Hal reviewed on January in January

January Magazine just posted a glowing review of Hal Spacejock. Just what I needed to keep me motivated as I wrestle with rewrites for Hal III ;-)

Here's the review URL in full:
http://www.januarymagazine.com/SFF/halspacejock.html


Technorati Tags: Science Fiction Book Reviews Hal Spacejock

Simon Haynes is the author of the Hal Spacejock and Hal Junior series (Amazon / Smashwords / other formats)

Penguins in space

I just happened to search Google with the ISBN for Hal Spacejock book 2, and what turned up but a new SF catalogue on the Penguin website?

It's a pretty cool design, and they have desktop wallpaper you can download for SF, Fantasy & Horror. And there's Hal Spacejock 2 on the 'Coming Soon' list ;-)

You might wonder what my books are doing in a Penguin catalogue when they're published by Fremantle Arts Centre Press (FACP for short). Well, FACP distribute within my home state (Western Australia) but the rest of the country is handled by Penguin Australia. Therefore, my books appear in the Penguin catalogues and are sold into bookstores by hundreds of Penguin reps. And a great job they're doing, too.

It's the best of both worlds: FACP is a highly regarded small publisher just 20 minutes drive from my house. The staff really get behind every title and you never feel like a widget on the production line. Penguin is a huge company with the resources to get books into just about any outlet across the huge Australian continent.

And if you do visit the Penguin site linked above be sure to check out Tom Holt's new book. Penguin distribute Orbit books in Australia too.

Simon Haynes is the author of the Hal Spacejock and Hal Junior series (Amazon / Smashwords / other formats)

All around the Galaxy

Hal books 1 and 2 just got a mention on the Galaxy books blog

I should have some exciting news about Galaxy later this month. Stay tuned ;-)

Simon Haynes is the author of the Hal Spacejock and Hal Junior series (Amazon / Smashwords / other formats)

Chapter one of Hal Spacejock Second Course online

I just got permission from my publisher to post chapter one of Hal Spacejock Second Course on my website: http://www.spacejock.com.au/Hal2Sample.html

Quite a few people who read the first book are eagerly awaiting the second in the series - well, here's 1/32nd of it free ;-) The official release date for the book is March 6th, which is just two months away.

For those yet to get hold of the first Hal Spacejock book you can read chapter one of that on this page: http://www.spacejock.com.au/Hal1Sample.html

Cheers
Simon

Simon Haynes is the author of the Hal Spacejock and Hal Junior series (Amazon / Smashwords / other formats)

Movin' books

Fantastic Planet just posted their bestsellers list for December. This is a specialist SF bookstore in the middle of Perth, Western Australia, with a large range of SF and Fantasy books - well worth a visit if you're in the area.

1 A Feast For Crows, George R. R. Martin
2 Temeraire, Naomi Novik
2 Pushing Ice, Alastair Reynolds
3 Judas Unchained, Peter F. Hamilton
4 Aggressive Retail Therapy, Grant Watson
5 The Chronicles of Narnia, C. S. Lewis
6 Thud!, Terry Pratchett
7 Hal Spacejock, Simon Haynes
8 Shadow Box, edited by Shane Jiraiya Cummings & Angela Challis
9 Knife of Dreams, Robert Jordan

I'll take a spot ahead of Robert Jordan on a bestseller list any day ;-)

Simon Haynes is the author of the Hal Spacejock and Hal Junior series (Amazon / Smashwords / other formats)

Meme from PBWriter

Meme pinched from pbackwriter.blogspot.com

Last Book Read: Stardoc by SL Viehl (Still reading it)

Last Live Music Show Seen: Pink Floyd in the 1980's

Last CD Purchased: ABC 100 great piano hits

Last Thing Cooked: Lamb chops/chorizo sausages

Last New Thing Eaten: Don't remember

Last Thing Bought: Yellow ink cartridge for photo printer. And it's the wrong ^$%#$%! one.

Last Gift Received: See my previous blog post

Last Piece of Clothing Bought or Received as a Gift: T-Shirt

Last Embarrassing Experience: I don't permit them

Last Totally New Experience: I don't remember!

Last Foreign Country Visited, if any: Bali, over 10 years ago

Last New Bird Seen (substitute an enthusiasm of your own if not a birder): 3 Baby Budgies, born 4 weeks ago. (Hey, define NEW!)

Last Big Achievement: Handed in Hal Spacejock book three on time.

Simon Haynes is the author of the Hal Spacejock and Hal Junior series (Amazon / Smashwords / other formats)

Doin' the Alfred

I heard from a Sydney bookstore that Hal Spacejock sold like hotcakes over Christmas. Either the customers have impeccable taste or the staff are armed with rubber truncheons and a list of books to get rid of pronto. Either way, Hal Spacejock is selling and that's damn good news because I've just finished two more in the series and my publisher would be most annoyed if the first one was still clogging up the sales channel.

By the way, I can never say, write or hear 'Sydney Australia' without remembering a 1980's ad on british telly. Mum and Dad are at the table noshing on fish & chips, and their daughter is nattering on the dog 'n bone in the background. She's been talking on the blower for ages, and the old man is getting antsy because they charge by the minute in the UK. Having set the scene, the conversation goes summat like this:

"Who's that on the phone?" he asks.
"She's talking to Sydney."
"Sydney 'oo?"
The wife rolls her eyes. "Not Sydney 'oo... Sydney Orstralia!"
Cue spluttering, choking, etc.

Back then it was about 6 pounds for a three minute international call. ($30 or $40 in today's money) Wonderful ad. (It was selling 'cheap' international calls. Probably 5 pounds for three minutes...)

Simon Haynes is the author of the Hal Spacejock and Hal Junior series (Amazon / Smashwords / other formats)