Jim Christopher's Blog

Greetings, bookworms. It’s March, which means it’s my birthday, so I’m here with the annual roundup of my indulgent personal bookfair. This year had several pertinent and overlapping themes.

Photo by Natalie Bond on Pexels.com

First theme: ownership. As in, having the book, not just “the rights to view the book as long as Amazon deems I should be able to.” So my focus this year was on locating physical copies of specific book. Even though Bookshop.org has started selling e-books (which I love), I’m still interested in obtaining hard copies of these books in particular. Reasons will become apparent in a few paragraphs.

Second theme: local bookstores. I moved to Decatur in late 2023, and with the changes brought about by my “forced retirement” in early 2024, I haven’t done much exploring of the local bookstore landscape. That needed to change.

Third theme: banned books. Every book on my shopping list this year has been banned from public schools or libraries for violating someone’s moral compass. Specifically, my list narrows around books highlighting the (mis)treatment of women and underrepresented ethnic groups, and the horrors of fascism and humanity’s various responses to it.

The intersection of these three themes–physical books, from local stores, highlighting peoples and topics being marginalized in the current political climate–formed the basis for my journey.

My first stop was Atlanta Vintage Books. Lovely store, lovely people inside; I even ran into another customer celebrating their birthday there–seems like a destination for local bibliophiles. The space is extensive, covering two floors of liminal twisty passages. I asked the shopkeeps if they happened to have a banned book display. A woman turned from her computer with an exasperated expression and asked if I was kidding. She pointed behind me. To the giant shelf with the giant sign with giant block letters that read BANNED BOOKS.

So, yes, they had a banned book display. From which, I snagged several titles from my list:

Diary of a Young Girl by Anne FrankThe Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret AtwoodTo Kill a Mockingbird by Harper LeeThe Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

Overall, super in-love with Atlanta Vintage Books. Lots of opportunity to get lost, both literally and figuratively, and I’ll be spending more time and money there for sure.

Next stop was Eagle Eye Bookshop. This place is special to me, as the first bookstore I visited after moving to the Atlanta area. Extremely well-stocked, from classics to graphics and everything in between. I dropped a cash bomb on them, and walked away with most of my list:

Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt VonnegutCat’s Cradle by Kurt VonnegutAnimal Farm by George Orwell1984 by George OrwellCatch-22 by Joseph HellerMaus (Vols I and II) by Art SpeigelmanI Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya AngelouFlowers in the Attic by V. C. Andrews

I also made an impulse purchase, because that’s what one does at a bookstore. Not on a banned list (that I’m aware of). I just really love this guy’s work:

What Kind of Mother by Clay McLeod Chapman

Eagle Eye also had a central display dedicated to banned books. Quite well done, with each book including a short introduction on where it’s been banned and why. Lots of contemporary books, with strong representation of LGBQT and gender issues.

And as I do on every visit, I checked Eagle Eye’s local author display, hoping to find myself there. No prizes for guessing what I found (or didn’t find).

Next stop was supposed to be Community Books in Stone Mountain. However, there was some kind of Mardi Gras celebration event in the area. Too many people and cars for me. So I put a pin in that store visit and headed to The Book Bird in Avondale Estates.

Quant little bookshop, sharing its co-op space with a fiber arts supply (fabrics and yarn) and an antique store. Selection was intriguing, although I didn’t find what I was looking for. I did snag two books from there that looked compelling:

This is How you Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone (I’ve heard wonderful things, and I love unconventional storytelling)How to Protect Bookstores and Why by Danny Caine (which seemed oddly on-the-nose for the day’s theme)

At this point I was tuckered out. I headed home for a birthday snooze. A couple of days later, I hit the Half Price Books in Decatur (while my wife ransacked the closing Joann’s next door), where I located the remaining books on my list:

All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria RemarqueOne Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey

All said and done, an excellent haul, and a rewarding way to celebrate turning forty-twelve. As for what’s first on the TBR, I’ve opted for Vonnegut. I’ve already consumed Cat’s Cradle, moving on to Slaughterhouse-Five as I write this. I love his surgical satire, the layers of meaning in every chapter that poke at every human in some form or fashion.

I don’t hope to replicate that skill. I can, however, enjoy the process of learning and failing. As Billy Pilgrim would say, “So it goes.”

Today I’m chatting with Dawn Chapman, author of the Pilots of Artem science fiction series. You can read a taste of the series in the free novella Wait for Me.

Dawn Chapman (left) and birb (right)

What inspired you to start writing?

I started writing at six. I begged my parents for a typewriter while walking around a car boot sale—like a flea market. From then on, I began creating worlds and never stopped. I just needed to get my stories out of my head.

I was enamored with typewriters for along time, too. The sound and tactile feel. Nothing quite like it. Tell us about Pilots of Artem and the novella Wait for Me.

The series focuses on a LitRPG storytelling style, including stats, body mods, and character progression arcs. I create high-octane action and temper it with mysteries that take some time to unravel. Plus, readers will discover a “found family” dynamic, accentuated by the strong friendship between the male main character and his female co-pilot. 

As a trigger warning, I’ll add that I’m pretty blunt in my storytelling.

Ah, I’ve learned to interpret an author saying their writing is ‘blunt’ as “my words are going to punch you in the gut.” Sounds like your personal experiences have influenced the plots or characters in your books.

Absolutely. There’s a bit of me in all my work. Those who know me personally will recognize some of the things I’ve been through.

I touch on topics like sexual abuse in Steel Hearts, eating disorders in several stories, and self-harm as a coping mechanism in Interstellar Pawn.

What about personal interests or hobbies?

My background has definitely influenced this series: motorcycles, racing, and a lifelong love of sci-fi and its subgenres.

