Donald B. McFarlane's Blog, page 2
January 16, 2022
Jan 2022
It’s the middle of January and things are ‘getting’ there.
We ended the year on a high-note, hitting 1,000,000 + pages read on Kindle. With any luck, we can do that same number in 2022.
Right now, we’re punching the keys on 2 projects.
Terminal Frontier is the 8th book of 9 in the Earth Saga series at this rate will be the longest installation by far.
We’re going to have some exotic destinations visited, and a few gun-fights. Without giving more of the plot away, I’d have to say that this novel is very much critical in setting up the end of the series.
The second project we’re writing at the moment is Cryne: In the Wrong Dimension. This is a standalone novel, and while I’m not expecting it to be overly long, I do expect it to have a healthy amount of action with at least one decapitation.
At the same time those two projects are getting words added, we’re busy getting Standish 2.0 ready to send to my editor in Febtober, while The Rescue is also getting ready to head to the editor in May. This is also a standalone project and will also have its fair share of action.
Another big one that I’m working on is getting paperback books onto Amazon. I’ve found myself some software to make this happen, but this is always a slog, but getting that done is a priority for the first quarter of 2022.
It’s all hands-on deck for 2022. We’ve got 4 titles planned for release, so it’s basically a question of working seven days a week at this point. Write. Edit. Edit. Write. Figure out the book thing.
The rest of January is focused on getting cover art for Arpina & Fairlight sorted out, then getting that book published. Hopefully the readers will enjoy it. Hopefully.
Lots to do. With any luck, the Covid monster will be gone by spring/summer, and life will return to some semblance of normal.
All we can do is hope, and in the meantime, punch the keys!
On a viewing note, I watched the South Korean show ‘Silent Sea’, and while it wasn’t perfect, it had incredible production value and was one of the better sci-fi shows I’ve watched lately, because, frankly, there ain’t much out there (I’m looking at you Book of Boba Fett).
Until next time, stay safe out there.
We ended the year on a high-note, hitting 1,000,000 + pages read on Kindle. With any luck, we can do that same number in 2022.
Right now, we’re punching the keys on 2 projects.
Terminal Frontier is the 8th book of 9 in the Earth Saga series at this rate will be the longest installation by far.
We’re going to have some exotic destinations visited, and a few gun-fights. Without giving more of the plot away, I’d have to say that this novel is very much critical in setting up the end of the series.
The second project we’re writing at the moment is Cryne: In the Wrong Dimension. This is a standalone novel, and while I’m not expecting it to be overly long, I do expect it to have a healthy amount of action with at least one decapitation.
At the same time those two projects are getting words added, we’re busy getting Standish 2.0 ready to send to my editor in Febtober, while The Rescue is also getting ready to head to the editor in May. This is also a standalone project and will also have its fair share of action.
Another big one that I’m working on is getting paperback books onto Amazon. I’ve found myself some software to make this happen, but this is always a slog, but getting that done is a priority for the first quarter of 2022.
It’s all hands-on deck for 2022. We’ve got 4 titles planned for release, so it’s basically a question of working seven days a week at this point. Write. Edit. Edit. Write. Figure out the book thing.
The rest of January is focused on getting cover art for Arpina & Fairlight sorted out, then getting that book published. Hopefully the readers will enjoy it. Hopefully.
Lots to do. With any luck, the Covid monster will be gone by spring/summer, and life will return to some semblance of normal.
All we can do is hope, and in the meantime, punch the keys!
On a viewing note, I watched the South Korean show ‘Silent Sea’, and while it wasn’t perfect, it had incredible production value and was one of the better sci-fi shows I’ve watched lately, because, frankly, there ain’t much out there (I’m looking at you Book of Boba Fett).
Until next time, stay safe out there.
January 9, 2022
2022
2021 has come and gone, so it’s time for a quick look at what to expect in 2022.
We’ve got 6 open projects. Here is an update on their status and expected release dates.
Arpina & Fairlight. Standalone Novel. Waiting on cover art. Publishing Jan 22
Standish 2-The Virus. Standish Series. Editing. Publishing Apr 22
The Rescue- Vanuri Down. Rescue Series (New). Editing. Publishing July 22
Terminal Frontier. Earth Saga Series. Writing. Publishing Oct 22.
Standish 3- The Daughter. Standish Series. Editing. Publishing Jan 23
Cryne: In the Wrong Dimension. Standalone Novel. Writing. Publishing Apr 23
We’re looking at expanding the Earth Saga Universe to 4 streams.
Steam A is the Earth Saga Series, this is the series starting with Minus Epsilon.
Steam B are the standalone novels. Arpina & Fairlight falls into this category.
Steam C is the Standish Series. Standish is already out, and two more novels are on the way.
Stream D is the Rescue Series. Short action-packed novels.
