As announced yesterday, Forging the Chain Breakers will publish Friday. Get yours at the Granbury Founder’s Day Jubilee Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.
Somehow I messed up the paleo botany and paleo zoology of the central basin. Had to do some rework of that.
I have another race – this one definitely not human.
Alligatormen are an intelligent, semi-aquatic crocodilian humanoid species adapted to life in warm swamps, rivers, and coastal wetlands. Standing taller and broader than most humans, they possess powerful tails, thick armored scales, and long, tooth-filled jaws capable of crushing bone. Their society is primitive but organized: they build crude huts, maintain fires, and craft weapons from materials taken from the creatures they hunt. Their primary armament is a heavy macuahuitl-like club edged with shark teeth, used for brutal close combat, along with javelins tipped with dimetrodon teeth. Patient ambush predators both in water and on land, alligatormen rely on stealth, sudden violence, and their formidable physical strength, making them one of the most dangerous indigenous threats encountered by explorers in the swamps they inhabit.
I also have a minor character that is going to be fun. “Am I A Mouse?” marks the third chapter the Black Ocelot has appeared in.
I have a new poster and table sign for this weekend.
I heard about another location that I might use at some point. Ubar—Atlantis of the Sands. This is what we know in real life: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantis_of_the_Sands so if I use it, it will need some… poetic license applied.
Advertising: 9 sales in the past 14 days. $120.02 in spend, $24.91 in revenue. Still upside down there, but that may change if I can start getting sales at full price instead of just $0.99. When I get five reviews for Celestial Accord, I’ll add that.
Antarctic Honeymoon is progressing. Chapters this week: Alligatormen – Finished Am I A Mouse? Clash of Titans – Started
Word count is 54,381. Aim is 71,000-78,000.
Artemis Rising is #147 in Steampunk Science Fiction (Kindle Store), #446 in Alternate History, and #814 in Alternate History Science Fiction (Books). If you don’t have yours yet, you can get the paper version here or the kindle version here. There is also an audiobook version here. Six reviews for Artemis Rising—thank you Diane. More will help others find the series as well – if you’ve finished the book and haven’t left a review, please do so here.
Mirim’s First Christmas is live. You can find the paper version here or the kindle version here. I’m still working on getting free versions to be available on my website.
You can get autographed copies of Artemis Rising, Celestial Accord, or Mirim’s First Christmas at the Walnut Springs Rattlesnake Roundup Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.
I spent more time than I probably should have getting better pictures of Eleanor, Walter & Eleanor, Walter and Eleanor for their wedding, and the Antarctic Honeymoon cover mockup.
One of the distinctive types of trees on Caproni Island are Ginkgo trees. Today, we know that one species of ginkgo – ginkgo biloba – is still extent. In 1891 – the entire family was thought to be extinct, only being rediscovered as a ‘living fossil’ in 1896. I also looked for fossil animals that were known in 1891. Unfortunately, the giant crocodiles, Titanoboa, and even giant turtles are all 21st century discoveries. I do have terrorbird fossils from the 1870’s…
The advertising is beginning to work. Sold 5 Artemis Rising Books in the last week. That’s 10 since the ads started. It is costing me more than I’m making, so I put the e-book price back to $4.99. We’ll see what impact that has. I’ll probably do a sale in conjunction to the release of Forging the Chain Breakers.
Antarctic Honeymoon is progressing. Chapters this week: The Silver Spire – completed Alligatormen – Started
Word count is 47,414. Aim is 71,000-78,000.
Artemis Rising is #450 in Alternate History Science Fiction (books), #580 in Space Exploration Science Fiction eBooks, and #699 in First Contact Science Fiction eBooks. If you don’t have yours yet, you can get the paper version here or the kindle version here. There is also an audiobook version here. Five customer reviews. More will help others find the series as well – if you’ve finished the book and haven’t left a review, please do so here.
Mirim’s First Christmas is live. You can find the paper version here or the kindle version here. I’m still working on getting free versions to be available on my website.
Celestial Accord copy-edit is available now. The Audible AI audiobook is also available.
