Donald B. McFarlane's Blog
May 1, 2023
May 2023
It’s the first of May, and we’ve got a few irons in the fire to discuss.
At the moment, there are three projects in various stages of production. Actually, technically, five.
The first up for release will be the Cryne standalone novel. This book is complete, has been beta-tested, and just waiting on me to get around to making edits. This book should be off to the editor in July and hopefully released around September.
The second project under construction is the 9th book in the Earth Saga series. This will be the final novel in the first phase of the series and is currently sitting around 70k words. We’re looking to get this to the editor in late summer and, hopefully, a release around November. It is my current plan to have a bit of a hiatus from the series for a year or two once this project is complete, allowing me to work on some more standalone projects that I’m interested in.
The third project in the loop is the fourth Standish novel. This book is complete and should be released sometime in the first quarter of 2024.
The fourth title that has just started is the second book in the Rescue series. This novel aims to be an action-packed adventure, focusing on the exploits of a Rescue Tech and a do-or-die situation that has implications for the known galaxy. Having just started this novel, we’re probably not going to see it released until mid-2024.
The fifth and final book under construction is the paused Rescue book that I had previously been working on, which was going to be the 2nd in the series, but has now been pushed back. I might hold this novel back to 2025 or late 2024. We’ll see how things go.
Looking past these five projects, I have several ideas for standalone titles already. Two of particular interest are possible prequels for Fairlight and Render. These are two of my favourite characters, and I’d like to explore some of their backstories, with a focus on the two missions mentioned in Arpina & Fairlight that made them the men they are today.
On the entertainment front, I recently discovered The Boys. Absolutely brilliant. I’ve managed to get through all three seasons, and I have to say that it is the best TV show I’ve seen in ages. Recently I’ve been hugely disappointed with offerings from Disney, so I was thrilled when I discovered this show. Now I just have to find something else to watch until season 4 comes out.
On the cinema front, I went and watched John Wick 4. This was an action-packed thrill ride with some incredible stunts and set pieces. Not sure if they’ll make another one, but if the series is over, I think they’ve ended on a high.
Looking at May, it’s time to focus on getting Cryne ready for the editor while continuing to punch the keys on the 9th book in the Earth Saga series, along with the second instalment in the Rescue series.
Until next time, stay safe out there.
At the moment, there are three projects in various stages of production. Actually, technically, five.
The first up for release will be the Cryne standalone novel. This book is complete, has been beta-tested, and just waiting on me to get around to making edits. This book should be off to the editor in July and hopefully released around September.
The second project under construction is the 9th book in the Earth Saga series. This will be the final novel in the first phase of the series and is currently sitting around 70k words. We’re looking to get this to the editor in late summer and, hopefully, a release around November. It is my current plan to have a bit of a hiatus from the series for a year or two once this project is complete, allowing me to work on some more standalone projects that I’m interested in.
The third project in the loop is the fourth Standish novel. This book is complete and should be released sometime in the first quarter of 2024.
The fourth title that has just started is the second book in the Rescue series. This novel aims to be an action-packed adventure, focusing on the exploits of a Rescue Tech and a do-or-die situation that has implications for the known galaxy. Having just started this novel, we’re probably not going to see it released until mid-2024.
The fifth and final book under construction is the paused Rescue book that I had previously been working on, which was going to be the 2nd in the series, but has now been pushed back. I might hold this novel back to 2025 or late 2024. We’ll see how things go.
Looking past these five projects, I have several ideas for standalone titles already. Two of particular interest are possible prequels for Fairlight and Render. These are two of my favourite characters, and I’d like to explore some of their backstories, with a focus on the two missions mentioned in Arpina & Fairlight that made them the men they are today.
On the entertainment front, I recently discovered The Boys. Absolutely brilliant. I’ve managed to get through all three seasons, and I have to say that it is the best TV show I’ve seen in ages. Recently I’ve been hugely disappointed with offerings from Disney, so I was thrilled when I discovered this show. Now I just have to find something else to watch until season 4 comes out.
On the cinema front, I went and watched John Wick 4. This was an action-packed thrill ride with some incredible stunts and set pieces. Not sure if they’ll make another one, but if the series is over, I think they’ve ended on a high.
Looking at May, it’s time to focus on getting Cryne ready for the editor while continuing to punch the keys on the 9th book in the Earth Saga series, along with the second instalment in the Rescue series.
Until next time, stay safe out there.
February 28, 2023
The End of Febtober
Febtober is rolling to a close, and it’s time to take a quick stock of where things are.
Most importantly, Standish 3: The Daughter will be released in March. Without giving anything away, this story finds Standish alone and up shit creek without a paddle. Readers will get to see the Prime Team, but the spotlight is on Val for this story, one that will hopefully make the fans happy.
Looking down the road, work is ongoing on the Earth Saga IX. This will be the final book in the first phase of the Earth Saga universe. I always planned a 9-book series from the start, and I feel this novel will wrap up the events that started in Paraguay nicely. It will also have high stakes for our main characters but with a ‘no cliffhanger’ ending.
