Browncoat Self-Publishes Non-Firefly SF noveloid on Kindle by Noocyte

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Browncoat Self-Publishes Non-Firefly SF noveloid on Kindle

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POSTED BY: NOOCYTE
UPDATED: Monday, July 25, 2011 20:31
SHORT URL: http://bit.ly/ijKlSn
VIEWED: 16922
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Friday, May 27, 2011 8:51 PM

Ni haody, all!

Haven't posted in a few turnins' of the worlds (but still bringin' the Browncoat Religiosity to the fuzzy-wuzzies wherever I can! Even named my private Psych practice "Serenity Psychology Services"). So, please pardon the plug:

'Round the Summer of 2001, I finished a hard SF noveloid called "Night Music." Turns out, it was precisely the wrong length for dead-tree publication. So, it sat.

Last November, I finally got up the gumption to publish the fool thing on Kindle...and here it is: http://www.amazon.com/Night-Music-ebook/dp/B004CLYHKC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UT
F8&qid=1306564363&sr=8-1

It's a near-ish future space exploration story, which takes place mainly on a mission to Mars (I know, not exactly breaking new ground there!). Main character is a crackerjack pilot who has a bit of a problem with human relationships. His trip is to find ways of making those connections, and it's mirrored in the circumstances of losing and re-establishing contact with an outpost on Mars.

Given what I do for a living, I was able to utilize some of my Shrink-Fu to create faux psych profiles for a few of the main folks. Bit of a characterization cheat, but it enabled me to get inside their heads a little better. I also learned a WHOLE lot about propulsion systems, and orbits and such, trying to get that stuff right.

My writing style is heavily influenced by Michael F Flynn and Arthur Clarke, with a smidge of William Gibson-esque prose. I'm an inveterate technophile, so I do rhapsodize a bit about the tech. But as a shrink, I'm primarily interested in people's paths to learnings and growings. It's always about the characters, anyway...that is, unless it...you know...sucks. I'm also deeply into chaos and complexity theory (even wrote my dissertation on it), so there's a lot of that sort of thing in there, along with a dash of nanotech.

Anyway, I hope them as have Kindles (or who care to download the free Kindle app for their computers and/or smartphones) will have a look-see. I have one review which downright humbled me, and I'd love to turn a few Browncoat Brains loose on it, to see what ensues.

Thanks! And keep flyin'!

/Shameless self-promotion

Department of Redundancy Department

EDITED 5/30/2011: Because ill-chosen words irk me.

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Saturday, May 28, 2011 2:49 AM

There's no place I can be since I found Serenity.

Just bought it, will read it as soon as I can.

wo men ren ran zai fei xing.

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Saturday, May 28, 2011 4:19 AM

Thanks mighty kindly, EC! Look forward to hearing what you think!

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Saturday, May 28, 2011 9:38 PM

Wo de ma, EC. I just bopped over to your profile. Had no idea you worked at a site which actually reviews SF tales!

This could be a real innerestin' day...

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Sunday, May 29, 2011 4:21 AM

There's no place I can be since I found Serenity.

I read the first two chapters, then set it aside because I'm in the midst of a book I'll be reviewing soon. I like what I've read so far, and my first question is, did you submit this story to any of the periodicals like Asimov's or Analog? Second, what is the process for getting a book or story Kindle-ized?

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Sunday, May 29, 2011 6:13 PM

Hey, EC;

Actually queried Analog and Asimov's, and was told that it was far too long for publication in a single issue, and they don't serialize new authors. Bummer, but they're top shelf and so have to be picky; I get that. A now defunked web zine called "Futureshocks" posted the first installment....then promptly made with the defunking. Too short for the slush piles of Tor and such. Hence the languishing.

Self-publishing with Kindle's Digital Text Platform is a pretty straightforward affair (though some of the formatting can be a bit of a pain). 70% royalties (within the CONUS), and some nice tracking tools. Recommended for them as are willing to do the leg work to get their words out. Info here:

https://kdp.amazon.com/self-publishing/signin

Thanks again for the look-see, and dee-lighted that you're liking what your looking and seeing so far! I suppose if you must take time out for your actual job, I'll find a way to cope

Department of Redundancy Department

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Monday, May 30, 2011 2:24 AM

There's no place I can be since I found Serenity.

You've got the wrong idea about my site. It is what I do away from my job. I'm not a professional reviewer, it's just a hobby. I do take it seriously though, as I have been an SF fanatic for most of my life, and I've gotten some good feedback from both readers and several writers along the way.

