Modern Gaming: I'm Out.

 

I was undecided about what to do when the PS5 I own reached the end of its lifespan. Part of me considered building a PC for myself or even getting a Steam Deck, but I was too undecided. However, typical of the modern gaming world, certain events came to pass that pushed me to the conclusion that I just can't do it anymore.

The first was the announcement of the PS5 Pro.

This is something that I feel will shape console releases in the years to come. Announced without a disc drive, the console will cost $700/£700, and sure, it boasts some nice graphical performances. But, is it worth that cost? Not as far as I'm concerned. But that wasn't the worst part. If I wanted one with a disc drive, I'd need to pay an additional $80/£80 for the drive as an add-on. If that wasn't enough, I'd also have to pay another $25/£25 for the vertical stand, something which came as standard with regular PS5s. All that together would cost $805/£805, which is an insane amount. I can only wonder who the hell thought this was a good idea. It reminds me of when Ken Lay was asked a question at an Enron meeting on a question card he read out:

"I would like to know if you're on crack. If you are, it would explain a lot. If not, you might want to start, because it'll be a long time before we trust you again."

Spending that much on a PC would get me a pretty good build, but I simply can't be bothered to do it anymore. Such a move from Sony, I can only describe as greedy, and it's a real shame.

The second instance came with the announcement of the PS5 Anniversary Edition.

This one really pissed me off.

Having been an owner of the original PS1 and having some fond memories of it, I really liked the design of the Anniversary Edition. But, one of the first things I read about the console was that Sony was only making 12,300 of them. As soon as I heard that, I had a feeling they'd all be bought up and put on eBay, going for stupid prices, sold by scalpers. Sure enough, it happened, and I was so disappointed. Again, Sony really screwed up, and it led to some of the consoles going for around $5000-$6000 on eBay. If any of you scalpers are reading this: fuck you. I really hope nobody is stupid enough to pay those prices, but since eBay is the only place one can be found, you never know.

I had forgotten about those two examples until recently, when Nintendo announced the Switch 2. I decided to take a cautious approach to the release, whereas my wife was really excited about it. That was until the prices started to trickle out. There are too many for me to be bothered to list in this blog piece, but this tweet from GameStop showcases most of them. By the end of the week, my wife's excitement for the release had gone, and it got me thinking again about how much longer I was going to keep gaming.

After a while, I decided it just wasn't worth it anymore. The price of games is creeping up, micro transactions are a regular thing, thanks to all the idiots who used them, and the consoles themselves are getting more expensive. And then there's the quality of modern games, something I could go on about forever, but I'll just say almost nothing that's being released is worth the money. My last purchases have been remasters, remakes, and older releases in a sale. See a pattern there?

So, once my PS5 reaches the end of its lifespan, I'm done. I've decided I'm going to go back to retro gaming. I have the money to do such a hobby now, and can afford some of those classic consoles I never got to own when I was younger. A (modded) Sega Saturn is at the top of my list because a lot of the classic, 2D arcade shooters have the best versions on that console, including some Japan-only exclusives. Will they be expensive? Sure, but will they be worth it? Yeah, because I know I'll get much more enjoyment out of them than most modern games. 

Will I get a Steam Deck, or one of these rumoured Steam Consoles? Maybe. There are enough old releases out there that I never got to play, I might not. Time will tell, I guess, but given the potential prices, maybe not. But, just thinking about getting a Saturn, or even getting a PS1 again, gets me excited for what games I can play, or play again. I've not felt that level of excitement about any modern console or game release, and that's really telling.

Celebrating the Good Stuff: Charlie's London: From Walworth to Wartime.

 

In past blog entries, I've written of my now distaste for crowdfunded comics and how I simply won't back most of them anymore. One of the creators I'm still happy to back is Ayse Fennelly, and her series of books on the life of Charlie Chaplin, Charlie's London. The first book, From East Lane to the Limelight, dealt with Chaplin's homecoming while a dark cloud hung over him. From Walworth to Wartime covers the mixed fortunes of Chaplin's movie career, his love life, and the outbreak of the Second World War.

The story jumps back and forth in time, from an aged Charlie reminiscing with his wife, to the younger man toiling on movies while his marriages crumbled. It is equal parts poignant, tragic, and even celebratory when setting the sun on his most famous character. The art from the artist known only as Mickey is nothing short of beautiful, and Peter Gilmore's colours are the icing and cherry on top of an already nice cake. The book is of great quality and bigger than the original, offering an additional thirty pages. When this was announced in a campaign update, myself and many other backers were more than pleased.

I've been critical of previous crowdfunded projects and Charlie's London is no different, but the reasons for such criticisms are. Yes, the book was late, but there were issues with the printing company, and Fennelly herself suffered from a minor illness. But, a glance at the campaign's comments section shows that while all this was going on, Fennelly showed remarkable customer service by answering the concerns of her backers.

It must also be noted that book two took much less than book one, a difference of £19,065 between them. This was because, in my mind, Fennelly wasn't on Twitter or YouTube engaging in the rage-baiting that other creators have done (you know who you are,) she has simply been doing the work. It's daft that's where we are with crowdfunding, but sadly, many have muddied the waters and made it harder for others to sell their product, and I think Charlie's London has been a victim of that.

I will happily look forward to the next book, as I know that not only will the quality certainly be there, but I also know that Fennelly's mind will be focused on the work, not the online drama.

2024 for me.

 

When I thought about what I was going to write for this blog entry at the end of November, it was going to start something like this:

The year has been a real rollercoaster ride, but it finally settled down with me in a good job, a great plan for the future, and my writing projects all laid out. It's so nice to feel settled after all I've been through after being made redundant from my old job. Onwards and upwards.

But, just when I thought life had finally settled down and things were going my way, the rug was pulled from under me spectacularly.