If you want to get early access to Book 3 chapters, write a nice review for Artemis Rising or Celestial Accord on Amazon or Goodreads, and email me that you’ve done it.
The box set images for Selene Reborn are done – what do you think?
You can get autographed copies of Artemis Rising, Celestial Accord, or Mirim’s First Christmas at Canton First Monday Trade Days Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.
Forging the Chain Breakers is finished! I reset release for March 13. Hopefully I’ll have copies for Granbury Founder’s Day.
Editing Forging the Chain Breakers meant there were some additional threads to resolve, or at least address, in Selene Unchained. I think I have those done and it will be headed to Sandra for editing this time next month. Maybe the series will be complete by the time we go to the Galveston Steampunk Festival.
The advertising is beginning to work. Sold one ebook of Artemis Rising in February. That was only 3% of the royalties I earned, however. The other 97% were from Kindle Unlimited readers. That also doesn’t count books sold at markets.
Antarctic Honeymoon is progressing. Chapters this week: Lost Island – completed The Silver Spire – started
Word count is 43,171. Aim is 71,000-78,000.
Artemis Rising is #259 in Steampunk Fiction, #621 in Alternate History, and #189 in Steampunk Science Fiction. If you don’t have yours yet, you can get the paper version here or the kindle version here. There is also an audiobook version here. Five customer reviews. More will help others find the series as well – if you’ve finished the book and haven’t left a review, please do so here.
Mirim’s First Christmas is live. You can find the paper version here or the kindle version here. I’m still working on getting free versions to be available on my website.
Celestial Accord copy-edit is available now. The Audible AI audiobook is also available.
If you want to get early access to Book 3 chapters, write a nice review for Artemis Rising or Celestial Accord on Amazon or Goodreads, and email me that you’ve done it.
You can get autographed copies of Artemis Rising, Celestial Accord, or Mirim’s First Christmas at the Downtown Arlington Farmer’s Market Saturday.
Got Fiverr folks to start work on an illustration of Endeavor. She will likely figure prominently on Walter & Eleanor book covers, so this will need to be pretty high quality.
A new character – no plans on her being more than a background character right now. But I figured it would be better to have a complete character outline of María Esperanza Gresham (née Carrillo) and not need it than otherwise. Also her sister-in-law Carmen Gresham (née Salazar). I also needed Thoma’s children so did an entry for him and his family.
On a lark, I decided to get Midjourney to generate a wedding picture of Eleanor. It came out pretty good, I think.
I also learned that wedding month and day had some folk rhymes around them.
Monday for Wealth; Tuesday for Health; Wednesday the Best Day of All; Thursday for Losses; Friday for Crosses; and Saturday No Luck at All
Marry when the year is new and he’ll be loving, kind and true, When February birds do mate, you wed not or dread your fate. If you wed when March winds blow, joy and sorrow you’ll both know. Marry in April when you can, and joy for maiden and for man. Marry in the month of May and you’ll live to rue the day. Marry when June roses grow and over land and sea you’ll go. Those in July who do wed must labor for their daily bread. Whoever wed in August be many a change is sure to see. Marry in September’s shrine your living will be rich and fine. If in October you do marry, love will come but riches tarry. If you wed in bleak November, only joys will come, remember. When December snow falls fast, marry and true love will last.
Monday wedding in August can be seen as foreshadowing the rest of the book.
Did Character bible entries for Walter, Eleanor, and Walter & Eleanor as a couple. Also got AI generated pictures of them. I also decided to get an image of them in adventurer clothes for Antarctic Honeymoon
Antarctic Honeymoon is progressing. Chapters this week: Earth Wedding Southward Bound Lost Island – started
Word count is 38,266. Aim is 71,000-78,000.
Artemis Rising is #1,314 in Steampunk Fiction, #4,135 in Alternate History Science Fiction, and #7,570 in Exploration Science Fiction. If you don’t have yours yet, you can get the paper version here or the kindle version here. There is also an audiobook version here. Five customer reviews now (thanks Rick). I still need more so other readers can find it, but I may start promoting with these five – if you’ve finished the book and haven’t left a review, please do so here.
