Andy Peloquin's Blog, page 3

Get Ready for Some INSANE D&D Fun!

Tonight is officially the inaugural episode of Deranged and Questing: The Necromancer’s Idiot Apprentice on The Fantasy Fiends Show channel!

For the past few weeks, I’ve been test-playing this game with a few friends, figuring out how to make this ABSOLUTELY HILARIOUS concept work.

Well, now we’ve got it (mostly) sorted, and we’re ready to start playing live!

Get on either Facebook or YouTube tonight at 6 PM PST/9 PM EST and join us for this adventure where the worse things get, the more entertaining they become.

You’ll want to join us for the LIVE episode, because you, the commenter, will have direct sway over the game and decide what our fateful(ly incompetent) necromancer’s apprentice will do.

Watch on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheFantasyFiends/videos/611059506507940/

Or on YouTube:

See you at 6 PM PST!

The post Get Ready for Some INSANE D&D Fun! appeared first on Andy Peloquin.

Have you found EUDAIMONIA yet?

You might
be wondering, “What the heck is Eudaimonia?”

Is it some
fantasy magic or sci-fi weird tech?

Nope! It’s
something very real, and utterly wonderful.

People
translate the original Greek word as “happiness”, but that’s not quite the full
depth of its meaning. It goes beyond the momentary and fleeting sensation we
know as happiness. It’s flourishing, which happens when your life is one that
you feel is truly worth living!

Aristotle
had a fascinating take on it. He focused on the “purpose” of things, and how
well it fulfills it.

For example,
a knife is designed to cut, and as long as it does so effectively, it fulfills
its purpose. If the knife was a living, breathing thing, it would have a sense
of deep-rooted happiness because it would know that it did its job effectively.

But knives
aren’t living, breathing things. We humans, however, are. Our goals and dreams
are more complex, and thus it becomes a bit harder to find this sense of Eudaimonia.

Aristotle
said that “it is by understanding the distinctive function of a thing that one
can understand its essence.”

Take me, as
a writer. The surface goal is to “write books” (and yeah, sell them, too).
However, the simple act of writing words isn’t what brings pleasure or
happiness, so there’s got to be more beneath.

Let’s go one step deeper. Beneath “write books”, there is
the goal to “write great characters and stories that people want to read”.
Still pretty surface-level, but now we’re getting to the meat of things.

Another step deeper. Beneath “write great characters and
stories” is “create people and situations that feel real, that give people a
chance to connect with other real-life people and understand situations they
couldn’t comprehend on their own”. Now we’re getting somewhere! When I create
these things, it gives me this deep-rooted sense of satisfaction that often
leads to happiness.

But we’re still not at the core of things. Let’s go one step
deeper, to the thing that truly brings this sense of Eudaimonia.

Beneath “create real-life situation and people”, there’s the
truth of “create people and situations that feel so real that, through them,
people can connect with me and come to a better understanding of who I am, what
I think, what I feel, as well as give me a way to connect with them in that
manner”.

THAT is the real Eudaimonia at the core of my being a
writer.

You’ve read the email where I talk about loneliness, about
feeling like an outsider, and my struggles to find a place where I belong. When
I talk with people who tell me how much they identified with the characters I’ve
created, it gives me that sense of connection with them, an understanding of
how they feel and what they think. That connection is the core of what makes me
a writer, and THAT is the true source of my Eudaimonia.

Your Turn: What is Your Eudaimonia?

It’ll take a bit of thinking and digging, but if you’re
willing, give it a shot! Think about why you do what you do, what lies at the
core of your actions and desires. What is your Eudaimonia, the thing that gives
you true fulfillment and happiness?

The post Have you found EUDAIMONIA yet? appeared first on Andy Peloquin.

Why is Writing Bad Guys So Much Fun?

I’m not going to lie: I have WAY more fun writing more “bad” characters (like the Hunter, Ilanna, and Nolan) than the more “classic” heroes.

Don’t get
me wrong, noble and upstanding characters (like Aravon) can be really enjoyable
to write, too. Something about their never-ending quest to make the world a
better place appeals to my inner optimist.

But when I
write characters who dance along the darker side of society—assassins, thieves,
rogues, spies, and other typical “bad guys”—I find I enjoy the ups and downs of
their stories a lot more.

