MileHiCon 2024
Great fun at MileHiCon 2024.
Had a good time at MileHiCon.
In addition to spending time with a lot of great authors, I sat on a panel about “Realistic Uses of AI” as well as one about SFWA (The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association).
I also attended more great panels about AI, as well as some on mystery and book series.
NEXT UP: Cosine 2025 in January.
Mantis Emancipated (Mantis 10) is out!!
Fans and new readers of science fiction, space opera, space colonization, or robots will love this, the latest book in the Mantis Saga series. The unique and colorful crew of the Mantis are tasked with returning a terminally ill old friend to her home planet while trying to help a robot associate achieve personhood, finding lost colonies, and cleverly outmaneuvering enemies in battle.
You’ll love this story If you like sci-fi and space opera novels with a Firefly or Expanse vibe. It will keep you hooked with an intricate plot, loads of action, and richly developed, colorful characters that will keep you coming back for more.
Mantis Emancipated is available on Amazon for Kindle and as paperback.
Please, check it out:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DJTF77FD
Great VLOG by X. Ho Yen
A fun Video Log exploration and interview.
My friend, author X. Ho Yen, just did a great Video Log in which he talks to two local authors, including yours truly.
It’s a fun little animated discussion.
Please, check it out at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzj4_b4OvK4
The whole thing is fun, but if you must know, the section with me starts around 5:45
Inspector Giskard is out on Amazon as of 18 May 2023
When a suburban mom is murdered in her home and her two teenage daughters kidnapped, Inspector Giskard is called in to figure out what happened and find the girls. Set in the near future, some aspects of the world have changed, but the nuts and bolts of police work are still the same. Faced with limited time and resources, Giskard races against the clock to save the daughters and find the killer, following lead after lead, and getting help from unique allies in the police force.
Are the girls alive?
Can he find them in time?
Who did this?
Obviously, MONTHS late.
However, I’d encourage you to consider this non-Mantis book for yourself of friends.
It’s a science fiction mystery set in Colorado Springs in the not too distant future.
https://www.amazon.com/Inspector-Giskard-Jim-Henderson/dp/B0C5KFTHZQ
Mantis Infected (Mantis 9) is out (as of 31 Mar 23)
The unique crew of the starship Mantis is hired to help fight a plague on Zalur. However, once there, they find out there is far more than one kind of infection -- they must battle all kinds to survive. When some of the crewmembers are brought low, the others must find out who did this and a way to rescue them. They may not be able to do so without running afoul of the law and possibly even terrorists.
Can they face all the infections they must?
If you like sci-fi and space opera novels with a Firefly or Expanse vibe, you'll love this. This sci-fi adventure will keep you hooked with an intricate plot, lots of action, and rich, colorful characters. It will keep you coming back for more.
I’ve done a terrible job at keeping up here. Mantis Infected came out 11 months ago. But it IS out and available.
Please, check it out.
https://www.amazon.com/Mantis-Infected-Saga-9/dp/B0C128R9K6
Nearing Completion on Book 9
I’m afraid I got side-tracked a bit on book 9. In particular, I did a National Novel Writing Month challenge in November and wrote another non-Mantis novel.
In any case, Mantis book 9 is nearing completion. It’s with my editor now and should be done around early February. The planned title is “Mantis Infected.”
Hard at work on book 9
I’m working hard on book 9 of the Mantis Saga, working title Mantis Infection. I’m about halfway through the first draft and shifting from one main subplot to another. I hope to have the first draft done in September and will try to publish before Thanksgiving.
I hope y’all will enjoy it.
Non-Mantis Novel: Viper: Boat 571
I’ve taken a detour to write a non-Mantis Novel. It’s set in the same technical universe but not in the same region of space.
The crew of the system defense boat Viper does everything it can to harass the enemy and help win back their homeworld when the enemy Vazirans invade their solar system. They face long odds as they are called into action again and again in a variety of environments. They must work together and rely on stealth, speed, cunning, and courage to get through.
Can they defeat the Vazirans and save their homes?
How can they face enemy ships much larger than they?
Where will they be called upon to fight next?
Can they make it back home alive?
You will love this rich and interesting military science fiction with a human touch. It will keep you hooked with an intricate plot, fiery action, and rich, colorful characters. It will keep you coming back for more.
https://www.amazon.com/Viper-Boat-571-Jim-Henderson-ebook/dp/B0B3G65JKH
Mantis Short Triad Available on Amazon
Just released the Mantis Short Triad on Amazon
This is a collection of the 3 previous Mantis Shorts — SolBound, Kanakataraka, and the Queen.
This provides a convenient bundl.
It also makes getting in paperback much more practical — only SolBound had been available in paperback due to the cost overhead associated with printing a small book.
Get your copy today or buy for a friend.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09WZLXTX4
Mantis Morphosis: Book 8 Available on Amazon
The unique crew of the retired starship Mantis is hired to search for a professor with knowledge of an ancient base, but he’s held by unfriendly groups on an unfriendly, clannish world. If they can rescue him, they then have to travel on a very restrictive planet to try to find it. If they survive that, who knows who, or what, will be in that base.
How can they negotiate the strange groups on the planet Varren?
What forms of primitive travel might they be forced to deal with on a restrictive planet?
What lurks in the hidden base they’re tasked to find?
What secrets might they uncover?
What dangers does space itself present?
What kind of metamorphosis does all of this portend for the robots in the Mantis crew?
If you like sci-fi and space opera novels with a Firefly or Expanse vibe, you'll love this. This sci-fi adventure will keep you hooked with an intricate plot, lots of action, and rich, colorful characters. It will keep you coming back for more.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09TB6WCRC
SolBound Audio Book
It’s Here! The much-anticipated audiobook version of SolBound narrated by the talented Robin Howatt Shrock.