The plan going forward is to build on the Earth Saga Series with phase two (thank you, Marvel, for that idea). This will be set X years after the events of Book IX and will probably include a few of the stars from the first series in supporting roles. When the readers get to the end of book IX, I hope they’ll see the plethora of opportunities that are out there for the Earth Saga Series.
Other projects on the go include one that I’m very excited about: Cryne-In the Wrong Dimension. This is currently with a beta reader, so I’m just waiting on his feedback before it can get fixed and shipped off to the editor. I’m aiming for a late summer release. Cryne was one of my favourite characters from Standish. Almost a Command Master Chief Urgayle, if you know the reference. So, I thought he needed a standalone story that gave him the proper respect and adoration. He’s a great, cocky, son of a bitch, type of guy, but also a great mentor, and I wanted to write a story that gave closure to that character.
Looking past 2023, Standish 4 is already completed and will be released early next year, followed by the second instalment of The Rescue series. Other than that, there are several projects on the drawing board, but I think there might be a pause of an indeterminate amount of time until the second phase of the Earth Saga series starts. I want to deliver a few more standalone titles while continuing to build the Earth Saga Universe.
With all of that in mind, all I can do is keep punching the keys and hopefully deliver stories that people enjoy reading.
Starting, hopefully, with Standish 3. Coming soon!
Until next time, stay safe out there.
Most importantly, Standish 3: The Daughter will be released in March. Without giving anything away, this story finds Standish alone and up shit creek without a paddle. Readers will get to see the Prime Team, but the spotlight is on Val for this story, one that will hopefully make the fans happy.
Looking down the road, work is ongoing on the Earth Saga IX. This will be the final book in the first phase of the Earth Saga universe. I always planned a 9-book series from the start, and I feel this novel will wrap up the events that started in Paraguay nicely. It will also have high stakes for our main characters but with a ‘no cliffhanger’ ending.
The plan going forward is to build on the Earth Saga Series with phase two (thank you, Marvel, for that idea). This will be set X years after the events of Book IX and will probably include a few of the stars from the first series in supporting roles. When the readers get to the end of book IX, I hope they’ll see the plethora of opportunities that are out there for the Earth Saga Series.
Other projects on the go include one that I’m very excited about: Cryne-In the Wrong Dimension. This is currently with a beta reader, so I’m just waiting on his feedback before it can get fixed and shipped off to the editor. I’m aiming for a late summer release. Cryne was one of my favourite characters from Standish. Almost a Command Master Chief Urgayle, if you know the reference. So, I thought he needed a standalone story that gave him the proper respect and adoration. He’s a great, cocky, son of a bitch, type of guy, but also a great mentor, and I wanted to write a story that gave closure to that character.
Looking past 2023, Standish 4 is already completed and will be released early next year, followed by the second instalment of The Rescue series. Other than that, there are several projects on the drawing board, but I think there might be a pause of an indeterminate amount of time until the second phase of the Earth Saga series starts. I want to deliver a few more standalone titles while continuing to build the Earth Saga Universe.
With all of that in mind, all I can do is keep punching the keys and hopefully deliver stories that people enjoy reading.
Starting, hopefully, with Standish 3. Coming soon!
Until next time, stay safe out there.
January 3, 2023
2022/2023
A Year in Review and a Look Ahead
With 2022 in the bag, and 2023 just kicked off, it’s time to take a quick minute to reflect on last year and look at what is planned for ’23.
2022 saw the release of four titles:
Arpina & Fairlight
Standish 2: The Virus
The Rescue: Vanuri Down
Terminal Frontier: Earth Saga VIII
One standalone, one Standish series, the first novel in the Rescue series, and the 8th book in the Earth Saga series. I feel that 4 was quite a push, and I think that 2023 will see a reduction to 3 titles.
Looking at 2023, I’m planning on releasing the 3rd Standish novel, The Daughter. That should come out in the first quarter.
After that, we’ll release another standalone title: Cryne: In the Wrong Dimension. Anyone who has read Standish will be familiar with this character, and I hope they find this follow-on novel a respectful tribute to the Cryne character.
The third and final novel planned for release will be the 9th book in the Earth Saga Series. This novel will conclude the first phase of the Earth Saga Series. A second phase is planned, but there will most likely be a several-year gap until the first novel in the second phase is released. At present, I’m considering keeping one or two of the main characters from the first phase into the second, although the lead roles will go to an all-new cast. Time will tell how this actually plays out.
Looking at ‘24, another Rescue novel is already in the cards, along with the 4th Standish novel. Beyond that, I’m looking at continuing with several more standalone novels, possibly a Fairlight novel and a Render novel, both prequels to Arpina & Fairlight.
The object, going forward, is to continue to develop the Earth Saga Universe, adding more stories that help add depth to the worldbuilding that already exists.
