CassaStorm Cover Reveal!

In a galaxy far away ... no not that story but it's nearly as big. Today is the long awaited first look at the cover and blurb for CassaStorm by Alex Cavanaugh. I'm so honored to be part of the early excitement surrounding Alex's third book in his series that started with CassaStar, continued in CassaFire and now brings us to the 'Storm.'

I know Alex will make a big deal of thanking everyone for helping in this reveal and all those who stop by and visit. But compared to the promotion and attention he gives to others every week on his blog, this is so little to give back to him.

This blurb is going to make you want the book right now.

A storm gathers across the galaxy…

Byron thought he’d put the days of battle behind him. Commanding the Cassan base on Tgren, his only struggles are occasional rogue pirate raids and endless government bureaucracies. As a galaxy-wide war encroaches upon the desert planet, Byron’s ideal life is threatened and he’s caught between the Tgrens and the Cassans.

After enemy ships attack the desert planet, Byron discovers another battle within his own family. The declaration of war between all ten races triggers nightmares in his son, shaking Bassan to the core and threatening to destroy the boy’s mind.

Meanwhile the ancient alien ship is transmitting a code that might signal the end of all life in the galaxy. And the mysterious probe that almost destroyed Tgren twenty years ago could be on its way back. As his world begins to crumble, Byron suspects a connection. The storm is about to break, and Byron is caught in the middle…

Release date: September 17, 2013

Science Fiction - Space Opera/Adventure

Print ISBN 9781939844002

E-book ISBN 9781939844019

 

If you've been living in an Internet free zone and have never heard of Alex visit him here on his blog.

 

Don't you want this book now? How many places have you seen the cover so far today? If you're Alex, don't even say thanks. This is my pleasure.

 

CassaFire Today!

didn't officially join the big party for the launch of CassaFire today, but I must mention the release of Alex Cavanaugh's second book in his space adventure series. If you go to his blog, you'll find a big thing going on.

CassaStar is the first book and a terrific, can't-put-down read. I've read some scifi novels over the years but sometimes I get a bit cross-eyed when the author goes on for pages about the size of a ship's engines and the power of its guns. No worries about his in Alex's books. It has enough action to keep the reader on the edge of their seat and characters with enough depth to hold your emotions hostage to the last page. You can bet I'll be buying the second book, CassaFire as soon as I'm off work today.

So do you like scifi? What book have you been looking forward to in 2012?

Alex Cavanaugh: Finding Your Voice Online

Today I'm welcoming Alex J. Cavanaugh as a guest poster.  If you haven't heard of him, here's a little bit about Alex:

Alex J. Cavanaugh has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and works in web design and graphics. He’s experienced in technical editing and worked with an adult literacy program for several years. A fan of all things science fiction, his interests range from books and movies to music and games. Currently he lives in the Carolinas with his wife.

And here's a blurb and a short review about Alex's latest novel, CassaStar:
To pilot the fleet’s finest ship…



Few options remain for Byron, a talented young man with a troubled past and rebellious attitude. Slated to train as a Cosbolt pilot, Byron is determined to prove his worth and begin a new life. Much to his chagrin, Bassa, the toughest instructor in the fleet, takes notice of the young pilot. As war brews on the edge of space, Byron requires a navigator of exceptional quality to survive. Bassa must make a decision that could well decide the fate of both men. Will their skills be enough as they embark on a mission that may stretch their abilities to the limit?

“…calls to mind the youthful focus of Robert Heinlein’s early military sf, as well as the excitement of space opera epitomized by the many Star Wars novels. Fast-paced military action and a youthful protagonist make this a good choice for both young adult and adult fans of space wars.” - Library Journal

And here is Alex's lesson on finding your voice.
As writers, we’re told to find our voice. Our stories must have a unique voice that sets us apart from other authors. But what about online? As we blog and post on social sites, shouldn’t that voice be unique as well?
It can be a struggle at first. Online, we are just printed words. How can we convey with mere words all that cannot be seen in the physical or felt in the heart and mind?


Science fiction/adventure/space opera,
Dancing Lemur Press LLC

ISBN Print 9780981621067
 eBook 9780982713938



I think our voice develops when we start to focus on our passions. It’s similar to singing. If we’re forced to sing something dull (and forgive me, but church hymns come to mind) we’ll sound monotone and bored. However, give us a song we love, one that stirs our emotions, and we’ll sing loud and with feeling. If we’re excited and passionate, it also comes through in our writing. Who we are as a person starts to shine when we write about topics that move us.

We need to avoid the pitfalls, though. It must be our passions, or we sound monotone and lacking a soul. (Remember - just like singing a hymn!) We don’t want to sound like a used car salesman or a know-it-all, either. However, the greatest trap is to conform. We can take direction from others and let them guide us, but the voice must become our own. Otherwise, we’re just another person online.

Whether we have a book deal or not, we must remember, we’re establishing our voice right now. With every word, we are shaping how others view us. Scary thought, huh? Naturally, we want to put our best foot forward. No one wants to sound like a jerk!



We can’t pretend to be something we’re not, though. No one is perfect, so why worry about it? We just need to be personable and let people know we are real. That’s what draws others to us.

So, how do we find our voice online? By being ourselves and writing about our passions. If you think about it, that’s not difficult at all!

Thank you, Alex, for this very informative post. Please visit his blog where you'll learn even more about running a successful blog and using your distinct voice.

To purchase Alex's book, check out these fine retailers.

Amazon,    Barnes and Noble,    Kindle,    Amazon UK


Voice by Alex

Tomorrow Alex Cavanaugh, author of CassaStar, will guest here and give us his view of finding your voice.  When I first set my mind to becoming a serious writer, I attended a terrific writing conference at Penn State University and joined a local chapter of RWA.  At both these places, people talked about finding your 'voice.'  I had not one clue what they were talking of and being the shy newbie I was, I didn't ask. 

I researched and even then didn't quite understand it until long after I finished my first manuscript.  There weren't anywhere near the online resources at the beginning of my career as there are today.  A writer like Alex Cavanaugh is one of those resources.  Stop by tomorrow and take advantage of what he can teach you, free of charge. 

After a hectic week of checking the manuscript of Beyond the Gate, I’m able to get back to the thousand other things I need to do to get ready for this release. Okay, not quite a thousand but it is quite a few. One of the things I’m doing is working on two short stories that are prequels to The Futhark Chronicles. Then I have to decide where to post them. It’s been fun to revisit the world of Futhark. More about those stories when they’re ready to go.

I’m also still working on my blog tour. I’m not sure how long to make it. Five blogs, ten blogs, more? How long is a tour anyway?
In the meantime, I’ve discovered a few new blogs I’m really enjoying. One is Alex Cavanaugh, a recently published SF writer. Read about his new release, CassaStar.

I’ve found staying up to date on all the things I’m doing to increase my web presence is taking away from my writing time during the evenings. Not much I can do about it for the next two months as I really push the release of Beyond the Gate. So my writing goals will be to finish one of the short stories by the onset of daylight savings time renders the world dark before dinner every night. I believe that occurs November 7th.

Actually though I miss the many hours of sunlight during the winter, I do get more writing done without so many outdoor activities and chores to tempt me. I’m hoping for multiple snowfalls this season. I love shoveling the white stuff when the world is quiet, especially after dark. Of course, one of the neighbors will eventually power up their snow blower and ruin the peace.

So do you get more writing and reading done in the winter or are you disciplined enough to work like hours no matter the season?