Suspended Earth

Please feel free to post in the forums etc.

Martin 🙂

A long time ago, Author Larry Niven explained his writing style and the major interconnectedness of his many otherwise unrelated books by describing the concept of Playgrounds for the mind. His idea is that when a reader finishes your book, they should not feel that its the end. It should leave them thinking, grant them the gift of an imaginary universe that they can continue to let their imagination roam long after the book is over.

Alternatively I have heard others bemoan this approach and say that a book should have everything tied in and tied up, a nice neat package with nothing left to wonder about. Personally this scenario is about the most revolting thing I can imagine, but others disagree.

In Suspended Earth, I have sewn the seed of a universe in which dozens of future unrelated novels can reside. I feel this is key to the playgrounds for the mind philosophy, as shown by Niven’s “Known Space” universe, in which all manner of novels co-exist across a vast expanse of time and space.

Now obviously in this context I am talking about something suited to Science Fiction, but does it have to be limited as such? I have a single character who is mentioned in one paragraph, and that is all you hear of him. He has resided his entire life in a false virtual (with millions of others) world recreating ancient japan – and while there rose to power and led half his world to peace and prosperity. That one individual could spawn an entire novel of his exploits that is very clearly NOT science Fiction, rather being an historical fiction. It would nevertheless, be a part of the whole that goes together to make that same universe, that one single huge and never ending playground for the mind.

I believe not only is this good for the reader, it is good for the author as well. While previously unpublished, my universe is a place I have resided in my imagination for decades, and if I need to find a new story, I simply have to allow my mind to visit that universe, poke into the corners of its worlds, until it finds something to tell a story about. Its an infinite supply of inspiration and a valuable tool to me as a writer. I feel confident I can assume it is something like this for the great Larry Niven as well, and probably was for the late R A Heinlein, who also wrote many separate books within one universe. To my mind, these two men are arguably two of the greatest SF authors ever to bless us with their varied imaginations.

So what do you think? Is a playground philosophy a good thing? Or do you prefer the Closed Book scenario? and if so why? Is it a genre specific need? or is it your preference of story control? or what else? I am genuinely curious which way people tend.
Please comment.

SE First Proof

Well today I received the first proof of my first novel. In spite of the most incredible temptation I have ever felt, I did not rush in and hit approve. I have thoroughly investigated the novel, and have identified a number of corrections to be made to the 260 page novel.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading it as a novel, approaching it as a reader after taking the last week away from it to work on my second novel. I believe this is a story that stands up strong and proud, it carries the reader along for a great ride, and does so well. These corrections which I will submit probably in the next day or two should result in a proof that I can hit that approve button on. Then I get to see how much other people enjoy it.

Its a wonderful thrill holding your book in your hands for the first time – thank you Createspace for making that possible.

It’s also wonderful to know it will be the best product I can make it thanks to this proof edit.

Not long now everyone!

 Added by: Anthias | Date: 12 Apr 2011 |

Proof edit done

Major edit and tidy up has been completed based on changes from the first proof of Suspended Earth. The second proof is now on the way. I am confident that there shouldn’t be any more problems to fix, but I still wont approve it for sale till I hold the second proof in my hand and can definitely say once and for all “It’s perfect” (or at least as close to perfect as is practical).

I believe failing printers stuff-ups, it should be ready to go. But better safe than sorry.

When it arrives I will check it out ASAP and if it’s ok, it will be made available. It took 7 days for the first proof to arrive. So hopefully the second one gets here next Thursday.

Crossing fingers 🙂 In the meantime, back to starlight!

 Added by: Anthias | Date: 14 Apr 2011 |

Still waiting.I am still waiting for the second proof of Suspended Earth to arrive before I approve it for sale. I hope to see it in my post before too much longer, however the 5 days of no post over Easter and ANZAC day is likely holding things up. I had hoped it was quicker than that, but apparently there was a memorial day thing in the US that possibly held it up on that side of the ditch as well.Regardless, while the past week has not allowed a gret deal of time to work on my books, Starlight has progressed even so. I am expecting probably an august release for it which, though it sounds close, is quite realistic and allows for multiple edits and proofs. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I am. Suspended Earth of course will be your first foray into my writing, but I certainly hope it is not your last. As I have used the rework of SE as a springboard into my writing after a lengthy hiatus, I am finding my story telling is only getting better as time moves forward.

