To family, friends, associates, readers, authors, editors, agents . . . . all y’all! Just a short note here to say that after six long years, I’m picking up where I left off on my second SciFi book called MILK RUN and I’m looking for beta readers. This is a great opportunity to come along for the ride and influence the story! More on that later. MILK RUN will be a different book from GOD…
Category: Milk Run- a new book
MILK RUN- Toby’s Guilt
COMMENTS PLEASE. WILL RECIPROCATE! So here’s a short piece from the second half of the scene from the “Second Chance” chapter of MILK RUN- a new SciFi novel in the making where our hero must choose: the girl or the mission? It’s a crap shoot! Click here to see the first half of this scene and some comments I received. Thanks to you guys for all the “LIKES” and comments. Following is some context to catch…
MILK RUN- Toby’s Second Chance
MILK RUN is a young adult military science fiction story about Captain Toby Nathanael Thornton, Jr., fresh out of space command school on his first mission as captain of the USS Princeton, an old destroyer class spacecraft. The Telrachnid war is going badly for Earth. But what our hero thought would be an easy first mission turns out to be a test of his ability to lead a crew much older than he against an…
MILK RUN- Prologue- Saturn’s Flag Ship
Here’s a DRAFT of the Prologue for MILK RUN. It’s a quick chapter designed to show us what’s in store for the rest of the story. Comments welcomed. Lt. John Torlini squints at Saturn that hangs heavy right smack in front of him—a big bright yellow brown ball of gas. His space fighter’s approach vector points his ship towards a spider web of brilliant white flashes below. John ignores the atmospheric storm and trusts the autopilot…
MILK RUN- On To The Story Beats
These last few blog posts, I laid out the bones that forms the skeletal structure of MILK RUN. These are major events in the story: from the Inciting Incident that changes our hero’s life forever; through the point where he decides what he must do; then down to the story’s Low Point where all hope seems lost; followed by the Climax of defeating the bad guys and saving the girl; only to wonder if all…
MILK RUN- Character List, Science & Technology Used
To get things going, this post summarizes the list main characters and science fiction terms/technology (based on real science of course) used as the story backdrop. I still haven’t completed all the character names. Feel free to make suggestions. This is a work in progress and your opportunity to shape the story. Main Characters In MILK RUN: Captain xxxx Toby– Captain of the USS Princeton Commander John Emerson- Second in command of the USS Princeton Boat Chief George…
MILK RUN- The Wrap Up
Wrap Up! That’s the last bone of our story—MILK RUN. Coming right after the climax, this is typically where loose ends are tied up to close the story, where we learn the fate of the principal characters: Captain Xxxxx Topy, Chief of the Boat George Stockton, Dr. Smriti Xxxxx, Dr. Susan Connor. (Yes, I still need to figure out complete names for some of these characters.) There’s not much more to say about Commander John Emerson…
MILK RUN- Some Story Line Changes
Oh yea, I made a few changes to the bones of this story. The biggest change is that while on the Telrachnid gunship, Captain Toby looses an arm during a firefight on the ship. This puts him in greater danger now that his spacesuit is ripped open and those nasty drug injecting Telrachnid spiders can get at him. Here’s a view you would see from inside your space helmet thanks to our resident artist Melissa…
MILK RUN- The Story’s Climax
If you draw a line graph showing the relative tension and excitement of a story, the line’s highest point should be at the climax of the story. Yes, yes, that’s the place, the magic spot where you want to bring your readers. And if applied correctly, with the right words and tone, with the correct use of rhythm, power and depth, readers will experience an ecstasy, a sort of rapacious delight that will make them come back for more and more and…
MILK RUN- Simulating Gravity in Spaceships
Have you ever walked in an office building hallway and wondered what it would be like if there were no gravity? Without gravity to allow your feel to grip the floor, you’d have to grab hold of the cabinets (assuming they are bolted to the floor) and pull or push your way forward. You might even get an urge to swim your way up the hallway. Now imagine trying to do the same thing on…