tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62707161832133144132024-03-13T11:21:00.371-05:00HorizonsRandom Notes from Author Michael GallowayMGallowayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08718621627004679271noreply@blogger.comBlogger226125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270716183213314413.post-64056984430121239592023-10-20T14:12:00.005-05:002023-10-20T14:12:43.571-05:00Book Release: Flyover Country<p>Just published another work of science fiction, <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CLGHYYM8" target="_blank">Flyover Country</a></i>. This time, it is collection of short stories. Here is the back cover copy:</p><p><i>When two rival inventors unleash their artificial intelligence chips on America, a way of life is upended. Battlefields erupt in the most unlikely of places—from farms to libraries to board games whose pieces have a mind of their own.<br /><br />Despite the chaos, stories of hope soon emerge—ones built on love and truth. These are some of those stories.</i></p><p>It is currently available on Amazon, but will soon be available in paperback. More details on this book and other upcoming projects soon.<br /></p><p><br /></p>MGallowayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08718621627004679271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270716183213314413.post-17928957123730445122023-09-03T17:50:00.002-05:002023-09-03T17:50:50.847-05:00Flyover Update<p><i>Flyover Country</i>, a science fiction short story collection about artificial intelligence, is nearly done. It will be available shortly in e-book form on Amazon, and then in paperback.<br /><br />Here is probable ad copy for it:<br /><br /><i>When two rival inventors unleash their artificial intelligence chips on America, a way of life is upended. Battlefields erupt in the most unlikely of places—from farms to libraries to board games whose pieces have a mind of their own.<br /><br />Despite the chaos, stories of hope soon emerge—ones built on love and truth. These are some of those stories.</i><br /><br />Beyond this book, I am about halfway finished writing the next short story collection, <i>The Mechanics of Flight</i>. After that, I will be working on two more novels and two more Bible study books. More details coming soon...</p>MGallowayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08718621627004679271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270716183213314413.post-44882669204900011252023-01-10T11:22:00.000-06:002023-01-10T11:22:10.133-06:00Flyover Country<p>It's been a while.<br /><br />Just because it has been quiet on this blog doesn't mean I haven't been writing. In fact, I have a substantial amount of material that I hope to put out over the next year or two. This will include more short story collections, several novels, and probably a pair of Bible studies.<br /><br />The first book out of the gate will be <i>Flyover Country</i>, which will be a collection of a dozen science fiction short stories relating to AI (artificial intelligence). I am about three quarters of the way through the rough draft stage on the book and it should be done by the end of the month.<br /><br />The title has several meanings. The most common meaning is the central part of the United States, or the area of the country that people on the coasts "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flyover_country">fly over</a>" and in some ways, ignore. For this book, however, this area of the country will be central to each story.<br /><br />I've debated about whether to turn this collection into a novel instead. That may happen with some of the stories at some point. For now, though, it will be a collection that should arrive within the next two months.</p>MGallowayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08718621627004679271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270716183213314413.post-54706312052677478792020-11-10T18:24:00.000-06:002020-11-10T18:24:07.788-06:00Book Release: Gathering the Hours<p>It's about time for another Bible study. This time I am releasing a book that studies just that--time. This project took longer than I expected, although in the end the extra research was worth it. It turned out to be difficult to try and sum up thousands of years of timekeeping history in a few pages. Also, the subject of the feasts of Israel kept expanding the more I researched it. <br /></p><p>Topics covered in this book include God being inside and outside of time, aging, memorials, prophecies (true and false), anxiety, the End Times, eternity, and more.<br /><br />This book is now available on Amazon <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08N1GQYQ3" target="_blank">here</a>. It will also soon be available in paperback.</p><p>I also have a couple of other Bible studies in the works as well the two more novels planned in the <i>Secrets of the Elements</i> fiction series. More on those projects soon. <br /></p>MGallowayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08718621627004679271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270716183213314413.post-8439862075177807982020-04-26T23:29:00.000-05:002020-04-26T23:29:03.209-05:00Book Release: Gathering the SwarmToday I would like to present yet another entry in the <i>Gathering</i> Series, <i>Gathering the Swarm: What the Bible Says About God and the Insect World</i>. This one is a shorter work, but it covers subjects such as the plagues of Exodus (the ones that involved insects), the intriguing entrance into the Promised Land (with assistance from insects), and the wisdom of ants.<br />
