I am alive! Anything you heard to the contrary is false. No, JF Dubeau did not kill me off in his upcoming sequel. I just have had a really tough couple of years and I didn’t keep up with much of what I probably should have.

In the spirit of keeping things short and sweet, pertinent updates:

I will be at Dragoncon. If you can make it by, reach out to me so I can say hi. If you have your copy and it isn’t already signed, I’ll sign it!

Fall is 50% done being edited by me. If you haven’t, you should probably get your copy pre-ordered today!

I’ve got other ideas that have been percolating, but that’s the important stuff for now.

Well, 2016 is on its deathbed.  Appropriate analogy all things considered.  We’ve said goodbye to many this year, although to be honest the famous deaths of this year didn’t really register in my ecosystem until the very end.  Seeing as I don’t remember a world that didn’t have Princess Leia or Singing in the Rain in it, I definitely felt something when those two passed.  To have them do so within days of my grandmother passing away definitely put a more subdued end on a year filled with frustration and stress.  That said, there were some things I enjoyed about this year.  Here are some highlights.

• Highlight moment of the year: Holding my very own book in my hands for the first time on Sept 13.
• Highlight moment runner-ups: 15th wedding anniversary (such a fun evening Michelle), Finishing the manuscript for Fall on Jan 18, appearing on the Current Geek podcast with Scott Johnson (I’ve been listening to him since 2009; yeah that mattered); winning two more contests on Inkshares; Publishers Weekly review; Audible book deals for Rise and Fall
• Best Movie: Toss-up between Civil War and Rogue One for me. honorable mention to Zootopia
• Best TV Series (started this year): Toss up here between Stranger Things and Orphan Black. Honorable mention to the new Muppets and Voltron
• Best Book I read: not touching that with a 39-and-a-half-foot pole.  Too many friends published books this year.  So instead:

1. Most Surprising Book: Unattractive Vampire (did not see myself enjoying this)
2. Most Difficult to read: tie between Ageless and Rune of the Apprentice for entirely different reasons (Note: I still enjoyed them ;-))
3. Most Inspiring: Push

• Best Game played: I’d have to say Munchkin (adventure time or Cthulu versions); yes I hadn’t played it before
• Best Video Game played: I spend a lot of time in Civilization VI so that is a good answer.  Stellaris is another really good one.  That said, I think I’ll choose Crashlands.  My daughter and I have spent hours playing concurrent games (no multi-player) throughout this year
• Highlight Verse I read: Psalm 27:14 - Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD! (ESV)
  

 So, yeah it’s been an interesting year.  Rounding out the year watching the entire Harry Potter series with my daughter was another moment, including giving her book one in both German and English for Christmas.  I’m so proud of her development as a linguist.  Watching her interact with those in need on Christmas Eve, seeing the smiles on their faces when she spoke with them.  It warmed the heart.

2017.

Looking straight at you now.  What’s coming?  Well, I don’t know.  2016 definitely did not go according to plan (except the release of Rise.  That did happen as planned.)  So, who knows what will happen but here’s what I intend on doing.

1. By the end of 2017, the first drafts of Shatter and Unite will be done.  
2. I will be able to lead discussions and do live translations without fear in Arabic.  
3. And I’ll be able to hold my own in a conversation in German.
   

Onward!

“Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow.” – Ronald E. Osborn

The holidays are here!  And you know what that means.  Sales!  Inkshares isn’t skipping out on it.  They’re throwing a 50% off sale for published books.  Yes, that means you can get one or two or a dozen books for half what it would normally cost you.  Got a friend or 10 that you want to give a great gift to?  Well, check out the books out now from Inkshares.  You’re sure to find something for that reader in your life.

Why am I telling you all about this?  Well, duh.  I want my author friends to make mad money this holiday season.  And, shhh, don’t tell anyone but they let Rise in for some reason!  So, yeah, you can get an extra copy or two of Rise to share also.

Hurry!  The sale ends Dec 16th!

  Today is Extra Life!  We cleared my second goal and are closing in on $1000 raised for the year.  The entire event is above $6 million for the year. We’re live and fundraising and you can watch here http://www.twitch.tv/guthron or here http://www.twitch.tv/pixel_sharks.  You can donate here.  

Just an update for you about an event I participate in every Fall.

BLUF: Support me as I raise money for the hospital that saved my niece’s life.  Go here to donate.

This weekend, gamers around the world will come together for 24 (25 with the time change) hours of gaming raising money for children.  The event is Extra Life and all the money the gamers raise goes to support Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals across the US.

This event is particularly close to my heart as my niece was born into Providence of Alaska at 26 weeks.  They helped keep her in the womb as long as possible, safely delivered her, and saved her life during her 72 day stay in the NICU.  She’s now a happy, bubbling kid full of life thanks to that hospital.

All of the funds I raise go to Providence of Alaska.  Many, many more gamers have similar stories about the hospitals they support.  In fact, the entire event was inspired by Victoria Enmon, a little girl diagnosed with cancer that wanted to do something for the other kids around her that were more sick.  You can learn more about her story in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHSZ_82wiJg .  Warning: tissues should be nearby.

So, what can you do?  Well, you can join in and support a hospital.  Learn more at http://www.extra-life.org .  But, if you’d rather just support a gamer, you can go to that site and find someone also doing this.  My page is here.  I believe Jamison Stone is also participating.

Oh, and Rise is 42 copies away from 2K sold:-)  I’m still waiting on all those reviews you promised.  And all those eager fans pre-ordering Fall :-)

So there is some news to share.   Rise is going to be an audio-book!  The deal is for Rise and a sequel, in this case Fall.  I can’t wait to get my hands on this.  Definitely will be listening to that on some runs.

In other news, Rise is closing in on 2000 copies sold.  And most of that buzz pushing the sales is coming from you.  Thank you so much!  If you’re reading your copy now, I’d appreciate a "Reading" mark on Goodreads.  And a review when you’re finished would be awesome.

In Fall news, I’m editing act 3 before sending it off to my editor.  After that, I got back and do a rework based on the edits I already have for acts 1 and 2.  If you haven’t pre-ordered your copy, the sooner you do the sooner we can get it into production and in your hands.

You are all awesome!

With the upcoming release of Rise next month, I just thought I’d give you some idea of what’s coming with Fall.

Fall will be released for pre-order Labor Day weekend.  That’s right, if you want to get the sequel to Rise sooner, make sure you preorder it and get others to do so as well.

Stay tuned for more in the coming weeks.