I write high-speed, strategy-driven Military Sci-Fi & Space Opera, where cunning commanders, elite soldiers, and alien warlords fight for survival on the fringes of space. Subscribe to my newsletter for my latest updates!
Viva Las Vegas!
Viva Las Vegas!This week's newsletter is going to be a little different from my usual ones. I'm currently in Las Vegas attending Author Nation, one of the world's largest conferences for independent authors, with more than 1,500 writers from every genre attending. Between the presentations and meeting other writers, I haven't had much time to sit down and write one of my regular articles. It's been a fascinating few days. I've met authors from all sorts of genres, and we've had some very interesting discussions about the future of publishing, I also had an enjoyable conversation with JN Chaney, one of the biggest names in military science fiction. We ended up talking for considerably longer than either of us had planned, mostly about how science fiction is changing and what the next generation of readers might be looking for. Around the World in 80 Chapters Visiting new countries and meeting new people has always been one of my greatest pleasures. So far, I think I've been to 84 countries, although that depends on how you define countries and overseas dependencies! I've been doing quite a bit of traveling recently, and I expect that to continue for a while. I spent several months in Thailand earlier this year, I'm now in Las Vegas, and my next destination is Costa Rica. One of the great advantages of being a storyteller is that I can write almost anywhere. All I really need is my laptop, good Wi-Fi, a reasonably comfortable chair, and somewhere that serves decent coffee. I've written quite a few chapters in cafés over the past few months, and I suspect that will continue. Traveling also gives me the opportunity to meet people and experience places I might otherwise never have visited. I think it helps with my writing, too. Seeing different countries and cultures gives me more ideas to draw on when creating the worlds and civilizations that appear in my books. It's rather nice to be able to combine two things I enjoy so much. What's Happening with Return to the Galaxy? I'm pleased to say that Return to the Galaxy continues to do very well. Book 12, Defy the Galaxy, has now been released and has reached #1 on Amazon UK in several categories, including Alien Invasion, Space Fleet and Space Marines. I'm already well into Book 13, and the first draft is approximately 80% complete, although there's still plenty of editing to be done. We're also getting closer to the end of the story. My intention is to bring Return to the Galaxy to its conclusion early next year. I'm not going to commit to a precise number of books just yet, because I want to make sure the story reaches a proper and satisfying ending rather than trying to squeeze everything into a predetermined number of pages. There's still quite a lot to happen before we get there! I also have plans for another series, which I'll tell you more about in a future newsletter. For my birthday, I gave myself a day off from writing Return to the Galaxy and spent it writing the first 5,000 words of my next series, Let's Hunt the Humans. It felt incredibly easy to do and the words just flowed onto the page but that’s probably because I have been thinking about the series so much. I thoroughly enjoyed myself, and I'm really looking forward to developing the story. However, I want to make sure I give Return to the Galaxy the ending it deserves before turning my attention to the new tale. Before moving on, I also want to say a sincere thank-you to everyone who has supported Return to the Galaxy. When I published the first book in June last year, I had no idea how things would turn out, and I certainly never imagined that so many people would come along on this journey with me. Every book purchased, every page read on Kindle Unlimited, every review, and every recommendation to a friend has helped the series grow. I've been fortunate enough to spend my time doing something I thoroughly enjoy, and that's only been possible because you've chosen to read my books. I genuinely couldn't have done it without you, and I'm enormously grateful. A Poem from One of My Readers One of the unexpected pleasures of writing these books has been hearing from readers around the world. Quite a few of you have been in touch regularly, sharing your thoughts about the stories, offering encouragement, and sometimes pointing out the many things I've managed to get wrong! One of those readers is David Alan Hoag, who has been a regular correspondent and has kindly supported the series with reviews. David recently sent me a poem inspired by Return to the Galaxy, and I was delighted to receive it. He's captured several of the ideas that run through the books, particularly humanity's curiosity, our desire to explore, and the possibilities that might lie beyond our own world. David has kindly agreed to let me share his poem with you, and I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did. Thank you, David. It was a lovely thing to receive. I'll be back with one of my regular articles soon. Till next time, B.A. Gillies
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The Galaxy Faces Extinction
The Ranid continue their relentless expansion, but an even greater threat is emerging: the Stillness, an ancient power that once wiped out entire civilisations. As Admiral Ewan Scott searches for answers and Admiral Velal Farn fights to secure new allies, humanity faces its greatest challenge yet.
The Ranid believe they cannot be defeated. The Stillness threatens to destroy them all. Humanity intends to defy them both.
| Read Defy the Galaxy on Amazon UK |
| Read Defy the Galaxy on Amazon US |
| Read Defy the Galaxy on Amazon AU |
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If you've been meaning to dive into the Return to the Galaxy Universe, now’s your chance!
Whether you're a new reader or just haven’t grabbed your copies yet, now’s the time to catch up on the award-winning series readers are calling “better than Scalzi” and “the best book since Heinlein died.”
If you haven’t started the series yet, Book 1 is still available to buy for 99 cents or read for free on Kindle+:
| Read Return to the Galaxy on Amazon UK |
| Read Return to the Galaxy on Amazon US |
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Discover More Sci-Fi Adventures
Each week, I’ll team up with a group of talented sci-fi authors to bring you an incredible selection of books. Whether you’re looking for thrilling space battles, deep space mysteries, or first-contact encounters, these books are packed with stories to fuel your imagination.
Author Spotlight:
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BA Gillies
I write high-speed, strategy-driven Military Sci-Fi & Space Opera, where cunning commanders, elite soldiers, and alien warlords fight for survival on the fringes of space. Subscribe to my newsletter for my latest updates!
Will We Still Need Each Other? (5 minute read) Imagine living in 2076. Your home prepares breakfast, artificial intelligence organizes your day, and robots take care of the cleaning. You can communicate with anybody in the world instantly, in whatever language you prefer, while sophisticated virtual reality allows you to visit distant places without leaving your living room. If you're lonely, your AI companion is always available. It remembers everything you've told it, understands your sense...
What Will Our Cities Look Like in 2076? (5 minute read) fc fImagine walking through New York, London or Singapore in 2076. The buildings are familiar, although many have changed dramatically. Streets that were once crowded with cars now contain trees, gardens and outdoor restaurants. Traffic moves quietly and efficiently, while robots clean the streets, maintain buildings and deliver goods. You might notice something else. There are hardly any parking lots. Cars still exist, but most drive...
The End of Poverty? (5 minute read) Imagine being told that, by America's 300th birthday in 2076, almost nobody in the world would need to live in extreme poverty. No children going hungry because their parents couldn't afford food. No families living without clean drinking water or electricity. No elderly people forced to choose between heating their homes and buying medicine. It sounds impossibly optimistic, doesn't it? Yet when I look at how much humanity has already achieved, I wonder...