My Other Car is a Spaceship audiobook is now available!

With nearly ***11,500 ebook copies sold*** the audiobook is now available.

This former Amazon #1 bestselling military sci-fi thriller has received ***80+*** 5- and 4-star reviews!

What a romp. Fun and fast paced. Great escapism. Just what you want in a space opera. Waiting with great anticipation for the sequel.”—Rick

“Not what you would think from the title…. This is the kind of book that you don't want to put down. Story lines and characters evolve on several plains to tell the good and the bad of a sentient universe. …. Something any avid sci-fi reader will enjoy!”—Edward O Mumby 

“Compelling! A well written, good book with an interesting storyline. [T]he story moves at a quick pace with lots of action.”—Judith A. Pilgrim 

“Swashbuckling meets Star Trek with a bit of Babylon 5 and Futurerama...over all a good read. Great fun, pick [it] up you scurvy dogs.” —A Kindle Customer 

“A good book. There was plenty of action and a well planned story line.”—Caitlin 

“A wonderful space opera. A very enjoyable book that has nonstop action with plenty of unexpected twists and turns. A delight for anyone that loves science fiction.” —James E. Brown, Jr. 

“Great space adventure. Excellent read.”—John L. Logan 

“A must for anyone who likes space battles…. Space guardians versus pirates, very good story, well written with good character development. Will get sequel when it comes available.”—David Paige

“Very interesting story believable characters, and a happy ending with a lead to the next book.” —Amazon Customer 

“Great story with very entertaining plot. It even makes you think that this could really be happening.” —Frank Poppers “pops” 

“The characters are fascinating both alien and otherwise. The action was non stop. I really got into the intergalactic relationships.”—Stuart Willner 

“An interesting twist on the good guy/bad guy plot with pirates and space. A fun story.”—Amazon Customer 

“Great story. From the title you might expect a slightly cheeky but humorous story. This novel is better than that. Much better in fact. I could not put it down.”—ArthurDent \

A really really good book !!!! Very good story, good action, realistic story line[.] ... Sure hope we get more along the same line[.] Good job!”—Steve A. Harrah 

“I was initially surprised by this book. Couldn't put it down. Enjoyed the writers characters, the personality, sarcasm, how they played on each other. Looking forward to a book 2. Hint hint. It truly was a great read. …. Thank you Mark Terence Chapman [f]or a book well written. :) —Amazon Customer 

“Very Satisfying. "My Other Car is a Spaceship" reads like a good effort from a top writer. The science fiction is plausible, the dialogue is believable, the plot and backstory are well-crafted. Mr Chapman keeps the action going, offers up some good jokes, a couple of homages - all in all, a very satisfying read. I recommend this book and I will read more from this author.”—Stoney “stoney” 

“I wasn't sure what to expect with this book. The title was fanciful, however it was more than I expected. A really good fast flowing read. Lots of adventure, descriptive characters, Pirates and more.”—Evelyn Crow 

“…he weaves a mighty, quite intricate web of [deceit], subterfuge, destruction and cunning. The characters seem to be like friends to you. You get to know them well. The dialog is true. When Mr. Chapman has these various [species] talking he remembers to place a bit of description in that makes the character stand out. It is a well-woven plot. ... I'd like to see more of Hal and Kalen and their adventures.”—Anja 

“A good read hope there's a sequel”—Aidan Reilly 

“Smartly written, quick pace, yet still has involved characters.”—Mike King 

“Loved it. Very well done - I can't wait for more!”—D Sable 

“Keeps you on your toes for the duration of the book”—Terence Chapman (Sunrise Beach Australia) [Not me… J] 

“A fast moving story with great characters that you just can't put down once you start reading.”—NJacques 

“Absolute fantastic read”—Pieter 

“Good start to what can be a good series. “Pretty good bit of Space Opera, I enjoyed it immensely.”—Michael Kal-El 

“Really like this book was fast paced and kept me engrossed through the whole book can't wait to read more.”—George sterling 

“Great reading. Really liked this book. Couldn't hardly put it down. Can't wait for the sequel. Will look for it till published.”—Hal Williams 

“Hardcore. FIVE stars for this book[. I]t was a surprise from the title[. I]t developed quickly into a good read. Characters developed nice. And fitted [easily] with each other quickly.”—Amazon Customerhardcore sick 

“Well thought out and written story of action and suspense. Chapman has a winner in this story. Needs to make a short series out of it”—David L. Coffing 

“This was a fun read … swashbuckling at its finest!”—Amazon Customer 

“Spell[b]inding read that keeps you turning the pages. Great action adventure with a space opera theme. Well developed characters with a true sense of duty and honor.”—Kendrick Knight 

“I loved it. Almost nonstop action from Chapter 3 on. The action sequences are exciting and the banter between the two main characters is funny. There are battle sequences aplenty, guerilla warfare, and lots of ingenuity displayed by the heroes (and the author). A great read. I couldn't put it down.”—Russ Allen 

