It’s been quiet here for a while now. My great intentions to post more frequently vanished into the world of just writing more and tinkering with the business side of writing as I work on learning. Mostly the business side. More coming on that at some point, but it’s been figuring out things like Shopify, a mailing list, Bookfunnel, Kickstarter and others.
One thing was moving the main website seanmonaghan.com over to Shopify, and grabbing the new url seanmonaghan.blog for this site. With Shopify I can sell my books directly to readers without Amazon or the others stores in between, though of course my books are still available on all of those. Got to make it as easy as possible to find the books, right?
Now, a little more immediate news. To do with the mission patch right there.
My novella “Wildest Skies” will appear in the November/ December issue of Asimov’s Science Fiction – “Our November/December 2024 issue ends the year under Sean Monaghan’s “Wildest Skies.” This thrilling novella is filled with adventures on a dangerous and deadly alien planet.”
“Wildest Skies” was a fun story to write, and it was great to stretch my legs a bit. I’ve had other stories in Asimov’s, but this is the longest yet. Longer even than my well-received “Goldie” from the January/February 2022 issue. I’m always a little stunned to appear in those esteemed pages.
When I was working on the novella, I realized there were other stories to tell in that universe. Ed Linklater was an intriguing character and, well, I’d tossed him into one adventure so why not see how he did with other adventures. Right now, there’s one story available – “Spindle Shatters” – set in the lead up to the main mission. A prequel, I suppose.
All of this will appear on the Wildest Skies Survival Kit Page – www.wildestskies.com
Spindle Shatters
A Wildest Skies story.
Preparing for the deep space mission on the interstellar ship Cumberland Ed Linklater and the crew run through batteries of trials and drills.
A grueling schedule.
When trouble with the training centrifuge proves almost catastrophic, Ed must face alterations to the mission profile that test him in whole new ways.
Alterations that shake him to his emotional core.
With the future in the balance of not only his career but the mission itself, Ed faces whole new challenges.
More stories coming. There will be at least five. At least, that’s how many I’ve written so far (well, I’m well into writing the fifth one now, so not far away). So far they’re all prequels. I think this my subconscious’s way of avoiding letting out spoilers about the novella. Have I ever ranted here about spoilers? Not a fan. Maybe after “Wildest Skies” is out in the world there will be some sequels.
What’s up, you ask, with the heading here? Well, “Wildest Skies” is a survival story (is that a spoiler?), and I figure survival takes a little gear. Coming soon on the page will be handy things from the Deep Space Vessel Cumberland’s inventory. Plans are afoot for a satchel, a water bottle, a towel, a cap, a windbreaker. Maybe more. Right now I’m waiting on samples. from Printful to check the quality of the items themselves and how my designs look.
Here’s one, for the windbreaker, on one of the Printful models. Still just a draft, though. More news soon.
Another story, Shards of Tempered Glass will be out soon too.
Ed Linklater discovers cracked glass on one of the deep space vessel Cumberland’s tender craft. The damage jeopardizes the entire mission.
Light years from Earth, Ed and crew must figure out a solution. With limited resources and no way to contact home, it takes everything they have.
And then some.
A prequel story to the novella “Wildest Skies”.
Thanks for reading. Stay in touch!
Sean Monaghan - Writer 