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The book is currently available in e-book form on Amazon <span id="goog_1198917267"></span><span id="goog_1198917268"></span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B087PQTMK2" target="_blank">here</a>, and the paperback version will follow shortly. Ironically, there is a substantial <a href="https://apnews.com/517bb5588fc94403f797a2045095dcac" target="_blank">locust invasion</a> ongoing in Africa and the Middle East.<br />
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Next up: a "timely" Bible study along with some more fiction updates.MGallowayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08718621627004679271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270716183213314413.post-19964200878434811392020-03-24T23:36:00.002-05:002020-03-24T23:36:20.042-05:00Book Release: Gathering the ArtistsOver the past few months, I have put together a Bible study that explores the relationship between God and mankind in terms of art and creativity. It is titled <i>Gathering the Artists: What the Bible Says About God, Art, and Creativity</i>. Some of the topics covered include Moses’ tabernacle, the temples in Jerusalem, music, writing, and drama. I made a few discoveries along the way and I hope you’ll find them interesting.<br />
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The book also discusses what it all means for a modern artist trying to incorporate faith into their work. As always, the book is loaded with Bible verses.<br />
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It is now available in e-book form on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086BMJXV3" target="_blank">Amazon.com</a>. It is also available in paperback <a href="http://www.lulu.com/shop/michael-galloway/gathering-the-artists-what-the-bible-says-about-god-art-and-creativity/paperback/product-24477739.html" target="_blank">here</a>.MGallowayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08718621627004679271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270716183213314413.post-13345500071611756372020-02-20T18:53:00.004-06:002020-02-20T18:53:51.406-06:00And Then There Were MoreAlthough I have not posted anything for a while, I felt it was time to put out an update. I have been working on multiple books as of late, including a couple of fiction titles and several Bible studies.<br /><br />The first Bible study out of the gate will be <i>Gathering the Artists: What the Bible Says About God, Art, and Creativity</i>. It will cover a broad range of topics including the tabernacle, the temples, music, writing, drama, and more. Four more Bible studies will follow, including books on time, insects, plants, and animals. The fiction titles will be the remaining two books of the <i>Secrets of the Elements</i> series. Books one through three are currently available on Amazon <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B079VWSW9Z" target="_blank">here</a>.<br /><br />I'll post more updates as each release date approaches. I hope to have the <i>Artists</i> study out by the end of March. The rough draft of the <i>Insects</i> study has already been written and will follow soon after.MGallowayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08718621627004679271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270716183213314413.post-85485268163411966682019-05-31T12:12:00.002-05:002019-06-03T12:03:28.565-05:00Of Rockets and TornadoesThere is some interesting ongoing research in the area of rocketry and tornadoes. Recently, a team of researchers, including <a href="https://twitter.com/ReedTimmerAccu" target="_blank">Reed Timmer</a>, and those at <a href="https://twitter.com/ChasinSpin" target="_blank">ChasinSpin</a>, launched a rocket with a sensor probe into an EF-4 tornado south of Lawrence, Kansas. The sensor was lofted over 30,000 feet into the atmosphere and traveled 30 miles before landing near the KCI airport. <a href="https://twitter.com/ReedTimmerAccu/status/1134159104316968961" target="_blank">More details here</a> and <a href="https://fox4kc.com/2019/06/02/leavenworth-men-reunite-storm-chaser-with-rocket-launched-into-tornado/" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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It's fun to see the science evolve and it was similar to what I wrote about in <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/product/B01BA9O9D8" target="_blank"><i>Race the Sky</i></a> and other two books in the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B079VWSW9Z/?ie=UTF8&redirect=true" target="_blank"><i>Secrets of the Elements</i></a> series. Someday, I would like to see a hundred or more sensors lofted into a storm to improve storm prediction.MGallowayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08718621627004679271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270716183213314413.post-65722052374487901202018-12-20T10:58:00.001-06:002018-12-20T10:58:05.005-06:00Book Release: The Fire and the AnvilA new science fiction novel, <i>The Fire and the Anvil</i>, was just made available on Amazon. It is book three in the Secrets of the Elements series. This book builds on the various narratives from the first two books in the series and also pulls in the narratives from the short stories, <i>Dust in the Whirlwind</i> and <i>Firebugs</i>.<br /><br />From the back cover:<br /><br /><i>Storm researcher John Sayers sets out to interview one of his heroes, Dr. James Ferganut, a reclusive inventor of robotic insects and a pioneer in storm research. As Dr. Ferganut's enigmatic past comes to light, the hills around them ignite and the fire sparks a tornado.<br /><br />John soon discovers the fire is no accident. A rival inventor, Dr. Julius Minton, emerges and declares he is merely finishing a game started years before. It is a game played with thousands of lives at stake and weapons that can alter the weather in an instant.</i><br /><br />The book can be found <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07M5C8N3W" target="_blank">here</a>. It will also be available in paperback at Lulu.com and elsewhere shortly. If you haven’t had the chance to check out the first two books, they can be found <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BA9O9D8" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MRUOWBR" target="_blank">here</a>.<br /><br />The short stories can be found on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes, and Kobo.MGallowayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08718621627004679271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270716183213314413.post-53444093940607615702018-11-22T07:16:00.001-06:002018-11-22T07:16:25.840-06:00Book III Update: The Fire and the AnvilJust a quick update today...editing is progressing on the third installment of the Secrets of the Elements series, <i>The Fire and the Anvil</i>. The book should be done, along with the cover art, sometime around the middle of December. The book will pull together the story lines set up in the first two books, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BA9O9D8" target="_blank"><i>Race the Sky</i></a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MRUOWBR" target="_blank"><i>The Hammer of Amalynth</i></a>, as well as bits from two short stories,<i> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A6IJGIS" target="_blank">Firebugs</a></i>, and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HSOA42U" target="_blank"><i>Dust in the Whirlwind</i></a>.<br /><br />I'm still considering plans for books four and five, but it really depends on how things go with the release of book three. I'm also working on an outline for a "Tron-like" trilogy of novels set in the future as well as a work of non-fiction and another short story collection.<br /><br />In the meantime <a href="https://www.wunderground.com/cat6/Most-Unusual-Weather-Events-US-History-Part-1" target="_blank">here</a> are <a href="https://arstechnica.com/science/2018/09/this-nifty-flying-robot-can-hover-bank-and-turn-as-deftly-as-a-fruit-fly" target="_blank">some</a> <a href="https://www.wunderground.com/cat6/Fire-Whirl-Tornado-or-Both-Spectacular-Vortex-Has-Scientists-Buzzing" target="_blank">articles</a> that are tangentially related to <i>The Fire and the Anvil</i>.MGallowayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08718621627004679271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270716183213314413.post-20998169781330696622018-07-18T14:25:00.003-05:002018-07-18T14:25:24.561-05:00Firebugs in the WhirlwindA few years ago when we visited Yosemite National Park in California, the area was struggling with extreme drought conditions. On our drive into the park, several wildfires were already ongoing in the region and one was burning near the entrance to the park. As the day went on, the temperatures climbed and the sky remained cloud free. Around mid-afternoon, I noticed a huge cloud just over the trees. At first I thought it was just smoke from one of the fires. Upon closer study, it turned out to be a towering <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flammagenitus_(cloud)" target="_blank">pyrocumulus cloud</a>. I had heard of these types of clouds before but never witnessed the creation of one. This occurred around the same time as I was pulling ideas together for the third book in the Secrets of the Elements series, <i>The Fire and the Anvil</i>.