February 2023 - an embarrassing admission

Feb 1

Hi Everyone,

I feel that I’m finally past the worst of the winter darkness (at least where I live). Thoughts of this year’s garden are starting to percolate though my brain and I’m looking forward to spending more time outside soonish.

I’m deep into editing Subject 34, the third book in the Encoded Orbits series. It has a date with an editor in May, once I get their opinion on how much more work the book needs, I’ll set a release date. Right now, my guess is sometime in September (if you are looking for something by me sooner, check out my secret below).

Something that sucked me in

It’s embarrassing to admit, and I’m blaming the dark days of January, but I’ve been completely sucked into a video game—the worst part is, I would never have chosen this game. It’s Pokemon Violet, a game my daughter (who is 10) coveted for Christmas and she insisted I give it a try.

The gameplay is simple, mostly my avatar roams around the countyside collecting pokemon and picking fights. What I’m enjoying most is there is a clear path from my actions to rewards. Each time I win a fight, my pokemon level up and I can go on to harder quests. My real life doesn’t have that kind of direct relationship between actions and rewards (I suspect no one’s does) so it’s nice escape for a bit.

I expect my daughter and I will beat the game this week. Any suggestions on what our next game should be?

Something odd

I’m bizarrely fascinated by the above keyboard.

This is on new laptop at my day job (it’s a brand name machine). My co-worker was given this on Monday which resulted in a group of us standing around and staring at the two X keys. The X key that should be an S creates an S when pressed, and my co-worker (like me) is a touch typer. He’s going to keep the machine—as would I, I always enjoy a little bit of oddness in my world.

Somethings to enjoy

Recently, I watched Marcel The Shell With Shoes On and I loved it. It had laugh-out-loud funny moments and touching ones. It’s stop film animation and I’m always amazed by how quirky and real these kind of animated characters feel.

I just finished The Spare Man by Mary Robinette Kowel. It’s a murder mystery set on a luxury spaceliner headed from Earth to Mars. I loved how real the ship seems, complete with the gravity quirks that would be created on inhabited rings. The who-done-it part kept me guessing and there was a cute dog.

Finally a secret

My next book is up for pre-order (and you can check out the first five chapters here).

Cheers,

Jeannette

Here’s a book by a fellow indie author worth checking out:

Seven years ago, Rebecca St. Martin took the coward’s path to save her skin. She has lived with that decision, eking out a life as an indentured servant on a space station far from home. Only now, fate has decided to give Rebecca another chance. A ghost from her past plans to execute a daring rescue from the prison bowels of the station Rebecca now works. Rebecca has to face the same decision she made all those years ago. Could she watch her friends be murdered? Or could she, just for once, be a hero?

And here is a promotion full of good stuff:

My Books:

Encoded Orbits

Fractured Orbits - direct or from the shops
The Alien Algorithm - direct or from the shops

Settler Chronicles

Lunar Escape - here or here
Day 115 on an Alien World - direct or from the shops
Far Side of the Moon - direct or from the shops
Abandoned Ships, Hijacked Minds - direct or from the shops
The Alien Artifact - direct or from the shops

And if you aren’t already a subscriber, what’s stopping you (especially if you have read this far)?

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