Title and Progress
I'm nearing the end of my current work in progress, a ~90.000 word sci-fi novel, so I thought it'd be time to
start thinking about a title. Without further ado, here it is:
The Ein Particle
I've got one more month to finish this draft. I'm 78.000 words in, which is amazing, but it means there's
still quite some words left. I reckon I will end up slightly over 90.000 words.
Once it's done, I've got about two weeks to polish it up before sending it off for a first round of
developmental editing. That's the phase where my editor will read the manuscript and tear it apart, pointing
out all the plot holes, inconsistencies and all other shortfalls. The first step in the long road to
publication in June 2023.
Join my ARC team
If you're curious about The Ein Particle and can't wait until it's published, you can join my ARC
team and get an early copy — an Advanced Review Copy — for free. If you're interested, simply reply to this
email and I'll add you to the team. I expect ARC copies to be sent out by the end of April 2023.
If you're even more impatient, you can get a copy of an even rougher version of the manuscript and do a beta
read. You get to influence the end product by letting me know what you thought about it, where you thought it
was too slow or too fast, where things were unclear.
There is no need to be a professional editor to be a beta reader. In fact, the best beta readers are normal
readers with no writing experience whatsoever (although I won't discount your input if you do) who know when
they enjoy a story and when they don't.
As a thank you for helping me improve the story, you'll be mentioned in the acknowledgements (if you want, of
course).
Want to be part of my beta team? Simply reply to this mail and let me know. Beta copies will go out early
January 2023, and I'd need your feedback before March.
The Invasion
Mariette Standlee
The aliens invaded ten years ago, now its time to escape the city that has become a cage…
Ashley grew up in the ruins of a city, learned how to avoid the aliens and survive. She forged her path
through rubble and found ways to stay alive. But the enemy is encroaching on her hideout. The only way out is
to get captured by the aliens.
Cooper grew up differently from Ashely, surviving in the wilderness of the forests and mountains. His
training, however, was just as hard as hers. Maybe more so.
A shared goal to save as many as possible from alien enslavement is what binds them together.
Get it here!
The Cassidy Chronicles
Adam Gaffen
The year 2113 is a post-modern America, after decades of warfare and the near collapse of civilisation,
America is shattered into a dozen nations. Aiyana Cassidy is a genius physicist who has stumbled upon a
technology that will revolutionize the world. She makes contact with her old high school friend Kendra
Foster-Briggs, who is an employee of a shadowy organization called OutLook. Cassidy's experiments at Heavy
Lift Corporation (HLC) into teleportation cause many different players to begin tracking her down. Kendra and
Cassidy set of on a cross-continental journey to find some answers.
In this steampunk novel, their travels take them on a continent spanning adventure as we are introduced to a
world of advanced technology, strange and unfamiliar landscapes and new discoveries.
Get it here!
Intergalactic Orchestra
Super Nova
A few years ago, while trawling Discogs for Italo Disco, I came across this little gem.
This is not a collection of songs, it's a true symphony of electronic music — space disco or early techno —
that tells a tale of a ship lost in time and the tribulations those set out to rescue it have to endure.
At least, that's the story I'm hearing. One of these days, I'm going to write a novel based on this album,
it's just so awesome.
The original release from 1979 on vinyl can still be found on Discogs for prices varying from US$100 -
US$600, whereas the 2011 reissue (also on vinyl but limited edition) fetches around US$30 - US$50 (I have the
latter). There is apparently also a CD release of the album, but I haven't been able to find much about that
specific release. Luckily, someone has been kind enough to upload the CD in its entirety to Youtube, so you
can listen to it without having to
Check it out on Youtube or Discogs.
