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Newsletter Archive
May 28, 2022
2022-05-28
And just like that, it's almost June.
The days are longer, the nights are shorter, and the heating is finally able to turn off more often than it's on. Summer seems to be on the horizon, but for now at least it's not quite time to throw caution and your jacket to the winds. Speaking of winds, we live up a hill so there's always something blowing past.
My writing continues, although I'm struggling a little with the editing process. Partly this is because I've sliced open my index finger during a hard drive upgrade (which required a trip to the minor injuries unit for some professional attention) and partly as it's proving harder to rejig the order of events than I anticipated. Every change necessitates another two so that things still make sense, and I often feel like one tug on the wrong thread and the whole thing will unravel. If I'm lucky, it'll all come together and cause will continue to precede effect. If not, then at least it'll give the beta-readers something to figure out!
Read on for some more fun news, a huge selection of books that are free to read if you have Kindle Unlimited, and that book cover reveal I teased you with last time.
Space News
NASA's InSight Mars lander is gradually losing power and is anticipated to end science operations later this summer.
Last time I told you about the difficulties of fixing problems from millions of miles away, something the Mars rover teams have had to do quite often as issues arise. But one problem they can't fix with a software patch or a bit of schedule manipulation is dust.
Mars is a dusty place, and anything left on the surface eventually picks up a layer. In the case of the InSight lander, that's clogging up the solar panels, and reducing the power the lander can gather each day. This was a known issue, and the lander was expected to last for about two years before this happened. In fact it's been nearer to four years since it landed.
The robotic arm was used to wipe dust off a few times, which enabled it to keep running longer than planned. Even now it's still detecting Marsquakes and doing valuable science. But as power levels drop they're going to have to stow the robot arm safely so it can't bash into something, and it looks like it might be nearing the end of its extended mission.
Dust devils sometimes blow dust off the solar panels, and the Spirit and Opportunity rovers got vastly extended lifetimes as a result, but so far this hasn't happened to InSight. Obviously scientists are hoping the lander can get a new lease on life, but nothing is guaranteed. A human on site with a broom or a feather duster would be useful...
Curiosity and Perseverance are still going strong, and there are three orbiters keeping an eye on things, so Mars is still being explored, but it's a sad day when we lose one of our trusty robot explorers.
Source: NASA Mars Exploration Program
Other Books To Check Out
I've gathered a few great books from independent authors like me, I hope you'll check them out.
And let me know if you have any books to recommend! I'm particularly interested in indie authors, but anything you've read and loved would be awesome.
Discovering Your Neighbour
Free
A simple exploration of an unknown planet. What could go wrong?
Baldwin Tavares is called up by the Admiral Pitch to join in their expedition to the planet Allende 1-b, also known as Neighbor. Baldwin and his team were requested for their very specific skill set, as they are the best in their individual fields. Eager to be part of something bigger than himself, Baldwin, aka Win, convinces his team to go on the expedition. They aim to find some remnants left behind of the once inhabited planet Neighbor in the hopes of studying and preserving whatever knowledge about them that they find.
The Obstructed Engine
Free
A Madam, a Tinker, and a Resurrected Cat
This prequel short story to "The Adventures of Bodacious Creed" reveals how Anna Lynn Boyd, young brothel madam and secret inventor, resurrected her pet cat, met her partner Jonny, and how Jonny became mute. There's science, adventure, heartbreak, and love in this tale that won an honorable mention in the Writers of the Future Contest.
KU
War and alien invasion have scarred the planet. Countries have been obliterated. Jameson's father has been killed. Jameson's mother and brother were consumed by the house fire-a ghostly, blue fire Jameson walked through unscathed.
Terrified and alone, at only eight years old, Jameson must find his way to the nearest desert city to survive in the post-apocalyptic lands of Earth. It's there that he discovers he's not the only one with a strange gift. But to speak of such mutation is asking for a deadly kind of trouble.
Reviews really help authors out, I bet you never buy something online without checking the reviews and ratings first, right?
Well here's a great way to do it - a huge list of books in Kindle Unlimited that could use your help. If you have KU, then they're free to read, and it's really easy to leave a review when you're done.
Don't have KU? Curious about it? You can sign up here for two free months, and if it's not for you then you can cancel even before they ask you to pay! amzn.to
Once you're in, check out this list of great SciFi books:
Helping Indie Authors Twice - Sci-fi Kindle Unlimited Titles to Review!
Get these books fast! This promotion ends July 20th!
Strange News
Who made these circles in the Sahara?
There's a trail of circular features in the desert in Algiers. Someone found them while browsing Google Earth, was stunned by their regularity and remoteness and so asked the obvious question.
What are they?
OK, I'm going to spoil this slightly and say it's not aliens. Or mythical beasts. But this video is still well worth a watch, as it starts with a 'what's this weird thing' post on Reddit and the researchers just keep diving deeper.
The mystery alone is wonderful to explore. And it's fun seeing experts disagreeing with each other and dismissing theories based on their knowledge and assumptions.
The video itself is fascinating too, really well made and extremely compelling.
And you'll learn about a truly unique museum...
Source: youtube.com
Miscellany
The Nebula awards for Science Fiction were announced recently, and it's not just books. They honour games, TV shows and movies too.
Anyone of a certain age in the UK will have fond memories of Fray Bentos pies, a tinned marvel of puff pastry, meat and gravy. Sadly, they're now but a shadow of their former glory, as this YouTube video reveals. And for those outside the UK, yes we used to eat kidneys a lot more often than we do nowadays. We still eat a fair bit of liver, and do yourself a favour and don't look up tripe.
I've been on a bit of a Welsh Myth kick lately, living so close to the border as I do. This is a very useful resource, even if you don't speak the language - and I certainly don't! If Wales isn't your thing, they have old bodies of text from around the world, and I could lose myself here for hours.
And Finally
I'm still hard at work on the 'War of the Worlds' series that is probably how you found me, but I write Urban Fantasy also. And my first book in a new series is coming soon!
The creatures Richard Williams remembers from childhood fairy tales are terrifying. So when he discovers they are stalking him, he is glad of the Fae Defence Society's help. But when a message from his late grandfather casts doubt on their motivations, he must decide who to trust and make strange alliances to prevent a devastating magical attack on the streets of Britain.