<br /><br />As time passed, and after doing further research, it became clear what this particular novel needed to be about. All of the various narratives from the first two books in the series (<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BA9O9D8" target="_blank"><i>Race the Sky</i></a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MRUOWBR" target="_blank"><i>The Hammer of Amalynth</i></a>) needed to converge in the third. At the same time, it also needed to pull in elements from the short stories <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HSOA42U" target="_blank"><i>Dust in the Whirlwind</i></a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A6IJGIS" target="_blank"><i>Firebugs</i></a>. Despite the complexity, I think I have arrived at a satisfactory outline and am now working on the first draft of the novel.<br /><br />The book is built around the framework of John Sayers (the storm researcher from the first two books in the series) writing a research paper about an enigmatic professor named Dr. Ferganut and the man’s numerous inventions. The novel will delve into Dr. Ferganut’s past and his escalating rivalry with a fellow scientist, Dr. Minton. Previously, Dr. Minton made a brief appearance in the short story, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A6IJGIS" target="_blank"><i>Firebugs</i></a>, but in this novel he will be a major character. With this novel the stakes will be higher and the technology battles between the two characters will escalate rapidly. <br /><br />Together, these three novels will form a complete narrative arc. I'm leaving open the possibility of adding more books to the series, but that depends on how things go with this one. I'll post more updates as the publication date draws near.MGallowayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08718621627004679271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270716183213314413.post-27070942215152409112018-03-09T15:03:00.002-06:002018-03-09T15:03:52.629-06:00Book Release: Windows OutMy new science fiction short story collection, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BBX96WB" target="_blank"><i>Windows Out</i></a>, is now available on Amazon. It will also be available soon in paperback on Lulu.com and elsewhere. This is a collection of twelve tales that took several years to write. From the back cover:<br />
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<i>Two rival robotics engineers visit an abandoned Martian battlefield and discover they are not alone. A scientist flies an electric crow through time to steal a breakthrough device only to find his moves are being countered by a future version of himself. A reporter doubts a scientist’s claim of teleportation until he meets the scientist’s son over a cup of strange tea.<br /><br />From the edge of space to the depths of the sea, these tales are windows to worlds beyond our own. These worlds are bounded only by the drive and imagination of those who inhabit them.</i><br />
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I'll also have more updates soon on the third book in the Secrets of the Elements series, <i>The Fire and the Anvil. </i>MGallowayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08718621627004679271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270716183213314413.post-594140120206333582018-01-15T16:05:00.002-06:002018-01-15T16:05:48.209-06:00Windows Out UpdateAs promised, I have another science fiction short story collection on the way. This one is titled <i>Windows Out </i>and has a dozen short stories that span a variety of subjects...everything from self-replicating machines to time travel corporate espionage to an apartment populated with unruly appliances. Although there will be some older stories included, such as "The Everbloom Factory" and "Fermat's Last Theorem of Robotics", most of the content will be new. I hope to have this collection done by sometime in February.<br /><br />What's next after this book? The third novel in the Secrets of the Elements series, <i>The Fire and the Anvil</i>. It will round out the trilogy and will also pull in elements from short stories such as "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A6IJGIS" target="_blank">Firebugs</a>" and "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HSOA42U" target="_blank">Dust in the Whirlwind</a>". I will have a lot more to say about that in the coming weeks. MGallowayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08718621627004679271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270716183213314413.post-19519251931582324212017-09-21T12:49:00.001-05:002017-09-21T12:49:26.343-05:00Audiobooks AvailableI've made some audio recordings of most of my books available on my <a href="http://michaelgalloway.net/audio.html" target="_blank">website</a>. Keep in mind these are not high-end professional recordings. Until I figure out something else, they will have to suffice.<br />
