Summertime Science Fiction and Fact is the title that popped into my head as I thought about what I wanted to write this week. I’ve found a lot of science fiction books and science articles I want to share. Will I get ten in? Read and find out!
Now here you’ll get a real science fiction book. Or is it fantasy? Or both? It’s author Cindy Tomamichel’s collection of short stories for your reading pleasure.
Your Last Bit of Summertime Science Fiction – Or Fact?
We know Jurassic Park, a science fiction movie, had a Dilophosaurus. How much was fiction and how much is fact? You tell me! On the frontiers of science what is fact and what is fiction changes daily.
Your 10 Best Science Updates of June as curated by me, Andy Zach. I’ve always loved science; that led to me becoming a science fiction writer. Now I’m seeing science overtaking the science fiction of my youth, in the distant 60s.
Let’s start, shall we?
Your 10 Best Science Updates – Begin Here
I love watching old videos of our astronauts on the moon. Here we have the Apollo 15 crew dropping a hammer and a falcon feather (the space ship was named ‘Falcon’) in the moon’s vacuum. Galileo said four hundred years ago they should hit at the same time. Do they? Reply to this post or email me the answer and I’ll send you a free Zombie Turkeys ebook.
What will you find in this science article? Oh, growing new organs from scratch. Also, you’ll find an inhalable drug to fight COVID-19. And then you’ll learn about AI used to manage vaccines. No science update would be complete without a supermaterial. It’s in here. Finally, you get a molecular breakdown of virii. Just what you wanted.
Number Three: Your Quadrennial Flying Car Report
“Quadrennial? Why would you use that weird word, Andy?”
Thanks for asking! I’ve kept at this blog for four years and this is my first flying car report. So enjoy!
Beyonce look-alike on a flying skateboard. From Paranormal Privateers.
Your Next Foray Into Science Starts Here
For those who don’t click on any articles, let me summarize: neutron stars may be up to 2.3 solar masses. The lightest black hole so far is about 3 solar masses. The astronomers have discovered an object of 2.6 solar masses.
So what is it, blog readers? A black hole or a neutron star? The first one to contact me with the correct answer can get any book of mine for free.
Your Fifth Science Article Coming Up
I love outer space video, especially beautiful ones like this. How about you?
Your Sixth Step of Science
This story isn’t a video, but instead a gorgeous photo of Juiter from its south pole. Free free to use it as computer or phone background.
Seven Come Eleven–er Your 10 Best Science Updates
Here’s a science story about SpaceX commercially launching over 100 spacecrafts into orbit. Any of you read Robert Heinlein’s novella, The Mon Who Sold the Moon? It’s all about commercialization of spaceflight. If you read it, tell me what you think of it and I’ll send you a free book.
You’ll Feel Great with Number Eight
Step into our showroom and purchase an all new, 2020 NASA Mars rover! It’ll have 100% of the Martian market sown up.
Your Penultimate Science Update
Do you know what a directed graph is? Peruse the one above, of the lyrics of “99 Bottles of Beer”.
What Does An Author Do Between Books? Have you ever wondered? Do book ideas just appear like packages in the mail?
I don’t know what other authors do, but I’ll let you know what I do.
What Does An Author Do Between Books? Getting Ideas
I have no lack of ideas: books devoted to my favorite characters, sequels to current books, whole new series based on alternate history. These ideas appear daily and my wife and children give me more. But ideas aren’t books.
First, I create a list of ideas. Then I think, “What do I want to write?” Then I think, “What do I need to write?” By that, I mean I must write sequels to a series that isn’t finished, like my Secret Supers series.
But I just did that. I wrote Secret Supers sequel Villain’s Vaction, and it’s at my editor. I’m also working with my illustrator to create an awesome cover.
Of course, all titles are provisional and subject to change. That’s why they’re called “working titles”.
But this single idea in three volumes was completely new to me. I envisioned a steampunk, alternate history US where Tesla’s technology is used, for good and evil. It also dovetailed with an idea I had from a successful author (income in six figures!): write all three volumes of a trilogy every year and release them one month apart.
Between Books – Mapping the Territory
This might be a surprise to you. I research every one of my books and my research may be 33-50% of the size of the final book. The research makes me comfortable with the subjects and locations involved and generates plot and character ideas.
I’ve begun research on Tesla. I’ll also have to research Edison and General Electric, plus all the key locations in Tesla’s and Edison’s lives. I won’t use most of what I learn.
I’ve got the first image and the first link of my research for you.
I have my trilogy set–why can’t I just start writing? Some writers would begin now. But I’ve learned I write faster if I research first and then write. Having all my facts in my head gives me ideas and I don’t have to interrupt writing to look up how tall Tesla and Edison were. (Six feet two inches and five ten, respectively.)
Once I’ve read all I can find about Tesla and Edison, I’ll plot what will happen when Tesla travels in time and changes the past.
Does this blog post give you any ideas? Do you have any questions? Write a comment or contact me and I’ll give you an audiobook of your choice. Pick one of the following:
I estimate I’ll need at least a year to write three books, probably more. But my business model requires that I publish one book every nine months. Writers must write and publish to make money. So what can I do?
I’ll keep writing sequels to Secret Supers. There are no end of adventure four seventh grade superheroes can have. I’ll write a sequel to Villain’s Vacation around November 2020 during National November Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). Then I’ll publish it around May 2021. My next book won’t be due until February 2022. That’s when I’ll start publishing my Tesla Trilogy.
