J Alan Erwine's Blog

Progress report

2012-01-22T11:32:00.001-07:00

Work on the new game is really coming along. I'm very excited about this one, and I'm hoping it will be well received by the gaming world.

I recently sent a copy of the short story that was the inspiration for my new novel to the cover artist, Miss Laura Givens, so she and I can start bouncing some ideas around for the book cover. As the release date approaches, I'll be doing some giveaways through my Facebook account, so keep an eye open for those.

The "real" job has kept me quite busy, so I'm not making as much creative progress as I'd like...but we're getting there.

Shouldn't be a surprise...

2012-01-07T11:23:00.002-07:00

...I've started work on the new role playing game. Any time an idea really grabs hold of me, I don't have much choice but to go with it. So, I am now in the process of creating a brand new RPG, and I'm making a ton of progress on it already. I'd say I'm half way through making my notes (other than historical notes), and I might actually start on the writing in the next couple of weeks.

Once I have everything put together, I'll be looking for play testers, so keep your eyes open if you're interested in trying the game out.

December recap

2012-01-01T09:21:00.002-07:00

Ephemeris Holiday Specials

The Martian Wave as a bestseller

12 Days of Ephemeris Christmas

I don't understand parents

Thinking about a new RPG

2011 in review

2011 in review

2011-12-31T12:19:00.002-07:00

This hasn't been the most productive year I've ever had. I'm sure it has a lot to do with the baby and the new job, but I did have a few publications.

The biggest was the release of my second novel, Red Moon Rising

I also had short stories published in Beyond Centauri, Aoife's Kiss, and A Taste of Armageddon. I also created several supplements for the Ephemeris RPG.

2012 is looking like it will be a more productive year. Alexis is starting to get a little more independent, so that will hopefully free up some time. Early in the year, we'll see the release of my third novel and I'm also hoping to create a brand new RPG this year.

Hope you all have a great and safe new year! See you next year!

Thinking about a new RPG

2011-12-26T16:42:00.002-07:00

I've been playing with the idea of creating a new RPG. This one would be a fantasy game set during the colonization/conquest of America. It would contain a lot of the actual facts of that era, but in the game, magic would be real...opening up a lot of potential alternate histories.

Although I'm thinking about this, I'm not convinced that I actually want to do it. The game would take A LOT of work, and it would be very challenging. I'm not really sure if I can devote the time that I would need to such an endeavor. For my writing friends out there, it may be hard to believe, but I actually think creating an RPG is a lot harder than creating a novel. With a novel, you just have a few plot lines. With an RPG, you have to be able to consider as many plot lines as possible, because every player is different.

It's a thought...we'll see if it leads to anything...

I don't understand parents

2011-12-23T19:48:00.002-07:00

Our kids spent the day with grandma today so that we could get some last minute Christmas stuff done. As we were leaving to pick them up, we saw two little girls walking down the sidewalk towards us. They were probably four and two. Both had coats on, but neither of them were zipped up. Neither of them were wearing shoes or socks.

For the record, the temperature here today was not much more than 20, and we just had a foot of snow, so these kids were walking on icy snow packed sidewalks...without shoes and socks!

We asked them where their parents were, and they just kept saying they'd gone night night. Neither of them spoke English very well (we're thinking they might have been Russian,) so it was hard to understand much of what they said. They kept walking because the oldest said they couldn't talk to us. We got in our car and followed them for a couple of blocks. At this point, we pretty much decided that this was beyond insane, so we called 911. Eventually the police showed up and took them into custody. They were very scared of the fact that they were going to have to go with the police, but the fact that we were all trying to help them warm up, and obviously trying to do what was best for them seemed to relax them a little.

I seriously have to wonder what these kids' parents were thinking. It's possible that something had happened to their parents, but we really don't know, and if the parents really were just sleeping, who sleeps while their young kids wander out of the house? I can barely even sleep when our kids are up and moving...

I don't know what happened to the kids, and I would actually like to know. I also really want to know what the parents could have been thinking.

12 Days of Ephemeris Christmas

2011-12-10T16:21:00.002-07:00

We're going to be having special sales all through the 12 days of Christmas. We'll be offering a different PDF e-book each day for a buck through DriveThruRPG.

