For those that prefer the heft and feel of dead trees stained in indelible ink, Explorer is now available on Amazon in paperback format and will be available through Ingram-Spark for distribution to bookstores (such as The Sequel in Enumclaw and A Good Book and Cafe in Sumner, WA). Order (and read) away.
BTW, I’m about 54k words into Openings. Things are moving along.
Finally, after almost two years, I published Explorer today! I’m still working on getting the paperback versions up and running, for those that like to purchase from brick-and-mortar stores (like A Good Book and Cafe in Sumner, WA, or my local store, The Sequel in Enumclaw), so give me a couple of days.
But, if you can’t wait, the electronic version is available on Amazon.
Please spread the word (and purchase the book – it’s good!)
Stay safe out there.
So, here I sit, waiting on some artwork. Specifically, the cover art. Looking forward to getting a final draft (la esposa liked the rough draft). As I wait (and wait, and wait, just like you’ve done so patiently for the past year), I’m working on the Openings – over 35K words right now. Hoping to turn that into a trilogy (but, we’ll see).
So, here’s the blurb for Explorer (still waiting on feedback from a reader and the cover art – the latter of which I should get the first draft on Tuesday):
A country ripped apart with a secret that’s about to change the universe.
For Corps of Discovery Explorer Bill Clark, exploring parallel worlds in the multiverse is all in a day’s work, so entering the Confederate States of America was easy. Leaving is a different matter.
Being hunted by some of the most dangerous people on this alternate timeline, the small team of Explorers must use their wits, skills, and experiences to outsmart their deadly foes and get home. Even if that means leaving the secret of a new technology behind, one that will shift the balance of power. But Bill isn’t about to do that. The stakes are too high.
The Explorers have been in dangerous situations before, but this one is different. This time, getting out alive may well prove impossible.
As I await word back from my editor, my beta reader, and my cover artist, I continue to work on my other works, a sequel to Explorer that I’m just calling Corps of Discovery Book 4 for now, and Openings the first in the Chronicles of Hayek series which explores Tim Bowman’s opening of the first gate (as described in the prologue of Surveyor). CoD Book 4 is at about 3,500 words and Openings is at 20K. I’ve decided to work on them simultaneously because I really want to get the Chronicles of Hayek out but I also know readers like good sequels (and you’re gonna love the premise in CoD Book 4).
My editor (in Washington’s San Juan Islands) says I should get her edits back by the 25th. My cover artist is going on Vaca (she’s in South Africa) on December 15th, but the first rough draft of the cover looks good, and I have no clue when my Beta reader extraordinaire will wrap up his read (but he apparently stayed up hours past his normal bedtime and had to force himself to put his tablet down to go to sleep the night he got the draft). So, what this all means is that with any luck, I’ll have Explorer out in time for Christmas. Of course, some things that factor in are how fast I can do the rewrite (should be less than two days) and how long it will take Amazon and Ingram Spark to release once I submit.
I suspect this will be a dual release, with the e-book coming out before the paperback. Stay tuned.
Things might slow down a bit in the next week or so as I start a new forensic accounting for a fraud case (it looks interesting – then again, they all do to me)
Oh, and as an aside, since I also teach a course at Digipen Institute of Technology called Geography and Cartography for Worldbuilding, I just thought any geonerds out there might be interested in this blog post by author Michael Tedin: Worldbuilding 101 – How to Draw Maps for Your Fictional World (Part 1). I don’t know Tedin, but we apparently went to the same school – the University of Washington.
Tonight I cracked open a fine 2015 vintage red blend from Canoe Ridge Vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA. The name of the wine: The Explorer. Quite appropriate.
Why do I tell you this? Well, in an Indie Writer’s group that I belong to (and attend conferences), authors like to post pictures of their drink of choice as they celebrate completing a first draft of a novel.
What’s that? you ask. Did James actually complete the first draft of Explorer? Why yes, yes he did. It only took two years and 99900 words, but it’s done. Now to get through the rewrite and edits. Publication is still set for December, so keep your eyes peeled. And, if you want early notification of when it will finally be available, shoot me an email.
