The "Corsean Encounter" Book Event

 

A few weeks ago, Jarden Alexis' Premier Business Center held a "Meet The Author" event. But this wasn't just any writer.  This was the editor and main writer of the SL Newser, yours truly, about the recently published exciting new science-fiction tale: "The Corsean Encounter." So what went on, and what did yours truly have to say?

 

Read the story in Events.  

 

The "Corsean Encounter" Book Event

 

 Saturday August 30 at Noon SL time was the "Meet the Author" event at the Premier Business Center, organized by Jarden Alexis, to help publicize the novel I wrote a few months ago, "The Corsean Encounter." About thirty people showed up to hear me talk about the novel, then after the discussion we went to the party room where DJ Nydia played some tunes. 

 

So far, the event has worked with sales going up. And more people are checking out the Newser lately as well (more on that later). We'll have some more pictures up soon.

 

Bixyl Shuftan

 

 

A Reminder: Book Event Today

 

 Just a reminder that there's an event today to promote the book Bixyl Shuftan published in real life a few months ago. It starts at Noon SL time, and takes place at the Premier Business Center. It is scheduled to go on to about 2PM. Being a few minutes early is recommended. 

 

PBC (79,98,2504) 

Announcement: Bixyl Shuftan To Appear At The PBC To Discuss His RL Book "The Corsean Encounter"

 

You're invited: Saturday August 30th at 12 PM Noon SL time
"The Corsean Encounter"
Meet the real-life author Murray M. Lee aka Bixyl Shuftan

At the PBC Botanical Gardens, Auditorium
SURL : PBC (79,98,2504)
Attire: Dressy

If you like sci-fi, you will love the Corsean Encounter!
After-party entertainment will be provided by DJ Naughty Nydia

 

Nydia Tungsten Publishes Third "Switched Destinies" Novel

 

Seven years after the publication of her first novel, "Switched Destinies," and five years since it's sequel, "Switched Destiny: Kevin's Return," Nydia Tungsten has finally released the third book of the series: "Switched Destiny: Acceptance of Fate."

 

It's been many years since a laboratory experiment sent Kevin Baron to a world of magic, populated by people resembling many of the animals of his former one. He has come to be the head of one of the land's most powerful houses, and a large loving family. But he also made some enemies doing what was right, and has just withstood a plot that could have cost him almost everything if not for the help of his family and a strong new friend and ally.

But the challenges of life on this world continue. Aware of the powerful magic he passed on to his children, he begins training them. After a miracle saves the life of one child, he desires to know more about the Goddess of this world. Some challenges seem almost impossible to overcome, but through determination, his magical ability, his friends and family, or some combination of the three, he gets through them.

This is Kevin's third story, in which he and his family go through new challenges. But not all challenges have quickly resolved endings.

 

"Acceptance of Fate" is available on Amazon for $14.25 for the paperback, and $4 for the kindle version. 

To read the interview with Nydia about the first story, Click Here. 

Bixyl Shuftan

 

Update: "The Corsean Encounter" Now on Paperback

 

 

It was a few days ago that yours truly announced his novel "The Corsean Encounter" was finally published and up on Kindle. The paperback wasn't available then. But as of a couple days ago, it now is. So now you can get the sci-fi tale done by the editor of the Newser on both Kindle and paperback on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DRT58H37/ 

So what's next? Yours truly has been working on a sequel: "The Corsean Encounter: Prelude to War." I've also been working on a fantasy tale, "Tales of a Metamorph." 

But writing those won't stop me from doing stories for the Newser, and as always will continue to write about the people, places, and events of this virtual world.

Bixyl Shuftan

"The Corsean Encounter" Up On Kindle

 

 

I don't normally post about my activities outside Second Life, but this has been a project decades in the making, and is finally up.

 

Those who know me well recall that besides having a longtime interest in current events, I've also been reading science-fiction and history. Most science-fiction stories involve aliens with either advanced or tribal technology. Technology in a Medieval or Colonial Age state? Not so much. 

So introducing my first published story: The Corsean Encounter.

Theadore Smith, sentenced to a Soviet gulag, gets a second chance when the train he's on has a wreck in Central Asia. Making his way south with his companion Leonid Kakanov, they're ambushed by Muslim tribesmen, and have to seek shelter in a cave they stumble upon. Finding a strange machine, it teleports them to another cave. They emerge not on Earth, but another world. Running into some of its not quite human inhabitants, whom live under Medieval conditions, the initially friendly encounter turns hostile when they're captured by a local lord, whom turns them over to his superior.

