I started this blog on August 21, 2012, with the release of my first book, Titan Encounter. Since that time, I’ve updated the website several times and I’m gradually updating the blog format and bringing it into this new journal. Back then, the sole purpose of the blog was to promote my books, but it gradually expanded to new topics. Sometimes I’ve mused about other things that are important to me, such as my family, my farm, rural life, and occasionally about politics and the country. However, I do try to limit politics.
A fan wants me to autograph Through Many Fires
Yesterday, after a long spring day of inattentive, restless, students the school secretary, Loni, brought me a torn cardboard mailer. It was addressed to my personal mailbox but delivered to the school. This often happens in the village, but this time I didn’t recognize the return address.
Read MoreThrough Many Fires is being featured in Backdoor Survival’s fifth Book Festival
I didn’t plan it this way, but for the second time this month Through Many Fires has been featured on a prepping and survival website. This time the novel is part of Backdoor Survival’s book festival.
Read MoreThrough Many Fires was featured on ApartmentPrepper.com, one of the top survival and readiness websites.
Over the last few years Apartment Prepper has featured significant books in the survival genre such as Expatriates, by James Wesley Rawles, and Apocalypse Drift by Joe Nobody. I’m pleased the editor, Bernie Carr, was willing to add Through Many Fires to that notable group.
Read MoreThe ebook version of my debut science fiction novel, Titan Encounter, is on sale in Britain.
Actually the ebook is also on sale in the United States, but we are promoting it using a new service called eBookSoda.com. While they promote books worldwide I noticed that they are based in Britain and list prices for books in British Pounds and Euros as well as dollars.
Read MoreGood teachers do many crazy stunts to get students interested in learning.
Our school in Eek, Alaska, is blessed with some fine teachers. Every March in conjunction with the Iditarod dog sled race our school does an Iditaread reading competition. The students get points moving them along the Iditarod trail for each page they read.
Read MoreTitan Encounter, my bestselling science fiction space adventure, will soon be available as an audiobook.
The actor Jeffrey Fellin has agreed to produce and narrate the novel. Jeffrey has extensive experience in both film and theater, but is relatively new to book narration.
Read MoreI’ve mentioned before that for many years I’ve attended a writer’s critique group when I’m in Washington State.
Most of our six members are published writers. All have differing methods, styles and genres, but we have come to appreciate each other’s writing. I look forward to their opinion even if they tell me I’m going in a wrong direction.
Read More“Really good,” that’s the way Gabriel, a reader described Through Many Fires in an email a few days ago. I enjoy hearing from readers and it always brings a smile to my face when they tell me they enjoy one of my books, but Gabriel said something else that really piqued my interest.
Read MoreMy son Robert found this intriguing listing on eBay.
Someone is selling my book, Through Many Fires, for over $50. Because of the success of my books I find them in many online outlets, including a Chinese website that sells unauthorized copies.
Read MoreI wanted to start the new year off right and so I arranged to do some promotions.
Readers of my newsletter learned earlier this month about Smashwords discount coupons for my novels. However, that is not the only promotion I am doing this month.
Read MoreFor many years now I’ve attended a writer’s critique group.
Well, for the last seven years I’ve taught in Alaska during the school year, but when I’m in Washington state I attend the critique group. I don’t believe I’ve ever missed a meeting when I’ve been in the state.
Read MoreI’m not sure who spoke first, but we were soon talking. She worked for the Lower Yukon School District, just north of my district, and like many others was trying to get home. She wanted to get to Seattle and then try and catch a flight east to Chicago. We talked off and on until the flight boarded and then were surprised to discover we were seated together. I was in 7C, she was in 7B.
Read MoreThe agent typed on the computer for a minute and then wrote my connecting flight information on a scrap of paper, tore it from the sheet, and handed it to me.
I stared at it for a second. “This is my ticket?” I asked holding the bit of paper.
Read MoreWe finally get to Bethel
After removing the freight from the plane loading our luggage was easy and quick.
Just before takeoff the pilot turned in his seat and gave the usual speech about seatbelts and, in case of a crash, where the emergency transponder was located, then he said, “If we get to Bethel and I start circling it’s because the visibility has gone down over the airport.”
Read MoreThe trip from Eek was like a trip across the river Styx.
Okay, maybe that’s a bit of an overstatement. As I’ve mentioned before, there are no roads in the region of Alaska where I work. Travel in winter is by snowmobile, bush plane, or dog team. I had chartered a plane for five teachers (including me), the principal, two children, and a dog.
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