Mirim’s First Christmas is live. You can find the paper version here or the kindle version here. I’m still working on getting free versions to be available on my website.
Celestial Accord copy-edit is available now. The Audible AI audiobook is also available.
If you want to get early access to Book 3 chapters, write a nice review for Artemis Rising or Celestial Accord on Amazon or Goodreads, and email me that you’ve done it.
Artemis Rising is #3,826 in Space Exploration Science Fiction ebooks, #3,785 in Alternate History Science Fiction, and #5,797 in First Contact Science Fiction. If you don’t have yours yet, you can get the paper version here or the kindle version here. There is also an audiobook version here. Five customer reviews now (thanks Rick). I still need a more so other readers can find it, but I may start promoting with these five – if you’ve finished the book and haven’t left a review, please do so here.
Celestial Accord isn’t ranked yet. If you don’t have yours yet, you can get the paper version here or the kindle version here. One review so far. If you’ve finished the book and haven’t left a review, please do so here.
Mirim’s First Christmas is live. You can find the paper version here or the kindle version here. I’m still working on getting free versions to be available on my website.
Sandra (my editor) had a slot open up early so Forging the Chain Breakers is now in her hands. Whoo Hoo!
I used Audible AI to do a complete audio read of Artemis Rising. A number of minor fixes resulted and now I’m going through again. Hopefully after these minor fixes, I’ll be able to get a clean audio recording I’m happy enough with to publish as an audiobook. Went through another time, and got a new cover – Updated Artemis Rising with AI Audiobook is now live. If you listen to it, please leave me a review here.
I’ve heard some complaints about how small the print in the current books are, so I increased the size of the print significantly. Artemis Rising will be the first book to be released with the new, larger print.
Started the same process using AI to do a line-edit of Celestial Accord.
I also got title pages for Forging the Chain Breakers and Selene Unchained.
Antarctic Honeymoon is started. It is a stand-alone Walter & Eleanor story taking place the same time as the first chapters of Selene Unchained. Chapters this week: Preface Uncertainty and Change
Still can’t upload pictures – I’m going to see about changing web hosting companies because this is ridiculous.
Artemis Rising is #2,103 in Space Exploration Science Fiction ebooks, #2,130 in Alternate History Science Fiction, and #3,283 in First Contact Science Fiction. If you don’t have yours yet, you can get the paper version here or the kindle version here. Four customer reviews now, but I need a few more to get Audible to take notice – if you’ve finished the book and haven’t left a review, please do so here.
Celestial Accord isn’t ranked yet. If you don’t have yours yet, you can get the paper version here or the kindle version here. One review so far. If you’ve finished the book and haven’t left a review, please do so here.
I’m recovering from surgery so no book signing this weekend
Mirim’s First Christmas is live. You can find the paper version here or the kindle version here. I’m still working on getting free versions to be available on my website.
Worked some more on alternate history. The Mexican Reform war sure turns out differently. I’m still not sure what to do about King Kamehameha III’s request to become a US state…
Selene Unchained has a cover, and I really like it. What do you think?
I did an AI supported editing pass of Forging the Chain Breakers. We’ll see how that works.
Did an AI Copyedit of Artemis Rising. I think ChatGPT has a tendency to go well beyond Copyedits and into Line Editing – and when it does, the line editing tends to drift into ChatGPTs voice instead of maintaining mine. I kept a tight rein on it, so drift wasn’t too bad. If you want to get early access to Book 3 chapters, write a nice review for Artemis Rising or Celestial Accord on Amazon or Goodreads, and email me that you’ve done it.
Something is broken this week and I can’t post pictures. If I can get it fixed quickly, I’ll edit this.
Artemis Rising is #4,155 in Space Exploration Science Fiction ebooks, #4,205 in Alternate History Science Fiction, and #7,536 in Exploration Science Fiction. If you don’t have yours yet, you can get the paper version here or the kindle version here. Four customer reviews now, but I need a few more to get Audible to take notice – if you’ve finished the book and haven’t left a review, please do so here.
