Monday, October 26, 2020

Books for Writers: Writing Military Science Fiction: Infantry


Writing SciFi Military (or Any Military) Stories

Writing Military Science Fiction

I don’t write military science fiction. Not really, but I come close, at times.

One of my SF short stories is a space opera story that involves a starship full of military combatants on leave. Getting the military terms right is an important part of the story.

In my Texas Ranch Wolf Pack series, several of my characters have an elite military background. 

Personally, I do not have a military background. (Thank you to those who do! You're all heroes!) The closest I come to it is a brother who proudly served in the U.S. Air Force. I won’t name him, since any mistakes I make in writing about the military are outside of his control. 

When writing military scenes or fight scenes in my books, I spend more time researching than I do writing. The need for this became obvious when I wrote a scene where the main character released the safety on a Glock. 

If you know weapons, you know a Glock doesn’t have a safety. I didn’t know that at the time, but my granddaughter saved me. She read the scene and rushed to my office to show me her Glock and explain my error to me. (Thank you , Nomi!) 

Since then, I’ve been much more careful to research my facts before publishing. Then I found Writing Military Science Fiction: Infantry by William S. Frisbee, Jr. 

This book was a sponsor for a show on the Keystroke Medium YouTube Channel. I highly recommend Keystroke Medium to authors. When the ad came up, I went straight to Amazon and put it on my list to purchase the next time I made an order. A few weeks later, I ordered the 8.5x11 inch paperback. It's a reference perfect for any writer who writes any story that includes military terms, actions, weapons, logistics, tactics, and more. 

I’ve gone from hours of research online to picking up the book to find the knowledge I need in minutes. This helps to keep my books from being thrown at the wall amidst screams of, “That's wrong!” 

Nothing destroys the willingness of a reader to suspend disbelief quicker than getting basic facts wrong. If you write any type of military fiction, whether it be military action, military science fiction, military romance, space military, or any story that has main characters who are in the military or any character dealing with modern weapons, this book will save you time and help you get your facts straight. 

While I decided to purchase the paperback, the book also comes in Kindle ebook and (at time of writing) is enrolled in Kindle Unlimited (KU), meaning you can borrow it and read it without extra cost if you have a Kindle Unlimited subscription. Want to try KU free for two months? Click the link at the bottom of this article!

What's in the book?


The list below barely scratches the surface of the contents:
  • Evolution, nature, and levels of war
  • Strategies and types of war
  • Military organization
  • Tactics
  • Space assault
  • Military etiquette
  • Weapons and technology
  • Types of terrain
  • Much, much more...
This book is a go-to reference for any writer who wants to get military or weapon facts right.

Take care and stay safe.

Later,







Texas Ranch Wolf Pack Series





Wednesday, October 21, 2020

Panther's Choice: A Halloween Short Story

 

Panther's Choice: New Short Story

October 21-25, 2020, this short story is available at no cost. After the special, you can read it with your Kindle Unlimited Subscription.

Don't have a KU subscription? Click the link at the bottom of the article for a free two-month trial. 

Panther's Choice is the story I've been working on while working out plot issues in my WIP, Tala Ridge Storm (Book 2 of the Tala Ridge Shifters series). I'm still hoping to finish Tala Ridge Storm before the end of October.

However, while working on the next novel/novella in the series, I sometimes need a break to figure out a plot point. During those times, I work on shorter fiction. 

In the Texas Ranch Wolf Pack Series, Nate asked Ben and Dottie to take over managing the Texas Bay Inn and the World Enclave Representatives that stay there. 

Dottie's daughter, Marsha, isn't happy being forced to leave the ranch and her friends. Then the Russian Siberian Ambush Queen and her son come to visit.

Blurb:

Big Cat Shifters and Halloween?


Artur, son of the Russian Tiger Ambush Queen, sneaks out to participate in the humans' celebration of Halloween. 

Marsha, adopted sister of the Texas Clowder Queen, can't let him go alone. 

Two shifter teens roaming the streets while humans trick or treat...

What could go wrong?




I hope you and your family are healthy and happy.


Take care and be safe,








Texas Ranch Wolf Pack Series





Thursday, October 15, 2020

Wolf's Heart Special

 

October Special

Wolf's Heart, Free October 16-20, 2020

If you haven't read Wolf's Heart, here's your chance to get the ebook free!

Wolf shifters trusting vampires? 

Just not done. Or is it?

Wolf shifter Jonathan is on his way home from San Antonio when he finds a wrecked car with an unconscious woman behind the wheel.
Stacy, cold-blooded vampire that she is, quickly succumbs to the below-freezing temps after wrecking her car in an attempt to avoid hitting a doe.
She's never met a shifter before. Trusting him isn't a good idea.
The only vampire Jonathan ever met who didn't try to kill him was General Brighton. 

Trusting Stacy isn't smart.
Falling in love isn't smart, either.


Other News


Tala Ridge Storm

With 38,151 words written, Tala Ridge Storm, book 2 in the Tala Ridge Shifter series, is getting close to being done. I have about 5 to 6 chapters to go, so I expected to be able to publish this month.

New Story

I'm also working on a new short story in the Texas Ranch Wolf Pack World. As yet untitled, this story will feature Dottie's sixteen-year-old daughter, Marsha Paddock. 

When seventeen-year-old Prince Artur, the spoiled son of the Russian Siberian Tiger Ambush Queen, sneaks out to enjoy Halloween, Marsha thinks it might be fun to go with him. Shifter teens trick or treating for the first time... What could go wrong?

Take care and stay safe,






Texas Ranch Wolf Pack Series