Hopefully, these are stories the fans enjoy, packed with action, adventure, and plenty of violence.
With 2022 in the bag, and 2023 just kicked off, it’s time to take a quick minute to reflect on last year and look at what is planned for ’23.
2022 saw the release of four titles:
Arpina & Fairlight
Standish 2: The Virus
The Rescue: Vanuri Down
Terminal Frontier: Earth Saga VIII
One standalone, one Standish series, the first novel in the Rescue series, and the 8th book in the Earth Saga series. I feel that 4 was quite a push, and I think that 2023 will see a reduction to 3 titles.
Looking at 2023, I’m planning on releasing the 3rd Standish novel, The Daughter. That should come out in the first quarter.
After that, we’ll release another standalone title: Cryne: In the Wrong Dimension. Anyone who has read Standish will be familiar with this character, and I hope they find this follow-on novel a respectful tribute to the Cryne character.
The third and final novel planned for release will be the 9th book in the Earth Saga Series. This novel will conclude the first phase of the Earth Saga Series. A second phase is planned, but there will most likely be a several-year gap until the first novel in the second phase is released. At present, I’m considering keeping one or two of the main characters from the first phase into the second, although the lead roles will go to an all-new cast. Time will tell how this actually plays out.
Looking at ‘24, another Rescue novel is already in the cards, along with the 4th Standish novel. Beyond that, I’m looking at continuing with several more standalone novels, possibly a Fairlight novel and a Render novel, both prequels to Arpina & Fairlight.
The object, going forward, is to continue to develop the Earth Saga Universe, adding more stories that help add depth to the worldbuilding that already exists.
Hopefully, these are stories the fans enjoy, packed with action, adventure, and plenty of violence.
November 13, 2022
November
It’s the middle of November. The weather is getting cooler, and the World Cup is almost upon us. Why FIFA put it in Qatar is beyond me.
With the release of Terminal Frontier, the Earth Saga series is racing towards its conclusion at some point in 2023. The last novel will hopefully resolve any unanswered questions and give a proper ending to the series and its characters. I am considering a Phase 2 for the series, but this might be a few years off. Maybe focus on some standalone titles etc for a year.
The first title out of the blocks for 2023 will be Standish 3: The Daughter. Hopefully, we will up the action from the second instalment, with more peril and ultra-violence. I’m aiming for a release in January or February, and after that, I think we’ve got a standalone title to come later in the year. We will see.
Going forward, I want to focus on delivering a few more books in the Rescue series, which I think has potential. I’m also considering several standalone titles, possibly a book focusing on some heroes we’ve already met. TBD.
On the entertainment front, I added some more synth to my working tunes collection. Robert Parker is great, and I’d recommend him to anyone getting into the genre.
Books-wise, I read Michael Mann’s Heat 2. One of my favourite films of all time, so it was nice to get a bit of a prequel/sequel to the film.
And finally, I watched All Quiet on the Western Front. A brutal reminder that many of the wars fought are just useless wastes of lives.
As always, stay safe out there, and please sign up for our newsletter for updates on deals and new releases.
https://www.donaldbmcfarlane.com/about
With the release of Terminal Frontier, the Earth Saga series is racing towards its conclusion at some point in 2023. The last novel will hopefully resolve any unanswered questions and give a proper ending to the series and its characters. I am considering a Phase 2 for the series, but this might be a few years off. Maybe focus on some standalone titles etc for a year.
The first title out of the blocks for 2023 will be Standish 3: The Daughter. Hopefully, we will up the action from the second instalment, with more peril and ultra-violence. I’m aiming for a release in January or February, and after that, I think we’ve got a standalone title to come later in the year. We will see.
Going forward, I want to focus on delivering a few more books in the Rescue series, which I think has potential. I’m also considering several standalone titles, possibly a book focusing on some heroes we’ve already met. TBD.
On the entertainment front, I added some more synth to my working tunes collection. Robert Parker is great, and I’d recommend him to anyone getting into the genre.
Books-wise, I read Michael Mann’s Heat 2. One of my favourite films of all time, so it was nice to get a bit of a prequel/sequel to the film.
And finally, I watched All Quiet on the Western Front. A brutal reminder that many of the wars fought are just useless wastes of lives.
As always, stay safe out there, and please sign up for our newsletter for updates on deals and new releases.
https://www.donaldbmcfarlane.com/about
September 26, 2022
At the end of September
It’s almost October, and temperatures in London are dropping, and as we get closer to the end of 2022, it means we’re much closer to the release of the 8th novel in the Earth Saga Series!
Terminal Frontier is due out in the next 60 days and will be the longest book in the Earth Saga series to date.
Hopefully, people enjoy the read and find it to their liking. While I’m not sure how long book 9 will be, there is a good chance this will be the heftiest book in the series.
Along with the release of Terminal Frontier, work has been chugging along with edits on Standish 3, due out sometime in early 2023, along with getting words on the page with the 9th book in the Earth Saga series, due out in late 2023.
