Matt Haig: ‘People like your books more if other people like them’ Photo: Canongate
Novelist Matt Haig had an insightful and amusing list of things he has learned after ten years as a published author in The Telegraph:
Matt Haig: 30 things that every writer should know
Definitely worth a read if you’re a writer.
The Golden Spike Company was formed with the vision of sending private expeditions to the Moon:
This might seem far-fetched to some. It certainly won’t be easy. But the recent SpaceX successes and the planned launch of Virgin Galactic flights later this year has convinced me that we are in the dawn of a new space age, a commercial one. I would love to see Golden Spike succeed in their quest.
They are currently running an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign to raise money for international outreach. They are hoping to raise $240,000, but have a long way to go and only 15 days left. Unlike with KickStarter, they get to keep whatever is contributed, even if they don’t reach their goal.
I encourage you to support the dream of commercial space exploration by contributing to this campaign, and helping to spread the word. I’ve just finished making my contribution.
This is a unique opportunity in human history! Be a part of the dawning of a new era.
Panama City Beach, Florida, during spring break (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
You may have noticed I’ve already been on hiatus the last couple of weeks. I didn’t plan to be. This time of year is always busy, with taxes, spring cleaning, and other commitments. But this year seems worse than usual (or maybe I’m just getting too old for it 8^).
Anyway, I just haven’t been able to keep up with blogging. There are so many posts I wanted to write, even started to write, but I just couldn’t get them done.
It doesn’t look like things are going to improve before the end of April. So I’m just going to take a break. I’ll still try to do Friday Fictioneers if I can fit it in.
I gave up on the short story I mentioned before, and started a new one. It’s going much better, but I haven’t been able to work on it much either. I’m really hoping I can finish it this month and submit it somewhere.
Electronics that can be printed directly onto our skin, and will stay in place for two weeks:
Wearable Electronic Sensors Can Now Be Printed Directly on the Skin | MIT Technology Review.
Think of the implications. I wonder if they can make a microphone using it? I thought about video too, but for that you’d need some type of lens.
What if you printed it under the layer of skin that exfoliates, like a tattoo? Assuming your immune system didn’t attack it, it could be permanent.
These are truly interesting time we live in.
copyright-Lora Mitchell
Welcome once again to the weekly Friday Fictioneers, hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. Feel free to join us. Instructions and the weekly photo prompt are available here:
Friday Fictioneers for March 15, 2013
All of the week’s entries can be seen here:
Here’s my story for the week: Continue reading
copyright-Jennifer Pendergast
Welcome once again to the weekly Friday Fictioneers, hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. Feel free to join us. Instructions and the weekly photo prompt are available here:
Friday Fictioneers for March 8, 2013
All of the week’s entries can be seen here:
Another hectic week, but I managed to get my story ready on time this week. And I decided to get with the program and make it 100 words this week 8^). Enjoy: Continue reading
How to keep getting your Fix of Free Kindle Books and Deals?
If you get the list that says 'From Kindle Review' at the top, then you have to do nothing.
copyright-Janet Webb
Welcome once again to the weekly Friday Fictioneers, hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. Feel free to join us. Instructions and the weekly photo prompt are available here:
Friday Fictioneers for February 22, 2013
All of the week’s entries can be seen here:
I’m running late this week. Life’s been very hectic. But here is my entry for the week: Continue reading
Season of The Harvest by Michael R. Hicks
Season of The Harvest is a science fiction thriller by Michael R. Hicks. This is the first book of the Harvest Trilogy, but stands on its own. In fact, I haven’t read the next book (but I plan to).
This was another freebie I picked up on Amazon before Christmas and finished off over the break (noticing a pattern here? 8^).
This is an well written novel, and will keep you turning pages. As I write this, it has a well-deserved 4.3 average with 273 reviews on Amazon.
Jack Dawson is an FBI Special Agent. His best friend and fellow agent is brutally murdered at a genetics lab, and Jack gets involved in the investigation against orders. Naomi Perrault, a beautiful geneticist who used to work there is the prime suspect. When Jack is framed for an explosion at an FBI lab, he ends up working with Naomi, and learns the terrifying truth about the genetically engineered seeds his friend was after.
There were a couple of small things in this novel that bothered me in the beginning. Hicks has an annoying habit of unnecessarily explaining acronyms, such as when he says “…headquarters of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the FBI”. He could spell it out the first time if he feels it’s necessary, then just go with the acronym from then on. I don’t think anyone will have trouble figuring it out. It’s a minor thing, but it took me out of the story each time.
There’s also an info-dump of the protagonist’s past that could have been better handled by working the details into the story as it unfolds. This would have upped the suspense too.
But once the action got rolling these nitpicks were soon forgotten and I was right there in the story with Jack.
All in all, I recommend this book for anyone who likes techno-thrillers, science fiction and conspiracy theories.
copyright-Rich Voza
Welcome once again to the weekly Friday Fictioneers, hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. Feel free to join us. Instructions and the weekly photo prompt are available here:
Friday Fictioneers for February 8, 2013
All of the week’s entries can be seen here:
Here is my entry for the week: Continue reading
