What’s Jotham Checking Out July-August 2023

Books:

I read six since the last time I checked in (not including the six books I read for the CWA BOTY contest). I read in a few genres: from Horror (Cynthia’s reimagining of the Pied Piper). Speculative and Science fiction (cloning and space drama). A great film study of one of my favorite movies, The Thing. A thrilling story about a diver that gets swallowed by a whale, and Seth Godin (marketing, leadership and living a creative life). These were some great reads to take my mind off the tasks at hand.

  1. The Dip: A little book that teaches you when to quit: (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6547148) Seth Godin (Non-Fiction leadership)
  2. Never Let Me Go(https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6334): Kazuo Ishiguro (Speculative Fiction)
  3. The Thing (BFI Film Classic) (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1200879): Anne Billson (Film Study)
  4. Children of Chicago (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55878030): Cynthia Pelayo (Horror)
  5. Whalefall (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62919162): Daniel Kraus (Thriller)
  6. Fractal Noise (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62711641): Christopher Paolini (Science-Fiction)

Comics/Graphic Novels:

I read two graphic novel/comic series. I mentioned last time I went to CAKE (Chicago’s Alternative Comics Expo) with Georgia last month and one of the artist/writer I met was Megan, and her Lady Eudora book was a great fun read about a proper woman exploring the world of BDSM. I also read Big Sex Criminal (it’s been in my TBR pile for a year or so)—A couple can stops time when they have an orgasm and decide to rob a bank…

  1. The Lady Eudora Henley (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52740645): Megan Rose Gerdis (Erotic, BDSM)
  2. Big Hard Sex Criminal Vol 1-6 (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24484259): Writer: Matt Fraction, Illustrator: Chip Zdarsky (Sci-Fi)

You can follow me on Goodreads to see what I’m reading next: 

Jotham’s Goodreads


What’s Jotham Listening to:

Music:

Just been digging some algorithmic curated apple playlists.


Podcasts:

Here are the four top podcasts I’ve been finding time for (Yes, this is the same list as before, but what can I say these are awesome): 

  1. Creative Peptalk by Andy J Pizza (A companion for your creative journey)
  2. Story Nerd: Melanie Hill and Valerie Francis (Story theory and how to use)
  3. The Shit No One Tells You About Writing: Bianca Marais, CeCe Lyra and Carly Waters (Behind the scenes look at publishing industry)

Okay, that’s where I’m at. I’ll try to update y’all every month on books, comics, and music (podcasts) that I’ve been digging! Maybe I need to add shows and movies??? What have y’all been digging? 

Leave a comment


Find your next favorite book or author with these newsletter giveaways (Reader Magnets), new books, or virtual book-fairs:


Reader Magnet: The Earth is gone. Can the colonists of Mars forge a new society for humanity to survive?

Book: Only 0.99 cents until September 10th: A future society about to collapse. A reluctant hero alone in the world. When he suspects sabotage, will he abandon his newfound friend to save humanity?

Book: When the FBI can’ t help, an unassuming banker takes matters into his own hands to bring his son home

Reader Magnet: Three Prequel stories to The Dragon Eater

Happy December! And that means it’s almost 2022!

Happy Holidays!

It’s December and I am unsure where the year has gone.The last couple months have seemed to drag along, but it’s time for holiday cheer, egg nog, cookies, lights and all that jazz!

As the year winds down, I got the first round of Developmental Edits from my agent (Developmental edits are 30,000 foot big picture edits of the manuscript, plot, pacing, character arcs, etc.). I know a lot of folks don’t like the editing process, but I actually enjoy it. What do you like more, editing or writing? I’m curious, email me and let me know!

When people ask why do you need to work with critique partners, writing groups or developmental editors, I always say, “they are the eyes in the author’s blind spots.”

That’s right. No matter how much love I’ve put into crafting a twisty plot that will keep you turning the page, the tone, pacing, emotional growth of my characters always improve going through these important developmental edits.

Always remember not to take the comments personally. I know it is hard to send your baby out into the world and someone tells you your favorite scene drags on, before you go into crazy mode, remember these are just suggestions, one person’s thoughts, but this is someone whose judgment you respected enough to send you baby to in the first place.

