The Odera Chronicles

JR Handley Blog HeaderHey Space Cadets, how is everyone on this fine day?  I’m doing well, and wanted to bring you my news!  My former editor, Corey D Truax, and I have signed our next series with a small publishing house, Theogony Publishing.  This umbrella publishing house is a part of the larger and more dynamic Chris Kennedy Publishing.  Corey and I scoped him out together, in a totally non-stalker kind of way, and liked how he operated. He’s professional, and another veteran of America’s Armed Forces. I think Corey liked that he was a sailor too, but I forgive them both for their imperfections

So, what to say about The Odera Chronicles without giving too much away?  This story tells the tale of Alexis Monroe, one of the first female infantrymen in the US Army. Alexis was an only child, her dad was a Seabee and veteran of the wars in Mesopotamia. After her mother died, it was just the two of them, so she became the son he wanted. Alexis strove to please him and honed her inner tomboy. Shortly after she graduated college, females were being allowed to join the combat arms of the military. Alexis enlisted into the infantry.  Alexis did well at training, very well. When those scores were combined with her college degree, she was quickly advanced to the rank of sergeant. Despite how well she did, her fellow grunts always assumed she was promoted because she was female. When she graduated from training at the NCO Academy, she was given an out of the way assignment. Out of sight, out of mind, or so the Army thought. Her job was simple; guard a warehouse, don’t look inside.  Of course, she looked – and a grand adventure ensued.  To find out more, you will have to read the book.

As you all know, I will keep you up to date with our plans for the series, but for now, less really is more!  I really enjoyed working with Corey as he edited The Sleeping Legion series, so I think this collaboration will be a blast. I really hope that the fun we have translates onto the page. We both really want our readers to enjoy this little tale of galactic woe. So, if you’ve enjoyed the shenanigans over here in the Handley Trenches, then re-enlist on the insanity train!

 

Until next time, stay frosty and don’t forget to keep your powder dry!

brown_bess JR

 

 –> As usual, all images came from the Google’s “labeled for reuse” section or are owned by JR Handley.

SciFy Shenanigans: Nick Cole

Nick Cole Amazon Page

Hey Space Cadets, how’s everyone doing today?  I’m doing amazing, taking a bit of time to spend with my family.  I’m also working on a couple of short stories, while I wait for my edits to come back.  If you haven’t read my previous post, my fourth book is finished and sent to the editor.  Hope they aren’t too busy with their red pen!  For those who haven’t already read my series, feel free to read The Sleeping Legion Series so you will be ready for the fourth book!  Then I will be working on my next super-secret project.  I can’t wait to tell you about it.  Now on to today’s blog – our SciFy Shenanigans Interview with Nick Cole.

Let’s get right to the point of my latest blog posting, interviewing Nick Cole!  Yes, I’ve gotten bit JR in Weedsby the interview bug!  I’ve started the Warrior Weekend Series, the Family Friday Series, and now the ‘SciFy Shenanigans’ series that only serves to talk with other authors of science fiction!  Here goes nothing!

Continue reading “SciFy Shenanigans: Nick Cole”

Transitioning Projects

 

Hey Space Cadets, how’re y’all doing today?  I’m doing great, working on a few small projects and prepping to start my next series. While I wait for the editor to take his Red Pen of Doom to my final Sleeping Legion novel, I’ve started outlining several smaller projects and tying up loose ends. I’ve got two short stories for different anthologies to write and then I’ll start on my next series.  I really like the premise of the series in question, and think it has a lot of potential but more on that in another blog! Continue reading “Transitioning Projects”

The Sleeping Legion is Awake!!

JR HandleyHey Space Cadets!  Today I get to make the happy announcement – I finished the fourth and final book of the Sleeping Legion Series! I sent it to Boss Man and my editor on July 12th, and I couldn’t be happier.  This book will link the Sleeping Legion back into the main body of the Human Legion, though I can’t say more than that upon pain of death from Boss Man!  Surprisingly, I feel a little sad that it’s all over. I’ve been with these characters, and this universe, since I signed the contract with Boss Man in August 2015.  If the audience wants it enough, there will be the follow-on series, The Sleeping Fleet, but that one is up in the air at the moment.  I guess you could say the Sleeping Legion is now awake?  Anyway, I’ll be working on the edits, finalizing the name and cover, before moving on to the next project. More about that to come!

Continue reading “The Sleeping Legion is Awake!!”

Marketing: Mailing Lists

Hey Space Cadets, time for another article in my Marketing series.  Today I wanted to tackle Mailing Lists, yet another aspect of marketing. Now, quit your groaning – you might learn something.  Even better, someone may make a comment that will teach me something!  I am always learning new things.  Anyway, I digress, on to today’s subject.  Remember, I’m no expert so this is just what I’m doing and it seems to be working for the moment.  As things change, I’ll adapt which is a major key to success in many of life’s adventures.

Continue reading “Marketing: Mailing Lists”

Marketing: Social Media

J R Handley

Hey Space Cadets, yet another blog about marketing.  I can hear your collective groans and mutters of not more from here, but hear me out.  Let’s jump into the deep end and learn to swim together.  Remember, I’m no expert so this is just what I’m doing and it seems to be working for the moment.  As things change, I’ll adapt which is a major key to success in many of life’s adventures.

Continue reading “Marketing: Social Media”

Book Review: The Dark Star War (Codex Regius Book 3)

 

Codex Trilogy Worlds

Hey Space Cadets, here is the next installment in my series of book reviews. As I’ve mentioned earlier, I’m a member of the TRMN. It’s a fan club for the Honor Harrington Universe by David Weber, and they do contests for their members all the time. There is a reading contest going on recently, and we get bonus points for reading authors who are on the TRMN Author List. And, if those authors will be at the 2017 Honor Con, we get even more points! So, you’ll see my next several reviews on books by Chris Kennedy, Marko Kloos and David Weber before I get back to Richard Fox’s Ember Wars stories.  I’m also working on book four of The Sleeping Legion Series.  Finally, if you haven’t read it, Operation Breakout is live!

But enough about me, onto this specific review. Now let’s get to it! Continue reading “Book Review: The Dark Star War (Codex Regius Book 3)”

Overview of the Writing Retreat

JR HandleyHey Space Cadets!  I just got back from my Writer’s Retreat – had to get away so I could get a handle on getting Book Four done.   It has been an interesting experience – five days with no children asking me questions or screaming in the background.  No wife with a honey do list.  It was almost to quiet – wait, is there a to quiet?  Well let’s get to it.

DAY ONE:  This was a very rough day, only 1,394 words written. The trip to getting here was long, and the traffic was horrendous. It made the drive to the hotel Writing Retreat Day Onesomewhat more stressful than it should’ve been. The hotel room wasn’t the nicest, so I had to wait an hour for the maintenance people to fix the AC and turn the hotbox into a hotel room.  It didn’t stop me from writing, but it slowed me down.  Finally, to fix parts of the strategy I had to research HALO and HAHO drops by the US Army so I knew what we were capable of now.  I tend to use modern tech as the base line from which I extrapolate my future tech.  Also, I compiled a document for Boss Man on what assets would be joining the main body of the Human Legion on the final battle for Earth.  The close of the Sleeping Legion story will link back up with his last book in the Human Legion Series.  I love it when a plan comes together! Continue reading “Overview of the Writing Retreat”