I wanted to give you a head’s up about the progress on Lucifer Forever. And here’s where the bad news comes in—you’re going to have to wait just a little bit longer for it. My family and I have just moved to a bigger place to prepare for Baby #2 (due in July) and with Kotono being pregnant, that meant I had to handle the physical aspects of moving. This also coincided with the new university semester beginning in Japan, so I’ve been preparing for and teaching classes.
This unfortunately meant a delay in production of Lucifer Forever. But now, we’re pretty much finished with the move, I’ve got my new office almost completely set up, and I’m ready to get back to writing! Although I originally promised spring as the release, it’s looking more like summer at the moment. I’m sorry for the delay, but I’m sure you’ve been through the experience of moving and how stressful it can be. It gets even more stressful since Helena is now walking and wants to test every single boundary we put in front of her.
As I mentioned before, Lucifer Forever will be the final book in the Morningstar series. So what comes next? I want to know the next Dark Crossroads series you want to read. Please take a few minutes to fill out this survey to help me decide how to give you the best books you want to read.
This week has seen the release of Corsairs, my brand-new sci-fi serial published exclusively through Amazon’s Kindle Vella program! And in this post, I’d like to tell you a little bit about how this came to be.
Even though I’ve been writing novels for the past fifteen years, that’s not how I got started in writing. What got me started was actually serialized fiction. Specifically, serialized fiction published in regular installments online.
My biggest reading influences when I was a kid were probably different from most novelists of my generation. I didn’t grow up reading Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings or Ender’s Game or any number of books many of my contemporaries are likely to cite as their influences.
For me, my biggest influence was comic books. And comics are historically a serialized medium. So when I began experimenting with writing as a young kid, I mimed the kinds of stories and structure that I was most familiar with, which meant I wrote serials.
Unfortunately, the publishing market hadn’t yet caught up with my style. While there were some people experimenting with serials in publishing, there wasn’t really the mechanism to support it, so I had to transition into writing novels. I made an attempt to experiment with serials in the Kindle format (shoutout to my superhero series Vanguard), but the format and pricing scheme weren’t really suited for it. The few serial platforms that existed either provided no compensation, were invitation-only, or only catered to the romance genres (no disrespect to romance writers or fans, but that’s a genre I have neither the talent for nor the interest in).
Enter Kindle Vella. I’ve been watching this platform since it was announced and I’ve decided to finally dip my toes into the water.
Many years ago, I came up with the character of Elias Starr. I had the itch to do a pulpy, space opera story and this was the name that popped into my mind. I’d written about a quarter of a novel, tentatively titled Elias Starr and the Prometheus Engine, but it petered out.
Like most ideas, that character stuck with me. I always knew I wanted to do something with him and the idea of doing a space opera in the vein of Firefly and Cowboy Bebop really appealed to me. I just didn’t know when I’d really find the time to jump into it.
Kindle Vella has finally given me that opportunity. The concept has evolved a lot from what I originally wrote, and all of it for the better (I hope). And that’s how Corsairs was born. Here’s the description on Amazon:
Earth is gone and humanity has moved to the stars. In a galaxy where corporations are the new governments, the crew of the Corsair must find their own way to survive by taking on odd jobs–sometimes legal, and sometimes not so legal. Join Elias Starr and his crew on their adventures in a universe filled with space pirates, synthetic cultists, genetically engineered monstrosities, and more!
This serial has been a lot of fun to write so far. The first five episodes are now available on Kindle Vella, and you can read the first three for free. I’ll be publishing new episodes weekly for the time being. But if you’re not into the serial format, then I’ve got you covered, too. Once the first season is complete, those episodes will be collected in a book available both in digital and print formats.
I hope you’ll give this format a try, though. I’m really enjoying it and would love to hear your feedback.
Black Friday is here! And I’m taking part, too. I’ve made all my first-in-series books completely free through Cyber Monday! And in addition, I’ve also got almost every other book discounted to 99¢!
If you’re looking to complete your collection of my titles, this is the time. Just click here to find all titles on sale.
Hope you stay safe and healthy over this holiday weekend, especially if you’re braving the shops. Enjoy the free and discounted books, and I’ll talk to you soon.
I know it’s been a minute since the last book came out. And I’m sure you’ve been wondering just where the Morningstar series will be going after that ending.
The good news is that you don’t have to wait any longer! The fourth book in the Morningstar series is now live!
Accused by his enemies of being a pawn of Heaven, Lucifer has thrown himself on the mercy of Hell’s court. He believes once his case is presented, he will be vindicated. The opposition has other ideas, and an unholy alliance of demons, angels, and other forms for the express purpose of damning the Morningstar once and for all. With the most powerful forces in the universe aligned against him, can the Morningstar even find true justice?
This book—and this series as a whole—has gone in some really interesting directions. I’ve been having a lot of fun exploring where Lucifer’s journey takes him next. And by the time you reach the end of this book, I’m sure you’ll be very intrigued to see what comes next.
The book is now available both in ebook and paperback, and if you’re a Kindle Unlimited subscriber, you get to read it for free!
As always, reviews are the lifeblood of indie authors like myself. So once you’ve finished the book, I would love it if you could spare a few minutes and write a review of the book on Amazon letting others know what you thought.
The wait is over because the latest book in the Morningstar series is now available on Amazon!
This book is unique in that it takes Lucifer out of any sort of urban (or even earthly) setting and drops him right back into Hell. And if you’ve been paying attention over the past few books, that’s not a place he really wants to go back to.
Here’s the book’s description:
Return to Hell!
After his previous adventure, Lucifer’s powers are completely exhausted. At first, the Morningstar sought to restore his abilities, but then he realized that he’d finally found the freedom he’d sought for eons.