For this story, I immersed myself in the world of helicopter training and piloting. I spent 18 months in research mode, talking to real helicopter pilots from both military and civilian backgrounds. Flying helicopters is absolutely fascinating. I read every biography I could find about war veterans and spoke to countless people in the field. One theme in the story is firefighting from helicopters, which completely captured my heart. The bravery and resilience of these professionals are breathtaking.

Sounds like readers should expect a lot of rich and realistic details in your stories! Once the research is done, what is your writing process like? Do you follow a specific routine or ritual when working on a project?

I’m prolific enough to juggle several projects at once, which keeps me writing even if one project feels a little stale.

I make notes and write scenes for projects years in advance. I also put a lot of effort into world-building and research, especially for niche subjects like helicopter flying.

So, what was the initial spark or idea that led to the creation of Wait for Me?

Wait for Me was a challenge. I was tasked with writing 14,000 words for Valentine’s Day in one of my Discord servers. So, I thought, “Why not?” I wrote it in a day and edited it over the course of a few months.

That’s an insane level of output! Can you introduce us to the main characters and their motivations in your new release?

This story is told from Nico’s point of view. He’s a helicopter medic grappling with the fear of saying, “I love you.” It also shows how he meets Rusty, the protagonist of the series, and how his life changes—and changes fast.

I always dive straight into my stories. This one doesn’t hold back. That said, this book is a different style for me. I wanted it to be a slow burn, slice-of-life story, but still include the high-octane moments my readers expect. It’s a shared world, so there are crossovers with the other authors’ contributions. It was such fun to weave these connections into the series.

And this story hits hard—really hard. From the very first chapters, the emotions are intense. I’ve received wonderful messages from readers about how much the story moved them.

Were there any particular challenges you faced while writing this book?

The series had huge challenges, partly because it’s a shared world. The City of Artem universe includes contributions from three other fantastic authors.

Personally, I faced devastating losses while working on this series. I had just drafted the first book when I lost my mom in November 2023. Then, in April, I lost my editor and close friend, Briar.

Continuing was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Finding another editor and keeping pace with deadlines felt impossible. At times, I struggled with dark thoughts and coped with self-harm, but I reached out to professionals and took a much-needed break to recover.

I’m sorry to hear about the struggles, but glad to hear you sought help and took time for yourself. Writing is cathartic for many folks, but the process takes a lot of energy. So, if you had to choose one book from your backlog for readers to “get to know your writing better,” what book would you choose, and why?

Any of them! My largest series is The Secret King, a passion project originally written in 2007 as a feature film and later developed into a TV series with a co-writer. Now, it’s over 23 books long, ranging from short stories to full-length novels.

But if I had to pick, Pilots of Artem has been my favorite. The friendship and emotional rollercoaster in this series are unmatched.

Awesome. Poking through your catalog, and there is a wealth of options there already. What are you currently working on, and where can readers stay updated with your latest news and releases?

I’m working on a spinoff I shouldn’t be (haha) for a new series launching in February with Chris Kennedy Publishers: Interstellar Pawn. It’s a sci-fi progression fantasy, and I’m thrilled to be working with such professionals.

For updates, Facebook is usually my first point of contact. I’m also active in my Discord server and happy to answer questions about series or upcoming projects.

—

Read Chapman’s Wait for Me at no cost today, and check out Dawn’s Amazon page, join her Patreon, and find other information on her author website.

Today I have the pleasure of tapping the brain of Jack Shilkaitis, indie science fiction writer from the state of Iowa and author of the Scions of Oth military space opera series. 

Okay, so you’ve got a rather extensive series to talk about today. Specifically, the military science fiction opera Scions of Oth. What should readers expect? 

Scions of Oth is a continuing series. Season One contains the first 9 books (I call them episodes), but I am currently in the middle of writing and releasing the episodes for Season Two. Chaturaji, the 13th book in the series and the 4th in Season Two, is currently available for preorder and set to release on September 29, 2024. There are lots of recurring characters, so if you’re in the know then you should kinda know what to expect. It’s space opera with plenty of action and character development. 

What was the initial spark or idea that led to the creation of this book? 

Battlestar Galactica. The reboot. Specifically the characters and interpersonal relationships, along with the more gritty style of space opera when compared to things like Star Trek. Something about the show just stuck with me and a whole story evolved from there.

Yeah, the Battlestar Galactica reboot really changed the flavor of science fiction at the time. Star Trek, Stargate, and the like were so… optimistic, I suppose is the word I’m looking for here. But BG really changed the storytelling, brought a more brutal vision of humanity’s future. Outside of that, what personal experiences have influenced the themes and characters in your stories? 

I’ve never been on a spaceship, but I have plenty of human experience to draw from and do so whenever possible. Becoming a parent was probably the biggest change and influence on my writing that I’ve seen.

Kids’ll do that to ya (change your life, I mean). Any other authors you’d mention as influences?

It all started with Isaac Asimov with Foundation. From there I was also inspired by Orson Scott Card, Kevin J Anderson, Frank Herbert, Glenn Cook, and just a pinch of H.P. Lovecraft.

Oh, some OG Science Fiction greats in there! You must have gained an interest in storytelling quite young, then. What inspired you to start writing? What makes your author’s voice unique? 

Yeah, I’ve always been telling stories since I was a kid. I used to draw picture books and dictate the story to family before I knew how to write. As I grew older, I discovered science fiction through books, tv, movies, and video games (like most millennials did). Video games in particular became a place where I could tell stories again, in the case of StarCraft and other similar customizable games.

As for my voice, I’m a bit of a chameleon. I pick up on the quirks of the authors I read, which means I have to be very careful about what I read. I try to convey the emotion of the character’s experience, regardless of the circumstance. For me, the plot is a vehicle for the characters, not the other way around.

Sounds like storytelling has been with you since the beginning. So, what is your writing process like? Do you follow a specific routine or ritual when working on a new project? 