On Monday the 2nd of December, I arrived at my job to find the depot boss already in. He asked if I had a minute. After sitting in his office, he sighed, and I knew something was up. He informed me that, because of the Labour government's budget, the company had been forced to introduce cost-cutting measures, and since I was at the end of my probation period, I was being let go. I'd never truly felt the sensation of everything crashing down around me until then. Don't get me wrong, some moments in the past had come pretty close, but that moment tops them all. What made it hurt all the more was that the week before, I'd expressed my concerns about my job, and he had assured me I was safe. But, over the weekend, the upper management had overruled him. He was genuinely sorry to let me go, and I could tell by the look on his face. So, I said my goodbyes and left.

It was the coldest, loneliest walk home I'd ever had, and it's painful to remember as I write this. The worst part was that I had to go home to an empty house. Nobody was there to talk to except the horrible silence. I was a mess.

I started job hunting right away, but there was no luck. I was unemployed for two weeks before friends at my old job put me in contact with the agency the company used. I ended up back there, the one place I'd thought was long behind me. It was nice to see a lot of the old faces, and that made it easier, but the pain of losing a job I loved was still heavy in my chest. I went back there to pick up a Christmas hamper that had been ordered for me before my departure. My former boss and I talked, and he said the place hadn't been the same since I'd left. They were tough words to hear but also nice in some small way. He suspected there was a slight possibility of me returning there, depending on how things went over the next few years, but I couldn't see it with this current government. So, I collected my things and left. I can't see myself ever going back there, but life is funny like that, isn't it?

During my year, I'd managed to get Detective in Mind 2: Rogue finished and released. Given all that I'd gone through, I had even forgotten to blog about its release, and I feel stupid about that. However, the book sold well, and books 1 and 2 are still selling to this day. I'm insanely grateful to the community for that, and at the time of writing this, book 3 is in the works. My old job's main office area has a small bookshelf consisting mainly of cookery books. My old boss bought a copy of each and put them there without telling me. When I spotted them, I was so touched, and I take some comfort in the fact they are still there. It's like I left my own little mark on the place.

"Justin was here," I suppose.

I don't know what 2025 holds for me. I'll watch for a full-time job, but with this current Labour government, who knows. I know I'll never vote for either them or the Conservatives ever again. Say what you like about that, but one party put the country in a fine mess, and the other made it worse, trying to improve things. In the UK, we're truly at the point where there are no good choices anymore, and it's such a shame.

But, I shall carry on. I don't want my life or writing to suffer, but I've had one hell of a hurdle to overcome. The wound of my job loss is still raw and will take some time to heal, but I can be thankful I have some great family and friends around me to help with that.

I'll finish this blog entry by encouraging anyone reading this to treasure those around you. You'll never know when you need them the most.

Celebrating the Good Stuff: Kamen America.

 

When it came to backing Yaira, or anything to do with Rippaverse Comics, I was late to the party. When it came to backing Kamen America, or anything to do with Antarctic Press and Iconic Comics, I was very late to the party. This wasn't the fault of those involved, I had been burned by the lateness of certain CG products and had become much more selective with who I gave my money to. The online drama certainly didn't help with this, although those involved with Rippaverse, Antarctic, and Iconic have been involved with that the least, as this documentary shows. Still, I was apprehensive.

After Yaira was such a fun read, I decided to try Kamen America, given what I had seen of it on Twitter. I got hold of a copy of issue one, Stars and Strife, and was immediately taken with the fun and vibrant art within. After being caught in an explosive accident, our heroine, Carly, gains superpowers and is signed up by a media relations agency, given a crappy super hero name and back story, and sent out to fight monsters and villains. It isn't smooth sailing. She learns to navigate these choppy waters before eventually going it alone.

The writing is fun, contained nothing cringe-worthy, and gave us a character worth investing in. The art also comes across as fun, not to mention colourful and dramatic, especially when Carly finally becomes Kamen America.

It's obvious that the series has a legion of fans and quite rightly so. As far as I'm aware, Timothy Lim and Mark Pellegrini have only ever been late with one book. That was by three weeks, and it was due to a delay with a perk that was shipped with the book in question. They have smashed their funding goals for each issue, as was the case with volume 9, shown here on Kickstarter.

I'll be investing more in this series in the new year, and I highly recommend you do, too. Because, if anything, at the very least, you'll get the books on time.

Celebrating the Good Stuff: Transformers.

 

Until the release of Skybound's Transformers issue 1, I had stopped collecting comics for almost a year. What was out there just wasn't for me and, to be frank, a lot of it just looked like crap. So, I emptied my pull folder and cancelled all my subscriptions. I'd pop into the shop once in a while to buy a collectable here and there, but there was nothing on the shelves that really grabbed me.

That was until I watched Thinking Critical's video on the new release, written and drawn by Daniel Warren Johnson, someone I had not heard of before. What the video showed, great art and a story to match, was enough to prompt me to visit my store and buy the issue. I even went one step further and bought the Orlando Arocena variant cover, something I don't often do.

Now, I'm an old-school Transformers geek and have been all my life. I had been buying the series IDW produced before this, but thinking back on the story, I can't remember anything about it. Nothing of real note happened. Upon opening this comic, I was treated to the story of the Transformers coming to Earth, crash-landing in their ship, but told with more menace on the part of the Decepticons, and utter bad-ass moments from the Autobots. Hell, one of the best moments is Optimus Prime suplexing Starscream during a fight, one in which he takes quite a few hits himself.

And then, saving the human characters who helped him, and getting the hell out of there when he knows he's outnumbered, in a moment which looks amazingly cool.

