First_Contact

There She Is!!!

I've been dying to share the images of Dee that were worked on for this book cover. She underwent a lot of changes to get where she is. At first we were going to make her shorter than Herod, but it made the cover look lopsided.

I'm thrilled to be able to finally share the cover with everyone.

We tried covering the MBrain with landscape like it would be seen with, but decided it made...

Well, that was fun.

So, here's your face reveal.

I ended up in the hospital for about 24 hours. I got released today. Lots of antibiotics, lots of fluids.

High pain tolerance actually screwed me over. I was able to ignore something that I should have gone to the hospital previously for.

I have a couple of appointments with a surgeon, and *might* have to have surgery.

Some of the cards weren...

Let It Snow

GOOD NEWS!

Monday the last of the Christmas Cards go out. Some of you had multiple accounts, or at least showed up multiple times in the database, so you might get two cards. I heard some of you got your cards already, which makes me happy.

We're waiting on the cover, but my artist ran into some problems and it's delayed.

The good thing is, the Holiday Special will be over soo...

Aw Crap! - Bender Voice

Regretful, the window is closed for post-cards.

Anyway!

So, the signing of the post-cards is done. I've printed out the address list (why the window is now closed). This week we'll be addressing the envelopes, stamping them, and mailing them out. With any luck, we'll be done next Monday.

I cut it a little close, but I learned a lot for next year (Like double-check exactly what...

How Writing Feels (Credit to Oglaf)

Anyway, several things for your first of the month briefing.

The Christmas cards are almost done being messaged and signed. A lot more people than I thought wanted the cards, so I might have to run another batch if too many more people sign up.

As you can tell, the war is winding down. We all know that won't last, however. There's still a lot of people and a lot of things to cover. ...

Happy Harvest Holidays!

Well, wow, we've come a looong way.

So... we're in the end game now, Tinky-Winky. The real end game. The war against the Atrekna is virtually over. Simply mopup now. The guns need unloaded, cleaned, and put back in the armory and everyone needs to get their movement orders to go back home.

Which is what we're going to see.

A long time ago I asked if you'd rather do the 80's/90...

OK, I Think It's Mostly Fixed

All right, after several days of tweaking and working on it, it SHOULD appear for everyone now.

The Christmas Card Benefit that is.

I've checked the 'benefits due" and quite a few people (most of them) don't have addresses up. Guess I'll figure something else out.

Anyway, enjoy a picture of why you should be careful trying to catch something as big as you.

Herod Dreams of SUDS Repair

We've got the cards, we're still trying to figure out a safe way to get them to everyone. My wife is currently sitting down and filling out 500 of them one at a time. (Her poor writing hand)

There's been suggestions of a Go Fund Me or a Kickstarter that way the addresses are securely handled.

Not sure how to get the addresses from those who want the cards.

If you've got sugges...

Happy Spookytime!

There's my Halloween Peeper for this year!

In other news: The Christmas cards have shipped from the printer.

Other than that, well, that and the death of Crashrider, not much is going on aside from the fact I'm tired and hurt, but that's gotten normal.

Hopefully, everyone's having a good October.

Need a Snickers?

Well, the cards are being printed. Brand new Peeper image, just for the cards.

Paperback book and hardback books will be available sometime next week.

Book Eight is in editing.

First of all: I'm sorry it was a four month gap between books. I'm shooting for 4-6 weeks in between. I'm going to figure something out to see if we can it back to below 8 weeks.

Other thing: Scar...

BOOK SEVEN! HOORAY!

We're just waiting for Amazon to release it.

In other news...

I'm not taking a 2 week vacation.

I'll be writing next week.

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner

Guess what's on the horizon.

Oh, and the picture for the Christmas cards has been drawn. An all new Peeper Christmas Picture.

Contemplation

All right, so, I discussed it with the wife and then with the daughter that does the artwork.

There will be Peeper Christmas cards. So, I'll be figuring some things out so I can figure out how to procure your addresses to send you these cards.

Anyway, we will see you anon.

--Ralts

My Uncle Gave Me This Book!

Anyway, I hope everyone's doing good.

My wife and I are talking about sending you guys Christmas cards this year. Not sure what you all think of that.

Let me know if that's OK.

Patreon is looking into what's wrong that I can't read my messages. So hopefully I'll be able to answer messages again.

Anyway, have a good weekend.

--Ralts

BEHOLD MINE LIGHT ATTACK TORCHSHIP!

A friend of mine passed me this and the first thing that went through my head was "So, they just wrapped a light attack fighter around a nCv Cannon, huh?"

But, it's the beginning of October, one of my favorite months.

Vacation is in the back yard, but it's pretty good so far. My wife is making cider and we're taking time with each other.

I'm hoping everyone is doing well this ...

Still the End Game, Tinky Winky

So, we're still in the End Game.

