Happy Birthday For All!

What better way to celebrate my upcoming birthday than to release a new book? Vitalis: Miss Fortune, is out now!

That’s what I’ve been hard at work on for the past several weeks. A brand new sci fi novel that focuses on the life and story of a few people amidst the chaotic Vitalis universe. Unlike some of my previous Vitalis entries, this book doesn’t involve the movers and shakers, nor does it explore the possibilities of the planet Vitalis and the varied – and dangerous – creatures on it.

What Miss Fortune does do is show how the unfolding events are affecting the little people. The everyday people like you and I. The people that enjoy having a drink or two after work. The ones that have responsibilities to families and friends. The ones with loved ones who are sick or missing. The people who are so focused on their careers they forget to live a little, until they realize that maybe they missed the mark and living is more important.

I put all of those things into this book and I see them clearly, but I’m biased. It’s entirely possible that the average person might read this and just enjoy the action / adventure / thriller aspect of it. After all, there are cyborgs, genetically enhanced people, guns, martial arts, and even a couple of revealing dance scenes in a night club on the lower level of a space station.

There’s intrigue too, and enough background to move the entire Vitalis storyline along. After all, there’s a countdown to how much time humanity has left before the biggest threat they’ve ever faced arrives — and they aren’t coming to play nice. You can find it at the link below, including in print!

 

Amazon

Amazon UK

Print Version

Everyone Else

 

What’s next? Well, I’m hard at work on a fantasy novel called Goblin Queen. It takes placed in the world of Kroth (Blades of Leander, Order of the Dragon), and is going to officially be the third book in my Serpent’s War series. I hate to admit it, but I’m having more fun writing this book than I did the first two in this new series – it’s got a really fun new character AND I’m bringing back in more of the original characters from the earlier series (Garrick, Carson, Celos, and Aleena, to name just a few). Goblin Queen is also going to lead into another crossover between Voidhawk and the world of Kroth – but that will come later.

 

To learn more about Jason Halstead visit his website to read about him, sign up for his newsletter, or check out some free samples of his books at http://www.booksbyjason.com.

 

Science Fiction turned Real

There’s nothing more rewarding for me than when a story I’m writing does something completely unexpected. Oh sure, I’m the one writing it so I’m still coming up with the ideas and doing the writing, but some of the things that happen come out of left field. I’ve had this happen with several stories I’ve written, but most recently and most severely it’s happened with my Vitalis series.

I won’t share any spoilers, but I will say that I’ve started each story with an idea of what I want to happen. The way I write I don’t usually go into it with too much more than that. As I’m writing I’ll plot out some general thoughts of things I’d like to occur, but I don’t force them to happen. I follow the story as it unfolds, allowing the characters to speak to me and tell me where they’d like to go. With Vitalis it’s even worse – not only do the characters have ambitions and goals, but the world has a life of its own as well! And quite often the plans of Vitalis and the people trapped on it are at odds with one another.

The title of this article references that. It’s not about traveling light years through space to find a planet all set up for human life. Sure, that’ll probably come in time but that’s been predicted for hundreds if not thousands of years. Instead readers of my Vitalis books you’ll note how the world seems to have more and more of its own spirit or life to it. Given what’s been happening to me as I write them, it’s hard to argue the “reality” factor. If the placebo effect of many home remedies and supplements can offer real statistical benefits, then how can I argue there’s not a touch of reality in fiction as well?

So anyhow, Vitalis – Evolution has been out since the first of this month. I’m still planning on the next book being released on June 1st, Matriarch. The rough draft is finished, editing and cover art have commenced. Like Evolution, Matriarch surprised me several times along the way. Even some of my more devious scenes I had planned were manipulated by the voices. The end result, I have to say, left me stunned and impressed.

Unfortunately, Matriarch comes at a time allowing me a break from Vitalis. Not a long one, but I have other books that need to be written. Other characters that are demanding a chance to wrest control of my fingers away from me. I’m plugging away on the next Voidhawk book right now and it’s been a lot of fun so far. I love leaving a series then coming back to it after a while – it reminds me of how much I missed the friends I left behind. I suppose it’s not so different from reading the next book in a series in that respect – another chance to spend time with people who have become important to me. Sure, they’re fictional, but I try not to get hung up on details…

To learn more about Jason Halstead, visit his website to learn about him, his books, sign up for his newsletter, or check out some free samples of his books at http://www.booksbyjason.com.