March 2025

First, a mea culpa

A few of you signed up for my newsletter and in the welcome message, there was supposed to be a free short story. Unfortunately, I used an earlier draft of the welcome email that didn’t include the link to your free story, so I’m including that here:

Now, on to our regular programming…

Spring has chosen violence

Spring has arrived in Orlando and every last particle of pollen has erupted into the air, assaulting our sinuses and making every car for miles around the same shade of highlighter yellow. I’m just now getting over needing daily dose of medicine to keep allergen onslaught at bay. If you’re also battling allergies and the blooming of all things beautiful right now in your neck of the woods, godspeed!

My grad school is cooler than yours (sorry)

I’m nearing the end of my Publishing degree at Western Colorado University and we’re very close to launching some major new projects. One of these is a very special opportunity to run a Kickstarter for a collection of books benefiting The Elk River Writers Workshop, a wonderful native-led creative nature writing-focused workshop based in the Montana wilderness, just north of Yellowstone National Park. Not only is my publishing cohort producing these books, but we’re also getting the chance to help manage the campaign, which launches very soon. Please consider support this amazing space for native and diverse voices!

A growing number of authors are turning to Kickstarter as a way to promote direct sales to their readers. Notably, Brandon Sanderson raised an enormous sum ($41 million USD) with his “Year of Sanderson” campaign. Authors like Kevin J. Anderson have seen significant success with his campaigns, including his current one (more on that in a moment). But many indie and hybrid authors are finding success by using Kickstarter to produce limited editions and unique experiences that build stronger connections with their readers, thereby turning fans into superfans. It signals to me that, even in an age of AI, readers still crave an authentic connection to the creators they love.

Coming soon

In addition to our Kickstarter campaign, WordFire Press will release my solo thesis project: a fine new and estate authorized edition of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ A Princess of Mars on June 17th, 2025! This edition features an introduction by Literary Executor of the Burroughs estate, Christopher Paul Carey, and a foreword by noted Star Wars and Battletech author Michael A. Stackpole.

A Princess of Mars is the first book in the John Carter/Barsoom series of science-fantasy novels that, along with Tarzan, became one of Burroughs’ signature works. As an author who loves to blend and bend genres, this was a formative book for me. Being able to produce this fine new version of it is truly an honor. More on this as we get closer to the street date.

Another project I’ve been honored to be a part of (it’s been a busy few months!) is our publishing cohort’s thesis project, a fantastically twisted genre-spanning anthology called Chaotic Cupids: When Love Goes Awry! This anthology features 23 original short stories and poems with lovestruck twists and turns that will keep you turning pages and wondering will they, won’t they…or even should they?! Pre-order it now to get your copy on release day: July 22, 2025!

Climbing Mt. Novel

While grad school projects prepare to launch, I’m quietly working on a novel. Up to this point in my short career as a pro author, I’ve been a short story writer. I love writing short stories and I’m in the camp of people that believe they are an excellent way to build essential craft skills as a writer. Another reason I love short stories is that they can be completed relatively quickly, and finishing stories is like doing pushups—the more you do it, the easier it is to keep doing it. But for me, novels have always been a bit intimidating.

I’ve written two “trunk” novels, stories that in their current form won’t see the light of day. That said, it’s been a few years since my last attempt and I’ve learned so much more about storytelling and since then. So, when idea came to me late last year I started tinkering with it. With the outline completed, I’m buckling down and getting the first draft done.

The secret to being a professional author is that you just have to keep showing up. Treat rejections as chances to learn. Treat failure as a guide rather than an ending. Every bestseller I’ve met can tell you they’ve been rejected hundreds, if not thousands, of times. To climb Mt. Novel, you must begin in the Valley of Suck. Only then can one reach the Peak of Awesome.

Stabbing Your Friends For Fun: Historical European Martial Arts

It’s easy for us non-performer creatives to become sedentary and finding a fun athletic activity, especially one with a open and welcoming community, can be a vitally needed outlet for our mental and physical health. Luckily, there’s HEMA.

HEMA, or Historical European Martial Arts is one of a few modern weapon combat sports that brings together people from all over the globe for good-natured, friendly violence. TSL, The Saber Legion, is another such sport, except instead of steel blades it features lightsabers (in the form of big polycarbonate glow-y sticks). Both of these are a ton of fun, and a couple of weeks ago, my local HEMA club hosted an event where we fought with steel and sabers to foster interest across both disciplines. It was a great time, and I’m lucky to have discovered this wonderful new hobby in the last year…even if it results in me being stabbed in the (helmeted) head from time to time. If you’re interested in trying out HEMA, you can search for a club near you here.

March Recommendation: KJA’s Terra Incognita Kickstarter

This month’s recommendation goes out to my teacher, mentor, and friend Kevin J. Anderson and his latest Kickstarter campaign—a truly deluxe edition of his epic fantasy trilogy Terra Incognita and 3 companion rock albums featuring a star-studded lineup of rock and roll heroes.

There’s just a few days left on this campaign so please check it out!

Exit Music

Each month, I’ll throw in a bit of an outro. This month’s selection pretty well sums up how I’m feeling right now. It’s wild out there. Be safe, and be kind to each other.