Solar Clipper Diary

News from the Golden Age

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Half Share

Well, we’re two months late, but Half Share is up in Kindle format. The paperback will be along as soon as it falls out of the pipeline on the Amazon end.

We’ve already started on Full Share in order to get back on our production target of April, 2011, and might even manage to get Ravenwood in over the summer.

A lot of people have asked for a “pre order link” or some such thing but our choice not to do that was actually deliberate, not an oversight. I don’t want my books listed until they’re actually available. If you can see them, then you can buy them. It’s probably bad business and might cost me some sales, but the books will be available for a long time. Sorry for any inconvenience that causes people, but I want to make sure we’re not publishing vapor-text.

Given how long it took me to get my act together on this one, that’s probably a good thing.

Sneak Peek?

Is it a “peek” if you’re listening? Is there some other term?

Update: We have a Podiobook release date: noonish on January 10, 2011.

Owner’s Share


A Trader’s Tale from the Golden Age of the Solar Clipper : Book Six

When Diurnia Salvage and Transport undergoes a change in management, Captain Ishmael Horatio Wang finds himself adrift in a sea of red ink, and intrigue. He dives in only to find that he is over his head in a universe where cut-throat competition takes on an all new meaning.

What price will he pay for his Owner’s Share?



I’ve started recording. It’ll be 30 episodes total and I have no idea how long it will take. It’s a lot of words!

I need music!

I’ve permission from Tom Joad to use Larry O’Gaff

I’ve used the fiddle music of J. F. Archer before and rather fancy this Anchorachan Strathspey for Owner’s Share. He also has Garrison’s Frolic, which is a sailor’s tune from the early 1800s. Mr. Archer has a rather substantial collection at the Internet Archive. Is there one you like better than these?

I’m also listening to a whole bunch of other stuff, like this collection from Xerfa and AlionSonny.

Keep in mind that I have some rather inflexible requirements for my music. The intro must not be longer than 20 seconds — 15 is better — and I’ll probably only use the first 30 seconds and the last 60 seconds of anything I pick. That’s how long my intro and outro runs. Ideally the piece ends with a nice bump and not a slow fade, but that’s negotiable.

Have suggestions? Leave me a link in the comments.

December? What?

Oh mercy! When did it get to be December? About ten days ago by the calendar but my body says it’s really November 41st.

Or something.

State of the Onion:
> Half Share is still in layout. I still haven’t seen the galley. The cover art has been out for awhile and I’m watching the mail for my copy. I’ll let everybody know when I see it. Yes, unlike NY publishers, we’ll be releasing e- and paper at the same time and as soon as possible. The limited edition hardcovers may lag a bit but they’ll be along.

> Owner’s Share has had a full revision finally. I didn’t get to 150k but it’s a lot shorter than 220k and I think it’s a lot tighter. I’ve started looking for music and the production recording will begin as soon as I have a quiet house now that the Lung Crud is releasing its grip on my chest.

> I think there are still a few of the commemorative coffee mugs left and if you’re looking for some other Golden Age swag, try the Cafe Press Store. (I really need to get some new designs up there, I think.)

> The StarShipSofa episode with my first narration for them – a Tad Williams short called “The Tenth Muse” – and it even has a lil interview with me conducted by Tony C. Smith himself. There should be another story coming along soon.

> I need to get back on my feet and walking. I miss the exercise. Watch for #tommw starting again soon if you follow me on twitter. That’s “Tweeting On My Morning Walk” for those who didn’t catch it the first time around.

Safe voyage and a happy holiday season to one and all.

October Update

I can’t believe how much of October has already gone! Ack!

Status:
Half Share in text – I’m working on the edits but it’s going slowly. It’s my fault and I’m working to get that resolved ASAP because it’s holding up all the rest of my production. Sorry about that, but this one represents income and the free stuff needs to take a back seat.

Owner’s Share – on hold pending the release of Half Share in text formats. This will be released in Nov/Dec in audio because I’ve got a HUGE editing job waiting for me to get that book into shape and ready to podcast.

Cape Grace and the Ravenwood sequel – both get pushed back a bit.

In audio production work, I did a short story for Tony C. Smith and the Hugo Award winning StarShipSofa podcast which should be the lead in November’s short fiction. I’m really pleased with the way it came out and he’s sent me another to do for December. These are not interfering with the other work because they’re short, easily done, and fall into “gaah! I need a break!” territory without tying me up for days on end.

I’ve also got a paid job for narration that I need to get mixed into this stew and I’m looking at how I can make this all work. I *think* it’ll go together nicely if I can get the family back on a regular schedule and can record a bit each day. If that works, I’ll probably segue right into a more regular day with some portion of it dedicated to reading, some to writing, and some to editing.

This weekend I’ll be at MileHiCon in Denver. That’s the local sci-fi convention and I’m on several panels, doing a reading, and even have an autograph session scheduled. I’ll add it to the Out and About page. MileHi is the “local BaltiCon” and I’m hoping we can get a New Media Track established. There are now five podiobooks authors within driving distance of Denver and perhaps we can put something useful together there.

Finally, welcome to all the new subscribers to the email list. I don’t send out much stuff there so you probably won’t see that get a lot of traffic. I *will* post to it when new books get released.

Back to the salt mines for me. This is shaping up nicely and I’m very pleased with the way it’s coming out.

Now if I could just do more and faster!

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