The Last Full Stop

Just for a change I'm not pimping my own stuff in this post, instead I want to talk about The Shepherd's Crown, the latest Discworld novel from Terry Pratchett, which was released today. And I don't know if I want to read it because it is also the last Discworld novel.
For most of my life, I have loved everything Terry Pratchett has done, and the Discworld novels in particular. They have been a constant presence, making me think, brightening my outlook when things were bleak, providing a world that was at once both fantastical and magical, yet also intrinsically human and grounded in reality.
And always there was the knowledge, the anticipation that there were more stories from the Disc that I would be able to read, a new adventure to go on with Vimes or Rincewind or Granny Weatherwax. It was always something to look forward to, a bright spot in the future regardless of what else was happening.
But that's it now. There won't be any more. When - if - I reach the last full stop of The Shepherd's Crown it will mean a world where there will never be a new Discworld book to read, there won't be a new adventure that I have yet to experience. I don't like the sound of that world, that world is a cold and unfriendly place.
So, as perverse and weird as the logic is, there's a large part of me that doesn't want to read The Shepherd's Crown because at least then there will always be a new Discworld novel out there that I could read, there'll always be a new adventure waiting for me, as there has been since I first picked up Guards Guards in my local library more than twenty five years ago because it had a weird looking cover and my mum had mentioned that she'd heard of this Terry Pratchett guy whose books I might like (which I was initially resistant to because it was a suggestion from my mum and I was nothing if not a contrary pain in the ass as a kid. Some might say that not much has changed).
Ah, maybe I'm just scared of how much it will hurt to reach the end, or I don't want to admit that there is an end - denial ain't just a river in Egypt and all that.
If there's one thing I'm one hundred percent certain of, however, it's that Sir Terry would say that I was being an idiot and to just read the bloody thing, because that's what it's for.
If I'm being honest, I know I'll end up reading it eventually, because it's a Discworld book and I must, but it is going to suck when I finish it. That's a moment I'm not looking forward to.

Man, I miss Terry Pratchett.

Share My Ink!

An unusual battle cry, to be sure, but relevant in this case!
It's only been a little over a month since Sorrow's Herald was released to literally no fanfare but already we move on to the next one!
Allow me to introduce you to Aimee Westmorland, THE SALVAGER!

A new, light hearted sci-fi adventure about mechs, friendship, booze, mechs and evil big businesses. And also mechs.
Did I mention the mechs?

Anyway, the reason for the odd heading is this: rather than my usual method of self-publishing, I'm trying out the relatively new Inkshares site. They're a crowd-funded publisher - you list your book on their site and people pledge a pre-order (no money is taken yet), if the book gets enough pre-orders then Inkshares publishes it in much the same way as a traditional publishing house would, including providing editing, proofing and cover designing services at no expense to me (I like this bit in particular).
Right now, there's also a co-promotion thing running with the Nerdist which could be pretty cool.

So here's the begging bit (you knew it was coming, right?). I need people to pre-order The Salvager, and then get their friends to do the same.
I should note that you get $5 credit just for signing up to Inkshares so if I do manage to get enough pre-orders it'll barely cost you a bean! You can earn even more credits by using the links on the project page to refer people - in fact you might even end up getting it for free (for more details see the page for The Salvager)!
It would mean a huge amount to me to get that kind of help.
You can expect me to bang on about this an obnoxious amount over the next couple of months, to the point where you might even get sick of it. I've tried very hard to avoid being a spambot on all the social medias but if that's what it needs then, well, that's what I'll do. Whatever it takes! Performing monkey mode: ACTIVATE!
Seriously though, nothing's off the table here.

While I'm abandoning what little dignity I have left (there are people who know me who laughed out loud when they read that) and begging, I'd love to see more (some?) reviews for Sorrow's Herald and Heroes Wanted on Amazon or Goodreads. Good reviews, for preference, but I'll take what I can get.

That's it for now. Still decorating (I am sooooo slow at it), still writing, still playing daft games, still wading through the masses of hair that the dog's shedding. All good fun!

Until next time!
Allen

Pleeaaaaase Release Me...

Let me go!
The time for release is here. To almost no fanfare at all, Sorrow's Herald is unleashed upon an unsuspecting world! 
The world won't know what hit it. Quite literally. I suspect it won't notice at all.

If you're not familiar with Crystal, the main protagonist of Sorrow's Herald, then you can catch up on her adventures in the first of the series, Crystal Eyes, for free if you get it from Smashwords. Just check out with the coupon code LA48J

This week I've been doing some pics of Crystal in a rough, painterly style. And here they are

It's Crystal time...

...and there's no need to be afraid!
Reference from 1985 there - that's how up to the minute I am with modern culture. Last blog post it was Olivia Newton John, this post it's Band Aid. 
Zeitgeist, I am in you!

Back to the point, SORROW'S HERALD is out on the 10th of July! That's less than a month away! And you can pre-order it now! Exclamation mark!
EXCITE! A bit, anyway.

If you're looking at it and thinking "But Allen, that's a sequel and I've not read CRYSTAL EYES yet, how will I know what's happening?"
Well, first of all, shame on you! But I hold no grudges so allow me to help you rectify this egregious mistake:
If you go to Smashwords, buy CRYSTAL EYES and check out with the code LA48J, you will get it for FREE!
Look at all those capital letters, that's how you know it's exciting.

Aside from all this book-based nonsense, I'm still decorating. Slowly. Because I'm terrible at it. Also it transpires that the garden is essentially a weed-jungle and now I'm lowering the tone of the whole neighbourhood because I haven't got round to starting on it yet. I sprayed some weed-killer around but they all seem to be immune to it. 
I did stop the back door from creaking. The fact that something so trivial registers as a DIY success for me should give you some indication as to my level of competency with such things. To be fair, the creaking was really getting on my wick.

That's all for now!
Later,
Al

Let's get physical!

Let me hear your body talk, or something.
And now I've infected you with that ear-worm, hello and welcome! And the reason for me inflicting that song on you? Heroes Wanted is now available as a paperback (see, cos it's a physical thing. Hilarious)!
After going through a couple of proofs (one of which I formatted so poorly it was unreadable - I may give that away at some point) I'm really pleased with how it finally turned out.
It's not the cheapest (that's print on demand for you) but you do get a free copy of the digital edition as well. Not sure exactly how that works, all I did was tick the box in the setup screen to include it in Kindle's match book program.
It's a fun, light-hearted adventure that will, at the very least, put a smile on your face. Please tell your friends and, if you enjoyed it, leave a review. I mean, I guess you could leave a review if you hated it as well but I'm less enthusiastic about that happening.
Reviews, Likes and word of mouth are the lifeblood of books like this so anything you could along those lines would really help me out (looks pointedly at Heroes Wanted on the US Amazon store that has not a single review on it. Clears throat loudly).

Speaking of things to spread the word about - the pre-order for Sorrow's Herald, the sequel to Crystal Eyes, is live and will be released on the 10th of July. Join Crystal and friends on their continuing adventures - there will be shooting, things will end up on fire, there may even be explosions.

Away from the world of literature, I'm still decorating. Things are being painted, albeit slowly and badly. I am not, I have discovered, a naturally talented decorator. If I can keep 90% of the paint within the intended area then I consider it a win.
I haven't accidentally painted the dog yet so I guess it could be worse.

There are also many lambs in the field behind the house, jumping, bleating, occasionally getting their heads stuck in the fence so I have to go and get them out (that has happened - momma sheep was NOT happy).

That's all from me, be excellent to each other!
Altogether now!
Let's get physical...