Two things have enthralled me ever since I was a kid: alternate history and maps. Maps, likely because I traveled a lot as a kid (and I mean, a lot!), and alternative history because it’s always interesting to ponder “what if.” Probably the first book of this genre I read was Lord Kalvan of Otherwhen by H. Beam Piper. It still remains one of my favorites. I guess you can say both interests influence my life a lot – as I am a professional geographer (I teach geography and cartography part-time) and I write novels about alternative timelines (a little difficult to do, sometimes, particularly when my chocolate lab is yipping because her lacrosse ball rolled under the sofa and I’m not there to immediately lift the sofa for her – I’ll be there in a minute!).
So, back to maps. It seems several have been produced from various novels of “what if”, and here’s the link for your reading/viewing pleasure. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20201104-the-intriguing-maps-that-reveal-alternate-histories
I do believe I’ll include a map in Explorer, as it truly deserves it. Of course, that’ll have to be after I complete it, which the first draft should be done by some time next week (yahoo!).
Stay safe out there.
Lots of people are wondering, where’s Explorer? If you’re one of those people, or even if you’re not, allow me to provide some insight. For the past couple of weeks I managed to get some free time, got over my writer’s block and the stumbling point in the story, and hopped back on the wagon, putting in between one and three thousand words a day. I know. There are some authors out there that release a book a month or a book every other month. That ain’t me. Doesn’t matter why, but until I actually retire, I doubt that I’ll be doing that.
What I will do, though, is continue to write. I am currently at 73K words in Explorer and expect to wrap up writing by the end of November. I’m shooting for about 100K words, which is almost as long as Surveyor but 10K words more than Trekker.
I already have my order in with the cover artist to have my cover ready by December 15th, and my editor is also lined up. So, if all goes well, Explorer will be out by Christmas. Maybe earlier?
Then, it’ll be on to the other books I’ve started. One continues after Explorer, one is the backstory starring Dr. Tm Bowman, and one is a young adult novel set on Hayek.
The backstory series is going to be called The Hayek Chronicles, and Book 1 in that series is called Openings.
Oh, one final note before I log off and go back to writing (and building a shed) – watch for swag coming out soon.
Stay safe out there.
Well, thanks to Covid-19 and Governor Inslee, looks like I’ll be trapped on my little mountain for a while. No problem – basic internet (btw, satellite internet, while better than dial-up, still sucks, particularly since Windows 10 likes to suck up all my bandwidth with its constant updates).
You’re probably asking, where’s Explorer? Still on my computer, barely moved. I know, I suck. But, due to being so freakin’ busy (I’ve had one day off in January and one in February – none in March yet), any down time I have is spent on me (usually watching a movie or reading a book).
Speaking of books, tell your friends to stock up – Amazon delivers electronically and in paper, and B&N also delivers in paper. Pick up both novels and have some fun.
On Monday I flew down to Lost Wages (aka Las Vegas) to attend the 20Booksto50K™ conference. For those unfamiliar with the organization, it’s one set up by bestselling indie authors/self-publishers Michael Anderle and Craig Martell (both of whom are great people – I hope they enjoy the whiskey I left for them) for the purpose of helping other indie authors/self-publishers (like yours truly) to become successful.
The conference, as usual, was great, inspiration, and loaded with information. I came away feeling like the kid in the Gary Larson cartoon who asks to be excused from class because his brain is full.
Along with helping me get on track writing (despite my incredibly hectic schedule), the conference gave me some inspiration in other areas.
So, what to expect? First – finish Explorer. I’m also seeking to have my novels translated into German for distribution throughout Germany, Switzerland, and Austria (hey, when you’re compared to Karl May….), and then on to audio books and screenplays (just in case).
I’m also working on the backstory, Openings, and a YA novel set in the same timeline. I know many of you are waiting for Explorer, and I apologize for the delay, but with any luck the first draft will be finished by year’s end (then off to the alpha readers, editor, and beta readers).
As a side note, I met many authors. If I have time, I’ll read some of their books and throw some reviews out for you.
James S. Peet, Author, novelist, and all around good guy! 