Haven Earth

Whew! The first draft of the epic Haven Earth novel/series is essentially complete (still have some of the epilogue to do, but it's like 3 pages tops) and it is good to finally put that baby to bed for a while. This will probably be released next year some time at best and it will either be 1, 2 or 3 novels depending on how later drafts pull it into shape. At the moments it's just a block of 270k words of raw text with a lot of blood sweat and tears throughout, mostly the characters'.

This is a pure sci-fi piece set in the 27th century in our familiar universe, post global warming. And no, its not the standard dystopia either, far from it, but even in the enlightened brave new world there are going to be snakes in the forest. Although not literally. I don't think there are actually any snakes in prominent roles, maybe some on the menu now and then, but there are some nice forests. I will add some more snakes if there seems to be a large demand for them, of course.

Cloning, genetic engineering, space stations, people with spears, surfing, outdoor barbecues on Catalina, sharks, pristine resorts in Bermuda, giant space lasers... oh yes, we have them all. Stay tuned. Watch this space. These are the events of just 14 days that will determine the fate of humanity and the lives of billions.

Time of the Dula Kaena

Time of the Dula Kaena -Coming last quarter 2011!

We have a proposed cover at least, the story complete. The final layout is still in the works. This is both a continuation of the Jorden and Taf story, as well as being a reasonably self contained stand alone book. This is an opportunity to learn more about the history of Maeruna, the Domain, the heritage of the aestri and the burgo, and the truth about Hura herself. If Jorden thought he was in trouble in the first book, he hasn't seen anything yet. I have heard that even a mexin makes an appearance in the dramatic finale! No expense has been spared!

Jorden had been living in a world of dream for weeks, or perhaps hours depending on his frame of reference, but he knew he needed to head home, at least for a while. There were things he had to sort out, loose ends he had left behind, farewells he had to make. Having his not-quite-human girlfriend Taf possess his mother, however, was not about to make his time at home run smoothly.

The warning Taf brings with her doesn't help either. The witch-god Hura is planning on retirement and that is never going to be a good thing. There were too many others ready to fill the power vacuum that was sure to exist after she left, and the lower class races were going to bear the brunt of any conflict that developed. Jorden knew he had to return to the Domain and stop her doing anything stupid and bringing about a race war that was sure to kill thousands.

When Hura then vanishes into a void right before Jorden's eyes he knows things are just going to get worse, and finding himself transported to one the darkest tunnels in existence doesn't help either. The only way to save the Domain this time is to find Hura Ghiana and the Dula Kaena cult that appear to have taken her, and learning more means facing his girlfriend's mother, Midnight, who is already more than willing to tear him to shreds. It also means unlocking secrets of a past Jorden isn't sure he wants to know about, including a very dark history of Hura herself and the fall from power of vast empires in a time of myth.

Jorden has to travel through pieces of Heaven and Hell and a few places in between just to find those responsible for all that has happened.

And getting home again is going to be a hell of a lot harder...

Housekeeping

Housekeeping is now on ebook. Murder in space, where no-one can hear you... um... bleed. Three women alone with decades left on a voyage that has already taken centuries. Nowhere to run, and one of them is a killer!

There are quite a number of Delta Pavonis stories in the pile. These are several separate stories detailing the launch of colony ships from earth, parts of the journey of one of those, the hardships faced on Delta Pavonis, and the remains of civilisation on earth. It's essentially the same universe as Megan and Mirrim Dawn, only separated by millennia. (Different to the Divo, Haven Earth and Shards universe.)

The plan is one day to put these stories together in a Delta Pavonis Anthology, but until then I have reissued Housekeeping (originally published in Alien Shores) and likely will release a couple of the other more self-contained pieces as short story ebooks on Smashwords.

Mirrim Dawn

Mirrim Dawn is due to be published on Smashwords.com real soon now, likely well before the next Shards novel as it is in a somewhat more finished state. Like the Megan series it is pure science fiction, although presented in a somewhat fantasy style. This is a somewhat epic tale covering many years, a story of life and death, of love and loss, good and evil and a few shades of grey in between.

It is the story of Dawn...

Her world of Theos had been settled in a time long forgotten by the Federation, Dawn born to a simple and peaceful agrarian existence, her village living in harmony with the gods and their land.

That was before the coming of the demons in the form of men, those who had been cast from the heavens in flames before she had even been born.

As a child, everyone she had known was lost to Dawn, her mother dying within her own arms, her village destroyed, the gods vanquished. As a young woman alone she is left to carve out a new life for herself in a now harsh and dangerous land, to find the truth of her heritage, and to one day bring the word of the gods back to her people despite the opposition of its demon Masters, men who eagerly slay those who dare preach the word of the gods.

In a journey of discovery across the face of Theos, her goal to one day travel to the distant lands of the holy mirrim and stand within its temple, Dawn's faith is tested as she sees the great changes and loss of hope the rule of the Masters has brought to her world. Then there is the truth of the place of Theos amongst the stars, the echoed words of an unknown father who denied the very existence of the gods, and a long lost brother who now may now stand amongst the ranks of the enemy.

And a war is coming, battles already fought by the hardy mountain people who will not submit to the rule of the masters, more lives lost. Dawn somehow knows within that it is up to her to restore peace and harmony to her world, even if it should take life itself away from her, and free her people from such death as well as the tyrannical rule of the Masters.

Only those of the stars above can know how such things can be achieved...

More Shards of Heaven...

And yes, for those who have asked, the next Shards of Heaven novel is still 'coming soon' if the various characters can co-operate for just a little while longer. The third novel of the series has also essentially been locked down, and now simply needs a little plaster, some plumbing, and a great deal of paint.

Expect to see The Time of the Dula Kaena later this year - that would be 2011. I remember when 2011 was the future. I wonder if 2001 is up for a ebook reissue? hmm. So there will be at least two more Jorden Miles tales coming along, and he has agreed to make a guest appearance in the forth book of the series - although that is being negotiated as we speak.

For a hint of what is to come, a sneak preview of the back cover...

Jorden returns home only to find that his mother has been possessed by his not-quite-human girlfriend. Meanwhile in the land of dream the witch-god has gone missing, and an all out race war is about to break loose. Jorden knows that he has to find Hura before it's too late, and that journey is going to take him through Heaven and Hell and quite a few places in between.

Can't wait to read that one.

Days are far too short...

Currently beating some older works into shape, some of which have long been labelled as complete, as well as discovering new stories in some of the darker and weirder recesses of what I will generously call my mind. I still will tend to agree that works are never really finished, simply brought to a state where they can be shared with others with minimal nausea, eye-strain, and exploding brain syndrome in general.

At the same time I am trying to pen the final chapters of the somewhat epic (in length at least) novel currently dubbed 'Haven Earth', original working title 'Rings of Earth', and to see Melissa Fifteen of Malibu finally gets settled in her 27th century home... if she should live so long. I hope all you folks out there will voice a little prayer that she gets through this okay and survives to the end of the novel.

The New Blog (or, to blog or not to blog)

Sitting here wondering if I should start another Blog. It would not be the first and I am notorious for starting these things and letting them quickly fade away... Some serious thought required ;)

The last was lost is a series of unfortunate hosting changes, let us see how well this one will survive.