When I write, I try to stick to a routine as best as I can. I have three young kids, so it’s not always easy. I actually have been pretty consistent at writing while on my phone on the treadmill. It’s kind of a two birds with one stone proposition, since I could stand to lose a few pounds, as well.

Consistency is key. I admire you writing on the treadmill–that’s something I’ve tried without much success. And you’re an indie author, I should have mentioned before. That’s by choice, from what I know about you. So why go indie? Does it offer some freedoms compared to more traditional publishing routes? 

Oh, too many to count. In my opinion, traditional publishing should be something you stumble into these days and shouldn’t be the first thing you aim at as an aspiring writer. Just write and publish. Focus on your readers and what they want. Build an audience. Take it into your own hands and make it your own. If you get a publishing deal someday, that’s great. You don’t need to languish in obscurity with unseen manuscripts cluttering your hard drive.

Yep. I am of the same ilk. My goal is to write stories and share them, with as few roadblocks as possible. And speaking of stories, you’re working on the next season of Scion of Oth, I assume? Where can readers stay updated with your latest news and releases? 

I am continuing to work on the Scions of Oth series. I have additional content in that same universe I’m working on, as well, spin-offs with different characters to expand the scope of the overall story. The best way to stay updated is by subscribing to my newsletter (link: https://scionsofoth.com/author).

What has been the most memorable piece of reader feedback you’ve received on the series (so far)? 

Probably the most memorable piece of feedback I’ve gotten was from a reader describing my series as ‘Star Trek on Steroids.’ It was entirely unprompted and made my day.

That is certainly high praise! How do you engage with your readers? 

I send my newsletter weekly and always try to have something to offer. Whether it is a new short story or some kind of bonus content, I do my best to provide more content for my readers, since I know that’s what they’re really after.

That’s a lot of creative product. How do you handle writer’s block or creative slumps? 

I’ve learned that writer’s block—for me, at least—comes on when I haven’t properly prepared for what I’m writing next. Spending time plotting and fleshing out events in the story is what I have to do to keep it at bay. Otherwise, it’s just about eating the frog. Motivation is doing the thing you want to do when you don’t want to do it, and that’s how I stay motivated to continue writing. I just do it.

Mmmm… frogs. Seriously, as a fellow plotter/planner, I know how much time this can consume. How do you balance writing with other aspects of your life, such as family, work, or hobbies? 

Balance? What’s balance? I have to keep myself on a tight schedule and make time for the people and things I care about. When I’m really in a groove and stay consistent, though, balancing it all doesn’t feel taxing or like a burden. It feels fulfilling.

So when you’re not writing, how do you enjoy spending your time? 

I’m a long time Magic the Gathering player and have also recently gotten into Warhammer 40k (the Emperor Protects). I also have a martial arts and fitness background, having studied multiple martial arts from an early age. I also like to lift heavy things.

Well, as much as you joke about “balance,” it seems you’ve applied the concept to your life rather well, sir.

—

Check out Jack’s boxed set season of Scions of Oth, and visit his author website to learn more about him and his books, or to join his weekly newsletter.

E. M. Rensing

Today I’m chatting with E. M. Rensing, military science fiction author of The Heliosphere Trilogy and The Abiota Series. She graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 2008, and enjoyed a 13 year career as a Cyber Operations Officer. Her military service took her around the world, from the bright lights of Asia to the depths of half-forgotten Air Guard bases. As a writer, she draws on her educational and technical background, as well as her experiences as an officer, to craft truly unique science fiction. When not writing, she enjoys sewing, theoretical physics, and raising the next generation of little readers. E.M. Rensing lives with her husband and daughters in south Texas.

What inspired you to start writing?

I’ve been writing since before I could write; I used to scribble pictures and narrate the stories to my mom. God bless her, she’d write it down for me. I have improved since then, though! 

Do your personal experiences and background influence the themes and characters in your stories?

I’m an Air Force Academy graduate (Class of 2008) and served thirteen years as a Cyber Operations Officer in the Air Force. I worked some interesting assignments in that time, including 18 months at Space Command headquarters and four years as the cyber lead for an MQ-9 unit. I’ve also traveled all over the world, most of it on my own (albeit with a few crazy official military trips as well). All of that definitely comes into my work. 

Oh wow! That’s a lot of life experience from which to draw. I imagine you’ve got memories that would sound like fiction to me.

Oh, it is so hard to keep direct personal experience out of it when I’m writing military characters! I have some absolutely insane stories from my time in the service, people I’ve worked with and things I’ve seen (and things I’ve done) that make for great starting points. But I’m not writing memoirs here; I want things to feel real, but characters and situations have to develop independently. I try to keep to the spirit of the people I served with. 

What about other writers? Who are some of the authors or books that have influenced your writing?

Neal Stephenson was one of my favorite writers back in high school and college, and really showed me that you can have a very broad base of interests but still tell great stories. Peter Hamilton and William Gibson are some other writers whose work I love, along with Ursula K. LeGuin; I especially admire her spare, rich style. Lately I’ve been reading a lot of Warhammer 40K stuff; Guy Haley, Christopher Wright, and Dan Abnett are all legit top-notch writers. It’s a universe that allows for a lot of different stories to be told in different ways and those guys are very good at adapting their style and voice to the subject matter at hand. I find that inspirational.

Oh, I love me some Neal Stephenson, too. Cryptomonicon is such a wonderful combination of storytelling and World War II history. And Seveneves might be one of my favorite sci-fi epics. 

What is your writing process like? Do you follow a specific routine or ritual when working on a new project?

I have little kids, so I do all my writing in the morning before they’re awake. I try to plot, but I also like to figure out the story and characters as I go. I always know the major characters’ arcs and the major story beats, but there’s a lot of wiggle room in there. I need that element of discovery in order to stay invested. I set word goals for myself (usually 10K per week) and deadlines with my editor to help keep me on track!

