January 2024 – Reveals and Other Surprises

Welcome to my first blog post of 2024.

Novelette Cover Reveal

Narratess and FanFiAddict recently revealed the official cover for my prequel novelette, The Tidelings of Dras Sayve.

Coming 21 March 2024

Maverick diplomat Emis Rindar travels to the northernmost clan in the Dras Channel, seeking the assistance of an old friend. After a lifetime of adventures across Knyadrea, a large moon, his next planned endeavour will be unlike anything he has attempted.
Isolated and enigmatic, the knyads of Dras Sayve keep even their neighbours at a distance, and few welcome the unorthodox ideas Emis brings from abroad. But all his breakthroughs happen here, and the Sayvians are the most technologically progressive knyads on the moon. Can Emis convince them that he will make a worthy mentor to one of their more curious juveniles?

This story is set 30 years before the events of Far Removed (C B Lansdell’s debut sci-fi novel).

You may be among the subscribers who have read my newsletter freebie. Author and editor, Rachel Bowdler, has since proofread it for me. There will also be around 10 illustrations spread throughout this 17k-word e-book.

Emis is a fun character; similar to Oklas, but with a more grounded manner. I had an idea of his history before I wrote Far Removed (where he is only mentioned). He made the perfect vehicle to explore themes that come up later in my duology, TToDS is on pre-order at $0. 99 (or an equivalent price in other countries). It will go up a little upon release. For now, I am considering enrolling it in KU for a time to see how it fares.

I just need to think of something else to share with those who sign up for my newsletter. For now, it is in hibernation (the next 2 months are going to be busy).

Award Nomination

I was pleasantly surprised to find Far Removed was shortlisted for FanFiAddict’s Best Indie Debut of 2023. Maybe I should frame this screenshot?

You can vote for Far Removed using the Google form above. I know some of the other titles here have a much larger readership than I do (and are great books, if their other accolades are anything to go by), so I don’t expect to win. But any support from my readers would be encouraging.

A word to the wise: if you would like to position your book for a chance at award recognition, release it before May. It’ll give you time to garner reviews, enter some competitions and generate buzz for those end-of-year “favourites” lists and book awards. I am not very strategic about these things. I was lucky my debut gained some notice in the last few months of the year.

Book Mail

I delivered my first decorative book box to a reviewer this month. I am hoping to do up a few more for South African sci-fi and horror reviewers (please feel free to reach out). If you live in the UK or US, I can also mail you a paperback or hardcover using Ingram Spark, only the packaging won’t be as pretty. I may not be able to market Far Removed as a romance, but I can put gifts together for Valentine’s month.