While I was hoping to maintain an aggressive release plan of books, I’ve decided to slow down slightly, at least for the first quarter of 2023, to allow myself to focus on other work-related issues. I’m currently sitting on three finished books: Standish 3 & 4 and a standalone title, but at the moment, I need to focus on writing the 9th book in the Earth Saga series and get some other things sorted out.
Looking past the release of the 9th Earth Saga book, I’ve mostly decided that the series will continue in Phase 2. What that means is that readers of the first 9 books could finish things up at the end of the 9th book or choose to continue reading the Phase 2 books, while other people could start the series with the 10th book.
At the same time, another Rescue book is in the works, but on pause, for the moment.
In summary, there will still be four streams going forward: Earth Saga, Standish, Rescue, and Standalone.
I’ll be using the standalone titles to add depth to the universe while filling in some backstories for some of my favourite characters. Right now, I’ve got my eye on a possible Fairlight project, along with a possible Render novel. That’s well down the line, but the possibilities are there.
On an entertainment front, I recently watched the 13 Lives film. Rather well done and worth a watch. I’ve also started the Andor series on Disney, which, so far, is by far the best product Star Wars has released recently. Hopefully, that trend will continue.
On the reading front, it’s been heavy on the military history, with two Max Hasting titles, along with a disturbing account of the US Navy SEALs.
The next few weeks will be focused on getting Standish 3 ready for the editor, punching the keys on the 9th Earth Saga novel, and getting ready to release Terminal Frontier.
Other than that, not much to report. The weather is changing. Winter is coming, and I’ve got plenty of work to busy myself with.
Until next time, stay safe out there.
Terminal Frontier is due out in the next 60 days and will be the longest book in the Earth Saga series to date.
Hopefully, people enjoy the read and find it to their liking. While I’m not sure how long book 9 will be, there is a good chance this will be the heftiest book in the series.
Along with the release of Terminal Frontier, work has been chugging along with edits on Standish 3, due out sometime in early 2023, along with getting words on the page with the 9th book in the Earth Saga series, due out in late 2023.
While I was hoping to maintain an aggressive release plan of books, I’ve decided to slow down slightly, at least for the first quarter of 2023, to allow myself to focus on other work-related issues. I’m currently sitting on three finished books: Standish 3 & 4 and a standalone title, but at the moment, I need to focus on writing the 9th book in the Earth Saga series and get some other things sorted out.
Looking past the release of the 9th Earth Saga book, I’ve mostly decided that the series will continue in Phase 2. What that means is that readers of the first 9 books could finish things up at the end of the 9th book or choose to continue reading the Phase 2 books, while other people could start the series with the 10th book.
At the same time, another Rescue book is in the works, but on pause, for the moment.
In summary, there will still be four streams going forward: Earth Saga, Standish, Rescue, and Standalone.
I’ll be using the standalone titles to add depth to the universe while filling in some backstories for some of my favourite characters. Right now, I’ve got my eye on a possible Fairlight project, along with a possible Render novel. That’s well down the line, but the possibilities are there.
On an entertainment front, I recently watched the 13 Lives film. Rather well done and worth a watch. I’ve also started the Andor series on Disney, which, so far, is by far the best product Star Wars has released recently. Hopefully, that trend will continue.
On the reading front, it’s been heavy on the military history, with two Max Hasting titles, along with a disturbing account of the US Navy SEALs.
The next few weeks will be focused on getting Standish 3 ready for the editor, punching the keys on the 9th Earth Saga novel, and getting ready to release Terminal Frontier.
Other than that, not much to report. The weather is changing. Winter is coming, and I’ve got plenty of work to busy myself with.
Until next time, stay safe out there.
July 24, 2022
24 July
We’re approaching the end of July, it’s been rather hot in the UK, and we’re about to launch the first book in the Rescue series, Vanuri Down.
Seems like the summer is zooming by, and while lots is getting accomplished, it feels like the release of the 8th installment in the Earth Saga series is just around the corner in October.
The bulk of this month has been spent making red-pen corrections on the October release, which is taking a considerable amount of time considering the size of that novel, close to 200,000 words, making it the longest book in the Earth Saga series by a good margin.
At the same time, I’ve been getting artwork for The Rescue sorted out. This book is rather short in comparison to other titles, but will hopefully offer an action-packed story that the fans will enjoy, and that ties into A War Beneath the Clouds. This will be the first novel in the Rescue Series, with the second book scheduled for an early 2024 release.
On a very positive note, all 7 books of the Earth Saga series on Amazon are now available in print. Very exciting stuff, and hopefully, given a few more weeks, some of the standalone titles will also be available for people to purchase. I only read physical books, so I understand that this option might be very welcome for some people.
On the writing front, I’ve completed Standish IV, which is due out next July, and am getting words on the second Rescue title.
Right now, the focus is on editing the 8th Earth Saga title, which needs to go to the editor for September.