Ten thousand words a week is incredible, especially with kids. How are you spending that time at the moment?

I just finished up a super-fun military science fantasy retelling of The Nutcracker, Engines of Winter, which will be on Kickstarter later this month. I’m currently drafting a gaslamp fantasy novel (think Jules Verne meets Supernatural), set in 1880s Colorado. Very excited about both of those projects!  

Ok, I’m dying to learn more about your Nutcracker retelling, but I’ll check out the Kickstarter since we’re here to talk about your latest series. Tell us about it. What should readers expect?

My current series that I’m rapid releasing, The Abiota Series, starts out with Source Code. The fifth book, Virch Code, comes out in September. It’s a near-future series where a grad student, a pilot and a military AI have to get to the bottom of a supposed alien first contact event. But the truth of it, and the reasons behind it, are far stranger than anyone imagined. It’s R-rated (language and violence), with plenty of mystery, action, and AI goodness. I go way beyond Asimov’s Three Laws with this one!

Oooh that sounds like my cup of tea. What was the initial spark or idea that led to the creation of this book?

One of the professional education classes I had to take for the Air Force a few years back was focused on future technologies. One of the things the military is putting a lot of scholarship against right now is the question of autonomous weapon systems (the fancy term for killer robots). I LOVED the discussions in that class, and it never really left my mind. It seemed like the perfect concept to explore for this series. 

Interesting! Militarization of autonomous machines–reminds me of Kill Decision by Daniel Suarez, if you’re familiar. Can you introduce us to your main characters and their motivations?

There are three main characters. The central character, Daelia Hall, is a 26 year old who recently left her PhD program after a moral disagreement with her advisor. Now, she’s stuck working for her dad’s defense contracting firm, trying to figure her life out. When her dad goes missing and she’s asked to consult on a fallen UFO in his place, she gets drawn into the mystery. And if Daelia’s got a fault, it’s that she can’t let anything go. 

The other main human character is Captain Jason “Argo” Irvington, a pilot who’s recently transferred into the Texas Air Guard from active duty in order to be closer to family. It’s a real culture shock for him, but he has to get his feet under him quick if he’s going to deal with all the crazy that’s about to break loose.

Then there’s Emily, one of the “abiota”, or artificial intelligences, in one of the unit’s MQ-9s. Emily is my absolute favorite; she’s got a huge personality and really loves her job of blowing stuff up. Maybe a little too much. 

What’s the setting for this story, and why did you choose it?

I actually chose my last base for this story–all details changed for OPSEC purposes, I swear!–because it was the perfect place. Ellington Spaceport is a joint reserve base in Houston, Texas. I needed the military for the story, but I also really wanted to explore this world from a civilian perspective, and I just couldn’t do that in an active warzone on the other side of the planet. Space also figures in heavily and NASA has a lot of stuff out at Ellington. It was the right combination of elements. 

Nice! Houston, Ellington, and Seabrook might not be as well known as Cape Canaveral or White Sands, but the area is a treasure trove of NASA gems. Lots of amazing work happens there folks rarely hear about. 

Were there any particular challenges you faced while writing this book, and how did you address them?

Looking back, the MQ-9 was a challenging pick for a central airplane. I think it’s a cool plane, but I know that the general public might not view it with the same affection. Plus, from a practical perspective, they can’t do cool plane things like dogfight. But it was important to me to not use some bullshit fictional flying machine. At the same time, Emily had to be able to participate in the main action of the series. 

One of the ways I made this happen was through the use of augmented reality that allows Emily. Another was through remote-control devices that a lot of abiota use, called kugutsu, or puppets, which really comes into play for Emily in later books in the series. I think she turned out awesome, and her physical limitations actually make the story more exciting. 

I’m willing to bet the general fascination with unmanned aircraft is a great match for your choices, but I understand what you’re saying. I’ve got friends who’ve worked on F-14 Tomcats and they express a special love for that aircraft. Did you conduct any special research for this book? If so, what interesting facts or insights did you discover?

One of the crazy things about this series is that the whole AI thing blew up in the general awareness right as I was starting to work on it. I’d had some contact with it as a cyber ops officer, but not much. So I did a LOT of research on where we are with current technology, as well as what futurists are saying about where we can/should/must/will/won’t end up, thanks to AI. It was interesting to learn just how many flaws this tech has, and how easy it is to hack, if you’re willing to think outside the box. 

Indeed, the topic of AI is pervasive, and misinformation and speculation abounds. I can’t wait to read your point of view on it! So, how does your latest book differ from your previous works in terms of style, tone, or subject matter?

The setting for this one is very different; it’s Earth, 2036. The technology available to play with is more or less a known quantity to readers. I wanted this start as grounded as possible so you really feel how the abiota have changed things. But there are also probably a lot of similar elements with The Heliosphere Trilogy as well, especially when it comes to the way I write the military. Normal people shoved into extraordinary situations, with no choice but to pull out a victory, no matter what it takes.

Nice! High stakes conflict! What emotions or thoughts do you hope readers will take away after finishing your book?

If anything, I hope it gets people to look at the concept of artificial intelligence in a different way. So many stories are either “AI is inherently murderous” or “humans are the real monsters” and I wanted to get out of that dichotomy. Because I just don’t think that’ll be how it will be.

Lovely. I agree with your sentiment, for what that’s worth. My background (cognitive science and technology) has taught me that “good” or “bad” apply to human choices, not technologies. Is there a favorite scene or moment from your book?

So I don’t want to get into spoilers, but there’s a moment in Virch Code when Daelia is at her lowest. Just captured by the guy who’s been hunting her all day, locked up, nowhere to run, no allies, no escape. Then comes help from the most unexpected of sources and with their intervention, all hell breaks loose. As fun as that all was, the emotional impact on Daelia is huge. She’s not a woman who likes to be vulnerable, but she’s about to have her world shattered and how she deals with it really defines her as a person to me. 

