Sylvester Olson's Blog, page 2
June 17, 2018
New Free E-book
Klahowya! I have a free promotion for my new short space opera, One Digit Off, over at Amazon. The giveaway lasts until Thursday 6/22/18. Check it out!
https://www.amazon.com/One-Digit-Off-...
https://www.amazon.com/One-Digit-Off-...
January 23, 2018
RIP Ursula LeGuin
I was sad to hear the news today about Ms. LeGuin. I haven't read much from her, but A Wizard of Earthsea is, to me at least, the greatest work of fantasy outside of Tolkien. It's also one of the few books that I actively reread again and again. Last autumn I nearly began reading The Left Hand of Darkness, but held off only because I was starting my graduate school program and would never have time for it. The genre lost one of its pillars today. Rest in Peace.
(And to hell with you, Christopher Paolini, you uncreative %$#@! Everyone knows Eragon stole from George Lucas and J.R.R. Tolkien, but the fact that you so shamelessly stole Ursula LeGuin's Earthsea magic system is the crime that readers should remember you for the most).
(And to hell with you, Christopher Paolini, you uncreative %$#@! Everyone knows Eragon stole from George Lucas and J.R.R. Tolkien, but the fact that you so shamelessly stole Ursula LeGuin's Earthsea magic system is the crime that readers should remember you for the most).
July 16, 2017
July Update
Klahowya!
Life is busy, but I'm slogging along well enough given the circumstances. I plan on releasing four(!) books this summer.
The first is a poetry book in its final editing stages.
The second is Volume 2 of the serialized Flammable Robots in the Deep Dark Woods. At this point, I'm working on editing/rewriting what I feel is the last truly problematic chapter of the overall novel. Future volumes will be easier to fix and churn out, requiring more subtle alterations.
My third book this summer will be the independent novella that takes place in the Geoduck Street/Flammable Robots universe. I wrote 75% of it last year and simply need to finish up.
Fourth will be a stand-alone epic fantasy novella unrelated to my other work. I expect it, in its final form, to run about 80 pages.
I also have a short story (25 pages) that I could finish if I'm allowed the time.
My progress in all these projects has been hindered by real life. This spring I graduated with a second bachelor's degree from an online program. At the same time that I've been studying, completing assignments, and passing tests, I've been holding down a 40 hour a week job. I've tried to fit my writing in where I can, but it's often been difficult to find the time. I'm amazed at what I've accomplished as it is. This next fall I begin a graduate program, which will make life even more complicated. I hope my writing days aren't numbered. Editing and releasing Flammable Robots volumes might be set at just the right challenge for me given my upcoming circumstances.
Happy summer, everyone!
Life is busy, but I'm slogging along well enough given the circumstances. I plan on releasing four(!) books this summer.
The first is a poetry book in its final editing stages.
The second is Volume 2 of the serialized Flammable Robots in the Deep Dark Woods. At this point, I'm working on editing/rewriting what I feel is the last truly problematic chapter of the overall novel. Future volumes will be easier to fix and churn out, requiring more subtle alterations.
My third book this summer will be the independent novella that takes place in the Geoduck Street/Flammable Robots universe. I wrote 75% of it last year and simply need to finish up.
Fourth will be a stand-alone epic fantasy novella unrelated to my other work. I expect it, in its final form, to run about 80 pages.
I also have a short story (25 pages) that I could finish if I'm allowed the time.
My progress in all these projects has been hindered by real life. This spring I graduated with a second bachelor's degree from an online program. At the same time that I've been studying, completing assignments, and passing tests, I've been holding down a 40 hour a week job. I've tried to fit my writing in where I can, but it's often been difficult to find the time. I'm amazed at what I've accomplished as it is. This next fall I begin a graduate program, which will make life even more complicated. I hope my writing days aren't numbered. Editing and releasing Flammable Robots volumes might be set at just the right challenge for me given my upcoming circumstances.
Happy summer, everyone!
May 16, 2017
My e-book is free on Amazon until May 20th!
The e-book of A Detective from Geoduck Street is now free to download from Amazon until May 20th!