“Fast paced and keeps your interest. Hal is smart, and a great hero who thinks fast on his feet[;] teamed with the captain and the Dr. They are an unbeatable team.”—Amazon Customer 

“A very enjoyable, action pack[ed] military [SF] against pirates. Well worth buying. I started and could not stop reading it. I will definitely buy the next book in the series.”—Robert P Lowrey 

“Great read. Good story, I would have renamed the ship "Merrys Revenge". Want to know which ship I am referring too? You will just have to read this entertaining book to find out. Anxiously waiting book two.”—David W. Kohn 

“A Great Romp!”—BG-expat 

“I found this book very interesting, and hard to put down. There is almost nonstop action from about the fourth chapter. [T]his was a good read. I'd recommend this to science fiction fans.”—Jacob Ward 

MY OTHER CAR IS A SPACESHIP (audiobook): 

- Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/My-Other-Car-Spaceship/dp/B00RM1S80O

- Apple iTunes/iBooks (in 51 countries): https://itunes.apple.com/ca/audiobook/my-other-car-is-spaceship/id954899764 (After signing in with the iBooks app, select your country or region.) 

-Audible: http://www.audible.com/pd/Sci-Fi-Fantasy/My-Other-Car-is-a-Spaceship-Audiobook/B00RKJETF6/ref=a_search_c4_1_1_srTtl?qid=1419967220&sr=1-1 

MY OTHER CAR IS A SPACESHIP (ebook): 

- Amazon (in 13 countries): http://smarturl.it/MyOtherCarSpaceship 

- Apple iTunes/iBooks (in 51 countries): https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/x/id942712473 (After signing in with the iBooks app, select your country or region.) 

- B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/my-other-car-is-a-spaceship-mark-terence-chapman/1120795584?ean=2940046409376 

- Flipkart (India): http://www.flipkart.com/my-other-car-spaceship/p/itme2fa9zgwnkqp9?pid=DGBE2FA63HZHCRJG&otracker=from-search&srno=t_1&query=mark+terence+chapman&ref=98e043e9-385d-40fa-811e-e60455fbea65

- Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/my-other-car-is-a-spaceship

- Oyster: https://www.oysterbooks.com/book/izyCnXaGh6nyAG3WPfiZGR/my-other-car-is-a-spaceship (subscription site) 

- Scribd: https://www.scribd.com/book/246909614/My-Other-Car-is-a-Spaceship (subscription site) 

- Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/493763

- txtr: https://us.txtr.com/catalog/document/uqh9y89/my-other-car-is-a-spaceship--mark-terence-chapman/

To find out more about my books, go to my website: http://MarkTerenceChapman.com. 

$0.99 Sale on The Tesserene Imperative, through Dec. 7

*** COUNTDOWN SPECIAL *** From Dec. 5-7 only, get THE TESSERENE IMPERATIVE for a mere $0.99. If you’ve been on the fence about getting this ***4.7-star rated*** sci-fi thriller, here your chance, just in time for Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa. Get one for yourself, get one for your kids, get one for Grandma. Don’t have a Kindle? No problem. Download the FREE Kindle app for Android, Apple, and Windows. You can read the book on your smartphone, tablet, or PC. (If you miss out on this 99-cent special, you can still get it for only $1.99 from Dec. 8-11, before the book returns to its normal price on Dec.12) If you have AMAZON PRIME or KINDLE UNLIMITED, you can download the book for FREE!

Despite being part of a series, my sci-fi thriller, THE TESSERENE IMPERATIVE (Book Two of The Imperative Chronicles), is a stand-alone story. (You don't necessarily have to read Book One (The Mars Imperative)—but, of course, you’ll want to!) It’s available on Amazon in 13 countries: http://smarturl.it/TessereneImperative.

To find out more about my books, go to my blog at http://tesserene.blogspot.com or my website: http://MarkTerenceChapman.com.

The Imperative Chronicles is Available for Preorder

This two-book set of THE IMPERATIVE CHRONICLES contains the complete, unabridged, highly rated sci-fi thrillers, THE MARS IMPERATIVE and THE TESSERENE IMPERATIVE. It's a perfect holiday gift for the hard sci-fi fan in your life, with almost 700 pages of excitement. It ships Dec. 6.

Get ready for a near-future universe where the science and technology is as real as anything you might encounter today. It's a universe of space elevators, terraforming, mining camps on Mars, and prospecting for minerals in distant asteroid belts; a universe where the Earth is dangerously overpopulated. We must expand outward to survive.

Dangers abound in space, but so do opportunities. Succeed and the galaxy is opened for human exploration; fail and humanity is doomed to extinction.

Which will it be? Come along for the ride of your life. It's a bumpy one, but well worth the trip.

