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

Writing Classes at Milk Wood

 *

A few days ago, I dropped by a writing class at the Milk Wood sim. The event, a discussion on how to publish, was advertised by the Book Island group.

Not every writer wants to publish, but there are several good options for those who do. Learn how to get your novel or short story collection into print and how to avoid the pitfalls along the path to publication. This workshop is geared for fiction writers but may also be useful to anyone who’s written a memoir or a collection of essays. 

KeyKey Underwood was the host of the event, whom spoke mostly in voice. Among those there was GoSpeed Racer. 

There would be another discussion that day about world building for story writing. 

Bixyl Shuftan
 

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

A Word From The Editor: Aiming To Put "Food On The Table"

Yours truly has made a name for himself, under his pseudonym, writing about Second Life for about eight years now, five and a half under this newsletter. What most of you don't know is that before Second Life, I was writing under my real-life name, Murray M. Lee, self-publishing several science-fiction stories in the website "A Writers Block." The website is no longer online as something went wrong and it vanished from the web. While yours truly still does a little story-writing on the side, progress has been slow, as my first priority has been here.

Partially due to real-life developments, friends and family have been suggesting I make more of a push to use my writing talents to make a real-life income, "Second Life is fine and dandy, but it has not been putting food on your table," I've been more or less told. Actually it has been helping to put food on the tables of others, but that's another story. While I have made money here, I've been donating what I make to the American Cancer Society via Relay for Life, and Veterans charities.

So at their suggestion, I'm going to do a little experiment. I'm going back to writing some things under my real-life name. About once a week on a new website, I'll upload a little something. Sometimes an essay, sometimes just a joke, maybe short stories. Things are only just beginning there, the only two guidelines are "writings about other than Second Life" and "make real money" by getting people to want to advertise there.

The name of the website, since the aim is to help "put food on the table," that's what the working title will be: "Food on the Table." Right now, it's very much a work in progress. Only the basics are set up. Only one writing has been uploaded there. But there will be more to come.

This does *not* meant I'll be cutting back on my writing here. It simply means I am looking an additional market. As long as Gemma, Becky, and the others on the team keep writing a steady stream of stories, this newsletter will keep on going strong, especially if we get some sponsors to replace Podex and Steelhead, of which the losses of (due to Linden Lab and the founder's real-life problems respectively) were a big hit to our bottom line.

But if you're curious to see other writings of mine, please check out "Food on the Table."

https://foodonthetablesite.wordpress.com/ .

Bixyl Shuftan aka Murray M. Lee

Grease Coakes to Have Second Children's Book Published

Earlier this year, Grease Coakes (John Krauss in real life) broke into the published fiction market with his children's story "Ginny Griffin Goes to School." Recently, he finished a sequel to the tale of the young girl, "Ginny Griffin and friends." Grey Lupindo interviewed Grease about the book, and when it will be out.

Read Grey's interview of Grease in People.

SL Newser Reporter Breaks into Published Fiction with "Ginny"

Grey Lupindo didn't have to go too far for her latest interview. Grease Coakes, noted Second Life Newser reporter, has broken into book publishing with his children's story "Ginny Griffin Goes to School." Grease has been writing in one form or another for much of his life, and came up with the idea for "Ginny" a few years ago. Getting the story to print, however, was a challenge.

Read Grey's interview of Grease in Extra.