Yet the forces aligned against him aren’t willing to let him retire quietly. A failed attempt on his life makes Lucifer realize that he must find a way to revive his lost power.
But the only path requires the Morningstar to return to the one place he vowed to never set foot—Hell. And not everyone is happy to see Lucifer back…
This book starts off in a pretty fascinating place. If you remember the end of Lucifer Bound, it seemed Lucifer was ready to jump back into Hell. But when I sat down to plan this book, I realize that that’d be too easy and if all Lucifer wanted was retirement, then he should be happy to be free of the burden of power and responsibility.
And I decided to work that into the first part of this book. I think more than any other, this story really delves into Lucifer’s complicated feelings about his legacy and his responsibility.
The book is available now on Kindle and in Kindle Unlimited with the paperback following soon!
The Dark Crossroads universe continues as the former King of Hell enters the next phase of his journey!
Powerless!
Lucifer has left Hell and retired on Earth. At least that was the plan, until he learned that his abdication enabled some of the most dangerous creatures in creation to escape. Now, he’s been forced to take responsibility for his actions and clean up his own mess.
At first, a zombie attack in a New Orleans suburb seemed like it would be simple. But when Lucifer finds himself powerless for the first time in eons, he must do the hardest thing he’s ever done—rely on others for help. Yet can he truly trust a pair of agents working for a supernatural government agency?
The Dark Crossroads universe first established in the popular Luther Cross urban fantasy series continues in this thrilling new novel!
I’ve had ideas on this title for a while. I wanted to write another book set in Japan, and influenced by some different movies (in particular Battle Royale and Ghost in the Shell), I came up with the idea of Ronin Born, a new cyberpunk superhero novel.
The setting is a futuristic version of Japan. Technology has advanced to an incredible degree and Japan is a powerful player on the world stage with military strength to add. After serving in the armed forces, Erika receives a promotion to the Tokkei, the nation’s top intelligence agency.
Equipped with cutting-edge armor, Erika has the opportunity to prove herself to her superiors. But the case she’s been assigned has a darker element. One in which government, business, and criminal interests all converge, profiting off the suffering of those who cannot defend themselves.
It forces Erika into a difficult situation. Will she preserve her career or her soul?
I’m really excited you now have the opportunity to read this book. I feel like it’s set in a very interesting and intriguing world, one I’ve spent a lot of time craft.
You can purchase the book as an ebook or paperback through Amazon, or read it for free with your Kindle Unlimited subscription.
The Luther Cross series may have come to an end, but the world lives on! Lucifer Rising not only begins the Morningstar series, but also leads into a larger world, which I’m calling the Dark Crossroads universe. I plan to set all my urban fantasy books in this world. So while each series will be limited to 3-6 books, they’ll connect together to a larger tapestry, and characters that appeared or starred in one series could just as easily end up in another.
The Devil is real and he’s on Earth
Everything you know about the Devil is a lie.
Lucifer did not rebel from Heaven out of hatred, pride, or envy. Instead, he learned the greatest lie in all of creation—there is no higher power, and not even the angels know the truth. After being cast into Hell, Lucifer gave up, isolating himself from his followers and responsibilities.
But recent events have provided a new opportunity to experience free will for himself. With Hell under new guardianship, Lucifer has come to Earth. However, Heaven won’t let him off that easy. And to make matters worse, when Lucifer learns that there are other more dangerous consequences of his abdication, he will have to decide what is more important to him—freedom or responsibility.
From the world of the popular Luther Cross series comes Morningstar—expanding the world and mythology in exciting new directions!
Lucifer Rising is now available in print and digital formats. If you’re a Kindle Unlimited subscriber, you can read it free with your subscription.
The final book in the Luther Cross series is now available! How does the story end? Will Luther be able to stop the angel and save the child, or will he have to make the decision he’s been dreading for the past year? And what will he have to sacrifice in order to accomplish his goal?
My name’s Luther Cross, and by now you know my story. Half-human, half-demon, and Chicago’s sexiest paranormal investigator. Now I can add “recently returned from the dead” to my long list of accomplishments.
Except my resurrection was just the beginning. See, a year ago, I uncovered a plot by a rogue angel to launch the apocalypse ahead of schedule with the help of a supernatural child. And he’s got everything he needs to start the fireworks. Now it’s up to me to convince the leaders of Hell—who have never exactly liked me—to follow my lead and put a stop to this.
Some say I can’t avert armageddon and save the kid, but I’m determined to try. The question remains—just what will I have to sacrifice to save the world?
And though this is the conclusion of Luther’s story, it’s not the end of this world. By the time you get to the end of this book, you’ll learn who is starring in the upcoming spin-off series! And I’ve got some other stuff lined up that I’m really excited about.
Luther Cross is back in Devil’s Return, the fifth novel in the best-selling urban fantasy series! Read on for the book’s description:
Death is not the end
My name is Luther Cross, the handsome and stylish son of a demon father and a human mother. With my knowledge of the supernatural and my own mystic abilities, I make my living as Chicago’s foremost paranormal investigator.
But now, I’m dead. Killed by a demon while protecting a young woman and her supernatural child. If I move on to the afterlife, my enemies will be waiting. So I’m trapped between two worlds, unable to affect either.
There’s a sliver of hope, though. My allies are working overtime to find a way to resurrect me. My job is to discover the identity of the rogue angel who set this all into motion, while also avoiding other threats. Being a ghost has just given me a whole new set of problems.
If it all works out, I’ll be back to my usual attractive self and avert a second war between Heaven and Hell. But if it all goes south, then we’re all screwed.