Until next time, stay safe out there.
We’ve got 6 open projects. Here is an update on their status and expected release dates.
Arpina & Fairlight. Standalone Novel. Waiting on cover art. Publishing Jan 22
Standish 2-The Virus. Standish Series. Editing. Publishing Apr 22
The Rescue- Vanuri Down. Rescue Series (New). Editing. Publishing July 22
Terminal Frontier. Earth Saga Series. Writing. Publishing Oct 22.
Standish 3- The Daughter. Standish Series. Editing. Publishing Jan 23
Cryne: In the Wrong Dimension. Standalone Novel. Writing. Publishing Apr 23
We’re looking at expanding the Earth Saga Universe to 4 streams.
Steam A is the Earth Saga Series, this is the series starting with Minus Epsilon.
Steam B are the standalone novels. Arpina & Fairlight falls into this category.
Steam C is the Standish Series. Standish is already out, and two more novels are on the way.
Stream D is the Rescue Series. Short action-packed novels.
Until next time, stay safe out there.
December 15, 2021
Christmas is Coming.
It’s the middle of December, the end of 2021 is racing towards us at a furious pace, Covid is back with the new and improved Omicron variant, and its dark outside for much longer each day than I’d want.
But, there are a few positives on the horizon!
Firstly, we should be seeing the release of a new standalone title next month: Arpina & Fairlight. This novel will, by date, take place longest ago when compared to the other novels, and will hopefully be an action-packed thrill-ride for readers. Anyone who has read Murder on Valtameri will recognize a few characters in this novel.
Secondly, things are looking very good on the editing front. Standish 2.0 & 3.0 have both undergone recent red-penning operations, with Standish 2.0 expected to be released in April. I’ll confess, this novel is not as action packed as my usual novels would be, but I’m more than making up for that with Standish 3.0, which will be a messy action-fest.
Additionally, words are continuing to be put to the page for the 8th novel in the Earth Saga series, Terminal Frontier, which is due out in October of ’22.
Finally, red penning is about to start on the first installment of The Rescue, which is looking at a July release next summer.
Adding to that, words are going to start flowing again on Cryne: In the Wrong Dimension, which is currently slated for a release in April of ’23!
Yikes. Lots of irons in the fire. Lots of story to tell.
I’m using the final act of Terminal Frontier to do a little tour-de-force of the Earth, visiting some not too often discussed locations in the process. This novel is on track to be the longest in the Earth Saga series by some length and could surpass Standish as the longest book in the universe unless I’m able to wrap this sucker up.
Away from writing I’ve watched two films of note recently. Waiting for the Barbarians and End of Watch. Both are brilliantly acted, and the concept behind Barbarians is fascinating, but the execution left much to be desired. A real failed opportunity there. End of Watch was a very well-done cop-flick and packed with plenty of excitement.
On the beats side of things, I’ve added another album to my growing synth collection. By Earmake, this album, and the one proceeding it are just brilliant. Great to have on when punching the keys, because frankly, without it, I’d be lost.
I was also able to escape London for a few days, nipping up to Edinburgh and Newcastle. Edinburgh is lovely. Newcastle is the opposite of that.
With Christmas and New Years on the horizon, it’s time to button down the hatches and get The Rescue fully red-penned before 2022 arrives, while continuing to punch the keys on Terminal Frontier. Not sure why, but the tempo of things is picking up a bit, and with a new release planned for next month, I’m in a positive frame of thought going into next year, which hopefully will see 4 titles released. Plenty of explosions and action for the readers.
Until next time, stay safe out there.
But, there are a few positives on the horizon!
Firstly, we should be seeing the release of a new standalone title next month: Arpina & Fairlight. This novel will, by date, take place longest ago when compared to the other novels, and will hopefully be an action-packed thrill-ride for readers. Anyone who has read Murder on Valtameri will recognize a few characters in this novel.
Secondly, things are looking very good on the editing front. Standish 2.0 & 3.0 have both undergone recent red-penning operations, with Standish 2.0 expected to be released in April. I’ll confess, this novel is not as action packed as my usual novels would be, but I’m more than making up for that with Standish 3.0, which will be a messy action-fest.
Additionally, words are continuing to be put to the page for the 8th novel in the Earth Saga series, Terminal Frontier, which is due out in October of ’22.
Finally, red penning is about to start on the first installment of The Rescue, which is looking at a July release next summer.
Adding to that, words are going to start flowing again on Cryne: In the Wrong Dimension, which is currently slated for a release in April of ’23!
Yikes. Lots of irons in the fire. Lots of story to tell.
I’m using the final act of Terminal Frontier to do a little tour-de-force of the Earth, visiting some not too often discussed locations in the process. This novel is on track to be the longest in the Earth Saga series by some length and could surpass Standish as the longest book in the universe unless I’m able to wrap this sucker up.