The first story arc ends with, not only one hell of a fight, but two moments of tragedy, and left me wanting more. Sadly, Daniel Warren Johnson has only drawn the first six issues and is only writing the first twelve. The artist that has taken over from him, Jorge Corona, has done a great job, but I can't help but worry about who will take over writing duties. It's been documented that certain comic writers have a habit of writing poor stories, and putting in self-insert characters, breaking the immersion. The video by comic shop owner Glenn O'Leary talked about this, leading to many in the industry attacking him. 

So, I will wait with caution to see who takes over the writing duties from Johnson, but I will give Skybound their dues. They started this series off strong and I hope it continues this way.

But, this series provided something else for me. Something I consider to be my holy grail. A collector had Optimus Prime himself, Peter Cullen, sign a copy of the Arocena variant cover back in April of this year, and had it graded via CGC. I purchased that comic from eBay and it now sits proudly on my desk, something I smile at whenever I look at it.

A thing of beauty, I'm sure you agree?

Celebrating the Good Stuff: The Mythicals.

During my time on the Bargain Bin show with my buddies Aria, Dave, and Rob, we had some cool guests on. One of them was H. Wayne Desper, and we talked with him about his comic, The Mythicals, which he was funding.

After a job interview that doesn't go so well, Nancy Moon goes out to drown her sorrows with a friend. As they head home, the women are attacked by a supernatural creature, an event that will change Nancy's life. At the time of writing this, two issues have been funded and published. Issue one ends with one hell of a twist, which, of course, I won't spoil. Issue two progresses the story nicely, allowing it room to breathe and time for us, the readers, to get to know the characters. The future looks promising for the overall arc.

Desper is one of a few creators out there who has my money the moment a project of his is announced. Both issues of The Mythicals are the only comics I have backed, besides Yaira, that actually arrived on time. That tells me that Desper is a man who has his shit together where so many others do not. While he is active on Twitter, the man has not allowed the dramas to distract him. He has delivered two quality packages, thanks to the hard work he and his team have put in. These include card stock covers, quality paper within, trading cards, and even metal trading cards, which I personally love. Part of the package of issue two was a cool standee of one of the characters, Samuel, whose introduction is nothing short of hilarious.

It has a place on my desk, but some days I wonder if it's a good idea. I swear the damn thing is quietly judging me when I'm not writing, especially with the gaze artist Irene has drawn it with.

I look forward to the next issue and recommend that everyone check it out. The story is excellent, the art is the same, and you'll get the books on time.

It's a shame other independent creators can't do the same.

Celebrating the Good Stuff: Yaira.

 

At the time of writing this, I am still awaiting the fulfilment of four comics from people identifying themselves as ComicsGate. They were due on the following dates: October 2020, February 2021, November 2022, and July 2023. As a result of such lateness and some questionable behaviour on Twitter (I'm not calling it X,) I simply won't back around 90% of the 'creators' out there anymore. A few will automatically have my money when they announce a project simply because they have delivered good products in the past. But that is a tiny list now.

I had been aware of Eric July and the announcement of Rippaverse Comics but had not backed any of his graphic novels. The first reason is an obvious one, how badly I'd been burned backing a lot of CG stuff. The second reason was simply because I didn't have the money to do so. Postage becomes a significant factor for us international backers, especially when it almost matches the cost of the book we're backing. But, I watched nonetheless as Isom #1, Alphacore #1, and Isom #2 were launched, each to a fantastic success. Each time, I wished I had backed the books.

During the run of the previously mentioned campaigns, I also noticed the negative attention directed at July and those working under him at Rippaverse Comics. Nearly all of it came from creators attached to ComicsGate and, amusingly, those who struggle to get their books out on time. To me, a lot of it was borderline abuse, especially when a masked individual took a photograph next to the grave of July's Grandfather, whom he named the character of Isom after. Perhaps I was naive in thinking that creators would celebrate and support each other in such trying times, but a friend reminded me that all this is very much 'Crabs in a Bucket.'

Then Yaira was announced, supported by animated videos, a live-action trailer, and some cool merchandise. Before all this, I had been aware of the writers, the Soska sisters, but to a small degree. I knew they were popular in the horror scene and had written Black Widow for Marvel, but nothing else around those. The trailers alone got me interested in Yaira, and I really liked the art. So, on March 11th this year, I took the risk and backed the book. My books arrived on June the 4th, yesterday at the time of writing this. That's the quickest I've ever received any product I've supported through crowdfunding.

But is it any good?

Yes. The story was fun and had plenty of entertaining action, including some excellent airborne combat. It also gives Yaira a great origin story, which provides the reader with a firm understanding of why the character behaves the way she does. The art from Debora Caritá is also excellent, but I've seen it criticised to a degree I consider nitpicking. I never saw anything in the comic that really jumped out at me as bad or stupid, and when I finished the book, I wondered once more where such attacks on it came from. Again, 'Crabs in a Bucket,' I guess.

In closing, I'll be buying more books from Rippaverse Comics because I firmly believe I'll be getting value for my money. The books are well made, are a good-sized read, and I know I won't be waiting three or four fucking years for one to arrive. Finally, a special mention must be made of the packaging in which I received my books. The cardboard was shaped in a fantastic design and protected the books perfectly. If that is the continued effort put into the postage alone, I'll definitely be coming back for more.

Hazardous Road.

To say this year has been easy for me would be a lie.

At the end of my last post, which was months ago, I touched upon being made redundant from my job after seventeen years. I'd lined up a new job to walk into after my final day, literally across the road from my soon-to-be-old job, and had a two-week break to look forward to before starting. It all sounded like I was going to land on my feet.

The problem was that, over the two-week break, it gave me too much time to think about the whole thing. In the end, I felt that I'd been royally screwed over. Especially since there had been other people more deserving of being laid off than me. I became angry and miserable and did nothing besides sulk on the couch. Starting the new job was not a lot of fun, either. In retrospect, it wasn't a good idea to work across the road from my old job, still have to see the place daily, and even handle similar goods. My misery got worse as a result.

