Browncoat Self-Publishes Non-Firefly SF noveloid on Kindle

POSTED BY: Noocyte
UPDATED: Tuesday, July 26, 2011 06:31
VIEWED: 19299
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NOOCYTE

Saturday, May 28, 2011 6:51 AM

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.

ECGORDON

Saturday, May 28, 2011 12:49 PM

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

wo men ren ran zai fei xing.

NOOCYTE

Saturday, May 28, 2011 2:19 PM

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

Department of Redundancy Department

NOOCYTE

Sunday, May 29, 2011 7:38 AM

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...

Department of Redundancy Department

ECGORDON

Sunday, May 29, 2011 2:21 PM

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?

NOOCYTE

Monday, May 30, 2011 4:13 AM

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

ECGORDON

Monday, May 30, 2011 12:24 PM

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.

NOOCYTE

Tuesday, May 31, 2011 5:43 AM

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.

Department of Redundancy Department

BYTEMITE

Tuesday, May 31, 2011 1:54 PM

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

NOOCYTE

Tuesday, May 31, 2011 2:29 PM

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...

Department of Redundancy Department

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