Here are the days, the titles, and the links you'll need to use on those days:
14th: the core rulebook http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/index.php?discount=46749

15th: The Derelict Ship of the Ancients http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/index.php?discount=14719

16th: Ephemeris: Critters and Pests http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/index.php?discount=39990

17th: Mission of Trade, or Mission of Mercy http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/index.php?discount=39893

18th: The Ephemeris Book of First Level Characters http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/index.php?discount=11412

19th: Necessity's Call http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/index.php?discount=18582

20th: The Scientist's Sourcebook http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/index.php?discount=14554

21st: The Law Enforcer's Sourcebook http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/index.php?discount=66296

22nd: The Althani Sourcebook http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/index.php?discount=31824

23rd: The Arbonix Sourcebook http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/index.php?discount=39405

24th: The Culthan Sourcebook http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/index.php?discount=12482

25th: The Human Sourcebook http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/index.php?discount=44103

Remember, each offer is only good for one day, and each book is only $1.

The Martian Wave as a bestseller

2011-12-03T19:05:00.002-07:00

The Martian Wave Vol. 2, which I edited, made it onto the bestsellers list at Sam's Dot Publishing for November. It came in at #4. You can check out the complete list at http://sdpbookstore.com/bestsellers.htm.

Ephemeris holiday specials

2011-12-02T17:55:00.002-07:00

We've set up some special holiday bundles at DriveThruRPG for those of you that play, or want to play the Ephemeris Science Fiction Role Playing Game. Both of the bundles feature the following titles: Critters & Pests, Expanded Ephemeris Equipment List, Necessity's Call, Derelict Ship of the Ancients, Book of Tables, and the Species Compendium. The only difference in the two bundles is that one features the core rulebook and the other does not. They list for $18 and $15 respectively.

Without the core rulebook: http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product_info.php?products_id=86042

With the core rulebook: http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product_info.php?products_id=86038

November recap

2011-12-01T16:40:00.002-07:00

Happy birthday Alexis!

Nothing to sell

Some stuff to write

Cyber Monday sales

Cyber Monday sales

2011-11-27T15:04:00.002-07:00

A couple of Cyber Monday sales have kicked off that feature some of my work. You can find the Ephemeris Cyber Monday Bundle at http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product_info.php?products_id=96365. This include the Ephemeris core rulebook, Critters and Pest, the Expanded Ephemeris Equipment List, Mission of Trade, or Mission of Mercy, The Derelict Ship of the Ancients, the Book of 1st Level Characters, the Book of Tables, and the Species Compendium. All of this is available for just $17.50...a huge savings, but only through Cyber Monday.

Another Cyber Monday sale you might be interested in is the Cyber Monday Nomadic Delirium Press Fiction Bundle, which can be found at http://www.drivethrufiction.com/product_info.php?products_id=65958. This bundle features four Nomadic Delirium Press e-books, including three of mine, all for the low price of $4.00. This one is also only good through the end of Cyber Monday, so order right away.

Some stuff to write

2011-11-18T15:14:00.002-07:00

I just finished reading through a big stack of fragments I've written over the last decade or so. There is definitely some stuff to work with in that stack. Of course, I have no idea where I was going with some of the best of them, but I'll figure out something to do with them.

At least it looks like I'll have some stuff to work on now that I'm starting to find time to write again.

Nothing to sell

2011-11-09T15:24:00.002-07:00

With the sale of my most recent novel, I've come to the shocking revelation that I have no fiction to submit. Granted there are some stories from before I actually had a career, but those are locked away in a box in a dark corner of a closet, never to see the light of day again.

I guess I need to get my writing muscles back in shape and start cranking out some new material. I have a few short story ideas I might work on, and I also have a novel that's only about a third done, so that should give me enough to do for a while...

Happy birthday Alexis!

2011-11-08T08:39:00.002-07:00

Today is my youngest daughter's first birthday. It's hard to believe that it's already been a year. It's also hard to believe all of the changes we've seen in her. She's gone from being completely helpless to becoming a functional human being. It's absolutely amazing.

Since the older two are "technically" my step-daughters, I missed out on all the wonderful things that babies do. I love coming home from work and seeing her smile at me, waiting for me to pick her up, or seeing the big grin on her face when she first wakes up in the morning. I'm proud of every achievement she's ever had, even the smallest of them, because they're all huge to her.

I'm just very happy and proud to say that I'm now the father of a one year old. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ALEXIS!!!!

October recap

2011-11-01T19:09:00.002-06:00

I really miss writing

My MileHiCon 43 schedule

A Red Moon Rising sequel?

