Posted on 1 Comment

Best of September’s Internet for You

September's Internet

Best of September’s Internet for You, curated by me, author Andy Zach. Find out what amazing news, discoveries, insights, and fun you’ve missed this month.

I’ve spent the month writing my ninth book and cruising the internet researching the Everglades, the coast of Florida, and the Dragon space capsule procedures. What’s new with you? Let me know, and I’ll send you a free book. Click here.

Or don’t. You can also get my books* for free here, by subscribing to my newsletter.

*My books: Zombie Turkeys, Zombie Detective, My Undead Mother-in-law, Paranormal Privateers, Oops! Tales of the Zombie Turkey Apocalypse, Secret Supers, and Villain’s Vacation. Click on each title to find out more and to get your copy in ebook, paperback, or audiobook.

Let’s begin the discovery of September’s Internet!

Yup, this shark would look fine on a cover of a 50s SciFi magazine.

September's Internet
Imagine a lurking shark here.

Speaking of science fiction covers, this picture from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) would be great as a cover:

For comparison, here’s a picture from the Voyager spacecraft as it flew by in 1989:

September's Internet

How About Some Videos from September’s Internet?

Would you like a flying bicycle/motorcycle?

In many predictions from the 50s, we were supposed to have flying cars by now. How about flying motorcycles? Is this for you?

Let’s take a break from SciFi and go to fantasy.

Legolas’ life and travels

Did you learn anything about Legolas from this video? Let me know.

September’s Internet – Some Humor

Back to Science Fiction–from 200 BC

The Antikythera mechanism is an example of Greek technical prowess as early as 300-200 BC. A good alternate history scifi would be for them to begin an industrial revolution at that time.

And speaking of the industrial revolution, the Brooklyn Bridge was built at that time in the US, chiefly managed by Roebling’s wife, after his death. The technology of the 19th century inspires steampunk SciFi.

September’s Writing Prompt

I belong to a writers’ group. Here was the writing prompt we got:

September's Internet
September’s Writing Prompt

He sat and waited. He’d been doing that for some time. Three million four hundred, fifty one thousand, and sixty one years, one hundred ninety one days, five hours, and thirty five minutes, according to his internal clock, accurate to five microseconds per millennium.

As usual, he absorbed all information he could from his surroundings. Crickets chirred. He recognized each within microphone range by their variations in timbre and frequency. Then there were the electromagnetic impulses flooding his various antennae. He’d identified thirteen distinct civilizations on this planet. Most of them were quite recent.

But no activation signal.

Wait! There it was. Now he could act.

This is what Andy Zach wrote in five minutes.
Posted on

Fantasy Fuel! What Inspires Fantasy?

Fantasy Fuel! What is it? It’s those books, articles, pictures, and videos that spark the creativity that leads to fantasy stories. Let’s start with this one:

There are a LOT of castles in Europe–and there are more in Asia and Africa. Castles lend themselves to fantasy settings. I’ve dreamed of living in one and defending one from attack.

Which of the castles in this article is your favorite? Tell me and I’ll send you a free book. Just click here.

Fantasy Fuel – How about fantastic creatures?

Squashmingos! They remind me of the flamingos used by Alice in Alice in Wonderland. In case you’re not familiar with the reference, here is one of the original illustrations by Tenniel:

Fantasy Fuel
Alice playing croquet with a flamingo.
Alice in Wonderland Illustration by Sir John Tenniel (28 February 1820 aa 25 February 1914)
19th Century Illustration

Here’s a snippet of the Disney movie:

I haven’t written a fantasy yet, but I have made up an imaginary, alien animal: the foxcat.

The alien foxcat. Click to get the book.

It’s called a ‘foxcat’ because it’s a combination of a fennec fox and a caterpillar. A foxcat is a marsupial amphibian. It’s a stowaway on a gigantic flying saucer in my book:

SciFi Fuel Paranormal Privateers
Fantasy Fuel
The cover of my third novel Paranormal Privateers. Click to get yours.

My science fiction sounds like fantasy. I wonder what my fantasy will sound like? I’ll have to write my first fantasy to find out. My working title is ‘Sentience’.

More Fantasy Fuel Coming Up for You

You can’t beat reading great fantasy books to inspire your fantasy writing. Here’s one I just finished.

Fantasy Fuel
The Fellowship of the Ring
My recent review

The Fellowship of the Ring (The Lord of the Rings, #1)
by J.R.R. Tolkien

it was amazing

bookshelves: fantasyfavorites

Read 2 times. Last read September 13, 2022

The greatest novel of the 20th century, a true 5 star book, one that’ll be read in another hundred years.

My latest re-read was in the single volume edition with Christopher Lee’s artwork. His art is detailed and complex, with hidden elements that tell the story.

In this re-read, I saw the close connection between the start of the book, which is often called dull, and the end of the Hobbit. One dovetails into the other. The hobbit background is necessary for those who didn’t read the Hobbit, and provides additional detail on them, including their three races: the Stoors, the Harfoots, and the Fallowhides.

I also noticed in my re-read the masterful way Tolkien built tension and prolongs conflict and threats. He also increases the risks and dangers throughout the book. These details jump out at me more since I became an author.

Andy Zach‘s review

Yet More Fuel for Your Fantasy Writing

Why not use cartoons?

So, if you have a writer’s block, just get it off your desk!

How about some more fantastic architecture? Coming in from Kansas City we have the following:

Or how about we use some beautiful pictures of nature to inspire our writing?

Now, let’s try another cartoon.

Obviously, cartoons are my chief inspiration. I love talking animals.

I have a talking hamster in my Secret Supers books. Dancer taught himself how to read and type.

What Do Readers Think
Fantasy Fuel
Chapter 1 icon of Villain’s Vacation

Here’s a fantasy come true: free books. Enjoy these freebies from me. I give them to all my subscribers. Click here to get your books.

Posted on

Science Stories That Fuel Science Fiction

2021 Best Videos Science Stories

Science Stories That Fuel Science Fiction – Let me give you my ideas for fiction from recent scientific breakthroughs. Then you can tell me your ideas–and get free books for them.

Ready? Let’s go!

Here’s a great new image of Jupiter, taken with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST for short). How would I use this for fiction?

Imagine the infrared light revealing cities or satellites around the planet, inhabited by aliens. This would lead to a great story. What would you do? Let me know, and I’ll send you a free book. Just click here.

If you can’t think of anything to say, just click and join my newsletter and you’ll get free audiobooks.

This’d make a great cover for that book or short story:

2021 Best Videos
Science Stories
Jupiter to Earth size comparison

What’s Next in Science Stories?

How about this story?

Here we have a string of satellites visible from earth. I remember when Telstar was visible and used to relay signals from Japan to the US during the 1964 Olympics. I was 8 then.

How would I write this as a sci-fi story? One idea is to increase the size of human space structures until they’re as bright as the moon. What kind of space stations would they be? How would we use them? What would be the side effects, the social implications? This is a rich area of story fuel.

Let me know your ideas. Again, you get a free book for contributing.

More Story Fuel Coming Up!

I already have a zombie turkey apocalypse series. How about a squirrel apocalypse?

This tickles my funny bone: squirrels causing the downfall of civilization. I can think of dozens of scenarios, including leveraging my zombie world that begins below:

Best Science Stories Zombie Turkeys Gift
Science Stories
Get your Zombie Turkeys here. You get a bushel of laughter with each book.

How would you handle this? Get your book now, right here. You can also email me at [email protected] or you can write a comment on this blog.

Why do I give books away? Ideas are the most important resource a writer can have. Who knows if your idea will give me a great novel?