I've moved for now!

Hello!

Thank you so much for visiting my writing blog, but as it happens, I've moved! In more ways than one, actually.

As far as social media is concerned, I've been posting almost exclusively on 𝕏. You can find my account page here!

That's where I've been posting any writing updates and any/all ephemera related to my day-to-day. There will also be sporadic rants about California's high-speed rail project thrown in there every few months. I don't make the rules.

Additionally, though: I've also gotten married and moved to Japan! So I'll be posting photos about my new life here, as well.

But as for a final update here (for the foreseeable future, at least): I've been working almost exclusively on The Shattered Frontier series since my last post. I have a third book coming down the pike and the first unfinished draft, at present, is around 123k words and counting. It'll be the longest book I've ever written and I'm really enjoying how it's turning out. The final book will probably be cut down dramatically, but I think it's still going to be a monster project.

Check out the first two books in the fantasy western (six-guns and sorcery, if you like) series: What Was Your Name Downriver? and A Bad Rune at Angels Deep on Amazon. The third book has a title, but I'll post it when it's closer to being publishable.

Thank you for your interest, and I hope to see you on 𝕏!

NEW SHORT STORY: "Ain't That Just the Way?" (and other various updates)

Long time since the last update! Just a quick rundown of what's been going on in my life since my last post in January:

• I had to get my gallbladder removed! Yeah, I didn't see that one coming. Luckily, everything went a-okay and I was on my feet rather quickly. After three rather severe gallbladder attacks over the last year, I'm so, so happy to not have to worry about that happening again.
• I got accepted into grad school! Yep, I'll be continuing my education in English so I can speak it gooder. (Nyeheheh.) Been fun so far. Lots of theory, which isn't really my bag, but it's interesting nonetheless. I'll be looking at my options at the end and figuring out if continuing on for my doctorate is right for me, but for now I'm just preparing to stress out about my thesis project along with the rest of my cohort.

That's mostly it. Also bought a lot of books and am preparing to move to a different part of California soon... these two developments are at odds with each other, I know.

But, anyway: new short story!

I'm always writing in the background and this is a short story that I wrote, that I loved, but just couldn't find a home for. If I get to the end of that open submission gauntlet and still think I have a fun story on my hands, I'll publish it to Amazon. It was a story that I wrote after rewatching one of my favorite movies, O Brother, Where Art Thou?, for the billionth time. I really just wanted to write some characters who just goof off, talk at each other a bunch, and have some modest adventures for a few pages.

I still really like it. I like Dial and Jim, and wouldn't mind writing some more short stories with them eventually.

That's about it! Outside of school stuff, I'm still mapping out Book 3 of The Shattered Frontier. It's not coming along as fast as the second book did, but the conditions are different and this is going to be a bit of a stopping point for the series. So I need some arcs to come to a conclusion. Depending on where things are at once this one is published (i.e. - folks are reading and enjoying it), then I'll get started on Evaline and Trivan's next adventure sooner rather than later.

Hope all is well!

What Have I Been Up To?

Hello!

So, this blog hasn't seen an update in a while. The writing has continued and I plan on releasing some more stories in the near-future. Likely over the summer when I'll have more time to sit down and give everything a thorough edit and begin formatting.

But the main reason I haven't been able to update:

I'm in Japan!

Last August, I started working as an ALT at a high school in Japan. Specifically, it's a school in our sister city, which has provided me a tremendous opportunity to explore a culture I've always been fond of, get some first-hand teaching experience by working alongside other teachers, and facilitate a cultural exchange between our two cities as best as I can.

So, while I've had plenty of time to write, and while I've actually been able to complete a few projects that will either get shopped around or self-published in the short-term, my ability to get things self-published out here is not at a comfortable level.

In the meantime, if you're at all interested in my adventures over here, please give my Instagram a look!

@amlowe1123

This will be my primary social media account going forward. I'll still have Facebook, but it won't be getting much attention.

Looking forward to sharing what I've been working on this year!

"All the Stars in My Eyes" and "In the Land of Dead Dragons"

                 

And they're up! The last of the three short stories that I planned on putting up before the summer.

Just like "Alive," these are two stories that I just had a ton of fun writing. Both in the first person, both characters who could safely be accused of being a little heartless.

The first, "All the Stars in My Eyes," is a near-future sci-fi story about a doubler, someone who uses state-of-the-art tech to take the place of celebrities when they have to tap out for a bit. Seems like the need for the actual actor/actress to be on set is diminishing over time, so this is about a time when the need to actually be at their own meet-and-greets and on their own press tours is tenuous.

Here's the synopsis:

She's a doubler. Hired to take the place of imperiled celebrities.

She lives in the spotlight that isn't hers, revels in adoration she never earned. A composite of a failed actress and state-of-the-art disguises, she's lived the celebrity life for so long that she's starting to believe she deserves it.

The second story, "In the Land of Dead Dragons," is a LitRPG short story about a woman trying unriddle her brother's lifestyle. In the absence of anything to go on in realspace, she dives into the most popular VR-RPG in the world, The Realm of Avarill, and tries to find anyone who might have encountered her brother in the years that he played the game.

And the synopsis:

Orin the Dragonslayer has vanished from The Realm of Avarill -- the most popular VR-RPG in the world. In his place, Valystra de Fere approaches.

She comes seeking Orin's legacy, tales of his heroics, and the cold trails he left behind. All so that, back in realspace, she might better understand the brother she fell out of touch with so many years ago.

I added a series title, because I'd genuinely like to write some more stories using this setting. The one I'm starting to outline probably won't be nearly as silly!

Thanks and enjoy!

"Gunfight at the Thornmount Colossus" - Finalist in the 2016 Baen Fantasy Adventure Award

Hey, all!

With the publication date of ALIEN ARTIFACTS right around the corner, I got a nice little surprise a few weeks ago. One of my most recent short stories, "Gunfight at the Thornmount Colossus," is a finalist in the 2016 Baen Fantasy Adventure Award! Neat-o!

This story is an indirect sequel to "The Lonesome Dark," which was published by Ragnarok Publications in the ebook version of BLACKGUARDS: TALES OF ASSASSINS, MERCENARIES, AND THIEVES. Both stories take place in a fantasy world very reminiscent of the American Old West, which pulls upon all kinds of legends, folklore, and good ol' fashioned history texts to create a magically-charged patchwork where gunslingers are the new knights-errant.

Fingers crossed "Gunfight" makes it through to the grand prize, but there are nine other (very) talented authors in the running, as well, so I'm just flat out enthused to be up there with them.

Take care!