Away from writing I’ve watched two films of note recently. Waiting for the Barbarians and End of Watch. Both are brilliantly acted, and the concept behind Barbarians is fascinating, but the execution left much to be desired. A real failed opportunity there. End of Watch was a very well-done cop-flick and packed with plenty of excitement.
On the beats side of things, I’ve added another album to my growing synth collection. By Earmake, this album, and the one proceeding it are just brilliant. Great to have on when punching the keys, because frankly, without it, I’d be lost.
I was also able to escape London for a few days, nipping up to Edinburgh and Newcastle. Edinburgh is lovely. Newcastle is the opposite of that.
With Christmas and New Years on the horizon, it’s time to button down the hatches and get The Rescue fully red-penned before 2022 arrives, while continuing to punch the keys on Terminal Frontier. Not sure why, but the tempo of things is picking up a bit, and with a new release planned for next month, I’m in a positive frame of thought going into next year, which hopefully will see 4 titles released. Plenty of explosions and action for the readers.
Until next time, stay safe out there.
November 20, 2021
Ticking along
It’s the middle of November (where is the time going?), and it’s probably time for an update.
Battle for Jupiter, the 7th installment in the Earth Saga series has finally been released, which leaves us with just two novels to go before the series draws to an end. Now, before anyone screams bloody-murder, I am planning on writing what I’ll call ‘The Earth Saga Phase 2’, once the 9th book is complete. This will allow readers of the first 9 books to continue their journey with the story, but it will also allow new readers to pick up the 10th book and start from there. At least that’s the plan right now.
Work on the 8th book is ticking along very well, with a launch probably towards the end of 2022 at this rate. I’m finding that this novel is possibly going to be the longest in the series, and I don’t want to rush it, so I’m pushing back its release date a wee bit, for the best, I’m sure.
With that in mind, things are streaming ahead at a rapid pace on 3 other projects. Standish 2.0, 3.0, and a new series called ‘The Rescue’. Now, in my humble opinion, Standish is my best book, and she is my best character. And, having had several people leave comments wanting to see more of this heroine, I’ve decided to start a series around her. The first two novels, which I’m tempted to release at the same time are titled as follows: Standish 2, The Virus (Yes, Covid, yes), and Standish 3, The Daughter. Now, Going through the edits of Standish 2, I’m noticing there is a lack of action, I know, how did that happen? So, I’m packing some ultra-violence into Standish 3.
At the same time as the Standish series is coming to life, I’m introducing a new series called ‘The Rescue’.
These will be standalone books set in various locations and times focusing on the exploits of the Rescue Technician branch of the Imperial Fleet. Think a combination of US Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer meets US Air Force Pararescuemen. These stories will be snappy and action packed. The first novel is complete, and due out in 2022.
All the while, we’ve got another story in the works. Cryne: In the Wrong Dimension. Anyone who has read Love in a Time of War and Standish will know the character Cryne. He’s a cool, devil may care operator who is based on a friend who served in the Royal Marines. Well, I’ve decided to give Cryne his own story, one that hopefully the fans will enjoy. This story is still in the early stages of production, and not expected out until 2023.
So, with only a week plus left in November, the plan is to keep making corrections to Standish 2.0, before moving on to red-penning Standish 3.0. I like the idea of growing the Earth Saga Universe, and I think a lot of these additional stories present a great opportunity to add depth to the world-building, which is something I hope my readers will enjoy.
All I can do, I suppose, is keep turning out novels, hopefully 4 per year, and hope that the readers enjoy them, and enjoy the universe that I’m trying to create.
Only time will tell.
Until next time, stay safe out there.
Battle for Jupiter, the 7th installment in the Earth Saga series has finally been released, which leaves us with just two novels to go before the series draws to an end. Now, before anyone screams bloody-murder, I am planning on writing what I’ll call ‘The Earth Saga Phase 2’, once the 9th book is complete. This will allow readers of the first 9 books to continue their journey with the story, but it will also allow new readers to pick up the 10th book and start from there. At least that’s the plan right now.
Work on the 8th book is ticking along very well, with a launch probably towards the end of 2022 at this rate. I’m finding that this novel is possibly going to be the longest in the series, and I don’t want to rush it, so I’m pushing back its release date a wee bit, for the best, I’m sure.
With that in mind, things are streaming ahead at a rapid pace on 3 other projects. Standish 2.0, 3.0, and a new series called ‘The Rescue’. Now, in my humble opinion, Standish is my best book, and she is my best character. And, having had several people leave comments wanting to see more of this heroine, I’ve decided to start a series around her. The first two novels, which I’m tempted to release at the same time are titled as follows: Standish 2, The Virus (Yes, Covid, yes), and Standish 3, The Daughter. Now, Going through the edits of Standish 2, I’m noticing there is a lack of action, I know, how did that happen? So, I’m packing some ultra-violence into Standish 3.
