Update: She Lives!

A quick update based on the preoccupying incident mentioned the other day.

My mother is recovering from her stroke nicely.

Though the doctors have revised their opinion. It may not have been a stroke. It may have been a migraine... A migraine that caused word salad, partial paralysis, vertigo, that sort of thing.

This is the fourth time she's been in the hospital for a stroke. Maybe the fifth. It has been suggested that they were all migraines of this caliber. But the doctors can only suggest that in retrospect, with the glory of 20/ 20 hindsight.

We know she's had at least one stroke in the past -- there is definite evidence of one previous stroke. But the doctors can't tell when it happened, why it happened, or if it was serious enough to have been apparent at the time.

If you're wondering why I was a little casual in the previous blog about "mother with stroke," this would be why.

So, yes. My mother lives. I'm going to have a conversation with the doctors before they kick her out of the hospital. Though we have no idea when that might be. Though I'd love to know when the heck can block migraines.

A blog on blogging

I'm a little preoccupied just now, but I really should get a blog out there today. 

I've been told that one of the reasons for social media is for getting you, yourself out there, because readers who like you, personally, will buy your books, or review the books after they've read them, or do any of the dozen little things that help an indie author like me get by.

I, personally, think that's less than a great idea. Why?

Hey, my mother just had a stroke, could you buy and review my thriller serial Too Secret Service? Part two of which is out on Tuesday?

See how that really doesn't work very well? In fact, at all?

To quell any whiplash you might have, yes, my mother is really in the hospital with a minor stroke. That's not an egregious example on my part. Though no, I'm not overly concerned yet. It's the fourth one of those she's had in 10 or 15 years. It may be the second one she's had this year. She was gotten to the hospital within 2 hours, and given the anti-clot factor she needs in order to break up any clots in her brain. (Look up TPA if you're interested in the exact medication)

Of course, this included taking photos of her medication so the doctors knew exactly what she was taking, because she takes so much over the counter supplements and pills that it's not going to fit legibly on an 8x11 sheet of paper, to heck with an index card.

Right now, I have to wait to call for an update, as they are holding my mother overnight. So, yay.

The first one of these she had when she was still working. Have I mentioned that she worked in a microbiology lab for a hospital? Funny that. She went straight to the ER, they took their sweet flipping time about it, and it was me, my sister and my father all in the ER, and we were all reading books. Why? Because what else were we going to do?

Though the nurses were a little confused about why we were so calm.

But now, how exactly does one segue from that to "buy my books?" Really, now, is that at all sporting? Or does that sound more like the province of a complete sociopath? I'm going to go for the latter.

Honestly, wouldn't you rather listen to how I wrote an epic thriller about blowing up parts of the free world? Doesn't that just make more sense?

And yes, for those who are concerned, I'll have an update for when as and if something happens.

No, I'm not worried ... mainly because worrying accomplishes nothing right now.

All prayers appreciated.

If the medical bill looks bad, then yes, all book purchases will also be appreciated, but we'll drive off that bridge when we get to it.

I hope to get back to more cheerful subjects, like murder, gunfights and explosions, in short order.

SILVER EMPIRE SALE FOR #MICHAELMAS

For those of you who aren't Catholic -- and some of you who are, but don't keep up with such things -- this weekend is the Feast of Saint Michael (Michaelmas). 

If you've read my War Demons review (and honestly, if you haven't, why haven't you?) you know that the works of Russell Newquist center on a modern paladin who fights with the sword of Saint Michael. 

So Russell has put all the books on sale this weekend for $0.99. In solidarity with the man who signs my check, I'm spreading the word on my blog. And if you wouldn't mind, please spread the word about good badass Christian fiction this weekend. (If you don't, you're a bad Christian... non-Christians can please ignore this note. Heh)

The books are on sale now, and will be on sale through the end of the day on Monday at all sales outlets listed below.

The hashtags are also cute.

"Not your father's #ChristianFantasy"#Michaelmas#FeastOfSaintMichael

As for the pricing

• Ebook: $0.99 (normally $3.99)
• Paperback: $9.99 (list price $14.99)
• Hardcover: $19.99 (list price $29.99)

The outlets are as follows

• Publisher direct: https://silverempire.org/product/war-demons/
• Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075NZDP8S
• Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/war-demons-russell-newquist/1132492992
• Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/war-demons-1
• Google Play: https://books.google.com/books/about?id=Xh-vDwAAQBAJ&hl=en

Oh, yes, and there's Vigil .... a novella I haven't reviewed yet -- I only just tried to open the review copy and found it corrupted, so, my fault.

The pricing on Vigil.

• Ebook: $0.99 (normally $2.99)
• Paperback: $4.99 (normally $5.99)

And the outlet links.

• Publisher direct: https://silverempire.org/product/vigil/
• Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0789KZ8VJ

The Influences of Too Secret Service

Too Secret Service, part one, is finally out. It is bat guano insane, action heavy, and thankfully, THERE IS NO POLITICS IN IT WHATSOEVER.

(If you think that the ending and villain is political.... it was written in 1999, so no.)
This was a strange book series, because a lot of it ended up being influenced by why I was reading at the time.

To start with, I was reading a lot of the early Jon Land novels, staring his professional badass Blaine McCracken. They were full of action and nonstop running. They were on par with Dirk Pitt novels. Maybe they were even better. The villains were all insane and over the top ... though I think my main villain wasn't quite as insane.

You can see some of the fingerprints still kicking around. There is a computer geek in the novel named Blaine Lansing -- the exact opposite of McCracken. Though "I'm going to use a computer hacker" was more inspired by Tom Clancy's NetForce novels. (If you ever get a chance to watch the tv movie ... read the novels.)

