Author: Jotham

Jotham Austin, II lives in Chicagoland with his wife and two sons. He has his PhD in Botany, and can be found taking electron micrographs of cells at The University of Chicago. His Rom-Com novella, “Tomorrow May Be Too Late” will be published as part of the romance anthology, “Askew Ever After,” January 2021. His debut novel, a sci-fi psychological thriller, ‘Will You Still Love Me, If I Become Someone Else?” will be released February 2021. Jotham recently started a newsletter that explores the science in science fiction (signup at jothamaustin.com). Preorder books and Follow Jotham on social media at https://linktr.ee/Jothamaustin

What I’m digging in June 2022

Comics:

Le Fay

I saw Le Fay on Kickstarter some time ago from Evoluzione Publishing, and they pulled me in with the hook: “If Jessica Jones was a Fay Sorcerous.”

The story is about woman, Morgan le Fay who works as a private investigator for the occult underworld in modern times. I really like the art work and I cannot wait to dig into this. I picked up Vol 1-5.


Fiction:

FInal Girl Support Group by
Grady Hendrix


In horror movies, the final girl is the one who’s left standing when the credits roll. The one who fought back, defeated the killer, and avenged her friends. But after a decade of trying to find peace, a group of final girls become become hunted once again.

This was a fast-paced horror thriller. Go check out all the rave reviews and add it to your TBR-list!

Indie-Fiction:

A Fading Star by Greg Hickey

Writing can be a very lonely endeavor, but I try to make an effort to make as many connections to other writers as possible. It’s always nice to have someone that understands what it is like experiencing the highs and lows in the writing/publishing/marketing trenches. So, it was a nice surprise when a fellow author, who happens to be from Chicago, reached out to me about my short story, “Summer Without Leaves.” I am looking forward to reading Greg’s novel, “A Fading Star,” and you can get a free sample of the novel, HERE!

Music/Podcasts:

No new Music to report, but I have been listening to a number of Podcasts. Here are two of them:

The Shit No One Tells You About Writing

In this podcast, Bianca Marais, interviews authors, agents, editors and just about anyone and everyone who’s involved in bringing a book to market.

Creative PepTalk

In this Podcast, Andy J Pizza, helps you on your creative path by finding and maintaining your creative spark to help you maximize your potential.


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! I’ll try to add some indie author reads!

Email me and let me know what you’ve been into and what I should check out! Or follow me online for more realtime updates: Jotham’s Social Links

March 12th: What am I reading and Listening to:

Comics:

The Freaking Future by
Matt Skillern

The Freaking Future is an anthology of weird character driven stories taking place in (you guessed it) the future. If you like comics like Heavy Metal Magazine and 2000 AD then keep your eye out for The Freaking Future. It’s a unique bunch of weird and funny stories!

Matt also does commissions and original art work: check out what I got from Matt at NWI-ComicCon



Go check his stuff out

Non-Fiction:

The 1619 Project
By: Nikole Hannah-Jones


Excerpt from the publisher:

The 1619 Project is an ongoing initiative from The New York Times Magazine that began in August 2019, the four hundredth anniversary of the beginning of American slavery. It is led by Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones, along with New York Times Magazine editor-in-chief Jake Silverstein and editors Ilena Silverman and Caitlin Roper.

This was a powerful read that starts to explore and create room for discussion and understanding to the black experience in the context of America’s origin narrative. The original essay series was expanded into a book.

Fiction:

Dead Astronauts
by: Jeff Vandermeer

This is book #2 in the Borne series. Jeff’s writing is creepy, haunting, confusing and beautiful—love it all:

Excerpt from the publisher:

Jeff VanderMeer’s Dead Astronauts presents a City with no name of its own where, in the shadow of the all-powerful Company, lives human and otherwise converge in terrifying and miraculous ways. At stake: the fate of the future, the fate of Earth – all the Earths.
Check it out!

Music:

I love Adrian Younge’s music, the way he combines the old and the new. I was happy to see this mix he put together of music that’s been sampled in Hip-Hop over the years. 

Go Check it out on Apple Music! Don’t have Apple Music go listing to one of Adrian’s other albums.

*********


Okay, that’s where I’m at. I’ll try to update y’all every month on books, comics, and music that I’ve been digging! I’ll try to add some indie author reads!