So, when I get back comments, I read them, I mumble and curse to myself under my breath about how idiotic the negative comments are (the positive comments are always spot on) then I put the comments away (I may read the positive comments again, but then put it away) for a couple days or so, and busy myself with something else. After the excitement of finally moving forward with the manuscript fades a bit, I approach each comment in a serious and thoughtful way.

Even if you disagree with a comment or potential change, you should revisit that scene or the character’s emotional arc, tone, sensitivity, colorism, physical abuse, sex, abrasive language, etc.

If you are still hesitant to go in and take the scalpel or sledgehammer to your baby, copy the section(s) or chapter(s) in question into a new document (save it as MS_awesome_as_is), turn on track changes (they should already be on) and then experiment with changing the scene or section within your manuscript, and see what you think (ask yourself honestly, do things read better? The same? Or the original was the bee’s knees!)

I’ll be the first to admit that cutting and rewriting big chunks of your perfect baby is hard. My WYS_awesome_as_is file for Will You Still Love Me… was about 20,000 words over a couple rounds of Developmental edits (I cut an entire chapter), but in the end the pacing of several chapters improved, characters and plot lines I introduced but never fully fleshed out were removed and all this created space to more fully explore the world and growth of the main characters of the novel, Alex, Marci and Leslie.

And, bonus that chapter and other stuff you cut may be useful as a scene in the sequel (Did I mention I finished the first draft of Will You Still Love Me If I Become Someone Else part 2!)

Okay, I’m going to get off my, “editing is great,” soapbox, but I’ll share more of my process as I go along, like how I edit scenes in my stories using Comic book Panel formatting. But, more on that later.

Speaking of Comics, I just found out earlier this week that Rabbit Hole of Research (atomicnumber14 (Georgia) and I) will have a table at the NWI-Comic Con in February 12th 2022!!!

Mark your calendar: more details coming soon!

If you missed it:

My paranormal romance werewolf shifter novella, ‘Eve’was released October 31st in the Moonlight Anthology! You can Order it Now: Kindle Unlimited, ebook and paperback!


Also, check out my debut Sci-Fi Psychological Thriller Novel, ‘Will You Still Love Me If I Become Someone Else?’ Order online Now: e-book and paperback!

Buy a book from my web-store (paperback or hardback)anytime before December 24th 2021, and get a free atomicnumber14.com original relief print that has been featured on Rabbit Hole of Research!!!


Okay, Enjoy the rest of the day! you can always email or follow me online for real time tracking and to see what craft beers I’m drinking (find me on Untappd @jomega22).

November 13th: How to Balance Handwavium and the Actual Factual in your story

I often get asked how does a research scientist balance using Handwavium to write Speculative Science fiction or Paranormal stories and staying Actual Factual?

So, little secret, I don’t try to keep any balance. I do a bit of research (sometimes I get lost in the Rabbit Hole of Research) about things that I may use in a story trying to learn more about the history/origin of paranormal legends and think about how these phenomena can be explained using science fact, or research how a technology may work and the limits that exist today and push past these limits in a “speculative” way to create interesting plot twists in a story.

Yet, after I do research, I often put it away, and focus on writing the first draft (just get those words down), and not let the Actual Factual box my story in.

It is in latter drafts where I square the Actual Factual using as little of Handwavium as possible to plug those pesky plot holes (which I like to explore in the Rabbit Hole of Research).

Speaking of werewolves (I did an episode on the science of werewolves; check it out here) and balanced the Paranormal with Actual Factual in writing my paranormal romance shifter novella, ‘Eve’:

My paranormal romance werewolf shifter novella, ‘Eve’was released October 31st in the Moonlight Anthology! You can Order it Now: ebook and paperback!


Also, check out my debut Sci-Fi Psychological Thriller Novel, ‘Will You Still Love Me If I Become Someone Else?’ Order Now, e-book and paperback!

Will You Still Love Me If I Become Someone Else?