At the same time as the Standish series is coming to life, I’m introducing a new series called ‘The Rescue’.
These will be standalone books set in various locations and times focusing on the exploits of the Rescue Technician branch of the Imperial Fleet. Think a combination of US Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer meets US Air Force Pararescuemen. These stories will be snappy and action packed. The first novel is complete, and due out in 2022.
All the while, we’ve got another story in the works. Cryne: In the Wrong Dimension. Anyone who has read Love in a Time of War and Standish will know the character Cryne. He’s a cool, devil may care operator who is based on a friend who served in the Royal Marines. Well, I’ve decided to give Cryne his own story, one that hopefully the fans will enjoy. This story is still in the early stages of production, and not expected out until 2023.
So, with only a week plus left in November, the plan is to keep making corrections to Standish 2.0, before moving on to red-penning Standish 3.0. I like the idea of growing the Earth Saga Universe, and I think a lot of these additional stories present a great opportunity to add depth to the world-building, which is something I hope my readers will enjoy.
All I can do, I suppose, is keep turning out novels, hopefully 4 per year, and hope that the readers enjoy them, and enjoy the universe that I’m trying to create.
Only time will tell.
Until next time, stay safe out there.
October 30, 2021
The Battle for Jupiter is now live!
October is nearly over, and I can finally announce that the 7th book in the Earth Saga Series has been released. “The Battle for Jupiter” is an action-packed novel that I think really marks a turning point in the Earth Saga Series where several events occur that help point the series towards its conclusion in the 9th book, due out in 2023.
New characters are introduced in “The Battle for Jupiter” who will join the story and play a big role in things to come, while other characters will have just a small cameo, with their fate being decided in the 8th or 9th novels.
Which brings me to the big question, will the 9th novel be the last one in the series?
I’m drifting more and more towards NO. But! I am thinking that any books in the series that follow the 9th book will be considered ‘Phase Two’. What does that mean? I’m thinking it means you could start reading the series at book 1 or 10. Some of the major characters from the series might drop into supporting roles, while new characters are introduced to carry the series forward. If you finish “The Battle for Jupiter”, you’ll know that big changes are on the horizon.
Looking forward, we have another title being released in January, “Arpina & Fairlight” which will fall into the ‘standalone’ category of stories. For the record, the plan right now is to have 4 streams of Earth Saga Universe stories. 1: The Earth Saga Series. 2: Standish (2nd and 3rd books due out in 2022). 3: The Rescue (1st novel in this series completed, but not due out for some time). 4: Standalone titles.
Regardless of what the future holds for any of the characters or the story lines, rest assured new material is scheduled to be released at a more constant rate going forward, and I do hope that people enjoy what they read.
Thanks!
Until next time, stay safe out there.
New characters are introduced in “The Battle for Jupiter” who will join the story and play a big role in things to come, while other characters will have just a small cameo, with their fate being decided in the 8th or 9th novels.
Which brings me to the big question, will the 9th novel be the last one in the series?
I’m drifting more and more towards NO. But! I am thinking that any books in the series that follow the 9th book will be considered ‘Phase Two’. What does that mean? I’m thinking it means you could start reading the series at book 1 or 10. Some of the major characters from the series might drop into supporting roles, while new characters are introduced to carry the series forward. If you finish “The Battle for Jupiter”, you’ll know that big changes are on the horizon.
Looking forward, we have another title being released in January, “Arpina & Fairlight” which will fall into the ‘standalone’ category of stories. For the record, the plan right now is to have 4 streams of Earth Saga Universe stories. 1: The Earth Saga Series. 2: Standish (2nd and 3rd books due out in 2022). 3: The Rescue (1st novel in this series completed, but not due out for some time). 4: Standalone titles.
Regardless of what the future holds for any of the characters or the story lines, rest assured new material is scheduled to be released at a more constant rate going forward, and I do hope that people enjoy what they read.
Thanks!
Until next time, stay safe out there.
October 20, 2021
New Releases and New Projects
It’s the middle of October, the weather is changing, and with any luck, The Battle for Jupiter, the 7th book in the Earth Saga Series, will be released later this month (just waiting on cover art).
October has gone fairly well. We’ve got a book ready for launch, with another title Arpina & Fairlight, having been sent off to the editor for a January release. To add to that, I’ve started punching the keys once again on the 8th book in the Earth Saga series.
At this rate, things are looking very good for 2022, with four titles planned for release, all of which have a completed first draft done and waiting for edits, save the 8th Earth Saga book, which is slatted for a July release. I might do a blog in December looking at all four titles for 2022.
