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/

 

 

Prequel Novella On Sale

Deadly Nightshade, a 37,000 word novella about the 16 year old Ensign Max Robichaux on his first deep space solo mission, is now available as a Kindle eBook.  See the link below.  Here’s the blurb.

Max Robichaux’s thrilling adventures didn’t begin on 21 January 2315 when he took command of the USS Cumberland at the age of 28.  Somehow, before that date, Max became an expert on battle tactics, the psychology of command and leadership, the customs and fighting techniques of the mysterious and powerful Vaaach race, and how to devise innovative strategies to defeat superior enemy forces, bringing his ship and his men home when the odds are against him.

Deadly Nightshade tells a small but crucial part of that story, shedding light on how Max became the creative, innovative, deadly warrior readers have come to know in the “Man of War” Trilogy.  In June 2304, the 16 year old green Ensign Max Robichaux is given a small but fast and stealthy ship to penetrate enemy space, observe a mock attack on a new kind of enemy battle station, and return with reams of information on the station, enemy weapons, enemy tactics, and other valuable intelligence.

Max finds that his vessel’s capabilities as well as his own courage and tenacity tested when a Vaaach ship intervenes in the Krag exercise and takes Max away from his task and from any hope of rescue.  It seems that the Vaaach have their own uses for the young ensign and his nearly invisible craft.  Max must fight his way past a superior force of alien fighters to come to the aid of a race being victimized in one of the most horrific ways imaginable.  Once there, he must call upon every ounce of courage and deepest parts of his humanity to save millions of lives through making what may prove to be the ultimate sacrifice.

Deadly Nightshade is a novella-length (approximately 37,000 words) tale of adventure, courage, tenacity, and sacrifice.  It packs everything Honsinger’s readers expect—realistically staged space combat, deep character development, believable aliens, and the thrill of being on a warship in deep space—into a compact package.  Fans of Honsinger’s other books will gain interesting insight into the events that helped make Max Robichaux the officer we meet in the “Man of War” books.  It is also an easily accessible entre to the series for new readers.

Here’s the link:

“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/

Advance Sales Lift BOTH Books to Hot New Release List

I have previously reported here that the 47North version of my first novel, To Honor You Call Us, Book I of the “Man of War” Series, now available for advance purchase, is on various Amazon Kindle Hot New Release lists.  Now, the second book in the series, “For Honor We Stand” has joined its companion volume on those lists.

Currently, Book I is # 32 on the Military Science Fiction list and # 29 on the Space Opera list.

Book II is # 33 on the Military Science Fiction list and # 30 on the Space Opera list.

I don’t know what the raw numbers are (that is, how many orders there are) but advance orders are always good–especially as they help convince the publisher that the book is marketable and worthy of more effort and funds devoted to publicity.

Thanks to everyone who is ordering in advance.  It makes a difference.

If you are interested in making an advance purchase of these books or want to get your hands on the self-published versions so you can start reading right away, this page has links to where you can do that.  http://hpaulhonsinger.com/buy-the-man-of-war-books/