D.L. Denham's Blog

A brief update from D. L. Denham about upcoming books.

I have undergone some major life changes since finishing graduate school, but I am glad to say that I am back! Back writing that is. Well actually, I never stopped. Here's what I mean...

I have struggled through three different projects since January. Literally, suffered. One was a space-action-adventure-horror series, another was a near future detective series, and the third was well, a historical fiction piece centered around Boston in the early 1700s. As you can see, my interests as well as my imagination has been all over the place. Well, after all of that extensive outlining and plotting, plus some writing -- I decided to forego those projects. I know. I know. That was such a waste of time and energy! Well, maybe not.

Through working on those projects, abandoning one after the other as they felt inadequate -- I discovered Master Sergeant Martin Delano, leader of a special operatives unit fighting a shadow war against a post-ISIS faction called The Caliphate. I won't say much more other than that this story has me excited. More excited than my first novel. More excited than completing my thesis! And I was damn excited those days!

I hope to write these stories quickly, ideally I would like the first one to be done in late August. I am undecided if I'll release these full length stories independently or drop them all at the same time. I see marketing advantage to waiting and releasing them at once.

I will do my best to update regularly. I'm also preparing for the upcoming school year. For those who don't know, I both teach and am the department head for the Social Sciences at a local high school. A rewarding job, thankfully one that affords me time to write. 

P.S.
Also, I recently finalized the Kindle and Paperback editions for With An American Pen, a history of Cotton Mather and the American Enlightenment. It's not going to receive any real marketing other than a listing on my website and where it's for sale (Amazon, Create Space). I do plan to have it turned into an audiobook later. If curious, click on Books. 

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Image from National Geographic http://news.nationalgeographic.com/20... When you know what you want out of life, it is a good feeling. A balance, a purpose. Knowing is essential. There is a power that comes from this sense of knowing. Whether it's knowledge of what drives you or knowledge of where you come from, or where you['re going, everything begins with this simple start—knowing. 

In 2016, we know that global warming is a threat to our survival on Earth. And we know that humankind is flawed but still capable of great things. For my father as a child, the nuclear holocaust and Apollo 11 went hand-in-hand. For me, weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and the internet changed my world while growing up in America. For my students, they live in a threatened world with instantaneous access to it from the smart phone in their pocket. 

Yet, I can't help but share in both the dread and the optimism. Knowing that my planet is dying, knowing that humankind holds the power to change that future. This knowing is powerful now while we still have an opportunity to correct global patterns of extinction.

As an educator, a historian, and a writer, these thoughts, this knowing, is how I spend my hours. Pondering, reading, writing, and communicating.

My current work in progress (WIP) reflects this idea of knowing, of knowledge. If humankind chooses to not act on knowledge, our planet will one day be an inhospitable place, forcing us either to extinction or migration. Our ancestors followed the buffalo, others migrated as the crops they grew depleted their home soil of its nutrients. When our global economy collapses and the system become unstable, what will we then do with our knowledge? Nothing. We too, will migrate or risk becoming extinct.

This is the inspiration, the knowing, behind my next story.

Teaser below for my current novel Generation 7.

By 481 A.E., the generational-starship Lotus has successfully planted two human colonies on separate Earth-like planets. But the last colony planted was two generations ago. Now, the seventh generation is desperate to enter the history books as the one to break the cycle of bad luck. A mission to the planet Blemais looks promising for a third colony. But as the passengers aboard the Lotus know too well, not all promises hold true. 

Sign up here for updates as the novel progresses and nears its release date.

The story of the generational ship Lotus occurs somewhere around here. The new science fiction series is well underway! Since finishing graduate school, my time and energy has been shared between developing an educational web-resource for K-12 Social Sciences and writing a new novel series. The new series is a fresh take on the space opera genre, blending elements of military scif-fi, genetic engineering, aliens, noir, and horror.

I've had some ups and downs with the plot development and character creation. The difficulty came from trying to create a plot that is distinctive and reflective of the societal, economical, and environmental concerns of 21st century readers.

Perhaps what I'm really writing about is the ecological crisis that we are all a part of. Maybe it's even more about social injustice and political corruption. But what it's really about is you, the reader and the world you inhabit. And maybe it's not about any of those things or you. Possibly, it's a nod to the future. About time and space. About living beyond Earth.

It's really about going beyond... 

I look forward, and I hope you do too, to a future post where I can introduce you to the Lotus and its citizens.

For now, here is the short video that inspired the alien threat aboard the generational ship Lotus. 

Hey guys!
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I hope your Halloween celebrations were memorable. Due to a cold, I decided to stay home and watch a few movies with family, including catching up on American Horror Story: Hotel.
There are a few special things going on right now with D. L. Denham.
☑ One: You can receive a free copy of RED DENVER: A Prelude to REHO for signing up for my Spam-free Newsletteer @ http://eepurl.com/McgiP
☑ Two: You can receive a free copy of REHO: A Science Fiction Novel in exchange for an honest review on Amazon. If interested, please comment below on this post.

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Sneak Peek!

Title: Triterra

In 3670 C.E., renown Earth historian John Bolyst has a rare opportunity to transplant his family from Tellus to the distant earth-like planet Triterra. A year long voyage across space accompanies his new position as a Level 3 Advisor to Triterra's future Director of Affairs, Maxium Hutch. While rumors of an earlier failed colony fill the Citadel, the promise of wealth and a better life attract thousands of Tellus citizens.

But horror awaits the voyagers. An alien hybrid race -- part human, part insectoid -- will rage war against the settlers. As John and Max struggle to contain the frightened colony, the colonists' survival will depend on more than just weapons and defensive tactics.

Will John and his family end up like the families of the first colony, or will he discover, buried somewhere in the countless records of Earth, a way to defeat humankind's greatest enemy!

I'm back to writing Science Fiction! My break from writing wasn't really a pause, but more of a redirection of my time. 

Graduate school for the first two years enabled me write freely. This past year required nearly all of my time to complete my Master's thesis. 

Time for research, writing, approvals, rewrites... rinse and repeat. 

I submitted the last chapter of my thesis today to my advior. I still have some edits and need to prepare for the thesis' defense plus comprehensive exams, but the hardest part is behind me. 

And with that soon to be behind me, my imaginiation is free to roam... and dream. The above quote from Bradbury has guided my attraction to Science Fiction for nearly ten years. I miss dreaming up new worlds and characters, the strange events that could arise when you place an alien-half breed in a fallen, apocalyptic world, for example. 

Today, I began a new project. I hope to share details soon. It's in its infancy, but I do believe it'll be something special once it matures.

Take care and read some good Sci-Fi!
D. L. Denham (David)

REHO is Free through August 3, 2015