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August 19, 2023
Pre-order? I hardly know 'er!
Hello again, {$name|default:'reader'}. Or welcome, if you're new!
Pre-orders are now live!
Humanity is on the run.
The second Martian invasion was swift, brutal and decisive. What remains of the human race is in hiding, desperately hunting for a means of defense.
George is determined to keep his promise to Amy: no more heroics, no daring ventures, no unnecessary risk-taking. When their refuge is destroyed, however, they are plunged back into the battle and must make their way to Canada in search of vital materials.
Martian sympathisers, a dangerous sea-voyage, an audacious heist and run-ins with untrustworthy allies are only a few of the challenges George and Amy must endure. Can they succeed, and return with new weapons to use against the Martians? Or will they witness humanity's last days?
Preorder the paperback directly from me, and get it signed and personalised too! ares.watch
Or pre-order the eBook on your local Amazon storefront. Paperbacks will also show up there on launch day, if you prefer to wait for that. ares.watch
It will also be a part of 'Kindle Unlimited', so if you are already a member there then just hang on, it'll show up when it's released.
Not a member of KU? You can sign up for free for two months with this link, read my book (or one of millions of others) and then cancel... I won't tell! amzn.to
Space News
Human Computers
You may know that the original 'computers' were people - long before electronic devices performed millions of calculations per second, human beings (and usually women) performed rote mathematics to crunch numbers for various applications.
If you did already know about this, you're probably familiar with the book 'Hidden Figures' (or the dramatised movie version based upon it) which documents these people's vital - and until recently uncelebrated - contribution to the space race. But it'd be a mistake to assume that this profession started there.
As far back as 1613 the term was used to refer to someone who performed calculations, though the practice goes back even further. Astronomy was in its infancy then, and just as now it required extensive calculations to determine the rules governing the movement of the planets and moons. As naval navigation also depended on star charts and tables, a major sea-power such as Great Britain would have a great need for computers.
One such was Mary Edwards, of Ludlow. At the time, she was unable to contribute under her own name and so her husband submitted her calculations on her behalf. She has been honoured with a 'blue plaque' at the home where she lived and work, following research by the present occupant.
I live near Ludlow, so it was nice to see this plaque recently. While it's sad that the society of the time was unable to recognise the achievements of a woman, it's good that these stories are finally being told.
Source: ares.watch
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.
Buy it now!
Ancient gods, heroes, and aliens clash in an epic battle for Earth in the Bronze Age Mediterranean.
The great human empires of the Bronze Age are locked in everlasting confrontation, with control of the Mediterranean as the coveted prize. Echelaos, prince of Pylos, prepares to wage war against treacherous Trojans to restore his honor and return his bride-to-be, Helen of Hatti. Ninurta-apal-Ekur, king of Assyria, follows the gods to conquer the neighboring tribes, while in Egypt, Khay, a grave robber, awakens the ancient evil.
Meanwhile, the commander of an alien expedition that has arrived to study Earth faces a difficult decision about whether or not to interfere in these terrestrial matters. The expedition members reveal polar opinions, threatening to shape the future of humanity according to their own vision.
Suddenly, all beings must proceed with extreme caution. Because alliances are fragile, betrayals are common, the great collapse has begun, and the new age is nigh.
Read it now!
The Sovereign is trying to kill his loyal guard out of jealousy. What could go wrong?
Learn behind the scenes backgrounds of our hero Ehren Odabran, a loyal Sovereign Guard in the Assembly of Nobles who must flee for his life into a hostile no fly zone away from the Sovereign himself who is trying to kill him out of jealousy.
You will also meet Ehren's new friends: Liiara has an ancient history, Arunan is a freighter captain and his strong warrior friend Hris who keeps his people's secrets hidden. There are many enemies on the way and struggles at every turn.
Meet the comedic Environmental Engineer Gabe Saetto and his new romance with Military Police officer Onika Leonhardt as they journey to a new colony planet and face the task of starting a new life with danger lurking around the corner.
TBD
Dystopian, Sci-Fi and post-apocalyptic reads in Kindle Unlimited Get these books fast! This promotion ends September 5th!
Strange News
Hunting Nessie
Sighting of a monster in Scotland's Loch Ness have been reported since the middle ages, when Irish monk St Columba is said to have encountered a creature in the Ness River. Over the years there have been almost as many explanations offered as there have been sightings - plesiosaurs, floating logs, swimming circus elephants, giant eels to name but a few - and it's been the subject of numerous hoaxes too. The most famous image is the 'Surgeon's Photograph', shown here. Taken at the peak of modern 'Nessie-mania' in 1934, it was later revealed to be a fake.
The creature was reportedly a toy submarine built by Christian Spurling, the son-in-law of Marmaduke Wetherell. Wetherell had been publicly ridiculed by his employer, the Daily Mail, after he found "Nessie footprints" that turned out to be a hoax. To get revenge on the Mail, Wetherell perpetrated his hoax with co-conspirators Spurling, Ian Wetherell, and Maurice Chambers.
Now there's another search being planned - for later this month. Hydrophones (underwater microphones) and drones fitted with infra-red cameras will be used to scour the waters for anything unusual. Obviously there's a hope that a giant lake monster will show up, but even the most ardent of Nessie fans will admit it's unlikely.
A study in 2019 (with the aim of cataloguing what was living in the loch, rather than hunting for monsters) ruled out a number of possible explanations - including Greenland sharks, catfish and sturgeon. It might sound unlikely that eels are the culprit, but judging scale and distance are notoriously difficult without nearby landmarks. A large eel can easily look much larger than it is, if you think it's further away!
Whatever the outcome of this latest search, it's safe to say that the story of Nessie is far from over.
Source: BBC News
Miscellany
Bookcase that turns into a coffin.
It's an art project, rather than a commercial product, but this is the most unusual furniture item I've ever seen. A (really rather nice) bookcase, that can be reassembled into a coffin when you, err, no longer need it.
Source: williamwarren.co.uk
Lunar Codex will archive art.
We're all familiar with time capsules, gathering everyday items and securing them somewhere so future generations can see how we lived. This artist plans to take this up a level, and archive the work of 30,000 artists from around the world on the moon.
Source: smithsonianmag.com
Astronomy books
While described as a selection of books 'for beginners', I think this is a great collection of space-related books. I can especially recommend 'Packing for Mars'.
Source: Atlas Obscura
And Finally
If you want to get a review copy of the new book, that'd be great! All I ask is that you post an honest review to Amazon or GoodReads when you're finished. Reviews are hugely important for an author, and can make the difference between a quiet launch or a great one.
I have a limited number of review copies to share, so if you're interested just reply to this email or use this link. https://storyoriginapp.com/reviewcopies/c0bbe9b2-3db9-11ee-8f11-c347f186bac9
Regardless, I hope you enjoy the book, and even if it's not your cup of tea then do please stick with me. there's another, rather different one coming before the end of the year...
Source: storyoriginapp.com