On a totally different note, I went to the theatre recently and saw Singing in the Rain. A great film, and a great performance on the stage.
With just days left in the month, it’ll be a focus on getting more editing accomplished, and some words on the page. Right now, it’s a race against the clock with editing. Which still has several rounds to get the book ready for the editor.
That, and get The Rescue released! Naturally.
Until next time, stay safe out there.
Seems like the summer is zooming by, and while lots is getting accomplished, it feels like the release of the 8th installment in the Earth Saga series is just around the corner in October.
The bulk of this month has been spent making red-pen corrections on the October release, which is taking a considerable amount of time considering the size of that novel, close to 200,000 words, making it the longest book in the Earth Saga series by a good margin.
At the same time, I’ve been getting artwork for The Rescue sorted out. This book is rather short in comparison to other titles, but will hopefully offer an action-packed story that the fans will enjoy, and that ties into A War Beneath the Clouds. This will be the first novel in the Rescue Series, with the second book scheduled for an early 2024 release.
On a very positive note, all 7 books of the Earth Saga series on Amazon are now available in print. Very exciting stuff, and hopefully, given a few more weeks, some of the standalone titles will also be available for people to purchase. I only read physical books, so I understand that this option might be very welcome for some people.
On the writing front, I’ve completed Standish IV, which is due out next July, and am getting words on the second Rescue title.
Right now, the focus is on editing the 8th Earth Saga title, which needs to go to the editor for September.
On a totally different note, I went to the theatre recently and saw Singing in the Rain. A great film, and a great performance on the stage.
With just days left in the month, it’ll be a focus on getting more editing accomplished, and some words on the page. Right now, it’s a race against the clock with editing. Which still has several rounds to get the book ready for the editor.
That, and get The Rescue released! Naturally.
Until next time, stay safe out there.
May 12, 2022
It's May
We’re approaching the middle of May, and it’s time for a quick check to see where things are and where they are going.
I had a bit of an epiphany lately about my ‘work plan’. I had been charging ahead with writing two books at the same time, then editing when needed in order to get things to the editor. I sent off the first book in the Rescue series to the editor at the end of April, and I’ll admit I was under pressure to get that sent off in time. With that in mind, a quick look at my open accounts,
I’ve got three books just sitting around, complete, gathering dust. So, with that in mind, I’ve scaled back writing and focused on editing.
That means that words are continuing to flow on the 4th Standish book, while at the same time, I’ve started editing the 8th book in the Earth Saga series, which is by far the longest book in that series by some measure.
The plan now is to get that novel ready for the editor, even though it’s not going to him for some time, and then move straight on to the 3rd Standish novel, which is supposed to be released in January, and start getting that ready for the editor and so on, until all those are sorted.
At the same time, I’ll continue with one project under construction while completing the several jobs that require renovations! I just need to clean up the books that are complete, because, at the moment, they’re going to catch up on me, and they all require three rounds of Grammarly edits, plus two rounds of red-penning, both very time-consuming.
I suppose the plan, for now, going forward, is keeping this a little more disciplined. I hate editing, but I’ve got to do several rounds before I send it to the editor, and it’s probably best to polish these projects up while they’re still relatively fresh in my mind.
Looking forward, here is the current release schedule:
July 22- The Rescue: Vanuri Down (At the Editor)
October 22- Earth Saga 8 (Editing)
January 23- Standish 3 (Waiting to start edits)
April 23- Standalone Novel (Waiting to start edits)
July 23- Standish 4 (Writing)
October 23- Earth Saga 9 (Yet to start)
So, we’ve got a full calendar of books lined up all the way to the end of 2023, which is good. I just need to get on top of a lot of editing, then finally put pen to paper on the final instalment of the Earth Saga series, which may turn into the Earth Saga Series, Phase 1. Time will tell.
In addition to work, I’ve taken a few walks around town. The weather is improving, so that’s a plus.
The focus for the rest of the month is getting Standish 4 completed and starting the next phase of editing on the 8th book in the Earth Saga series, something that will take some time, considering the book is over 170,000 words in length!
Until next time, stay safe out there.
I had a bit of an epiphany lately about my ‘work plan’. I had been charging ahead with writing two books at the same time, then editing when needed in order to get things to the editor. I sent off the first book in the Rescue series to the editor at the end of April, and I’ll admit I was under pressure to get that sent off in time. With that in mind, a quick look at my open accounts,
I’ve got three books just sitting around, complete, gathering dust. So, with that in mind, I’ve scaled back writing and focused on editing.
That means that words are continuing to flow on the 4th Standish book, while at the same time, I’ve started editing the 8th book in the Earth Saga series, which is by far the longest book in that series by some measure.
The plan now is to get that novel ready for the editor, even though it’s not going to him for some time, and then move straight on to the 3rd Standish novel, which is supposed to be released in January, and start getting that ready for the editor and so on, until all those are sorted.
