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Keeping a Wary Eye on the World of Science Fiction

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How far do you push through a book that isn’t working for you before deciding to quit?

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Your Favorite Read of the Year?

I’m not normally one for end-of-the-year lists, but this year I accomplished two things: I spent almost zero time on social media. I read each evening besides my normal read-at-bedtime fix. More books finished! A few of my top books for the year included titles that gave me something to think about, opened me to fresh perspectives, and were downright fun. Children of Time by Adrian…

Your Favorite Read of the Year?

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A Clockwork Lazarus is now live!

The wait is over… Old enemies, ruthless criminals, and a secret that won’t stay buried. Dive into Miles Kim’s latest adventure.

A Clockwork Lazarus is now live!

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Which critter was sent to spy on Miles Kim in A Haunt of Jackals (Old Chrome Book Three)? #booktok #scifi #oldchrome

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Clockwork Lazarus Cover Reveal

Here’s the new cover. AFG Illustrations did a banger of a job on this one. The current version of the blurb sets the tone: Some retirements just don’t stick… Miles Kim thought returning to a normal…

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Clockwork Lazarus Cover Reveal

Here’s the new cover. AFG Illustrations did a banger of a job on this one. The current version of the blurb sets the tone: Some retirements just don’t stick… Miles Kim thought returning to a normal life in Seraph would be easy. He was wrong. When the city’s precious metals exchange becomes the target for a daring heist, Miles is the only one who can connect the dots. At the center of it all?…

Clockwork Lazarus Cover Reveal

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Limitations of a Novel

I listened to an interview with a screenwriter today who talked about the limits of film. Everything in a script has to show up as a visual or dialogue. Writing novels has the advantage of describing thoughts, emotions, smells, the sense of touch, and more, all while limited to strings of letters, words, and sentences. These descriptions make the art. They also convey an intimacy between the…

Limitations of a Novel

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The Fading Twin Cover Reveal

What goes into the front of a book besides a cool image? First, it needs to convey genre at a glance. Genre is a promise of the familiar, and the cover needs to be close enough to other books in its genre while standing out, which is contradictory. Hopefully, the cover here does the heavy lifting needed to let potential readers know what they can expect within the pages. Also, the cover must…

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My Ideal Reader

My Ideal Reader

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Top Five Monsters from a Science Fiction Novel

Science Fiction Monsters? Yes, Please I read science fiction, fantasy, and horror in various measures, and find sci-fi monster tales among my favorites. While the approach to beating the creatures might overlap with the other genres, the solutions (or lack of one) are where the stories excel. There’s an exploration of the nature of the monster often lacking or unnecessary in the horror…

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Favorite Flavor of Apocalypse?

Which books have kicked the world in the shins in a most entertaining fashion?

Starvation Island will be the concluding installment of the End-User Jack series, and I get to explore the cataclysm which has afflicted Jack’s real-world home known as the Tower. It got me thinking about how my favorite post-apocalyptic novels handled their end-of-the-world scenarios, and which ones did it best. In my books, I’ve brought the world to the brink with genetic engineering…

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Chop House Cover Reveal

Here’s a look at the cover of End-User Jack Book Two. Twelve chefs. One killer contest. Who will make it out of the kitchen alive? After the murder mansion, Jack realizes there’s more than his life on the line. The invaders inside the tower are seizing level after level as the corruption virus spreads to every network. Only Mr. Smiley’s latest competition offers a shred of hope. The mysterious…

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Crimson Gauntlet: Factions Release Week

Crimson Gauntlet: Factions is now live! Trapped following the deadly release of Crimson Gauntlet, Eddie Rush must fight to survive against hordes of murder machines and even his former allies. As the game spreads destruction across the globe, Eddie will need to rely on his wits and the help of his guildmate Laura to uncover the truth behind the spreading disaster. But beware. Crimson Gauntlet…

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Crimson Gauntlet by I.O. Adler  

The game can get under your skin… The preorder for Factions is now live! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BR2VR466

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The Year in Review

2022 was my favorite year of writing. It offset so many other things that made it a challenge. I’m grateful to all my readers who made it possible. Some highlights: I released seven books in the Old Chrome series, starting with The Seraph Engine, along with the Dawn Moriti spinoff adventure, Widowmaker Outpost, and the short story The Last Station. Shadows of Mars made it to the finals of the…

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Choose Your Class

Below the image is an excerpt from my litRPG novel Crimson Gauntlet. After surviving the first rush of monsters, Eddie Rush has been presented with a choice of class by the game rig sent to him by the mysterious developer somehow behind the attack. Each offers a unique way to combat the threat. Tell me in the comments which you would choose! Hacker. Learn to control Crimson Gauntlet lifeforms!…

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Reading Gateways Survey Results

Reading Gateways Survey Results

I asked my readers what their gateway was to reading. Here’s some replies: Enid Blyton short stories. History came up a couple of times, including ancient history and the American Civil War. Bookmobiles and libraries played a role with a few of us. The encyclopedia. Dracula. Tarzan by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Sci-fi, including Joan D. Vinge and Robert Heinlein. Three readers mentioned…

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