=== This post is taken from Legion Bulletin #151 ==

The End…

Greetings from Bedfordshire, where the spring warmth is here. And just as well because the bloomin’ boiler’s packed up.

As you know, I’ve had some brain problems over the past year and that’s caused mayhem with my writing schedule. The medics are still puzzling over me.

It’s probably an alien brain parasite chewing through my neurons before seizing control of my mind, in the mistaken belief that if it can control me then it can control anything remotely important. (Unless you count my modest selection of vehicles in World of Tanks).

However, I’m fighting it off and my writing mojo has returned sufficiently that I typed “The End” on a novel today.

This is ‘The Last Redoubt’, the conclusion to Chimera Company. The Boss at Chris Kennedy Publishing has said he wants it.

There’s still a lot of tidying up to do, but it’s difficult to express how good it feels to be completing a novel again because I wasn’t sure I ever would. (I know, I know. I’m a novelist and I’m supposed to express myself adroitly. Not this time, though).

Goodies

So, that’s a plus.

Here’s another one.

I’m in the IASFA. Mostly, it’s something that happens on the writing side of things: swapping tips and mutual encouragement in what can be a lonely endeavour.

But there is also a monthly newsletter that does a themed promotion each month of free and 99c books from its members. Military SF is this month’s theme (https://iasfa.org/mar23 ) and I’m in it this month with Marine Cadet. There are also starter books for several Chris Kennedy Publishing series, and I thoroughly enjoyed Cyborg Hunter by Mark Boss. (Also, what an excellent cover!)

Over the years I’ve signed up for loads of book recommendation sites. I’ve found good books from most of them, but the IASFA is the best of the lot. I’ve include the press release below, but the smartest move is to sign up for the IASFA newsletter and then they tell you every month about their latest promotion. You can sign up to the IASFA newsletter here: https://iasfa.org/free-books/

Put on your armor and prepare for war!

I have a book in a promotion the size of an orbital bombardment, sponsored by the International Association of Science Fiction & Fantasy Authors (IASFA). My Military Science Fiction author friends and I are happy to be a part of something bigger than ourselves. It’s just like being in the military.

Except completely different.

In these books, there might be swearing involved because the chow… so bad! Aliens, enemies of humanity, and humans ourselves, we find the fighting across the galaxy is non-stop. Take a look! You may find your next favorite Mil SF series and it’s a low-risk, high-reward proposition. https://iasfa.org/Mar23

New Book Releases

IASFA authors are releasing books every month! Here are some of the latest.

https://iasfa.org/new-releases/

The International Association of Science Fiction and Fantasy Authors (IASFA) is a professional organization focused on aligning readers with authors. We are building the organization that currently numbers over 800 authors published within the SFF genres. Stay tuned as each month we’ll offer full book samplers for free along with less frequent paid book bundle promotions. Help yourself to find your next favorite author.

The Good Space Marine Švejk

Long-time fans will already know this info, but I wrote something for an interview recently about the idea that sparked Marine Cadet and the Human Legion series. I thought I’d share it here.
 
The idea that got me started was the many stories where humanity encounters an immensely powerful alien empire, and the plucky humans defeat them against all odds.

It’s a great story idea and one I love to read, but far too often the only way the humans win is by the alien empire repeatedly ‘acting stupid on cue’. So I tried to come up with plausible ways the humans might win. (Or do they…? It’s not so simple.)

I remembered at school learning about the Czechoslovak Legion that found itself unexpectedly playing a pivotal role in Russia as it imploded after 1917. That’s the inspirational idea. The Human Legion is the Czechoslovak Legion in space. With lasers.

Take care,

Tim