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As always, e-book and paperback versions of the books are available on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Michael-Galloway/e/B005HLS32Y" target="_blank">Amazon</a> (and other places), and all of the paperbacks are available on <a href="http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/michael_galloway" target="_blank">Lulu</a>.MGallowayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08718621627004679271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270716183213314413.post-4277234816511540112016-12-17T08:21:00.001-06:002016-12-17T08:21:28.795-06:00Book Release: The Hammer of AmalynthBook II of the Secrets of the Elements series is now available in <a href="http://www.lulu.com/shop/michael-galloway/the-hammer-of-amalynth-secrets-of-the-elements-book-ii/paperback/product-22972261.html">paperback</a> and at <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MRUOWBR">Amazon.com</a>.MGallowayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08718621627004679271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270716183213314413.post-86961997114141192012016-11-22T16:23:00.000-06:002016-11-22T16:27:36.322-06:00Page One<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Note: This is the first of three updates on my next book, <i>The Hammer of Amalynth</i>.<br />
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For this post, I thought I would try something a little different. The writing of this book,<i> The Hammer of Amalynth</i>, was very dynamic. It wasn't until late in the process that I settled on certain details. As you can see from the pictures below, even the first page changed quite a bit from draft to draft:<br />
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Now imagine over a hundred pages with these types of changes. It makes for one very long editing process. The peculiar part was that I had much of the opening scene figured out months ago. Go figure.<br />
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So what, exactly is the book about? First off, it is book two of the Secrets of the Elements series (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BA9O9D8" target="_blank"><i>Race the Sky</i></a> being the first book of course). The central characters in this book are the same as those in <i>Race the Sky</i>: John Sayers, a storm chaser, and Madeline Kinney, a part time cult researcher. This time, however, they are faced with an unpredictable enemy, Dr. Amalynth, who is a rogue researcher fascinated with electricity and lightning. As the book opens, the doctor has figured out how to bring lightning down to earth on command.<br />
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But John and Madeline cannot solve the mystery alone. Partway through the story John visits the enigmatic Dr. Ferganut--a retired professor and a storm researcher with many inventions to his credit. Dr. Ferganut is a character who also appeared in the short stories <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A6IJGIS" target="_blank"><i>Firebugs</i></a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HSOA42U" target="_blank"><i>Dust in the Whirlwind</i></a> and will also be an integral part of the third book in the series, <i>The Fire and the Anvil</i>. In fact, the third book will not only tie together the first two books in the series but also the two short stories where Dr. Ferganut appears. In one sense, an alternate title for the third book could be, "Firebugs in the Whirlwind".<br />
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Which brings me to the next topic...a release date. Right now, I'm thinking the book will be available at the end of November on Amazon and in paperback over at Lulu. This will be quickly followed by a science fiction short story collection, <i>Windows Out</i>, and <i>The Fire and the Anvil</i> should be ready by early spring of 2017. More updates coming soon...MGallowayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08718621627004679271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270716183213314413.post-20385398590376429092016-10-06T14:57:00.001-05:002016-10-06T14:57:50.234-05:00An UpdateI apologize for not posting much in some time. I have been working on Book II of the Secrets of the Elements series, <i>The Hammer of Amalynth</i>, for some time now and it is currently going through multiple rounds of edits. I do have lots of updates to share about the book, as well as updates on the short story collection, <i>Windows Out</i>, and Book III of the series, <i>The Fire and the Anvil</i>. This has been a difficult series to write because there are so many things to "get right" in the second book that will not only answer questions about the first book but set up much of the third book. My immediate goal is to have Book II done sometime in November.<br />