I've finished the book I was reading and will be working on that review as well as an article on the author, hopefully getting that done today. I read Chapters 3 & 4 of your story last night, and will get back to it soon.

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Monday, May 30, 2011 7:43 PM

Pardon the misunderstanding of your position. Rare's the person who can make a career of his passion. Rarer still is one who can have a successful (if unrelated) career and still make time for the serious pursuit of that passion.

Given the level of multi-tasking you're pulling off, then, I'm doubly-honored that you're making time to read my tale.

Cheers!

'Cyte.

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Tuesday, May 31, 2011 3:54 AM

Grats on the publishing, and hey, sounds like you have an interesting frame for your story. I like when characterization mirrors plot.

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Tuesday, May 31, 2011 4:29 AM

Thanks, Byte! Since I'm such a chaos theory geek, I tend to think of things in terms of self-similarity (like how shapes recur in fractals as you zoom in and out on them). Important things in nature tend to occur on multiple spatial and temporal scales simultaneously, and I think we know that on an intuitive level, and so respond to stories which tickle our hindbrain with that familiar dynamic (it was actually one of the main points of my dissertation: change within and between sessions of psychotherapy will be self-similar with broader changes in a person's life...or else why have any hope that an hour a week will have any effect at all?).

Without giving away too much, the themes of disconnection/reconnection in the protagonist's life are echoed all over the place in the story...

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Thursday, June 2, 2011 12:27 PM

So, according to the aforementioned Amazon tracking doohickies, it appears I've sold another book. Since I haven't really mentioned it anywhere else lately (marketing clearly is not my strong suit!), I'm guessing it was one of you guys. If so,then THANKS!

As this is my first exercise in fiction-writing at this scale, I'm always curious about how it's received, so please do feel free to post or PM your impressions.

Keep flyin'!

Department of Redundancy Department

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Saturday, June 4, 2011 7:07 PM

Just one cheeky-but-slightly-self-conscious li'l self-bump here, for them as might've missed the original post. Not plannin' to make a habit of it.

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Saturday, June 4, 2011 7:16 PM

Congrats! As a novelist, I understand how hard it is nowadays to get an agent and a publisher interested.

Good luck!

Check out my blog for info and updates on my novels
http://drlong67.wordpress.com

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Sunday, June 5, 2011 3:30 AM

There's no place I can be since I found Serenity.

Sorry I'm not done with it yet, just halfway through. Been real busy this week, but hope to finish it today. I'll bump this up myself when that happens.

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Sunday, June 5, 2011 9:27 AM

There's no place I can be since I found Serenity.

Okay, what to say about it that won't give you too much of a swelled head.

You say Clarke and Flynn are authors you like and tried to emulate, but I could sense a similarity (in content, not necessarily of style) with several Golden Age authors like Stanley Weinbaum and A. Merritt. This is the type of SF I fell in love with so many years ago, mind-expanding exercises in "what-if" scenarios that at once place Man in the center of what's happening in the universe, but at the same time humbles us as the miniscule elements of that universe that we truly are. I'm impressed, especially if this is your first completed story, and I hope there is more to come.

[center]Venture Through the Gate
[url="

[/url]
Reviews of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror books, movies, TV, comics[/center]

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Sunday, June 5, 2011 9:29 AM

There's no place I can be since I found Serenity.

Okay, that new signature didn't work like I wanted it to. Need to figure out what's wrong, but it won't let me edit the post to delete it right now.

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Sunday, June 5, 2011 1:23 PM

Likes to mess with stuffs.

The problem isn't the way you're doing your signature. The problem is my buggy program trying interpret what you're telling it to do. I'll see if I can make my code a bit smarter so that it works right. As a quick fix, instead of creating a image link, you can separate the two and create an image and right below that put your link. I know that'll work.

In the meantime how come you can't edit the post?

http://about.me/haken

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Sunday, June 5, 2011 1:33 PM

There's no place I can be since I found Serenity.

I'm not sure about the editing function, but what I get when I click that link is:

Quote:
GORAMIT!!! SOMETHING WENT WRONG!
Something bad happened, but hell if I know what it is.

BTW, I think it should be GORRAMIT. Two Rs.

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Sunday, June 5, 2011 1:34 PM

There's no place I can be since I found Serenity.

Maybe two Ms too, but I couldn't edit the post to add that.

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Sunday, June 5, 2011 1:38 PM

There's no place I can be since I found Serenity.

Back on topic.

$3 is a bargain for this very good story. If you have a Kindle support a fellow Browncoat and buy it!

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Sunday, June 5, 2011 1:56 PM

There's no place I can be since I found Serenity.