Now available on Audible and Amazon.
Ximon and the unique crew of the scout ship Mantis continue their adventures. They come out of hyperspace far from their destination and badly in need of supplies. They find a habitable planet nearby and need to find the most likely place for supplies. Dangerous and humorous interactions with the locals follow. Will they make it out in one piece and with what they need?
SolBound is the first of the short adventures from the Mantis Saga series – stories that fit between the main books.
If you like hard sci-fi and space opera novels with a Firefly or Expanse vibe, or if you enjoy inter-galactic role-playing games such as Traveller or Starfinder, you'll love this book. Jaunts of the Mantis will hook you with intense space action, while its rich, colorful characters, and engaging stories keep you coming back for more.
Available at:
COSINE Con 2022
Had fun at COSINE 2022 in Colorado Springs
- Spoke on 4 panels (Military Sci-Fi, Sci-Fi Predictions, Private Space Race, and How RPGs Relate to Writing)
- Had an author table and got to meet fans, or potential fans, and chat with other authors
- Got to interact with a large number of authors and trade tips and ideas
- Enjoyed listening to good ideas at several panels
Mile Hi Con
Had fun at MileHiCon in Denver.
- Spoke on 3 panels (AI, Crypto Currency, and the Private Space Race
- Had an author table part of the time and got to meet fans, or potential fans.
- Got to interact with a large number of authors and trade tips and ideas
- Enjoyed listening to good ideas at several panels.
Jaunts of the Mantis Audio Book
It’s Here! The much-anticipated audiobook version of Jaunts of the Mantis narrated by the talented Robin Howatt Shrock.
Now available on Audible and Amazon. On iTunes in a day or two.
When Ximon Sabo retires from the Kremniy Republic Scout Force he’s awarded a retired scout ship, the Mantis, but he has to find work to keep her flying. On missions across a dozen solar systems, Ximon and his crew make first contact with an alien species, pull off a daring rescue from a beleaguered outpost, face hostile pirates, and even face a murder mystery. The Mantis team—a female engineer with a drinking problem, a sensor operator who’s also a priest, Ximon’s sexy companion robot, and the ship’s AI computer —must work together to face challenge after challenge before they run out of money or the ship falls apart.
If you like hard sci-fi and space opera novels with a Firefly or Expanse vibe, or if you enjoy inter-galactic role-playing games such as Traveller or Starfinder, you'll love this book. Jaunts of the Mantis will hook you with intense space action, while its rich, colorful characters, and engaging stories keep you coming back for more.
Available at:
https://www.audible.com/pd/Jaunts-of-the-Mantis-Audiobook/B09BGX5C39
Launch Video at:
Mantis 7: Mantis Homeward
Mantis Saga 7
It’s Here! Mantis Homeward
Now available on Amazon for both Kindle and paperback.
The unique crew of the retired starship Mantis is hired to transport passengers and cargo on a long path that could take them home. Home to the republic that they’ve been exiled from for over a year. They’ve been told that all is forgiven, and they can come home, but they’re not sure it’s safe to go back. But that path isn’t entirely safe and dark things from their past may still haunt them.
How will the crew respond to one of their number being almost killed?
Can a badly injured crewmate be saved?
Can they avoid getting dragged into the conflicts of other worlds?
Will other dark things from their past haunt them?
If they go home, what will their reception be?
Mountain of Authors Event
I was recently featured in the Pikes Peak Library’s “Mountain of Authors” event.
You can see the consolidated fiction writers video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsersiCOAlQ
You can also see the Mantis Saga video under “VIDEOS” on this site.
Enjoy
Mantis Short 3: "The Queen" Available on Amazon
Ximon and the unique crew of the scout ship Mantis continue their adventures. They’re working their way home after coming out of hyperspace far from their destination. They suffer a serious breakdown and need parts to fix it. So, they seek out some unknown aliens operating in the moons of the gas giant. The crew must avoid conflict, find a way to communicate, and try to trade for what they need. They also have to safely navigate a risky meeting with the Queen.
The Queen is the third of the Mantis Short adventures – stories that fit between the main books of the Mantis Saga.
If you like sci-fi and space opera with a Firefly or Expanse vibe, you'll love this. This sci-fi adventure will keep you hooked with an intricate plot, lots of action, and rich, colorful characters.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0918Q7MGQ
Mantis Exile: Book 6 Available on Amazon
The perfect Christmas Gift is here – Mantis Exile.
Now available on Amazon for both Kindle and paperback.
The unique crew of the retired scout ship Mantis faces life in exile and must make a living in the area of space beyond borders, known as The Vast. They’ve got some friends out there, but they’ve got to wonder if the home they’re exiled from, the Republic, will come after them. The crew must face great dangers, investigate new planets, interact with aliens, make some new friends, and face some old questions if they are to survive.
Mantis Short 2: Kanakataraka Available on Amazon
Ximon and the unique crew of the scout ship Mantis continue their adventures. They’re working their way home after coming out of hyperspace far from their destination. The ship is running low on food and other supplies, so they decide to stop at a potentially habitable planet. The locals appear primitive but have odd powers. The crew must find a way to communicate with them, figure out how they got there, and try to establish trade with natives.
Kanakataraka is the second of the Mantis Short adventures – stories that fit between the main books of the Mantis Saga.
If you like sci-fi and space opera with a Firefly or Expanse vibe, you'll love this. This sci-fi adventure will keep you hooked with an intricate plot, lots of action, and rich, colorful characters.
Book 6 - First Draft Complete
I’ve been hard at work on book 6 (tentative title Mantis Exile). I finally finished the first draft this morning.
Now, on to the editing.