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Over the next couple of weeks I will start posting regular updates about the books as well as news items of interest. Until then, this verse from the Bible more or less sums up one of the many themes of Book II:<br />
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<i>"Can you send out lightnings, that they may go, and say to you, ‘Here we are!’?" - Job 38:35 (NKJV)</i>MGallowayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08718621627004679271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270716183213314413.post-69652616350900312016-05-26T22:42:00.001-05:002016-05-26T22:42:08.933-05:00Random Story BitsThe rough draft of <i>The Hammer of Amalynth </i>is finally done. All in longhand. Once I get everything typed up, it'll get edited multiple times, and then it should be good to go. I'm thinking it'll be available sometime in July.<br /><br />As for Book III, it seems to have multiple working titles. The final title is <i>The Fire and the Anvil</i>, but the working titles have ranged from <i>Firebugs in the Whirlwind</i> to <i>The Tesseract Rose</i> to <i>The Forge of Midnight</i> to <i>Night of the Fire Tornadoes</i>. I'm going in an unusual direction with the book in terms of technology and plot and I'm going to cover something that probably hasn't been done much (if ever) in a book. It will also be the confluence of a lot of story lines set up in the first two books of this series and even pulls in bits from the short stories <i>Dust in the Whirlwind</i> and <i>Firebugs</i> (both available for free on Amazon and elsewhere). I'm working on the outline now, and hope to have a rough draft done before the fall of this year.<br /><br />And, somewhere in between all these drafts and outlines, I'm working on the <i>Windows Out</i> short story collection. I don't know when I will finish it, but again, I should get it done before the year is out. It should contain about a dozen stories.<br />MGallowayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08718621627004679271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270716183213314413.post-15476659197600808472016-04-13T22:07:00.001-05:002016-04-13T22:07:33.287-05:00The Road to AmalynthJust a quick note today.<br />
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I've started in on the rough draft of Book II of the Secrets of the Elements Series, <i>The Hammer of Amalynth</i>. The story takes place a few weeks after <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BA9O9D8" target="_blank"><i>Race the Sky</i></a>, and follows up on the mystery that was unanswered at the end of that particular book. The writing process should go relatively fast since most of the groundwork for the series was built in the first book. So far it is has been easier to write, but that's probably because I had the idea for the opening scene figured out months ago. I'm hoping to have it written and edited within the next two months.<br />
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The third book in the series is also moving along and is currently in the outlining stage. Then there's <i>Windows Out</i>, which is a short story collection that contains about a dozen or so science fiction stories. In some ways, it's a sequel to <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CTMJVUC" target="_blank"><i>Corridors</i></a>. In other ways it will have more fantasy elements than the other collection. Almost all of the stories have been written, some are finished, and others are in need of editing. This particular book should be done in about 3-4 months.<br />
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More updates soon...MGallowayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08718621627004679271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270716183213314413.post-32230264404545259022016-03-23T20:43:00.000-05:002016-03-23T20:43:37.997-05:00Random Tech BitsHere are some relatively connected tech stories I've been collecting from around the 'net.<br /><br />They've officially launched a "<a href="http://www.wired.com/2016/02/video-the-drone-racing-league-officially-launches" target="_blank">drone racing league</a>". Looks like a lot of fun. Well, at least until your machine crashes into a wall and you are out several hundred dollars.<br />
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Here are some stories about microbots. <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/innovations/wp/2015/09/01/the-really-big-things-we-can-expect-from-really-tiny-%20%20microbots" target="_blank">One is more speculative</a>, while the other <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/14/technology/modeled-after-ants-teams-of-tiny-robots-can-move-2-ton-car.html" target="_blank">describes a group of ant-like robots pulling an automobile</a>. Here is the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wU8Q7gIdiMI" target="_blank">accompanying demonstration video</a>. <br /><br />Then of course there is "Atlas", <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVlhMGQgDkY" target="_blank">the upright-walking robot</a>. I don't see it replacing human workers just yet, but the machine's ability to cross uneven terrain is significant.