THE MARS IMPERATIVE:
Mars is a frontier town, filled with prospectors and mining camps. It’s a place of deadly dust storms and near-vacuum atmosphere. And then there’s the terrorist.

When James McKie leaves for his first job in space, he has no idea what he’s getting himself into. Traveling to Mars is harrowing enough. Surviving once he gets there is another matter entirely. Yet there is a discovery waiting to be made, one that could open Mars to human colonization—if it doesn’t kill everyone first.

THE TESSERENE IMPERATIVE:
It was supposed to be a routine mission, but in an asteroid belt nothing is routine.

When prospecting ship Shamu is almost destroyed, the crew of five is left with three days of air, little water, a smashed starflight drive, and no hope of rescue. It will take every ounce of ingenuity and stubborn pigheadedness they possess to find a way to survive.

In the shadows of a small moon, there's a discovery waiting to be made--the secret to first contact. Will it open the stars to widespread exploration, or doom mankind to extinction?

THE IMPERATIVE CHRONICLES series is available on Amazon in 12 countries: http://hyperurl.co/ImperativeChronicles. To find out more about my books, go to my blog at http://tesserene.blogspot.com or my website: http://MarkTerenceChapman.com.

Frequently Misused and Misspelled Words and Phrases (and how to use them correctly) is available for preorder

From the author of the former #1 bestselling Military Sci-fi novel on Amazon (My Other Car is a Spaceship). FREQUENTLY MISUSED AND MISSPELLED WORDS AND PHRASES (and how to use them correctly) is now available for preorder on Amazon.

Do you sometimes find yourself using the wrong word (such as discrete vs. discreet), or using a word incorrectly? Are you confused by the differences between similar words (such as shined, shone, and shown; lay and lie; or to, too, and two)? Do you misspell common words (alright vs. all right, or ect. vs. etc.) and phrases (such as tow the line vs. toe the line)? Do you write fiction, nonfiction, business memos, emails, or anything else that others will read? Then this book is for you.

It explains in simple language the differences between words and phrases that are frequently misused and misspelled, as well as rules for proper punctuation and capitalization, and other elements of English that often trip up the unwary writer. And it does so with frequent humor to keep it from becoming too dry. For example:

Baited vs. Bated
Wrong: I waited with baited breath.
Right: I waited with bated breath.

Do your friends call you “fish-breath”? If not, then you wait with bated breath, which means “reduced, lessened, lowered in force.” The expression bated breath (using a short form of abated) refers to how someone almost stops breathing through awe, terror, anxiety, or extreme anticipation. Perhaps you waited with bated breath as he baited the hook.

and:

Dessert vs. Desert
Wrong: She wandered for days, lost in the dessert.
Right: She wandered for days, lost in the desert.

Unless she was eating the world’s largest hot fudge sundae, she was lost in a desert (an extremely dry place that supports only sparse vegetation), not a dessert (the final course of a meal).

and:

Site vs. Sight vs. Cite
Wrong: Check out my web sight.
Right: Check out my web site.

A site (noun) is a location. (“This is the site of our upcoming restaurant.”) A sight (noun) is a vision or a glimpse of something. (“She was quite a sight in that dress.”) Cite isn’t even a noun, it’s a verb. It means to quote as an authority (“Cite your sources.”), to commend for outstanding service (“He was cited for bravery.”) or to summon to court (“She was cited for speeding.”). The noun form of cite is citation. (Isn’t it interesting how a citation for bravery can be a good thing while a citation for speeding is a bad thing?)

and:

Tact vs. Tack vs. Tactic
Wrong: I’m going to take a different tact on this problem.
Right: I’m going to take a different tack on this problem.
Right: I’m going to try a different tactic with this problem.

The phrase “taking a different tack” comes from nautical terminology meaning a course run obliquely against the wind in a zigzag fashion. So, taking a different tack means to try another approach or come at the problem from a different direction. Tact, on the other hand, is a sense of what’s appropriate or a skill with delicate situations. A tactic is a plan or procedure to attain a goal. A person of tact, then, might try a different tack as a tactic for achieving victory.
Check out the Look Inside feature for hundreds of other examples.

FREQUENTLY MISUSED AND MISSPELLED WORDS AND PHRASES (and how to use them correctly) is available on Amazon in 12 countries: http://hyperurl.co/FrequentlyMisusedWrd. To find out more about my books, go to my website: http://MarkTerenceChapman.com.

Lots of good stuff going on....

I know I'm way behind in  updating this blog, but I've been really busy. So, here goes:

1) My Other Car is a Spaceship is nearing 11,000 copies sold.

2) The audiobook version of My Other Car is a Spaceship is on schedule to ship in early December. It will be available via Amazon, Apple iTunes, and Audible.com.

3) My Other Car is a Spaceship will also be available as an ebook from Barnes and Noble, Apple iBook, Oyster, Scribd, txtr, Smashwords, and other retailers, as well as distributors that sell to over 20,000 libraries, on December 5.