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Sunday, June 5, 2011 2:02 PM

There's no place I can be since I found Serenity.

Haken, I'm trying this one more time. It seems to work on the old site without any code tags at all, but it is not working on 2.0. Look at this post on both sites to see if you can figure out what is wrong. I've been posting on 2.0 exclusively for a couple of months now, and today I keep getting error messages on the old site when I try to update my new signature, so I'm just copying and pasting it into the message field here.

http://templetongate.net

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Sunday, June 5, 2011 2:04 PM

Gracious, EC! THANKS!

That is precisely the vibe I was going for, and it tickles me mightily that that was what it evoked in you, and conjured associations to such illustrious company, to boot. As I said in my reply to the first guy who reviewed the book, it seems I've communicated successfully with at least one person; is there any greater joy for an author?

What a splendid thing to find when I got home this afternoon!!

Department of Redundancy Department

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Sunday, June 5, 2011 2:05 PM

There's no place I can be since I found Serenity.

Well, gorrammit! Now it is working here on 2.0 too. But this is with that image and URL address typed in, not from my saved signature. I'll bet you it will show up two different ways here now.

http://templetongate.net

http://templetongate.net

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Sunday, June 5, 2011 2:11 PM

There's no place I can be since I found Serenity.

Quote:
Originally posted by Noocyte:
Gracious, EC! THANKS! That is precisely the vibe I was going for, and it tickles me mightily that that was what it evoked in you, and conjured associations to such illustrious company, to boot. As I said in my reply to the first guy who reviewed the book, it seems I've communicated successfully with at least one person; is there any greater joy for an author?

What a splendid thing to find when I got home this afternoon!!

Department of Redundancy Department

Now to give you even more of a swelled head. As I read the last of the story this afternoon I couldn't help but think of several scenes I saw in a movie yesterday. It just might end up being one of my favorite movies of all time, but I'll have to think on it some more and watch it about ten more times before I am sure. It is the recent Palme d'Or winner at Cannes, Terrence Malick's "The Tree of Life." It is not technically SF (even though IMDb.com has Drama & Sci-Fi listed as its genres) I am thinking about doing a review of it for my site, and one for your story too if you don't mind.

Haken, I'm trying this one more time. It seems to work on the old site without any code tags at all, but it is not working on 2.0. Look at this post on both sites to see if you can figure out what is wrong. I've been posting on 2.0 exclusively for a couple of months now, and today I keep getting error messages on the old site when I try to update my new signature, so I'm just copying and pasting it into the message field here.

http://templetongate.net

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Sunday, June 5, 2011 2:14 PM

There's no place I can be since I found Serenity.

Sorry to spoil this thread with all this extraneous BS about my new signature, and I don't even know how that second paragraph got duplicated in my last post. Curiouser and curiouser.

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Sunday, June 5, 2011 2:27 PM

The Man They Call Soul...

Got another Browncoat here with a Kindle that's more than happy to support a fellow Browncoat. I've downloaded it and I'm looking forward to reading it!

_______________________________________________

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Sunday, June 5, 2011 2:31 PM

Holy Hand-Grenade, EC! I've not yet seen "Tree of Life," but from what I've been hearing about it, you have just given me Really High Praise by the comparison (and piqued my already-fearsome curiosity about the film even more, if that were possible!)!

Do I mind if you post a review? Hmmm...lemme see...

I know, I know, you have to ask. Just maketh me to chuckle, is all.

Yes, yes, a thousand times, yes, do please feel most enthusiastically authorized to honor me by posting a review of my humble tale!

(and, at the risk of a TMI flag on the field, the wife has expressed that these good reviews are quite a turn-on...so it appears that y'all have made my day in more ways than I expect you'd care to comtemplate

)

Department of Redundancy Department

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Sunday, June 5, 2011 3:53 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by SoulOfSerenity:
Got another Browncoat here with a Kindle that's more than happy to support a fellow Browncoat. I've downloaded it and I'm looking forward to reading it!

YAY! Thanks, Soul! Hope you like it. Look forward to hearing what you think!

Department of Redundancy Department

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Tuesday, June 7, 2011 8:44 PM

EC: Just read your review of "Tree Of Life," over at Templeton Gate. Eloquent and evocative. Conjures a film which is just the sort in which I do love to immerse myself, a reflective, contemplative exercise in speculations about humanity's place in the 'verse, from the minutiae of daily life to the most portentous of cosmic events. Again, I'm reminded of the self-similar nature of phenomena in the natural world, with forms and themes and motifs recurring in an ever-diminishing (and expanding) cascade of self-organization.

