science fiction

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Beyond the Stars: Unimagined Realms - With a New AR Short Story

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Beyond the Stars: Unimagined Realms - With a New AR Short Story

Who misses Alex and Caleb? It's okay, you don't have to raise your hands - I can guess the answer. Well, today I have a treat for you. A small, bite-sized short story treat, but a treat nonetheless.

Available today and for only $0.99 is the latest volume of the bestselling Beyond the Stars anthology, titled UNIMAGINED REALMS. It includes "Fractals," a brand-new short story set in the Aurora Rhapsody universe, but outside the primary timeline of the series. The official teaser reads like this:

"A mysterious signal coming from deep space attracts the attention of humanity’s scientists and the soldiers who protect them—the kind of attention the originators of the signal will do anything to avoid. When the two converge, first contact doesn’t go the way either side planned."

A mysterious signal coming from deep space? If that sounds familiar, you're not wrong. But here's the real hook for Aurora Rhapsody veterans: What if the 1st Crux War had never happened? How would that have changed the trajectories of Alex and Caleb's lives in the years leading up to the events of Aurora Rhapsody? Who or what could change history in this way, and why?

In Fractals, see Alex and Caleb in action again, but not exactly as you remember them - yet in some ways, exactly as you remember them ;). Is the story Aurora Rhapsody canon? For now, I'll just say this: I'm reminded of a quote from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: “Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?”

I should probably mention that Unimagined Realms also includes 11 imaginative stories by top-notch indie sci-fi writers David Bruns, T.R. Cameron, Marion Deeds, Patrice Fitzgerald, Joseph Robert Lewis, J.E. Mac, Craig Martelle, Sean Monaghan, Chelsea Pagan, R.A. Rock and Mark Sarney. And I should definitely mention that the $0.99 release price will only last through August 31st, so grab it from any of these retailers for pennies today, while you still can: [read more]

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Epic Rhapsody Sale, Blogging & ANR Updates

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Epic Rhapsody Sale, Blogging & ANR Updates

An advantage of having a completed series is that I can (1) wrap it all up in a couple of collections and (2) put those collections on sale to woo new readers and convince them to dive in, big time :).

From now through Monday readers can pick up the entire Aurora Rhapsody saga for under $12 (or foreign currency equivalent, because this is a worldwide sale). The ebooks are available and on sale at all major retailers - Amazon, iTunes, Nook, Kobo, Google Play - and many smaller ones. Tell your friends!

What else is going on?

I have a new blog post today: Cross-Country Journeys, Chicken Scratch & Bossy Characters. Give it a read to find out how a notebook buried in a stack of other notebooks led to a stroll down a nostalgia lane named Aurora Rhapsody, and the things that almost were.

The Exin Ex Machina (Asterion Noir Book 1) ebook will leave Kindle Unlimited and be available on all major retailers in very early September - so not long now. You'll hear from me again when it's up everywhere!

  • Have you read Exin Ex Machina? Sharing your thoughts in a review - even just a sentence or two - is a great way to boost the book's visibility, bring in new readers and increase its success. Much appreciated :). Amazon / Goodreads

The first draft of Asterion Noir Book 2 is done, and I'm well into draft #2 - which basically means it's still on track for a release late this year. Title and cover reveals are coming...soonish.

The Zazzle store has gotten a much-needed revamp: all the previous designs have been updated from "Aurora Rising" to "Aurora Rhapsody," and I've added a selection of Asterion Noir gear and t-shirts.

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Exin Ex Machina Audiobook Is Now Available

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Exin Ex Machina Audiobook Is Now Available

I'm excited to announce that the EXIN EX MACHINA audiobook, narrated by Pyper Down, is now available on Audible and Amazon, and [UPDATE]: iTunes.

Audiobook listeners have been waiting so patiently, but wait no longer. Now you get to meet Nika, Perrin, Joaquim, Dashiel, NOIR and the Asterions' corner of the universe - full of new alien races, new tech, new wonders and new deadly threats to life as they know it. Pyper does an amazing (but not surprising) job of bringing these characters and this world to life, and I can't wait for you to experience it all.

OTHER NEWS:

I've joined 7 stellar sci-fi authors to offer 3K pages of epic space opera in one download - for FREE on all major retailers. ROGUE STARS (links and more info here).

By popular demand, "Alex, what have you done?" t-shirts are now available in my Zazzle store. Choose your t-shirt color and style (price varies based on style): Light version, Dark version

I created some concept art of Nika's phoenix constellation tattoo :). You can see it in full resolution in the Concept Art Gallery.