The most important thing for the rest of this month and going forward is to keep the words flowing. I am thinking that in the future, I want 4 streams of books:
The Earth Saga Series
Standish
The Rescue
Other (standalone)
The first Rescue novel is complete, but not slated for release until January of 2023, but it might be the first story in a series of action-packed novels to help add some depth to the Earth Saga Universe that focus on Imperial Rescue Technicians and their adventures.
One of the fun parts of writing is creating characters, and in the 8th Earth Saga book I’ve added a married couple who are desperately trying to get from Point A to Point B. This involves creating mood-boards, figuring out their transportation, habits, weapons etc. The full picture. Will this couple survive? I’m not sure yet, but it’s fun creating a fully flushed out character.
For the creative juices, I’ve added some more synthwave tunes, this month from New Arcades. A great duo who I met at an Ollie Wride gig a few years back. I do find that synth and EDM music really helps with my focus when writing. I have a friend who writes to opera, and while that would never work for me, I wouldn’t be surprised if most people would benefit from some form of music while writing.
I also added this incredible book on Syd Mead’s artwork to my collection. He’s worked on some seminal films, and looking at the artwork and concepts is great for the imagination, and to get the story-telling brain thinking about new ideas and concepts that I can incorporate into my stories.
With only a week plus left in the month, it’s time to hunker down, get more words into the 8th Earth Saga book and think about the future. Plenty of ideas to flush out, and I’m thinking that November might mean the beginning of a new story. Just got to figure out what that might be!
Until next time, stay safe out there.
October has gone fairly well. We’ve got a book ready for launch, with another title Arpina & Fairlight, having been sent off to the editor for a January release. To add to that, I’ve started punching the keys once again on the 8th book in the Earth Saga series.
At this rate, things are looking very good for 2022, with four titles planned for release, all of which have a completed first draft done and waiting for edits, save the 8th Earth Saga book, which is slatted for a July release. I might do a blog in December looking at all four titles for 2022.
The most important thing for the rest of this month and going forward is to keep the words flowing. I am thinking that in the future, I want 4 streams of books:
The Earth Saga Series
Standish
The Rescue
Other (standalone)
The first Rescue novel is complete, but not slated for release until January of 2023, but it might be the first story in a series of action-packed novels to help add some depth to the Earth Saga Universe that focus on Imperial Rescue Technicians and their adventures.
One of the fun parts of writing is creating characters, and in the 8th Earth Saga book I’ve added a married couple who are desperately trying to get from Point A to Point B. This involves creating mood-boards, figuring out their transportation, habits, weapons etc. The full picture. Will this couple survive? I’m not sure yet, but it’s fun creating a fully flushed out character.
For the creative juices, I’ve added some more synthwave tunes, this month from New Arcades. A great duo who I met at an Ollie Wride gig a few years back. I do find that synth and EDM music really helps with my focus when writing. I have a friend who writes to opera, and while that would never work for me, I wouldn’t be surprised if most people would benefit from some form of music while writing.
I also added this incredible book on Syd Mead’s artwork to my collection. He’s worked on some seminal films, and looking at the artwork and concepts is great for the imagination, and to get the story-telling brain thinking about new ideas and concepts that I can incorporate into my stories.
With only a week plus left in the month, it’s time to hunker down, get more words into the 8th Earth Saga book and think about the future. Plenty of ideas to flush out, and I’m thinking that November might mean the beginning of a new story. Just got to figure out what that might be!
Until next time, stay safe out there.
October 1, 2021
It's the first of October
September raced by at high speed, and with autumn starting to set in in London, it’s time for a quick status report.
As we speak, there are several books in various states of construction. The 7th novel in the Earth Saga series is getting released in October for starters. After that, we’ve got 4 books planned for release in 2022:
Arpina & Fairlight: A romantic war-story. Due out in January.
Standish 2: The second installment of the Standish Series. Due out in April.
8th Earth Saga Novel: name to be released at a later date. Due out in July.
Finally, we’ve got Standish 3: the 3rd installment in the series. Due out in October.
In addition to these novels, work is ongoing on title known simply as The Rescue. Possibly the first in a series of stories focusing on the Imperial Rescue Technician branch; the branch of service Val Standish served in during the first days of her military career.
The plan for October is simple, get the 7th novel in the Earth Saga series released, along with all new cover art, while continuing preparations for the 2022 releases.
At the same time, edits will begin on The Rescue, and there is every chance that words will be put to page for an entirely new project at some point next month. Lots of open projects at the moment, but that’s a good thing. The objective is to release 4 books per year for the foreseeable future. Right now, 2023 already has 3 prospective novels planned.