Why is
that, I wonder?

A study in Psychological
Science actually came up with an explanation for it: “Real-life viewers (or
readers)—protected by the veil of fiction—might be drawn to villains when they
reflect aspects of themselves. What makes these characters potentially
attractive to people is not that they are the inverse of who we are, but that
they actually might echo pieces of who we are.”

Think about it:

These “bad guys” embody the darker side of humanity, but
they’re still VERY much human. They have a lot of our traits—both good and bad—and
they look a lot like us, but they’re the darker versions of who we could be.

Notice that last bit “who we could be”.

We’ve all got a darker side, things we hide from the world
or suppress for the sake of living in society. We live moral lives and dislike
it when others around us don’t toe that same line of morality.

But fiction gives us this “veil” that allows us to explore
those darker parts of ourselves as reflected by the villains and anti-heroes we
read. We can safely live within our nice little moral world, yet still
occasionally dip our toes into the waters of immorality through the characters
we read.

Or, in my case, write.

Now, excuse me while I go dream up new and creative ways to have the Hunter execute demons and have Nolan Garrett take out his targets!

The post Why is Writing Bad Guys So Much Fun? appeared first on Andy Peloquin.

The first Assassination Protocol Reviews are in…

…and people seem to be loving it!

Making the
transition between genres is, I’ll admit, pretty damn scary.

After
living, breathing, thinking, and marinating in fantasy for 5+ years, it’s nerve-wracking
to make the mental switch to a totally new genre.

I’m not
going to lie, writing the Cerberus series has been a monumental challenge, with
each book pushing me to some new creative and intellectual extremes that have
forced me to always “up my game”.

But it’s
also been an immense amount of fun! I’ve loved every minute spent in the world
of Nolan Garrett.

And, it seems, readers have, too. The first reviews are trickling in on both the eBook version and the Audible audiobook of Assassination Protocol, and they’re looking pretty darned positive:

Audible Reviews

“Fast paced
and full of action Andy Peloquin brings us on a rollercoaster ride in a world
that could be ours, but its not – well maybe. The characters are rich and full
of life, the tech is cutting edge but has limits… but the bad guys are just
plain BAD. The narration is crisp and brings the story to life as only Bronson
Pinchot can.”

“A driving,
never-stopping story filled with graphic detail and background. The author
brings the world around the protagonist alive and makes you feel you are there
in the middle of the action. The narrator adds texture and color to the story
that makes this the best listen of 2020!”

“I enjoyed
this book very much. I love science fiction and fantasy and this book hits in
all the right places. A disabled military vet turns to assassination to feel
needed again needs to take out drug dealers and is thrown in to a world that is
filled with danger. I can’t wait till the next book to see what happens next!”

Find it on Audible

eBook Reviews

“From the
first opening paragraph his story is almost non stop action from start to
finish. This is not to say this is a pure action novel. There are plenty of
twists and turns in his story to give you a mild case of whiplash. His
characters and all of their flaws are well researched and developed throughout
the story. He has done an amazing job of developing a world and characters that
are completely enjoyable and despicable. He has enough advanced tech woven
throughout to make even the most hard core geeks heart go pitter pat.”

“This
definitely gives a reader in your face intensity from page one. Filled with
action packed pages I’ve come to expect, this author brings clarity and reality
to every scene as well as showcasing the most challenging of topics in
existence. Being able to weave drug addiction and physical handicaps into a
fast paced sci fi/military tale is just mind boggling!”

“Wow, this
is a cracking start to a series to come. I will admit that I’m not that into
science fiction but after reading the first book and now this one I have to say
I’m hooked. Roll on book two, cannot wait. Highly recommended!”

Find it on eBook

The post The first Assassination Protocol Reviews are in… appeared first on Andy Peloquin.

Dive into Assassination Protocol and Begin This Epic Sci-Fi Journey!

If you’d
have asked me a year ago if I would ever consider writing sci-fi, the answer
would have been a resounding no.

Fantasy is
and always has been my first love.

It’s the
genre that inspires me most and fires up my imagination to new and greater
heights.

Until Nolan
Garrett came along…

The idea for
this story—a former drug addict paraplegic former special ops sniper turned
government assassin—dropped into my lap in late 2019, and it was such an
exhilarating concept that I HAD to write it.

