Hello from London,

The weather in London just went from pleasant to British, and now it's miserable outside. This happens every year, I've been in this country since before I could form memories, you'd think I'd be used to it by now.

I want to thank new subscribers this week. I really appreciate you deciding to sign up to my newsletter to take a closer look at what I write. There are quite a few new people who joined over the last three days and I'm grateful for your attention. I hope you're enjoying the stories in the first few emails you're receiving.

I'm aware the newsletter is two days later than usual this week. The reason is that I wanted the newsletter to coincide with my short story being free on Amazon. More details below. Normal service will resume either next week or the week after. Next week I am travelling and I can't guarantee that a newsletter will be possible.

Now to business...

Free Short Story: Five-Second Martyr

My short story, Five-Second Martyr, is free on Amazon for two days. That means you have this weekend to get it, but from Sunday onwards it costs an eye-watering 99 cents once more.

I wrote this some time ago. It was an idea that had been bouncing around in my head for a while by then and I really enjoyed writing it.

It's speculative fiction, in that the technology in it does not exist, but if you can assume the jump to AI, then it's not really set in a time different from our own. I think a lot about consciousness, artificial intelligence and freedom of thought, and how those things can get mixed up. This story is a little example of what that might look like.

It's one of those stories that feels complete even though it's very short, and doesn't feel like it needs to be part of something bigger. The market for short stories in science fiction is... thin. So it sits on Amazon collecting dust.

If you like the story, and feel so inclined, I'd be grateful if you could leave a review, either there on Amazon, or elsewhere, so that I get the satisfaction of knowing it was enjoyed.

Click to Go To "Five-Second Martyr"

Author Spotlight

I have three authors to introduce you to this week, why don't you take a look at what they're putting out there, and either download their book or join their mailing lists if you like what you see...

Rosie Wylor-Owen - The Witch's Touch

Criminals are going missing. Felons or not, Detective Meeks is duty-bound to find them, with little to go on but a suspicious encounter between the latest missing person and a local business owner. As the case unravels, Meeks struggles to make sense of a world he thought he understood. Yet this twist of fate could be his chance to truly making a difference to the community he holds dear.

Amanda Solanke is used to making waves, but never with the police. The last person to see the latest missing criminal, she is dragged to the heart of a police investigation. A small business owner in the eyes of the community, behind closed doors Amanda and her partner Leona guard a magical secret. The closer they are watched, the closer Amanda and Leona come to facing the ultimate danger: exposure.

Click to Download "The Witch's Touch"

David Phifer - The Binding

Serena is a world class necromancer, a self-proclaimed master of the undead. But when someone starts killing the remaining witches, she must fight for her life against an enemy that is immune to the dark arts.

With only her undead companion by her side, she must discover the unstoppable evil that is killing her kind and find a way to avoid the fate shared by her spellcasting companions.

There is a new player in town. Stronger than anything she’s ever seen, and even with her command of the undead, she may not last the night.

Experience this fun and thrilling ride in the life of Serena as she communes with dark forces, screws over evil, and raises Hell. Read it now, before the darkness comes. Seriously, it may already be too late...

Click to Download "The Binding"

Martin Swinford - The First Song of Amhar Collection

Luan wanted to be a warrior, but he never expected to be fighting in a world beyond his own.

At the age of just thirteen, Luan sets off with his uncle’s sword on his back, answering the call to defend his land. To journey through the wilds is dangerous enough, but when Luan rescues a young girl he finds himself pursued by a band of brutal slavers. Fleeing across the country, what Luan doesn’t know is that just one wrong step will put him on a different path entirely, a path to the spirit world, where immortals and demons vie for supremacy in an eternal war.

This collection of three books by Martin Swinford is currently discounted on Amazon.

Click to go to the book on Amazon

Thank you for reading, I hope the weather's better wherever you happen to be and see you next time!

Nick

PS. If you have questions, feedback, etc, feel free to get in touch by replying to this message. I do my utmost to read and reply to every message I receive.

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