4) The Mars Imperative and The Tesserene Imperative will be combined into one ebook volume called The Imperative Chronicles (Books One and Two). It will be released on December 6.

5) My self-help book for writers of all types, Frequently Misused and Misspelled Words and Phrases (and how to use them correctly), will be released on December 5.

Whew! December will be insane. (In a good way.) :)

My Other Car is a Spaceship audiobook on schedule

We're still looking at a late November or early December release for the audiobook version of my bestselling military sci-fi thriller, MY OTHER CAR IS A SPACESHIP. Here's the cover for the audiobook:

Keep watching for status updates and the final release date. In the meantime, the ebook version is currently available on Amazon in 12 countries: http://smarturl.it/MyOtherCarSpaceship. To find out more about my books, go to my website: http://MarkTerenceChapman.com.

10,000 copies sold!

My Military Sci-fi thriller, MY OTHER CAR IS A SPACESHIP has now sold over TEN THOUSAND copies. Maybe that's not New York Times bestseller numbers, but it's pretty rare for an unknown self-published author. :)

MY OTHER CAR IS A SPACESHIP is currently available on Amazon in 12 countries: http://smarturl.it/MyOtherCarSpaceship. To find out more about my books, go to my blog at http://tesserene.blogspot.com or my website: http://MarkTerenceChapman.com.

New cover to celebrate 9,000 copies sold!

It occurred to me that I should tout the fact that My Other Car is s Spaceship reached #1 bestseller status on Amazon last month by added a medallion to that effect to the cover. The new cover was finished the same day the book reached 9,000 copies sold. So it was a doubly good day. Here's the new cover:

MY OTHER CAR IS A SPACESHIP is available on Amazon in 12 countries: http://smarturl.it/MyOtherCarSpaceship. To find out more about my books, go to my website at http://MarkTerenceChapman.com.

Audiobook version of My Other Car is a Spaceship is coming soon!

I will be working with a very talented voice actor named Mark Westfield to produce an audiobook version of MY OTHER CAR IS A SPACESHIP. If all goes according to plan, it should be available for sale in December on Amazon, Audible, and iTunes.

For anyone not familiar with the book, it was the #1 bestselling military sci-fi novel on Amazon.

When space pirates threaten to take over the shipping lanes, retired air force fighter pilot Hal Nellis is recruited to fight them. It all comes down to a final battle for the spaceways. Win, and the pirate threat is crushed forever. Lose, and the people of Earth and countless other backwater worlds are doomed to enslavement and death.

MY OTHER CAR IS A SPACESHIP is available on Amazon in 12 countries: http://smarturl.it/MyOtherCarSpaceship. To find out more about my books, go to my blog at http://tesserene.blogspot.com or my website: http://MarkTerenceChapman.com.

MY OTHER CAR IS A SPACESHIP has sold more than 7500 copies in its first seven weeks!

Here's why MY OTHER CAR IS A SPACESHIP has sold more than 7500 copies in only seven weeks:

“Great story. From the title you might expect a slightly cheeky but humorous story. This novel is better than that. Much better in fact. I could not put it down. ”—ArthurDent

“A really really good book !!!! Very good story, good action, realistic story line[.] ... Sure hope we get more along the same line[.] Good job!”—Steve A. Harrah

“I was initially surprised by this book. Couldn't put it down. Enjoyed the writers characters, the personality, sarcasm, how they played on each other. Looking forward to a book 2. Hint hint. It truly was a great read. I think just about anyone could pick this one up and enjoy it. Thank you Mark Terence Chapman. For a book well written. :) —Amazon Customer

“A fast moving story with great characters that you just can't put down once you start reading. Really like these type of action stories that you can really get into.”—NJacques

“Pretty good bit of Space Opera, I enjoyed it immensely.”—Amazon Customer

“Really like this book was fast paced and kept me engrossed through the whole book[;] can't wait to read more.”—George sterling

“Great reading. Really liked this book. Couldn't hardly put it down. Can't wait for the sequel. Will look for it till published.”—Hal Williams

“Hardcore. FIVE stars for this book[. I]t was a surprise from the title[. I]t developed quickly into a good read. Characters developed nice. And fitted [easily] with each other quickly.”—Amazon Customerhardcore sick

Well thought out and written story of action and suspense. Chapman has a winner in this story. Needs to make a short series out of it.”—David L. Coffing

“Very Satisfying. "My Other Car is a Spaceship" reads like a good effort from a top writer. The science fiction is plausible, the dialogue is believable, the plot and backstory are well-crafted. Mr Chapman keeps the action going, offers up some good jokes, a couple of homages - all in all, a very satisfying read. I recommend this book and I will read more from this author.”—Stoney “stoney”