Much as --for all of his undeniable talent as a performer-- Sean Penn chafes at my very essence, this appears to be one of those instances in which I would be rewarded for tolerating his presence for the sake of what sounds to be an experience which is not to be missed. Thanks for the heads-up!

Department of Redundancy Department

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Friday, June 10, 2011 8:50 PM

So, with a short story now in its 47th day (but who's counting?) of being "Under Consideration" at the web 'zine, "Strange Horizons," just thought I'd bounce on over here to once again thank readers of "Night Music" for their kind words, and to invite other fellow Browncoats to have a look-see.

On an unrelated note, just watched "Dr Horrible" for the second time. It grew on me (initial viewing, I think, suffered from mad hype). Can't wait to see what Joss does with "The Avengers," and what goodies he might be in a position to offer up from the summit of the embarrassing stacks of cash he will all-but-doubtless accrue from that project!

.
.
Department of Redundancy Department

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Sunday, June 12, 2011 5:28 PM

EC: Just read your review of "Night Music." Great Ghu! I am sincerely floored and flattered by your time and attention and most gracious words!

Having gotten another rejection for an unrelated short story last night (and promptly submitted to two more zines, stubborn cur that I am!), this could not possibly come at a more auspicious time! Xie xie ni

(Minor point of order: I'm actually a psychologist --Psy.D.--, not a psychiatrist --MD--)

Department of Redundancy Department

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Monday, June 13, 2011 3:27 AM

There's no place I can be since I found Serenity.

Duly noted about your profession. I thought at one point you had said psychiatrist, but knew that could not be the case from your email that you are not an M.D.

It is a very short review, but I am glad you are pleased with it. Unfortunately, my site doesn't get a lot of hits, but hopefully that will change in the future. For anyone else that is interested, here's the link:

http://templetongate.net/nightmusic.htm

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Monday, June 13, 2011 4:16 AM

The Man They Call Soul...

Just finished reading it over the weekend. I must say, apart from a few minor grammaticals (mostly missing periods, insert joke here), I was really blown away by what I read. I love reading hard SciFi because what's in it seems so possible, and your book really got me excited. The characters were great, the story drew me in, and when I got to the end, I only had one thing to say: MORE!

Seriously, what a great read. I really hope to see more from you one day, and best of luck!

_______________________________________________

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Monday, June 13, 2011 4:54 AM

Ah, I see you noticed my pregnant pauses...ahem okaynevermind...

Seriously, though, dee-lighted that you liked it, and grateful that you were neighborly enough to take the time and post your impressions! Feel free to tell a friend or twenty...

Department of Redundancy Department

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Sunday, June 19, 2011 8:47 PM

OK, just saw "Tree of Life" last night. Wow. Lyrical, obscure, moving. Wondering, EC, if there's a not-too-spoiler-ey way you could express what reminded you of "Night Music" when you watched it?

IAC, helluva good film, which needs to marinate between my ears for quite some time, methinks...

Department of Redundancy Department

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Monday, June 20, 2011 2:32 AM

There's no place I can be since I found Serenity.

It wasn't anything that overtly or directly connected the two, just a vague notion.

Not that another film I'll mention is remotely connected either, but there is a line from Jurassic Park that always resonated with me. "Life finds a way."

The creation sequence in Tree of Life and the situation you detail about the phenomena on Mars just seemed to be parts of the whole fabric of life, that the cosmos has and always will find unique ways for various life forms to flourish wherever the conditions are right.

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Monday, June 20, 2011 5:53 PM

OK I totally see that, and --again-- am totally flattered that the two should appear in the same wave of neural activity for you!

Funny thing about Jurassic Park: it was in the novel that I was first exposed to the ideas of chaos theory, which ended up being the basis of my dissertation...and thence the substrate of "Night Music."

Funny ole Life, innit?

Department of Redundancy Department

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Monday, July 25, 2011 8:31 PM

Apropos of nothing, and pardon me for jumping back in, but I recently created a Facebook page for Night Music ( https://www.facebook.com/pages/Night-Music/239356059419117). On it, I provide links to sources of ideas, influential authors, and general palaver about the tale, the characters, and any other stuff into which folks might want to dig deeper. In addition, I've posted one long, juicy excerpt, to supplement the (IMHO, less interesting) sample that is provided at Amazon.

Also, due to a process which has never been satisfactorily explained to me, it seems that Something Wonderful happens when the number of "Likes" exceeds 25 (anybody got a clue what that is, and how it helps me?). So, a little local Likeage would not go amiss...

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