Book Two

I am currently working on book two in the Black Chronicles series. I am on page fifty-eight at the moment and just got through my first major plot crisis. At this point during the process it is difficult to maintain momentum. The characters have been established, however, the storyline is still very open to change. I know where I want to go with it (although I have about five different ending ideas), but it is difficult to know how to get there. My better half is encouraging me to update my blog more often, so bear with me as I attempt to expand my horizons yet again.

Book Signing

I finished my first book signing! It was an enjoyable experience to assist the Dallas Police Department's military assistance program (MAPS). MAPS sends care packages to police officers and their family members who are deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. I was a bit nervous at first, but everyone was extremely nice and my jitters were quickly put to rest.
I am currently negotiating a book signing with the Shuter Library in Angel Fire, New Mexico sometime mid-February. I am also exploring my options at the various science fiction conventions around Texas.

Cut material:

Europa was originally 150 pages longer than it is now. Although given a fair amount of leeway, I was forced to cut a significant amount of material due to the publisher's word count limit (which is an industry norm). I will continue to add the occasional bit of extra information here and on my website that was cut from the original work.
I will eventually release a ten page side story about Eric and Quinn that was also cut from the original manuscript.
Swords used as close quarters weapons aboard spacecraft: Bladed weapons do not pose the same hull rupturing risks as projectile weapons. In most cases ships are built of materials sturdy enough to repel small meteoroids and the occasional stray bullet does not pose a significant risk. Pirates who are interested in looting a ship and leaving it would not worry about punching a few leaks in the hull, however, if a ship was meant to be captured it may be an issue. Most bladed weaponry is in the form of daggers and short swords since hallways and small rooms aboard ships would be impractical places for longer weapons. These weapons are not as common as pistols and rifles, but are still carried by some and occasionally used in combat.