At the start of February, I told all this to a friend, Mike, who had also been made redundant from the same company I had, three years earlier during the pandemic. He offered to help get me a position where he worked. It was in a different part of my city, and it was totally different work in a different environment. I accepted and made the switch. I've felt better since, even though I'm still a temporary worker. I'm keeping my head down and hoping they'll take me on permanently, but it's been a long, bumpy road.

But during all this, my writing of Detective in Mind 2 suffered. I didn't write for just over two months, and when I eventually started up again, the words came out in drips and drabs. Even at the time of writing this blog, I'm still struggling, but I'm picking up the pace. I owe my return to some form to Mike and his helping me, but like I said previously, my writing suffered. Even though I get some good word counts down some days, it takes a while for me to get going, and I hate that.

2024 will be a write-off for me in many ways, but if I can get Detective in Mind 2 released, I'll consider it a small win.

Onwards and upwards, I guess.

 

Celebrating the Good Stuff: The Guy Who Accidentally Started the Apocalypse.

 

While I only have one LiTRPG novel under my belt, I plan on doing more. Everyone has their favourite in the genre and usually, it tends to be Dungeon Crawler Carl. I love that series, but they are not my favourites. Mine is the above title, by David J Bushman. As many know, science fiction will always be close to my heart and when I knew this title was on the way, I was eagerly awaiting it. Why? Because David was trying something new. Not a LiTRPG, but a LiTFPS.

I grew up loving First Person Shooters and having one in novel form was exciting to me. Coupled with the fact that it was science fiction was a real draw. So how was it?

On his way back from getting a sandwich, Cameron exchanges a free coupon with a hobo for a 'wishing stone.' This leads to him inadvertently setting off a chain of events that sends the world to shit. The next thing he knows, he's fighting in a war against an alien invasion to prevent the extinction of the human race. 

Sweet.

Boasting a cool cover by Stephen Landry, the book was an awesome story and I flew through it, which is always a good sign. But, as you've probably guessed, I listened to the audiobook.

Respect to David for getting a top-notch narrating duo for the audiobook. Daniel Wisniewski and Jessica Threet absolutely knock it out of the park with their performances,  particularly Daniel as Cameron's companion throughout the story. At fourteen hours and thirty minutes long, the audiobook is plenty of bang for your buck, especially for those who enjoy a long listen.

David has told me he is working on book two and I can't wait for it. For those looking for a good read or listen, I suggest checking this one out. It's a great start in what hopefully becomes an equally great series.

Find it on Amazon here for US readers,

and here for UK readers.

2023 For Me.

 

Most of the folks I follow on YouTube have done their usual takes on the previous year and what was good and bad. I decided to come at such a thing from a more personal point of view because I had a really mixed 2023.

I'll start with the bad first.

The Harem Nights omnibus was released in February and should have been something to celebrate. But the narrator took much longer than expected, and that was partly my fault. I gave the guy the best part of a year to do it because I wasn't too bothered about the whole thing and as it later turned out, mistakes were still in the manuscript that I had missed. What I didn't expect him to do was take most of the year to record it. At one point I was sure he had ghosted me. Eventually, the audiobook came out and I ended up filing it away as a loss, but more on this later. I should pause here and ask that please, nobody contact him about this. I don't want an argument of any kind here.

My faith in crowdfunded comics took a major dent and I have become much more strict on what I'll back. Why? Books Like Cyberfrog Rekt Planet and Peregrine: Wings of the Falcon arrived massively late, around two to three years overdue. While I read Peregrine out of a morbid curiosity, Cyberfrog is still in its box and I don't know if I'll ever read it. There are other books I backed that are still massively late, and I have a growing pile of ones I'm going to sell. It's also become apparent to me that certain creators have treated backers as pay pigs by sitting on their money, doing stupidly long live streams, or going after people on Twitter (I'm not calling it X) instead of doing their work. I hate that and simply will not support such behaviour.

Finally, I got made redundant at the end of last year from my job. Three days before Christmas, to be exact. I took it as best I could and I was sad to go. It was ultimately closing a chapter on seventeen years of my life and I wished it would have been handled better by the company, but the atmosphere in the place as my final days approached made me glad to get out. I start a new job soon and am looking forward to it but I will admit, I'm a little weary.

Now for the good.

The audiobook for Escape from Crescendo Station One was released, narrated by Candace Roman, who had previously narrated Ataris Station for me. Despite EfCSO not being my most successful book, it is still my favourite to this day. Candace did a wonderful job narrating the book, especially when she added background music for the more tense or action scenes. The story became much more dear to my heart after that, and I owe her a lot for it.

While the Harem Nights audiobook came out and was a bad experience for me, it sold really well. I had come up with an outline for a harem story crossed with LitRPG but I couldn't get it to work, so I forgot about it. The previously mentioned sales made me look at it again and see what wasn't working, namely the LitRPG part, so I ripped it out and wrote the book, but at a much slower pace than usual as I fleshed the story out. Edie Skye was even kind enough to give me a front cover blurb for it.

That book was Detective in Mind.

It became my best-selling book and my most critically reviewed. It was one hell of a way to end 2023, released before my redundancy, but providing some cash after it to see me through December and the start of January. At the time of writing this, I am working on the sequel to DiM, a book I plan on making into a series.

What about the future?

I am also considering breaking into audiobook narration of my own works. The money from my redundancy will certainly cover the costs of the equipment, I just need to do my research on the rest of it. I don't know of many other authors who do this, and it also gives me something to really get my teeth into.

Will it work out? Time will tell, but I am full of confidence about it. Bring on 2024. 

Celebrating the Good Stuff: The Titan Mage Series.