Taking a step back, and looking at the whole Earth Saga Universe situation, I’ve been giving thought to how to create different storylines that people can enjoy. At the moment, all we’ve got is the Earth Saga series, which may or may not be ending at the end of book 9. Still unsure if the following series, which will be human focused, will follow on directly from book 9, or be something that is the beginning of a new story arc.
The second stream that I’m now well on the way to creating is a Standish stream. Books 2 and 3 are completed, mostly, and should be released next year. The current third stream are all the standalone books. Now I’m thinking to create a Rescue Tech stream. These books will have totally different characters and whatnot, but be short, action packed adventures out in the big wide universe. We’ll see if that comes to fruition.
But for right now, I’ve got to pick up a copy of The Rescue from the printers to start red-penning tomorrow, then brace myself for the release of the 7th book in the Earth Saga series in October.
Other than working, I’ve started re-watching Downton Abbey while keeping my ears full of sexy synth beats. This album from Waveshaper the newest to my collection. These sci-fi inspired tunes really are great at fueling the creative juices.
Until next time, stay safe out there.
As we speak, there are several books in various states of construction. The 7th novel in the Earth Saga series is getting released in October for starters. After that, we’ve got 4 books planned for release in 2022:
Arpina & Fairlight: A romantic war-story. Due out in January.
Standish 2: The second installment of the Standish Series. Due out in April.
8th Earth Saga Novel: name to be released at a later date. Due out in July.
Finally, we’ve got Standish 3: the 3rd installment in the series. Due out in October.
In addition to these novels, work is ongoing on title known simply as The Rescue. Possibly the first in a series of stories focusing on the Imperial Rescue Technician branch; the branch of service Val Standish served in during the first days of her military career.
The plan for October is simple, get the 7th novel in the Earth Saga series released, along with all new cover art, while continuing preparations for the 2022 releases.
At the same time, edits will begin on The Rescue, and there is every chance that words will be put to page for an entirely new project at some point next month. Lots of open projects at the moment, but that’s a good thing. The objective is to release 4 books per year for the foreseeable future. Right now, 2023 already has 3 prospective novels planned.
Taking a step back, and looking at the whole Earth Saga Universe situation, I’ve been giving thought to how to create different storylines that people can enjoy. At the moment, all we’ve got is the Earth Saga series, which may or may not be ending at the end of book 9. Still unsure if the following series, which will be human focused, will follow on directly from book 9, or be something that is the beginning of a new story arc.
The second stream that I’m now well on the way to creating is a Standish stream. Books 2 and 3 are completed, mostly, and should be released next year. The current third stream are all the standalone books. Now I’m thinking to create a Rescue Tech stream. These books will have totally different characters and whatnot, but be short, action packed adventures out in the big wide universe. We’ll see if that comes to fruition.
But for right now, I’ve got to pick up a copy of The Rescue from the printers to start red-penning tomorrow, then brace myself for the release of the 7th book in the Earth Saga series in October.
Other than working, I’ve started re-watching Downton Abbey while keeping my ears full of sexy synth beats. This album from Waveshaper the newest to my collection. These sci-fi inspired tunes really are great at fueling the creative juices.
Until next time, stay safe out there.
August 29, 2021
Project XX
A few things have dawned on me in the last few months throughout this rather disappointing British summer.
Firstly, the need to keep creating work is critical. I’ve started Project XX The Rescue, a standalone novel in the Earth Saga Universe that kinda ties in loosely with an already released title. While this novel is already past the ten-thousand word mark, it’s not slated for release until January 2023. Why? Going forward, the plan is to releases 4 titles per year. As of right now, 2022 looks set to make that happen, which means I need to start thinking about the years to follow.
The second thing I’ve realized is that I need to focus on series. It’s all well and good releasing standalone novels, but frankly, those aren’t being consumed as well as my series, so with that in mind, I’ve decided to focus more on new series going forward. We’ve got Standish 2 and 3 being released next year, with more on the way after that. I’ve also considered that the 9th book in the Earth Saga Series might be a first part to an overall series. Still figuring that one out, but one thing is certain, the heroes of the 9 Earth Saga books will not be seen once that 9th book comes to a close.
And the third and final thing that has dawned on me lately is that I enjoy creating stories that are of an interest to me. Perhaps they might not resonate with a broad audience, but if I wasn’t enjoying telling the stories that I’m writing, I doubt I’d be able to stick at it for as long as I’d want.
With all that in mind, Project XX, The Rescue.
This novel will try to be a bit of an action-adventure story, mixed in with a bit of survival, and some sci-fi horror. Films that instantly come to mind are Alien and the Guardian. A bit of both mixed together.
I’m not sure how long the story will be, but it will be longer than a novella, and will visit a planet that features prominently in one of my earlier releases, adding to the backstory for that location. We’re hoping to pack this book full of action and some ultra-violence, and with any luck, readers will enjoy it.