Celestial Accord isn’t ranked yet. If you don’t have yours yet, you can get the paper version here or the kindle version here. One review so far! If you’ve finished the book and haven’t left a review, please do so here.
You can get autographed copies of both books at the Richardson Farmer’s Market Saturday.
Mirim’s First Christmas is live. You can find the paper version here or the kindle version here. I’m still working on getting free versions to be available on my website.
I did make some edits on Mirim’s First Christmas, so it is better now.
I spent a significant amount of time with ChatGPT fleshing out the alternate history of my setting. I have everything lined out from the deviation point of Sam Houston only receiving a minor wound at Horseshoe Bend, to the 1891 inauguration of Benjamin Harrison. As a bonus, I have a history book chapter and War College case study on the Euro-American War and a War College comparison of the Euro-American and Franco-Prussian Wars, both of which are pretty cool. They also very neatly set up the importance of decisive action and naval strength in US military thinking. That will be important by 1900…
I’ve learned a lot more about AI, mostly how to use it to make really cool video. I also got AI to help me with outlining the rest of Selene Unchained. It did an OK job, but mostly I took only about half what ChatGPT put in the outline, did some rearranging, and a lot of editing to keep the book on track instead of going off in some sort of weird direction. I also asked ChatGPT to actually write a chapter. What it wrote fit the book about like a marine diesel engine would fit in a sports car – but it had a few neat ideas. I suspect it might not have saved me much time, but the additional ideas may have made the chapter better.
The cover for Selene Unchained was started this week. That is the last cover required for the Selene Reborn Series. Once I have it, I’ll get the art for the boxed set.
I also started a Fiverr project to get an actual illustration of Artemis. Isaac has done a great job of putting together a concept art level version, but I need something closer to photo-realistic for some of the other projects I have planned, including the boxed set graphics. That is proving to be a major headache.
A new character added to the Dramatis Personae. Sgt Selkoryos – the second in command of the Troll troopers. He appeared first in Artemis Rising but has a little bigger part in Selene Unchained.
Another productive week for Selene Unchained. At least some of the progress was made in chapters not listed since I put together a more detailed outline for the rest of the book.
Selene Unchained chapters this week: Eldritch Summit A Dream of Import Manufactory Defense Bally Cluster Bloody Endymion Smelter Six
Selene Unchained word count is 69,649, not counting Dramatis Personae (1,315 words).
If you want to get early access to Book 3 chapters, write a nice review for Artemis Rising or Celestial Accord on Amazon or Goodreads, and email me that you’ve done it.
Artemis Rising is #1,923 in Alternative History, #3,046 in Space Exploration Science Fiction, and #3,092 in Alternative History Science Fiction. If you don’t have yours yet, you can get the paper version here or the kindle version here. Four customer reviews now, but I need a few more to get Audible to take notice – if you’ve finished the book and haven’t left a review, please do so here.
Celestial Accord isn’t ranked yet. If you don’t have yours yet, you can get the paper version here or the kindle version here. One review so far, thanks Michele! If you’ve finished the book and haven’t left a review, please do so here.
You can get autographed copies of both books at the Richardson Farmer’s Market Saturday.
Mirim’s First Christmas just went live. You can find the paper version here or the kindle version here. I’m still working on getting free versions to be available on my website.
I needed another Old Ones daemon. This is what I came up with: Papa Kòt-Nwa (fic) – An Old One daemon who grants power to partially possess and trap souls. Feeds off the power of ritual worship, especially rituals enacted out of fear or dread.
There are three first worshipers of Papa Kòt-Nwa in the story. Baroness Bahah, Qutab’s mother, Sahiqa and Nigarish. I’m actually kind of proud of the description of their dance of devotion to Papa Kòt-Nwa.
Cover for Forging the Chain Breakers is final. Now I need the cover for Selene Unchained.
I got a lot done on Selene Unchained this week. Thank you to Deborah who did an excellent job of protecting my writing time.