At the same time, I’ll continue with one project under construction while completing the several jobs that require renovations! I just need to clean up the books that are complete, because, at the moment, they’re going to catch up on me, and they all require three rounds of Grammarly edits, plus two rounds of red-penning, both very time-consuming.
I suppose the plan, for now, going forward, is keeping this a little more disciplined. I hate editing, but I’ve got to do several rounds before I send it to the editor, and it’s probably best to polish these projects up while they’re still relatively fresh in my mind.
Looking forward, here is the current release schedule:
July 22- The Rescue: Vanuri Down (At the Editor)
October 22- Earth Saga 8 (Editing)
January 23- Standish 3 (Waiting to start edits)
April 23- Standalone Novel (Waiting to start edits)
July 23- Standish 4 (Writing)
October 23- Earth Saga 9 (Yet to start)
So, we’ve got a full calendar of books lined up all the way to the end of 2023, which is good. I just need to get on top of a lot of editing, then finally put pen to paper on the final instalment of the Earth Saga series, which may turn into the Earth Saga Series, Phase 1. Time will tell.
In addition to work, I’ve taken a few walks around town. The weather is improving, so that’s a plus.
The focus for the rest of the month is getting Standish 4 completed and starting the next phase of editing on the 8th book in the Earth Saga series, something that will take some time, considering the book is over 170,000 words in length!
Until next time, stay safe out there.
April 15, 2022
Mid-April
It’s the middle of April, and things are chugging along at a nice pace.
The weather is improving in London, two projects are under construction, and another is off to the editor next month.
And of course, we just released Standish 2: The Virus.
I’ll be the first one to admit that the COVID pandemic made me think about writing a book, set in the universe I’ve created, dealing with a deadly viral outbreak. Being me, I didn’t want to make it too heavy on all the ‘science’, just a light-weight story about a virus affecting a planet, and Standish and her team being sent in to investigate. Considering people have already made films about lockdown, I don’t think I was jumping the gun by releasing this book. It’s a little light on action for a Standish novel, but hopefully people enjoy it.
Now, the two books on the go…..
Standish 4: The False God.
This isn’t scheduled for release until July of ’23, but this novel is around the half-way mark, I’m guessing, and this one will have a boat-load of action. With these follow-on stories to Standish, it’s all about giving the main character those experiences that turned her into the character at the end of her career in Standish.
The second book on the go is The Rescue 2: The Buccaneers.
Right. The first Rescue book is going to the editor in May for a July release. These will be fast, hard hitting action novels set in the old Empire, with a focus on Rescue Technicians, the role that Standish had in the fleet before joining SF. These novels are light, fun, and hopefully page-turners.
I’m feeling fairly confident about keeping on top of my publishing timeline, with potential projects currently on the calendar all the way out to mid-2025. The plan, once things get a bit smoothed out, would be to release one book from each stream, per year. 1 Earth Saga novel/1 Standish/1 Rescue/1 Standalone. That is the plan, just need to keep tapping the keys to get there.
In the meantime, I’ve been trying to get out and about when the weather allows. I had a friend in town recently from the US, and we managed to go to the National Gallery, the Tate Britain, and the Tate Modern during his visit.
I also managed to pick up this lovely book filled with some incredible sci-fi artwork. Flipping through this is just a great experience that gets the creative juices flowing and helps me get ideas for the worlds that I’m trying to create.
The rest of April will be devoted to getting more words on the page for the two open projects and getting The Rescue 1 ready to be sent off to my editor. That will take priority. Hopefully there will be a few opportunities to get out and about, see some sights, maybe a museum or art gallery. A wander around London is one of my favourite things to do, and with warmer weather on the way, hopefully I’ll be able to get in a few good walks.
Until next time, stay safe out there.
The weather is improving in London, two projects are under construction, and another is off to the editor next month.
And of course, we just released Standish 2: The Virus.
I’ll be the first one to admit that the COVID pandemic made me think about writing a book, set in the universe I’ve created, dealing with a deadly viral outbreak. Being me, I didn’t want to make it too heavy on all the ‘science’, just a light-weight story about a virus affecting a planet, and Standish and her team being sent in to investigate. Considering people have already made films about lockdown, I don’t think I was jumping the gun by releasing this book. It’s a little light on action for a Standish novel, but hopefully people enjoy it.
Now, the two books on the go…..
Standish 4: The False God.
This isn’t scheduled for release until July of ’23, but this novel is around the half-way mark, I’m guessing, and this one will have a boat-load of action. With these follow-on stories to Standish, it’s all about giving the main character those experiences that turned her into the character at the end of her career in Standish.
The second book on the go is The Rescue 2: The Buccaneers.
Right. The first Rescue book is going to the editor in May for a July release. These will be fast, hard hitting action novels set in the old Empire, with a focus on Rescue Technicians, the role that Standish had in the fleet before joining SF. These novels are light, fun, and hopefully page-turners.