Until next time, stay safe out there.
Firstly, the need to keep creating work is critical. I’ve started Project XX The Rescue, a standalone novel in the Earth Saga Universe that kinda ties in loosely with an already released title. While this novel is already past the ten-thousand word mark, it’s not slated for release until January 2023. Why? Going forward, the plan is to releases 4 titles per year. As of right now, 2022 looks set to make that happen, which means I need to start thinking about the years to follow.
The second thing I’ve realized is that I need to focus on series. It’s all well and good releasing standalone novels, but frankly, those aren’t being consumed as well as my series, so with that in mind, I’ve decided to focus more on new series going forward. We’ve got Standish 2 and 3 being released next year, with more on the way after that. I’ve also considered that the 9th book in the Earth Saga Series might be a first part to an overall series. Still figuring that one out, but one thing is certain, the heroes of the 9 Earth Saga books will not be seen once that 9th book comes to a close.
And the third and final thing that has dawned on me lately is that I enjoy creating stories that are of an interest to me. Perhaps they might not resonate with a broad audience, but if I wasn’t enjoying telling the stories that I’m writing, I doubt I’d be able to stick at it for as long as I’d want.
With all that in mind, Project XX, The Rescue.
This novel will try to be a bit of an action-adventure story, mixed in with a bit of survival, and some sci-fi horror. Films that instantly come to mind are Alien and the Guardian. A bit of both mixed together.
I’m not sure how long the story will be, but it will be longer than a novella, and will visit a planet that features prominently in one of my earlier releases, adding to the backstory for that location. We’re hoping to pack this book full of action and some ultra-violence, and with any luck, readers will enjoy it.
Until next time, stay safe out there.
July 25, 2021
The End of July
July is almost over, and overall, it’s been a rather productive month. Two key milestones were reached, releasing ‘A War Beneath the Clouds’, and getting ‘The Battle for Jupiter’ edited and sent to the editor.
‘A War Beneath the Clouds’ is a standalone novel and the 12th addition to the Earth Saga Universe, and while we will see one of the supporting characters in ‘Arpina & Fairlight’, which should be released in early 2022, this novel was just an opportunity to tell a different kind of story to the ones that I’ve previously released.
Having recently read Max Hastings books on Vietnam and the First World War, I wanted to tell a story that painted a bleak picture of the futility of some conflicts, and how the only thing that is guaranteed is suffering, and that victory might be some mirage on the horizon.
With the 9-part Earth Saga series reaching its final act, it’s time to think about other projects that can help build depth into the Earth Saga Universe. Part of that will be standalone novels that take place somewhere in the two-thousand year past of Universe that exists already, plugging holes and adding more levels of complexity to the world-building. At the same time, I’ll be creating two new series, one focused on Val Standish, the main character in the book ‘Standish’, the second will be a continuation of the Earth Saga series, not sure how many novels this will involve, but it will centre on new characters and start at some undetermined point after the 9th book in the series concludes.
The rest of July will be focused on getting ‘The Battle for Jupiter’ (Earth Saga 7) to the editor, then continuing work on ‘Standish 3.0’.
On the entertainment front, I’ve added a few more synth albums to the collection, which are excellent for the creative juices.
We also have the Olympics on. Hopefully GB do well.
With August on the horizon, it’ll be time to continue punching the keys on ‘Standish 3.0’, then just wait for ZFN to give me his feedback from ‘Arpina & Fairlight’, so I can start the next round of edits on that project.
And on a final note, I’ve hopefully found a new artist to help with some fresh cover art. More to come on that.
Until next time, stay safe out there.
‘A War Beneath the Clouds’ is a standalone novel and the 12th addition to the Earth Saga Universe, and while we will see one of the supporting characters in ‘Arpina & Fairlight’, which should be released in early 2022, this novel was just an opportunity to tell a different kind of story to the ones that I’ve previously released.
Having recently read Max Hastings books on Vietnam and the First World War, I wanted to tell a story that painted a bleak picture of the futility of some conflicts, and how the only thing that is guaranteed is suffering, and that victory might be some mirage on the horizon.
With the 9-part Earth Saga series reaching its final act, it’s time to think about other projects that can help build depth into the Earth Saga Universe. Part of that will be standalone novels that take place somewhere in the two-thousand year past of Universe that exists already, plugging holes and adding more levels of complexity to the world-building. At the same time, I’ll be creating two new series, one focused on Val Standish, the main character in the book ‘Standish’, the second will be a continuation of the Earth Saga series, not sure how many novels this will involve, but it will centre on new characters and start at some undetermined point after the 9th book in the series concludes.
The rest of July will be focused on getting ‘The Battle for Jupiter’ (Earth Saga 7) to the editor, then continuing work on ‘Standish 3.0’.