Yeah well, as much as Daelia may not enjoy it, that sounds like amazing character development. 

So generally speaking, who do you consider your ideal reader?

I write for people who want science fiction that’s curious about the future, who want to explore what-ifs and how-abouts in stories that don’t view that future (or us as people!) as hopeless. I think my readers like the spirit of the classics but are eager for something new.

Having read some of The Heliosphere Trilogy, I’d say you’re hitting that target dead center. Between your characters, settings, and action, you develop a great sense of “tentative wonder” that is the hallmark of classic science fiction. So, how do you engage with your readers?

Right now, my newsletter and Kickstarters are the best way I’ve found to interact. It’s hard! Email is great. I do try to respond to all my emails but it’s tough sometimes (did I mention I have toddlers?). 

I hear you. So, what has been the most memorable feedback you’ve received so far?

My favorite message so far was from somebody who was angry at me for making space dangerous in my Heliosphere prequel short story. I thought that was an interesting thing to be upset about. But humanity’s attempts to deal with the dangers of long-term exposure to exo-atmospheric conditions is a major world-building element in that series, so it had to be in there!

Yeah but, space is… *checks notes*… extremely dangerous. Statistically speaking, everything in space will kill you. Oh, you know what, to each their own I suppose. 

Any chance you’ll be engaging in book signings, readings, or virtual events where readers might find you?

My babies are finally toddlers, so I can finally dedicate some time to book signings! I’ve got a few events I’m going to here in Houston this fall, and hopefully, will be able to do some more in-person stuff next year. 

That’s awesome! Hopefully folks reading this in and around Houston will check out the dates on your website and brave the traffic on 610 to say ‘hello.’ Really appreciate your time today, E. M.!

—

Check out SOURCE CODE, first book in The Abiota series !

To learn more about E. M. Rensing, her work, or her upcoming signing events, visit her website at https://www.rensingwrites.com. There, you can sign up for her newsletter and learn more about her ongoing Kickstarter campaign. You can also follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

Hello, reader!

This post lists the emotional and psychological triggers you’ll find in my novel SEE RED. This list includes spoilers. Read on as you see fit.

As the book’s author, my goal is not to sensationalize any of these topics, but to use them as part of a compelling, logical story that thrills my readers. If you believe this list of triggers for SEE RED is incomplete, please let me know using the contact form in the menu above.

Lots of profanityLots of physical action and violence: occurs on-pageReferences to self-harm (specifically, cutting and suicide): no self-harm occurs on-page, but it is described as a ritual for emotional control over a character’s anxietyReferences to child exploitation; no acts occur on-page, but there are brief descriptions of candid photographs that are discoveredReferences to sexual assault; no acts occur on-page, but this topic arises as unknowns concerning some of the characters (eg, a character wondering if another has been assaulted); there are several scenes of rising tension suggesting that a sexual assault is going to occur, but it never doesDiscussions of the loss of a child to suicide, and the impact that has on the familyDiscussions of the long-term emotional and dynamic impact that a sexual assault has on a familyReferences to methamphetamines; no drugs are used on-page, but narratives of its impact on individuals doesKidnapping (on-page)

This interview took place on 15 Dec 2023 via video call between Jody Wallace’s cat Mittens and Jim’s dog Bama. Jody Wallace is the indie sci-fi author of CATALYST, which you can download for free by subscribing to her author newsletter.

Mittens is the orange tabby of indie sci-fi author Jody Wallace. Mittens enjoys swatting, biting, attention, and vulgar displays of cute aggression. You can find Mittens under your feet at the least opportune moments.

Bama is the mutt of speculative fiction author Jim Christopher. Bama enjoys praise, being left alone, not pooping for extended periods of time to prolong his walks, chewing on things he finds on the ground, and extracting yum-yums from the trash can.

MITTENS: So, your human writes books. Are they (a) full of praise and hyped up lies about dogs; or (b) do they contain interesting stories? If A, interview is over. If B, you may continue.

BAMA: He does write books. Spends a lot of time on it. Time that could, you know, be used for better things. Like watching me lick myself. Or getting me treats.

MITTENS: If writers are supposed to be so smart, why does your writer have a dog instead of a cat when it’s common knowledge cats are better? Does that mean your writer isn’t very smart?

BAMA: Well now, thing is, I’m mostly Husky (even though I don’t look like it). And as everyone knows, Huskies are the most feline species of dog. But don’t read too much into it: the human’s not very smart at all. He does alright; I mean, he’s a bit of a rescue, you know? Got his own set of weird things going on. But he’s trying his best.

MITTENS: So why did your human end up a writer instead of an animal sanctuary owner or something like that?

BAMA: You know I’m not sure, really. It makes him happy, which he says is important. Unless what makes you happy is eating dental floss out of the bathroom trash, or chasing squirrels into traffic. Then happiness is “off limits” and “dangerous” and “you’re going to die why are you like this.”

MITTENS: Are there other dogs, cats, animals, or anything like that in your human’s life that help inspire their books?

BAMA: Oh, there was another dog. Gunner. Big sloppy toy-obsessed Yellow Lab. Did nothing but fetch fetch fetch. Jim says he took him to live on some kind of farm a few months ago. Been moody ever since, eyes sometimes get leaky. I mean I get it—Gunner was a lot to live with, always needing attention, right under his feet or at his side everyday all the time. I’d be emotional, too, if I got all that time and personal space back.

MITTENS: As a dog, you’re probably not devious or fascinating, but on the off chance you do have feline traits, what are your techniques for distracting your human during crucial writing moments?