 

One of the problems of being online is the waves of negativity. YouTubers have some of the worst culprits for this. If a crappy movie comes out, especially one from Disney, it gets dumped on from a very high height by several different channels. Are they right? Most of the time, but it gets tiresome after a while. The newer Star Wars movies got torn to shreds by these channels, rightly so in my opinion, but it still got tiresome. This resulted in folks like Larry Correia complaining that they never celebrated anything good.

Sadly, I added to this trend lately with a tweet criticising a very late comic book I backed on Indiegogo in 2020. It had been due in 2021, but I received it on the 25th of November this year. To add insult to injury, the book was poorly made and the first page came away from the spine. The tweet I wrote took off and was even mentioned in places like Kiwi Farms (for those who don't know what that is, don't ask) to my surprise. I felt bad about that tweet, but deleting it would have been pointless.

So, I decided to start talking about the stuff I was enjoying or had enjoyed. My first attempt at this, a tweet about some wonderful comics I received promptly, did not get nearly as much attention as the last. That was a shame. For my next celebratory piece, I chose to write about it here.

Titan Mage is a book series anyone and everyone should read, or listen to. To summarise briefly, the main character, Locke, is a man who dies and is reborn in another realm as a powerful mage and mech pilot. All the ladies want him, too, which is an added bonus. He goes on many fascinating adventures with the ladies by his side, or on top of him, or underneath him, and let me tell you, the sex scenes sure as hell are anything but boring. Now, I'm being vague on the details because I want to avoid spoilers. You really should check them out. But, I should point out that I did not read the books. I listened to the audiobooks.

The narration team of Daryl Mayfield and Jess Trepanier do nothing short of an excellent job with the material. Personally, I love the dual narration approach to audiobooks and feel it elevates the performance. Every time one has been released, I purchase it with either an Audible credit or money if it gets released before my credit is due. As I have said to the author, she brought back my excitement for a new release, something I haven't felt in a long time.

These releases are among many that should be talked about and enjoyed. It is reasons like the Titan Mage series that my head is more in books and audiobooks than it is in cinema or comics. Why? Because I feel the passion is still there for such storytelling, especially from us independent authors. I feel that authors like Edie Skye are showing others how it is done, and I always feel honoured that she gave me a front cover blurb for Detective in Mind.

Long may she continue.

You can find Titan Mage books on Amazon here for US readers, and here for UK readers.

Out now: Detective in Mind.

 

Wow, it's been so long since my last release.

A good chunk of the year was spent with me wanting to come up with something interesting, something different to what was out. I came up with nothing for a while, and it felt like the well was dry. Then one day, Andrew, the husband of my wonderful cover artist, Peta, suggested I take a page from the book of the legend that was Chuck Jones, and find inspiration. So, after watching Dark City out of impulse (the director's cut) I developed a real taste for the noir genre and what I could possibly do with it.

At the same time, I had an outline I couldn't get to work that mixed science fiction, LitRPG, and harem. It felt like there were too many ingredients in the stew. After removing the LitRPG aspect, changing a lot of the characters and their motivations, I had the rough outline for Detective in Mind. So, I cautiously started writing it.

Did it go smoothly? Nope. Not in the slightest.

I cannot remember which author said the following, but it was something along the lines of: the story writing itself using our fingers on the keys. My God, did that prove to be correct here. I had to pause writing two or three times to adjust the outline because the story kept going off in a different direction. I had never experienced anything like it before but I kept going.

Months later, here we are.

I have found a real taste for the noir genre and will be sticking with it. Will I write other stories in my beloved sci-fi? Sure. I don't like to stay in one place. I just hope the readers don't mind me hoping about.

Detective in Mind can be found here for UK readers, and here for the US readers. Thanks for reading.

What's That Saying?

 

So, I wasn't going to write about this whole thing. I wasn't going to join the YouTubers and other bloggers/writers who showed their utter disdain towards the news about The Punisher issue 12. But, this one pissed me off more that I wanted it to.

I had read the original Punisher comics growing up, as well as loads of the graphic novels and one-shots that were released. I remember borrowing a friend's copy of one issue, reading with delight when the Punisher attracts a bunch of criminals to a fair ground, and then mows them down with uzis while riding a roller coaster. I even have a copy of Punisher Warzone issue one, signed by John Romita Jr, something I'm more proud to have, given the recent events. An old friend of mine has all the Punisher comics, across the series before they were cancelled. He did not buy the Marvel Knights run, as he had stopped collecting by then. I offered to buy them off him, but he never got back to me with a price...

I stopped collecting comics a while back, something I'm not too bothered about, given how crap most of them became, but I always found myself watching from a distance. The story appeared back in 2020 of Gerry Conway wanting to reclaim the iconic skull symbol, claiming it had been used as one of oppression by cops and those folks on the right. I dismissed the story, thinking that the Punisher would just be phased out, or cancelled altogether. But, oh boy, was I wrong.

The above image circlated on the internet, accompanied by the story that the Punisher was given a redesign, swords instead of guns, and joined The Hand. The funny part of the article is that it makes out the change had to happen, because the symbol was adopted as one of hate.

Uh huh.

Myself, and many others who read the comics, never believed that. It always stank of politics to me, especially as a lot of folks on the right, like Sean Hannity, were fans. John Bernthal even said in an interview with Conan, "the character resonated deeply with members of law enforcement and the military." He even states he was warned by a fan not to mess it up when playing Frank Castle. For the record, he didn't. He did an amazing job.

So, when the latest series launched, I didn't pay it any attention. That was until issue 12 released, and people found out what happened in it. In particular, the images below, which are part of the scene where Franks resurrected dead wife sees him, after she's shot him.

Yeah. To say it pissed off a lot of the fans was a mild understatement. I looked at that scene and saw not only the deconstruction of Frank and his history, but also an outright character assasination on him. With Maria telling Frank she was going to divorce him before getting killed on that fateful day, it essentially made all of his stories pointless. But, I suppose it goes with everything Marvel are doing now, given the way their comics are being written. However, while I ignored and shrugged off previous changes and storylines that wrecked other characters or their universes, this one hit a nerve.