It took me
less than four weeks to write the entire Book 1, and I had so much fun doing it
that I immediately set out to write the prequel, Kill Order (Cerberus Book 0).

(Which
happens to be absolutely free to download here, by the way.)

By the time
that second sci-fi novel was done, I was absolutely hooked!

The
character with his many complexities, flaws, abilities, and failings was so
intriguing I had to find out more. And more. And more.

Flash
forward to now, and I’m 75% of the way done writing the SIXTH book in the
Cerberus series (which will be twelve books long).

Yes, the story of Nolan Garrett, call sign Cerberus, the Silverguard’s deadliest sniper, has been an absolute thrill ride, one I’m so excited to share with you!

Here’s a fun little snippet to give you a taste:

Nolan’s
suit masked any hint of sound as he raced up the metal stairs toward the
catwalk overlooking the warehouse floor. Operating in stealth mode drained the
suit’s power fast—he had just 6% charge left after using the boot thrusters. He
needed to get up high, settle into a comfortable perch before—

The
loud, fiery hissing of boot thrusters shattered the silence of the warehouse.
Brilliant light gleamed through the hole in the roof as two figures descended
slowly into the darkness.

Growling
a silent curse, Nolan slowed his climb, dropped to one knee, and brought the
Balefire up to sight on the two goons. He didn’t even need the telescopic
sight; from four hundred meters away, he could hit a bitefly’s wing with his
eyes closed.

He
squeezed the trigger, paused, and squeezed again. Two needles of light zipped
toward the two figures dropping through the hole. One hit center-mass and tore
through the first goon’s chestplate, incinerating the man alive within his
suit. The next, a heartbeat later, caught the next one right in the visor. The
man’s helmet exploded, and the concussive blast sent his headless torso
shooting off into the warehouse to crash into the pile of debris Nolan had left
with his hasty entrance.

Drawing
in a deep breath, he waited for the next pair to make their entrance. Two quick
shots and he’d be in the clear. He might have to take the long way home, but it
would be worth it for a clean getaway.

Cool
calm settled over him as the sound of firing ion engines drew closer to the
roof of the warehouse. He pulled the trigger to its break point, sighted on the
hole, and prepared to fire.

The
first pair of boots appeared in the hole, and Nolan pulled the trigger.

Click. No burst of
energy, no sizzling bolt of white-hot light.

He
tried again, only to hear that little click.
Crap! The firing mechanism must have been damaged in the fall. Or one of
the myriad explosions that had nearly brought him out of the sky.

Biting
back a curse, he swung the rifle onto his back and reached for his pistol. He
half-drew it, then froze as he remembered who he faced. More accurately, what he faced. His sidearm couldn’t
punch through even old-model IAF armor. Those military-grade combat suits could
shrug off most small arms and light weapons. Shooting at them with his pistol
would do nothing more than reveal his position.

Time to go old
school, then. Grimacing,
he reached for his Echoblade and drew the knife slowly, smoothly, without so
much as a whisper of rasping metal. The impossibly sharp twenty-centimeter blade
was Echosteel, a mixture of steel and reverbium, a rare element found and mined
on the Nyzarian Empire’s capital planet of Genesis. Reverbium was so sensitive
to resonance that, when set vibrating, it could literally slip between molecules and cut anything short
of the thickest space-grade durasteel. 

Rising
from his kneeling position, he crept up the staircase toward the crosswalk, his
eyes locked on the two goons descending into the warehouse. He had no need for
the IR night vision built into the helmet—the bright blue flames of their boot
thrusters was the only light source in the massive warehouse.

The
two goons dropped toward the ground floor, using their thrusters to slow the descent
and land lightly. Their heavy assault rifles—modified Machnikov X-ARs, judging
by their bump stocks and high-capacity magazines—swiveled in every direction as
they moved with surprising coordination and efficiency through the shelves.

Almost like trained
pros. Nolan
cocked an eyebrow. No way they’re
Rücksichtslos. Former IAF, maybe?

Military-trained
grunts working for a drug kingpin like German French. Just one more impossible
piece of a puzzle that shouldn’t exist, one he’d have to give due consideration
when this was all over. For now, it was enough to know that they wouldn’t go
down easy. If he didn’t get the drop on them, he’d have a fight on his hands.