I do like that with the edits done and the second proof on its way, and my writing time being absorbed by Starlight, SE is a book I can now read as a reader. I think that is a very important thing. Approaching it as a reader, and not as the author, I still find I can enjoy it very much. I hope that it translates to equal enjoyment for the rest of the world, and I hope the handful of “reader puzzles”I have left in there (like the belt malfunction) tickle the minds of a few people sufficiently without distracting you. I find I can read through those passages with the ends left untied quite comfortably. If it makes you think a bit, then my goal is achieved. Don’t worry, it’s fun thinking!

 Added by: Anthias | Date: 23 Apr 2011 |

still waiting part 2

well its just become the 30th of April and still the final proof has not arrived. so I guess Suspended Earth does not get released in April!

Meanwhile in other news I received my first review from the CreateSpace community where I placed some time ago a preview extract of Suspended Earth. It scored a 5 star (out of 5) rating, which is nice 🙂

Also, Starlight is barreling along marvelously. Just hit 35,000 words, its nearing the 150 page mark, and is almost halfway. Not bad for three weeks with all the other stuff those particular three weeks contained. The story is flowing well and the mix of action and drama and calmer thought and descriptive passages is working well also. Told by one “sounding board” that it gets the adrenalin pumping haha – I hope that’s a good thing. Getting quite fond of my characters in this one too lol. Starlight herself has matured well, as has Janice, and Jonathon (who is a hell of a lot older than he was as a little boy in Suspended Earth) has also rounded out nicely as a character. Plenty of the bit characters are developing, and there have even been a few surprise arrivals that helped everyone to grow and develop. (like a certain important person’s spouse who burst into the scene before I realised she even existed lol. My book got gatecrashed by a character o.O ROFL)

Anyway, all things being as they are, Starlight is moving well ahead of schedule which is great. The story is flowing, the action is good, the plot is varied and the world is vivid. I can’t really ask for too much more at this stage can I? Mind you if I stuff it up, I have a feeling Starlight (the character) would never forgive me! lol so I better just get it right first time then haha…

Added by: Anthias | Date: 30 Apr 2011 |

Gotta love it…

Gotta love it. SE is for sale, and I felt had passed all the tests. And now I find a few little teensy things wrong lol. Not enough to warrant pulling it and starting again, considering I already ordered a shipment lol. Nothing that stops the story being as good. Not in quantity to make it a poor effort. But for the author who wants the book to be it’s best, a couple of minor facepalms … If you found something wrong, rest assured I probably already know about it! Only silly little things, but silly little  things that make me realise just how perfect I want starlight to be.

Rest assured, Starlight is shaping up as a great story, a fun adventure, and a great read. I wont be willingly allowing any silly little things to slip through and make me slap my face with my palm again!!

Starlight is within a breath of 200 pages already. It is certainly ahead of schedule which is great.

SE is now on Amazon as well. It’s at http://www.amazon.com/Suspended-Earth-M-R-Mortimer/dp/1461056950/ref=sr_1_70?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1304686913&sr=1-70

anyway, back to it!

Added by: Anthias | Date: 5 May 2011 |

Pinball anybody?

 Added by: Anthias | Date: 08 May 2011 |

Plodding on

While Suspended Earth sales are slow, that is exactly what I expected in the short to medium term. Nobody knows who the hell this M R Mortimer guy is after all! Right? lol.

Well, in spite of that, It’s as yet still only been available on line which I have no doubt is making a difference. Not a lot of people are willing to sign up to amazon or createspace just to buy one book. I am working on some other sales avenues. It should be available through a variety of other sources allready thanks to the Createspace EDC, but I am unsure exactly how long it will be before that really occurs. I have my first small order coming, and a couple of bricks and mortar stores will be taking a couple, which is a start. A slow start, but you can’t drill for oil using a herring. One step at a time.