July 10th Author Profile: Jennifer Soucy

Jennifer Soucy is a spirited New England girl who loves to explore both the world around her and the vivid realms within her imagination. Born and raised in Connecticut, she currently lives in Georgia after a stint in Las Vegas. She’s an editing assistant, 25-year veteran of the service industry, and a proud nerd whose various hobbies involve some combination of horror and fantasy.

DEMON IN ME, her debut novel, is an adult contemporary horror/dark fantasy. THE NIGHT SHE FELL, a contemporary adult dark fantasy/paranormal romance novel, also has a sequel due in Fall 2021. CLEMENTINE’S AWAKENING, a southern gothic/horror, was released by Silver Shamrock Publishing. THE MOTHER WE SHARE, a contemporary YA dark fantasy/horror, was recently released by RhetAskew Publishing.

Her best ideas are often inspired by deliberately inducing nightmares, translating those into tales which may occasionally encourage readers to sleep with a light on.

Follow Jennifer online:
Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads /
Instagram / Amazon

Author portrait by Georgia Geis
Follow Georgia @atomicnumber14

Jennifer, How do you come up with ideas for a project?

 
My ideas come from lots of places—previous experience, dreams or nightmares—though the initial seed usually sprouts from a “What-if” scenario. For instance, the first two books I wrote, The Mother We Share and Clementine’s Awakening, were both loosely inspired on previous life experiences. In TMWS, I include the origin in the Acknowledgments. My younger sister created a scary bedtime story (The Green-Eyed Girl) for her kids, which inspired me years later to dig deeper: What if the Green-Eyed Girl was real, and why might she really be stalking her victim/sister? In CA, I’d worked for nearly twenty-five years in restaurants, one time in a location we believed was haunted, but I felt the spirit was somewhat benevolent—at least toward some of us. So I thought to myself: What if a ghost did haunt a restaurant, but she became friends with one of the servers?
 
I guess in a way I’m lucky to have seen and done a lot of strange things. Combine that with a highly active imagination, and I’m fortunate enough to have more than enough ideas to play with.
 

After you have a new idea, how much research do you do?

 
It really depends on the topic. I try not to pick anything that goes way beyond my basic scope of knowledge. Not that a writer shouldn’t do that, but for myself I don’t like to spend a ton of time on research unless it’s absolutely necessary. I actually enjoy learning, so once I get sucked into a research wormhole I can be gone for a while.
 
To make it easier on myself, I write main characters who I find relatable. Their interests, occupations, strengths and weaknesses are all things I can identify with on some level. Even the story settings are usually places I’ve visited or lived in, that way I have some familiarity while writing the bones of the story.
 
Research is inescapable, even with those circumstances. For example, the Irish folklore in TMWS was complex enough I definitely researched the topic to brush up my existing knowledge. Certain locations require an element of research, too, especially if you’re a fan of mentioning key landmarks, streets, or even discussing weather on specific times of the year.
 
But again, I try to keep the research to something of a minimum to avoid distracting myself from actually writing. Worldbuilding and research are important and add value for the reader, but as writers we can’t ever lose sight of our end goal—finishing the damn story!
 

Do you research things throughout your creative process or just at the beginning?

 
I might do a little research during the beginning, often for information or setting a mood in my own mind, but often I find myself taking breaks at times during the writing to doublecheck things. In CA, for instance, an unexpected character appeared who ended up adding a lot to the narrative. However, she had a certain gift I’d only heard tell of but never really researched so I had to stop for a couple of days and do some learning. I think it was worth it in the end, even if I didn’t use everything I studied, and I hope the readers enjoyed that added layer.
 
What’s the strangest thing you’ve researched for a project (go check that Google search history)?
 
Oh god, if people could see my Google search history… I already told my boyfriend get ready to bail me out ‘cause anyone who finds it will think I’m a maniac!
 
I don’t know if this is necessarily the strangest thing I’ve researched for a project, but I had a question on my current WIP: Do cockroaches drink blood? Turns out, yes, they do—and they have a grand old time hanging around corpses, filling their nasty bellies (carapaces? Whatever lol). Keep that in mind if you see them poking around your house, crawling over your belongings, and you’re not sure if exterminating them is worth the cost. Do it!
 

