Category Archives: Writing

This never gets old.

Super proud and excited to launch MJ-12: Endgame, the conclusion to the MAJESTIC-12 series of super-powered Cold War spy thrillers, to booksellers everywhere today. I’m very, very happy with how this series wrapped up, and I hope y’all enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it.

If you want to know more about it, Tor.com has an excellent summary of the book in its monthly release roundup. I mean, I’m gonna steal this write-up whenever someone asks me for a description (with credit, of course). I also have some nifty guest posts coming this week, and I’ve done a couple interviews as well — I’ll be sure to post about them as they’re released.

Also, there’s a new review out! Obviously, I’m rather pleased with it. Otherwise, I’d just keep it to myself. But definitely check it out — it’s a great, thoughtful review from Michael Cook.

As for the inevitable question what are you doing next? (I mean, geez, this one came out today), I have a couple irons in the fire and just settled on a direction for the biggest one this weekend — on the flight to Atlanta for DragonCon, in fact. Given that this year was kinda crazy with the move to Los Angeles and the move and all, it’s highly likely that my release schedule will give 2019 a skip. But there’s cool stuff in the works, so stay tuned.

To all the folks who have enjoyed the MAJESTIC-12 series, thank you! For all of you who like to wait until a series is finished before picking up the books, y’all are on deck now. And if you’ve liked any of my books, reviews on Amazon, Goodreads and other places are deeply appreciated — they really do matter. Finally, of course, tell your friends! That also makes a huge difference.

MJ-12: Endgame is available today in mass-market paperback and ebook from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Kobo Books, iTunes, Google Play, and through your favorite neighborhood independent booksellers through Indie Bound!

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With all the insanity that was DragonCon this weekend (SO MUCH FUN), I just remembered today that I needed to continue my tradition of posting the acknowledgements to my latest book, MJ-12: Endgame, before it comes out tomorrow. I’m really glad I did, because the folks mentioned here — and so many others — have been integral to the success I’ve enjoyed. It means a lot to me that I have such people in my life.

So without further ado, here are the acknowledgements!

***

Now I’m six books into a career I didn’t really believe I’d have a decade ago, and there are so many excellent people who have helped make this a reality. Naming everyone who has made a positive impact on my career as an author would be an entire extra chapter of this book, and likely interesting only to me. So to all those fellow authors who have lifted me up and made me a part of an excellent, welcoming community within science fiction and fantasy, know that your generosity means more to me than I could ever say.
And to all of the people who have steadily bought my books, reviewed them, told others about them, came to conventions to see me and get books signed, interacted with me online and likewise helped lift me up, I see you and deeply appreciate your time and your enthusiasm.

As we wrap up the MAJESTIC-12 series, I want to thank everyone at Night Shade Books, former and current, who helped bring all my novels thus far to bookshelves. Cory Allyn has been my editor for five novels now, and has been an excellent editor and collaborator in making these works better than they would’ve been. Richard “Shecky” Shealy is still, and likely will always be, the best copyeditor an author could ask for, given that enforcing continuity over multiple books is exponentially more difficult than a single novel. Jason Katzman, Ross Lockhart, and Jeremy Lassen are also to thank for making all this a reality.

There are also plenty of family and friends and coworkers who have supported me throughout my authorial career, giving me the encouragement and support I need to keep going. I want to give a special thanks to Linda Johnson, the absolute best boss I’ve had in more than a quarter-century of being in the workforce. Her unwavering support at work — and in life — is a big reason why I can write books and you get to read them.

This book is dedicated to Sara Megibow (at long last!), my agent and my friend. She is a tireless advocate of my work, and greets my ideas with just the right mix of enthusiasm and grounding. I’m proud and humbled to have someone like her in my corner.

Finally, as always, none of this would be nearly as much fun without my wife, Kate, and daughter, Anna. Thank you both for all your love and support and patience.

Here’s to the next adventure.

***

As always, there are more people who have contributed to the success of this book, and all my books, that aren’t mentioned here. To all of you, yet again, thank you!

MJ-12: Endgame is available tomorrow from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Kobo Books, iTunes, Google Play, and through your favorite neighborhood independent booksellers through Indie Bound!

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Once again, the fantastic page designers at Night Shade Books have hit a home run with MJ-12: Endgame. I’ve enjoyed putting “found documents” into the books, and the team at NSB answers the call each and every time. This time, I asked them to come up with something that looks like an old State Department telegram, since there’s a fantastic cache of old documents on State’s website.

Here’s what they came up with:

Why yes, there are slight spoilers in there, perhaps, though nothing too much beyond what was in the write-up we provided to Amazon and other vendors for pre-order. But yes, our heroes are smack dab in the middle of Moscow for Josef Stalin’s funeral. And as you might imagine, placing American Variants in the heart of the Soviet Union during a time of turmoil is gonna result in some stuff happening.

And speaking of pre-orders, have you placed yours yet? Endgame is coming Sept. 4, and you can pre-order it at the following: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indie Bound | iTunes

Remember, of course, that your local bookseller needs your support, so if you’re able, please pre-order it from them!

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The third MAJESTIC-12 novel, MJ-12: Endgame, is out September 4, but if you really like to plan ahead, you can pre-order it today at any number of fine sites. And to whet your appetite for this next chapter in the story of our Variant spies, here’s a brand-new description:

Josef Stalin is dead. In the aftermath, the Soviet Union is thrown into crisis, giving former secret police chief Laverentiy Beria exactly the opening he needs. Beria’s plan is to secretly place his country’s Variants―ordinary people mysteriously embued with strange, superhuman powers―into the very highest levels of leadership, where he can use them to stage a government coup and seize control of the USSR.

America’s response comes from its intelligence communities, including the American Variants recruited for the top-secret MAJESTIC-12 program, who are suddenly thrown into their most dangerous and important assignment yet. From the halls of the Kremlin to the battlefields of Korea, superpowered covert agents face off to determine the future of the planet―a future their very existence may ultimately threaten.

Yes, we’ve fast-forwarded to 1953. It’s not that there isn’t great stories to tell between 1949 and 1953, of course, but rather this seemed like a natural way to close out this trilogy. (And yes, we’re closing it out. I mean, it’s called Endgame for a reason!) Of course, I never say never — there could be great stories ahead for MAJESTIC-12. But for now, I feel this is a good place to leave things be.

As of right now, Endgame is in the capable hands of my editor, Cory Allyn, and while we don’t have a cover yet, I’m very certain it’ll continue along the same theme. So we’re pretty much on track for September, which is exciting.

And now, here are your pre-order links, if you’re so inclined! (No links yet for Kobo or Google Play, but when I see ’em, I’ll post ’em.) As always, I encourage you to buy local and/or support independent bookstores whenever possible, because they’re awesome. And if you’re low on funds, put in a request at your local library, because libraries are awesome too.

MJ-12: Endgame: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indie Bound | iTunes

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