My second novel ever is coming this June. It feels wonderful to type these words!

Far Flung, from conception to completion, took well over 10 years. Finding Haven comes to you after just over 2 years after the release of Far Flung, but the idea is even older.

The main plot dates back to a Star Trek: Voyager fanfic I wrote for the Strange New Worlds anthology books. They stopped publishing those anthologies quite some time ago! I still remember printing out my work, putting it in a big envelope, and dropping it in a mail box. That’s right - this was in the early years of the internet when most publishers didn’t take electronic submissions.

I never heard back, so I never knew if it was seen, read, and rejected, or lost in the mail. But the idea stayed, and Finding Haven uses that idea in way I never could have way back then. Once again, I have the Duskbound team to thank for helping me get this out in the world with amazing editing, formatting, proofreading, and cover design.

ARC copies will be available soon. If you sign up for one, not only will you get a free book, you’ll ensure that more readers will discover and join this great adventure.

Finding Haven picks up a year after Far Flung. William Flynn and the other intrepid colonists have been building a life for themselves far from home, with the help of their alien allies. But they’ll soon have to leave their relative comfort. A mysterious new ship arrives, carrying survivors from a planet ruined by the same enemies that nearly destroyed the humans and their allies before. With the enemy now pursuing the survivors, Flynn and the human colonists must take to the stars again to defend their allies and help them search for a new, more permanent home.

Finding Haven is set to release on June 4.

More news coming soon!

I haven’t been able to write much else because I’m focused on this. It’s in my head! I want it out! The draft stands at around 64,000 words right now, and may be a bit longer after some needed character work. And that’s what I like when I write - not a monster of a book, just thick enough for a decent flight or road trip.

If the current plan goes through, Far Flung 2 will come out around my 50th birthday. It won’t actually be called “Far Flung 2”; I’m not ready to share the most likely title yet.

I hope the Trek-inspired adventures of colonists in a far corner of the universe will continue to resonate with readers. As always if you read Far Flung, reviews are always helpful and welcome.

Amazon USA:

https://a.co/d/hqMPk1D

Amazon Canada:

https://a.co/d/dtsgGUJ

Review the book on Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/205517809-far-flung

A sincere thank you to those who’ve already taken the journey with Far Flung.

To all who read this little update - keep reading, and keep creating whatever it is you love to create!

In March 2024, Far Flung was finally released, after a long, winding road through Inkshares, the Launchpad competition, and finally, Duskbound Books. I’ve managed a few good reviews, and I’ve had a lot of interest on Threads and BlueSky. Threads has been especially helpful in my efforts to promote Far Flung, as the platform caters nicely to text-centric content. It’s been really great to connect with other indie writers and see that their works are getting an audience as well as mine.

Just before Halloween, another of my works saw the light. Maybe not as much light as Far Flung, though! Tucked in the middle of another great Duskbound Books anthology called Sacrifice is The Starlady of Taleros, my ode to old school sci-fi. Anthologies are always a tough sell, and you never know if anyone will notice your story, let alone say anything about it. Still, the experience of writing a story with this theme was amazing, and I think Starlady represents my best short-form work so far.

Looking ahead, there’s another anthology from Duskbound, with the submission date coming up on January 25.

I’ll see about this one. I’m working on a continuation of Far Flung, and I desperately need to produce more teaching material for both my main job and my online side gig. There’s a lot on my plate, and I want to make sure Book 2 is the best it can be. But I encourage any writers out there to try your hand and submit your own story - the Duskbound team is amazing to work with.

Speaking of Book 2 - I can’t say much. I had some major inspiration recently, but it came with a price - I had to push aside a lot of the work I had done and start again. But it’s paying off - I feel more confident about this new approach. Early 2026 still feels like a realistic release date. And William Flynn, Helena Clarke, and Dena Lee are up for some harrowing new adventures when I pull this off.

Keep telling everyone you know about Far Flung - reads, reviews, and comments are always appreciated.

Happy New Year!