When you write, do you try to stay close to the Actual Factual or are you fast and loose with Handwavium (a term used when a writer waves their hand at reality for sake of the plot)?

 
I’m a pretty imaginative person with a great respect for artistic liberty. My reading preference is also heavily rooted in horror and fantasy, so I’m cool with anything supernatural/paranormal. That said, there’s definitely a time where facts matter (although, there’s also room for a bit of handwaving once you’ve laid the story’s foundation).
 
Suspension of disbelief is hugely important in fiction, whether it’s a book, movie, or tv show. That doesn’t mean everything has to be rooted in solid fact, but plot features/situations have to be believable. For me, this goes back to creating effective characters and setting the scene. If the artist has created a believable, relatable character and world, then there’s a lot we, the audience, will forgive or overlook as the story expands.
 
But I would also add that PoV and genre/sub-genre matter in this discussion. If we’re in the PoV of a believably confused or unreliable character, we can swallow their mistakes or misperceptions with greater ease if the creator is doing their job. If you’re writing a story with sci-fi elements, for example, you will want some hardcore science facts mixed in with your fantasy elements. Sci-fi readers have certain expectations that must be met, otherwise they’ll never find themselves sinking into the story and suspending disbelief when the really wild things start happening.
 
Long story short, I guess it depends mostly on what you’re writing. Be flexible and adaptable, and definitely plan on including some blend of facts with your fiction to make it more robust.
 
 

Have you ever stopped reading a story to go look up how factual something was?

 
Hah, yes! I should say, I don’t necessarily recall the last time I did that for a book, but I’m terrible at this when it comes to movies and tv shows. I’m a huge history buff, so when I watch stories inspired by history I find myself Googling when the writers try to pull a fast one.
 
I drive my boyfriend crazy cause I’ll pause and Google, then cry, “I knew it! All lies!”
 
He always says, “Remember this is a movie, relax. It doesn’t have to be perfect.”
 
I guess that relates to what I said earlier, though, about blending facts and fiction. If you tell the audience right from the beginning this is based on or inspired by real events, then you’d better be ready to include some solid facts. Of course, in the books/shows I truly enjoy and get lost in, it only occurs to me after that I might want to see if any of it was possible or true—never while I’m under its spell, indicating the creator did their job by reeling me in. In short, I believe once we start detecting too much handwaving and artificial/unbelievable drama, we can’t just relax and enjoy the story, so creators beware!
 
 

Do you create with music, other background noise or complete silence?

 
I love music almost as much as books, so yes, I write to music. Part of my worldbuilding process for every WIP is building a playlist that relates to themes, characters, location, or other factors. I don’t play it very loud, as that might get distracting, but it keeps my conscious mind occupied so my subconscious can peek out and help during the writing process.
 
As an example, here’s the link for my Spotify playlists:
 https://open.spotify.com/user/8udiuswxmlm0xq55c2duyu1c4?si=ab6c5e8d86214038&nd=1
 
If you’ve read any of my books and want to see what helped inspire them, the music is like a behind-the-scenes peek!
 

Do you have any pet helper?

 
I wouldn’t call her a helper, but I do have a pet. Buffy’s our newest family member, a 7-month-old kitten. She’s kind of an attention hog at this stage of her life, so I find myself locking her out of the room when I write otherwise she races around and often stops to bite my toes or claw my legs. Maybe one day she’ll be more of a help, haha.
 

Do you create better at 5am or 5pm?

 
Definitely 5am. I enjoy my morning writing sessions as I’m a weird combination of awake and asleep still, waiting for the coffee to kick in. The sleepiness is nice at times because it keeps my subconscious in a sort of dream state, but one that I can access like a lucid dream. It really helps me get the words on the paper, allowing me to dance between real life and the world I’m creating on my computer.
 
I can also write late at night, but that mid-afternoon/evening is hard because I usually have to do other more mundane tasks which take most of my attention. I save those hours for working on other people’s projects or for doing basic stuff like cleaning and cooking.
 

Which team apocalypse are you on: zombie, asteroid, or alien invasion?