It was a prime example of how a lot of the mainstream writers out there destroy more than they create. And, as they have shown in comic books alone, it is much easier to do just that. Of course, it spawned plenty of YouTube videos on the subject, which I won't bother linking as there's so many of them. As much as I agreed with their reasons for doing so, they failed to realise they were just giving more attention to the whole thing. And, yes, I see the irony that I am, also, but bare with me.

These occasions show to me that companies such as Marvel don't like sections of their audience. They put stuff out like this to spite them, to tell them what they loved is dead and to move on. The phase 'Get Woke, Go Broke,' is appropriate here, as Marvel isn't the powerhouse it once was in terms of sales. Recently, the writer for the Scarlett Witch series admitted sales were struggling, along side the whole industry, and his book would probably be cancelled. As much as I feel bad for him, I can only shrug my shoulders.

In response to the Punisher news, Chuck Dixon, one man who wrote the series so well, back in the day, announced the Black Warrant series through Vox Day's Arkhaven Comics. Time will tell if that does well, but I hope it does.

In closing, I can't help but fear for the writer of this series, Jason Aaron. For those who don't remember, he famously wrote the relaunched Thor series, where Jane Foster became Thor, a series that did not last very long. Like Dan Slott, who killed Peter Parker and had Doc Oc become Spiderman, and like Tom King, who had Batman go to marry Catwoman, only to call it all off after a massive buildup. Writers like these will mainly be remembered for what they have screwed up, and not what they have created.

For any writer, that is a real shame, and it is a one lessons should be learnt from.

What's Coming This Year.

 

I've been having a lot of fun with my writing as of late, but it's also been a bit of a struggle. After publishing Escape from Crescendo Station One, I had a number of ideas for my next book. But, they simply were not working as I had originally planned them, so for a while, I was stuck. After some careful thought and analysis of what wasn't working, I had two ideas, two outlines, of which to choose as my next project. Unable to decide what to work on, I started writing both.

Crazy, huh?

I thought so for a while. But, bouncing in between two manuscripts has been quite a fun and liberating experience for me. Why? Because, if I ever got stuck with one project, I could let the night watchman do his thing while I wrote the other. This approach has worked well, especially with allowing me a little more time to write during my weeks. I used to keep to a pretty strict schedule, trying to get a thousand words a day written, but that worked against me quite often. Why? Because I didn't need the added stress. Something else that has really helped.

As for what these projects are? Well, the first is scratching an itch I have had for a while now. A hint to the type of genre (mixed with sci-fi, of course) is the picture above. The second is more underwater science fiction, born after a good influence of anime. More will be revealed when I announce the launch of my Patreon, which will hopefully be next month, as I am currently waiting on some artwork for it.

Stay tuned.

Audiobook Release: Escape from Crescendo Station One!

 

I'm a little late announcing this one, but I've had a busy time setting up my Patreon for release.

I knew I wanted an audiobook of Crescendo Station and how I wanted it done. Candace left quite an impression on me after she recorded Ataris Station, especially with her use of music to add to certain scenes. I asked her to do Crescendo, and she agreed instantly.

As I recall, I gave little direction, only where I wanted her to add the music. Candace is an awesome narrator, and she took to the project like a duck to water. The trouble here is that I don't want to spoil the story with any behind-the-scenes talk, so I'll just offer this small anecdote. Candace went above and beyond, even adding an effect I had not thought about, nor expected. It made listening to the chapters more special.

I have plenty of codes to give away, both US and UK, so feel free to get in contact with me for one. This audiobook will take some beating in terms of quality and I have no doubt it will remain a favourite of mine for a long time. Check it out. You won't be disappointed.

Crowdfunded Comics and my Contributions.

 

One thing I have always stood by is that I support independent creation, in written, illustrated, and any other visual form. I will always pride myself on being an independent writer because it gives me freedom and control over my own work, not some publisher. When the Comicsgate movement kicked off, and with it a wave of independently created comics and graphic novels, I was on board with it, because I understood why they were doing it.

I saw, like many, some of the amazingly shit writing and art that had made it into modern comics, specifically Marvel and DC. The worst part about that is there are so many examples I could cite here. Everyone has their own worst moment/s when they saw these examples in a comic and shook their head. I always remember the one that was the start of it for me.

Yeah. Angela Queen of Hel.  A comic so badly written, especially when it forced in unwanted pop culture references, and weird moments like above, as some sort of humour, it was shitcanned after seven issues. And then, there's this one.

A cheap dig at any reader who disagreed with X23 taking over from the then-dead Logan as Wolverine. The funny thing was, I didn't actually mind the choice because it made sense to me. The biological daughter taking over her father's mantle. The problem was that the writer was not as good at his craft as he thought he was. I stopped reading the book after issue six, and the series was eventually canceled. I don't remember what issue it was, nor do I care to look it up, but one of the final stories involved Laura fighting to save a trainload of turkeys.

Really?

It's been a long time since I have read anything from the mainstream comics industry, and I do not miss it. I started backing various crowdfunded comics when Comicsgate appeared, starting with the original Jaw Breakers and then Cyberfrog. Now, I remember the issues surrounding them and their lateness, and I was more forgiving at the time because it was something new. But, nowadays, there are crowdfunded comic campaigns appearing like bubbles in soapy water, all trying to reach a monetary goal of varying degrees, and it gets hard to keep track of them. I have backed a lot, and fulfillment has been different with each one, but I reached a point last week where the whole thing finally pissed me off.

Why?

