Reading · Beyond the Droid

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Greetings, awesome humans (and robots)!

Guess what!?!?!

T is for Time Travel is now available!! It’s on Amazon (more platforms coming soon) and autographed paperbacks are available from my personal web store.

You’d think robots would know better than to mess with time.
You’d be wrong.

I am thrilled that this book is out. It’s my 6th novel, and so far, it’s my favorite. I summed it up in this Facebook post (a version of the post is also on LinkedIn). (BTW… it helps me when you see these posts on either platform to like and share!)

But that’s not the only book that’s available! I snuck in my Robot Galaxy Series Annotated Edition! It’s available only in paperback… and it’s a weighty 2.5lbs! It’s all 4 books of the Robot Galaxy Series, annotated throughout with little “behind the scenes” tidbits. I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed putting it together and hope some of you are fans enough to grab a copy!

Again, they are available in paperback on Amazon or as an autographed paperback from my store.

If you have any questions about any of these books, or about my store… please just reply to this newsletter!

If you’ve followed me for a bit, and/or if you’ve read to the very end of Book 4 of the Robot Galaxy Series (Eleven Little Robots), you know I love love love 4th wall breaks. That’s when a character or narrator in a book, movie, etc acknowledges the audience or camera.

It works well in comedy and I’ve always loved the technique.

A couple months ago, I did a version of this when I had a little conversation with Swell Driver. (You can read that here: Swell Driver & Me)

Today, in honor of the release of T is for Time Travel, I wanted to talk to one of my favorite and possibly underrated characters from the book.

So that’s what you’re going to read next. It’s not really “sci-fi” but hopefully you’ll find it entertaining nonetheless. If you haven’t yet read T is for Time Travel, it won’t spoil anything (other than to know there is this amazing character in the book). Maybe it’ll entice you to simply move it up on your TBR list. ;)

Don’t forget to read past the story, too… there’s stuff from other Indie Authors and a little poll!

Swell Driver & Me & a Senora

The scene: A garden in primavera—springtime—in Italy. In Pisa, specifically. And even more specifically, the year 1201. Two women are sitting on a bench. One looks like she belongs there, which she does because it’s her bench. The other is both noticeably older and anachronistic. Speaking of anachronisms, there’s also a robot. It’s shortly after the events of both T is for Time Travel and T is for Tangent.

Swell Driver: <swiveling around, examining his surroundings> I did not expect to be back in Italy so soon. How did this happen? My ship hasn’t performed another slingshot maneuver—

Adeena: Oh, that was me. I brought us here. I thought it would be nice to have a chat with Senora Nastagia Bellini. Senora, grazie for letting us hang out in your garden.

Senora Nastagia Bellini: Prego. Although, I, too, am surprised to see Swell Driver again so soon. He and his companions only left us a few days ago. Is his ship sitting in the woods outside town once again?

Adeena: No, not this time. I didn’t need his ship to bring us all together.

Nastagia: Oh? Magic, perhaps?

Adeena: <chuckling> You don’t believe in magic.

Nastagia: I do not. How did you know?

SD: She’s our creator! <an appendage pops out of SD’s mid-section and pats Adeena on the knee>

Nastagia: Shhh. That kind of talk can get you labeled as a heretic.

Adeena: We’re perfectly safe right now, I assure you. And I just wanted you to know that you are probably the character I’m most proud of in my book.

Nastagia: I understood very little of that, I’m afraid. You are proud… of what, exactly?

Adeena: You! That you exist! And that you’re the kind of woman most people in this time could never be.

Nastagia: Ah. Then you give me too much credit. My dear… the rules are only as strong as the imagination of those who follow them. And I do not bear children easily or well, so… I must do something useful with my time.

Adeena: I only wish I could have written in some way for you to receive credit for your work.

Nastagia: You speak as though being seen is the goal.

SD: Oh! Now I see. Marco received public credit for Nastagia’s work. Nastagia receives… internal satisfaction? Which appears to be… sufficient?

Nastagia: “Sufficient” is such a small word for a large thing.

Adeena: But don’t you ever want more than that? To be known for it?

Nastagia: Known… by whom?

Adeena: By—history. By people. By… anyone who would recognize what you’ve done.

Nastagia: <tilting her head> And what would that change?

Adeena: It would… matter.

Nastagia: It already means something. The work exists. It is used. It helps. That is the only part that endures.

SD: Clarification: historical attribution has been shown to increase replication, funding, and long-term dissemination of ideas.

Nastagia: Then it is fortunate that Marco is very well regarded.

Adeena: <half-laughing, half-frustrated> That’s not the point.

Nastagia: No? Then perhaps you have not yet decided what the point is.

Adeena: I just… I look at you and I see someone who should have had the freedom to—

Nastagia: —to what? Stand in a square and argue with men who have already decided I am wrong? To invite scrutiny that would end the work entirely?

Nastagia: I did not choose silence because I am weak. I chose it because it works.

SD: Ah! I see! Nastagia has identified and is exploiting a systemic loophole.

Nastagia: Yes. That is a very… mechanical way of putting it.

Adeena: Doesn’t it bother you, though? Even a little? That Marco’s name will be remembered and yours won’t?

Nastagia: <pauses, considering—not defensive, just precise> Marco carries the name. I carry the work. We each do what we are best suited to do.

Adeena: I have a secret to tell you… Marco is just as made up and invented as you. Leonardo is the only person in the book who came out of real life. Although not much is known about him. I was able to make up his personality.

Nastagia: Then I must thank you. He is a good friend indeed. He understands and is careful. He, too, values outcome over story. It is… a rare quality.

Adeena: Well, in my time, we try to fix that. We try to make sure women like you are seen.

Nastagia: And yet… you came all this way to tell me you are proud.

Adeena: I didn’t really go anywhere. I just opened a file on my computer and started typing.

Nastagia: Once again, I don’t quite understand what you’re saying except <turning to SD>… she, too, wishes the work to matter. She has simply chosen a different method.

Nastagia: Tell me—does it?

Adeena: Does what?

Nastagia: The work. In your time. Does it reach people?

Adeena: Yeah. It does. Not everywhere. Not always the way I want. But it reaches some people.

Nastagia: <nods once> Then it is enough.

Adeena: …is it?

Nastagia: You came here to ask me that?

Adeena: I think I came here hoping you’d say no.

Nastagia: That would be easier for you.

SD: Easier?

Nastagia: Easier… because you could keep wanting more. <a faint smile> I prefer to finish things.

With that, Nastagia stood up and headed into her abode. Adeena looked at SD.

Adeena: I don’t know if I could ever be as strong as her.

SD: Correction. She is not stronger. She is more certain.

[THE END]

What do you think…?

You can also:

What’s next?

I’m getting ready to send T is for Tangent over to my editor for her first pass at it! I have until the end of June to get that, plus the audiobook of Crazy Foolish Robots into the hands of my Kickstarter backers—so that all takes priority!

And as for my bonus picture… well…

…what’s a writer without a bunch of pens??

Until next month… I hope all the nice things that can happen to you happen!

-Adeena

SD & Me & A Senora

Swell Driver & Me & a Senora

What do you think…?

What’s next?

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