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A little bird told me we’re in a new year… Is it 2025 already? Oh, it’s only 2023? Ah, well, we’ll just have to make do, won’t we? I suppose it can’t be worse than 2022… (please don’t remind me I wrote that if it does end up being worse).

But anyway, better focus on the things we can control, right?

So I set myself a challenge for 2023: write at least six books.

Yeah, I know, that probably sounds like a lot. But I’m a fast writer and I did the math. Totally doable. I’ll try to publish them the same year, but that will be a bigger challenge, because I’m a much slower editor than I am a writer, ha! Outlining could be a bit of a challenge, too. We shall see. I’ll keep you updated on my progress.

So what do I plan to write? The three next books in The Evernow Canticles, the last two of an epic fantasy trilogy I’m writing under a pen name, and probably a thriller—something more like a mix of Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie.

Plus, of course, a bunch of short stories for this newsletter.

Totally doable ;)

In other (less joyful) news, I tested positive for COVID. I’d slipped through until now, but my uncle brought the virus with him when he came to spend New Year’s Eve with my mom and I. Great way to start the year, I know. But hey, on the bright side, it can only get better from here! (Again, don’t remind me I wrote that if… *coughs*)

Coming up this month

This will be another “one story month”. Hopefully I can do more in February.

“The human dilemma” is a Science-Fiction piece in the spirit of George Orwell. In retrospect, I think it also was somewhat influenced by Simak’s “City” (there are no dogs in the story, but…)

I’ll post this two weeks from now, on the 18th.

Writing news

I managed to finish writing the last chapters of my serial before Christmas. At least, the first part (season?) of my serial. It’ll take about seven months to publish them at the rate I’m going, so I won’t have to worry about the sequel for another six months. That should give me plenty of time to work on those novels I mentioned earlier.

Well, that’s all for now.

Happy New Year, everyone!

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Books to read

Here is a selection of books that might be of interest to you. All of these are free to download, though you’ll have to sign up to the authors’ newsletters to grab your copies.

Black Bane (a Keystone Prophecy story) by Zee Kelley

Black Bane by Zee Kelley

An adventure unfolds in this epic fantasy short story of wondrous creatures, clashing cultures, a mysterious evil force, and a race fighting against an unknown enemy determined to destroy them all.

During the previous full moon, the ancient salvus trees prepared to display their fall colors and stood sentry over the Florix tribes who lived in the branches below. But, as fast as storm clouds rolling in, a fatal black sludge attacked the plant life, poisoned the water, and left the forest people sick and dying. Painful black boils appeared on [… read more …]

Dark Nebula Contact by Sean Willson

When aliens arrive in Sol, how does humanity react in the first few hours?

After several years of unstable peace throughout Sol, mankind is confronted with the arrival of an unknown alien force. Everyone deals with the unexpected arrivals differently.

Military forces guarding the front lines of a century old conflict struggle to comprehend the alien arrival. Unhealed wounds from [… read more …]

New Worlds for the New Year; Fantasy & Science Fiction for January 2023 (free books)

Portal to Fantasy Presents... Winter Fantasy (free books)

Craving something else than fiction? Check out The Sample for a large selection of newsletters on a wide range of topics.

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Copyright (c) 2023 by Alex S. Garcia.

The Xen'in Universe

The Writings on the Wall #14