Most of the campaigns have been very late. One was around four years late, and I had to pony up additional postage costs to actually get the book. Another I backed has had two of the three-part story fulfilled, but the second part took that long to reach me, I had to reread the first issue to remember what happened. As for part three? Its Indiegogo was supposed to have launched about two years ago but never showed. Other projects I have backed with assured multiple parts of the story have taken so long to appear that my interest just died.

But then, there were the ones that brought about the writing of this post.

The first is a thirty-two-page comic that was due February 2021. I complained about the lateness and was offered a meek apology which meant little, since the creator had launched other campaigns during the wait. When I asked for a refund, it was refused for not being in the budget.

The second is a sixty-page comic that was due in October 2020. There have been sparse updates and my request for a refund has so far gone unanswered.

The third is a forty-eight-page comic that was actually completed, quite late. But, judging from the comments on the campaign page, international backers (including me) never received their copies. No explanations were given, comments were not addressed, and assurances from the creators on Twitter have so far resulted in nothing.

The fourth one pissed off everyone who backed it. A forty-eight-page comic, due way back in 2019, that took almost $41000 (£34000) and never appeared. I only backed the digital copy because the postage was simply too high, something I am grateful for in hindsight. As far as I am concerned, this one was a scam. The creator simply disappeared, as far as I can tell. The only trace of him is a locked Twitter account.

As a result, I decided enough is enough. I will only be backing books from creators who have fulfilled in a reasonable time, or have stuff I really like and don't mind an additional wait. Most others I will not go near because my enthusiasm for their work has gone and the postage costs have risen to stupid amounts. The images from the top of this post, and above this paragraph are from one of my favourite books, Mary Boys. Both the campaigns, for the origin comics and the full graphic novel, were fulfilled in good time, delivering quality books with great art and story. I will back anything from that creative team and even had the pleasure of meeting them last year, where we became friends.

I find it a shame I reached a place like this, but here we are. If you are running a crowdfunded campaign, fulfilling it needs to be a priority. Failing it and your backers not only taints you and your work, but also puts the whole crowdfunded scene in a very bad light. My wallet is now shut to most of these endeavors until things improve, but whenever that could be is up in the air.

And finally, for anyone who suggests I run a crowdfunded campaign to see how I do, I did. I had one for my seventh novel, Niven's War. I completed it and shipped all copies to my backers three months before the deadline, even after I had to put my own money into the postage costs when the prices went up.

So, I'm Becoming... a Weeb.

 

Yeah. That is something I never thought I would write. But, it is strange how these things work out.

Of course, I was very much aware of the anime genre, as most people were. I had seen the likes of Akira, the first Ghost in the Shell movie, Apple Seed, and Wicked City, but had not delved into it much more than that. These days, I am all about seeking out new things to watch or read, either for my own entertainment or to draw inspiration from. For years, I have been friends with both Peta, my regular cover artist, and her husband, Andrew. The pair of them have been huge fans of the anime genre most of their lives, and have been prodding me over the years to delve into it more and more.

Well, I finally jumped in towards the end of last year. A small series appeared on Netflix, set in the Cyberpunk 2077 world, called Edge Runners. I was hesitant at first, since I knew little about the source material, but was soon glad I watched it. The writing for the show was brilliant, and I became invested in the main character, David, and his journey through the hostile world. The support characters were a mixed bunch, but my favourite, and that of many others, was Rebecca. She was a trigger-happy, slightly insane, member of the gang David joins, but was also intensely loyal and had the back of everyone around her. To say any more about it would risk spoiling the story, so I won't do that. But, I was so invested in it and the characters, that when the end arrived, it hit me like a sucker punch, finished off with a bittersweet finale. I have seen many other reviews, especially on YouTube, of how the series impacted the person behind them. This video summed it up best for me.

Next was the series, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex.

Andrew sent the complete series box set to me for my birthday last year. At the time of writing this, I have finished the first series and am trying to find the time to watch the second, but it has left a mark on me, nonetheless. The numerous missions The Major and her crew go on, especially those revolving around The Laughing Man, were some intense viewing. This was made cooler to me because, like Edge Runners, the episodes were around twenty minutes long. To be able to tell a good story in that time frame, and yes, there were two of three-part stories, was a show of some amazing writing. And, like Edge Runners, the ending of season one was something of a gut punch. Again, I will not spoil that. Check it out for yourselves.

This brings me to the reason I chose to write this blog piece. Andrew, being the nice man that he is, gifted me another anime to watch for Christmas. One that has had the most impact on me.

Yes. Demon Slayer really floored me. After announcing I had started watching it, Andrew and Peta were keen to hear my views on the series. As with before, the writing in this series has been so excellent that it sets a standard, especially compared to some Western writers. What captivated me the most was the relationship between the main character, Tanjiro, and his sister, Nezuko. He is dedicated to her, and his mission to save her, and she is both dedicated and loyal to him in their continuing journey.

Nezuko herself is a silent character, besides her little grunts and breaths, but the looks she gives her brother and those around her, speak a thousand words each time. One scene that forever sticks in my mind is when she is given a choice of whether to stay behind or continue on her journey with Tanjiro. She responds with a loving look to her brother and the gentle joining of her hand with his.

Beautiful. 

These days, I look for the small character moments in stories, and not the huge action sequences, because they are what makes a great story in my eyes. That moment has stayed with me, not only for the reason I said earlier, but also because I have not seen anything like that in western storytelling media for a long time. A lot of it seems so soulless to me and comes across as style over substance, usually made to shove on a streaming service somewhere. The writing in the animes I have watched is usually dramatic and endearing, much like Nezuko herself. Will it inspire me in my writing? I hope so, but time will tell.

I have heard numerous stories of how anime is beating western comics in sales, but I've not really looked into it too much. I would not be surprised if this is definitely true, but it certainly seems to be the case. The Demon Slayer movie took $506.5 million at the box office in 2020, making it the highest-grossing movie that year, pissing over everything Hollywood churned out. It has also become the highest-grossing movie in Japan, having beaten Spirited Away, which was an amazing feat in itself. I am definitely on board with this story and will enjoy watching it to the very end, whenever that will come.