 
Great question! I think I’m prepared for each of them.
 
I only got into zombies after meeting my boyfriend twenty years ago, as he’s a huge Romero zombie fan, but I feel we’ve done well planning our response to a zombie attack. I’d say check in with us during the zombie apocalypse, but we plan to be long gone to avoid teaming up with bumbling people who will probably get us killed (like in all the movies/shows lol!).
 
As for aliens, I’ve always loved the notion of them since watching E.T. as a wide-eyed kid in the theater. My belief solidified during my teen years after reading Communion by Whitley Strieber, one of the scariest books I’ve ever read. I’m so psyched with all these UFO videos popping up, and my fingers are crossed that we could learn more soon. Whether they end up being benevolent or monstrous, I just want to see them before I die (please, don’t kill me, aliens!).
 
Asteroid attack…yeah, not sure one can prepare for that. Although one of my favorite movies ever is sort of related to this idea. Melancholia isn’t about an asteroid but a rogue planet on an unavoidable collision course with Earth, and it’s seriously one of the most beautiful movies I’ve ever seen. The relationship between the sisters and how each slides along a spectrum of stability and mental illness the closer their world inches toward destruction touched my very soul. I highly recommend it for a lesson in quality storytelling and complex characters that really test the boundaries of our empathy.
 
 

You mentioned you are a 25-year veteran in the service industry, how has that helped you in your writing career?

 
It’s definitely shown me a lot about people and society, that’s for sure. When you hear the cliche “Truth is stranger than fiction,” trust that it’s a cliche for a darn good reason. People will never cease to amaze you—sadly, it’s often in the most shocking, deplorable ways possible. Of course, there are also amazing people out there with genuine compassion for others who are a treasure to either work with or wait upon. Working in a restaurant, you’ll encounter them all and everyone in between. It’s a wild environment, and you can never say you’ve seen it all. Once you do, a situation will arise and reset the whole game.
 
I feel surviving that many years of chaos has not only fed my imagination but also made me a better and stronger person. I’ve seen the best and worst of humanity, so it really helps when creating characters and putting them in unusual situations. Even after all that, I still love the industry. With the bad, there’s still so much good. The friends you make are like war buddies. You’ve survived the impossible together and forge bonds for life. You learn patience and endurance, which a writer definitely needs. Even though those years kept me from writing because I stayed so busy, I wouldn’t trade the experience.
 

You’ve lived in Connecticut, Las Vegas, and now Georgia. How have the places you lived influence your writing?

 
I love traveling, seeing new places and meeting new people. I also love exploring and learning about other cultures. Even in our one country, each region is so unique because of certain traditions and beliefs. Also each region has some pretty awesome legends and lore, which again have fed my creativity and imagination.
 
New England, the deep South, and the American West are all very different but I’ve loved them all even though each also has their downside. I think the times in my life I lived there also played a role. I spent my formative years in CT, a place rich in history (often very spooky history), so that left a mark. GA has been home for most of my adult life, with a lot of conflicts and obstacles but also triumphs. Las Vegas was a refuge at a time when I needed one, so I find that sneaking into stories, too, such as Demon in Me where the main character also likens the city as a haven where she could find herself again.
 

If you got to use some “Handwavium” and send younger Jennifer one note about writing, editing, or marketing, which would you chose and what would you say?

 
I would definitely tell younger Jennifer to study marketing. What a pain it is! The writing and editing always came somewhat easily as I did well throughout school in related subjects. Plus I credit a lifetime of reading with helping those tasks seem more natural and easier to accomplish. But marketing? I’m from Gen X, so I’m not a complete idiot with the internet and technology, but it still can be challenging. I know there’s more I can do, more sites to use as a platform, and I really need to work on building my newsletters, but it all feels really overwhelming. I wish I’d spent some time working on marketing in the modern age because learning it all now is definitely time-consuming.
 
You had several books released in the last few months, can you give us the run down and can you share what we can expect next?
 
So far this year, I’ve released two books: Clementine’s Awakening and The Mother We Share, the first two books I wrote in 2018. Yes, sometimes publishing works out that way where your books don’t always get released in the order they were written. Still, these stories hold very special places in my heart, and I’m so delighted to see them out in the world.
 