I hope you have a happy and productive Year of the Wooden Snake, 2025. May you find your own ways to release your creative energy!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DHL9XN3J

Here’s the 4th Duskbound anthology to have my story in it! The story I wrote is called The Starlady of Taleros, an idea that grew out reading Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. After reading the end, I came up with all sorts of scenarios for an epilogue - and then, the idea mutated as I rewrote. And really, what is originality if not remolding someone else’s idea until it feels like your own?

At the time I wrote it, I needed a break from William Flynn and my other imaginary friends in Far Flung. So, unlike my story in a previous anthology, Starlady has no connection to my debut novel. I’m glad that I can show readers a different sci-fi world, with two female main characters who were fun as heck to write.

Perhaps the wholesomeness my readers saw in Far Flung is also on display in Starlady. I can thank the influence of Star Trek for the ‘wholesome’ factor - ever notice how many problems in Trek are solved without violence?

Anyway, give Sacrifice a read and then let me know what you think. Be sure to reach out to Duskbound Books and the other authors who shared in this adventure, too!

Links:

Sacrifice: A Duskbound Books Anthology

Far Flung

Duskbound Books

https://allauthor.com/cover-of-the-month/18017

I’ve had Far Flung listed on AllAuthor.com for some time now, but their monthly cover contests haven’t had a Science Fiction category. It appears that the cover is now in the running for general fiction? Well, as much as I’d like it to run in a more appropriate category, this is still good news!

I don’t know how much of a chance it stands against the army of shirtless hunky-guy romances, but c’mon, that icy blue design is just so dazzling, amirite? Props to Kaytalin Platt (kaytalinplatt.com) for the artwork!

So, if you could head over to allauthor.com/cover-of-the-month/18017 and add your vote, that would be wonderful. You wouldn’t just be helping me by getting Far Flung out to more readers (which is good!), you’d also be helping a talented graphic designer and author promote her work, too.

Thanks in advance!
Keep on reading, writing, or doing whatever brings light into your life!

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I’ll admit to spiraling a bit. It looked like my wife and my kids had totally forgot! By 5 pm, I was home and through with all my classes, and I had to go out for a walk to clear my head. I could barely enjoy the summer breeze and the nice river not far from my apartment - my emotions were going down, down, oh god oh god why did I feel like …

And then there was a message from my wife - she had remembered! My kids remembered too - my younger son had figured out exactly what take-out order would hit the spot, and my older son surprised me with a large can of beer. Oh, don’t worry - his mom bought it - he just figured out where to keep it hidden in the fridge until the time was right.

I write this as the promised, belated dinner approaches, and I think of gratefulness. A theme that comes through in my writing quite a bit, I think. Perhaps if you’ve read Far Flung, you wonder how the crew of that ship can be so damn wholesome and nice to each other all the time.

The simple answer is that that wholesomeness is something I seek and wish for, and appreciate as often as I can. The sequel may explore darker places, and add complexity and tougher choices. But there will always be some aspect of optimism and human kindness. That’s what keeps me going - I can write about the lights that guide me through darkness, even if they’re as simple as a spicy chicken burger and a large pilsner.

It's now one month after the release of Far Flung, and it's been great to have so many friends and family congratulate me. A few reviews have trickled in on Amazon and Goodreads, and I've learned that Threads is usually quite positive and supportive when it comes to boosting awareness.

With my teaching, parenting, and, of course, writing a follow-up to this lonely novel, I don't expect I can really promote Far Flung properly. Duskbound, the publisher, already has some amazing books coming later this year, so they'll be promoting those dreams and visions more than mine.

I'll do what I can, but the biggest promotion would be a sequel of some sort…

To readers, thanks for reading - you make this journey worthwhile. To writers, keep writing, and maybe our books can share a shelf or two!

Far Flung on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CSKTJ5WQ

On Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/203942672-far-flung

Duskbound Books:

https://duskboundbooks.com/books

For everyone who congratulated me on Facebook, Threads, Instagram, and elsewhere for the big release of my first fiction novel, thank you!

It was great to read all those reactions and notifications popping up on my phone this week - it really was. It’ll help me keep going so that I can bring another big writing project to completion.

To all who read books, and all who write them. To creators of all types, and those who support the creators among their friends and family - thank you!

Here in Korea, it’s already late evening on March 12. In other parts of the world, however, Release Day has only just begun!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CSNLQTHZ

Now this adventure is ready for you, readers!