Creeping
along the catwalk overlooking the warehouse, Nolan tracked the two goons’
movements. They kept close, formation tight, aware of each other while making
steady progress in clearing the rows of shelves.

Yet
they made one fatal mistake: they didn’t look up.

Nolan
clipped his carabiner onto the railing, tested it once to make sure it was
secure. “Ready to voice-project?” he
asked in his mind.

“Just say the word,” Taia replied.

With
a grin, Nolan jumped off the catwalk. Thin black steel cable spooled out in
total silence as he dropped the ten stories toward the two goons. His heart
leaped into his throat and he tightened his grip on the Echoblade. He had to
time it just right.

At
the last moment, he gave a quiet grunt—barely audible, the sort of reactionary
sound someone made when bumping into something.

Taia’s
external speakers cast the sound twenty meters away, bouncing it off a nearby
stack of pallets. Instantly, the goons spun toward the source of the noise,
guns snapping around to aim at the spot where they expected to find their prey.

They
never had a chance.

Start reading
now and dive into this new adventure in a universe not quite as far from the
world of the Hunter, Ilanna, and Aravon as you might think…

Assassination Protocol: A Military Space Opera Thriller (Cerberus Book 1)

Nolan Garrett
is Cerberus. A government assassin, tasked with fixing the galaxy’s darkest,
ugliest problems with a bullet to the brain.

Armed with cutting-edge
weapons and an AI-run cybernetic suit that controls his paralyzed legs, he is
the fist in the shadows, the dagger to the heart of the Nyzarian Empire’s
enemies.



Then he found Bex on his doorstep…



A junkie, high on the drug he’d fought for years to avoid,
and a former elite soldier like him. So he takes her in to help her get
clean—Silverguards never leave their own behind.



If only he’d known his actions would put him in the
crosshairs of the most powerful cartel in New Avalon.



Facing an army of gangbangers, drug pushers, and thugs, Nolan
must fight to not only carry out his mission, but to prevent the escalating
violence from destroying everything he loves.



Cerberus:
Assassination Protocol is the riveting, heart-pounding first book in the epic
military sci-fi Cerberus series. If you like fearless heroes, non-stop
futuristic action, and neck-breaking plot twists, you’ll love Andy Peloquin’s
thrilling military space opera series.



Buy Cerberus: Assassination Protocol now to watch an assassin
fight to protect the innocent!

Get it on Ebook:

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Or try the absolutely AMAZING audiobook, narrated by Bronson Pinchot

The post Dive into Assassination Protocol and Begin This Epic Sci-Fi Journey! appeared first on Andy Peloquin.

$100 Says You’re More Creative Than You Think You Are!

Let’s run a
fun little experiment…

Take a random object around your house—for this one, let’s go with shoelaces—and think up AS MANY uses for that thing as possible.

Go ahead, I’ll wait.

How many
did you come up with? Five? Ten? Fifty?

(If you’re
like me, you DEFINITELY thought of the Hunter using it as a garrotte!)

How many do
you think “the average person” would come up with?

How many do
you think are totally original and unique to you?

The answer
might surprise you!

One
recent study found that people are far more creative and inventive than
they’d ever realize.  The study conducted
an experiment:

Participants were asked to come up with uses
for random household objects (like you did above). Then, they were asked to guess
how many of their peers also came up with the same idea, ranking the
originality of their idea.

Of all the 61
students that participated in the study, most ranked their ideas far less
original than they actually were. The number of peers who came up with the same
or similar ideas was surprisingly low, which means each of the students proved
to be far more creative and original than they gave themselves credit for.

Simply put:
you are more creative, unique, and original than you’ll ever give yourself
credit for!

You are the
only one who can come up with the ideas that you do.

Think about it: say you started out with the same character (let’s play with the Hunter/Nolan for this) as I do.

Think about it: say you started out with the same character (let’s play with the Hunter for this) as I do.

Half-demon assassin with murder-knife and spotty memory. That’s the starting point for the character.

But, because of your unique way of thinking, the Hunter would have ended up going on a totally different journey than he does in the Hero of Darkness.

