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Want to know what people are saying about it? Here is a review from Winston Crutchfield of Book Talk.

Two weeks into their exile, the crew of Jewel of the Stars detect an unexplored habitable planet. Captain Les Miller seizes the chance to let the passengers walk under an open sky.

When the local inhabitants—a winged humanoid species called the Rippesh—fall critically ill in large numbers, Doctor Rashona Clarke must find a cure. Chief Engineer Sarah McLaughlan discovers a rare element in the world’s crust that could give Jewel of the Stars a fighting chance against the Dracnor, setting a deeper conflict in motion. One that could destroy their new friends.

With first officer Maya Rice distracted by tensions with her estranged daughter, Miller must weigh the lives of his crew against the lives of the Rippesh. But a dangerous faction determined to secure the element at any cost might take the choice out of his hands.

Can the crew protect this strange alien world, or will human desperation turn them into the invaders they always feared?

Perfect for fans of Star Trek: The Next Generation and character-driven space opera, Strange Alien World delivers high-stakes moral conflict, poignant family drama, and awe-filled exploration.

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The post New Release – Jewel of The Stars #4 appeared first on Adam David Collings.

A cozy historical mystery with dragons. This book has an inviting Victorian setting. The mysterious Wormwood Abbey is a great setting. Who wouldn’t want to stay in a medieval estate filled with secrets? Baehr has created a narrative voice for the protagonist that is just the right blend of old-fashioned and contemporary to draw you into the time period without compromising it’s easy-to-read quality. Her dragons are a nice mix of science and imagination, making them feel original and realistic. The book serves as a great introduction to what promises to be a bigger ongoing world.
If you like history, mystery, and fantastical creatures, you’ll enjoy Wormwood Abbey.

View all my reviews

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The post Craft a Sci-Fi Novel With Me – Story Structure appeared first on Adam David Collings.

• The protagonist’s Enneagram type
• The Lie he believes about himself or the world
• The Truth he must learn (and how this reveals the story’s theme)
• What he wants vs. what he needs
• The ghost from his past that explains why he believes the Lie

By working through these elements, I’m building the backbone of the character’s arc—the emotional journey that will drive the plot of the novel from beginning to end. This is part of my goal to level up as a storyteller and write the most character-driven science fiction book I’ve ever written.

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The post Character Internal Conflict – Craft a Sci-Fi Novel with Me appeared first on Adam David Collings.

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The post New Video Series – Craft A Novel with me – Behind the Scenes appeared first on Adam David Collings.

The first thing that struck me in this movie is the character of Trevor. He’s down on his luck. His wife left him and he is struggling to make ends meet financially. But throughout the story, he is seen as making responsible, mature, and self-sacrificial choices. A vast different from Atkinson’s more famous character, Mr. Bean. In fact, at times it seems that Trevor is the most responsible person in the story. He spends the entire show putting the needs of others first, displaying un-expected compassion, and facing his many challenges with an impressively good attitude.

When a baby is left on the doorstep of the school where Trevor works, he assumes it is the child volunteered to serve as Baby Jesus in the children’s nativity play, but when nobody claims the child after the play is finished, Trevor has no choice but to care for him. He does all the right things, talking to the police, and child services, but through various comic, but mostly believable, situations, he can’t manage to offload the child and so must take it with him to London where he will be house-sitting – a job that will pay him the funds needed for his daughter’s education.

Along the way, we see Trevor connect and interact with various characters. Each have their own problems. And this is where the story leans into its thematic message. Trevor prepares a beautiful Christmas feast for the owners of the house he is looking after, but when they change their plans and pull out at the last second, Trevor ends up sharing this feast with various characters who are ultimately undeserving, but all in real need.

When I saw the end of this story, I could help but think of a story that Jesus once told, which can be found in the Bible passage Luke 14:15-24. A man had prepared a banquet and he invited a crowd of important people. But one by one they all gave various excuses why they couldn’t attend.

The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’

“‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’

“Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full.

In the end, Man Vs Baby is essentially a re-telling of this parable. I can’t know if this was a deliberate choice on the part of the writers, but the similarity is so striking I can’t not see it. This is a beautiful story of grace. None of these characters really deserved to be there at this feast, and yet, they all needed to be there. They were all desperate in their own way. Trevor excercised compassion to them all and welcomed them in. And I think that’s a beautiful Christmas message.

Everyone’s taste in entertainment is different, especially when it comes to comedy, but I would highly recommend Man Vs Baby as an addition to your Christmas viewing.

I’m taking part on a Synchroblog with a few friends who are all writing posts on the subject of Christmas. You can find their writings below.

• Meaningful Gifts by Dience Darling
• In Our Hands by Steph Penny
• 10 Blessings of God at Christmas by Susan Barnes

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The post Man Vs Baby Delivers Suprising Christmas Message of Grace appeared first on Adam David Collings.

In addition to my books, there will be food stalls, arts and crafts, and live music. Dogs are welcome. So if you’re a Tassie local, why not come along and check it out? You’ll find me at one of the indoor tables. Learn more.

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The post West Tamar Spring Market appeared first on Adam David Collings.

Check out the video below.

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The post Star Wars Galactic Cafe Melbourne appeared first on Adam David Collings.

• The original Wizard of Oz books by L. Frank Baum
• The Judy Garland movie
• Return to Oz
• Oz The Great and Powerful
• Wicked
• Our pitch for a future adaptation of the books

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The post Wizard of Oz Discussion appeared first on Adam David Collings.

Here is the announcement video

They provide life-saving medical treatment to patients but they don’t provide any bills. So the treatment, accommodation, food, travel, is all free. Even better, they share their research freely with the world which means we benefit here in Australia. The St. Jude Charity Gaming Livestream will happen on Saturday the 19th of November, or Friday the 28th if you’re in America. The details for various time zones can be found below.

But you don’t have to wait for the livestream. You can donate right now by going to AdamDavidCollings.com/donate.

• Eastern Australia (AEDT): Saturday 29th 9:00 am to 5:30 pm
• Brisbane (AEST) Saturday 29th 8:00 am to 4:30 pm
• Adelaide (ACDT): Saturday 29th 8:30 am to 5:00 pm
• Perth (AWST): Saturday 29th 6:00 am to 2:30 pm
• Arizona (MST) : Friday 28th 3:00 pm to 11:30 pm
• New York (EST): Friday 28th 5:00 PM to 1:30 am
• Los Angeles (PST): 2:00 pm to 10:30 pm
• New Zealand (NZDT): 11:00 am to 7:30 pm

So I hope you’ll join me for the St. Jude Charity Gaming Livestream to make a difference and have a little fun along the way.

I’ll see you out there.

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