I feel so relieved! I’ve delivered on a promise I made long ago. Now, finally, it is here, and you can own it. No longer do I ask you to take it on faith that a book is coming - it’s here, and my publisher likes it enough to help me deliver it to you in an AMAZING cover and format.

So drop by and pick up a copy. Grab a paperback for USD $18.19 or an eBook for $4.02 - your choice. At 242 pages, it’s an easy read, and a fun one too!

Your engagement - whether it’s a purchase, a review, or simply sharing any post or advertisement of Far Flung - helps me greatly on this journey. I look forward to seeing what readers say about Far Flung, and where the story goes from here. More adventures lie ahead - and many, many more words will be written and ruthlessly edited!

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Tuesday, March 12, 2024 is approaching.

I can’t say it’s “the day I become a published author”, though. I passed that milestone way back when my first flash fiction piece was published. I’ve had anthology submissions published in various ways since, most notably for Writing Bloc (now Duskbound Books).

It feels like finally being a ‘real’ published author, though. The book has my actual name on the front, after all. (Yeah, I’m T. C. C. Edwards, and that first C. is for Christopher - call me Chris!)

This is some rite of passage, a moment where I pass from being an author with “no books” to an author with “one novel so far”. So far, my writing has been hidden away in anthologies, with reviews that summarize the whole experience. Those reviews give quick mentions of individual stories, but tend to relate the experience of the anthology as a whole. Any reviews of Far Flung will be of my writing only. Scary!

I’m not really afraid of bad reviews. I think no reviews at all would be worse - but it looks like the ARC process will take care of that possibility. A lot of ‘meh’ reviews would be really bad - I mean, even Tommy Wiseau can claim he left an impression on people. Imagine leaving no impression!

Well, I’ll try not to let it get to me. Few reviews, bad reviews, a good review once in a while - whatever comes. Even really, really awful reviews. The Dude was right - that’s just like, your opinion, man.

I hope you’ll read Far Flung for yourself. The Kindle version will definitely be out on March 12, and it’s four bucks US. Other versions will come soon. And, of course, I hope you’ll leave your honest review.

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It’s been an interesting week with this new book in my life. It looks wonderful to me, of course, even with that “not for resale” ribbon wrapped around it. I’ve been reading my own text yet again, but in an exciting new format - the way it has been prepared by Duskbound Books to reach the readers’ hands and eyes.

If you can’t make out the text in the image above, just go over to Duskbound Books for a preview of the same chapter.

I already know that the publishing team believes in this book, and they like it very much. I’m trying to stay humble but WOW, THAT FEELS GREAT!

In less than two months, I’ll find out how you, the wider audience, react to this novel. You know what, I’ll just go ahead and say it - you’re going to love it!

I’m also confident that you’ll want more, so I’m planning out the sequel. I can’t say anything about it yet, except that I want it to happen, and it won’t take as long to come about as the first novel.

In other Duskbound-related news, I did finish and submit my short story for their themed anthology on Sacrifice. Submissions are still open - perhaps you have a story kicking around that fits the bill?

Until I have more news on this incredible journey - keep on reading and creating!

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Did I mention this story is due in less than a week? Yeah. Scary stuff. I went through quite a few false starts to get even this far - interesting how writing can be super easy sometimes, and so hard other times.

Anyway, I’ll be submitting this on January 9, on the Duskbound website.

Of course, the biggest news for 2024 is still my novel, Far Flung. March approaches, and with it, the release of this sci-fi adventure. Writing this was a much longer journey, but the finish line draws ever closer.

What will you create in 2024?
Where will your journeys take you?

May they take you far, and may you hold your own creations high for all to see!

Above is a sneak peak at the first page of Far Flung. Each chapter in the book begins with one page in this design - it’s an incredible look. I really love the work I’ve seen so far on the interior format. I’ve got the team at Duskbound Books and especially author and designer G.A. Finocchiaro to thank for this.

I’m so excited! The most recent version of the story looks better than I ever thought it could. It’s so close to finished now - this novel will soon be in the form that you will hold in your hands! Or see on your favorite electronic device!

