November 2013
MENTATS OF DUNE final cover and jacket text
As I’m busy proofreading the typeset galleys for MENTATS OF DUNE, I realized I haven’t officially posted the final cover and jacket text. The book will be released in the US and UK in March 2014.
Unveiling: full cover for THE DARK BETWEEN THE STARS
I just came back from my week-long trip in Poland, signing books, meeting fans, touring the country…and lugging along the copy-edited manuscript for the first volume in the Saga of Shadows, THE DARK BETWEEN THE STARS—a new “next generation” trilogy set in my Seven Suns universe. Over 900 pages long. I wanted to read it one more time, give the sentences a final polish, and also upload the story in my imagination again as I prepare to write Book 2 (which is not yet officially titled, but I *think* it’ll be BLOOD OF THE COSMOS).
A Convention and Book Tour in Poland, Part 3
Next day, Sunday, I had another interview in the morning, then a two-hour author panel, this time with an interpreter (which I found much more difficult, trying to listen to the questions and the simultaneous translation), but we did just fine. This time more than a hundred people were in the audience, and I had another lengthy autographing…complete with Star Trek Redshirts, Dune fans, Star Wars fans, even some who had copies of my old SF novel with Doug Beason, ASSEMBLERS OF INFINITY, which was my first Polish translation.
A Convention and Book Tour in Poland
I was asked to be author guest of honor for Falkon, one of the largest SF conventions in Poland, held in the city of Lublin, and I gratefully accepted. I’ve never been to Poland (never even been to Eastern Europe before), and a writer needs to experience new places, cultures, people, traditions, all as ingredients for creating worlds.
NaNoWriMo—Kevin’s Elevens Writing Productivity Tips 9, 10 & 11
Productivity Tip #9: Think Outside the Keyboard
After the previous tip, now that you’ve set up the perfect established writing spot, keep in mind that this is not the only way you can write. Your word processor isn’t the only tool you have.
NaNoWriMo—Kevin’s Elevens Writing Productivity Tips 7 & 8
Productivity Tip #7—KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WRITING & EDITING
Write during the writing stage.
Edit during the editing stage.
NaNoWriMo—Kevin’s Elevens Writing Productivity Tips 5 & 6
Writing Productivity Tip #5: Use Every Minute
If you think you need large blocks of time to accomplish any writing, then you’re kidding yourself. One sentence at a time, one paragraph at a time, one page at a time.
NaNoWriMo—Two More Writing Productivity Tips
Reposting a series of tips I published for last year’s NaNoWriMo—
Writing Productivity Tip #3—WORK ON DIFFERENT PROJECTS AT THE SAME TIME
This one works best for people with ADD, or low boredom thresholds! (And it doesn’t work for everybody.)
Teaser Tuesday: Dan Shamble, Zombie P.I.—NAUGHTY & NICE
Here’s the first chapter in my new holiday story featuring Dan Shamble, Zombie P.I., “Naughty & Nice.” If you enjoy it, you can read the whole story for only 99¢
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