What am I reading and listening to in February 2022

Comics:

Hack/Slash
Image Comics

I recently got the 2nd Volume in the Hack/Slash Horror series. I backed the first volume and the second on Kickstarter (Got a variant cover). I loved the first and I cannot wait to dig into this one. Tim Seeley is one of my favorite writer, and he will be a VIP at the NWI Comic Con! Art is fabulous by Emily Stone.
Go Check it out.


Non-Fiction:

Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals
By: Oliver Burkeman

A great read that will Challenge the way you view, use, and manage your limited time on this Earth.

Spend some time reading this book!

Fiction:


Where the Drowned Girls Go (Wayward series#7)
by: Seanan McGuire

I love this series and Seanan’s amazing writing. I am looking forward to reading this book. If you are not familiar with the series here is the publisher’s description:

Welcome to the Whitethorn Institute. The first step is always admitting you need help, and you’ve already taken that step by requesting a transfer into our company.

There is another school for children who fall through doors and fall back out again.
It isn’t as friendly as Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children.
And it isn’t as safe.

When Eleanor West decided to open her school, her sanctuary, her Home for Wayward Children, she knew from the beginning that there would be children she couldn’t save; when Cora decides she needs a different direction, a different fate, a different prophecy, Miss West reluctantly agrees to transfer her to the other school, where things are run very differently by Whitethorn, the Headmaster.

She will soon discover that not all doors are welcoming…
Check it out!


Okay, that’s where I’m at. I’ll try to update y’all every month on books, comics, and music that I’ve been digging! I’ll try to add some indie author reads!

Announcement:

Rabbit Hole of Research is going to be exhibitors at the NWI Comic Con 2022!!!


Saturday, February 12, 2022


Lake County Fair Grounds
889 South Court Street, Crown Point, IN


Click here for tickets and other event info!


Come out and say hello! We will be releasing the first three Rabbit Hole of Research Zines (expanded episodes with more cool art work), Coloring Books, copies of my debut novel, and there will be a giveaway! Georgia (@atomic_number 14) and I (@jomega22) can not wait!

What’s up Jotham? Is it too late to say Happy New Year?

It’s January 2022, and even though we are 8 days into the New Year, and a little late to the party, I’m going to wish you all a Very Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year!

I always wonder how late is too late to wish someone a Happy New Year. I mean what if the first time you see someone is in March, is it okay to say, “Happy New Year.” Okay, March may be pushing it, but when do you stop saying, “Happy New Year?” The same day the Holiday decorations come down; after the Chinese New Year? Or are you wishing Uncle Charlie a Happy New Year and Independence Day with some potato salad? LOL

Okay, I’m being a little silly!

At the end of the year Georgia (atomicnumber14) and I found out that Rabbit Hole of Research would have a table at the eighth NWI Comic Con on February 12th 2022! This was exciting and terrifying news and we realized we had a bit of work to get done. But I am happy to report we have put together some Zines a coloring book and some other fun stuff to debut at the Con. Here is a sneak peek of one of the Zines:

This has been a fun collaborative project. Mark your calendar: more details coming soon about the Comic Con!

Oh, ignore that microphone in the picture, that would have nothing to do with that podcast thing I’ve been talking about. That’s not the handwavium you are looking for!

The other thing that has been filling my time is working on the Developmental Edits of my new Novel. I did meet my goal to have the first round of cuts and structural rewrites finished early January. Doing the numbers I cut around 7,000 words, and added back around 17,000, for a net gain of 10K words.

Now I am reading the novel to make sure no plot holes opened up during all this restructuring, and filling them in. I am very excited about this novel and looking forward to the day it get’s into your hands, but the road to publishing is a long a arduous one. But while you wait don’t forget about my two stories out right now:

My paranormal romance werewolf shifter novella, ‘Eve’ will be gone soon! So, Order it Now: Kindle Unlimited, ebook and paperback! If you picked up a copy, thank you!


Also, my Sci-Fi Psychological Thriller Novel turns 1-years old next month, ‘Will You Still Love Me If I Become Someone Else?’ Order online Now: e-book and paperback!



Maybe a limited edition Hardback copy giveaway to celebrate will be in order! If you cannot wait for the giveaway, I have some copies for sale on my web shop

One last thing would be the Standing Desk I mentioned last month. I ordered some electric legs off Amazon and I will be attaching the top I am finishing this weekend to it. I will post the finished pictures, but here are the legs. (Ignore the unfinished basement floor.)

