Welcome, new folks!

Hi, there. If you've joined the mailing list recently, I want to make sure you get your free Frosthelm book, Traitors Unseen. If you haven't gotten it, you can get it free here (the site will ask you to sign up for this newsletter, which you're already getting) or here from Smashwords. It's also on Apple Books, Kobo, and Barnes & Noble. Please, enjoy with my compliments.

New audiobooks coming

I've got two new audiobook projects in the works. First, there's Kenai, my SPSFC-winning space opera about a space marine on a lonely alien world who runs into violence, mystery, and treachery. Jennifer Pratt narrates the book, which is great - she also did a wonderful job with Daros. The book is all finished and submitted for approval on Audible, which is taking a little longer than usual (5 days so far). With the contest success and a bunch of positive press, I thought this book merited the expense and effort of getting an audio version out there.

I'm at an earlier part of the process for What Grows From the Dead. It has had quite a year - it's up to over 530 reviews in the first year of publication and has a ton of pages read this year as well, so I thought it was worth the large investment in an audiobook. I've got samples from 70 prospective narrators who've read my sample scenes (I didn't seek them out - I just opened up the auditions and a bunch of people have flocked to them). These narrators come with a wide variety of takes on Morris, Mindy, Vampire Steve, and the rest of them. I'm in the process of working through these auditions and trying to find the right match at the right price - but definitely somebody with a sense of humor to capture the snark, sarcasm, humor, humility, and denial that Morris goes through in the story.

Writing projects

I've been focusing on the audiobooks for the last couple weeks and also spending some time with family back in Iowa. For October, I want to get another 20-30,000 words done on my current sci-fi story about a mid-level engineer on a risky long-range mission to worlds shattered by humanity's worst war.

I won't finish that in October, but I'll set it aside temporarily for a new project in November. The national NaNoWriMo organization has run into some trouble recently (advocating for AI writing, some leadership issues, not handling predatory behavior on its forums, etc.), but I still like doing a lot of writing in November, and I will do another big push this year, this time on another mystery/thriller along the lines of What Grows From the Dead and Got Trouble. It's worked pretty well for me to have almost nothing planned and start cold on November 1, so I'm going to go with that slapdash foolish method this year as well.

Some stories to try

I'm part of several author collectives, and we share each other's work to try to help all of us reach more readers. In many cases, the books we share are are free or discounted. Sometimes, they ask that you sign up for a newsletter like this one. Here are some new books I have to share this month:

First, I have a series of books by Axl Blaze starring scientist and time defender Zoe Calloway working to fight those who would mess with temporal space and fearsome genetic modifications. All books in the series are $0.99 right now for a promo.

Next, I have a showcase of over 150 fantasy and sci fi books and series from a wide variety of authors and a huge variety of cool topics and subgenres.

Next, I have a group of over 30 books and series available for Kindle Unlimited users to read for free. All sorts of genres and characters in here, so you're sure to find something neat.

Finally, I have Legends by Edita Petrick, one of the books in her Rim Chronicles. A sci-fi tale that also includes magic, politics, treachery, and intrigue.

Thanks for reading!

Thanks so much for being part of my newsletter community. I'm excited to share some new audiobooks with you soon, hopefully two before the end of the year and then another two shortly after. And there will be some new books too.

I hope you and your friends and family are having a safe and rewarding fall!

May the Bloodmother watch over you - 

Dave