“This was a fun read … swashbuckling at its finest!”—Amazon Customer

“Spell[b]inding read that keeps you turning the pages. Great action adventure with a space opera theme. Well developed characters with a true sense of duty and honor.”—Kendrick Knight

“I loved it. Almost nonstop action from Chapter 3 on. The action sequences are exciting and the banter between the two main characters is funny. The good guys somehow manage to win despite impossible odds. There are battle sequences aplenty, guerilla warfare, and lots of ingenuity displayed by the heroes,(and the author). A great read. I couldn't put it down.”—Russ Allen

“Fast paced and keeps your interest. Hal is smart, and a great hero who thinks fast on his feet[;] teamed with the captain and the Dr. They are an unbeatable team.”—Amazon Customer

“A very enjoyable, action pack[ed] military [SF] against pirates. Well worth buying. I started and could not stop reading it. I will definitely buy the next book in the series.”—Robert P Lowrey

“Great read. Good story, I would have renamed the ship "Merrys Revenge". Want to know which ship I am referring too? You will just have to read this entertaining book to find out. Anxiously waiting book two.”—David W. Kohn

“I found this book very interesting, and hard to put down. There is almost non stop action from about the fourth chapter. ,,, this was a good read. I'd recommend this to science fiction fans.”—Jacob Ward

MY OTHER CAR IS A SPACESHIP is available on Amazon in 12 countries: http://smarturl.it/MyOtherCarSpaceship. To find out more about my books, go to my website: http://MarkTerenceChapman.com.

I'm moving up the author rankings!

The author rankings on Amazon, that is. I'm currently the #35 "most popular" (i.e., bestselling?) author of sci-fi books for Kindle, #54 on the list of overall sci-fi book authors, and #39 on the list of Teen and YA authors. :)

Release party and book celebration!

I'm having a release party and book celebration! My paranormal/detective/alien-abduction sci-fi thriller, Sunrise Destiny, will be released on 9/26 and I'm celebrating the success of My Other Car is a Spaceship.

Join me on 9/27/14 and celebrate your favorite books!

Authors, feel free to promote your books and offer giveaways and contests. (You're welcome to host an hour, if you like.) Readers, get a chance to win prizes and learn about new authors. https://www.facebook.com/events/1475965716004312/?ref_dashboard_filter=calendar.

#49 author of Teen and YA novels

As of today, I've broken into the Top 50 authors of teen and YA books on Amazon. This is especially amazing given that I don't specifically write YA books. I just write sci-fi books for anyone who wants to read them. Apparently they appeal to young audiences as well as adults. Who knew? :)

That's fine by me. Welcome readers of all ages!

Readers love My Other Car is a Spaceship!

There's a reason MY OTHER CAR IS A SPACESHIP has been consistently #1 or #2 on Amazon's list of military sci-fi titles for almost two weeks. There aren't a lot of reader reviews yet on Amazon, but most of them are 4- and 5-stars. Here are some of them:


“Spell binding read that keeps you turning the pages. Great action adventure with a space opera theme. Well developed characters with a true sense of duty and honor.” *****Five Stars*****—Kendrick Knight


“Very Satisfying. "My Other Car is a Spaceship" reads like a good effort from a top writer. The science fiction is plausible, the dialogue is believable, the plot and backstory are well-crafted. Mr Chapman keeps the action going, offers up some good jokes, a couple of homages - all in all, a very satisfying read. I recommend this book and I will read more from this author.” *****Five Stars*****—Stoney “stoney”


“I loved it. Almost nonstop action from Chapter 3 on. The action sequences are exciting and the banter between the two main characters is funny. The good guys somehow manage to win despite impossible odds. There are battle sequences aplenty, guerilla warfare, and lots of ingenuity displayed by the heroes,(and the author). A great read. I couldn't put it down.” *****Five Stars*****—Russ Allen


“Fast paced and keeps your interest. Hal is smart, and a great hero who thinks fast on his feet[;] teamed with the captain and the Dr. They are an unbeatable team.” *****Five Stars*****—Amazon Customer


"A very enjoyable, action pack[ed] military [SF] against pirates. Well worth buying. I started and could not stop reading it. I will definitely buy the next book in the series." *****Five Stars*****—Robert P Lowrey


“Great read. Good story, I would have renamed the ship "Merrys Revenge". Want to know which ship I am referring too? You will just have to read this entertaining book to find out. Anxiously waiting book two.” *****Five Stars*****—David W. Kohn


“I found this book very interesting, and hard to put down. There is almost non stop action from about the fourth chapter. I've taken away a star for a couple of cuss-words, but other than that this was a good read. I'd recommend this to science fiction fans.” ****Four Stars****—Jacob Ward


“[G]ood fun old fashioned Space-Opera. [I]t is a good fun tour d' force. I enjoyed the read, and I will read the next book in the series.” ****Four Stars****—Texican “headhunter”


“[T]he author has done a great job with the story line and characters. ... I had a ha[r]d time putting it down after the third chapter.” ****Four Stars****—Dave R


To read the full reviews, go to the Amazon sales page. MY OTHER CAR IS A SPACESHIP is available on Amazon in 12 countries: http://smarturl.it/MyOtherCarSpaceship. To find out more about my books, go to my  website: http://MarkTerenceChapman.com.

