A Possible Cover for Android Lost

I was dreading spending hours making a cover for a FREE book, so for the fun of it I just said to myself, "Why not try the Kindle Cover Creator." This was after trying some other online cover creators that didn't impress me. They either didn't have a suitable image or they weren't user friendly enough for me. It's weird, I'm great with most software. This includes easily learning most types of software. However, with photoshop, I would need to take a class. 

While in the Kindle Cover Creator, I managed to find one image of Mars in their entire library. It wasn't perfect, but not horrible. While clicking around it offered me some templates, and I really liked one of the fonts that looked rather android-ish. However, that font wasn't with the template I liked the most. So I went to the template I wanted and searched for the Android font. I added the Mars image and it blended in a black background without me having to do anything. This is how it came out....

  

I know there is a rather large blank space, but I thought maybe I could put a teaser of some sort in the space or when doing an ad I could put a big FREE symbol on it. That is if I end up doing ads.  

So how was last week? Well, it turned out kind of rough. There was a wind storm where the power went out twice along with the internet. The next night we had an ice storm. In the morning, my car was frozen shut. I had to dump three buckets of warm water on it for it open. I was a tad late for work. The thing about writing is that if you want to write, you have to find time to write no matter what is going on. That's what I'm trying to do. Here's to better weather and less distractions. 

Happy Monday!

Works in Progress

It's been a while since I've talked about any of the stories I've been working on. Just in case anyone is wondering, here goes....

For the Legacies of Mars series, I have been working on a prequel, which I mentioned briefly not too long ago. I also finally settled on a title called "Android Lost."  The colony is under the threat of being destroyed by an asteroid heading right toward Mars, on the same side of the planet as the colony. A malfunctioning satellite delays the time on which they find out about it. The android, Zamler takes the lead to stop this thing. He comes up with a plan that is so perfect, the assignment should easily be completed. This one has been fun to write and a lot of it has come to me easily. 

Another "story" of sorts I have been working on is based on real life experiences of becoming a care giver to my Dad. When I look back on it, so many ironic/funny things have happened. What I'm trying to do with it, is to be both funny and helpful to other people who end up being a caregiver, rather than putting their loved one in a facility. (My Dad was in assisted living for a while, but I brought him home for various reasons that will be in the book.) 

It's kind of like "If I can do it, maybe you can too." Now this doesn't mean I think everyone should be the main caregiver. Every situation is different. This includes the one needing the care. I've heard of elderly people that are just plain mean or impossible. I don't believe anyone should care for an abusive "loved one." One has to protect their own mental health. 

Back to the Science Fiction. A story I simply call "From Above." Not sure if I'm sticking with that title. Anyway, years ago a ship of humans crashed on a desert planet with Aliens. These aliens breed the humans and use them as slaves to mine for them. The aliens eat minerals to survive. The main character is about a young woman who is a slave and forced to have a baby. When she has the baby, he is taken away from her at birth. She knew this would happen, and thought she was mentally prepared. However, she finds herself devastated and this leads her on a path to becoming a "Rad." Short for Radical. The aliens are always on guard for Rads. Most humans don't want any trouble, so they too are against Rads. 

I never finished the climax. Then I went back and started writing a prequel because you always need that freebie. I never finished the prequel. It's been a long time since I've even read it over. I plan to read it after Android Lost is done. 

Anyway, I am determined to get something done. I have also considered writing in a different genre. Something that doesn't require a lot of research. Not sure what. I'm open to suggestions. 

  

My work in progress: Making an Alien

I've been working on a new Novel. It's about humans who have been turned into mining slaves on an alien planet. At first, they think that the aliens (The Jaxui) created them to work for them. The humans are cut off from knowing their true origins or really anything about themselves. Most Jaxui view humans as pasty, weak creatures that they need to keep suppressed. 

Of course, this involved a lot of world building. I still feel like I am continuing to fill in details. The planet is called Jaximus. To tell the truth, I just came up with that. I was trying to find a name, and I'm still open to suggestions. Jaximus is mostly a desert planet. However, at the poles, the temperature is low enough to allow a tropical forest to grow. Humans are unaware of what exists at the poles. 

Anyway, I've tried to come up with a unique alien. It's pretty hard to do since so much has been written. At first, I was going to make them spider-like, but so many aliens are either like insects, spiders or reptiles. Then I decided to make these aliens bird-like. They have wings, but they can only fly in long jumps across the desert. It's kind of like a long hop that their wings help extend about 100 feet at a time. These wings have several small finger-like extensions that they use to do delicate work on their ships, etc. Their feet are like talons and also help them to jump long distances. 

The Jaxui like it hot, and they eat only minerals to survive. They have a tube that comes out of their beak-like mouths that is like a straw that just sucks up minerals. The humans mine these minerals for them while the Jaxui provide them with food. They have farms near the poles that are also worked by humans. The farming humans are unaware of the mining humans and vise versa. Using humans slaves to mine, has led to over population and mineral shortages. 

