Hello from London,

I just got back from a week in sunny Greece, hence the lack of an email last week. London's hit its autumnal stride with a ten degree drop in temperature and an abrupt absence of sunlight, so Greece was definitely a more pleasant place to be. I'm trying to hold off the seasonal depression with carefully-mixed cocktails. Don't mock me, it's worked before.

It's times like this I miss the USA. Autumn here is 'Fall' there. Autumn means the weather just turned, there's an easterly wind coming that's not cold enough to be winter, but carries just the right level of damp to make sure you feel it in your fingernails. In America, 'Fall' means the leaves turned a colour that makes you want to reach for your camera, the sky's clear and the weather's colder but its refreshing, not miserable.

For those of you in Boston or similar places, I envy you. Send pictures, I can send you a grayscale image of London in return so you see how nice the place you're in is, in comparison to mine.

On to business...

World of Skills 2: Anger's Reflection

Woo hoo! Published on my Patreon page only yesterday, the second instalment of World of Skills, "Anger's Reflection", is now available to subscribers over there.

Wait... what? I have to pay to read it?

I'm afraid so. For the price of a cup of coffee a month, you get access to the World of Skills series and occasional articles about the process of writing a short story (as I live the experience), or getting a cover done, or having to throw a cover in the trash because its a pile of festering disappointment wrapped in mediocrity.

Also, occasionally, I put short stories on there that aren't available elsewhere.

I'm trying to find a model where I can make a little money from all this time and effort, while not alienating readers. I hope you understand. I still give most of what I write away for free. To those of you who have chosen to support me there, words cannot describe how grateful I am to you.

You can, however, read the first instalment of World of Skills, "Only the Wicked", for free, by clicking on the button below.

Download 'Only the Wicked'

Author Spotlight

This week, I'm promoting the first five chapters of a book by Matt Ward... I usually try to read a little of a book before I promote it, but to be honest I've had so little time of late that it's open in another tab and I'll read it after I've sent this message, before I go to bed.

That said, look at that cover! I'm going to have to hit Matt up for his cover designer. Anyone who's read my blog knows that's been an ongoing challenge for me!

Matt Ward - Cynetic Wolf

It's 2096, sixty years after ninety percent died from a man-made Bioplague. Humanity has splintered into four unequal subspecies: immortals, cyborgs, enhancers, and subservient half-human, half-animal hybrids.

The world is anything but equal. Hybrids everywhere are suffering, but sixteen-year-old Raek Mekorian, a wolfish with a nose for trouble, doesn’t see an alternative. Except the Resistance, who don’t stand a chance against the world government. His mom always said, “Keep your head down.”

And he does, until his sister is murdered by a pair of cyborgs. Overnight, his simple life is shattered, fracturing the rigid governmental caste as he is thrust into the dangerous world of superhuman hit squads, Resistance uprisings, and secrets better left unsaid.

With only built-in blasters and the advice of a mysterious professor, Raek must navigate crushing betrayal, self-doubt, and a limitless enemy whose evil knows no bounds.

Can Raek unify his people and free them from tyranny? The fate of mankind may rest in his hands.

Click to Download "Cynetic Wolf"

That's it for this week.

Remember: my favourite thing about writing is hearing from readers. Click 'reply', start a conversation, send me a picture of 'fall' to make me jealous, or send me a picture of your cat... I'll reciprocate (But my cat is prettier than your cat. Just sayin').

Nick

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