Or the state of the writer…
Eleven novels published since since 2014, three anthologies, and appearances in five other anthologies, three with actual publishers. six novellas and short stories on my own.
Averaging about 4.8 on the reviews, averaging just over 100 reviews per novel. And thanks to those who’ve pushed the reviews for Rimworld- Diplomatic Immunity! Over 100 reviews in less than three months! Y’all rock!!!
I never got into the top ten, but I did make it to 14th place in hard science fiction! I’ve been hanging around the top 60,000 and 300s in Hard SF for over a month, so the book has some legs.
- Best Sellers Rank: #67,695 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #352 in Hard Science Fiction (Kindle Store)
- #533 in Hard Science Fiction (Books)
- #636 in Colonization Science Fiction
And I’d also like to thank those who’ve bought the earlier books in the series! That’s appreciated!
The current WIPs are 27K words into the next Bell Chronicles, a few thousand on the next Rimworld, and about 2000 words on a follow on novella for April Fool.
And I have to share this review of April Fool from and unknown ‘Kindle Customer’. I guess I got 2 stars because I used good English…
Technically, this is a fine book. There are minimal spelling, grammar, word usage errors.
But then there’s the “story” part. 🙁 It’s the “Bud Light Lime-a-rita Seltzer” of men’s adventure, now in a convenient 40-page “pony bottle” size!
Do I believe that a kid that grew up in the middle east will suddenly become a “normal average kid” and do “normal average things”? No.
Do I believe that an Army vet will suddenly decide to go on a killing spree? No.
Do I believe that VA hospitals are happy places full of smiling professionals and speedy service? Bwa-hahahaha! … No.
Do I believe that “dark web” is some kind of magic lotion that you can rub on any problem and solve it? No.
Do I believe that any man who can stand upright and see his toes uses that much firearms jargon? No.
Do I believe that 40 pages makes a worthwhile read? No.
Basically, this is a pamphlet, not a book. It’s a weird sort of men’s power fantasy based in pre-COVID Fox-news/Trumpist politics (as opposed to the “How I wish I’d spent my time in the military” power-fantasy, or the “Unhealthy Japanese porn addict” power-fantasy, or the “I could do that too, if I left my mom’s basement” power-fantasy, or …). But there’s not enough plot, or enough character development, or enough of anything, really, to recommend it. It’s just a weak riff on “Ghost” (by John Ringo) with some updated code words and a domestic setting.
Snort… You can’t please everybody, and obviously I didn’t please this person. But 92% of the 148 reviews are four or five star…
So, do I continue the character or just forget it… Gotta think about that one.
Progressives are having a lot of bad-hair days now that the secondary (and entirely predictable) results of THEIR fantasies are playing out.
Some can be unwound relatively quickly. Others cannot be unwound, ever.
My impression is that many Progressives get joy out of feeling superior to others. That is nearly impossible as their heroes so inelegantly drove EVERYTHING into the ditch with maximum zhit-splash in 14 months time.
That character made a pretty good “some dude” or “hey, remember that Chief?” candidate for periodic short story use, if not a novella or bigger. Well, sounds like you got another minor character or “hapless hipster bystander” volunteering for a calamity. “April Fool” was a good, short-story thriller, lots of background assumptions, with a pretty compact focus. That reviewer may not grasp it, but a favorable comparison to John Ringo (and his sales numbers) is pretty good in that line of fiction.
Halfway through R-DI and the only thing I’m not enjoying is the “…” that are littered through the conversations. Every time I see one it translates to a pause in the sentence, which presumably is the intent, but it breaks my reading train of thought. Not sure if so many of them are needed and I’d sure appreciate it if there were fewer. I know this seems like a small thing but given that it started bugging me after a while, maybe it’s not so small.
Funny thing about the AF character is that I read it when it came out and have no recollection of the story or the character. Guess that’s why I can reread books. 🙂
Keep him. What happens with me sometimes is that even though I know it is a novella the story sill drags me in and flows so well that I have finished the story well before my brain thinks I should have. Then I have to do a mental shake of the head and go “wow done already” and realize (again) it is only a short story or novella. Take it as an indication of good writing.
Re-reading the above I am not sure what I wrote makes sense but that is why you are the author and I am the commenter 😉
I enjoyed the story, and I’d love to see more about that character. As Ed said, when I got to the end and had to stop reading, it threw me for a second that it was over.
As to the review…you’ve got to give the guy credit for a memorable turn of phrase. At least he didn’t just drop a 1 star and walk away.
I really MISS the ability to reply to reviews now on Amazon. I used to LOVE making fun of the ones like that.
But somebody at Amazon thought we were having too much fun I guess, and too many little snowflakes were ending up mortally offended.
I’m simply not into Sci-fi but have enjoyed you other novels. What comes through is basic respect for the reader, ie., accuracy. Rare, IMO.
All- Thanks. Hereso- I’ll take a look at that. I use it to show hesitation in the speech. I’ll see if I can come up with a better way to do that.
John- Yeah, took our fun away. sigh
I haven’t dropped any reviews lately, but Diplomatic Immunity was really good.
With respect to a followup on April Fool, is there a novel somewhere in the future? Sure would be nice…
You should come to the Asheville Nc VA its great bad back in the seventies and eighties I’m a vet and I have four kids and a nephew that are vets so were down there all the time
Keep the character and the story line / world.
Assumptions and character development? It’s a short novella. You did an exposition of character and motivation consistent with your stated background and assumptions. Of course there is more not yet said.
These can be flashback reveals or memories / discussions with other characters as drivers for more stories.
Maybe he has had several jobs where he knew the right thing to do, was in place to do it, and was ordered to let the atrocity happen for “reasons”. Obviously not a Coventry decision, but a more personal one that makes him now say “F this, I can’t fix the world, but I can fix this problem.”
Thanks for all the fish.
John in Indy
Congratulations on your overall rating and productivity. I’m starting down that road myself, working on my second ‘Republic of Texas Navy’ novel.
I’ve enjoyed all of your ‘Grey Man’ and ‘Rimworld’ books, and the Calexit anthology.
Please keep writing, so I can keep buying.
RC- Thanks!
Truck- Sadly, that’s a bit too far for me to come.
John- You’re welcome. Looking at another novella in that ‘world’
DA- Appreciate it! Keep writing!!! And let me know when you publish! I’ll put it on my book promos.
about that 2 star review, a lot of effort went into writing that review. A review that if you hadn’t reproduced it on your blog would likely never been seen by more than 10 or 20 people.
Joe- I know, but dammit, Amazon won’t let us comment back on them anymore.
Book 1 was released back on March 2nd, Texas Independence Day. Here’s the link:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09TG1L9XF?ref_=pe_3052080_276849420
Thanks for the promotion.
Keep him. The characterization is solid, as is the writing. Please remember that even though the genius level legislators running our country into the ground will happily write a new regulatory law into existence on the strength of one occurrence, the rest of the world knows you don’t make law based on a single opinion. That’s what you’ve got here – one opinion.
My best to you.
DA- Thanks!
Bill- Good point.