MITTENS: I am a fan of the classics. Bark to go out, then don’t go out. Bark and scratch when he closes the door, until he opens it again. Finally go out, bark to come in, then don’t come in. I learned that one from the neighbor’s white Persian, by the way. Whiskers is his name: good kid, really going places.

And I make it my own, you know? Bolt out the basement door, then run up the deck stairs and bark to be let in the other door. Gotta keep the humans active. Movement is medicine.

MITTENS: What indignities and neglect have you suffered because of your human’s writing career (besides the absence of a cat to properly rule the house)?

BAMA: I am so glad you asked, but I have to give you a trigger warning first: if late feedings bother you, stop reading now.

So sometimes, when Jim’s “on a roll,” he’ll make me wait for my precious, precious kibbles. And I don’t mean like waiting to cross the street—we’re taking minutes I must suffer with grumbly tummies. I wish such penance on no one.

MITTENS: We’ve established your human doesn’t write stories full of hyped up lies about dogs. Tell me about the felines in your human’s fiction. How often do they appear and how big a part do they play?

BAMA: I had to ask him about this one. And boy did he go on and on (and on) about his work in progress. Said there’s a Persian cat in this story, which you remember Whiskers from earlier, right? Good kid, strong profile, really going places. Anyway, this sci-fi novel is a sequel. In the first story one of the characters is a dog named Neils Bork. Jim says that this follow-on will feature a cat with another science-y name pun.

MITTENS: Since you are a dog, I suppose you can tell us about the dogs in your human’s books, too, and why dogs appear in the books.

BAMA: Well we discussed Neils Bork already. In Gradient Descent, saving Bork sets the whole story in motion. In his other series, there’s a labradoodle named Barfly. Plays side-kick to this kid Emerson, who can see auras and heal people. Also he adds birds to his stories a lot. Crows. I dunno, the guy likes birds for some dumb reason.

When I asked him why he puts animals in his stories, Jim blabbered something about it being easier to relate to dogs and cats and birds than it is to humans. Which, and I’m sure you agree, is obvious. Humans are so weird. Right? Like, why do they do that thing where they open the fridge three times before remembering what food they want? Or that stupid, stupid “daylight savings” thing that somehow makes dinner time the wrong time every six months? Silly, silly creatures living silly, silly lives really.

MITTENS: When your human gets together with other writers, do they spend half their time sniffing each other’s butts like dogs do?

BAMA: Oh I hope so. I don’t like to think of him missing out. It’s the fastest way to read someone’s story, you know?

MITTENS: What is your human’s next project (bonus points if you answer: getting a cat)?

BAMA: Nah, no new pets for a while. He said so, then mumbled about Gunner some more. Which is fine with me. I mean, I’m more than he can handle all by lonesome.

Right now he’s spending his time on the sequel to Gradient Descent: Schrödinger’s Dog, which is titled Gradient Descent: Theory of Anything. He’s got another book he’s editing, some kind of crime thing, no animals, I dunno I stopped listening when I realized he had no treats on him.

Been great “catting” with you Mittens, but I’ve got an appointment and, it’s not like my butt’s gonna rub itself on the carpet, right? Take care of yourself, and good luck with your silly human.

So, I’m turning 50 next week. I can’t say I’m excited about it, but it does have me waxing nostalgic.

Which brings me to book fairs. Remember those? The one day out of the school year when the library you knew was transformed into a different kind of wonderland. That familiar and quiet place became a bustling maze of aisles and endcaps. And the anticipation! The was no longer day in the school year than book fair day…

Time is precious, but the rows of haphazardly organized titles are endless. Soon Miss Manning will issue the ten minute warning. Panic flows mercurial. You bulldoze your final selections to the cashier line. Prayers and bargains hang from your lips: please let me make it in time, and I promise I’ll pay attention in math. The line inches forward, and your gaze crosses exotic treasures: the bins of erasers that are singly unique in the universe; baskets of pointers you could use to point at stuff in your room at home (no need to get Miss Manning’s permission to use the one back in the classroom); an array of writing instruments and flashy notebooks that surely hold the exact combination of atoms that will unlock your own writing. For a moment you flirt with the idea of just piling it on, letting the cashier ring it all up. Somehow you’ll have the money to cover the bill – the Universe wouldn’t let you suffer such an indignity in front of your classmates – but your frenetic mind can’t run the numbers right now.

Photo by Abby Chung on Pexels.com

You blink. Somehow, your purchase is complete. Now you stand by the library doors, showing your books to the others as your mind projects to being at home, in your room, on your bed, surrounded by new tomes of science fiction, fantasy, historical fiction, espionage thrillers, all the wonderful and tropey things you love to read. Impatience scratches at the underside of your skin, and you look back to the library. Some of the class are still in line to pay. A few are still searching, doomed to spend eternity wandering the miasma of choice. The fools!

I miss this anticipation. This comradery over books and reading. I would love to froth over something like I pined for these book fairs. Feed that rabid longing to bring home new worlds and fantastic escapes that made the day full of have-to-dos bearable.

I’m turning 50 next week, and you know what? I want a damned book fair! With drinks and snacks this time!

.social-rocket-tweet {
background-color: #429cd6;
color: #ffffff;
font-size: 24px;
border-style: none;
border-width: 1px;
border-color: #dddddd;
border-radius: 0px;
}
.social-rocket-tweet a {
border-left: 10px solid #3c87b2;
}
.social-rocket-tweet-cta {
color: #ffffff;
text-align: right;
}

.social-rocket-tweet-style-5f1c9b92c951a {
background-color: #ffffff;
color: #429cd6;
font-size: 24px;
border-style: none;
border-width: 1px;
border-color: #dddddd;
border-radius: 0px;
}
.social-rocket-tweet-style-5f1c9b92c951a a {
border-left: 10px solid #3c87b2;
}
.social-rocket-tweet-style-5f1c9b92c951a .social-rocket-tweet-cta {
color: #3c87b2;
text-align: right;
}
I want a damned book fair! With drinks and snacks this time!Click to Tweet

And I have a plan to get it. If you’re like me – if you miss your school book fairs – you can play a part in regaining that fervor and excitement!

