Stories About Epidemics, Pandemics, and Global Apocalypses Not on the Nightly News

The thing about a global pandemic when you're a writer is that people keep asking if you are going to write a story about lethal diseases, quarantines, and food riots, like that is something new and different to write about. But anyone who writes genre fiction (horror, thrillers, science fiction, and fantasy, etc.) probably has a story or book or three that touches these issues already. Most of you know already know about the various disasters, world-ending threats, and futuristic events that are touched on in my various novels. But, there are some biological threats and grim occurrences in my shorter works, too. For example, my story Rural Route (originally published in Boondocks Fantasy in 2011 and now included in my Shadow Realities collection) deals with disease vectors studied by the Centers of Disease Control. Solitary Life (first published in The Crimson Pact, Vol. 1 in 2011, and now reprinted in my Crimson Life/Crimson Death Collection) deals with a self-imposed quarantine taken to the extreme. And Options, from Bumps in the Road in 2016 is all about the risks and rewards of sheltering in place.

Let's face it. Writers are odd ducks and we think about odd things, like murder, mayhem, and surviving after an earth-shattering apocalypse (along with creating an apocalypse or two along the way). What can I say? I took a course on Nuclear and Classical War when I was in college at The University of Chicago, where I learned how to calculate the proper bomb detonation height to create maximum overpressure or minimum fallout, as well as how to create a fall-out shelter and a Geiger counter if needed. Sure, I may not remember most of it, but our past always instructs our future.

Origins Game Fair Online

An online Origins Game Fair will occur online from June 17-21, 2020, with the in person version still scheduled to happen October 7-11, 2020. Here's the link for more details.

The final details for the various panels, readings, and events for the Library, the track of activities featuring all of the usual authors you've come to know and love at Origins is still in the works. But, you should know that the general plan is to have a half dozen multi-author panels on Saturday. Each author should also have a link/page/presence where you can find and, hopefully, purchase their products. One of the nice things about the web presence for products is that it will allow me (and others) to show off our e-reader only products as well as our dead tree novels, stories, and collections. Hope to see you there. Watch this space for more next month.

Magic's Balance by Steve Rouse

My friend, Steve Rouse, has a new collection of stories out called Magic's Balance. Take a look. One intrepid reviewer had this to say: Steve Rouse has put together a delightful collection of stories covering a variety of genres. Whether dealing with fantasy battles, science fiction, horror, or odd happenings, you'll find clean, evocative prose, clever characters, humor, danger, twists, turns, and plenty of redemption. Keep this on your nightstand for a quick, fun read before going to bed or load it on your favorite e-reader for an escape from dismal reality during a break at work. You won't be disappointed! ~ Donald J. Bingle

The Jethro Parables by Justin Fillmore

All is sand and dust

Civilization teeters on the brink of collapse as the last vestiges of humanity toil beneath an unforgiving sun. Jethro finds himself the unwilling hero of a tale that brings godless men, lawless bandits, and the savage people that inhabit the fringe into conflict. With his own past haunting his every step, can he find redemption? It hasn't rained in years. It may never rain again.

There will be blood ... and oil.

Click through on the picture above and pick up a free review copy. Check it out and post on Amazon, Goodreads, or your favorite blog or website.