Writing the first half of a first draft always feels like climbing the hill so I can sled down the other side after the midpoint. That's were I am right now: Halfway up the hill, legs burning, face freezing, and running out of breath while I ask myself whose bright idea this was anyway.

It's sci-fi, so Chekov's got a raygun.

I have a dog character running around my sci-fi/World War I epic. It's the first time I've written an animal character, and I keep forgetting about them because they don't contribute to conversations! Thank god this is only the first draft, and I can go back and add their doggy antics later.

Are you even a writer you if *haven't* spilled coffee all over your keyboard?

"the girlfriend of one of the founders of antifa"

I just wrote the first sentence I've added to Shallow Trenches/Open Skies in a month. I can already feel the tension in my brain relaxing.

Well, the day got away from me and now it's too late to get any actual writing done. But I do have time to refresh my memory of the story so I can hit the ground writing tomorrow. Time to shake off a month's worth of rust.

I thought I would be writing today, but I tripped and fell down a hole answering questions my publisher sent over for a "press kit." I don't know the answer to half of these! 1/2

I haven't had time to work on Shallow Trenches/Open Skies in a month, but the next three days are wide open and ready for writing. I'm oddly nervous.

Calling all writers of short spec fiction, especially sci-fi, dark fantasy, supernatural or cosmic horror, and weird fiction! Short story submissions for our Winter 2026 issue are now open until Nov. 30th! We don't insist on theme, but matching your story to the issue's season *may* be advantageous!

No two paths to publishing are necessarily the same. This one is mine, and I wouldn't change any of it. esraye.com/2025/10/07/m... #writer #author #writersky #books

Today is a freelance day job day. Tomorrow is a paperwork and housework day. But with all the excitement of the book launch, family visits, and first-time events finally behind me, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday appear to actually be full-day writing days. *Finally*

Gas Giant Gambit has made the long list for the Laramie Awards! This award is for Americana and generally historical fiction, so the fact my space-western had gotten even this far absolutely blows my mind! #books #writer #sciencefiction #spacewestern

My wife Jessie works as a costume supervisor in film and TV, and she just gave one of my author copies of Gas Giant Gambit to an actor that played one of my favorite characters in one of my favorite 2000s scifi franchises. No names because I dont want to jinx anything, but...

Just a photo dump from my first book signing event on Sat, Sept. 20th. Many thanks to everyone that swung by! esraye.com/2025/10/01/g... #sciencefiction #scifi #debutnovel #indieauthor

Submissions for our Winter 2026 issue are now open! Check out past issues and our guidelines to see what we're looking for, and remember, we don't insist on a theme, but if your story matches the issue's season, it may be looked on with a more favorable eye! perseidprophecies.ca/submissions/

Issue 7: Autumn 2025 is now live! Featuring stories by: Thomas White Nathan Batchelor @jeanniemarschall.bsky.social @thelargestduck.bsky.social @erinrcullen.bsky.social M.C. Scmidt Edgar Allen Poe Sam Kean Read it free at perseidprophecies.ca #sciencefiction #scifi #fantasy #horror #shortstory

My local comic con vendor table applications have been confirmed! My very first con as a published author is *this Saturday* Ocotber 4th, in Cobourg, Ontario!

That eldritch entity we lovingly call "the reading team" is slowly waking from its month-long slumber. Submissions for our winter 2026 issue open tomorrow and remain open until November 30th! #submissioncall #sciencefiction #fantasy #horror #sff #scifi #shortstory

Time for the obligatory vague author news post! I got some *INCREDIBLE* news from my publisher this afternoon, but I can't share what it is for more than two months! Gah!

Autumn has arrived! And that means Issue 7 of Perseid Prophecies drops tomorrow! #scifi #sff #sciencefiction #fantasy #indiemagazine #indiezine #shortstories

If you see this post a bridge

Local comic con vendor table applications sent! I obviously still need confirmation from Pop Culture Canada, but barring anything unforeseen, I will be at: - Cobourg ComiCon on Oct. 4 - Oshawa ComiCon on Dec. 27 - Peterborough ComiCon on Jan 4 Come meet me and get your copy of Gas Giant Gambit!

With Gas Giant Gambit out on the 16th, a book signing on the 20th that brought both my parents into Canada for the first time in years, pushing to finish the next issue of @perseidprophecies.bsky.social in time for subscribers' early release, and reading all the contest stories I'm judging... 1/2

Post a duo.

Issue 7: Autumn 2025 is complete and ready to go! It releases on October 1st, Acolytes and higher can get it early through our Patreon! www.patreon.com/c/perseidpro... #sff #sciencefiction #fantasy #horror #weirdfiction #indiemagazine #ezine #indiezine

When I first started writing Gas Giant Gambit, I knew I wanted to follow the Jim Butcher (The Dresden Files) model and attend cons as a vendor. Now I'm looking into the application process for local cons for the next few months and into the new year. Add another surreal moment to the tally!