I can’t even begin to predict it because my unique ideas are so vastly different from yours.

So never
let anyone tell you that you aren’t creative! And yes, that includes your own
inner voice.

You are the
sum of your experiences, and that makes you a one-in-a-million person.

If you have
an idea—for a song, a story, a picture, a painting, or anything else—know that
you are the only one who will ever make it the way you can.

And don’t
let anything stop you from turning that idea into the special, unique, original
work of art that only you can.

The post $100 Says You’re More Creative Than You Think You Are! appeared first on Andy Peloquin.

A Cold, Hard Truth about Addiction

When I first conceived of Nolan’s story, the idea of him being a
former addict felt RIGHT. 

After all, for someone in his position–from elite soldier to
paraplegic in the space of a heartbeat–it wasn’t hard to imagine wanting to
lose himself in drugs. 

To forget about his problems, even if just for a few hours, no
matter what.

In real life, substance abuse is a very common problem for active
and retired military personnel.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse says:

– Rates of binge drinking among active military are high compared
to the general population

– Once active duty personnel leave the military, some
protective influences are gone, and substance use and other mental health issues
become of greater concern.

– More than one in ten veterans have been diagnosed with a
substance use disorder.

– Illicit drug use among active duty service members is fairly
low, but reported rates increase when active duty personnel leave military
service.

– One government report notes that more than ten percent of
veteran admissions to substance use treatment centers were for heroin (10.7%),
followed by cocaine at just over 6%.

This issue was something I realized I wanted to shine a
light on–both through his journey in Kill Order, and in his continued
struggles (and that of a character you will meet in Cerberus: Assassination
Protocol) with drugs.

Then I ran into this interesting article on Psychology Today
about Addiction in Fiction.

Specifically, how so many authors GET IT WRONG…

The article explains, “Most people think that addictive acts,
especially using drugs, are intended to dull, mask, or run away from painful
feelings. This idea is a major reason that people suffering with addictive
behavior have been believed to be weak, weak-willed, or even cowardly. Nothing
could be farther from the truth.”

“‘Like every other psychological symptom, addictive actions
are the result of a complex function of the mind. They occur when people feel
overwhelmingly helpless. Taking an action (the addictive act) reverses the
feeling of helplessness, and is powerfully driven by the (normal) rage that
always occurs in response to feeling overwhelmingly helpless. In addiction,
however, this action is not expressed directly but in a displaced way: taking a
drug, gambling, eating, and so on. And because the action is driven by this
normal rage (at helplessness), it is emotionally compelled: The rage becomes a
powerful urge to repeat the behavior.”

What a fascinating concept!

The article goes on to say, “Remember that the physical
aspect of drug addictions is easily treatable and not the reason for continued
repetition of the behavior, even after detoxification. Since it is an active
effort to reverse helplessness, the idea that it is simply a way to
“dull” pain is basically backwards.”

NOW I KNOW THE TRUTH!

My research into drug (and alcohol) addiction led me to a lot of
places, but this article puts things into a new perspective. 

Simply put: it’s a way of taking power and control in a situation
where someone feels helpless and powerless.

Granted, that’s not always the case. But re-framing Nolan’s
mindset and his reasons for taking drugs in the first place (in my mind, not in
the story) helps me to have a better understanding of who he is as a person,
and makes me better able to write him accurately. 

I hope that you find a better understanding of others through our
journey of discovering Nolan’s truths together!

The post A Cold, Hard Truth about Addiction appeared first on Andy Peloquin.

My 2020 Goals and Plans

I guess I’m using the word “plan” a bit loosely…

Continuing in the spirit of being honest with you. my dear readers, I’ve got to say that I don’t really know all of what this year will hold. 

Let me explain…

Since the dawn of time (aka. my author career), fantasy has been my first love.

I’ve enjoyed every spectacular second of writing the stories of Ilanna, the Hunter, the young Heirs, and Aravon and his Silent Champions.

I have at least three more SERIES-length ideas (3 to 10 books per), all set in the world of Einan. 

The problem is…

…can fantasy make money?

I’ve been full-time as an author for a little over a year now, which means I depend on book sales to pay my bills. 

So far, things have been financially okay, with the regular ups and downs.