Current list of my sci-fi novels

Just to make finding my novels easier, here is the (rather short) list, in order of publication. The links will take you to one of 12 Amazon sites around the world, depending upon your country. (If you don't live in one of the 12 countries, the link will default to the US site.)

The Mars Imperative: http://smarturl.it/TheMarsImperative
The Tesserene Imperative: http://smarturl.it/MyOtherCarSpaceship
My Other Car: http://smarturl.it/MyOtherCarSpaceship 

Sunrise Destiny: http://smarturl.it/SunriseDestiny

If you really can't get enough of my writing (you poor thing), there's also a paperback anthology that includes one of my short stories:

The World Outside The Window: http://www.amazon.com/World-Outside-Window-DON-HARPE/dp/0979170192/ref=la_B001KD533U_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1410927323&sr=1-3

Top 50 Sci-Fi Kindle author

Wow! I just noticed that I'm ranked among the Top 50 Sci-Fi Kindle authors on Amazon. And two spots ahead of Arthur C. Clarke, one of the giants of SF. Okay, so he's been dead for a few years, and most of his novels came out before ebooks, but still.... Pretty cool, I think. (And my first three books have been out for only 4-8 weeks, with the fourth coming in eight days.) Hmm. Of perhaps even more significance, I'm also #67 among all authors of Teen books (not just Kindle or SF). My books aren't even targeted at the YA market, but apparently they appeal to teens. :)

Fun weekend... Not.

I spent all Sunday creating a drainfield between my yard and my next door neighbor's where the water likes to collect and create a marshy area. The grass won't grow there and it looks ugly.

So I dug an 80-foot trench, filled the base with gravel, and put in some corrugated pipe (covered in a porous fabric that lets the water in, but not the dirt and gravel) to take the water down to the drainage ditch out by the street. Then on Monday and Tuesday I added more gravel in the trench, on either side of the pipe, and then covered the trench with dirt. What a lot of work, but great exercise. LOL!

Here are a few photos of the process:

I still have to pack down the dirt and then cover with topsoil and add grass seed. But with any luck, the area will look great by Springtime. 

Sunrise Destiny is now available for preorders

From the author of the #1 bestselling Military Sci-Fi novel on Amazon (My Other Car is a Spaceship): Sunrise Destiny is now available for preordering. The book will ship on September 26th.

Ever have one of those weeks? While working a case, private detective Donatello Sunrise is abducted by aliens. And his week goes downhill from there. Soon, the cops are after him for serial kidnappings, a Mob boss wants him dead, and he's fleeing aliens halfway across the galaxy.

Somehow, Sunrise and his hooker girlfriend, Lola, must find a way to save two worlds from disaster by helping the good guys defeat the bad guys.

The trick is figuring out which is which.

Sunrise Destiny is available on Amazon in 12 countries: http://smarturl.it/SunriseDestiny. To find out more about my books, go to my website at http://MarkTerenceChapman.com.

My Other Car is a Spaceship is #1 x 2

Yesterday My sci-fi novel about space pirates, My Other Car is a Spaceship was both #1 overall for military sci-fi on Amazon in the U.S. and #1 for Kindle format military sci-fi in Australia--and my second best sales day so far. So it was a good day. :)

To find out more about my books, go to my blog at http://tesserene.blogspot.com/ and my website: http://MarkTerenceChapman.com.

Sunrise Destiny available for preordering on September 16

My paranormal/detective/alien-abduction sci-fi thriller, Sunrise Destiny will begin accepting preorders at 12:01 a.m. on September 16, 2014. The book will be released on September 26th.

Ever have one of those weeks? While working a case, private detective Donatello Sunrise is abducted by aliens. And his week just keeps getting worse. Soon, the cops are after him for multiple homicides, a Mob boss wants him dead, and he's fleeing aliens halfway across the galaxy.

Somehow, Sunrise and his hooker girlfriend, Lola, must find a way to save two worlds from disaster by helping the good guys defeat the bad guys.

The trick is figuring out which is which.

To find out more about Sunrise Destiny, go to my website: http://MarkTerenceChapman.com.

We're #1, we're #1!

This just in: My sci-fi thriller, My Other Car is a Spaceship is now the #1 bestseller on the Amazon Top 100 list of Military Sci-Fi (plus #4 and #5 on the Space Fleet and Space Opera lists, respectively).

It's available on Amazon in 12 countries: http://smarturl.it/MyOtherCarSpaceship.