Okay, That’s all of the major news. Keep reading below to check out the new feature, and check out some of the creatives that are keeping me entertained.

And Finally, after a long break, I will be back later this month with a brand new Rabbit Hole of Research Episode! Check out the old ones to get your snarky Handwavium-Science Fix!

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).

What am I reading and listening to in January 2022?

Comics:

Tales From the Cryptic Closet: See it in Terrifying 3D!
Guerrilla Publishing

This is the third issue in the Horror anthology series. A great collaborative effort!
I am looking forward to more stuff from Guerrilla Publishing. Full disclosure: I backed this project on Kickstarter, and even got my Face on the back cover. Still a good read! Go get it!

Non-Fiction:

There’s a Revolution Outside, My Love

Edited by Tracy K. Smith and John Freeman
LETTERS FROM A CRISIS

A wonderful anthology that I’ve been digesting slowly over the past couple weeks; best summed up in the book’s description:

“Galvanizing and lyrical, this is a deeply profound anthology of writing filled with
pain and beauty, warmth and intimacy. A remarkable feat of empathy, There’s a
Revolution Outside, My Love offers solace in a time of swirling protest, change,
and violence-reminding us of the human scale of the upheaval, and providing
hope for a kinder future.”

Add this on to your to read pile!

Fiction:

The Stand: Stephen King

I read or listen to this masterpiece of fiction yearly. Reading and thinking about the way this story is constructed (pacing, tone, dialogue, plotting) has been helpful to my own writing.
Check it out!


Music:

I have been really digging this new soulful alternative country mash up.
Go add Amythyst Kiah’s Wary Strange to your playlist!


Okay, that’s where I’m at. I’ll try to update y’all every month on books, comics, and music that I’ve been digging! I’ll try to add some indie author reads!

Email me and let me know what you’ve been into and what I should check out! Or follow me online for more realtime updates: Jotham’s Social Links

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!!!

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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?

It’s October 16th, What’s up Jotham?

Hey y’all, I hope this email finds you safe and well. No matter how you found my newsletter, thank you for joining.

I know what you are thinking, “Jotham, what is this Rabbit Hole of Research?” Well, my newsletter comes out twice a month (this is the goal), one edition will feature an author interview, book promos/samplers and giveaways; The second edition will explore the quirky science in fiction. Also, I say Handwavium a lot. Handwavium is a fictional material used to smooth plot holes.

So, a couple quick updates and no Handwavium.

A lot has happened since the last Rabbit Hole of Research newsletter—I am now represented by the literary agent Kat Kerr at the Donald Maass Literary Agency!

I am excited to work with Kat!


Other thing that has gained some attention in the last couple week is my mustache! I’ve been trying different waxes to tame the might-stache—you can follow the adventures of the stache and craft beers I’m drinking on Instagram. Been trying some different waxes to tame, shape, the stache.


The other thing you may have noticed if you follow me on SocialMedia AtomicNumber14 (Georgia) and I have officially combined our talents for your enjoyment on Rabbit Hole of Research newesletters. We will be putting together some Zines in the near future combining my words and Georgia’s prints.Georgia’s prints are on display at Studio 659 art gallery in Whiting, IN.

Last weekend, Georgia and I along with two friends finally got to see RENT. During the lockdown there was a NPR story about the 25th anniversary tour and the life and legacy of Jonathan Larson (Check it out here).
I was driving down the relatively empty streets of Chicago and my eyes teared up listening to this—Once parked I immediately texted my good fried who is a huge RENT fan and asked if she wanted to go (she has seen RENT with her wife 10+ times). She said yes! LOL
This was the first live performance we all had been to since early 2020. Masked, vaccinated and it was nice to be out and see this fabulous performance. Also, I discovered that I really enjoy musicals—



And finally, my paranormal romance shifter novella, ‘Eve’ was delivered to the publisher and will be released October 31st in the Moonlight Anthology! You can Preorder it now!

Also, the publisher just let us know that a limited number of paperback copies will be available—stay tuned for more on that.

Click Here to PreOrder Now



Okay, That’s all the major updates and news. And you can always email or follow me online for real time tracking). So, no author interview this month, but did find some awesome authors to share and book fairs!