A Taste of Armageddon

Nomadic Delirium Press is looking for novels

Updated MileHiCon schedule

MileHiCon 43

My third novel has sold

A video review of the Ephemeris Role Playing Game

A video review of the Ephemeris Role Playing Game

2011-10-28T15:00:00.002-06:00

A more or less positive video review of the Ephemeris Role Playing Game...
http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DNQS6mRdkdzQ&ct=ga&cad=CAcQAhgAIAEoBDACOAFArpWp9QRIAVgAYgJlbg&cd=uZ6W5RPzQzs&usg=AFQjCNHncCGKjbdBpkZ56evu0sXvRvsoaQ

I'm very happy that he took almost thirteen and a half minutes to talk about the game, and I agree with quite a bit of what he saw as issues with the game...most of which were more with the design of the core rulebook, as opposed to the actual design of the game.

I hope he reads this blog, because I'd like to say thanks!

My third novel has sold

2011-10-26T16:42:00.003-06:00

Many years ago I wrote a story entitled "A Problem in Translation." This story was picked up by Alternate Realities, and was then later turned into an illustrated chapbook by Sam's Dot Publishing. I later wrote another story in the universe that was published by Hadrosaur Tales. The stories fit so well together that I decided to expand on them and turn them into a complete novel.

I'm now very happy to say that the novel has been picked up Sam's Dot Publishing and will be released in the Spring. As more details come in, I'll be sure to let all of you know...

MileHiCon 43

2011-10-24T11:19:00.003-06:00

Another year's con has come and gone, and this one seemed to go faster than any in the past. I got an opportunity to talk to all of the usual suspects...and you know who you are...that I usually hang out with, and met lots of new people. Everyone was, of course, in love with the baby. She mostly stared at people at the beginning, but she eventually opened up and started smiling and waving at people.

Friday started out with a panel on the state of publishing, and we basically determined that it's in a state of flux, although I was surprised to learn that David Dvorkin in pushing for the grammerpocalypse (you had to be there.) In looking at my badge, I was surprised to learn that I was going to be a part of autograph alley, so I went to that after opening ceremonies. As I wasn't sitting with the main guests, I spent most of my time catching up with David Lee Summers, Gary Jonas, Carol Hightshoe, and Dana Bell.

Saturday was more or less an off day for me with no programming. I spent a lot of time doing the family stuff with the kids, and then took a break to sign at the Wolfsinger Publications table. They published one of my stories in their new Tale of Armageddon anthology. That night we went to the Smashy Claw concert. We've always been big fans of Odd Austin, so we were curious to see what this new project was. Unfortunately, the mix was off, and it was difficult to hear the vocals, so we still aren't sure what it's about. The baby really loved the music, however. She was dancing around in her stroller, and generally going crazy. Everyone sitting around us was laughing at her. After the concert was the masquerade, which had several good costumes, and several that seemed to be re-hashes of years gone by.

Sunday was my crazy day. Did a panel early in the day about fiction and RPGs. We had a good discussion, and we seemed to keep the audience entertained, which is always a good thing. The panel was moderated by my friend Ian Brazee-Cannon. This was the first time we'd ever done a panel together, so I had to have some fun at his expense. Next time you see him, just ask him if he's done any LARPs lately. I then did a reading and a signing, neither of which was well attended, and then concluded the day by moderating a panel on Mining in Space. I was the least qualified on the panel, which is probably why I was moderating it, but I think we put out a lot of good information, and hopefully the audience learned something.

MileHiCon is always so well done, and the entire staff deserves several rounds of applause, but especially Rose Beetem who does the programming. She always does a great job, and this year was no exception.

Updated Mile HiCon schedule

2011-10-16T11:01:00.002-06:00

Here's my updated schedule for the Con, along with more information than was in the previous post...

Friday 4:00 pm
The New Landscape of Publishing
Grand Mesa B-C
Dan Dvorkin, Stephen Graham Jones, Eileen Schuh, James Van Pelt

Saturday 3:00 pm
I'll be signing at the WolfSinger Publications table.