But over the past 6 months or so, I’ve felt the instability of the fantasy book market a lot more clearly.

Which is one reason I was excited to try science fiction!

Don’t get me wrong: the love of Nolan’s story was the chief motivator.

However, I also had to factor business into the decision. Which was why I was SO happy when I found an idea I love to write and which I believe could sell enough books to keep my career afloat. 

And that’s why I’m in a bit of a quandary for 2020…

I desperately want to write more fantasy books, but to do that, I need to make sure I’ve got enough income to keep everything going.

Will science fiction do that? I don’t know, but I’ve got a 12-book series planned out. By the time I get mid-way into 2020, I should have a pretty good idea of just how viable a career in sci-fi is for me. 

You can see why the writing “plan” for 2020 is a bit up in the air for me. 

I want to tell the best possible stories AND earn a living doing so. I prefer fantasy but am LOVING my dalliance with sci-fi.

So I guess my writing plan ends up being:

Finish the Cerberus series: 12 books (around 80-90,000 words each). Books 1-3 are written, but I intend to have the remaining 9 written before the end of the year.

Begin work on the remaining Hero of Darkness books: at least 7 more books (upwards of 100,000 words each). I’d be happy just to get ONE done before year’s end, but I will take time to plot out the remaining books (7 or 8) to finish off the Hunter’s story properly. 

As I work on the Cerberus series, I’ll be keeping a close eye on both the fantasy and sci-fi markets to determine which is the best route for me to take going forward. 

It may be one or the other, or perhaps both. 

Either way, throughout the year, I’ll get a better idea of where I need to go to keep telling the best possible stories while still making this a career.

I have Personal Goals too!

Most of my brainpower is dedicated to my writing, but I’m going to make an effort to have a better work-life balance this year.

My personal goals are:

– Spend more time exercising. I’ve struggled with weight loss my entire life, and but this last year of hardcore work has led to some health problems. 2020 is going to be the year I get back to serious fitness efforts, even if that means I have to miss some work.

– Travel more. Thankfully, this one is already going to happen, as I’m attending a wedding in Mexico, a conference in Illinois, and possibly another in Vegas. I want to do at least one more trip (it doesn’t have to be abroad, even just to a difference province) in 2020.

These are aside from all the usual goals (be a better parent/spouse, eat healthier, sleep better, etc.), but they’re two of the things I want to do in 2020.

And, of course, to tell better, more real, deeper stories! 

Your Turn: What are your 2020 goals?

What’s on your list of New Year’s Resolutions or plans for 2020? Even if you’re not big on resolutions, what sort of things you do you want to accomplish this coming year? Or, what good things are you hoping happen for you and yours?

Drop a comment below or shoot me an email at contact@andypeloquin.com to share your thoughts, hopes, and dreams for the year ahead. 

The post My 2020 Goals and Plans appeared first on Andy Peloquin.

My 2019 in Review

2019 was a BUSY year for me

I published:

The entire Heirs of Destiny series:

The Silent Champions Books 1-4:

Defenders of Legend Box Sets 1-4 

Re-released the Queen of Thieves trilogy:

I wrote:

– The Silent Champions Books 2-4, with around 70,000 words of Book 6 done as well.

Total word count: around 800,000 words.

– Two short stories: Indomitable (Heirs of Destiny tie-in) and the Young Colborn short story (title TBD)

Total word count: 20,000 words

– Cerberus Books 0-3. 

Total word count: around 300,000 words

Word count for the year: more than 1 MILLION words

Other Notable Highlights of the Year:

Took up snowboarding and lived to tell the tale!

Got to see my second daughter graduate high school, and BOTH oldest children moved into their own apartments to start their adult lives (fingers crossed, successfully!)

Attended a kick-ass writer’s retreat and made wonderful new friends:

Attended a couple of local Comic-Cons (in Vancouver and Kelowna)

Enjoyed the many beautiful and wonderful things of my tiny Canadian town and its surroundings:

Truly, it has been an AMAZING year, with so many happy memories to look back on!

But it hasn’t all been peaches and rainbows

I’d be doing you a disservice if I just painted my life as this picturesque, perfect existence. That would just add fuel to the fire of social media that tries to tell you that if you’re not “#livingyourbestlife”, you’re somehow doing it wrong.