Starlight is coming together. I know the first edit will be huge. When a book is flowing so freely, literally writing itself, it will have to mean a lot of typos. You fix what you see on the journey, but happily this book will have the benefit of extra editor brains coming to the rescue lol. This book about the life of an orphaned girl in a world separated by the millenia from our own is going to reflect a little something in us all. It’s characters are growing richer in terms of soul with every page, and I feel they are giving this book something unique and special even while it may seem so familiar and warm.

The trials that Starlight Hodgens faces in this story are remarkable, yet the story will reflect some aspects of us all. I hope you all will get as much out of this as I am getting out of writing it.

I am investigating EBook options as well. I will post when I make a decision regarding that.

Wish me luck! work to do 🙂

Added by: Anthias | Date: 21 May 2011 |

Starlight close, next novels in planning

With Starlight so close to completion (though I have not written anything the last few days – no block, just other activities to worry about) we can expect it to be in editing within a week or so. I have decided as I think I mentioned to investigate EBook releases, and have acquired an e-reader for the purpose. It is not a kindle, and while I will probably release a kindle version, I have yet to decide.

Since as I said Starlight is in its final stages of the writing phase, I must consider future works. While Starlight is set to have at least one and possibly two sequels, in which Starlight and Janice will continue their adventures, those subsequent stories will be independent of the current book. Episodic if you like. So there is not strictly a “cliff hanger” that people will be waiting to see resolved. I want to not settle into a same old same old cliche routine. I fear if I launch into starlights second and third novels immediately, I run the risk of causing it to get stale prematurely. For that reason, on completion of Starlight, I will divert to another part of my universe for my third book.

As many of you are aware, I am writing in a universe that will hopefully eventually house dozens or even hundreds of individual stories. It’s a big place after all. And my third novel will inhabit a distant frontier of that universe. Dance of Nevermind is a survival and colonisation story set on a newly found world on the furthest perimeters of the Union of Free Humanity’s space, at it’s boundary away from the Federated Species Council. I will not spoil too much yet, but a series of unfortunate circumstances will result in the first thousand settlers battling for survival in a strange new world of varied and often inhospitable climate and its strange native flora and fauna. It takes five years before the second ship, the one which will install the hyperways that link this remote system to the rest of the union and through that into the FSC, can arrive. In the mean time the thousand settlers must tame this world and build a life for themselves. This world they call Nevermind has a few surprises in store for the settlers. Will they survive? How will they overcome their unusual situation? and what will they tell the Union when finally it arrives with an offer to take them home?

The second and possibly third Starlight books as yet have no titles, and to say anything about them now may be too much of a spoiler. Rest assured they will be complete stories independent of the first Starlight book, obviously still set in the same universe but venturing far deeper into the space held by the Federated Species Council. So expect a preponderance of alien species, more on humanities new friends and a possible return of the ghosts of old enemies.

Added by: Anthias | Date: 24 May 2011 |

Added by: Anthias | Date: 06 Jun 2011 |

Added by: Anthias | Date: 23 Jun 2011 |

Added by: Anthias | Date: 30 Jun 2011 |

Added by: Anthias | Date: 08 Jul 2011 |

Added by: Anthias | Date: 15 Jul 2011 |

Starlight goes to kindle (duplicated from the forum)

Well, in a decision made today, I have released the kindle version of Starlight in advance of a paperback release in the very near future. Post being ok and such I hope to have a paperback release within about a week or so – in keeping with the original August release prediction.The kindle version is in the approval process now at amazon and it should become available within 24 hours. when that happens, I will add the link here as well as in the book shop.

Of course, if you are like me, no kindle can ever replace the paper of a real book, however I must recognise that the ebook movement is gathering speed and already eclipses paperback sales in the USofA, so we may as well participate in that distribution method as well as the traditional ways. Rest assured I will never int he foreseeable future do away with my paperback releases. At some later stage I will probably make arrangements for other ebook stores like Smashwords or even create my own here. In the meantime, if you don’t have a kindle but would like access to the ebooks, you can use the excellent Calibre software (a free download) to manage all your ebooks and it will convert your kindle downloads to whatever other format you prefer.

