Ray Strong's Blog, page 5
November 24, 2017
Contenders for new cover
Hi. ...
The new book is in final edit and I need help deciding on the cover idea. This first book is about Astrid who rides dragons and sings to them. Let me know which you prefer. They are not released yet. The ones with the Fiverr watermark are very preliminary, but your comments are solicited.
You can take a survey survey here.
The new book is in final edit and I need help deciding on the cover idea. This first book is about Astrid who rides dragons and sings to them. Let me know which you prefer. They are not released yet. The ones with the Fiverr watermark are very preliminary, but your comments are solicited.
You can take a survey survey here.
October 30, 2017
Flow chart for Home: Interstellar, Escape from Etna
While Book 2, Lost Hope, is in editing, here's something that might interest you.
Warning: Major spoilers if you have not read Book 1 yet!
For those of you that are interested in what goes behind plotting a novel where time, space and the plausibility of coordination is important, here's some of my work.
... Ray
Warning: Major spoilers if you have not read Book 1 yet!
For those of you that are interested in what goes behind plotting a novel where time, space and the plausibility of coordination is important, here's some of my work.
... Ray
May 15, 2017
New Edition and Paperback Live tommorrow! At a Discount!
Ta-da!
Tomorrow the remastered 2nd Edition will be live on Amazon. And discounted to $0.99 (for a limited time only).
...AND...
The remastered paperback will also be released on 5/16.
Tomorrow the remastered 2nd Edition will be live on Amazon. And discounted to $0.99 (for a limited time only).
...AND...
The remastered paperback will also be released on 5/16.
April 18, 2017
Home: Interstellar 2nd Edition out May 16, 2017 on Amazon
Drum roll, please!
The 2nd Edition will be posted to Amazon on May 16.
I've taken all the reviews of H:I fromAmazon, Goodreads, and elsewhere and tried to address all the comments that might impact the readability of the story. New readers should be pleased, but wait until May 16 if you want the new edition!
It's still the same prize winning story -- history doesn’t change, though how we speak of it might. There is only a little new content. So, if you've already read the 1st Edition, you may be disappointed. Amazon tells me that if you’ve already downloaded the eBook, you can refresh for free, but you’ll lose the bookmarks.
Enjoy
… Ray
The 2nd Edition will be posted to Amazon on May 16.
I've taken all the reviews of H:I fromAmazon, Goodreads, and elsewhere and tried to address all the comments that might impact the readability of the story. New readers should be pleased, but wait until May 16 if you want the new edition!
It's still the same prize winning story -- history doesn’t change, though how we speak of it might. There is only a little new content. So, if you've already read the 1st Edition, you may be disappointed. Amazon tells me that if you’ve already downloaded the eBook, you can refresh for free, but you’ll lose the bookmarks.
Enjoy
… Ray
March 28, 2017
Glossary for Earthers
I included the glossary to the pages to the right because they may not make it into the 2nd edition. I included them in the 1st edition because many readers of suspense are not avid SciFi readers and need an orientation to the anomalies of FTL travel and interstellar time.
The idea of a 'Cruiser,' the Mark IX Cила Грузчик, or Power Loader for cargo handling, also needs some explanation but sounds boring when written into the story.
The idea of a 'Cruiser,' the Mark IX Cила Грузчик, or Power Loader for cargo handling, also needs some explanation but sounds boring when written into the story.
March 25, 2017
Meriel's Ten Stages of a Spacers Party
I thought I'd offer these in case they are removed in the 2nd Edition. These are typical for any nerd who visits a space station's Blue-Zone bars (or Chicago's Rush Street) after a long tour of duty. If I remember correctly, Stage 8 follows Stage 7 after a few nano-seconds.
uncomfortably shy and distant; polite or coy;friendly and engaging conversation; double entendre, puns, and sexual innuendo; loud and bawdy; out of control, partial undress, drinking with your worst enemy; looking for trouble; finding trouble, confrontation/altercation; for large parties, rioting;nursing wounds; and Soberall(TM), sleep, or rehab.
uncomfortably shy and distant; polite or coy;friendly and engaging conversation; double entendre, puns, and sexual innuendo; loud and bawdy; out of control, partial undress, drinking with your worst enemy; looking for trouble; finding trouble, confrontation/altercation; for large parties, rioting;nursing wounds; and Soberall(TM), sleep, or rehab.
March 18, 2017
New cover for H:I-1
New cover for Home: Interstellar - Merchant Princess. Nice job for cheap via Fiverr.
February 10, 2017
Grace
I added the deMerlner essay Grace to the permanent sidebar. I posted it last year, but I like it.
"...It is beyond mere mortals made of heart and flesh to forgive the callous murder of the innocent. And it is beyond us to forgive ourselves for those deepest of sins, those acts of knowing cruelty that warp the bones of our adulthood with guilt. But God can forgive if only you ask. That is why it is called God’s grace, and why it is a miracle.
"And granted that miracle we may live our lives again and benefit others, not to seek forgiveness, but because we’ve been blessed."
That and many others will be published separately in de Merlner's diary.
Also, updated schedule for 2nd Edition is in late March. Stay tuned.
"...It is beyond mere mortals made of heart and flesh to forgive the callous murder of the innocent. And it is beyond us to forgive ourselves for those deepest of sins, those acts of knowing cruelty that warp the bones of our adulthood with guilt. But God can forgive if only you ask. That is why it is called God’s grace, and why it is a miracle.
"And granted that miracle we may live our lives again and benefit others, not to seek forgiveness, but because we’ve been blessed."
That and many others will be published separately in de Merlner's diary.
Also, updated schedule for 2nd Edition is in late March. Stay tuned.
December 26, 2016
Delay on new edition of H:I Merchant Princess
Looks like I was optimistic about a December release of H:I Lost Hope.
For those interested in what the plotting process looks like sometimes, I've attached a flow chart with a small portion of the story. Sometimes it's hard to get all the forces at play to interact in the right way at the right time. (Note: major spoilers, but it's not the final draft.)
For those interested in what the plotting process looks like sometimes, I've attached a flow chart with a small portion of the story. Sometimes it's hard to get all the forces at play to interact in the right way at the right time. (Note: major spoilers, but it's not the final draft.)
October 30, 2016
New Edition of HI: Merchant Princess
Just an update ...
I'm working on a new edition of the 1st book in the series: Merchant Princess. This update is to remove some annoyances for readers. It's really the same story, so I'd advise not buying the new version.
I expect it to be live by Christmas. The 2nd book in the series, Lost Hope, should be out about then and I'd like to make sure the two books are at the same level.
... Ray
I'm working on a new edition of the 1st book in the series: Merchant Princess. This update is to remove some annoyances for readers. It's really the same story, so I'd advise not buying the new version.
I expect it to be live by Christmas. The 2nd book in the series, Lost Hope, should be out about then and I'd like to make sure the two books are at the same level.
... Ray
