Q. What order should I read the books in?
A. Quite Possibly Alien, Quite Possibly Allies, and Quite Possibly Heroes are actually one big story broken up into publishable pieces.
If you want to read a fast-paced space opera adventure do so in this order:
- Quite Possibly Alien
- Quite Possibly Allies
- Quite Possibly Heroes
The other books; Quite Possibly True, Quite Possibly False, and Quite Possibly Final are supplemental to that story. They explore aspects of the characters and the world that make the story richer but can also slow it down. They include events that occur chronologically before and after the main story line. They introduce details about characters that are only mentioned or seen in action from a distance in the main books. And they provide context about the world the main characters are unaware of.
If you want to immerse yourself in another world and peek behind the curtain this is the order to read the stories in:
- Quite Possibly Alien
- Quite Possibly True
- Quite Possibly Allies
- Quite Possibly False
- Quite Possibly Heroes
- Quite Possibly Final
Q. Why are some of the books in Kindle Unlimited and others aren’t?
A. Because Amazon won’t let me give eBooks away to my loyal readers and also put them in Kindle Unlimited at the same time.
All of the Quite Possibly books unavailable in Kindle Unlimited are available free right here. And once someone signs up for my mailing list they keep getting new free content for as long as they are subscribed.
I like Amazon, and I think Kindle Unlimited is a great deal for readers. But I want to have a direct relationship with my readers. I like to know what they’re thinking, and I like to know who else they’re reading, and I like to let them know I value them. They motivate me and keep me at my desk. I can keep writing books I love because they love them too. So I don’t want anyone between us. Not even Amazon.
One of the ways I reward reader loyalty and engagement is by giving away special stories I write specifically for my most loyal readers. And because I’m constantly adding new readers I want to give something valuable to new readers. That means, not an advance reader copy of book seven or eight in a series, rewards my long-term readers appreciate, but something early in the series. Like the books that aren’t in Kindle Unlimited. The ones available here for free.
The minute Amazon changes the exclusivity rules for Kindle Unlimited I will put my entire library in Kindle Unlimited. I wish I could do it today.
Q. You say the series is finished. Why?
A. Because the story is over.
One of the things I didn’t realize when I first started writing is that the story is over when it’s over. It might be a short story, or a novella, or a novel, or a trilogy, or more that comes out of me when I sit down to work. But there’s no cutting or padding that will turn a haiku into a saga, or vice versa. Not without cheating the story or the reader. Not without making a lie out of something true.
Maybe for other writers it’s different. Life would be easier if it was.
Q. Some of these names are weird. Is there a pronunciation guide?
A. There is, and you can find it here.
Q. I started the series in the middle. Are there plot summaries for previous books?
A. I’m working on it.
Q. Where is the ‘pick your favorite’ character survey?
A. Good question. You can find it here.
Q. Aren’t you going to write any more books?
A. I am. And I’m going to write more about these characters. Just not as book four or seven of this series, depending upon how you count.
There will be further adventures for certain. Adventures I’ll announce first to my loyal readers via the mailing list.
Q. Why are some of the books so long and others so short?
A. Two reasons.
First, because the story is over when it’s over. The short books are short stories, or novellas, or collections of short stories. I wrote them specifically for my loyal readers, to flesh out particular parts of the story they were interested in knowing more about. They’re part of the bigger story but as discrete stories they have a natural beginning, middle, and end.
Second, because no one can make a print book big enough to fit it all. I’m not comparing myself to J.R.R. Tolkien, but I am comparing my printers to his, and they both have the same issue. I would have made it all one big book if I could have. But there’s a limit to what they can do.
Q. I want your books from my local bookstore but they won’t buy books printed by Amazon.
A. They can get all my print books through Ingram, a traditional distributor independent booksellers know and trust.
This is important to me, that people can get my books everywhere. So if there’s any issue with ordering locally I want to know. Have the bookseller send me an email and I’ll get someone to help them. If they use the comment form here that will work too.
Q. Can they get a discount if they order books in quantity, like for a reading group, or a class project?
A. They can. Have them send me an email and I will hook them up. Or they can use the contact form here.
Q, What about autographed and/or personalized copies?
A, The same as above. Send me an email or use the contact form here.
Q. Do you ever attend conventions or do public events?
A. Rarely. It disrupts my tiger riding regimen.
Q. Do you have any advice for new writers?
A. I do. Because everyone is different this advice will not apply to every writer. But for writers like me it is the gospel truth. And it not a secret. It is the secret.
People will pay good money to watch a man ride a tiger. The more he looks like he might fall off the more they’ll pay.
Conversely, people are not interested in watching a man ride an ox. Even oxen aren’t interested. If you choose to ride an ox do so because it pleases you. Do not expect an audience.
The hard part about riding a tiger is not dismounting.
It is not staying on top of the tiger.
The hard part is saddling the tiger.
And that is the secret that many new writers fail to understand.
Because the tiger isn’t saddled in public. It is done in private and it is done alone.
Each morning when you rise you must check on the tiger. Is it still saddled from the night before? It will be if you rode yesterday. You must immediately mount and ride to the terror and amusement of your fellow man.
If you do not, and you neglect the tiger for even one day?
You will have to saddle it again. And that is hard work and ultimately dangerous.
The risk is not that the tiger will devour you.
The risk is not that you will lose your nerve.
It is that you will convince yourself that riding tigers is overrated.
And saddle an ox instead.
Q. Do you have a mascot?
A. Not officially.
Q. Are you on the Facebook?
A. I am indeed.
Q. Are you on the Twitter?
A. I am, but not that you’d notice.
Q. Goodreads?
A. I’m there.
Q. Are you on any of the other medias social?
A. I’m thinking about it.
Q. Are you writing both these questions and the answers?
A. No comment.
Q. Is that it?
A. It isn’t. There’s this.
If there is anything you think needs to be on this list that isn’t please send me an email. Or use the comment form here.
And that, is it.