EDIT: Kindle link: http://www.amazon.com/Starlight-ebook/dp/B005EA02UO/ref=tag_sty_mn_edpp_ttl only US$3.99 for the digital edition!

Still waiting

Well, my final starlight proof is still not here. After paying for the super fast delivery, it’s simply super slow lol.  Createspace have kindly declared they believe the time frame indicates lost in transit, and have dispatched a replacement free of charge.

Hopefully that will arrive Monday, and then I can finally hopefully approve it for release to market. Of course it IS already on Kindle, but I don’t know that kindle sales are going to be exceptional until amazon has a stronger position in the local market. Kindle is the preference as it seems to be better protected from the unscrupulous thieves of the world. I have read some scary events happening to other authors publishing through some of the other ebook services regarding the piracy and sale of counterfeits of their books. Until I have been convinced this problem is not going to occur, I will stick with only the proven secure routes.

Meanwhile, Dance of Nevermind is progressing, albeit slowly at the moment. It should accelerate in coming weeks as I work past a tricky part. It is indeed shaping into a good story. and I am keen to find out how it falls together later on 🙂

Meanwhile I have done more forum contest short stories. Find them all in the random writings forum, or via the content shortcuts page.

Cheers 🙂

Martin.

Added by: Anthias | Date: 5 Aug 2011 |

Added by: Anthias | Date: 25 Aug 2011 |

Reporting in 🙂Well, working around all the other things one must concern oneself with, I have indeed been progressing still.Dance of Nevermind is beyond 32,000 words, having completed chapter 13. More or less on track for December all going well.

The story has progressed into the transitional phase that will lead into the second half of the main story. All going well, it won’t all fall apart any time soon! lol.

In the mean time, you may or may not have noticed a fifth book forum has appeared. I will not be posting anything in it for a while, but you can consider the name a bit of a teaser 😛

So – once ‘Dance Of Nevermind’ is done, I will be getting stuck into ‘Armada’s Disciple’, the second book to have Starlight Hodgens and Janice Heartmyer as it’s central characters.

Following that (unless some event causes me to switch the order around lol) it will be ‘Shades Of Farthrow’. SoF is set at approximately 400 TE on the timeline (check the timeline via the forum or the contents shortcut page) but at this stage I do not intend it to be related to the great HRM defeat of near that time which was mentioned in SE. once DoN is closer to completion, I will begin with the about thread for SoF, and of course start getting more stuff up about Armadas Disciple 🙂

Starlight has started seeing sales on Kindle, and I am still waiting for my first small stock delivery of it in paperbacks, although some copies ordered through the book shop by readers have already arrived.

If you haven’t already, check out the preview, and please consider buying a copy. A writer has to eat lol….

Added by: Anthias | Date: 3 Sep 2011 |

  Added by: Anthias | Date: 26 Sep 2011 |

Goings onWell if you have looked in the forums recently, you will have noticed the new preview for Dance of Nevermind. It’s still got more polishing to do, but if you read the old one you should noticed quite a bit of improvement in it already. It’s heavily into the editing phase and I hope to get it together in time for a release some time in December, but we will see what happens.Meanwhile I have also been working on a few short stories for a prospective anthology to be titled “Fractures Lost in Time”. Some of the short stories will be expansions of the ones in the random writings forum. Of course they will be fairly heavily edited, to improve them beyond what they already are. Princess Agent has already been done (and has stretched to about four times the forum posted versions size) and a few others have joined it. In time, this anthology will be hopefully something a bit special.

Also in planning are ‘Armada’s Disciple’, ‘Shades of Farthrow’ and ‘Children of Nevermind’.

Crossing fingers for some released books soon 🙂

  Added by: Anthias | Date: 11 Oct 2011 |

Project coming to a closeWow! hi guys 🙂 Well the proof of Dance of Nevermindarrived, it looks beautiful. The cover colours came out better than I dared dream. The artwork looks simply gorgeous. I have commenced the read of the proof and it will get it’s second proof and final edit. There is nothing major wrong, but a couple of minor tweaks (I found a surname of a character without a capital – that’s seriously all! not that I’m done yet) I can’t imagine there being anything huge missed though – This has been fairly thoroughly edited. Once the minor corrections are through, it gets resubmitted for print approval and I will get a kindle version prepared.Expect it to be soon! (in fact, it may yet beat its December release time – there is still a lot of November left!)