Selene Unchained chapters this week: Zafir Burns His Hand renamed Kepler Station – finished Laughing Meadows Revisited Tunnel 45 Fort The Lesson of Forge 27 Changing Tactics The Siege of Kopff Castle Raid on Kopff Station Battle of the Cloister Eldritch Summit – started
Selene Unchained word count is 57,104, not counting Dramatis Personae (1,301 words).
I worked on training ChatGPT to be my line editor. I added the style sheet from Celestial Accord to its training and had it review Mirim’s First Christmas. This is ChatGPT’s analysis:
1. Narrative Voice & POV
Style Sheet
Past tense
Omniscient narrator with selective interiority
Authoritative but restrained
Moral and cultural confidence without polemic
Mirim’s First Christmas
✔ Exact match
How it manifests in the manuscript
The narrator moves freely between:
Mirim’s perceptions
Observed social behavior
Cultural explanation
Interior thoughts are infrequent and purposeful
Moral judgments are implied through tone and consequence, not stated
Notable reinforcement
The narrator never apologizes for tradition, faith, hierarchy, or ceremony.
Cultural authority is assumed, not argued.
Conclusion: Mirim’s First Christmas is a textbook execution of the style sheet’s POV doctrine.
2. Sentence Structure & Cadence
Style Sheet
Medium-to-long sentences preferred
Subordinate clauses encouraged
Rhythm valued over brevity
Fragments allowed for voice, not laziness
Mirim’s First Christmas
✔ Perfect alignment, with added sophistication
Observed patterns
Frequent use of:
Parallel lists (foods, customs, people)
Clarifying clauses (“which,” “that,” “since”)
Gentle temporal framing (“After,” “As,” “When”)
Sentences often accumulate meaning rather than rush to a point
Manuscript adds
A slightly more Edwardian hospitality cadence than the style sheet explicitly calls out
A strong “host explaining traditions to a guest” rhythm that recurs scene after scene
Conclusion: The manuscript doesn’t just follow the rule—it teaches the reader how the rule feels in motion.
3. Dialogue Philosophy
Style Sheet
Dialogue serves culture, not conflict
Polite speech default
Humor through understatement and social friction
Dialogue punctuation follows Chicago with voice exceptions
The manuscript proves that faith language can be frequent without becoming preachy when handled through tradition and lived practice.
Conclusion: Mirim’s First Christmas is a working proof that the style sheet’s religious rules are narratively sustainable.
6. Tone Toward Progress, Tradition, and Family
Style Sheet
Civilization is inherited, not reinvented
Family and clan matter
Progress is additive, not destructive
Mirim’s First Christmas
✔ Thematic alignment
Observed emphasis
Marriage as covenant
Multi-generational continuity
Hospitality as moral action
Technology coexisting with ritual
The manuscript does not merely obey the style—it embodies its worldview.
7. Where Mirim’s First Christmas Adds to the Style Sheet
These are not conflicts—these are emergent refinements you may wish to treat as implicit addenda:
Ceremonial Density Is Acceptable
Long stretches with minimal plot advancement are stylistically valid
Lists Can Be Luxurious
Food, customs, and names may be lingered over
Domestic Grandeur Is a Legitimate Setting
Mansions, tables, kitchens, and halls are as important as battlefields
If you want to get early access to Book 3 chapters, write a nice review for Artemis Rising or Celestial Accord on Amazon or Goodreads, and email me that you’ve done it.
Artemis Rising is #690 in Steampunk Fiction (Kindle Store), #947 in Steampunk Fiction, and #2,030 in Alternative History. If you don’t have yours yet, you can get the paper version here or the kindle version here. Four customer reviews now, but I need a few more to get Audible to take notice – if you’ve finished the book and haven’t left a review, please do so here.
Celestial Accord isn’t ranked yet. If you don’t have yours yet, you can get the paper version here or the kindle version here. One review, thanks Michele! If you’ve finished the book and haven’t left a review, please do so here.
Saturday I’ll be in Galveston doing research for Mirim’s First Christmas, so no autographing possibilities this weekend.
Another version of Forging the Chain Breakers cover. Now the Troll is fine, but both Poot and Regdar need fixed.
