Chapter update and Happy Easter!

Happy Easter!

I put up the next chapter of Freshmen Blues for everyone to read during Easter Weekend!

Techno Tuesday

Hey all,

Hope you're enjoying Freshmen Blues. Today's song is a little different-it's an example of the music that gets played at some college parties these days, and some of what Chris will be hearing at the frat. I will admit to not liking this particular music style much, but give it a shot anyway!

Freshmen Blues Update

I'm on a new computer, and as a result I can post up the new chapter. The page is getting long, but if you just use ctrl+f and type in the chapter number (so, type in "chapter 4") it will take you right too it. 

Enjoy chapter 4! 

The Saga of the Broken Backlight

My computer is eight years old, which is what happens when you go straight to graduate school from college. It's a mac, and has served me well up until the last few months, where a very annoying problem has cropped up.

I'm typing this on pained wrists with my laptop screen bent at an acute angle, because if I position it in a remotely normal way the backlight turns off.

There is nothing more annoying than writing a story, or sending an email, and having your computer backlight suddenly turn off, which is the equivalent of plunging your work into darkness. Then I have to fold and unfold my laptop like I'm playing an accordion to try and get it to turn back on. Sometimes it works when I fold it back and forth a lot, sometimes I have to put it at 30 degrees and then wait while slowly inching it back to a workable position, and other times I have to resist putting my fist through it when nothing works at all.The past week or so has been especially bad, as the backlight will not turn on for about an hour after I wake the computer up.

And then, once I get it working, my cat will come up and nudge it with his face and I'll have to do it all over again.

Needless to say, writing has been slow when I have to wait nearly an hour for my backlight to turn on. But I'm going to get a new computer this weekend, so hopefully I'll avoid this problem for another eight years.

Techno Tuesday

A good song for those who can't sleep.

I am working on lots of things, including the next chapter of Freshmen Blues. Things will be getting interesting for Chris!

Freshmen Blues Update

Hey all,

Just a quick update on Freshmen Blues for the end of the weekend-Chapter 3 is up! Enjoy!

Cover for Noble Magic!

Hey all,

Check out the cover for my new release coming up in April!

Techno Tuesday and Freshmen Blues update!

Today we have another song by the Cynic Project!

And in other fun news, chapter 2 of Freshmen Blues is now up! Check it out on the links above!

Interview over at Kimber Vale's Blog and chance to win!

Hey everybody,

The amazingly awesome Kimber Vale has interviewed me over here at their lovely blog! Check it out for a chance to win a free copy of Remembrance!

If you comment on the entry to Kimber's Blog, you get one entry. If you subscribe to Kimber's blog, you get two. If you subscribe to this blog, you get three entries, and if you tweet Kimber's post about the interview, you get four entries!

 Good luck!

A Fun New Toy

So, some nerd passions for the moment.

There's a technique out there that's gaining ground in cognitive research. It's called Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation, or TDCS for short.

What does it mean? Well, it involves generating a very weak electrical current across the scalp via just two electrodes. The idea is that the electrical current changes the resting state of the neurons in the brain depending on the type of stimulation. Anodal stimulation is excitatory, and cathodal stimulation is inhibitory.

More and more research has been coming out that implies that this technique can be used as a secondary treatment for certain cognitive or mood disorders, or even could be used to improve learning.

That should sound familiar if you've read Alpha. ;)

Of course, this is real life, not science fiction, and any gains are transient and quite small. But for helping clinical populations, I think this technique holds a lot of promise.

Techno Tuesday

I hope people are enjoying Freshmen Blues!

Today we have a relaxing song from The Cynic Project.

New Free Story: Freshmen Blues

So I've decided to post a new free read on the blog for a while. I'll see how it goes as a free read, and see if people enjoy it. If you like what you see, comment. If you don't, also comment. It's a bit different than my usual style, so it will be a fun experiment. You can find it under its own page, and I will try to update every other week, sometimes more.

The blurb:

Freshmen Blues

19 year old Chris Taklo was a barely average student in high school. He had every intention of joining his father in the lumber business after he graduated. College, and the nearly super powered abilities that come from it, was not for him.

But then he gets a letter in the mail from the prestigious Creekville University. Despite never actually applying, he’s accepted as a student.

Chris begins to attend Creekville, very quickly fitting in with his classmates and finding his niche among new friends in Reed Hall. But the reason he got in in the first place hangs over his head, along with the mysterious presence of Frederic Sulzman, a senior who the other students in his hall are leery of. There are rumors about Frederic, and about the strange professor that Frederic does research with.

The very same professor who sent Chris’ acceptance letter. 

Check it out and tell me what you think! Once it gets lengthy and if I like it I will probably take it down, add more, and shop around to pubs, so please enjoy it while its up!