Overall, the Jaxui are double the size of a human. Their color is mostly beige, but the feathers of the males have some white stripes and in some rare cases red. Their females are slightly smaller with no color. Their off-spring go through two phases (similar to a butterfly) The first one is a worm-like stage where ironically they grow up at the edge oft the poles where they can eat vegetation. Eventually they morph into their final form and can leave the poles. The Jaxui have been frustrated with reproduction because of how long it takes to reproduce. It's almost two years. In recent years, they have found a way for a female to have two at a time, rather than one. This has contributed to mineral shortages. 

Jaxui are a warrior type alien. They value fighting skills and this contributes to who will be there next Ruler. The current ruler is too old and weak to continue, and must be killed by the next Ruler. Jaxui have long needle-like extenders that they use to jab at each other or kill off a disobedient human. 

I haven't come up with a title or even a series title. The theme I'm going for is unity, as in the humans have to unite to gain their freedom. The main character is Ash. A human female that had a baby for the Jaxui. She thought she would be okay giving up her son, until she has to do it. 

What are you thoughts? Any title ideas? All comments appreciated. 

New Dune Movie in October 2021

While looking over some Dune related websites for my comment on Patrick's blog, I stumbled across the news that a new Dune movie is planned for October 2021. Dune was one of the first science fiction books I ever read, or tried to read when I was 12. It was a rather heavy read at that age, but I was determined and thought it was so cool how they had to put a small dictionary at the back of the book for all of the made up words. What hooked me was the characters and the world building. 

There was an attempt to make a Dune movie in 1974, but after two years it was never completed. Later in 1984, the first Dune movie was released. I thought it was okay, but it didn't do so well, especially in the reviews and ratings. I'm sure many people were put off by it because it was kinda slow, not much action, and too weird and confusing for the general public. It's so bizarre that it really does feel like you're on an alien world while watching it. 

In 1999 there was a Dune mini-series on the SF channel, which I have not seen. At that time, I was busy raising toddlers. Maybe I can find it and watch it. In any case, I always thought a Dune movie could be great. Of course, I found the trailer. It's rather long, but it does make the movie look great. Lots of action and some comedy relief with the occasional funny remark. This video has my hopes up. 

UFOs and Reality

Last Sunday I watched 60 minutes where they had a segment about UFOs and how they appear to be, not just a real thing, but as if these UFOs have some intelligence about them. They had several pilots that claim to have seen them frequently. They claimed that these UFO's are apparently faster and have more technology than we could imagine. They're super fast, can move in all directions, go through air and/or they disappear into the ocean. 

It was stated that there is enough concern that the government is investigating. This is where some people were like...whoa, this must be serious. What do they know? What are they not saying? Where is the hidden bunker with the alien bodies? 

UFO?

However, I'm not convinced because there is something that can do all those things. Space Junk. Of course, it's going to be moving fast, in all directions (tumbling) and will at some point disappear into the air because it burned up or appeared to disappear into the ocean because it sank. 

A second possible reason for the sightings, is that the source is from humans. Perhaps a country has sent out spy drones or some private individual or group has invented something. If we have small drones, it's probably not too hard to build larger drones. Maybe some drones go missing. They go too high and end up on someone's radar. 

Another possibility is our own technology and the software that scans the sky. Both are prone to glitches. Radar can be affected by weather and atmospheric disturbances. 

Even though I'm not a believer, I'm glad the government is investigating. It's better to be cautious in case someone has invented a plane, small enough to stay off ground radar, to take pictures. Either way, to find anything it will have to lead to improvements in technology, and that's a good thing.  

Escaping From the Media When You Can.

Hello,

For several years someone had taken my URL. I would never give into some sort of negotiating to get it back, so I started another site where I could combine all of my books. 

CYBookz

However, just recently I was able to get my URL back. This problem happened when, for unknown reasons, the URL didn't automatically renew and I had no warning from Blogger. In the past, I would get an email from them saying it was due. Somehow, that didn't happen. Regardless, it's more my fault than anything. I have reminders set else where, so it shouldn't happen again. 

I work in a hospital and I've seen a lot the last couple of years. All I can say is, it's true that Covid kills more people than any virus. There have been times when our hospital has been well over capacity during all the waves. Then there are people who end up with 

I'm not a clinical person, but Covid patients have been in the area where I work. We all wear masks and I've never gotten Covid. I can only hope that people don't make a decision to wear a mask based on politics. I got the vaccine, not just for me, but so I don't somehow spread it to others. I don't expect others to provide herd immunity for me. 

That brings us to the subject of Hoarding. First it was toilet paper, and now it's gasoline in bags. Classy right? During all these problems, the truth is we would all have enough if we wouldn't hoard. Hoarding is about fear and a lack of trust. Fear always makes the problem worse. It even makes the thing you fear to come true. 

In the last several years, people have been bombarded with the news and most of it isn't good. We know the media slants things to make them seem more interesting or scary. It's all about click bait. They are competing to give the people what they want, so if it works, it's not going to stop. Yet, we want to know what's going on in the world, so we don't always turn it off. Often times we find it hard to look away because we tend to crave the conflict, even if it scares us. I limit the amount of news I watch or read. This doesn't mean I think it's right to not care about things going on in the world, but everyone needs a mental break.  

However, there are many things we can do to get away from it all. I like to watch sitcoms, and of course I love to read and write.  

To help you escape, I have a free Ebook out there. 

For Science Fiction Readers....

Free on Amazon

Free on Barnes & Noble, Apple, etc