This fall, I plan on releasing the sequel to The Night She Fell which is called She Who Destroys. As for what comes after, there’s definitely plenty waiting in the wings but nothing I can confirm yet. I do know one thing, I haven’t stopped writing since 2018 so I promise there’s plenty of stories left to tell!
 

Jennifer, thank you for your time. Is there anything else you’d like folks to know about you, your work, or your research process?


I just want to add that this past year or so has been difficult for all of us, some more than others. Be patient and kind. Treat people as you wish to be treated. Sure, not everyone will appreciate that and you may have to leave them behind, but plenty of people will be grateful for your sincere efforts. We’re all in this together, and it’s time to start moving forward again. Live, love, and always chase your dreams. Life’s short, so don’t waste a minute of potential joy.

Follow Jennifer on Social Media.

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads /
Instagram / Amazon

Personal Update: It’s July 10th and I Ain’t Got Time To Bleed!

Happy July! I know we are a week or so in, but it’s never to late to spread some joy! The past week has been crazy and the crazy weather didn’t help. So what happened? My sump pump died and got about one inch of water in the laundry room—I jumped into action and replaced the sump pump, but while changing it I accidentally sliced my finger.

I was almost finished with installing the replacement sump pump when I cut my finger, so I wrapped a towel around my bleeding finger and continued to install the sump pump. My youngest son came up to me and said, “Dad, you’re bleeding”

I shook my head and responded, “I ain’t got time to bleed.”

print available @atomicnumber14


After I got the sump pump installed and most of the water cleaned up, I did go to urgent care. They patched me up with a few Steri Strips (did have a nice conversation with the Doc about stitches vs Steri Strips). I’m glad to report about a week later my finger is healing nicely!

In writing land, I finished the first round of edits on the two Novellas that will be published this fall (hurt finger cannot stop editing). Waiting to get some beta-reader feedback, but will have to send them off to editor for proofreading in August. 

Get ready and order your copy of Moonlight now (my novella, “Eve” will be in this along with any many other wonderful authors!)


Preorder ‘Moonlight: A Limited Edition Paranormal Romance Anthology’ is now available here.

Preorder Moonlight now!


My novella Eve, is about a werewolf named Eve (And yes, I did a science of werewolf episode). Eve is looking to protect her pact, to survive, and falling in love with a human is not part of her plan. As I mentioned, there is an awesome lineup of authors that I’m happy to be working with, so click the link and preorder Moonlight now

And, you read correctly, I said two novellas are being released this fall. The second will be in the Emerging Worlds Anthology. I am doing a post-zombie novella titled, “The Cure”. They promised the Cure would end Zombie and return life to normal, but nobody promised normal would be easy. I’ve wanted to write a zombie story for some time, and looking at post zombie life is fun. I just finished writing this one, but I will have to do a Rabbit Hole of Research on Zombies!!

As many of you know, my debut novel, “Will You Still Love Me If I Become Someone Else?’ was released on February 23rd 2021. I have paperback copies already available at my website, but I will soon have Hardback copies!!! Keep your eyes out for this. 

Also, Daniel Roche did a YouTube review of my novel: Go check it out here.

Hopefully, with COVID restrictions easing (folks are getting vaccinated which is good) I may be able to do book signings and other fun things, stay tuned for details! I do have books in the wild at Paul Henry’s Art Gallery in Hammond, IN and at the Green Witch Cafe in Highland, IN

And don’t worry, there will be a new issue of Rabbit Hole of Research on July 24th, the One Year Anniversary and I’ll be getting Sexy in Space again! If you want to read past issues, check them out here

Follow me online, and feel free to Email me with questions, comments, questionable science, or who you’d like to see interviewed.

Personal Update: June 26th 2016

This month has flown by, but there was a lot of activity. I had the pleasure of chatting with folks at the Juneteenth Celebration in Hammond, IN. I really enjoyed the conversations, the fellowship, celebrating the accomplishments of the next generation of young scholars, and overall excitement of the event. Cannot wait to do it again next year.