Some of the characters finally make sense. Like Crashrunner and his chummers attempting to shut down the ansible for an entire galactic center, in complete opposition of their normal attitudes of "the data must be free."

This month has been birthdays and all of that, really busy here.

On Monday my wife is insisting on the vacation.

I talk...

First Phasic War - Artist's Representation

So, the big relaxation. First time I've relaxed in years.

It's been a weird month so far, with only doing 2 posts a week.

Funny thing is, I've got a bunch of ideas swirling around in my skull, but all of them take place during the days prior to the Third Phasic War. Sure, some of them are short 1,000 - 3,000 word shorts (Man, the fact I consider that almost too small to be an actual...

Redoing Older Stuff

New covers for the older stuff. Just better quality, the font we were using, putting the correct data on the spine.

Now, I just gotta find an editor willing to work for what I can scavenge out of the couch, to do the first three books while David does the 7th and 8th books.

Thank God You're Home It Was A Terrible Explosion

This is what greeted us when we got home from the fair. Those cans were pulled out of the pantry.

The one with white socks is the rescue. She's showing us how the explosion blew her over  by the couch and that's how she landed. The all black one is telling us "Look, I'm almost 17 years old and pretty much blind, don't blame me."

I know, I know, my house is a wreck but at least ...

Artists Representation

I just wanted to say hello to everyone today.

Today is a pretty good day. Another birthday this week, some doctor appointments, and stuff like that.

Now, as to the books.

As I've said, it's currently in editing. Editing's a little slow because it's a complicated section (The Black Box with Dhruv/Legion and Herod, and we all know how important that section is to the overall met...

Inspiration

I was sitting on the front porch after deleting all of my social media and forum accounts but my Reddit account, a single Discord account, and this account, thinking over various things, when it hit me.

What would stop all of the Shades.

So, I wanted to let everyone know that despite my sudden disappearance from all of social media (Twitter, Instragram, TikTok, Imgur, all of it) I'm...

September/October News

The next three weeks will have only 2 chapters. Monday and Friday (So  you can get your safety briefing!). There's several birthdays in those  three weeks. Additionally, the wife is insisting that I take my first  vacation in 20 years sometime in October.

There's also some stuff with the shoulders going on too, but nothing I want to complain about.

I still plan on pos...

And here we are...

So, officially retired.

It feels weird. Still adjusting my sleep schedule, hoping to get back to normal human schedules and not shifting from week to week by four hours one way or the other. It also feels strange not to kind of keep track of my lanyard and some other stuff.

Deleting my resume off my computer was weird. I got to keep my boots, but the kids and wife had a cake for me ...

The Future

Today is my last day at work. I'll be leaving in about an hour for my last shift. After 0900 I'll be taken off shift, turn in everything including my ID and my RFID's, turn in a few other little things. Meet with an IT rep to make sure my accesses are removed and my biometrics wiped from the system. I'll check the lists and make sure everything I turned in was in good condition and everything a...

A Little Taste

That's the cover for Book VII (In it's concept draft form, NOT the final version).

And on other news: August 1st I will be retired. Which means, time to let my shoulders heal. No more driving at minimum of a 100 miles a day 5-6 days a week.

Even when I was taking breaks from writing I was still working, so this is going to be weird.

Anyway, more later. Just thought you'd like ...

We Are Here

The Dee section surprised me. Honestly, I thought I was going to keep her hidden until the epilogues.

Instead, here she is.

Anyway, hope today is treating everyone well.

Take care.

--Ralts

Lady Keena Approves

Artwork of Lady Keena I had done.

Anyway, I saw the poll. Saw that you all are pretty much fine with us carrying on how we've been carrying on and I'm pretty all right with that.

On the big stuff.

So, preliminary doctor's reports are in. Family meeting happened. (My kids are all adults, the youngest is 25) I'd already pretty much given up my truck, just driving it now and then...

Seriously, I'm Gonna Do It This Time

So, talking to some other authors, they all brought something up.

I'm not posting to this frequently, nor do I have any really up there Patrons Only posts.

I answered that I figured everyone was donating so I didn't have to work 60 hours a week and still try to write.

I also answered ...

Back from the VA

I went to a walk-in VA mental health check in.

She says I'm doing OK. That what's happening is normal considering all the shocks and hits I've taken the last few months. There was a few more things, but basically, I'm OK and she's actually pretty happy with what's going on with me.

The big one was I didn't crawl into the bottle.

So, a week of taking it easy then check in with ...

Nightly Thunderstorm.

Last month or so it's been nightly thunderstorms. Sometimes they don't start till 2AM, other times they start at like 9PM and last till 4AM.

I had my son-in-law trim a tree yesterday and lightning hit it tonight.

Thunder and lightning AND tornado watch outside.

Fun Fun fun.

Yellow and green outside.

I have a basement with supplies and stuff.