Click here for the page on Amazon
Click here for the page on Amazon
May 11, 2017
New Giveaway
Klahowya!
I'm running a free e-book giveaway through Kindle Direct Prime from May 16 to 20. In other words, one should be able to go to Amazon.com and download A Detective from Geoduck Street for free. Or so I imagine. This is my first time doing this, so I'll be learning about the process.
To celebrate this, I'm offering a free hardcopy giveaway here at Goodreads until May 18th. Happy Cascadia Day, everyone!
I'm running a free e-book giveaway through Kindle Direct Prime from May 16 to 20. In other words, one should be able to go to Amazon.com and download A Detective from Geoduck Street for free. Or so I imagine. This is my first time doing this, so I'll be learning about the process.
To celebrate this, I'm offering a free hardcopy giveaway here at Goodreads until May 18th. Happy Cascadia Day, everyone!
February 19, 2017
Announcing my New Book!
It took a few weeks to work out the last few edits, but I'm ready to formally announce my new book!
La Nutrocxeno, aux, La Katacxoj Mangxas Cxion is a basal reader for the language Esperanto. Many years ago I studied Esperanto as a high school student for a senior project. Last fall I began to learn it again, using many of the new wonderful web resources that weren't around back in the 90's, such as Duolingo.
Starting in September, I decided to apply my new learning towards a very simple book, composing something that my fellow beginners could read and enjoy. The plot of La Nutrocxeno is a bit nutty, but I hope that readers will enjoy the abstract humor (especially in light of the recent nonsensical developments in American history with the election of Donald Trump). While I wrote it in Esperanto, I also translated it into English, and have included that translation within the book.
La Nutrocxeno's first US contest is currently underway until February 23. Be sure to enter while there's still time left!
La Nutrocxeno, aux, La Katacxoj Mangxas Cxion is a basal reader for the language Esperanto. Many years ago I studied Esperanto as a high school student for a senior project. Last fall I began to learn it again, using many of the new wonderful web resources that weren't around back in the 90's, such as Duolingo.
Starting in September, I decided to apply my new learning towards a very simple book, composing something that my fellow beginners could read and enjoy. The plot of La Nutrocxeno is a bit nutty, but I hope that readers will enjoy the abstract humor (especially in light of the recent nonsensical developments in American history with the election of Donald Trump). While I wrote it in Esperanto, I also translated it into English, and have included that translation within the book.
La Nutrocxeno's first US contest is currently underway until February 23. Be sure to enter while there's still time left!
January 5, 2017
Flammable Robots in the Deep Dark Woods
Klahowya! It's finally here!
The first volume in the serialized sequel to A Detective from Geoduck Street is now available. To celebrate, I will be running a Goodreads contest for the book beginning on January 11th.
In all, I will release six volumes for this novel. I'm preparing for graduate school, so my time is much more limited than before. Serializing the book and editing its complete draft bit by bit will allow me to complete and edit it in smaller pieces.
I've also just released Five Nautical Parsecs from Home. Be warned: this is not a new novel, but a selection from the middle section of A Detective from Geoduck Street that I plan on using for promotional purposes.
Happy New Year!
The first volume in the serialized sequel to A Detective from Geoduck Street is now available. To celebrate, I will be running a Goodreads contest for the book beginning on January 11th.
In all, I will release six volumes for this novel. I'm preparing for graduate school, so my time is much more limited than before. Serializing the book and editing its complete draft bit by bit will allow me to complete and edit it in smaller pieces.
I've also just released Five Nautical Parsecs from Home. Be warned: this is not a new novel, but a selection from the middle section of A Detective from Geoduck Street that I plan on using for promotional purposes.
Happy New Year!
December 20, 2016
Plans and Goals for 2017
Klahowya!
Volume 1 of the sequel to A Detective from Geoduck Street is edited, and almost ready to "go live" on Amazon!
Since I don't have time to rework the entire novel right now, I will be releasing the sequel in serial format. Hopefully I'll be able to complete a volume every four to six months; there will be a total of six volumes for Part II.