The Imperative Chronicles series is starting to catch on

As of today, The Mars Imperative (Book One of The Imperative Chronicles) reached #51 on the Amazon Top 100 list of Space Colonization books and The Tesserene Imperative (Book Two of The Imperative Chronicles) hit #83 on the list of Space Exploration.

The Mars Imperative and The Tesserene Imperative are available on Amazon in 12 countries at:  http://smarturl.it/TheMarsImperative and http://smarturl.it/TessereneImperative.

Woo-hoo! My Other Car is a Spaceship is #2!

#2 for Military Sci-fi and #6 for Space Opera.  #1? Who knows? :)

When space pirates threaten to take over the shipping lanes, retired air force fighter pilot Hal Nellis is recruited to fight them. It all comes down to a final battle for the spaceways. Win, and the pirate threat is crushed forever. Lose, and the people of Earth and countless other backwater worlds are doomed to slavery and death.

My Other Car is a Spaceship is available on Amazon in 12 countries: http://smarturl.it/MyOtherCarSpaceship. To find out more about my books, go to my website: http://MarkTerenceChapman.com.

My Other Car is a Spaceship is now #4 on Amazon!

Hooray! After only 18 days since release, My Other Car is a Spaceship has reached #4 on Amazon's Top 100 list of Military Sci-Fi, and #10 on the list of Space Operas.

And as a bonus, it now appears at the top of the Hot New Releases list for military sci-fi:

It has been  good day so far! :)

My interview by Fiona Mcvie

I had an interesting experience recently. Blogger Fiona Mcvie asked if I would consider being interviewed by her. Being something of a ham and, by necessity due to my books, an attention-whore, of course I said yes. :)

It's not a hard-hitting, tell-all expose, but if you're curious about the life of a writer, you might find it interesting. Here's the link to Fiona's blog. (Thanks, Fiona!)

My Other Car is a Spaceship is a Top 10 bestseller

My Other Car is a Spaceship 
reached #8 on Amazon's Military Sci-Fi Top 100 list and #9 on the Space Opera list. :)  Get'm while they're hot! The introductory price expires soon!  http://smarturl.it/MyOtherCarSpaceship.

My Other Car is a Spaceship is still climbing the charts

Still at Dragon Con in Atlanta this weekend. Still having a blast! And my sci-fi thriller, My Other Car is a Spaceship, continues to climb the Amazon charts. It's currently at #16 in the Military Sci-Fi list and #19 in the Space Opera list. Here's the link for 12 Amazon sites around the world: http://smarturl.it/MyOtherCarSpaceship.

Dragon Kaaaahhhhnnnn!!!

I'm at Dragon Con in Atlanta this weekend. Having a blast!

Meanwhile, I see that my sci-fi thriller, My Other Car is a Spaceship, is still climbing the Amazon charts. It's currently at #24 in the Military Sci-Fi list and #26 in the Space Opera list. :)  Here's the link for 12 Amazon sites around the world: http://smarturl.it/MyOtherCarSpaceship.

Here's the finished, hi-res cover for My Other Car is a Spaceship

This beautiful cover was created by a talented artist from the Czech Republic, named Adam Pizurny. Click on the image to see it in all its glory.

Here's the link to the book on 12 Amazon websites around the world: http://smarturl.it/MyOtherCarSpaceship 

You can reach Adam at https://www.facebook.com/AdamPizurny on Facebook, or http://adampizurny.com (website).

Here's the NEW COVER for My Other Car is a Spaceship

So what do you think of the new cover vs. the old one? The old one was more colorful, but the new one is more exciting:

This is the difference between a serviceable but basic cover made by the author (due to time constraints) and one made by a professional artist. :) While the old cover was vague as to what the book was about, I think the new one does a much better job of showing that it's military SF/space opera.

Here's the link to the book on 12 Amazon websites around the world: http://smarturl.it/MyOtherCarSpaceship  The Amazon page still has the old cover. It'll take a day or so for the new one to filter down to all the sales pages.

My Other Car is a Spaceship is rocketing up the charts!

*** Update! This morning the book reached #29 on the Military Sci-fi list and #32 on the Space Opera list! ***

Sorry about the bad pun, but this morning My Other Car is a Spaceship broke back into the Top 100 listing on Amazon for Military Sci-fi at #99. By noon it was up to #85, then #78 by 3 p.m., then #51 at 7 p.m., and by 10 p.m. it was up to #46. Woo-hoo! It's also at #63 on the Space Opera Top 100 list.

Here is the link to 12 Amazon sites around the world: http://smarturl.it/MyOtherCarSpaceship

Frequently Misused/Misspelled Words and Phrases, part 94

Very unique

Wrong: This is a very unique example of Etruscan pottery.
Right: This is a unique example of Etruscan pottery.