<br /><br />Here is an article about <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2016/03/13/media-mogul-dmitry-itskov-plans-to-live-forever-by-uploading-his" target="_blank">someone who wants to upload their mind to a machine</a> as a means of achieving a pseudo-immortality. This is something I speculated about a while ago in a couple of stories from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CTMJVUC" target="_blank"><i>Corridors</i></a> ("IM Forever" and "Image Management"). By the way, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CTMJVUC" target="_blank"><i>Corridors</i></a> is on sale this weekend for 99 cents over at Amazon.<br /><br />Finally, I have an update on Book II of the Secrets of the Elements series (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BA9O9D8" target="_blank"><i>Race the Sky</i></a> is considered Book I). I'm just about to start in on the rough draft of <i>The Hammer of Amalynth</i>. The writing of the book should go pretty fast since I did a ton of prep work for the first book in the series. This novel will continue some of the narrative arcs in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BA9O9D8" target="_blank"><i>Race the Sky</i></a> and everything will come together in the final book, <i>The Fire and the Anvil</i>. More updates coming shortly. MGallowayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08718621627004679271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270716183213314413.post-5242730022102384592016-02-01T12:24:00.000-06:002016-02-01T12:24:16.381-06:00Book Release: Race the Sky<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EBVuF7tQaOI/Vq-iiloPHfI/AAAAAAAAAJU/Y-Ix-1VtHvM/s1600/race_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EBVuF7tQaOI/Vq-iiloPHfI/AAAAAAAAAJU/Y-Ix-1VtHvM/s320/race_small.jpg" width="209" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BA9O9D8" target="_blank"><i>Race the Sky, Secrets of the Elements Book I</i></a>, is now available at Amazon.com.<br /><br />This is the first novel in the series and it works a little differently than some of my other books. There is more of a mystery factor to this book which will carry on to the other books in the series. The book even ends with a bit of a mystery (not necessarily a cliffhanger). This is deliberate because solving that mystery will take an entire book of its own (<i>The Hammer of Amalynth</i>). In fact, the primary antagonist of the second book, Dr. Amalynth, appears briefly in this one.<br /><br />Regarding the second book, I have a rough outline done, but it will take some revision before I can start in on the rough draft. There will also be more of a science fiction edge to the second and third books. Finally, if one theme could sum up the entire series it would be this: Faith rediscovered, faith rebuilt, faith refined. I'll explore each of those stages in the months and books to come.MGallowayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08718621627004679271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270716183213314413.post-74911490370440991722016-01-11T13:46:00.000-06:002016-01-11T13:46:40.355-06:00Finish LineThis weekend I finished writing and editing a novel about beginnings. It is the story of a storm chaser in search of answers in the sky as well as on the ground. It is also the story of destruction by a false teacher and how it affects those left behind.<br /><br /><i>Race the Sky</i> is yet another fifteen year novel for me, the other one being <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00514KVOK" target="_blank"><i>Theft at the Speed of Light</i></a>. Both books had multiple prior versions but this book's iterations were the most divergent, with only the storm chases carrying over from draft to draft. The story has evolved significantly over the years and although I'm going to classify it as science fiction (especially because of the other two books in the series), some elements of the book are eerily similar to real world events.<br /><br />Within the next couple of weeks I'll have a cover for the book and then I'll post more updates on the series as a whole.MGallowayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08718621627004679271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270716183213314413.post-52812896869985012142015-12-24T23:43:00.000-06:002015-12-24T23:43:17.139-06:00ConfluenceSometimes in the act of writing a book, unusual creative events occur that have no easy explanation. Such is the case with the trilogy of novels I'm currently working on. The first novel,<i> Race the Sky</i>, is something I've been working on for close to fifteen years. The second book, <i>The Hammer of Amalynth</i>, was originally a novel about relativism and the third book, <i>The Fire and the Anvil</i>, started out as a short story collection. Each book had its own individual problems that seemed insurmountable at the time.