What’s Up?
Yeah, little late!
Sorry! I just had a HECK OF A DAY yesterday with freelance stuff. By the time I sat down to do the newsletter I was dozing off over the keyboard, one eye open to let the other sleep, as I typed. Eventually the awake eye got sick of that and I figured best to do it today. Instead of exposing you all to the insanity that lives inside my noggin.
Oh, if I am REALLY tired and try to power through? Sometimes I take little micro naps and just type whatever bubbles up my brain. It sounds like you’d get a few salacious hints at my subconscious, but my dreams really aren’t that interesting.
…well, once I dreamed me and C.S. Poe were part of a steampunk superhero group loyal to Queen Victoria, only to find out that Queen Victoria had been FULLY CYBORGED and had ROBOT SPIDER LEGS and evil intent.
There was also a parrot? And I think Poe had a jet pack?
OK, anyhow. Sorry this is late! Back to the newsletter.
Well, unfortunately the UK Meet has been cancelled. It sucks, but is really the only decision they could make. Luckily it looks like people are getting their hotel bookings refunded despite a bit of a wobble early on.
That’s freed up a lot of the year, not entirely happily.
But what can ya do?
In my case I am writing away. I’ve finished the first edit on the third in the Wolf Winter trilogy. I’ll keep you guys updated on how that’s going. I’m also almost all the way down on a novella for a fairly sekrit project. Not that one, different one :D All will be revealed.
Deal of the Week
Get 25% off all ebooks at Dreamspinner this week. Some great deals available on some really awesome books :D
All three two-hour episodes of this are out now, so a binge-worthy few hours! I actually really enjoyed it. Marc Warren brings a jaw that could slice silk and a touch of dry self-awareness to the character. Van Der Valk always seems aware that he is, at times, harsh or unkind or even a little ridiculously mopey. He isn’t going to CHANGE, but he does realise it.
Book Rec of the Week
The Engineer (Magic & Steam: Book One) releases in three weeks! Pre-order your copy today with any ebook vendor and have it ready to read on May 28, 2020.
1881—Special Agent Gillian Hamilton is a magic caster with the Federal Bureau of Magic and Steam. He’s sent to Shallow Grave, Arizona, to arrest a madman engineer known as Tinkerer, who’s responsible for blowing up half of Baltimore. Gillian has handled some of the worst criminals in the Bureau’s history, so this assignment shouldn’t be a problem. But even he’s taken aback by a run-in with the country’s most infamous outlaw, Gunner the Deadly.
Gunner is also stalking Shallow Grave in search of Tinkerer, who will stop at nothing to take control of the town’s silver mines. Neither Gillian nor Gunner are willing to let Tinkerer hurt more innocent people, so they agree to a very temporary partnership.If facing illegal magic, Gatling gun contraptions, and a wild engineer in America’s frontier wasn’t enough trouble for a city boy, Gillian must also come to terms with the reality that he’s rather fond of his partner. But even if they live through this adventure, Gillian fears there’s no chance for love between a special agent and outlaw.
Still not sure? Then check out a excerpt from The Engineer on C.S. Poe’s blog.
To celebrate the start of an all-new series, I'm going to share a small portion from Chapter One today, the 14th, and 21st. If you're new to steampunk, which is an alt-historical timeline that celebrates steam-powered machinery and Victorian aesthetics, this is your chance to get a free taste
I have loved Kate Beaton for some time, but this genuinely made me laugh more than any of her (very, very brilliant and clever) cartoons. I guffawed!
Must Read of the Week
Is it wrong that I love articles like this less for the ecological and environmental information, and more for the ‘if I ever write a dystopian hellscape this will come in useful’ research? I suppose it is.
Still, it’s fascination to think about how you need to live to cut water consumption, and how much of it has nothing to do with your DIRECT consumption.
I Spent a Week Exploring How We’ll Have to Live in Post-Water America.
One Saturday morning in December, I drank half as much coffee as usual and then, dull-eyed, walked to a hardware store to purchase the 18-gallon storage container I would use to take showers for the next seven days. Because for one week, I was going to shrink my water footprint to see how that small shoe felt.
My reaction—How, I guess there is no point reading this article because the takeaway is ‘No point starting exercising, if you stop you’ll be worse off than before. Thank you, sir, and good day!’
My reaction—A brave and bold take, my good man. Please continue, but frankly I’m already ready to sign up to your whatevers. Tell me more. Tell me it slowly. With syrup.
I feel every undead character I’ve ever written has just mashed the ‘like’ button for this.
This is very true. There’s only good burner on my stove. The others are PALE IMITATIONS!
Look, I’m always here for anyone who wants to drag Zeus. Dude HAS IT COMING.
What? Whaaaaaaats?
…….
WHAT?