Now Boarding for Space Station Hemera

We're moving for the first time in 29 years. My life is boxes and trash bags. Why did we keep all this stuff? Oh well. We have 3 days until the movers arrive to finish packing 2 levels. Our kitchen is in the middle of being remodeled, which means no sink, and we already got rid of the food. Come Wednesday, the house will be 98% empty, containing only an air mattress, card table, 2 chairs, toiletries, our laptops, and all the painting supplies in the universe. Charge!!

Packing madness and mover deadlines meant I had to skip BayCon this year, which is really sad because I had two new books to share! Oh well, there will be other cons, and being further north means I can explore cons in Oregon and Washington.

While the dust settles on the Project Xerxes and Enigma launches, I've resumed work on Book 3 of the Timeless Keeper Saga, which should finish off the series. Seven chapters in and the characters are already starting to surprise me. =]

My team are working hard on editing a video interview we shot in Paris a few months ago. I haven't seen the final results myself, but they say it turned out really well. Look for the full video this month. I know I will be.

This month's feature dives a into the protagonists of Enigma: Britta Silverstar and her best friend Crystal Castleton. Have your passports ready to visit our first two citizens of the Lost Colonies Alliance!

In this newsletter

• Passport Profiles of Enigma's Heroines
• Book Sales and Events
• Currently Reading

Passport Profiles of Enigma's Heroines

Britta Silverstar

Role: Youngest Ambassador in Galilean History, Heir to the Silverstar Legacy.

Setting: 10,184 A.D., Hemera Station (Space Station Orbiting Planet Enigma).

Background:

• An exceptional diplomat with a prestigious lineage, Britta ascended to her role at a remarkably young age.
• Despite her important role, she shares a deep bond with Crystal, a brilliant scientist.

Current Crisis:

• After a drop-ship disaster, Britta is stranded on Enigma, a planet where technology fails.
• With only her prized hairpin, she must survive the untamed planet and discover a way to contact the Lost Colonies Alliance before all is lost.

Character Traits:

• Resilient: Shows unwavering determination and courage.
• Resourceful: Uses her diplomatic skills and quick thinking to adapt.
• Dedicated: Willing to sacrifice her life for the good of the Lost Colonies.

Crystal Castleton

Role: Brilliant Scientist, Britta’s Childhood Friend.

Setting: 10,184 A.D., Hemera Station (Space Station Orbiting Planet Enigma).

Background:

• Crystal is a genius scientist, considered the brightest in ten generations. She thrives in solitude, dedicated to her research.
• Crystal’s bond with Britta is so strong that she gave up a lucrative career to support her friend’s diplomatic missions across the galaxy.

Current Crisis:

• After a disastrous drop-ship incident, Crystal is on the run, falsely accused of murdering Britta. Her mission to save her colony is complicated by those hunting her.
• Her genius is put to the test on a mad flight across the stars, fleeing persecution from every colony, including her own. She must navigate dangerous political landscapes and evade capture, all while trying to stop a plot that threatens the entire Lost Colonies Alliance.

Character Traits:

• Savant: Renowned for her scientific knowledge and innovative thinking, few people know she can also perform complex calculations in her head faster than most computers.
• Introverted: Prefers working alone but is deeply loyal to Britta.
• Determined: Committed to her research and driven to protect her friend and colony.

Look forward to discovering more characters in the upcoming newsletters!

Book Sales and Events

• July 10 — Moving day. Our stuff will be in Eureka while we finish getting the house ready to sell. (Not book related, but ouch!)
• July 18–21 — Smashwords Summer Sale: Science Fiction and Fantasy. Get all my Water Dragon Press titles (Z-Tech Chronicles, One Man's Trash) for 50% off. And oh yeah, there are other books, too.
• July — Video interview release. A fully edited video interview shot in Paris. Get the inside scoop on the makings of Enigma and other juicy tidbits, coming soon!

Currently Reading

I'm between books right now. If you have any suggestions for fun, light-ish sci fi or fantasy reads, please send them my way!

Harrow the Ninth

Harrow was a bold experiment in second-person perspective that ultimately failed primarily (IMHO) because it sacrificed honest narrative just to maintain an air of artificial mystery. I enjoyed aspects of it, such as Muirs trademark turns of phrase and witty dialogue, but it lacked 93% of its predecessor's charm with 200% more confusion. I only finished it because a friend warned me it would be a slog and I had spent a whole year preparing myself. Sadly, she was bang-on.

Cannot recommend. 😔

Read full review

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