The relaunch is finally here! *deep breaths* (Free 6th an...

The relaunch is finally here! *deep breaths* (Free 6th and 7th May) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00I21QZUIHard to believe it's been over 7 years since I started this madness. Once I had a six-pack, then I decided to write, and I grew grey hair and a dad belly. I used to run 20 miles a day, now I can't walk up the stairs without injuring myself or making unnecessary noises or talking agitatedly under my breath. If you're thinking of becoming a writer and you value either your looks or your sanity, my advice is don't do it – you will lose both very quickly! If, like the rest of us weirdos known as authors, you have decided both are superfluous, then writing will simultaneously become the most rewarding and most soul-destroying thing you will ever do. It will push you to the brink again and again, and yet somehow you won't regret it!Last year, I decided that rather than write anything new, I needed to focus on updating my existing works, because although I was happy with much of the content, certain things just weren't right. Also, the sales, although decent for indie titles, had plateaued at unspectacular numbers. The key problem was I'd been obsessing with reducing word counts to conventional numbers, repeatedly trimming what I had. However, I eventually realised this approach was hugely detrimental. There was far too much going on in this series to be condensed to such an extreme and I lost much in terms of world building and character development, so last July I embarked on a 3 month plan to rectify these issues. Those 3 months ballooned into 10 and my 4-part novel went from 130k words to 250k. And I hope it is all the better for it! For those who don't yet know, I also amended my title due to a copyright issue (nothing to do with cockygate!). The new title was perfectly timed to coincide with the relaunch and a fresh start for my series.For the uninitiated, the Skye City series is post-apocalyptic / Dystopian sci-fi with a strong emphasis on biotechnology. Biopunk, if you will. It is different in many respects – from structure to writing style to world building – to what you will be used to. There is much going on, perhaps too much to some, but I make no apologies for that! This is not the typical sci-fi read you may initially perceive it to be. You will not pick everything up on a first read. It requires you to dig deep, scratch below the surface, and question everything, including the narrator himself. It is a read that requires commitment. A read that may make you feel uncomfortable. It goes to dark places but is laced with humour. Entertainment value was definitely the main focus, despite how inaccessible I may have made this sound!The characters in the book are tainted, scarred by their experiences. At times they can be heroic, at times they will let you down. They owe you no explanation or apology. They are products of their environments.The world of Eryx is as richly described as I could possibly make it. The narrative is image-heavy. The story takes you to many fantastical places. Each of the four episodes is distinct, fresh, and full of surprises. You will not know what's coming next.The plot summary is as follows:Religious extremists won The Great War and an oppressive societal structure was imposed under the law of their goddess. The lowest official tier – Level Three Citizenship – is one step away from slavery and the majority of the population opt out of the system altogether. These 'bottom levellers' struggle for survival in a world where technology is almost indistinguishable from magic and artificial lifeforms are hostile to their very existence.Arturo Basilides is the one in ten billion – an internet-educated outlaw with exceptional intellect and strong survival instincts. Traumatised and drug-ravaged, he spends his life daydreaming and trying to brighten his pitiful existence. Arturo ran away from an orphanage when he was twelve years old and now lives with his gang in an abandoned building. Together, they roam the shadows of Skye City – a two mile high playground for the privileged few. The teenagers survive adverse conditions due to remarkable self-sufficiency and they treat life as an endless narcotic-fuelled party.Arturo's old friend Smig offers a chance to earn some money and introduces him to a man called Jardine. Our hero finds himself sucked into a rebellion against the religious elite and he faces ethical dilemmas along the way due to that old adage – one man's freedom fighter is another man's terrorist.