In other news my two novellas are ready to go off to the editor, I outlined a brand new novel, and I started writing the sequel to Will You Still Love Me If I Become Someone Else?

That’s right, I’m 10K words into it—I’ll keep you updated as I work on this project.

Here are a few images from the Juneteenth Celebration.
I had some great conversations and a few ideas for future Rabbit Hole of Research Episodes—Hopefully, I will be doing more events as the summer rolls along!

      
It was great talking about my book at the Juneteenth Celebration!
A number of readers have said one of their favorite lines in my debut novel is: “Sexual Chocolate Granny, the stuff airplane fantasies are made of …”

Sexual Chocolate Granny—Say what? Want to read more; still need a copy of “Will You Still Love Me If I Become Someone Else?” Buy Here

Thank you if you already picked up a copy. And a bigger thanks if you left me a review!

My werewolf romance novella, ‘Eve’ will be in the ‘Moonlight: A Limited Edition Paranormal Romance Anthology’ this fall; Preorder now available here

June Update

Where has the time gone? May zipped by and we are smack dab into June. I spent some time getting plants in the garden (tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants) and relaxed a bit and tried a new gin at 18th Street Distillery!

I was interviewed by fellow author Katherine Soto this month, you can read it here: https://buff.ly/3piJ357


        

In writing land, I finished the first draft of the two Novellas that will be published this fall. Also, I got three manuscript requests (two full and a partial) for my novel “The Cost of Us,” a cyberpunk thriller.

As many of you know, my debut novel, “Will You Still Love Me If I Become Someone Else?’ was released on February 23rd 2021. Still haven’t read it, go check it out here. Hopefully, with COVID restrictions easing (folks are getting vaccinated which is good) I may be able to do book signings and other fun things, stay tuned for details! I do have books in the wild at Paul Henry’s Art Gallery in Hammond, IN and at the Green Witch Cafe in Highland, IN.

Preorder for ‘Moonlight: A Limited Edition Paranormal Romance Anthology’ is now available here


Yes, I will have a novella in this anthology! The first draft of the novella about Eve who is a werewolf (And yes, I did a science of werewolf episode) looking to protect her pact, but finds love along the way. So, last episode I had a longer working title, but after some though I am leaning to just “Eve” as the title. There is an awesome lineup of authors so click the link and preorder now

And, you read correctly, I said two novellas are being released this fall. The second will be in the Emerging Worlds Anthology. I am doing a post-zombie novella titled, “The Cure”. They promised the Cure would end Zombie and return life to normal, but nobody promised normal would be easy. I’ve wanted to write a zombie story for some time, and looking at post zombie life is fun. I just finished writing this one, but I will have to do a Rabbit Hole of Research on Zombies!!

And don’t worry, there will be a new issue of Rabbit Hole of Research on June 26th, and I’l going to get in the weeds! If you want to read past issues, check them out here

Follow me online, and feel free to Email me with questions, comments, questionable science, or who you’d like to see interviewed.

March Update: Launch Day and Everything After

Here is a picture of me on release day morning for my debut novel, ‘Will You Still Love Me If I Become Someone Else?’ (still need a copy, click here). I didn’t know what to expect (like a ballon drop when the clock struck midnight or something), that didn’t happen, but it was exciting to get congratulations from friends and family.

It is often hard to take time and appreciate all of the hard work, dedication and sacrifice that goes into writing, editing, and marketing a book. And after all this effort I was holding my breath waiting for reviews. Did I have a typo? Did I tell the best story that I could? Will people get all the twists, turns, and clever writing that I put into the story? Did I— I had to stop and enjoy the moment and accept the fact that my baby is out in the world being read. I finished my coffee, didn’t set anything on fire, and went to work.

By the time I got home, my wife and boys had planned a surprise dinner and carrot cake (my favorite). I also promised myself a glass of Writer’s Tears Whiskey. I have saved this bottle to open once my first novel was published, and I’ll not have another drink until my second (It was delicious). I was all smiles as I reclaimed some of my tears on this long journey from idea to 406 page novel! Cheers!

