The stories that help us
Eon City anthology is live on Kickstarter now!
I’m super excited to share a new project launching today that I’ve been working on with my writing group! Eon City: Burnout is a cyberpunk anthology with short stories by me and eight of my best friends. But it’s more than a usual anthology. It started with a wild idea from JJ Johnson to create a shared world, have one of us write a prologue where a cataclysmic event happens, and then have each of us write a story about a different character dealing with that event, with continuing threads and the characters’ lives intertwining.
Thus, Eon City was born. It’s a futuristic megacity protected by an energy dome that keeps solar flares from frying technology. There are hovercars and robots and talking cats and an evil megacorporation seeking power. Nine authors, eleven stories of everyday people rising to challenges and fighting for what’s right. And a shoutout to Jenneth Dyck for the amazing cover!
What I loved most about the project was working with my friends to develop the world and then make our stories interconnected so it feels like one big narrative. It turned out even better than I could’ve anticipated. It was also fun to see my friends write things that reflect them. Jason Joyner is a physician’s assistant and wrote about a medic. Ted Atchley is an engineer who does robotics, and he wrote about an engineer who makes robotic pets. JJ Johnson’s character is a conspiracy theorist prepper with a secret radio show. I don’t think JJ actually has a secret radio show, but he might or might not have a bunker, and he definitely has more canned goods than the average person. All the stories are so much fun, and I love all of them.
The Kickstarter campaign is live today! It has some fun levels. You can get the usual e-book or paperback. There’s fun swag, and there’s a hardcover with dust jacket exclusive to Kickstarter. We also have a writer‘s pack where up to three people can get a consult call with multiple award-winning authors (including me!). If you’re into gaming, you can also join our group’s D&D game. The e-book and paperback are discounted if you back within the first 48 hours!
So why did I call this “stories that help us?” Our group began planning this anthology when I was about to have my first baby, and I wasn’t sure I’d be able to participate because life was crazy. After the baby was born, I wanted to get back to writing, but it was more of a struggle than I expected. There was no outside pressure to create. I just felt like I was missing that part of myself for months but couldn’t manage to work on anything no matter how hard I tried.
After averaging writing two or three books a year, all I managed in about nine months was this story: 10,000 words. But I’m super proud of it. And having my group to help with the world building and bounce ideas off of was just what I needed to get back into writing. This story helped me prove to myself that I could still do it. It got the juices flowing again. And it helped me find new ways of fitting writing into a very changed schedule.
My main story (I also wrote the epilogue) is a little Batman, a little Parks and Recreation. It’s called “These Hallowed Halls,” and it’s about a junior city council member who uses her illegal cybernetic enhancements to secretly fight crime. When she uncovers dangerous information and ends up with a target on her back, she has to decide if she’s willing to step out of the shadows. It was so much fun to write, but I also needed the boost. I composed a lot of it in my head before I actually wrote it down, which I finally did in snatches while friends watched the baby. Writers write stories for lots of different reasons, and each story impacts us in a different way or teaches us something. This short story, and really this whole project, with a group of my best friends, was exactly what I needed over the last year. I’m so proud of how it turned out and so excited to share it now with readers!
About the Anthology
Millions of people call Eon City home. They live their lives in glittering skyrises, flitting from place to place in sleek hovercars, synced with a digital world that gives them everything they could ever want. A shimmering energy shield protects everything they hold dear from violent solar storms.
At least, that’s what Axoprime Corporation wants you to believe.
The truth is layered as deeply as the megacity, all the way through the Underground, into the deadly Depths themselves. A truth few have been able to uncover.
Until now.
Nine authors combine their talents to explore a world equal parts delightful and dangerous, full of stories—the stories of regular people from all walks of life who, when they find themselves wrapped up in the same sinister conspiracy, face a decision.
Will they look out for themselves, like they’ve always done? Or will they put their lives in jeopardy to uncover the forces behind a devastating attack that threatens the entire city?
Love Unmasked is coming July 15!
Love Unmasked releases in less than three months! I’m planning a few appearances and a couple of giveaways, including one this month on Instagram so make sure to follow me there.
In the meantime, here’s an absolutely perfect review of the book from Kirkus!
“This solid … love story will engage romance readers and cosplayers alike with its enjoyably nerdy capers. … An adorkable love story about being true to yourself.”
Upcoming Appearance
I’m going to YA Midwest! This will be my first YA book con, and I’m so excited. If you’re in the Chicago area, come see me on July 26!
Sci-Fi Corner
We’re almost to the end of the character art from my Shades of Starlight series! This is Alexei Mata, the hero of book four, Final Break. He was a miner, and now he’s a charismatic politician who’s invited to galactic peace talks because of his planet’s valuable resources. Even though he’s never left home, he’s determined to help his people—even though someone wants to stop him from getting there… Credit to artist Arijit Dey.
That’s all for this month! Thanks for reading!
