X. Ho Yen's Author Newsletter (04 Aug 2024)
Greetings Dear Subscribers,
If you’re here via the web site and would like to subscribe, this link takes you to the subscription box.
How are you? Any news? Send me a note. Seriously. I’m not kidding. :) Especially if there’s anything you like about anything I’m doing here — I could use the shot, so to speak, and not the Key & Peele “Tha Incredible Mack” kind of shot. :)
* Catching up
* Reading Report
* Standard stuff — How to Help
=== Catching up ===
My knee returned to ‘good mode’ by itself after I drove changes to my PT regimen, and is well on its way to normalcy. I use a no-load brace when appropriate.
I have 32 pages of content developed for my puzzles/activities educational entertainment book, good progress! Every page requires quite a lot of thought and work. Also, through family I’ve found a puzzle aficionado (possibly two) interested in alpha reading/testing this book. Yay! (Thanks, Alysia)
Now I’m gearing up for World Con. Alas, I’m too small-fry to have gotten a seat on any panels (self-fulfilling…), so I’m relegated to guerrilla marketing and meeting people with my winning autistic personality. (Wish me luck…)
I’ve released 5 substacks since the last newsletter.
Hugo Winning Novel Disappoints — and I daresay MSD is at least as good as a Hugo winner
Fireworks 2024 — the once and future history of the D.S.A.
Representation in My Writing — whom do I represent?
The Left is Stupidly Purest at Times Like These — and it has allowed the corrupt right wing to win the last century
Life’s Riches — a page, split and reunited across time
Give them a try! Subscribe and pass the word.
https://substack.com/@xhoyenauthor
=== Reading Report ===
Recently I finished reading “Tales of the Incorrigible — Flummox or Bust!” by Kevin Bowersox.
What a blast! So much fun. Just brilliant! The level of care he put into it is obvious, and not just with the humor. (It’s very funny.)
Here’s the review I posted on The Story Graph, Goodreads, and the ‘Zon:
“You would be WRONG if you assumed a book full of this much humor could not have heart or be thought-provoking. Bowersox has done something truly impressive here.
I'm certain the author has carefully avoided comparing his book to "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy", because doing something like that would sound arrogant. It's the nature of things when dealing with comparisons to such famous works.
BUT, this reader dares to suggest that this book might be the better one.
You must read "Tales of the Incorrigible: Flummox or Bust!" Decide for yourself!“
Give it a whirl! Use it as your easy way to rediscover the sublime joy of reading novels!
There’s a second book in the series, which I’m reading now, and Kevin’s working on the third. Who says funny science fiction can’t also be smart and have heart? That’s what I was shooting for with “Custodians of the Future”!
=== Standard Stuff === How to Help ===
Why help? Since I subvert pop genre expectations instead of pandering to them, and because of my autism and other isolating factors, it’s extremely difficult and expensive for me to reach out into the world to find my audience. I don’t have a team helping me. Just writing newsletters like this is an exercise in self-esteem suspension of disbelief (swirly thing alert!).
I truly rely on word of mouth and grassroots support. In case anyone assumes this is some kind of gravy train side hustle, I’m still thousands of dollars in debt on this, and every convention adds more red to my ledger. I’m in this for the long haul, but I must keep reaching out and pushing. This is not “write it and they will come”, that’s the erotic fantasy romance section (which sells itself).
How to help: Reading my books, writing reviews (if you liked them :), and passing the word would be great. If not that, then one could post my one-page ads (see below, or on each book’s page on the web site) on appropriate billboards and tell people about my web site, https://XHoYenAuthor.com .
But here’s something very nice that anyone can do to help — request that “Minimum Safe Distance” be carried by your local library!
It’s usually as simple as going to your library system’s web site and searching for “suggest a purchase” or “submit a suggestion”. Usually, there’s a special page for that, and often it’s at the front of your dashboard.
They will want information like this:
Title: Minimum Safe Distance
Author: X. Ho Yen [please get the capitalization and spaces right, one after the period, another after ‘Ho’]
Publication year: 2022
Format: Book/Paperback
# of pages: 396
ISBN: 978-0-9766158-1-1
Publisher: Grand Unification Monastery
Audience: Adult
Language: English
Notes:
Good professional editorial reviews, including Kirkus:
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/x-ho-yen/minimum-safe-distance/
“…Ho Yen’s descriptions of advanced technologies should please fans of hard SF, but what really makes the book work are the questions it raises about what it means to be a person and a member of a species.” Our verdict: Get It
Carried in Arapahoe County Library System:
https://arapahoelibraries.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S115C2180350
and the Colorado State Library Book Club Resource (https://csl.catalog.aspencat.info/Union/Search?view=list&lookfor=minimum+safe+distance&searchIndex=Title&searchSource=local),
and Biblioboard (https://library.biblioboard.com/content/a3f3fc17-626b-428b-b6a2-5b5a9a44a494).
Author web site: https://XHoYenAuthor.com
This process usually takes only a few moments once you find the book suggestion/recommendation page. Thanks! Put a reminder in your calendar right now!
I haven’t been emphasizing “Custodians of the Future” as much as MSD, but only because MSD has more kudos (which is because I spent a lot more money on MSD, which is unsustainable). I’m hoping that interest in MSD will lead to interest in my other stuff.
Space Autistic Author
If you haven’t watched “Space Autistic Author”, Logs 1 and 2, yet, do check them out. They’re only a few minutes long, but they’re fun! Log 2 demonstrates how SAA allows cross-promotion with other creatives without requiring anyone to vouch for anyone else’s work. Pass the word!
While you’re there, check out the other videos on my channel, especially the Galacticon ‘23 video (in 2 parts). That one’s longer, but it shows why my pen name is not cultural appropriation, and gives a fun overview of Mars exploration (since the late 1800s) with details of my participation in it, mostly on the Mars Global Surveyor mission.
https://XHoYenAuthor.com/videos
Like, subscribe, and share!
All purchase options can be found here: https://XHoYenAuthor.com/books or at GrandUnificationMonastery.com. Both sites include links showing how several of the big vendors allow you to gift eBooks.
Thanks for sticking with me! I hope it’s at least mildly entertaining to watch this author second career thing come together.
Please do share my page with fellow realism-based sci fi fans, especially anyone who enjoys Corey’s The Expanse, Older’s Infomocracy, Card’s Speaker for the Dead, Mandel’s Station Eleven, Suarez’ Delta-V, or movies like “Arrival” and “Don’t Look Up”. I'm convinced my books would appeal to the same audience, because I wrote them for me and I'm in that audience.
Thanks for your support!
XHY
https://XHoYenAuthor.com