J.K. Ullrich's Blog, page 18
October 25, 2016
Book Launch Delayed Due to Technical Difficulties
Amazon, we have a problem. Syzygy Pt II: Opposition Effect was supposed to come out today. I followed my usual protocol for publishing through Amazon and uploaded the manuscript in the same time frame I always do. Typically when I do this, the books are available well within the 12-hour time frame Amazon promises. This … Continue reading Book Launch Delayed Due to Technical Difficulties
October 20, 2016
Passion in Publishing: Why I’m #PoweredByIndie
“You’re a published author?” My new acquaintance’s eyes widen in surprise. “Where can I find your books?” “On Amazon,” I explain. “I publish independently.” I watch my companion’s expression for the unmistakable flickers of confusion, disappointment, or even contempt. But only a smile appears. “That’s so cool! What’s it called?” I’ve had this conversation a … Continue reading Passion in Publishing: Why I’m #PoweredByIndie
October 13, 2016
Land of (Kindle) Fire and Ice: Back from Travel, Back to Work
Why should my Syzygy characters have all the fun exploring planet Earth? I want to experience it, too, before it dissolves into one of my dystopian landscapes. So last week my Laddie and I took a journey to Iceland. We climbed a glacier, snorkeled in a frigid rift, hiked along a crater rim, and ate waffles from a food … Continue reading Land of (Kindle) Fire and Ice: Back from Travel, Back to Work
September 28, 2016
Get Your ARC of Syzygy Pt II!
Syzygy Pt II: Opposition Effect, is back from my tech editor! A few final tweaks and it’ll be ready to go. Barring any unanticipated catastrophes, I’m scheduling publication for Tuesday, October 25. For anyone who doesn’t want to wait that long, I’m offering a limited number of advance reader copies (ARCs) in exchange for honest reviews … Continue reading Get Your ARC of Syzygy Pt II!
September 11, 2016
Fiction’s Dark Mirror: Dystopia and the 9/11 Generation
I knew something was wrong when I woke to the television muttering downstairs. My parents rarely watched anything other than evening news and weather. If they’d turned it on at nine a.m. on a Tuesday, it could only mean trouble. In trepidation I crept downstairs and into the living room. Mom sat in front of the … Continue reading Fiction’s Dark Mirror: Dystopia and the 9/11 Generation
September 6, 2016
Recent Reads: “Ancillary Justice” by Ann Leckie
Last year my Laddie bought me a wine caddy puzzle for Yule. There can’t be much challenge in such a basic construction, I thought. But the sleek toy proved deceptively complex. How does the hook fit into the loop? And what do the balls have to do with it?! It took some mental effort … Continue reading Recent Reads: “Ancillary Justice” by Ann Leckie
September 2, 2016
Out of the black hole (for now)
For those of you worrying (or hoping) that I’d fallen out of gravitational orbit, I’m still here. Summer got hectic in a hurry. (Darn day job. If I could just land a multi-million dollar movie deal, this wouldn’t happen…ah well.) But I haven’t been idle on the writing front. I’ve been plugging away at the … Continue reading Out of the black hole (for now)
August 10, 2016
Recent Reads: “Rendezvous with Rama” by Arthur C. Clarke
“Seriously?” I deadpanned, startling my Laddie from his bedtime Kindle doze. My own e-reader cast its moonbeam light on my pillow, emanating a serenity I didn’t share. “We finally get a female character and the first thing they talk about is her breasts?” This irritating discovery wasn’t completely unexpected. When I began a personal initiative […]
August 2, 2016
Lost (Interest) in Space: Two Sci-Fi Fans Watch Syfy’s “Dark Matter”
My Laddie and I both adore science fiction, so when the new series Dark Matter appeared in our Netflix queue, it caught our attention. A cursory review of Amazon showed high ratings. While we don’t expect anything will ever fill the void Firefly left in our nerdy hearts, we decided to give the pilot episode a […]
July 24, 2016
Recent Reads: “Inquisitor”, by Anela Deen
Rather than endure the theater crowds flocking to see Star Trek: Beyond this weekend, I chose to stay in with another science fiction adventure I’ve been following: Insurrection, by fellow indie author and book blogger Anela Deen of Amid the Imaginary. She’s shared ARCs of her short story serial with me over the past few months […]