Whether it’s music, movies, video games, or books, genre is pretty important. Publishers like to put stories in neat columns, and as an audience, we appreciate the categorization so we can know–more or less–what we’re getting into before we begin. So, why space-western? esraye.com/2025/09/23/g...

On Saturday, right in the middle of my book signing, an elderly gentleman approached my table and asked me what my "real" job was. I smiled and said, "This!" He gave me a wry, knowing smirk in return and replied, "You're going to starve." Thanks for the vote of confidence, old man!

Had a fantastic first book signing ever today! A huge thank you to all my friends and family that dropped by, and especially to all the strangers who stopped to chat and buy a book from a debut author. All in all, I couldn't be happier with this experience. Here's looking forward to many more!

I'm at the Oshawa Centre Indigo signing books right now! Come say hi and get your copy of Gas Giant Gambit! #GasGiantGambit #sciencefiction #sff #scifi #booksigning

Hey fellow Ontarians! Come meet me in the Oshawa Centre Indigo tomorrow, September 20th starting at 12 pm! I'll be signing book and giving out swag! See you there! #books #sciencefiction #scifi #sff

"It's a satisfying, rewarding romp. Pick it up if you love action, sci-fi, or Westerns; if you enjoy Firefly, The Mandalorian, or any other space Western mashup, you will especially love Gas Giant Gambit." *That's* the review I've been waiting for! #GasGiantGambit #sciencefiction #scifi #books

Woo! Another 5 star review for Gas Giant Gambit, this one including a direct comparison to Firefly and The Mandalorean! What more could a space-western author ask for? #books #scifi #sciencefiction #sff #spacewestern #GasGiantGambit

Have I mentioned yet today that my debut novel, the space-western Gas Giant Gambit, came out this week? My publisher is offering free shipping to the US and Canada this week only! alexparkerpublishing.com/products/gas... #books #scifi #scifibooks #sciencefiction #novel

I tried to clean my pads with 70% isopropyl alcohol, but nothing works quite like Lectric Shave. So weird. Either way, I got some and finished cleaning in time for the first game of the season on Sunday!

I'm not a *huge* consumer of fantasy, so this may exists and I'm just not aware of, but a thought just occurred to me: Post-apocalyptic fantasy. And I don't mean "bad guy won 1,000 years ago." I mean an extinction level event, like a dino-ending meteor or the fantasy version of a nuclear war.

If you're in southern Ontario this weekend, and like a good sci-fi book, come by the Oshawa Centre Indigo and say hi! I'll be there at 12:00 Saturday, and staying for as long as they'll let me! #booksky #readersky #sciencefiction #scifi #sff #booksigning

Well, there's a surreal notification... #GasGiantGambit #writer #writersky #books #booksky #scifi

Trans rights are human rights.

THE BONE RAIDERS is an epic fantasy with tons of heart, equal parts serious and fun. I had a great time in the Tapestry, and can’t wait to see what Jackson Ford does with the sequel. 🪐📚💙 #BookReview 🔗 fanfiaddict.com/review-the-b...

All the stories for our upcoming issue have been finalized! As the eldritch being we call "the reading team" returns to its slumber, editing and formatting duties fall to another of @esraye.bsky.social's multiple personalities: the wretched and dreaded "Editor-in-chief."

It's release day for Gas Giant Gambit, and I've got some additional news to share, as well as some thanks to give! esraye.com/2025/09/16/g... #GasGiantGambit #sciencefiction #scifi #books #booksky

More than five years in the making from inception to publishing, my debut novel Gas Giant Gambit is out TODAY! Thank you, Alex Parker Publishing, for taking a chance on me and this category denying genre mashup tale! #GasGiantGambit #spacewestern #scifi #sff #sciencefiction #booksky #books

Today, I woke up a published novelist. #writingcommunity #bookcommunity #booksky #sciencefiction #scifi #sff

No matter how many times I play #AlienIsolation, it never fails to get my heart pumping.

Don't mind me as I bask in the glow of another 5 star review for #GasGiantGambit on the eve of its release day...

If you are in Canada and want a paperback copy, this is the option I would recommend. There has been some hiccups with the Canadian Amazon pricing, which is in the process of being resolved. But for now, getting your copy straight from my publisher may be easier!

It's Release Day Eve for Gas Giant Gambit! And now you can order your copy directly from my publisher, Alex Parker Publishing! During this launch week, shipping to the US and Canada is free! alexparkerpublishing.com/products/gas... #scifi #scifibooks #sciencefiction #gasgiantgambit #books #booksky

The facts that not only do these things exist, but I have them displayed among the library Jessie and I have accumulated over our two lifetimes, absolutely blows my mind. Now I just need to write enough of them to fill the shelf! #booksky #scifi #sff #sciencefiction #technoir