http://masteranthonystevens.com/tech-support/audacity-for-ebooks/

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/evolution/9269523/Dogs-helped-man-out-compete-with-Neanderthals.html

“Now experts have suggested the domestication of dogs, and the benefit it gave to their masters, could have played a key rule in the demise of the Neanderthals and supremacy of humans.”

I find several of these news articles each week and just don’t have the time to follow them up with a story. But I do add the basic concepts to a StoryNotes.txt file for future reference.

What news articles have caught your imagination lately?

Some new books are due out this summer and I will be adding excerpts, cover art and even a bit about the software and hardware I use as part of the creative process.

If you have questions or comments on any of my posts, please don’t be shy. I’m looking forward to an exciting summer.

A legal signature can be anything at all and does not have to be legible. As long as you sign all your legal documents in the same general manner, it is binding in a court of law.

An autograph on the other hand, must be legible enough to satisfy your fans and it should not be confused with your signature.

As a case in point, a fan may hand you a pretty document and in your rush to get to an appointment, you might just scribble your name. If you autograph it as if it were a book jacket, that shows you were there in your celebrity persona. If that document happens to be an agent agreement or power-of-attorney contract, it can easily be argued that you did not legally sign it.

On the other hand, if you use the same signature for both legal documents and fan collectibles, you may one day find yourself in a tight spot.

Consider as well, that an autograph should be fairly quick and easy to create. That is why an aspiring author should practice it regularly. After all, once you’re famous, you’ll find yourself facing a horde of adoring fans at the next convention and won’t have time to think about it.

Good luck and be sure to pace yourself to avoid writer’s cramp.

One of the reasons is that I’ve constantly finding neat story ideas in news articles on historical items. For example, I just read this little piece:

http://archaeologicalmuseum.jhu.edu/the-collection/object-stories/a-roman-lead-curse-tablet/

The first thing that popped into my mind was an urban fantasy tale, based on the idea that a supernatural being had been cursed. When the archaeologist pulls the nail from the lead curse sheets, the supernatural being is free for the first time in two thousand years.

Keep on writing!

PROS:

A tightly written steampunk tale
Well-defined lead characters

CONS:

An occasional bit of head-hopping
I would prefer a bit more world-building

Review

I’m reading an action-packed television thriller! That thought occurred to me about half way into Bob Roman’s new tale.
Don’t get me wrong now, I know that a lot of stories start out with instant adrenaline and impossible situations, but very few are able to sustain the rush and still maintain the reader’s interest. The Strange Fate of Capricious Jones is one of them.
The first few paragraphs established an exciting scene with a strong female character. Then, the scene shifted to another classic lady. This time, she’s somewhere in the middle of the sort of first world war where legendary heroes fight alongside semi-autonomous mechanised warriors.
After reading The Strange Fate of Capricious Jones, I found myself going back the following day to reread some of the scenes just for the marvellous imagery. Steampunk, dieselpunk and alternate history cosplayers will find plenty of fodder for their creations in this series.
Don’t worry. I’ll not provide any spoilers, but this tale is pure steampunk crunchy with a side order of subtle horror. Read it. Roll in it. Relish the colours and textures and take heart that the sequel is already out. I’m treating myself to book two of the Iron Angel, this coming weekend.

Thank you Robert C. Roman, for a fine ride!

The Nuclear Method by Emma Wayne Porter is only ninety nine cents at Smashwords, but if you are preparing a document to sell as an eBook, it will save a ton of time.

It’s written in a lighthearted style that is easy to follow and yet manages to cram a lot of useful information into a step-by-step guide for the eBook publisher. I had known a couple of things from earlier experience, but there were a lot of new tips and everything is laid out in an easy-to-read, logical, step-by-step process.

It doesn’t matter if you’re using an antique Windows XP, Windows7, a Mac or the latest Linux desktop, the tools, methods and reasoning are immediately understandable.

Go ahead! Spend less than a buck and learn from a pro.

Thank you, Emma!

Without spoilers, let me say John Picha delivers a tale of Betsy, a young woman tested at every turn and apparently doomed.

Detailed, vivid action sequences are balanced with bitter sweet episodes of torment and degradation. Through it all, our realistically portrayed heroine never surrenders.

Little touches, such as mentioning Converse Jack Purcell sneakers and a boxing gym, show research into the 1930s. The cover art and a snappy graphic at each chapter heading add to the flavor of this interesting volume.

If you’re a dieselpunk fan, there are scenes in Pandora Driver that will make you want to cheer.

Thanks, John. I’m looking forward to a sequel.

You can pick up your own copy at Apple iBookstore, Amazon or Lulu Press.

There will be a very few copies of my steampunk romance, Crazy Taylor available during my signing. That will be 4pm Friday, in the hallway signing tables.

Here’s the final schedule for Saturday:

10am     Post Colonial SF/F                                    Salon B        Moderator
11am      Immortality & Longevity in SF      Salon B
1pm       Reading for Pleasure                               Salong B    Moderator
2pm      Reading excerpts from my books  Belmont Room
4pm      History as a Source of Fantasy         Belmont Room    Moderator
6pm      Grand Openings                                         Parlor 1041
7pm     Great Forgotten SciFi Authors        Belmont Room