In other news, I’m partway through a third story for my upcoming anthology. This story is called False Prophets, and is fairly squarely seated in the SciFi camp. I won’t give the plot away yet, but the story is shaping up nicely so far. As for the anthology itself, the title has now changed.While it was called Fractures lost in time, and I do still like that title, it wasn’t really gelling for me as a title of relevance to the stories. One common factor across all the stories is the unexpected hero. These characters come out of all manner of situations and find themselves unwittingly the hero’s of their day. Something within their world is wrong, and they step up – not always by choice – and take up their sword (sometimes figuratively and other times literally). Every story has that hero figure in common. The fractures lost in time title did not really capture that central theme, tho the fractures did capture that something wrong idea. Anyway, long story short, the new title much better encapsulates that idea. It will now be named “When History Fractures, Heroes Rise” So far completed for this anthology are “Princess Agent” (roughly twice the length of the original one in the random writings forum) and “the Soft“. “False Prophets” will make three in place, but I have several more in various states.

Suspended Earth has it’s second edition well underway. In it’s new format, the page count drops by around 40, but fear not – nothing has been cut out. It’s simply a much better layout – it’s actually an easier more comfortable read now, and I am in the process of giving it the full editing treatment still. It may still be a little way off, but I was hoping to get finished before Christmas. Probably wouldn’t be able to order stock in time though it will I hope be on line in the new format by then.

Once all that is been and said and done, I will be able to move onto the next novel, which is still likely to be Armada’s Disciple, unless I decide to swap it with Shades of Farthrow.

Anyway, thanks for reading, thanks for coming back to read again, and I’ll talk again soon 🙂

Added by: Anthias | Date: 2 Nov 2011 |

How we say scifi

Sometimes, you don’t know who your friends are. It is always a great boost to your heart, your mind, your confidence when suddenly you find out. And when they are somebody you’ve never met before, it’s mind blowing.

In a dim dark corner of the net, somebody has posted a marvelous unsolicited add for my work. They concluded with the line “Cause M.R.Mortimer is how we say scifi in Australia.”

Now, this was not a full on review, it was not a paid add, or any other sort of solicited statement. But completely unsolicited, and without prompting, this was said. If nobody ever reads it, it is already more valuable than a comprehensive TV print and radio campaign. Because that person didn’t have to say a word.

There are people every day who support our indie authors in ways like this, and those bright souls do so at the risk of people accusing them on places around the net of taking payment, or being sock puppets, or whatever, for their favourable reports. Yet still they see it as a kindness, a duty maybe, to see to it that those who’s work they appreciate are in turn appreciated. They will stand up proud and speak the kind words against the potential tide of anonymous vitriol. A good review is honest, but it is never cruel. A good review is one that, if it finds flaw, helps the author to improve. If it doesn’t find flaw, it helps them to feel pride. In both cases, it helps them to feel appreciated, understood, and known. Writing can be a lonely thing. These are the people who make that shell of loneliness crack a little.

To the random readers, fellow writers, publishers, reviewers, printers and plain old anonymous souls who take the time to engage in this delicate task and present their kind recommendations, honest appraisals and supportive criticisms, on behalf of authors everywhere, we thank you.

Added by: Anthias | Date: 7 Nov 2011 |

Busy Times

Hi everybody!

well, things have been flat out getting a few things done. I managed to get Dance of Nevermind released on paperback AND on kindle – both in the month of November, well ahead of schedule! I am quite pleased with the result. I will hopefully have some copies of the paperback in stock soon. Until then, you may still order through this site or from Amazon.

I have also completed the second edition of Suspended Earth and released that to kindle. The first edition is officially out of print, and the second edition paperback proof should arive this week some time for final approval after which the new version will go on sale.

So now I have to get stuck into some new work! Heroes Rise (full title When History Fractures, Heroes Rise) – the anthology of short stories and novellas is going to get a bashing in the next few weeks, and hopefully start to shape up. Once that is out of the way I will commence Armada’s Disciple, unless one of the others takes a more favoured place in my sequence of inspirations! lol

All things considered, I look like remaining a busy writer for some years to come lol.