I’m feeling fairly confident about keeping on top of my publishing timeline, with potential projects currently on the calendar all the way out to mid-2025. The plan, once things get a bit smoothed out, would be to release one book from each stream, per year. 1 Earth Saga novel/1 Standish/1 Rescue/1 Standalone. That is the plan, just need to keep tapping the keys to get there.
In the meantime, I’ve been trying to get out and about when the weather allows. I had a friend in town recently from the US, and we managed to go to the National Gallery, the Tate Britain, and the Tate Modern during his visit.
I also managed to pick up this lovely book filled with some incredible sci-fi artwork. Flipping through this is just a great experience that gets the creative juices flowing and helps me get ideas for the worlds that I’m trying to create.
The rest of April will be devoted to getting more words on the page for the two open projects and getting The Rescue 1 ready to be sent off to my editor. That will take priority. Hopefully there will be a few opportunities to get out and about, see some sights, maybe a museum or art gallery. A wander around London is one of my favourite things to do, and with warmer weather on the way, hopefully I’ll be able to get in a few good walks.
Until next time, stay safe out there.
March 19, 2022
Closing in on the end of March
We’re approaching the end of March, and the weather in London looks like it’s turning in the right direction, which is always a plus!
With April looming, work is plowing ahead on getting some artwork done for Standish 2. This will be the first installment in the Standish series following Standish. Hopefully fans will enjoy these reads, with the 3rd instalment coming out next January, while the 4th is currently under construction.
Right now, I’ll have to admit I’m a little bogged down. I spent a week in the US, so that somewhat threw me off track with editing the first book in The Rescue series, which is due out in July. Ugh. Too many projects on the go!
All the books planned for the rest of ’22 are complete: Standish 2, The Rescue, and Earth Saga 8: Terminal Frontier, Now it’s just a question of getting them edited and getting some groovy cover art.
These things take time, but hopefully fans will enjoy the final product. With every new book, I’m trying to build upon the universe that I’ve already created, adding some depth and complexity, flushing out the universe that the books take place in. Hopefully without too many continuity errors! Getting harder and harder to track all the moving pieces.
On the entertainment front, I watched a great documentary on Miles Davis, so in turn, I’ve purchased a few more of his records, along with a book on jazz. Need to get my knowledge up.
I also had my first real night out since Covid hit. Went to the Royal Opera House to watch Romeo and Juliet with the Royal Ballet. A good night out, and I’m never one to shy away from the chance of getting dressed up!
On the reading front, I binged on some history books. Tragically, I read very slowly, so it’ll take some time to get through these, but I’m a firm believer that one must always be learning.
On the film front, I haven’t watched much good lately, other than the Boeing documentary. Scary stuff.
The rest of March will be dedicated to getting more words on the page for Standish 4, and sourcing artwork for Standish 2. After that, I need to focus on editing The Rescue so that can get to the editor for May. Push, push, push.
Until next time, stay safe out there.
With April looming, work is plowing ahead on getting some artwork done for Standish 2. This will be the first installment in the Standish series following Standish. Hopefully fans will enjoy these reads, with the 3rd instalment coming out next January, while the 4th is currently under construction.
Right now, I’ll have to admit I’m a little bogged down. I spent a week in the US, so that somewhat threw me off track with editing the first book in The Rescue series, which is due out in July. Ugh. Too many projects on the go!
All the books planned for the rest of ’22 are complete: Standish 2, The Rescue, and Earth Saga 8: Terminal Frontier, Now it’s just a question of getting them edited and getting some groovy cover art.
These things take time, but hopefully fans will enjoy the final product. With every new book, I’m trying to build upon the universe that I’ve already created, adding some depth and complexity, flushing out the universe that the books take place in. Hopefully without too many continuity errors! Getting harder and harder to track all the moving pieces.
On the entertainment front, I watched a great documentary on Miles Davis, so in turn, I’ve purchased a few more of his records, along with a book on jazz. Need to get my knowledge up.
I also had my first real night out since Covid hit. Went to the Royal Opera House to watch Romeo and Juliet with the Royal Ballet. A good night out, and I’m never one to shy away from the chance of getting dressed up!
On the reading front, I binged on some history books. Tragically, I read very slowly, so it’ll take some time to get through these, but I’m a firm believer that one must always be learning.
On the film front, I haven’t watched much good lately, other than the Boeing documentary. Scary stuff.
The rest of March will be dedicated to getting more words on the page for Standish 4, and sourcing artwork for Standish 2. After that, I need to focus on editing The Rescue so that can get to the editor for May. Push, push, push.
Until next time, stay safe out there.
February 20, 2022
Feb 2022
We’re approaching the end of February, and I can report that the year has started on a positive front.
We’ve published Arpina & Fairlight, and at least one person likes it.
At the moment, we’ve got several projects open, and I’ll get everyone up to date on where things stand.
The next book scheduled for release is Standish 2: The Virus. This book is with the editor and going to be released in April. Shorter than Standish and without the body count, I think this is an excellent chance to deliver a slightly less action-packed story.