I’ve done some major rethinking about aether and “magic”. Check it out here.
I got an invitation to try out Audible’s beta AI audio book creator. I’m also working through a course on using AI to help content creators. Between the two, I’ve decided to alter my production plans a little. I’m going to get a final version of the cover for Forging the Chain Breakers, then get the cover for Selene Unchained. When I have the covers for all four of the books in the series, I’m going to get boxed set art for the series, Selene Reborn. As far as writing goes, I’m going to finish Selene Unchained first. That way it is ready to go to Sandra in March. Forging the Chain Breakers is ready to go to Sandra in February. While I’m waiting for them I’m going to go back through Artemis Rising and do as much review and improvement as I can. Then I’ll send it to Michael for line editing. Once it is through line editing, I’ll either get Audible AI Beta to turn it into audio recordings – and an audiobook, or I’ll use some of the tools I’m learning in the AI Content Creation course to get audio recordings. Once I have the recordings, I’ll turn the recordings into YouTube videos without much of a graphic, then videos with B-roll images, then, maybe, videos with AI generated moving pictures. Once I get into that area, I will re-establish my Patreon page. $5 Cheering Section $10 [Midtier] and $100 Patron. I’ll post everything to the Patron level as soon as it is ready. I’ll post top level video (whatever that is) to Midtier one chapter per week and leave it for a while before retiring it. That way you have to be a Midtier member for more than one month to see the videos for an entire book. I’ll post top level video in Cheering Section a week after Midtier, but it will stay up only half as long. YouTube will get the first half of a book and only the first chapter at top level video. It will stay up all the time, but you can never get the whole book just on YouTube. Cheering Section gets audio and information on behind the scenes. Eventually there may be recordings from on-line get togethers with Patrons and Midtiers. Midtiers get longer, more complete access to stuff and eventually live get-togethers and recordings with Patrons. Patrons will get on-line get togethers sooner and/or more often. They will also get information about what specific things their contributions are paying for (editing, covers, etc.). Patrons will also be mentioned in the Acknowledgements. I’m also planning on using AI to improve my marketing materials and start more actively marketing my books as soon as I learn enough from the AI content creator course. At least all that is my current thinking.
I decided to put everything on hold and put together a 7k-8k story of Mirim’s First Christmas. This will be the freebe (at least for a while). The reason for the size is that it will allow me to print a booklet version that the Galveston Historical Society can sell in their gift shop at Bishop’s Palace. I have about 7,500 words, but that includes notes and doesn’t include a lot of the story that the notes will be folded into. It also includes some recipes that may or may not end up in the final version.
As part of the AI Content Creator course I’m working through, I uploaded Celestial Accord to ChatGPT and asked it to analyze my style. Results:
Omniscient but disciplined narration: clear viewpoint control, smooth transitions between exposition, dialogue, and interior reflection.
Intellectual density without haste: ideas, politics, technology, and theology are unpacked carefully, not rushed.
Competent characters: people think, plan, explain, and reason; conflict comes from circumstances and values, not stupidity.
Measured, classical prose: modern readability with a late-19th/early-20th-century cadence; restrained metaphors; clarity favored over flash.
Dialogue that carries ideas: conversations advance worldbuilding, strategy, ethics, and relationships simultaneously.
Implicit moral framework: faith, duty, hierarchy, and responsibility are present but not preached—shown through choices and consequences.
That’s pretty cool.
Selene Unchained chapters this week: Qutab’s Revelations Zafir Plots Revenge Zafir Takes a Hand – started.
Selene Unchained word count is 40,310, not counting Dramatis Personae (1,251 words).
If you want to get early access to Book 3 chapters, write a nice review for Artemis Rising or Celestial Accord on Amazon or Goodreads, and email me that you’ve done it.
Artemis Rising is #228 in Steampunk Fiction (Kindle Store), #379 in Steampunk Fiction, and #680 in Alternative History. If you don’t have yours yet, you can get the paper version here or the kindle version here. Four customer reviews now, but I need a few more to get Audible to take notice – if you’ve finished the book and haven’t left a review, please do so here.
