Well, wesuccessfully launched the Kindle edition of my first novel, Engage at Dawn: First Contact, onTuesday, 15 September.  Yes,yes, it’s been published in paperback for several weeks now, but the logisticsassociated with that meant I needed to build a launch event around something Iknew was going to happen on a specific date. So, I hope I can interest you enough to read it, and please, please,please post a review on your bookseller when you finish.

I built the story aroundsomething I knew well (when you’re new, that’s what you do)—the crew of a CoastGuard cutter facing a challenging and dangerous mission.  What sets this book apart from all the otherlikable-and-dedicated-military-team-doing-the-job stories is that I gave them anudge from the conventional world into a first contact science-fictionscenario.  I presented my best estimationon what would happen if a very high-caliber cutter crew was sent to locate analien landing site and fight off some pretty nasty examples of humanity alongthe way.  The characters are as true tolife as I could make them—they are not superheroes or super-soldiers, justrelatable people who look after each other and get the job done every day. I’llquote directly from the book’s protagonist’s description of the crew: “Theymess around and get on each other’s nerves, but when things go crazy, nothinggets between them.”  There is noone-to-one match between any character and anyone I with whom I served.  However, I took the best parts of the peopleI knew and built the characters around them.

Thisnovel is the first act in what I hope will be a successful series built aroundthis crew and their new mission focus.  Namely,go in with a low footprint and discretely solve a challenging maritime problemin the Southeastern U.S.  I hope to haveyour feedback on this first act to help me flesh out the stories and developthe characters.  Please don’t hold backif you have any suggestions.

I’msure you noticed I have a second work published, a novelette called VisMajor.  It is a side-story to FirstContact built around what was originally a sub-plot in that novelfocused on the aliens’ perspective.  Asthe original story evolved, I realized this sub-plot “explained” too much ofwhat was going on, and took down the tension. Since that tension was an essential part of the novel, I decided to takeout this sub-plot.  I realized it mightmake a nifty sci-fi short story on its own, so I fleshed it out while waitingfor the novel to clear editorial review. It complements the novel but stands alone very well.  I think you will enjoy it, so give it a readand, of course, post a review on Amazon, Goodreads, Bookbub, or Booklife,please!

Well,that’s all for this edition.  Thank youagain for taking the time to stop by and give it a look.  Once the dust settles after the big launch, Ihope to produce the next edition with any news and answers to questions youhave posted.  In the meantime, pleasestay safe and look after each other out there!

Respectfully,

EMH