In other Duskbound publishing news, the novel Lucky by R.H. Webster has been released. I preordered the e-book, and I just got an email saying it’s on my Kindle not long before typing this post. I’m looking forward to reading this space western romance-adventure!

Be sure to check out Lucky now, and stay tuned for more exciting Far Flung updates!

What a great cover. It looks better than I could have imagined! I have author and graphic designer Kaytalin Platt to thank for this incredible cover - be sure to go check her Substack page, and her official website!

Duskbound Books is the team bringing this book to your hands. Formerly the Writing Bloc, the members of Duskbound worked with talented writers and editors in several anthologies, such as Passageways: Mythos, Family, and Deception (which also happen to feature my sci-fi work The Galatea Project, Castaway Family, and Malfunction, respectively).

Be sure to check out Duskbound as they get ready to release a different sci-fi novel, Lucky, by author R.H. Webster - find out more at the official website and Substack page.

For those new to my Substack page - welcome! I haven’t been using my old WordPress site (writeorelse.com) much now that I’ve moved over here.

This page is the best place to get news about Far Flung and my other writing projects.

Expect more updates as March 2024 approaches!

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Here's the deal with Far Flung, my long-in-progress sci-fi novel. It will be published by Duskbound Books (duskboundbooks.com) in March 2024, and it's about 67000 words long - which is really cool because it started as a 50k Nanowrimo draft!

It will be available on Amazon and other bookstores, in eBook and paperback. I've had my work in the anthologies Deception, Family, and Passageways: Mythos, all published by the same folks bringing you Far Flung, so I know it'll look gorgeous.

So here's hoping you will check out this adventure. May you have as much fun reading as I had developing the narrative and lore!

I'll finish this off with a taste of things to come - here's what the cover of Far Flung will say about the story:

William Flynn’s idealistic dreams of a fresh start with his fiancé on humanity’s first interstellar colony are shattered when the colonist ship he boards is flung far from its intended destination, appearing in an uncharted corner of the universe. 

Now, Flynn and the crew of Tereshkova are forced to partner with a mysterious alien known as Asar, who offers to guide them to a new habitable world. But the journey to safety thrusts them into a bloody feud between two vastly advanced races—with one bent on eradicating all who oppose them. 

Caught in the middle of a catastrophic war and billions of lightyears from home, Flynn must put his trust in otherworldly strangers to survive and find a new home amongst unfamiliar stars—one far from the life he’d hoped for.

The cover has now been revealed on Facebook, and I’m free to share it here as well! This gorgeous design comes from Kaytalin Platt McCarry, who can be reached at kaytalinplatt.com. The icy hue is well suited to a certain story location, which comes in about halfway through the narrative. You’ll have to read to see what I mean!

The book will release in March of 2024. It’s a bit scary to type that out, as I am looking through a printed copy of my own work, doing some last minute nitpicking. But I will manage, and I will hit submit, and the final formatting will begin!

https://fb.watch/omZUPvQrtW/?mibextid=Nif5oz

The cover for my book will soon be revealed!

Exciting times! I can't wait to show this off!

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Welcome! It’s been a long time!

Way back in 2017, some of the good folks receiving this message bought a preorder for a science fiction novel called Far Flung. Perhaps you thought that nothing would come of it after the refund.

Well, as my first post on Substack says, I have a publisher. An indie publishing group called the Writing Bloc - some of you on my list of contacts are already affiliated with them! For everyone else - Writing Bloc has published group anthologies for several years now. My short stories are included in three of these publications - Mythos, Family, and Deception.

In January 2024, Writing Bloc will accept submissions for a new anthology on the theme of Sacrifice - check out the details here.

Writing Bloc has also agreed to publish Far Flung in early 2024. And perhaps now, you get why I’m (finally) getting back in touch with you, who bought into my original vision for Far Flung. The story has changed a lot since then, but the original vision of brave colonists forced to explore and survive in a distant corner of the universe has persisted through all revisions.

So if you are still interested in Far Flung and my other writing works, this Substack space is for you! Expect more updates as I get through the editing phase and publication ramps up to the final release!

Thanks for your past support, and I do hope you’ll stick with me as I get ready to deliver on an old promise!

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