Celestial Accord isn’t ranked yet. If you don’t have yours yet, you can get the paper version here or the kindle version here. One review, thanks Michele! If you’ve finished the book and haven’t left a review, please do so here.
You can get autographed copies of both books at the Arlington Farmer’s Market Saturday.
I’m trying out another route to building up a following and creating content. The two are definitely intertwined. I bought into a course that helps content creators leverage AI tools to build content. That could result in a number of things – AI generated video where Walter or Eleanor or one of the other characters invites people to read the stories. AI generated audio books. Even AI generated audio books with AI generated visuals for YouTube. Although, if I do the YouTube videos, I might should just do the first 10k-20k words in a book…
I had one of those huge ah-ha moments this week. Getting AI to write things, create images, make videos, etc. depends on prompting the right AI. AI prompt writing is a skill (small ah-ha), specifically a mental skill. Since AI is all about improving the quality of mental skills, AI can help you write better AI prompts (MAJOR ah-ha). Talk about pulling yourself up by your bootstraps. I learned how to get ChatGPT to default to asking me clarifying questions when I give too vague a prompt. I learned how to get ChatGPT to identify the critical elements of a good AI prompt. I learned how to get ChatGPT to write a fill-in-the-blank good AI prompt. I learned how to get ChatGPT to analyze a logo/image/etc. and suggest how to write an AI prompt to recreate it (which you can then edit to get the variation you want). It was awesome!
I realized that I hadn’t come up with a jam flavor to go with the third book, Forging the Chain Breakers. Moon Apple, based on Hasid’s moon apple cider, was for Artemis Rising. Bolivian Peach, based on the mocochinchi drink the Bolivians have for the Presidents’ Ball, was for Celestial Accord. I was planning an orange jam like the one Mirim made and took to the Moon, for Selene Unchained. This evening I decided to use our State Fair of Texas award-winning Peach Butter as the one for Forging the Chain Breakers. After all, since the State Fair of Texas started in 1886, an 1891 Peach Butter could, potentially, also have won a ribbon at the State Fair of Texas…
I had an idea for a cool addition to the way liftwood works. What if one of the styles of liftwood craft that was being used for racing craft and military craft was to cover the skin of the craft with liftwood scales that could be electronically “steered”. An AI cogitator interprets control inputs into variable lift outputs on each scale allowing for far greater maneuverability. Theoretically, any point on the ship could be the point that is pushed in whatever direction. When there is a significant change in the liftwood output, the rapid change in gravity effect would make the scales appear to ripple. I also thought it would be cool to make it so when the scales are inscribed in a certain way, they absorb radio waves – making them radar absorbent. Voila, Stealth coverings… It would also put Tesla further on the road to beamed power (or deciding beamed power isn’t practical). I think Walter and Eleanor will encounter scales at liftwood island, but won’t have enough information to make a system until they see it in practice on Venusian interceptors. Yes – green scaled, long cylindrical shapes that fire lightning at enemies. Why wouldn’t lizardmen ride “dragons” into combat…
My cover people are finding it difficult to find stock photos of powered armor. Surprise, surprise. I used came up with four possibilities and sent them to GetCovers.
I’ve decided to not number the chapters in the manuscript document. The reason is that I use Atticus software to do the biggest part of my formatting – essentially the typesetting. Since Atticus automatically numbers chapters, it is easier to leave them unnumbered instead of deleting the chapter numbers after importing the manuscript from Word.
Selene Unchained chapters this week: Lunar Atrium – Beraht’s vision added Dark Rituals – Beraht’s vision added Laughing Pastures – completed Zafir Takes a Hand – started The Beginning of the End – started, actually there are a number of chapters between Zafir Takes a Hand and The Beginning of the End, but there were some pieces of the later story I wanted to nail down before continuing in order.
Selene Unchained word count is 34,767, not counting Dramatis Personae (1,227 words).
If you want to get early access to Book 3 chapters, write a nice review for Artemis Rising or Celestial Accord on Amazon or Goodreads, and email me that you’ve done it.
