Category: Reader Group Archive

James McGowan Reader Group- July Stuff

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Howdy, all.

I’m writing this on Independence Day, one that has little of the usual stuff, and plenty of the atypical.

It will be interesting to see what changes stick around and which ones are fleeting.

Let us hope the rough road behind and ahead of us leads to better days for all, not just some.
July Recommendations
The Dispatcher by John Scalzi:

This is a very intriguing high concept short story read by Zachary Quinto on Audible. 

Anyone who dies through violence, disease, or accident, disappears and “respawns” naked in their bedroom.  People only have a 1 in 1000 chance of actually dying permanently.  The main character is someone who “dispatches” patients when risky surgical procedures or other high risk events go wrong in order to save them.

Intrigue ensues from there.  Good stuff.

Westworld Season 3:

They had me at Aaron Paul.

I liked this season much more that season 2.  They gave up on trying to be cute with non-linear chronology.  It still had plenty of twists.

And again, Aaron Paul’s character was a nice addition of a human who is actually likeable.
Players of the Game Series Updates
The New Players: Origins bonus content anthology is nearly completed.

Following that, I’ll be re-releasing Repenter and Brigands with their new covers sometime in next few months.  The main New Players third book in the series will follow sometime after that.

Here is the new Brigands cover without the logo.  I love Avril and Nirva’s redesigns. 

To use some dated lingo:

It looks rad!
Be smart. Stay safe.

Jim

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James McGowan Reader Group- June Stuff

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Hi, folks.

Summer is a comin’. I hope all of you can have some kind of fun in the socially-distanced sun as the weather warms up.  It’s been a pretty chilly May in my neck of the woods, so I’ll be happy for the warmth that will likely progress to sweltering a day later.

In addition to writing, I spent much of the last week doing some much needed spring cleaning, mostly involving organizing several years worth of comic books into long boxes, and getting about six of the heavy behemoths out of the house.  I still have plenty more.  I love physical comics, but I HATE dealing with storing them.  I get some on Comixology, but it’s not the same as a physical copy, especially splash pages.  So, it shall continue to be a little from column A and a little from column B.
June Recommendations
A Little Hatred by Joe Abercrombie:  

This is a sequel series to the events in the First Law Series.  All the characters from the other books have aged, and new characters including many of their children now take the center stage.  Good intentions gone bad and wry gallows humor abound throughout the book.  The series has veered slightly into steam punk territory with a burgeoning industrial revolution. The audio book version has fantastic narration by Steven Pacey.  Good stuff.

Middleditch and Schwartz on Netflix: 

This is somewhat akin to an R-rated version of Who’s Line Is It Anyway?  The two title comedians ask the audience for topics, pick one, and chat through some details with the audience member. They then make up everything on the spot.  It is hilarious.  “I AM LOOSE” is one of my favorite quotes.  It’s just fun.
Players of the Game Series Updates
I’m currently working on a bonus content anthology, The New Players: Origins.  It’s a companion to the main New Players novel that’s third in the series.  It contains a lot of interconnected short stories with new characters: Gath, Xax, Joe Wrenrot, Harry Mang, Vick Burnhelt, and Ed Burnhelt.

I’m also removing Repenter: The Hidden Chapters from Kindle Unlimited and will offer it for free on Amazon and other venues as an ebook only.  It didn’t really work as a physical book, as it was too thin.

Oh, and here is the finished version of Repenter’s updated cover.  I’ll release it sometime this summer with a new version of The Brigands’s cover as well.  I plan to show that on next month’s email.  I might post it on James McGowan, Author Facebook page in advance of that.  Feel free to become a fan of that page if you’re so inclined.
It’s just awesome looking.

That’s all for now. 

Keep on keepin’ on.

Jim

Click here to view the original format.

James McGowan Reader Group- May Items

  By
Hi, folks. Summer is a comin’. 

I hope all of you can have some kind of fun in the socially-distanced sun as the weather warms up.  It’s been a pretty chilly May in my neck of the woods, so I’ll be happy for the warmth that will likely progress to sweltering a day later.

In additional to writing, I spent much of the last week doing some much needed spring cleaning, mostly involving organizing several years worth of comic books into long boxes, and getting about six of the heavy behemoths out of the house.  I still have plenty more.  I love physical comics, but I HATE dealing with storing them.  I get some on Comixology, but it’s not the same as a physical copy, especially splash pages. 

So, it shall continue to be a little from column A and a little from column B.
June Recommendations
A Little Hatred by Joe Abercrombie:  

This is a sequel series to the events in the First Law Series.  All the characters from the other books have aged, and new characters including many of their children now take the center stage. 

Good intentions gone bad and wry gallows humor abound throughout the book.  The series has veered slightly into steam punk territory with a burgeoning industrial revolution.

The audio book version has fantastic narration by Steven Pacey. 

Good stuff.

Middleditch and Schwartz on Netflix: 

This is somewhat akin to an R-rated version of Who’s Line Is It Anyway? 

The two title comedians ask the audience for topics, pick one, and chat through some details with the audience member. They then make up everything on the spot.  It is hilarious. 

“I AM LOOSE” is one of my favorite quotes.

It’s just fun.
Players of the Game Series Updates
I’m currently working on a bonus content anthology, The New Players: Origins.  It’s a companion to the main New Players novel that’s third in the series.  It contains a lot of interconnected short stories with new characters: Gath, Xax, Joe Wrenrot, Harry Mang, Vick Burnhelt, and Ed Burnhelt.

I’m also removing Repenter: The Hidden Chapters from Kindle Unlimited and will offer it for free on Amazon and other venues as an ebook only.  It didn’t really work as a physical book, as it was too thin. Oh, and here is the finished version of Repenter’s updated cover. 

I’ll release it sometime this summer with a new version of The Brigands’s cover as well.  I plan to show that on next month’s email.  I might post it on James McGowan, Author Facebook page in advance of that. 

Feel free to become a fan of that page if you’re so inclined.
It’s just awesome looking.

That’s all for now. 

Keep on keepin’ on.

Jim

Click here to view the original format.