Launch day was very different than I imagined. I had planned to throw a party and sign books, but that didn’t happen (you know—Covid and all). I am still waiting for my books to arrive from the printer so I can sign them and send them to folks who would have been at the launch party book signing event (the delay is all Covid’s fault). I am sure many creatives had to change their plans and release their work in the electronic vacuum of Zoom congratulations. I am thankful for all the friends and family that made the day special.

I thought the anxiety had been released, but the strangest thing was the next day, self-doubt and imposter syndrome started to creep in. As I held a copy of my book in my hands I felt overwhelmed with dread that people are reading this thing. Is it a good book? Will people like it? Will they throw tomatoes at me? Why is my Amazon sales rank going up and down like a yo-yo? What, I’m 9th on the New Release Metaphysical Fiction list? Is that good? What does that mean? Arghhh—

All day Wednesday I was tormenting myself with these type of thoughts, even as the congratulations were rolling in. It all came to a head on Thursday morning as I was waiting in my car for my dental checkup and cleaning. My phone dinged with notifications that 2 editorial reviews from Readers’ Favorite had arrived. My heart thumped loud in my chest and the voice of self doubt was screaming between my ears, preparing me for one star reviews and negative comments. My trembling finger pressed the link and all the air in the car was sucked into my lungs—I saw the reviews—Both 4 stars and gushing with praise on the construction, the story, how the characters moved them. I had to stop reading the reviews because my vision blurred with tears, and, thankfully, I started breathing again. I wiped my eyes with the heel of my hand and the call for me to go into the office came—

Why was I so effected by this? I had dozens of friends and advance readers already tell me the story was good. My publisher and editors said the story was good. And I knew I had written and put the effort in to craft a great story I’d be proud to release to the world. But in that moment in the car, holding my breath, that was the sum of my anxiety—

I am still waiting for more Editorial reviews to come in, I’m not holding my breath, but breathing easy and getting started on the next projects—details on these soon!

Also, my mom read my book and sent me a text with her review of the novel (it has some spicy parts in there), but she really enjoyed it, here is part of it: “…found your novel intricate and sultry…With a touch of interludes of one’s mind…your novel…is mind boggling and Captivating… I couldn’t put it down till I reached the end…Congratulations!!”

And now I’m really breathing easy! Am I the only one that feels this way? Let me know, send me a note, I’ll write back!

Not to fear, Rabbit Hole of Research will be dropping on March 20th! Also, the back issues of Rabbit Hole of Research are posted on my website, and If you missed an issue (or you are new to my newsletter) go check them out here. They are a fun take on the quirky science in Fiction books and movies. And I’ll be back in March with an exciting new episode. I have gotten a few reader requests—plasma arrows, Independence Day, Tenet—I am making a list and checking it… You have an idea of quirky science in fiction, let me know


Personally, I never imagined that my writing career would start to lift off as it has, and I’d be worrying about marketing, Newsletters or launch dates for novel’s and stories. Thank you all and Hopefully one day soon we can all hang out and chat over beverages! Until then—

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Debut Novel Released on February 23rd 2021

The official release of my debut psychological technothriller novel, “Will You Still Love Me If I Become Someone Else?” is less than 2 weeks away—FEBRUARY 23rd!!

Preorder ebook version from major retailers around the world (only 99 cents, the price will go up after release):

Preorder Here

I will have paperback copies and bookplates that I will sign and ship off to you for sale on my website soon!

Keep your eyes out for a virtual launch party, where I’ll read an excerpt and you can ask me anything.

Check out my author website for preorder links, updates, events, links to my books and newsletter signup.

If you have read an advance copy of “Will You Still Love Me If I Become Someone Else?” —thank you for taking time to read it—You can start posting a review on Goodreads and BookBub, I’ll be sending a reminder email to ya with links to add your review.

I’m super excited to finally get my novel into your hands! Thanks for your continued support!

Picture of bookcover with illustration of a man’s face sith interconnected faces erupting from the top the title is in red brushstroke font that reads will you still love me if I become someone else? And author name Jotham Austin
Preorder Here