Added by: Anthias | Date: 27 Nov 2011 |

The silly season?

How did it get so late in the year?

Oh well. you may have noticed some dramas with the site recently, but hopefully it is all resolved now.

Kindle sales are going well this month, maybe a few kindles have been bought for Christmas. The special price on the kindle of Suspended Earth continues till 1/2/2012 (first feb – thats an Australian date format not an American one) It is selling fairly well at the moment and has recently be granted a 4 star review on goodreads.

I am considering more promotional offers for the new year. The second edition of Suspended Earth is available in paperback as well and is significantly improved. Dance of Nevermind and Starlight are slowly ticking by as well, though I would like to see them sell more of course! both those books have sequels coming in the next year or so.

Next release will most likely be When History Fractures Heroes Rise (an anthology of short stories) followed by Armada’s Disciple.

On a different note, My best wishes go out to everyone over this holiday season. I hope you all have a glorious time, with joyous moments shared with friends and family.

Till next time,

Martin.

Added by: Anthias | Date: 16 Dec 2011 |

Back in full swing

Hi everyone, well after the madness of the silly season we are all back into the game I hope. After a shipping hassle Dance of Nevermind is finally in stock, Suspended Earth is still on route and a new shipment of Starlight should be on its way now.

When History Fractures Heroes Rise is well underway, and should be ready for release within the next couple of months.

Starlight is being entered into ABNA 2012 (Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award) in the young adult fiction category. I’ll post apporpriate links when it all kicks off! I’m hoping it gets past a couple of rounds. I don’t want to be entry 10,000 in the rankings lol. Reading some of the stuff going in I think I have a real chance of getting past a couple of rounds though so fingers are keeping crossed. If it does go through, I may hold off on releasing Armada’s Disciple until the close of the contest in case the publishers want to option the sequel as well. If it doesn’t get that far, I won’t!

Previous years in ABNA have seen some pure rubbish get through while gems get passed over so get through or not, it’s all worth the try and means nothing if it fails.

At any rate, full steam ahead.

Also watch for announcements in coming weeks. I have secured contact and submission details for some prominant US SF periodicals and intend to start submitting stories to them. First story is to be called The Judas Goat – I’ll let you know if they accept it! (of course writing stories for Heroes and also writing them for submission to magazines creates a dilemma – they can’t go in both you see lol)

Well, I’ll let you fine people go and read something else now and talk to you all soon!

Added by: Anthias | Date: 19 Jan 2012 |

swinging by

It has been a whlie since I blogged! Obviously I am still writing.

I am still a long way from releasing another novel, but I haven’t been idle. Currently I am waiting on a proof copy of When History Fractures, Heroes Rise, a collection of short stories. This book includes 12 short sci fi and fantasy stories, and I hope it gets a good reception. It is available in kindle already in a discounted early release.

In the meantime, I have a solid start on the novel Shades of Farthrow, which I hope to have ready in May for it’s first proofing. For information. I will be posting more details soon.

I have put the novel Armada’s Disciple on hold, because it is the sequel to my second novel Starlight, which is currently into the quarterfinals of ABNA 2012. I decided to hold it back Starlight is out of the running, and what do you know, it’s not out yet! Silly of me I know, but it gave me an excuse to start on Shades of Farthrow, which I had a few ideas swirling around in my head for.

Crossing fingers for the semi finals of ABNA, and plodding on with my next book. Have fun, have a read!

Added by: Anthias | Date: 29 Mar 2012 |

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

Well then, that’s that!  Yeah I know, recent months have not seen blog activity, and life is going to always be sporadic like that. Recent months have seen a slow down in a lot of my activities, but my writing has not stopped. I am still working on Shades of Farthrow, as well as various edits under way. I have a short story complete and in editing in preparation for magazine submission, and I hope to post an excited blog about that some day soon as well! Now that this mamoth post is done, I will hit the publish button and leave all you good people to whatever it is you are doing. Thank you all for reading, and see you soon.

Martin.