Sunday 11:00 am
RPG Games: Fiction vs. Playing
Wind River B
Ian Brazee-Cannon, MT Fierce, Joseph Paul Haines, Christopher Salas

Sunday 1:00 pm
Author Reading
Mesa Verde C
Reading with Paul Cooley

Sunday 2:00 pm
Signing
Autograph Table
with Paul Cooley

Sunday 4:00 pm
Mining in Space
Wind River B
Dan Dvorkin, Rebecca Lickiss, Alastair Mayer, Wil McCarthy
I'll be moderating this panel, and there are actual rocket scientists on the panel...so it should be very interesting...

Nomadic Delirium Press is looking for novels

2011-10-13T15:44:00.001-06:00

Nomadic Delirium Press is now open for novel submissions. We're looking for a couple of science fiction novels that we can release in 2012. For more information, visit http://www.nomadicdeliriumpress.com/novels.htm.

A Taste of Armageddon

2011-10-10T19:38:00.002-06:00

A new anthology, entitled A Taste of Armageddon has been released by WolfSinger Publications. The lead story in the anthology is by little old me. If you'd like to pick up your copy, you can find it at Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/dp/1936099306.

Smashwords also has the e-book, and you can find that at http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/83785.

The write-up for the book looks like this:
Advances in modern war techniques have led many to "cleaner" and "cleaner" weapons.
Countries have created missiles that can pinpoint a room within a building - greatly reducing the risks to
non-combatants in a war zone.

In the Star Trek episode "A Taste of Armegeddon" Captain Kirk challenged that war had to be messy so that
people had a reason to avoid it. In this collection 11 authors will look at ways that warfare will advance in the future
- from a war that has determined safe zones that cannot be attacked to a virtual war where a law still exists that can
require one-tenth of the population to be killed to a closed meeting room where world leaders order the destruction
of their own people to show just how far they will go in attacking the enemy.

Whether you agree with war or not, these stories will cause you to pause and think about the ways in which war is
waged.

And the contributors:
J. Alan Erwine
Grig Larson
David Lee Summers
Henry L. Lazarus
David Turnbull
RA Fitzgerald
Joyce Frohn
Dana Bell
John Lance
Frank Taveres
Ryan Kinker

A Red Moon Rising sequel?

2011-10-06T16:04:00.002-06:00

My publisher was telling me that he sold a copy of Red Moon Rising to a convention goer recently. Apparently the guy bought the book on Friday, read it over the weekend (how anyone finds time to read at a convention, I'll never know), and returned on Sunday asking if there was a sequel available for the book.

This surprised me. I wrote the book as a stand alone novel. The main story in the novel is the main character trying to come to terms with the death of his brother, and I think I wrapped that up pretty well. At the end of the book, it is clear that the main characters still have goals and things they want to accomplish, but their main goal has been achieved, and I never really thought that the other possibilities would be interesting to readers. Perhaps I was wrong.

At this time, I'm not planning on writing a sequel, but it is nice to know that someone enjoyed the book enough to want to read more.

My MileHiCon 43 schedule

2011-10-05T09:10:00.002-06:00

MileHiCon is almost here, running October 21st-23rd. Here is my schedule, and although it's still subject to change, this should be where you can find me...

Friday
4-5
The New Landscape of Publishing

I have no programming on Saturday, but Sunday should make up for that...

Sunday
11-Noon
RPG Games: Fiction vs. Playing
1-2
Reading
2-3
Signing
4-5
Mining in Space

I'll post room information in a later blog, and I'll also let everyone know if there are any changes. I certainly hope that many of you can make it to most or all of these panels.

I really miss writing

2011-10-02T13:59:00.002-06:00

2010 wasn't the most productive year for me, and 2011 is looking like it will be even less so. Although I have done some work on a new novel and I've written a lot of supplemental material for the Ephemeris RPG, there hasn't been much else.

The arrival of Alexis has obviously taken up a lot of my time, and I certainly wouldn't want to give up any of that time, and the job is also taking up a lot of my time, especially since Rebecca and I work opposite schedules, which doesn't leave much free time for writing. The job would be something I'd be willing to give up, although there's that whole money thing...we just can't seem to do without it, even though we've tried.

Hopefully as 2011 winds down, and 2012 starts, I'll find the time to write again...it's always good to hope, right?

September recap

2011-10-01T10:02:00.002-06:00

Eventually I'll start blogging as much as I used to, but time's just not allowing it right now. Here's what I was talking about in September...

The Goebbels Churn The Company vs. Red Moon Rising

Ephemeris e-books Now Available at Smashwords

Ed Bryant needs our help

The first issue of The Martian Wave