<br /><br />But then something funny happened. One night I decided to experiment and I put all three ideas "side by side". Over the course of an hour, many of the initial problems disappeared and plot elements (and characters) from the individual books started solving the problems in the other books. The third book turned into a novel and the Secrets of the Elements trilogy was born.<br /><br />In my previous post, I listed the probable back cover copy for the next novel, <i>Race the Sky</i>. Like any first book in a series, there is some setting up of larger narrative arcs and several of the characters in this novel will return for the other two. All three books will follow John Sayers (a stormchaser) and Madeline Kinney (a cult researcher). In the second and third books, Dr. Ferganut will join them (from the short stories <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HSOA42U" target="_blank"><i>Dust in the Whirlwind</i></a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A6IJGIS" target="_blank"><i>Firebugs</i></a>). At that point, the <i>Dust in the Whirlwind</i> and <i>Firebugs</i> will takes on whole new meanings.<br /><br />More updates will be coming shortly. <i>Race the Sky</i> should be available sometime in January of 2016.MGallowayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08718621627004679271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270716183213314413.post-53943983124456790142015-12-18T13:41:00.002-06:002015-12-18T13:41:41.715-06:00VistaWhen hiking up a mountain trail, sometimes it's difficult to see the summit, especially if the mountain is covered in trees. Although it is encouraging to think about the view at the top, often times a hiker has to focus first on the obstacles before them such as tree roots, rocks, and mud. Even near the top, when a hiker knows the summit is near, it can be easy to want to call it day due to exhaustion.<br /><br />When you finally make it to the top, though, the view can be worth all the effort. That's where things are at with the novel, <i>Race the Sky</i>. There were some unresolved narrative issues with the manuscript up until recently. Suddenly, as if reaching a summit vista, the final pieces "clicked" into place. This all occurred as I was trying to hammer out the back cover copy for the book.<br /><br />Here, then, is a glimpse of that vista and a working version of the back cover copy:<br />
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<i>John Sayers is a storm chaser determined to crack the mystery of the violent weather that is ravaging his home state of South Dakota. He crosses paths with Madeline Kinney, a cult researcher who is pursuing a nefarious "church doctor" across the region. Together, they find there is more to the secrets of the sky and the church doctor than just anecdotes and hard data.</i></blockquote>
Of course this is subject to change, but it gets the idea across.<br /><br />More novel news soon. Stay tuned.MGallowayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08718621627004679271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6270716183213314413.post-73796323585911922632015-12-08T13:47:00.002-06:002015-12-08T13:47:50.938-06:00Editing Update - Race the SkyJust a brief editing update today. I'm still working through the edits of the next novel, <i>Race the Sky</i>. I figure there are probably at least 2-3 more editing passes left to go. The reason this particular book is taking so long (along with the cover art) is that it sets up the foundation for the other two books to follow. Things are still on track for an early January 2016 release, however. I'll also making an audio version of the first chapter available soon.<br /><br />After that, a new science fiction short story collection, <i>Windows Out</i>, will be released. The stories are finished, but they still need some editing before I'll publish it. One story from <i>Windows Out</i>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B015P1XCM6" target="_blank"><i>Fermat's Last Theorem of Robotics</i></a>, is available <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B015P1XCM6" target="_blank">here</a>.<br /><br />And...if you haven't seen it, <i>The Chronopticus Chronicle</i>s is available <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B015VPPA8U" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-chronopticus-chronicles-series-michael-galloway/1123012778" target="_blank">here</a>, and <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/chronopticus-chronicles-series/id1060248242" target="_blank">here</a>. It contains the short story, <i>The Mines of Mars Part I</i>, along with <i>Fractal Standard Time</i>, <i>Ionotatron</i>, and <i>Chronopticus Rising</i>. <a href="http://youtu.be/IgArS_nK4fI" target="_blank">Here is the book trailer</a> for the entire series, too. This collection is on sale for a limited time.MGallowayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08718621627004679271noreply@blogger.com0