After these are finished, I plan to compose Part III of "The Matter of Cascadia" from scratch in this serial format, releasing smaller volumes ever so often. For now, the plan is to price them minimally so that they are more affordable than the typical paperback. The price of A Detective from Geoduck Street has always bothered me since I published it last year. It takes nearly $8 to produce a copy, and after the royalties that Amazon and the producer take, a price of $15 yields about $1.25 to me. Then again, the novel is 530+ pages, so go figure.
On the other hand, I've found that a 100-page book costs only about $2 to produce. So it looks like I'm going to avoid the brick-sized documents for a while, and put my efforts into these smaller volumes.
So keeping this in mind, after New Year's the first new book I will publish is Volume 1 of the sequel (title to be announced later).
This will very quickly be followed by a selection from A Detective from Geoduck Street, consisting of three chapters from the middle of the novel, that seem to stand out on their own. I intend this to be a promo version that I will be able to give away at a reduced production cost.
Soon after this, I'll be releasing the "silly thing" I composed in Esperanto. It's not a novel so much as it is a basal reader for helping one to learn that language.
I would like to spend January finishing up two game books that I began last year. Then I have the independent story that is 75% finished. I hope it'll be ready by May, along with Volume 2 of the Geoduck Street sequel.
Hope everyone's having a Merry Christmas!
Volume 1 of the sequel to A Detective from Geoduck Street is edited, and almost ready to "go live" on Amazon!
Since I don't have time to rework the entire novel right now, I will be releasing the sequel in serial format. Hopefully I'll be able to complete a volume every four to six months; there will be a total of six volumes for Part II.
After these are finished, I plan to compose Part III of "The Matter of Cascadia" from scratch in this serial format, releasing smaller volumes ever so often. For now, the plan is to price them minimally so that they are more affordable than the typical paperback. The price of A Detective from Geoduck Street has always bothered me since I published it last year. It takes nearly $8 to produce a copy, and after the royalties that Amazon and the producer take, a price of $15 yields about $1.25 to me. Then again, the novel is 530+ pages, so go figure.
On the other hand, I've found that a 100-page book costs only about $2 to produce. So it looks like I'm going to avoid the brick-sized documents for a while, and put my efforts into these smaller volumes.
So keeping this in mind, after New Year's the first new book I will publish is Volume 1 of the sequel (title to be announced later).
This will very quickly be followed by a selection from A Detective from Geoduck Street, consisting of three chapters from the middle of the novel, that seem to stand out on their own. I intend this to be a promo version that I will be able to give away at a reduced production cost.
Soon after this, I'll be releasing the "silly thing" I composed in Esperanto. It's not a novel so much as it is a basal reader for helping one to learn that language.
I would like to spend January finishing up two game books that I began last year. Then I have the independent story that is 75% finished. I hope it'll be ready by May, along with Volume 2 of the Geoduck Street sequel.
Hope everyone's having a Merry Christmas!
November 20, 2016
Any Redditors out there?
Klahowya!
Years ago, when I began researching Cascadia (a concept that clearly defines the Pacific Northwest of North America as a unique place rather than as a geopolitical corner of two nation states), there were extremely few books that covered the topic. As the years have gone on, that number has increased substantially. If you don't believe me, go to Amazon and type in "Cascadia."
To cover the development of a potential Cascadian literature, I've started I've started a new "subreddit." Author Ryan C. Moothart, author of Towards Cascadia, is co-moderating the forum with me. Find us at:
https://www.reddit.com/r/CascadiaBooks/
Years ago, when I began researching Cascadia (a concept that clearly defines the Pacific Northwest of North America as a unique place rather than as a geopolitical corner of two nation states), there were extremely few books that covered the topic. As the years have gone on, that number has increased substantially. If you don't believe me, go to Amazon and type in "Cascadia."
To cover the development of a potential Cascadian literature, I've started I've started a new "subreddit." Author Ryan C. Moothart, author of Towards Cascadia, is co-moderating the forum with me. Find us at:
https://www.reddit.com/r/CascadiaBooks/
November 18, 2016
The Giveaway is Up and Running!
Make sure you enter the contest by November 26!
