Beer or Coffee With the Author # 7, New Video Posted on You Tube

The latest of my informal chats on YouTube with readers about the Man of War universe went up on YouTube last night.  This episode discusses the Union home front during the Krag war and continues to explore the role of women in the Union in the year 2315.

Please, if are so inclined, like the video and subscribe to the channel.  I wouldn’t be entirely displeased for some shares as well, but I know that’s asking a lot!

“The Hunters of Vermin” is OUT!

The Hunters of Vermin, a short novel about Max Robichaux as a wet-behind-the-ears junior officer, was published yesterday afternoon.  It is already in the top 1700 books (out of millions) in the Amazon Kindle Store and is ranked in the top 40 on several of Amazon’s bestseller lists.

I know it’s not the novel that most of my readers are Jonesing for, but it IS the novel that I could write and publish right now.  I’m working on getting our people extracted from deep in Krag space . . . it’s just going to take a little while longer as I continue to recover from the health problems I’ve had over the past few years.  I am working on it right now and it will be out as soon as I can get it into readers’ hands.

Until then, I hope you enjoy Max’s adventures as a young man.  I’m hoping that this shorter work will tide you over.

Here’s a link to the purchase page on Amazon.  https://www.amazon.com/Hunters-Vermin-H-Paul-Honsinger-ebook/dp/B077V78N5Y/

 

 

“Brothers in Valor” Now in Hands of Publisher

I know the updates have been a bit thin on the ground lately, but I’m one of those writers who believes that his readers would rather be more focused on finishing the next book than on blogging. Here’s where we are on Book III of the “Man of War” Trilogy, Brothers in Valor (or “BIV”). A few days ago, I finished the rewrite based on editor Mike Shohl’s “conceptual edit” of the original manuscript. Mike liked it a lot (or, perhaps, spared my feelings by telling me that he did), shot me back a few more suggestions that I pulled an all-nighter to implement in 20 hours of straight work, and shot back to him. He approved it and forwarded it to the publisher, 47North.

The “Editorial Lead,” Jason Kirk (whom I generally refer to as the “Uber Editor,” mainly because I haven’t a clue what an “Editorial Lead” does) says that a publication date will be announced in a few weeks. Naturally, I will proclaim, promulgate, and shout it forth here as soon as the publisher notifies me.

A few notes on what you are going to be getting in this book. First, it is action heavy–space battles, a two chapter long boarding action, lots of “fun with nuclear weapons.” Without any identifiable decision to do so, I seem to be moving from a “Patrick O’Brian Model” more to an “Early Heinlein Model.” This book contains a lot less of Max and Bram sitting in Max’s Day Cabin drinking Wortham-Biggs Four Planet Community Coffee and eating Cajun/Southern food and a lot more shooting and blowing things up. Second, this novel is a bit shorter than the first two, but has more battle and action sequences than they do, so I don’t think that anyone is getting shortchanged. Third, the “early Max” flashback that I mentioned a few times didn’t make it into the final version. Expect it to appear in a later book, in a separately issued novella, or some other place.  I’m environmentally friendly and throw nothing away.

Fourth, the ending is a shocker. Big time.

Now, back to work. The story continues in what is tentatively titled the “Brothers of the Black Sky” trilogy, consisting of To Stations My Lads, Our Courage Defiant, and Hearts of Steel (titles tentative, your mileage may vary, not available in all states, check local laws, written near a kitchen where wheat products are in use).

Let’s see if I can get this one done a lot (A LOT) faster than the last book.

Now, where’s that map of the galaxy . . . .

Central Casting

Here at Honsinger Headquarters we occasionally give ourselves over to whimsy, and were recently thinking about what a film version of the “Man of War” books would look like.  Here, presented in a totally off the top of our heads fashion, is the proposed opening credits for “To Honor You Call Us.”  There are lots of important roles open, Chief LeBlanc, for example, and others where the choice of actor is not very firm.  But, here’s our thinking.  What are your thoughts on this?  Any suggestions?

 

Jerry Bruckheimer Presents

A Paul Verhoeven Production of

A Christopher Columbus Film

H. Paul Honsinger’s To Honor You Call Us,

Episode I of the “Man of War” Trilogy

Starring

Armie Hammer as Lt. Commander Max Robichaux

and Gael Bernal as Dr. Ibrahim Sahin,

Co-Starring

                William Levy as Lt. Roger Garcia

                Martin Freeman as Chief Engineer Lt. “Wehrner” Vaughn Brown

                Kai Weisinger as Chief Petty Officer Heinz Wendt

Featuring:

Tommy Lee Jones as Vice Admiral Louis G. “Hit ‘Em Hard” Hornmeyer [R. Lee Ermey would be a great choice for this part, as well.]

And a special appearance by

Alexander Siddig as Ellington Wortham-Biggs

Music by James Horner

Special Effects by Industrial Light and Magic

Announcing: Sneak Peek of “Brothers in Valor”

I’ve decided, against my better judgment, to put up my early draft of Chapter 1 of the next “Man of War” book, Brothers in Valor for you guys to read.  I’m well past this part of the book now in terms of writing it now and have put this part through several revisions, so I’m fairly happy with the way it looks and reasonably satisfied that it integrates with where I want the book to go.

The main reason I’m putting this up at this point is to reassure readers that there WILL be a third book and that it is going to come out in a reasonable time frame.  I also want to reassure readers that this book is going to be at least as exciting as the others (I think much more so, actually) and will be a fitting continuation to the “Man of War” series.

Lots of fans have written that they liked the tactical razzle dazzle that Max pulls out and that they wanted more.  I admit that I have actually held back on that in the earlier books, so I’m experimenting with pulling out the stops in that department.  I’m interested in hearing what people think.

You can get there from the menu at the top of the page or by following this link.  http://hpaulhonsinger.com/brothers-in-valor-sneak-peak/