On the entertainment front, I’ve added a few more synth albums to the collection, which are excellent for the creative juices.
We also have the Olympics on. Hopefully GB do well.
With August on the horizon, it’ll be time to continue punching the keys on ‘Standish 3.0’, then just wait for ZFN to give me his feedback from ‘Arpina & Fairlight’, so I can start the next round of edits on that project.
And on a final note, I’ve hopefully found a new artist to help with some fresh cover art. More to come on that.
Until next time, stay safe out there.
June 27, 2021
End of June UpDates
I can excitedly report that Project XII, A War Beneath the Clouds, has been returned by my editor, and now we’re just waiting on cover art until I’m able to put the novel on Kindle for pre-order.
This is another standalone novel set in the Earth Saga Universe and will be set farthest back in the time-line, and will be a bit different from other novels in the series as it takes place almost exclusively in one location, and will lack some of sci-fi tech that fans of the genre might expect. This is my attempt at a blend of something like the Vietnam War, the First World War, with a splash of romance thrown in for good measure.
One of the characters in this novel will also feature in Arpina & Fairlight, which is currently on the way to my beta-reader. Other than that one character, this novel will have nothing to do with the rest of the series, other than the universe that it is set in.
Hopefully, this story contains enough action and adventure for those who enjoy my other books.
In other news, as mentioned above, Arpina & Fairlight is off to the beta-reader, and the 7th book in the Earth Saga Series, The Battle for Jupiter is now going through the post-red-pen edit corrections. I’ve had this project sitting on the sidelines for too long, so I’m getting through it in good time, with a possible trip to the editor for August.
On the writing front, I’ve crossed over the 50,000 word mark on the third instalment of the Standish series (newly formed! (and if you’re wondering, the second book in the series was untitled, but is now being rebranded as Standish II)). This should hopefully be primed for release in early 2022.
On the entertainment front, I’ve added some more Chet Baker to my collection. While I don’t work to jazz, it’s on my top 3 list for genres, and Chet Baker is currently my go-to jazz musician.
On the film/TV front, I made an error in judgement and watched The Ice Road. It wastes Holt McCallany in my opinion and has rather shoddy CGI. Let’s not get into the plot, which isn’t the best. It’s nice to see Liam Neeson in another action film, but he could have picked a better project than this.
With COVID still out and about, I’ve continued taking long walks around London. No indoor dining or cinema for me just yet! Took the Thames Clipper to Woolwich a few days ago, then walked back to Greenwich, then grabbed a boat to Waterloo. If you live in London, it’s a walk to consider.
That about sums things up. Writing continues on Standish 3.0, editing continues on The Battle for Jupiter, and A War Beneath the Clouds is just waiting for cover art. Exciting times!
Until next time, stay safe out there.
This is another standalone novel set in the Earth Saga Universe and will be set farthest back in the time-line, and will be a bit different from other novels in the series as it takes place almost exclusively in one location, and will lack some of sci-fi tech that fans of the genre might expect. This is my attempt at a blend of something like the Vietnam War, the First World War, with a splash of romance thrown in for good measure.
One of the characters in this novel will also feature in Arpina & Fairlight, which is currently on the way to my beta-reader. Other than that one character, this novel will have nothing to do with the rest of the series, other than the universe that it is set in.
Hopefully, this story contains enough action and adventure for those who enjoy my other books.
In other news, as mentioned above, Arpina & Fairlight is off to the beta-reader, and the 7th book in the Earth Saga Series, The Battle for Jupiter is now going through the post-red-pen edit corrections. I’ve had this project sitting on the sidelines for too long, so I’m getting through it in good time, with a possible trip to the editor for August.
On the writing front, I’ve crossed over the 50,000 word mark on the third instalment of the Standish series (newly formed! (and if you’re wondering, the second book in the series was untitled, but is now being rebranded as Standish II)). This should hopefully be primed for release in early 2022.
On the entertainment front, I’ve added some more Chet Baker to my collection. While I don’t work to jazz, it’s on my top 3 list for genres, and Chet Baker is currently my go-to jazz musician.
On the film/TV front, I made an error in judgement and watched The Ice Road. It wastes Holt McCallany in my opinion and has rather shoddy CGI. Let’s not get into the plot, which isn’t the best. It’s nice to see Liam Neeson in another action film, but he could have picked a better project than this.
With COVID still out and about, I’ve continued taking long walks around London. No indoor dining or cinema for me just yet! Took the Thames Clipper to Woolwich a few days ago, then walked back to Greenwich, then grabbed a boat to Waterloo. If you live in London, it’s a walk to consider.
That about sums things up. Writing continues on Standish 3.0, editing continues on The Battle for Jupiter, and A War Beneath the Clouds is just waiting for cover art. Exciting times!
Until next time, stay safe out there.