After a period of time in which Theadore learns the local language, the overlord takes the two humans to his Emperor as a gift. At the Imperial Palace, they learn more about the land and it's people. They get attention from some people who see value in their knowledge. They also run into the ambassador of a nearby land which is somewhat more advanced and not an empire but a republic, Gideon. But some consider the humans little more than monsters, whose lives are of no real value. Can Theadore and Leonid convince enough people of importance that they deserve more than a lifetime in a dungeon, or worse? And what can they do for the Gideon Republic, which many in the Empire want to settle old scores with?

For now, the story is available only on the kindle version, though kindle apps can be used on computers, tablets, and some smartphones. The paperback version will be available soon. 

You can find the story on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DRDZSTHC

And stay tuned for the sequel: "Prelude to War."

Update: "The Corsean Encounter" is now available on both Kindle and paperback.

Bixyl Shuftan

Nydia Tungsten's "Switched Destinies" Now Available in Hardcover

 

For fans of Nydia Tungsten's stories, some good news. Her novel "Switched Destinies" is now available in hardcover. 

"Two souls, viewed by many of their kinds’ as eccentric lunatics, suddenly find themselves switched within their parallel universes. Now in strange new lands, each is having to learn about the other side of the mirror. In the all new Switched Destiny's"

 

Switched Destinies is the first novel Nydia published, and has been followed by a sequel, with a third story in the works. An interview with Nydia about the novel can be read (here). 

 

 The story is on sale on Amazon (here). Hardcover costs $25 USD, with the paperback costing $14, and the Kindle version $3.

Bixyl Shuftan

"Switched Destinies", Novel by SL Writer, Has A T-Shirt Available

 

 

 For fans of "Switched Destinies," a novel series written by Second Life resident Nydia Tungsten, good news. On her Zazzle page, there's now a T-shirt available for purchase, with pictures of the cover art of both the original book and it's sequel. 

For more about the novel, read the 2018 interview with Nydia. 

Novel Writing Discussion at Milk Wood by Huckleberry Hax

 

 

 At 1PM on October 31, there was a discussion about novel writing at the Milk Wood sim. The speaker was Huckleberry Hax, a writer of SL fiction such as the novel "AFK."

ღ Harri ღ (Harriet Gausman): It's National Novel Writing Month again! Prepare yourself for pep talks! If there's one thing aspiring novelists can rely on in the month of November (besides sleep deprivation and bleeding fingertips) it's other writers delivering their 'top tips' for getting 50,000 words written in the space of 30 days.

Huckleberry talked for about an hour, about his various experiences writing. Among his rules was to believe in your novel, talk about it some to others (though don't overdo it), and find some way to keep track of your progress. The event was followed by a small party elsewhere in the sim.

Milk Wood is the location of Camp NaNoWriMo, and supports a number of writing events. November is listed as National Novel Writing Month. 

Press Release: "Empire Denied" Book Launch With GoSpeed Racer

 

Author R. Jacques, aka GoSpeed Rasere, announces the release of their 6th self-published eBook; Empire Denied, The 2nd book of the Empire series. It is now on preorder at Smashwords and Amazon with a release date of 10 June. A print-on-demand version will also be available on Amazon.

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1148449
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B1W6P5Y8

In conjunction with this release, the author is hosting an event in the virtual world of Second Life at 9 a.m. SLT/PST Saturday, June 11th, 2022 at the stadium in Threnody. She will entertain questions about this, previous novels, and writing in general. The discussion will primarily be via chat but voice questions will be entertained. The dress code is informal.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Threnody/108/121/31

Postscript.  Are you new to my stories? Do you need to catch up? The reading sequence below can guide you.

Rasere Awakening series:
Rasere's War
We Built This City
The Bounding Main

Short story anthology linking the two series:
Simvie Loko Vignettes

Empire Series:
The Emperor's Reach
Empire Denied
 

Press Release: Discussion of SL Resident GoSpeed Racer's New Novel at Book Island

 
Who: Author R. Jacques, aka GoSpeed Rasere

What: The release of the latest Sci_Fi novel,  The Emperor’s Reach. The author will be available to talk about their work and field questions on self-publishing and writing.

When: December 6th, 2020 at 11 AM SLT

Where: Book Island. Look for the arch of stacked books. http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Book%20Island/187/224/496

 

Further details: Discussion will be held in text and SL voice. The Emperor’s Reach eBook is on pre-order and will be released on the 18th of December.