After that, we have the first book in the Rescue series. Vanuri Down. This will up the action and be a tight, compact little read. I hope this will be the first in a new series of action focused books that follow Imperial Rescue Techs. This book is in one of several editing phases. We’re looking at a July release of this title.
The 8th book in the Earth Saga Series, Terminal Frontier. This will be the longest Earth Saga novel and the penultimate book in the series. This story is also complete and slotted for an October release.
Next up, we have the 3rd book in the Standish series: The Daughter. This will be action-heavy and is currently primarily complete—Jan 23 release date.
Next is another standalone. Cryne In the Wrong Dimension. This book is finished and awaiting edits. Action heavy, this story will focus on a character we’ve seen in two other books, hopefully giving them a proper send-off.
Finally, the last open project is Standish 4. The False God. What happens when you give someone too much power? Trouble. This will be another action-packed phase in the Standish series, and hopefully, one the fans enjoy.
The plan to release four titles a year seems to be on track. 2023 will also hopefully see the release of the 9th book in the Earth Saga series, which will be the last story with all the main characters from the series in lead roles. I’m thinking of options on how to continue to the story after book 9, but we’re most likely going to see all the main characters pushed to supporting roles; that way, a reader could pick up the first book in phase two and start reading from there.
On another note, I’m trying to get print books available. I’ve tried one system but haven’t quite got it figured out yet, so hopefully, we’ll be able to have something available in the next few months.
On the entertainment front, I recently watched Double Indemnity, an older film, and proof positive that modern cinema stinks. Wrath of Man, the latest instalment from Guy Ritchie, wasn’t great, but it was one of his better films of late.
Tragically, the Book of Boba Fett by Disney was just horrible. Badly written. Bad action sequences. Nonsensical plot. It boggles the mind that Disney and the team behind the show came up with such a lousy product. You’d like to think with a team of nerds and big money, they’d get a good product out, but this was too much to ask.
As a fan of sci-fi, I’m always searching for inspiration, and I recently received this book in the mail. Incredible imagery and some great concepts. If the funds ever become available, I’d love to commission some of these artists to create a sourcebook for the Earth Saga Universe.
The rest of February is going to be focused on writing one book, editing several, while getting some new art to replace two existing covers.
Until next time, stay safe out there.
We’ve published Arpina & Fairlight, and at least one person likes it.
At the moment, we’ve got several projects open, and I’ll get everyone up to date on where things stand.
The next book scheduled for release is Standish 2: The Virus. This book is with the editor and going to be released in April. Shorter than Standish and without the body count, I think this is an excellent chance to deliver a slightly less action-packed story.
After that, we have the first book in the Rescue series. Vanuri Down. This will up the action and be a tight, compact little read. I hope this will be the first in a new series of action focused books that follow Imperial Rescue Techs. This book is in one of several editing phases. We’re looking at a July release of this title.
The 8th book in the Earth Saga Series, Terminal Frontier. This will be the longest Earth Saga novel and the penultimate book in the series. This story is also complete and slotted for an October release.
Next up, we have the 3rd book in the Standish series: The Daughter. This will be action-heavy and is currently primarily complete—Jan 23 release date.
Next is another standalone. Cryne In the Wrong Dimension. This book is finished and awaiting edits. Action heavy, this story will focus on a character we’ve seen in two other books, hopefully giving them a proper send-off.
Finally, the last open project is Standish 4. The False God. What happens when you give someone too much power? Trouble. This will be another action-packed phase in the Standish series, and hopefully, one the fans enjoy.
The plan to release four titles a year seems to be on track. 2023 will also hopefully see the release of the 9th book in the Earth Saga series, which will be the last story with all the main characters from the series in lead roles. I’m thinking of options on how to continue to the story after book 9, but we’re most likely going to see all the main characters pushed to supporting roles; that way, a reader could pick up the first book in phase two and start reading from there.
On another note, I’m trying to get print books available. I’ve tried one system but haven’t quite got it figured out yet, so hopefully, we’ll be able to have something available in the next few months.
On the entertainment front, I recently watched Double Indemnity, an older film, and proof positive that modern cinema stinks. Wrath of Man, the latest instalment from Guy Ritchie, wasn’t great, but it was one of his better films of late.
Tragically, the Book of Boba Fett by Disney was just horrible. Badly written. Bad action sequences. Nonsensical plot. It boggles the mind that Disney and the team behind the show came up with such a lousy product. You’d like to think with a team of nerds and big money, they’d get a good product out, but this was too much to ask.
As a fan of sci-fi, I’m always searching for inspiration, and I recently received this book in the mail. Incredible imagery and some great concepts. If the funds ever become available, I’d love to commission some of these artists to create a sourcebook for the Earth Saga Universe.
The rest of February is going to be focused on writing one book, editing several, while getting some new art to replace two existing covers.
Until next time, stay safe out there.