Unique means one-of-a-kind. Something either is or isn’t unique, just as a woman either is or isn’t pregnant. It can’t be slightly or moderately or very unique (or pregnant). “Very,” in this case—as in most—is redundant. It’s akin to “gilding the golden lily.”

This is an excerpt from my upcoming self-help book for writers of all types and skill levels, "Frequently Misused/Misspelled Words and Phrases (and how to use them correctly)"

First review for My Other Car is a Spaceship!

My new military sci-fi/space opera novel, My Other Car is a Spaceship, has been out for only four days, but it's selling like gangbusters. (Yesterday it hit the Top 100 for military SF.)

It just got its first review on Amazon. *****Five Stars***** The review is short but oh-so-sweet: 

"A very enjoyable, action pack[ed] military [SF] against pirates. Well worth buying. I started and could not stop reading it. I will definitely buy the next book in the series."

It’s available on Amazon in 12 countries: http://smarturl.it/MyOtherCarSpaceship 

New cover for the upcoming Sunrise Destiny paranormal/detective sci-fi novel

Here's the new cover for Sunrise Destiny. It's a paranormal/detective/alien-abduction sci-fi thriller. :)

 

The book should be out around October 1.

My Other Car is a Spaceship became available a few hours early!

It was supposed to go on sale after midnight Eastern time tonight in the U.S. but somehow it ended up going live at 4:12 p.m. instead. Even weirder is that when I discovered that fact an hour later, there were already two copies sold. I have no idea how people found it already, but I'm happy they did. LOL!

The introductory price is US$1.99 through September 20, 2014. Here's the link on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MV0GMVI

In case you somehow missed all the previous postings of the cover, here it is:

Frequently Misused and Misspelled Words and Phrases, part 93

From my upcoming book, Frequently Misused and Misspelled Words and Phrases (and how to use them correctly).

People vs. Peoples vs. Persons

Wrong: The many people of Africa offer diverse cultures.

Right: The many peoples of Africa offer diverse cultures.

Wrong: The incredibly huge number of peoples in India leads to economic hardship and health problems.

Right: The incredibly huge number of people in India leads to economic hardship and health problems.

Wrong: We’re hunting for three specific people who escaped from jail.

Right: We’re hunting for three specific persons who escaped from jail.

The word people refers to a group of human beings in a general sense. But a people is used for a body of people sharing a similar culture. When discussing multiple such bodies of people, use peoples. Persons is a plural of person, naturally, and refers to particular individuals, even if unidentified (as in “person or persons unknown”).

The cover for Frequently Misused/Misspelled Words and Phrases (and how to use them correctly)

Here is the cover of my upcoming self-help book for all types of writers (fiction/nonfiction/business/emails, etc), Frequently Misused/Misspelled Words and Phrases (and how to use them correctly).

What do you think of it?

The official release date for My Other Car is a Spaceship is August 20, 2014!

The release date for My Other Car is a Spaceship is August 20, 2014. It will come with an introductory price of US$1.99 until September 20, 2014. 

In case you haven't seen the cover before, here it is:

ISEE-3/ICE probe is back in operation!

This is so cool! In 1978 NASA launched a probe (International Sun-Earth Explorer; ISEE-3) to investigate comets. Its mission complete, in 1997 NASA sent the probe a shutdown signal. But in 2008 NASA discovered that the probe was still operating, had plenty of fuel, and was on a course to bring it back near Earth in 2014.

NASA considered trying to regain control of the probe and retask it with a new mission, but money was short and NASA no longer had the equipment and software necessary to interface with the 30-year-old probe, nor the money to rebuild and reprogram as needed. So they dropped the idea.

Then, in April of this year, two men, Dennis Wingo and Keith Cowing, decided to see if ISEE-3 could be saved by dedicated civilians, using crowdsourcing for funds. With the assistance of NASA and the staff at the Arecibo radio telescope in Puerto Rico, and a lot of hard work by a lot of people, on May 29th they succeeded and took control of the newly rechristened International Comet Explorer (ICE).


They hope to be able to reprogram the probe to chase another comet. But equally interesting, to me at least, is that the probe will have a lunar flyby no more than about 30 miles above the moon. Who knows what it might observe?

I found out about this amazing achievement just today, from a "blag" written by Randall Munroe at http://blog.xkcd.com/2014/05/30/isee-3/#comments. He links to this report from the ISEE-3 Reboot Project with a lot more information (and links) about their progress: http://spacecollege.org/isee3/we-are-now-in-command-of-the-isee-3-spacecraft.html.

I hope I got all the details correct. If not, sue me. Or, better yet, follow the links I provided to see the details for yourself. Once again, enterprising individuals were able to do what government bureaucracy could not (and probably at a fraction of the money NASA would have needed to accomplish the same result.)

Last chance to get The Mars Imperative for $1.49!

The introductory price of US$1.49 for The Mars Imperative ends on August 14. This is your last chance to buy it before the price goes up.