Next Wednesday (March 1) is my birthday. My plan is to hit my favorite bookstore that day. I will start with a fixed budget, set a timer on my phone, and commit to get through browsing and checkout before the timer expires. When I’m done, I’ll sidle up with other book fair lovers to compare titles and covers.

Which is where you come in, dear reader. If you are willing to participate, here’s what you can do…

The week of March 1, hit your favorite bookseller. Could be a mom & pop shop, a brick & mortar retail chain, or an online store. Set a budget, set a timer, and go! After you check out, share a photo of your beautiful face and your purchase! Share it on twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, or leave a comment on this blog post. Include a short blurb about why you picked the books you did so everyone can be jealous! Oh, and please include the #JimWritesBookFair hashtag so I can find the social posts easily.

Oh, and while no one is keeping score, BONUS POINTS for purchasing a title by a indie author.

So what do you say? Are you up for a distributed, week-long, social book fair? Know someone else who might be, too? Share this post and get them involved!

This story is autobiographical, hilarious, 100% true, and remains as irritating as an impacted tooth years after it occurred. A day won’t pass without me re-running the evening in my head.

Around 2016, I found myself divorced, living on my own with shared custody of the kids, and had recently adopted a dog. My self-esteem was broken, and I was re-learning who I was around other people.

One evening, I was running a set of errands. First up, I needed dog food and a new fetch toy for my dog – he’s a retriever, and goes through toys like a kid through candy. So I hit the local pet store where I snagged the food he likes and a new squeaky toy for him to destroy. After that, I hit the grocery store for sundries (read: beer). It was at the grocery where the incident occurred.

I gaped vapidly at the assortment of ales from the local brewers behind the frosty glass, wondering which would best satiate the negative voices in my head for the evening and give me some peace.

A voice lilted from my right—soft and friendly, carried on a gentle chuckle. “Well, hello there!”

I turned to find an attractive woman facing me, a smile on her face and a basket hooked in her arm. My initial thoughts protected my diminished self-esteem: she’s not talking to you, she’s talking to someone behind you; she’s got to be on the phone and wearing a Bluetooth headset; she’s probably been waiting to get a quad of pints from the fridge you’re camped in front of, dumbass.

I smiled back, nodded, and stepped away from the chiller door to let her shop. And she stayed put, continued to smile.

“I don’t think I’ve seen you in here before,” she continued.

She was talking to me. As the chest-crushing anxiety hits, I deflected with humor: “Guess as the resident 6’ 2” white guy with dreadlocks down to his ass, I’d be hard to miss.”

“Among other things,” she replied. Her eyebrows raised up a bit, and I realized this woman was flirting with me. She was flirting. With me.

Y’all, please understand that during my miserable post-divorce phase, I was 100% not prepared for this social dance. Hell, on my best days, just the idea of engaging is this tentative waltz-of-wit is terrifying and exhausting. My instinct was to freeze, let her verbally twirl around me without moving a muscle, lest I crush her under my stomping mouth-hooves.

But in that moment, flanked by the wall of liquid confidence, I surprised myself. I flirted back. And to be honest with you (and myself), I did a decent job. Nothing Cerano-esque, but I held my own. She laughed at my humor, and I even got a charming little move out of her where her hand covered her mouth to hide her broadening smile.

After a few minutes of polite banter, complete with subtext, we wished each other well and carried on with our respective evenings. I chose a beer, and as I paid for it, I found my thoughts had a different color to them. They were positive: I mean, folks have always told me I’m funny; I have lost some weight recently; maybe I’m pecking through at this anxious shell, finally.

I rode that high of serotonin for the rest of the evening. Once I got home, I grabbed the beer, piled the dog’s food and toy against my chest with my arm, and went into the house. Pooch welcomed me with wags and tippy-taps, and as we played with his new squeaky toy, I drank my beer and regaled him with the tale of my shining moment earlier that evening.

Two hours and several beers later, the evening was done and it was time to settle into bed. Pooch and I went to the bedroom, where he circled his cushy bed a few times before easing down with a contented sigh. I went to brush my teeth and looked in the mirror for the first time that night.

On my chest, centered over my sternum, I found this sticker:

“Squeeze me, I squeak!”

This sticker is from the toy I purchased for the pooch. At some point, it transferred from the toy and on to my chest. My dog is a large breed and plays with large toys. If you put your flattened hand on your breastbone, you’ll have an idea of the size of this thing. It was not subtle.

My mind immediately spasmed into a post-mortem of the evening’s timeline:

Left houseWent to pet storeBought toyWent to grocerySuccessfully flirted with an attractive womanWent homeUnloaded the carPlayed with dog

There was a thorn in my mind: when did the sticker move from the toy to my shirt? It had to have happened at the pet store, or when I was unloading the car. Either before my innocent and self-healing flirtation session, or after it.

You may wonder why I care when the sticker landed on my chest. A reasonable question if you lack the social anxiety that forces a replay and analysis of conversations years after they happen. So let me explain…

Before I saw the sticker on my chest, I could attribute the evening’s positive flirting experience completely to myself. It was my sense of humor that charmed her, my appearance and self-care that didn’t put her off, my conversational wit that kept her interest. However, the sticker puts a doubt on that. It’s a lot harder to feel responsible for her reactions when my chest carries a saucer-sized advertisement that if one were to squeeze me, I would, in fact, squeak (technically true, but not something I rely on as an ice-breaker). In short, the point in my evening when the sticker arrived on my shirt would determine whether my new positive feelings and confidence were justified, or misplaced.