Finally, I was reminded of something I saw on Twitter a while back when writing this. The post reported that a comic shop was closing, something which was obviously a shame. The pictures accompanying it showed what remained on the shelves. The western comic shelves were still full, but the manga was picked dry.

These scenes really do say a thousand words about what is going on in modern entertainment, much like Nezuko herself.

Hello, Again... Part Two.

 

So, what have I got planned for this year?

Well, first off, the audiobook of Escape from Crescendo Station One is being created as I write this. Candace Roman is narrating this as well because she left a lasting impression on me after the audiobook of Ataris Station was created. This rounds off what has been a very personal project for me.

As for future works, I have several outlines finished, and the one for my next book is almost done. During the recording process for Ataris Station, Harem Nights, and now Crescendo Station, it wasn't a good idea to start another book because I needed to focus on any revisions needed. So, now that most of them are out of the way, I have more projects to write than I expected. It's a nice feeling. It feels like I really have come a long way since my first release.

A reader asked what platforms I had, such as a blog or Patreon, during a nice exchange on Facebook. At the time, I had been setting up a Patreon but it wasn't ready yet. Well, it is now, I am just waiting for some content to launch it with. The tiers are what I would like to think as reasonably priced, compared to some that I have seen, and will allow readers to see written chapters before an editor has, as well as my covers as they progress from line art to the finished piece.

No damn A.I art here, thank you very much.

Top-tier backers will receive digital copies of my books before they reach Amazon, and will even be offered Audible codes for any released audiobooks.

Of course, I should point out that supporting me on Patreon is purely optional. Please do not feel in any way that you are obligated to. We are all living in hard times at the moment, and I consider it a blessing if someone even buys one of my books.

For those of you who read this blog and enjoy my ramblings, I thank you for your continued support and apologise for the lack of entries. I will do my best to keep on top of that in the coming year. See you on the journey.

Hello, Again... Part One.

 

I said to myself a while back that I really should keep up with my blog more. That was in September or October, I think. Then, a lot of different things fell onto my plate, and I fought to clear them. That included a novel release I shall cover shortly, the release of Ataris Station's audiobook, the making of two others, and a writing course I ended up taking. I haven't written a manuscript in ages, but I have several outlines ready to rock.

But then, I realised it was 2023, and almost the end of January. People might be interested to know what I have been up to. So, for my first blog post of this year, I thought I would fill you all in on what I had been up to.

The above picture is the front cover for my last release, a very personal project to me. I had always wanted to write a story that paid homage to the underwater science fiction movies I loved growing up, such as Leviathan, The Abyss, and DeepStar Six. The inspiration came after playing Subnautica, and having the idea hit me as various scenarios ran through my head. The result was Escape from Crescendo Station One, something that was a joy to write. The editing, however, was nothing short of a nightmare. The first editor had it for around six months, which was way too long, and had missed several mistakes, so I had another take a look at it. The drama surrounding that I will spare you the details of, but it left a very bitter taste in my mouth that took some time to shift. Seeing it out now, and getting some good reviews, makes me feel better, given how personal the book is to me.

After Crescendo Station was released, I became aware of the launch of the BBC Maestro site, and the numerous courses it had to offer. At first, I wasn't bothered, because it had nothing I was interested in. For those who don't know, Maestro is the BBC's version of the Master Class website, but with British creators. Then I became aware of a course on the site that taught writing popular fiction, from none other than Lee Child himself, the man behind the Jack Reacher novels. Someone I know once said to me, "every day is a school day," and he was right. So, I purchased the course and went through it.

Listening to Mr. Child talk about the craft and the lessons he had to teach was awesome. It was like I was sitting in the room with him, a cup of tea in hand, an audience of one with a master of storytelling. After it was finished, I was buzzing with ideas, but still had other things to clear off my plate before I could jump into them. But, I do hope the day comes when I can meet Lee Child and shake his hand as I thank him. Is that possible? I don't know, but you never know, right?

After Ataris Station was published, I knew I wanted an audiobook made. So, I submitted it to ACX and waited to see if I could attract any narrators. Sure enough, the auditions started flowing in. They were an interesting listen, especially when it became clear most of them did not have a good microphone. There was even one guy who tried getting a text-to-speech sample by me, but I picked up on it.

By the way, if that was you, and you're reading this, fuck you.

Finally, I heard the audition of Candace Roman. She had such an easy-going voice that was pleasant on the ear, and she read the part well. Upon checking out her profile, I saw that she added music to other samples she had narrated to show what she could do. When I asked if she could do that for Ataris, and she agreed, I gave her the job. It turned out it would be Candace's first audiobook, and she knocked it out of the park. I took such joy in listening to what she submitted, and I only made two revision requests during the whole time. She recorded the work at an amazing speed and I was thrilled to see it released.  I think Candace will go far as a narrator, and I look forward to the day she can do it full-time.

The audiobook for the omnibus of my Harem Nights trilogy had been in production for a while but was paused when the narrator had to move home. It was strange listening to very old pieces of work, but it helped me realise just how far I had come as an author. At the time of writing this, the finished audiobook is going through ACX's quality checks before release.

However, it wasn't all good.

One series I wanted to push forward with was The Adventures of Furman Simms. But, in revisiting the written text, I knew too much time had passed since I last ventured into that world. As much as I tried, I just could not reconnect with it. So, as a result, I chose to leave that one behind. One thing I said to myself was to keep moving forward. Furman had no place in my future plans. I don't like the phrase, but it very much fell into what is known as, "killing your babies."

What are my plans for this year? All shall be revealed in part two of this blog post, which will be published this week