So for the first year, I’m going to share some of my very “real-person” struggles. Yes, for all the highs, there were plenty of lows.

– For the first time, I COULDN’T finish a book (The Last March), and I’m still struggling to make it work.

– I’ve lived with the stress of being a full-time author and living ONLY on the income from my books. Which, given the ups and downs of the market, is A LOT of stress.

– I’ve been too busy writing some days to exercise, eat healthy, spend time with my family, or relax.

– My eyesight has deteriorated to where I need to wear glasses all the time.

– I’ve struggled with depression, anxiety, days where I felt no motivation to write, and whole weeks of teetering on the edge of burnout.

– I’ve struggled to know how to interact with my teenaged and young adult kids, and how to help them through their hard times.

– I’ve felt more lonely and outside than I have in many years because of our limited social circle in a new country.

And yet, I’ve come through these things all the better. 

(Or so I hope…)

If nothing else, 2019 has proven that no matter how hard things get, if I just keep moving forward, I can get through just about anything. 

So for that, if nothing else, I can count myself truly blessed. 

In a few days, I’ll share some of my goals and plans for 2020…

Your Turn: Tell me about your year!

What are the highlights, the highs, and the happy moments you experienced this year? Or, if you need a listening ear, tell me about the lows that you managed to get through. Drop a comment below or contact me via the website’s form and share the good, the bad, and the ugly!

The post My 2019 in Review appeared first on Andy Peloquin.

Here’s What is Coming Next

You might remember that about a month ago, I spoke about struggling with The Last March, the final book in The Silent Champions series. I mentioned I was stepping away from it momentarily to try something new.

Well, here’s what that new is:

Yep, that’s right!

I’m diving into the world of sci-fi. In this case, military sci-fi and space opera.

I’ve been kicking around the idea of a sci-fi assassin for a few years now, but the story just hadn’t formed itself fully in my brain. But as I was struggling with The Last March, the concept of this character lodged itself in my mind and I couldn’t shake it.

Flash forward a couple of months, and here’s what happened:

1) I wrote both Book 1 and this prequel Book 0 in the Cerberus series in less than two months. Work on Book 2 should be completed this week, with work on Book 3 beginning next week.

2) A publisher–the one and only Aethon Books–signed the 12-book series. It will be one HELL of a fun ride.

3) Book 1 (Assassination Protocol) is already edited and being turned into an audiobook as we speak.

4) Preparations are underway for the early 2020 (March, most likely) launch of the series!

With that in mind…

If you’re a fantasy reader who also appreciates a kickass sci-fi novel, I’m starting a brand new mailing list EXCLUSIVELY dedicated to sci-fi content. 

I know you already follow this website, my Facebook page, maybe even my newsletter list, but I’m going to be starting a new mailing list to share all the latest on my sci-fi writings. My existing list will be focused on fantasy, with only the occasional mention of my sci-fi books. If you want the news and updates on this new series, please sign up for the new list.

To do that, download the PREQUEL novel below and enjoy your first taste of the sci-fi world of Nolan Garrett, paraplegic former special ops sniper turned government assassin. 

(Note: Downloading the book below will automatically sign you up for my sci-fi newsletter list. It’ll take two minutes to enter your name and email address again, but it will be worth it to get onto my new sci-fi list.) 

Nolan Garrett is a ghost.

Broke and trapped by addiction, he is a shade of the elite Silverguard sniper he was before a grenade shattered his spine and bound him to a wheelchair.

In his desperation, he will take any opportunity offered him—even if means joining an old army comrade to on a paramilitary operation to assassinate a witness protected by the full might of the Imperial Defense Force.

The bounty for the hit is simply too good to ignore. Enough money to feed his habit, a chance to get back into action, and a specially-designed cybernetic suit that restores full mobility to his paralyzed legs.

But when the shadow op goes sideways, Nolan will be forced to decide: save his friend, or cling to his newfound ability to walk.

In a battle of life and death, even the smallest decision can have fatal consequences.

Cerberus: Kill Order is the thrilling, action-packed prequel to the Cerberus military scifi series. If you like flawed and hardened heroes, epic futuristic combat, and gritty intrigue, you’ll love Andy Peloquin’s gripping space opera epic.

Download the Book Here

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