We won't even go into Dances With Werewolves. That book was more influences by the Modesty Blaise novels. If anyone ever tells you "female James Bond," hit them with the hardcover omnibus edition of Modesty Blaise. Then take them to the hospital after they are concussed. This series was particularly gonzo, but fun as well. And they had no problem with blurring genre lines between thriller, fantasy and science fiction (also like Bond). Modesty Blaise was another series with a Male / Female character duo.

On Balancing Characters (Too Secret Service)

Too Secret Service
Part 1

Twenty years ago (give or take a few months) I had heard that there was an operations department that investigated threats against the President. Wouldn't it be interesting to have a Secret Service agent as an action hero? (Trust me, I was not a fan of Brad Thor at first. There are days I'm still not).

The personality came easy. The Secret Service always struck me as more straight-laced and uptight than old school FBI (when Hoover had his agents as largely lawyers and accountants). I gave him a backstory that made him even more tightly wound. Though that would be cut out in further edits.

Just to make his life growing up more difficult, I gave him the name of the Atlanta Kidnapper, serial killer Wayne Williams.

The personality of his family came easier. Basically, my hero would be the most uptight, tense fellow of a fairly calm family. His father, an army Ranger, is far more laid back. His brother was a Catholic priest. You may remember them from A Pius Man. They were ... around.

But in all things, there must be balance. I wanted someone who was his personal equal and opposite. Wayne was a male Secret Service agent, therefore she had to be an assassin (she had to be CIA, I figured it was the most likely agency to have assassins). She would be relaxed and casual about her job. 

She would be named Catherine Miller.

Catherine came from Catherine Bell (pictured right), an actress I had a crush on at the time (please recall, I was a teenager at the time), from a TV show called JAG. (Oh Lord, I can't imagine the flak that show would get today.)

The last name of Miller ... was grabbed at random. My family insisted I must have stolen it from David Niven's explosive expert in The Guns of Navarone. I can't say that I recall it. But I will highly recommend the film (preferably on a double bill with Where Eagles Dare).

Too Secret Service
Part 2

Much to my surprise, as I reread them recently, I never made either of them a Mary Sue. (I was surprised because I was a teenager, and the books still held up). When I put Catherine up against someone twice her size, she either killed them from behind, shot them in the head, or spent a lot of time dodging. When Wayne was being shot at, he had body armor. 

I wanted both to be athletic. I had been impressed with ballerinas who made action stars, because I liked a lot of the moves that I thought of as "double jump kicks" were just tour jete (you do not want to know how much research I had to do to work back to the actual name). I wanted Wayne to do a lot of impressive melee, so he had taken ballet -- Mikhail Baryshnikov's was the definitive Nutcracker in my household. With Catherine, I made her a gymnast so I could have her do utterly insane things as well. 

He came up to people and confronted them directly. She was a bit of a shape shifter who liked her disguises.

She liked guns, he liked knives.

And damn, these two just kinda fit.

Yes, I was a romantic idiot even then.

But it was fun balancing the two characters, and making sure one didn't top the other. They each had different skill sets and made up for each other's deficiencies. 
Anyway, I had a great time writing this books. I suspect you'll enjoy them, too.

Too Secret Service: Part 3

DragonCon 2019 AAR: Jim Butcher Solo Panel

Do I even need to do an intro for this one? It's Jim Butcher

And if you're new here, you're just in time for my new releases: 

Too Secret Service Part 1        Too Secret Service: Part 2   

Too Secret Service: Part 3

Music to write to: Fields of Verdun

This has got to be the most upbeat song about one of the most desolate battles in history. Seriously guys, Cannae was over within a day. And that was pure suck.

Of course, the most reasonable follow up to this is the cover by Minniva, who makes bad songs sound awesome, and good songs around awesome.

And next is where things get bat guano insane. 

In honor of Storming Area 51, here's a parody of Fields of Verdun, based exclusively on memes. And no, not even I understand all of the references

And speaking of Storming Area 51, the anthology of the same name comes out today. So be sure to pick up a copy.

DragonCon 2019: Visitors From Beyond: Ghost and Spirits in UF

Ghosts of all varieties, from the helpful to the truly terrifying, make appearances in the works of our panel authors, who will explain why they chose to use these beings in their work.

Panelists: Jim Butcher, Eric R. Asher, Walter H. Hunt, Leanna Renee Hieber, Amanda DeWees, Tim Powers. Moderator: Carol Malcolm

And if you're new here, you're just in time for my new releases: 

Too Secret Service Part 1        Too Secret Service: Part 2   

Too Secret Service: Part 3

Zachary Levi Dragon Con Panel, AAR, August 30, 2019

Zachary Levi talks about his movie Shazam, his TV show Chuck, and other roles at a Dragon Con Q and A on August 30, 2019

And if you're new here, you're just in time for my new releases: 

Too Secret Service Part 1        Too Secret Service: Part 2   

Too Secret Service: Part 3

DragonCon 2019: Magic Systems 101

A primary component of urban fantasy, the sources and uses of magic vary widely within the genre. Our panelists will explain the forms magic takes in their work and the role it plays in the stories they tell.

Panelists: Patricia Briggs, Melissa F. Olsen, R.R. Virdi, Jim Butcher, Tim Powers, Marie Brennan. Moderator: Carol Malcolm

And if you're new here, you're just in time for my new releases: 

Too Secret Service Part 1        Too Secret Service: Part 2   

Too Secret Service: Part 3