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EXIN EX MACHINA Is Here

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EXIN EX MACHINA Is Here

EXIN EX MACHINA, the first book in the new sci-fi trilogy Asterion Noir, is now available in ebook and paperback! Through this weekend, the ebook has a special release price of $0.99, so grab it before the price goes up :). Then take it to the beach, the lake, the park, your kid's ball game or just out on your back porch, and escape to another universe.

The Exin Ex Machina ebook will be available exclusively on Amazon (and borrowable in Kindle Unlimited) for the first 90 days. After that, my intention is to make it available on all ebook retailers - and I'll of course let you know when I do. The paperback is available only on Amazon today, but it will be added to more retailers in the coming days. Also, Pyper Down has already begun recording the audiobook; it should be available next month.

New subscribers who are still working your way through the Aurora Rhapsody novels, you don't need to have finished Rhapsody to read Exin Ex Machina. While there are some historical connections between the setting of Asterion Noir and Aurora Resonant (the final Rhapsody trilogy) that long-time readers will appreciate, you won't suffer for not being familiar with that background - so feel free to take a break and hop over to this new world :).

Once you've devoured Exin Ex Machina, spread the word! Reviews are the greatest gift you can give, but posts on Twitter, Facebook or other social media sites, your own blogs, and forums are also most welcome. Here's the book's Goodreads page, too. If the book moves you, tell others about it. This is a new series, and the first entry has to earn its credibility just like Starshine did. You all are a huge part of making that happen.

As ever, thank you for all your overwhelming support. Thank you for coming along with me, with Alex, and now with Nika on these many wondrous journeys :).

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Exin Ex Machina Release Date, Retailer News & More

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Exin Ex Machina Release Date, Retailer News & More

You've been waiting patiently, and here's your reward. EXIN EX MACHINA (ASTERION NOIR BOOK 1) will be released on WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6th in ebook and paperback (audiobook to follow later this summer).

As I've mentioned, the Asterion Noir trilogy takes place in Amaranthe, the same universe as Aurora Rhapsody concludes in, but it is a new adventure in a new setting with new characters. Prior knowledge of Aurora Rhapsody is absolutely not required, and brand new readers will be welcome here :). If you're curious about how the world of Asterion Noir connects to the events of Aurora Rhapsody, check out this blog post, "Welcome to Asterion Noir."

Exin Ex Machina already has a Goodreads page here; if you use Goodreads, make sure and add it to your "Want to Read" shelf. Over the course of the next two weeks, I'll be sharing short excerpts from the novel on Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites, as well as posting them to the website here, so keep an eye out. Get a sneak peek into the world, the characters, and the mystery poised to consume them. See the cover and blurb here.

In other news:

All books in the Aurora Rhapsody saga are now available not just on Amazon, but on all major retailers worldwide. Find your retailer of choice at http://gsj.space/books.

I'd like to extend a warm welcome to all the new people who are here as a result of Starshine's recent promotion. Take a look around, check out some of the blog posts, fun extras and art, and if you have any questions, ask away!

GDPR

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Aurora Resonant: The Complete Collection Is Now Available

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Aurora Resonant: The Complete Collection Is Now Available

AURORA RESONANT: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION is now available on Amazon worldwide at a special release price of $0.99 for 4 days only. The Collection bundles together the three novels in the Aurora Resonant trilogy (Relativity, Rubicon, Requiem) as well as the Re/Genesis short story in one ebook with a stunning new cover.

The Collection also includes an EXCLUSIVE excerpt from the upcoming novel EXIN EX MACHINA (Asterion Noir Book 1). So even if you've already read the Aurora Resonant novels, here's your reason to pick up the Collection: to read how the epic new space opera/cyberpunk trilogy begins, before it begins. Did I mention it's only $0.99 for the next 4 days? Get it today.

SCI-FI BRIDGE is running an awesome audiobook/ebook giveaway this week. Sign up for a chance to win a Free Audible Credit to use on your choice of these incredible Sci-Fi books! All who enter will receive 2 E-books FREE. Enter here:  9 Winners will receive a Free Audible Credit, and 1 Grand Prize Winner will receive an Audible Credit and a $25 Amazon Gift Card.

All the AURORA RISING novels - Starshine, Vertigo, Transcendence and Aurora Rising: The Complete Collection - are now available at all major ebook retailers (Amazon, Nook, iTunes, Kobo, Google Play, Scribd, etc.). Starshine continues to be free at all retailers. If you've got friends who love their non-Kindle ereaders, share the links with them. Much appreciated!

So how is Exin Ex Machina coming along? To the tune of 85K words, that's how :). I'm not ready to announce a release date yet, but the excitement level around here is high, that's for certain.