Available at:

Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08NYXY44H

Smashwords - https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1055361

Promotional video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ADCWcRTNqQ

 Synopsis:

Nine years after the events in the Rasere Awakening series the world of Simvie Loko has become a more dangerous place. The Tuscans have invaded Affenland, the island home of Grif Grasswalker, a sentient Gorilla. They’ve also forged an alliance with Rakistan and are busy building a new fleet of warships in their fabricator equipped shipyards. Finally, in the far east, The new city of Concordia, inhabited by newcomers from a dystopian simulation, presents a new challenge in the form of refugees who stream west into the lands of Lokotero causing social upheaval.

Rising to the challenge is the newly elected president of Lokotero, Andrew Jenson. To aid the Gorillas, he sends a covert military unit to disrupt the Tuscan’s military infrastructure on the island. To Concordia and Rakistan, he sends agents to gather more information on the threats posed to their country’s sovereignty. What secrets will they discover and what dangers will they face? Read The Emperor’s Reach and find out!

Nydia Tungsten Announces Publishing of New Novel

 It was more than two years ago that Nydia Tungsten published her first novel, "Switched Destinies." Since then, she has continued to write. On Thursday October 1, she announced that her first story's sequel, "Switched Destinies: Kevin's Return," was now published and up for purchase.

It has been two years since you first met Kevin Baron, well he is back with the release of the second book in the "Switched Destinies" series "Kevin's' Return" We will also be celebrating Dusk's RL Birthday. The Lady Nydia will be the DJ for you today spinning the hits from the 80's, it will start a bit early today at 3pm SLT as well as a different location ...

For those who haven't read the first story yet, Nydia explained some about it in an interview.  As for the sequel, there's the book's description:

 

Four years ago, Kevin Baron was an engineer whose experiments resulted in him changing places with his counterpart in a parallel universe. He ended up in a world much like Earth, but with many differences. The people here resembled the animals of his homeworld. Instead of technology, people relied on magic. With the help of his newfound magical abilities and new friends, he ended up the head of a house that was among the most powerful in the land.

But while Kevin's determination to do what is right has made him many admirers and allies, it has also made him enemies who do not appreciate having the old ways questioned or him getting in their way. Foes and opportunists can strike just about any time. While some strike without bothering to prepare, one carefully plans something to remove him and destroy what he has accomplished. It will take a powerful new ally, and the love of his family, to keep Kevin from losing almost everything.

The party took place at Mouse Hole Manor in Pacific Waters. People were quickly showing up, Nydia herself in her "Mix" avatar based on a character in the story. It wasn't long before the sim's capacity of 20 was reached. And the party moved to the Happy Vixen's Halloween Haunt area, where more people joined. About thirty people in total came by.

"Switched Destinies: Kevin's Return" is available on Amazon. One can get the paperback for $11.00 USD or the Kindle version for $4.

Bixyl Shuftan

GoSpeed Racer On Her Published Novels

While some in Second Life are content with their accomplishments inworld, some strive to make success in real life. GoSpeed Racer, known as a DJ inworld and Internet radio station owner, has taken her hand to writing fiction. Having recently published her third novel, she contacted the Newser. So we sat down, and talked some about her stories.

Read the interview in People.

Free Book Offer Extended!

The Kindle mystery novel, “Femme Fatale Online,”whose unknown villain appears only as a sexy avatar, will continue to be offered free to SL participants through Sunday, September 9.

To get your complimentary of the enovel by Eugene Rodgers, email a request to  rodgersmystery@gmail.com (your SL anonymity is safe since you don’t have to disclose your avatar or RL names). Include the word “Newser” in the email.

You will receive a PDF copy, the same as we send to professional reviewers. (Amazon doesn’t allow authors to give out free copies in the same form as books ordered from them). You can read the book on Kindles, tablets, computers, and phones.

The book captivates readers with its story of an avatar who blackmails the hero, Rick, into industrial espionage and threatens the lives of him and his family. Detailed information on the book and author can be found on the book’s Amazon page (go to Amazon.com, search for “Femme Fatale Online,” and click on the title when it comes up) and on the book’s Facebook page (facebook.com/rodgersmystery).

