Your Latest Science Fiction and Science stories and reviews for you by me, Andy Zach, author of 8 books and one on the way.
Which one is one the way? The sequel to this one:
Villain’s Vacation cover
What’s it about?
Four disabled seventh-graders with superpowers take a vacation at Coaster World. They need a break from fighting criminals. Ever since the beginning of the school year when they acquired their unusual abilities, they’ve been training and using those powers to fight crime in their town.
Little do they know the arch-villain they recently defeated also loves coasters and is vacationing at Coaster World. Worse, the villain wants revenge. Nothing less than turning these teens to a life of crime will satisfy.
Can Jeremy, Dan, Kayla, and Aubrey withstand the villain’s attacks? Or will they become Super Villains?
You can only find out by reading the adventure ‘Villain’s Vacation’.
So what’s the sequel about? It’s titled Secret Supers in Space. It’s about my 7th-grade disabled superheroes’ adventures at Space Camp–and beyond.
Your Latest Science Fiction Book – What I’m Reading
Look what I’m reading right now:
While the xenophobic alien Morkth race searches the galaxy to destroy the last of human vermin, the lightly armed members of the only human colony must figure out how to defend themselves from the coming attack.
May Science Fiction Reviews for You that may please you. Where do I start? I’ve been so busy reading books I barely have had time to read my own reviews. But here they are, somewhat in time order.
Delightful little novella. He introduces a vivid character, former Space Academy graduate and space scout, Javier Aritza, who raises chickens, fruits and vegetables while exploring the universe.
Too bad he runs into pirates. But with some aggressive negotiation skills, he agrees to join them as their science officer. Their air is barely breathable and their water barely drinkable but he fixes that.
For such a short read, Blaze Ward packed in a lot of character development and adventure.
OK this was funny, I actually started with volume 2 in this series (My undead mother in law) and all the things that I was missing in the story in the one I started are explained here, its brilliant and very funny XD, one thing that I love about this series, the people reading the book (there’s more than one ^__^) they actually sound like they’re having fun, and that’s twice the fun for us that are listening to the audiobook.
If you want a series that makes you laugh, with lots of gore and at the same time, even normal life, yeah people get to know each other and they even marry, yeah I guess you could say this is for all ages hahah
I got a free ARC from StoryOrigin and this is my honest opinion
Okay, Blaze Ward’s first book was good and his second was better.
The story begins with the pirate crew going to a haunted system. Ships that go there, never come back. And that almost happens to them, but thanks to the quick thinking of Javier, their Science Officer, they escape.
Does the stalwart, former military pirate captain use the opportunity to escape? Nope. They get into problems they never expected.
My Undead Mother-in-law cover. Click to get yours.
it was amazing
One of the most funny books about zombies, where the zombies are not the monster or the bad guy, actually being zombified, cures all sorts of health problems, from being overweight to the death doors, and you feel much more energetic and strong.
What can I say that wont give spoilers, but it will explain in details what I did enjoy about this audiobook, both voice actors, you had a male and a female, they seemed to enjoy themselves while they were reading it, so it was so much more fun, it was also very nice the way they interact with the other, great fun, the story was also fun, and with lots of action and violence, but in a way that you will find yourself laughing out loud while listening to the violence, yeah the first dinner in the parents-in-law in the first few minutes of the book set what I was sure I would find during the book and it didn’t disappoint.
Just try it out, keep in mind that this it’s not your usual zombie story 😉 it was really a good fun, and I highly recommend, I started by this volume, I understand this is the second in the series, but unlike many other stories I didn’t find myself lost or in need to go back and read or listen the first book in the series, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to go back (sure I want) but if like me you start by this one, I don’t think you’ll find yourself lost in anyway.
Thank you StoryOrigin by the free Audible and I am leaving this review voluntarily. (less)
Much to my delight, Blaze Ward continues his high-quality writing in the third installment of his military scifi series, The Science officer.
Javier Aritza was captured by space pirates, who destroyed his scout ship and upset his life. He negotiates his way out of slavery and into a valuable officer on their ship, where he can pay off his slave debt.
But things change. The imperturbable captain Zolokov keeps generating new challenges for Javier. Once again, Javier must risk his life to save a crew member or three. One of them hate his guts. They’re in a den of pirates. Oh my.
