Alex Gordon's Blog, page 4

Readings on You Tube

I have a couple of shortish (9 minutes, 17 minutes) readings over on Book View Café’s You Tube page. One is from Echoes of War, the latest Jani Kilian novel. The second is from “Nest,” one of the stories in my two-story SF horror collection entitled Nature’s Ways.

Echoes of War

Nest

SF & Fantasy Giveaway!

Are you looking for new authors? Would you like to enter for a chance to win a new eReader?

 

Every so often I enter a book in a promotional contest, and since it’s the first book in the Jani series, I’ve added Code of Conduct to an SF & Fantasy book giveaway that runs through June 19th. Whether you read SF, Epic Fantasy, or Urban Fantasy, you may find new authors to check out. It’s a list-builder giveaway, so you will be asked to sign up for author newsletters. You are always free to unsubscribe.

If you’re unsure about participating in this type of contest, here’s a link to Booksweeps’ “Reader Involvement FAQ,” which explains how they work.

 

Echoes of War Trade Paperback!

It’s available at Amazon!

Ingram (for bookstores and libraries) is in-process.

Rainy Sunday

I was halfway through my daily stepcount on the treadmill when I decided Hell With It, put on my rainsuit, and walked to the park. Just a few light sprinkles along the way. Drops shaken off leaves by the wind.I spotted some early summer wildflowers. White campion (I called them striped pantaloons) and spiderwort. I let the merlin app sound ID run for a while and picked up calls from birds I don’t see in my backyard. I did catch sight of the Warbling Vireo, so entered it on my ID list. I think I saw a Common Yellowthroat bathing in a puddle—it flew off before I could be sure but I think it counts as a sighting because it certainly did sing a lot. A few IDs were miscues—the Red-Backed Shrike and Eurasian Oystercatcher are not from around here—but overall it was a good day for new birds.

A Code Promo

I’m trying out some promotional things, which means Code of Conduct is available for free through the 12th at Amazon, Kobo, and Apple Books and through the 13th at B&N Nook. Note that at B&N Nook, you need to enter the coupon code BNPCODEFREE at checkout to get the book for free. Follow the link to the list of stores.

 

New(ish) Releases

I have a story in the latest issue (#26) of Boundary Shock Quarterly. The theme of the issue is “Tomorrow’s Crimes,” and my entry is entitled “Robin Red.” It’s a Del & Gia story, the fourth in a serialization about two young pilots and a singular stolen spacecraft. Learn more about it and the other stories on my Other Work page.

 

Jani Kilian #6 is out in the wild. Echoes of War has been out a few months, but I didn’t do much promo so I’m giving a shout-out every so often. There’s a first chapter posted here and a lovely blurb from Julie E. Czerneda and a background ramble about the process of writing the book here.

That’s all for now. Spring is trying to settle in here and the daffodils are exploding. I am a fan of exploding daffodils.

Daffodil explosion.

Yeah, I know…

…another weather post.

Except this is the first winter in ages that didn’t have a Major Driveway Clearing Event of my 85′ double-wide at the top driveway where I had to either break out The Little Prince* or spend hours shoveling. I think the most snow we had in  my immediate area was 2″, maybe 3″, of the fluff stuff that doesn’t require a thrower. I mean, you can use one, but it’s total overkill.

We did get 3-4″ of the heavy wet stuff on Friday, but it’s already gone. Now it’s raining. Daffodils are opening and the crocuses are half-spent. Took a photo of this little cluster a few days ago. I’m surprised I got to them before the deer or rabbits did.

 

In Space News, there’s a nova coming! Very neat. I can see the signpost constellations from my backyard deck, but I may go to a less light-polluted area to view this because it really is a once-in-a-lifetime thing.

In Old News, if it’s been a while since you visited, Echoes of War, Jani Kilian #6, has been out for a few months and is available in e-book format at all the usual outlets. A POD edition is planned, as are updated POD editions of Books 1-5.

And with that, so long for now…

*TLP is my pet name for my Ariens 2-stage snow thrower, which works like a champ once I get it started but that needs a little coaxing (Seafoam, premium gas, etc).

Snow yesterday…

…60s expected in a couple of days. Weirdest winter ever.

Fitness 2024 continues. I had to back off a little on the intervals—speed-walking or jogging at 4.5 mph jars the old knees a little too much. So, 4 mph it is until I build up some knee strength with wall-sits and squats.

I am also considering an online Tai Chi class. I’ve always wanted to learn and these classes, while focused on Tai Chi Flow, seem geared toward older folks while still allowing for some exposure to the martial art form if desired. I’ve taken a couple of the Flow intro classes and despite the movements being slow, I still felt some muscles getting a workout. I also felt a sense of calm at a few points, which for me is a huge plus. A bundle of free-floating anxiety am I.

I also follow taichiart over on Threads and well, a woman should have goals.

 

Fitness February

A few years ago, I attended yoga classes a couple of times a week in addition to daily walks and over time developed some decent flexibility and leg strength. But after a couple of trouble-free years, I experienced tendonitis flares in both hands which made many poses—think “planks”—difficult because I couldn’t put any weight on my hands and none of the cushioning devices I tried helped. I tried limiting myself to the poses that didn’t involve my hands but it wasn’t the same, and I ended up quitting. After that, I joined a local fitness center so I could use the weight machines. I liked it, but just as I was settling into a rhythm, the plague hit and the center closed.

All during this time, I kept walking. It was great to be outdoors and it was one of the best ways to keep in touch with friends, but it wasn’t enough. Over the last few years, I’ve lost some strength and flexibility. Now I’m trying to get it all back.

So, in addition to walking, I’ve added some light weight work (3 kilo free weights) for my arms, squats and wall-sits for legs, and stretching. I walk six days a week, and switch things up by adding intervals. My daily goal is 10K steps. Three days a week, I walk beginning and end segments at 3mph and the middle 30 minutes at 3.5 mph; the other three days, I add 1-minute intervals to the 3.5 mph section consisting of 4.5mph every five minutes. Yes, I have a treadmill at home, which makes it easy.

Over time, I want to move my base speed up to 3.5 mph and tick up everything else accordingly. No jogging, though. In the past, that was a great way to mess up my feet or knees.

Walking outside is a different story. It’s more pleasant, especially when the sun is out. But it’s harder to keep up the pace. Maybe I need to find an app that beeps at me when I slow down.

Anyway, this is the plan. I’ve also added a few diet improvements over the last few months. More protein, fiber, water. So many things I wish I had started 40 years ago.

Don’t it always seem to go…

Is it Spring yet?

At least the current frigid snap is easing. Solid 30s(F) through the end of the month. It’ll feel good to defrost.

Short story update: I finally uploaded Nature’s Ways, my two-tale eco-SF horror collection, to Amazon, Kobo, and B&N.

I’ve also turned in another Del & Gia story, this one features Gia Solari, test-pilot-on-the-run. It’s entitled “Robin Red,” and will appear in Tomorrow’s Crimes, the Spring 2024 issue of Boundary Shock Quarterly, which I think comes out April 1st. More info about these stories on my Other Work page.

In day-to-day news, I have tax info gathering to do and a Jani book to plot. A couple other stories at the seed stage. Planning a lot of yardwork once the weather warms, which is both daunting and exciting. I want to move some loose lannon stone to the shade garden to form a path, as well as organize the overall space. If I just get that done, it will be a lot. But I also want to extend some beds and move some shrubbery. It would all look great if I can manage it, but there are times I’m glad just to get the lawn mowed.