Enjoy the challenge of following the clues, identifying the red herrings, and trying to figure out the real person behind the terrifying “Joan” avatar. As an anonymous reviewer posted on Amazon, “Who is the Femme Fatale Online? Read the book to find out. You may never use the internet again!” Have fun reading a story that’s part thriller and a subplot that has elements of romances, where a suspect tries to seduce the hero. Anyone who has ever wondered about the real person behind an SL friend, or suspected they weren’t who they pretended to be, will find the novel particularly engaging.
“Femme Fatale Online” was featured on the cable TV program, “America Trends.” Eugene Rodgers was named Virginia Author of the Year for an earlier book. He researched the background for the novel in SL, where his avatar is “Adolphe Menjou.”

Get your free copy if you appreciate mysteries and don’t object to some racy parts and raw language. And please post a review—even a one-sentence review—on Amazon.

SL-based Mystery Novel Offered Free to SLers

A Kindle mystery novel whose unknown villain appears only as a sexy avatar is being offered free to SL participants through Sunday, September 2. To get your complimentary enovel, “Femme Fatale Online” by Eugene Rodgers, email a request to rodgersmystery@gmail.com (your SL anonymity is safe since you don’t have to disclose your avatar or RL names). Include the word “Newser” in the email.

You will receive a PDF copy, the same as we send to professional reviewers. (Amazon doesn’t allow authors to give out free copies in the same form as books ordered from them). You can read the book on Kindles, tablets, computers, and phones.

The book captivates readers with its story of an avatar who blackmails the hero, Rick, into industrial espionage and threatens the lives of him and his family. Detailed information on the book and author can be found on the book’s Amazon page (go to Amazon.com, search for “Femme Fatale Online,” and click on the title when it comes up) and on the book’s Facebook page (facebook.com/rodgersmystery).

Enjoy the challenge of following the clues, identifying the red herrings, and trying to figure out the real person behind the terrifying “Joan” avatar. As an anonymous reviewer posted on Amazon, “Who is the Femme Fatale Online? Read the book to find out. You may never use the internet again!” Have fun reading a story that’s part thriller and a subplot that has elements of romances, where a suspect tries to seduce the hero. Anyone who has ever wondered about the real person behind an SL friend, or suspected they weren’t who they pretended to be, will find the novel particularly engaging.
“Femme Fatale Online” was featured on the cable TV program, “America Trends.” Eugene Rodgers was named Virginia Author of the Year for an earlier book. He researched the background for the novel in SL, where his avatar is “Adolphe Menjou.”

Get your free copy if you appreciate mysteries and don’t object to some racy parts and raw language. And please post a review—even a one-sentence review—on Amazon.

Published Author Writes Novel of Crime and Mystery In a Virtual World

There have been some writers in Second Life getting their start here in hopes of getting published to a wider audience in real life. But recently someone whom was already a published writer came to Second Life, using the virtual world as an inspiration for a story aimed at such a wider audience. "Femme Fatale Online," written by Eugene Rodgers, takes place partially in a virtual world, in which a man has to find out who is blackmailing him, or risk losing his marriage, his job, and possibly his life. I had a few words with Rodgers as his avatar Isaac, and he talked about his novel, as well as his time in Second Life.

Read the interview in People.

Interview with Nydia Tungsten about "Switched Destinies"

How many people can call themselves an author of a published novel? Probably not that many. But among those who have, Nydia Tungsten recently joined their numbers. She recently finished her sci-fi/fantasy story "Switched Destinies," and it's available for download on Amazon. I sat down with Nydia, and she had a few things to say about her tale.

Read the interview in People.

Press Release: GoSpeed Racer Publishing eBook Novel

What? :        Release of an eBook novel from an SL resident.
Who?:          GoSpeed Rasere aka GoSpeed Racer
When?:        3 February 2018

Long time Second Life Resident, GoSpeed Rasere, is self publishing a science fiction novel on Amazon and Smashwords. The novel features several SL residents as main characters living in a futuristic virtual reality simulation. The novel, Rasere's War, is the first in a three book series. The follow on novel, We Built This City, is completed and will be released later in the spring.

Links to purchase the book are at: http://www.rjacques.net/bookstore/

I'm available for interviews on weekends and from 3-6pm SLT weekdays. Alternately you may submit questions via email gospeed@konastream.co

"Watercolors In The Rain"

Following her trip to the Brooklyn Bridge, Gemma Cleanslate checked out another place at the Linden Endowment for the Arts sims. At LEA 29, she found "Watercolors in the Rain." This sim isn't so easily described. Based upon the novel the leader of the build team wrote in real life, besides telling a story, it also offers a hunt in which residents get a chance to get some prizes.

Read Gemma's article in Places.