Book Conventions – as an author. I’ve been to two conventions in two weeks and I’m going to another one this week. What’s it like as an author? I’ll let you know below.
Plus, I’ve got a new review of a fantasy book for you. Then I have my usual free book offers. And I’ll let you know about a sale, coming up this Sunday, March 20, first day of spring.
Begin With the Future – What Conventions Are Approaching?
A simple search for book conventions brings up hundreds. My first filter was, “What’s in Peoria?”
In 2016, when I published my first book, nothing.
Get your Zombie Turkeys here. You get a bushel of laughter with each book.
‘He felt great. He was full of energy, he had many hens to breed with, and he was the leader of a great flock.’
Sam Melvin is a reporter with the Midley Beacon, it’s a tiny local paper – with an online presence – run by its penny-pinching editor Lisa Kambacher. When Sam sees the two turkey hunters on the slab in the local mortuary, he knows he has a story to cover and he sets out to do so with great gusto. As the zombie turkeys multiply, Sam and Lisa are the leading media team on the ground and the Midley Beacon goes international, solving their financial woes and syndicating their work across the globe. But it’s not all good news. After all, there are those people-killing zombie turkeys heading into town…
So, I went to Chambanacon, in Bloomington. It was one hour drive from Peoria. It cost some money, but I was willing to risk it. I had fun and sold some copies of my first book.
That’s pretty much how I pick my conventions.
Book Conventions -The Next Step is Packing
What to pack? How about books?
I have seven different books (soon to be eight!) and almost two hundred copies. What to take?
Enjoy all four novels in audiobook, paperback, or Kindle format!
All of them.
What else should I take?
From the very beginning, I’ve always had a signup list for my newsletter. People who buy my books are my favorite people. What if they want more? You can sign up here and get free books.
I pile about a hundred books into my rolling suitcase and another hundred in cardboard boxes ‘just in case I need them.’
Should I take anything else? How about posters, table swag (candy, business cards, bookmarks), and decorations.
Here’s my most recent convention, showing everything I’ve mentioned so far:
Andy Zach at Quadcon March 2022, Peoria Northwoods Mall
Surely that’s everything, right? Surely not!
Surely you can’t be serious!
Looking through my most recent packing list, other things are:
tablecloth
duck tape
extension cord
computer and cord and case
two cell phones with chargers
credit card reader
book stickers
cash box
receipt book
vaccination card
mask
tea thermos
lunch box
moving dolly
Book Conventions – Being There
I get totally hyped at book conventions. I love meeting my customers and future customers. Then I get to read from my books for them. Perhaps the best of all is meeting newsletter subscribers who love my newsletter and my books. No, I think the best is when a person buys my next book after enjoying one.
But wait, there’s more!
from ‘Scary Movie’
I also get to meet and talk with other authors–and–wait for it–learn from them!
Yes, I don’t know everything. I’m always picking up new ideas and approaches to writing and promoting my books.
What’s the Down Side?
There are negatives. First, you’ve got to schlep hundreds of pounds of stuff to your booth location and set everything up.
Next, you’ll get tired. Sit down, then stand and talk. Repeat for eight hours. Before, during, and afterward, be positive. Don’t let them see you cry, moan, or complain.
Finally, you’ll lug your luggage back to your car and drive home.
I love that someone is writing fun superstories in which disabled and differently abled kids can see themselves as potentially brave and heroic. The story doesn’t just show them doing impossible things that fully abled people can’t even do; it shows them using their heads to solve problems and cooperating together to use their different gifts to change the world for the better. And it’s well told, with a youthful sounding narrator that highlights the 12-13 years of the characters.
I received this free audiobook and voluntarily left this honest review.
Note: While this is Book 2 in the series, it works pretty well as a stand alone story (tho book 1 is a lot of fun).
Once again the Secret Supers (Jeremy, Dan, Kayla, and Aubrey) combine their skills to fight evil! Well, actually, they were having a bit of a vacation and evil found them. But evil will certainly be sorry! Once again, Andy Zach gives us another delightful kids’ book. I’ve listened to his other audiobooks, including the Zombie Turkeys books, and this is a great addition to that collection.
