other. “Tima, Drad, get to the guns."Static squelched from the rusted speakers. "Something up?""Just do it!" Tocol yelled, his fingers pounding into the keyboard.In an instant, the distinct whine of the curvature drive filled the ship, sending slight vibrations tickling under their feet."How long?" Waylon asked, falling into the pilot's chair and grabbing the controls."Two minutes."“Hurry!” He looked toward the Ashia moon. "They're coming in hot!""You'll have to lose them!"Wrapping his fingers around the wheel, Waylon keyed for the intercom to the two aft turret guns. "You guys get ready for a scrap!"Without waiting for a response, Waylon eased more power into the engines. Sparkling Light’sstandard engines wailed, the bulkheads snapping and popping with the increased stress. He glanced starboard toward the local moon, saw the glint of metal flashing from the system's star. Whoever they were, they were bearing down in a hurry.A high-pitched beep pulsed through the bridge. Waylon winced."Something else is probing us, boss," Tocol said. "Sensors of some kind." "Jam it.""Scrambled it best I could. No good. Sensors slicing right through." "I'm going to skip us across atmo, confuse any kind of a lock and give you the time to complete the calculations.” "Shields won't last long down there, Boss.""Yeah." Waylon tightened his grip on the controls. "Don't think they'll last too long up here, anyhow."The space in front of the bow flashed with green light followed by a swirling gas cloud. The Sparkling Lightbounced through the ominous mist. "What the hell was that?" Waylon shouted. "Report!"The intercom crackled. "Shot came from the vessels," Drad said. "I—""Pulse laser of some kind?" Tocol interrupted.“More like a liquid.""A liquid?" Tocol spun around and stared at Waylon. "You ever seen something like that?"His stomach turned. "I've never even heard of something like that."The sound of boiling water surrounded the ship, hissing throughout the bridge. His control board burned a deep red."Shields are failing!” Tocol snapped. "What is it?"Waylon transferred all power from the engines to shields. They still dropped to eighty percent, then fifty. He watched the energy on the display board ripple."This is no good.""What?"Waylon tugged at his beard. ”That green stuff’s attached to our shields, and it's bleeding it dry.""How?" Tocol asked, standing and stomping behind him. "Shields are pure energy! Nothing can—"The hull thumped, and the Sparkling Light listed forward. Tocol tumbled, bracing himself on the dashboard. Klaxons wailed, signifying a break in the hull's integrity.Waylon searched for answers before Tocol thrust his finger forward."Rear shield amplifier’s been melted through! It's eating right through the hull!” “What is?”“That stuff! How’s that possible?""Doesn't matter!" Waylon screamed, shutting down the shield generator. "What the hell are you doing?""We'll be floating corpses if we leave it on!" The Sparkling Light dipped into a forward spin, sending Ashia in and out of the viewport. Wiping the sweat from his brow, Waylon watched the parasitic cloud eating through his shields disperse as the final power wave ceased.Tocol gasped. ”How'd you know that would work?"“I didn’t.”Leaning over his shoulder, Tocol focused on the cloud dropping away from the ship. The haze bounced and spun. "What was that?"His mouth dry, Waylon stared with his jaw dropped open. "It's like it was feeding off the shield power—like nanotech or maybe some kind of organic weapon.""A biologic weapon?" Tocol asked. "Are you smashed?""I didn't say it made any sense," he said as a sickening feeling burned into his gut. "We need to figure out how to get out of here!"Nodding, Tocol moved back to his station. "Curvature drive's still warming up.""Got it," he said, pressing the transmit button. "You boys return fire when they're in range—we need all the time you can give us!"As the turret guns pounded and reverberated through the ship, Waylon coaxed power into the engines to stop the spin and aimed at the planet. The ship's aging primary power generator struggled to restore the shields sapped by the parasite cloud, but the turret weapons, fortunately, operated off the auxiliary power."Hit two incoming bogeys, boss.""Good!""No," Drad said in a deep voice, "they accelerated with each direct hit."Waylon tensed. "How close are—"The Sparkling Light lunged forward, the interior lights flickering twice before going dark. Battery-powered blue bulbs burned at the bridge’s base, bathing the room in a ghostly aura. All the control boards went out, the curvature drive navigation screen shimmering in white static.And then the entire ship fell into silence. No engines, no life support—nothing but the quiet hiss of blank radio waves."We've lost everything,” Tocol whispered."I can see that." Waylon craned his neck toward the bridge viewport.Sleek obsidian fighters, shaped at the rear like snails with sharpened tentacles protruding from the bow, formed a perimeter around theSparkling Light. A triangular shuttle passed the fighters and moved toward them."I see five fighters,” Waylon said. “Looks like that shuttle is heading right for us."Tocol grunted. "They mean to board us?" Staring at his hands, Waylon shuddered as he remembered the other time he’d been in captivity. The Tyral Pirates and their abuse, Cyclops with his whips.Closing his eyes, he rested his fingers on the heavy laser pistol in his thigh holster, the same weapon he used to first impress the Ashian natives long before their war with the invaders and their mind-controlled beasts.Footsteps pounded the deck leading to the bridge."Boss!" Drad yelled, storming inside. "All power's out!""Yeah!" Tima screamed, peeking over Drad’s broad shoulders. "I thought you said this would be a milk run!""Shut up!" Tocol barked, turning his muscular frame toward Waylon and placing his hand on the old projectile pistols at his hips. "I know you don't plan on letting them taking the ship without a fight.”Waylon offered a lopsided grin. "They won't take my ship at all. Set the self-destruct for ten minutes. We'll put up a fight until then."Tocol's face hardened as he picked up the laser rifle beside his station. "Fate be good."He nodded. "Fate be good."**Star Runners: Dark Space is the fifth book in Star Runners Universe and is now available for pre-order! It releases on August 3!

Getting lost in Pinterest

I've loved fantasy and sci-fi art since I can remember. It probably started with my early trips to the library when I realized all the books on the shelves could be mine for a short time. I would spend hours gazing at the covers (it was the first place I had seen Lord of the Rings) and dreaming.Growing up in the 1980s, I think I loved most movie posters even more than the films! I dabbled with role-playing games as a kid. Loved the core books with all the incredible art. I still dream about a Star Runners RPG someday. Now days I enjoy spending time staring at the Pinterest boards on space fantasy art, spacecraft, etc. There are so many incredible artists! I love creating the boards and coming back to enjoy the art. Someday I hope to have the art on my walls or perhaps have the aritsts create special animated versions of my books. But for now I'll stick with Pinterest. If you'd like to see the boards I've curated, click here or just find the Star Runners Universe on the site.I'd love to hear what you think. For now, stay frosty and have a great rest of your day!