I have yet to figure it out. There is no definitive evidence that the sticker was on my chest during my conversation with lovely-woman-on-the-beer-aisle. Nor do I have a sign it was missing. So each day I waffle between these two universes—one containing charming Jim and the other buffoon Jim—wondering which is reality and which is the Twilight Zone.

Think of it like this: you’ve heard of Schrödinger’s cat? It’s like that, except instead of a cat in the box, it’s my self-esteem. Sometimes my libido is in there too.

.social-rocket-tweet {
background-color: #429cd6;
color: #ffffff;
font-size: 24px;
border-style: none;
border-width: 1px;
border-color: #dddddd;
border-radius: 0px;
}
.social-rocket-tweet a {
border-left: 10px solid #3c87b2;
}
.social-rocket-tweet-cta {
color: #ffffff;
text-align: right;
}

.social-rocket-tweet-style-5f1c9b92c951a {
background-color: #ffffff;
color: #429cd6;
font-size: 24px;
border-style: none;
border-width: 1px;
border-color: #dddddd;
border-radius: 0px;
}
.social-rocket-tweet-style-5f1c9b92c951a a {
border-left: 10px solid #3c87b2;
}
.social-rocket-tweet-style-5f1c9b92c951a .social-rocket-tweet-cta {
color: #3c87b2;
text-align: right;
}
Think of it like this: you’ve heard of Schrödinger’s cat? It’s like that, except instead of a cat in the box, it’s my self-esteem. Sometimes my libido is in there too.Click to Tweet

Years later, I’m content not to know. I’m married to a wonderful partner (not the woman from the beer aisle), and apparently happy and confident enough to tell this story as a humorous anecdote to my reader instead of privately to my therapist. As I write this, I kind of hope the sticker was on my chest. I mean, think about the story attractive-beer-isle-lady gets to tell, how many moments of joy she’s created by sharing the tale of the unaware hipster on the beer aisle. Does she carry a torch through the aisles of her local markets, wondering what happened to that “Squeeze-me-I-squeak guy?” I like to think she does. Not for my pride. We all need mystery in our lives, and I consider myself a harmless enigma.

A few years after it happened, I was relaying this story to a close friend. When I finished, I expected him to say something. Reinforce one of those potential realities for me.

He sat there for an uncomfortably long time. I told him it was okay to laugh at my expense, but he shook his head. “You’re missing the point,” he said. “You should carry around a roll of those stickers. Whenever you see an attractive woman you’d like to talk to, just slap one of ‘em on your chest.”

And that, dear reader, is today’s lesson in positive mental framing of the unknown.

What about you? What’s an absurd lesson from your own life? Let me know in the comments!

Sick as our Secrets Character Portrait #7

Barfly is a good girl. She doesn’t even work at it. It’s easy, being the loyal companion to her boy and the guardian of his mother. They do so much for her, especially Emerson. That boy is Barfly’s universe. He’s unique. Of all the people the dog has encountered, his heart glows brightest with purity and innocence. And he chose Barfly, out of all the other dogs everywhere. They belong together, forever.

It isn’t always peanut butter and chicken nuggets, of course. Barfly’s boy struggles sometimes. He gets sad. Confused. And his mother can get very angry which upsets Emerson deeply. But whatever comes, Barfly will remain by his side. Nosing his hand when he needs the comfort of her fur. Leaning into him when he needs the security of an embrace. Putting herself between any harm and her boy.

Because Barfly loves her boy, Emerson. He is hers, and she is his. Emerson has always been there for Barfly: giving her table scraps, playing chase and fetch with her. He even leashed her back from the grayness of that next-place we go when our bodies fail us. Emerson is a good boy, he brightens the heart of everyone he meets, and Barfly will be his good girl.

Because as strong as he is, her boy needs her. Especially now. There’s a scent in the air. Barfly recognizes it, even if she hasn’t breathed this smell in a long time, but now it carries a vapor of danger. A surging malevolence that accompanies the familiar woody smell.

Yes, something is coming, and despite his gifts, her boy does not sense it. But Barfly will protect him.

She loves her boy, and she will keep him safe.

Buy Sick as our Secrets Now!

Sick as our Secrets Character Portrait #11

Coleen can tell something is wrong with Irene. She’s closed off. Not answering her phone or returning texts.

Did Coleen screw up their friendship? It had been strong as stone, founded in their mutual effort to locate Irene’s missing brother. Maybe she read too much into their time together. Made assumptions. Hell, the Sheriff has never been one to pussyfoot around conflict or discomfort, so once her feelings for Irene surfaced it was only a matter of time before she expressed them. Express them she did, even as every cell in her body screamed it wasn’t the right moment.

Irene doesn’t reciprocate those deep feelings, and now that rock that is the basis of their friendship is crumbling. Their conversations turned shallow, then uncomfortable. Now Irene is terse with her emotions, even her ever-blazing anger at her brother seems to temper when Coleen is around.

She didn’t mean to make things weird. Coleen just wanted to express herself. Make Irene realize how happy they are together. Explore the possibility of making that terrifying next step together as a team. Get Irene living her life again, rekindle that fire she brought into the Kimble County Sheriff’s Office years ago.

Coleen knows they make a good pair – professionally of course. If Coleen had her way, romantically and emotionally too. Irene doesn’t feel it, and that’s okay. She prays Irene will find her calm again, reclaim her joy. The world deserves that Irene.

An answer has arrived to those prayers, just not in the way Coleen expected. She has news to share with her friend. Today is going to be difficult, but every day is hard for the Sheriff. No, for poor Irene, today will mark the beginning of the rest of her life. It’s going to be terrifying for her. She may experience relief. She could default back to her rage.

Coleen isn’t sure how it will go down. She won’t until she gets out of her cruiser and knocks on Irene’s door. Have the difficult conversation.

And then pray that Irene finds her joy once again.

Buy Sick as our Secrets Now!