The Winds of Heaven and Earth (Keystone, Lodestone, Clarion Book 1)

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Yeah, I've been remiss in blogging for a while, and I have a pile of excuses. The biggest one weighs the least, a 7-pound Let me modify that a bit: Who Needs a Legacy Publisher, Anyway? In the post I'm keeping it anonymous because I have not contacted the author for permission to publish her name , the writer details her journey: Lots of interesting things going on in the publishing world this week, both in the general industry and on the home front.

This post wound up being pretty long. Steve climbs on his soapbox. Great interview with me on book blogger Louise Wise's website; get to know me and my new novel's protagonist: The Importance of Being Earnest. This post isn't about Oscar Wilde--I don't really like his work, though I love many of the quotes attributed to him. Truth be told, I just wanted to use the play title for the post title because I always thought it was cool--and wanted to throw the factoid out there that there were even more puns and subtext in that play then most realize; circumstantial evidence has come to light that "earnest" was likely a slang term for "homosexual" back in the day, the day being the late.

Yeah, yeah; I know we're a long way out--DPW just topped 45, words, so I'm not even a third of the way through the first draft, but it's starting to pick up steam and I'm pleased at the way the story's turning out. And a Cloud of Dust.

• The Sixties Fandango?
• Love Spells: Magic, sparkle & lots of fun!.
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• Shadow of the Lonely.

Things are settling down now, but it's been a busy week or two. With the launch of The Winds of Heaven and Earth in the rear-view mirror, and a few promotions put to bed, I can take a breath and turn my full attention to The Dark Paths of the World, the second book in the Keystone, Lodestone, Clarion series.

As exciting as it was to see the book in print and watch the first sales and reviews trickle in, I'm looking forward to getting into a gentler rhythm and just. Publication of a new book is exciting for any author. I can't imagine becoming so jaded that the blush is off the rose--insert your own mangled metaphor here--to the point where holding the initial printed copy of your work doesn't raise your heart rate.

Rowling and all those mega-selling authors still get a thrill when the stork drops in. At least I hope they do. If you don't, Steve, Dan, J. Title got your attention?

Don't be ashamed; we're all weak. Just a short post to keep my toe in the water. I'm heads-down with a lot of things, so my posts have been few and far between--but as a writer it's important to keep active and visible in social media. The Winds of Heaven and Earth is wrapping. My editor and I are in the final stages on the final chapters, and all the formatting, cover art, back and front matter, blurbs, ISBN and all that fun peripheral stu.

Glimpses do ye seem to see of that mortally intolerable truth; that all deep, earnest thinking is but the intrepid effort of the soul to keep the open independence of her sea; while the wildest winds of heaven and earth c. Not only can you find everything about me and my works, if you click on the book cover on the rotating widget or the link on the "Writing" page under the book, you can download a huge chunk of the upcoming novel--over pages!

The first people who email me through the site's Contact page will be placed into a drawing for an autographed, advance copy of the print version of the book. We're getting close, Peeps! We're looking at a September launch date for both print and Kindle versions. My big news is: I'm launching a website tomorrow. On the Road and Going Deep. For those of you who don't know--but could probably infer from my ubiquitous profile pic all over social media--I'm an avid scuba diver and a PADI instructor; I've been diving for over 25 years.

Yeah, since I was 10, right?

1. Food Lovers Guide to Pittsburgh: The Best Restaurants, Markets & Local Culinary Offerings (Food Lovers Series).
2. Now Available on Amazon!.
3. .
4. !
5. Stephen M. Holak: The Dark Paths of the World -- Cover Concept!

I love the thrill of seeing a wreck emerge from the gloom on a descent--it never fails to raise the hairs on the back of my neck. A Good Week Had. As I mentioned in my Independence Day blog post on the 4th, writing a sequel is fun. The words keep pouring out of me--and I think they're good words. Just short posting this morning to check in, wave the flag a bit yes, that was deliberate , and wish everyone a happy and safe holiday. There's a reason it's been over a month since I posted a blog entry: I've been head-down on The Winds of Heaven and Earth, shaping and redrafting and trying to get the thing to my editor Rebecca Dickson.



This afternoon, I shipped it. My mid-June target slipped, but not by too much in the novelist world: A Step Forward, a Step Back: The publishing industry continues to change. No e-reader necessary, and no downloads.

Similar authors to follow

Enjoy, and feel free to give me feedback on the work to make the evolving novel the best it can be. A small UN military force sent to settle a colony world's unrest discovers their mission is only deep cover for their true assignment: When Major Katherine Colston assumed command of mankind's first interstellar peacekeeping mission--leading a small UN military force on an assignment to stabilize a colony planet 's smoldering civil war--she knew it would be a career-defining event.

Twenty-five years accumulated pay and interest just sweetened the pot. She didn't want to question the wisdom of sending a team a dozen light years to intervene in a conflict that would probably be decided long before they arrived; she he just wanted the command. But when her dying intel liaison reveals to her the real reason behind the expedition, Katherine is forced to assume responsibility for the success or failure of a vastly different mission--a mission whose outcome will profoundly shape the future of the human race.

I love space opera, and decided to write the first draft of a military sci-fi themed space opera on Wattpad.



1. ?
2. The Green Serpent and the Tree.
3. Northwich Through Time.
4. .
5. !
6. Anyone want to beta-read a fantasy short story?!
7. !

Feedback, comments, suggestions, observations welcome--anything to help shape the novel into a stronger story--is greatly appreciated. What you certainly don't know is that we brought him to ground with the help of a foot-tall fairy named Tinkerbelle.

Amazon Links

A Fairy for Bin Laden is a thrilling chronicle of Peter and "Belle's" search for the world's most wanted terrorist, Osama Bin Laden, and their role in Seal Team Six's heart-pounding assault on his compound in Pakistan. The tale is an exciting, sexy, humorous and occasionally profane adventure -- and a magical, heartwarming love story. The Curse of the Bambino: That rising star just happened to be George Herman Ruth.