Launch day! Happy Book Birthday to 𝘽𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙉𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩, the final book in my Apollo Rising series. Hard SF alt.hist set on and around the Moon (and beyond) during the Cold War, following the adventures of astronaut Vivian Carter and her various NASA crews and Air Force colleagues… and Soviet adversaries.

The Sunday Morning Transport soars today with a story from Alan Smale (@alansmale.bsky.social) in which a familiar figure follows a very different arc. Read a sample or subscribe for the whole story - and our whole catalog!

Delighted to announce the release of "Darwin's Rocket", in Sunday Morning Transport! -in which we meet Charles Darwin and sister Caroline in a tale about an evolution that might have been... Subscription-only, but here's a link for a 60-dy free trial... www.sundaymorningtransport.com/subscribe?co...

I thought it was a well-balanced panel and a very informative conversation. Thanks for putting it together!

Why yes, I will be appearing on the SFWA Stage at the Baltimore Book Festival on Saturday 13th with these fine people, talking about alternate history, historical fantasy, and who knows what else? We're doing the Twist! (Pro tip: the rest of the BBF schedule is terrific, too.)

My interview series with the award-winning SciFi Thoughts podcast continues ... and today my reading from the beginning of Radiant Sky has gone live! Catch up at lancerkind.com/series/scifi...

Podcast Thursday! Check out my conversation with @lancerkind.bsky.social about Hot Moon, Radiant Sky, and all things #science and #apollo ... you'll find it at lancerkind.com/podcast/319-...

It's all go! Tomorrow night I'll be presenting, live and in person, at the Philadelphia Science Fiction Society. And since it's Friday 13th, please wish me All the Luck for the drive up ...

Happy Release Day to a new Baen reprint anthology dedicated to the Rome of the past and future, including "The Wandering Warriors" by Alan Smale + Rick Wilber (which originally appeared in Asimov's)! We're in great company in this book, which contains several classics I look forward to (re)reading.

I retired from NASA after a thirty-five year career a year and a half ago (+), and still today's budget news broke me.

Yes, I'll be at #Balticon this weekend! I'll be moderating four "craft of writing" panels: Sat 4:00 PM Writing Action Scenes Sat 5:30 PM Writing Dialogue Sun 1:00 PM Juggling POV Mon 10:00 AM Basic Novel Writing Organization Otherwise, look for me at the Arc Manor table in the dealers room!

Out today! Hugo-award-winning zine Journey Planet, Issue 90, covers an astonishing 60 museums on 7 continents. Includes my feature about the National Cryptologic Museum, plus articles by several friends and fellow writers. [Download free, no reg. required!] www.journeyplanet.org/journey-plan...

Next week is Ravencon, in Glen Allen, VA! (Richmond-adjacent.) If you're going to be there, come find me at one of my five panels, my reading, or my (debut) solo presentation "Points of Divergence: Writing (and Reading) Alternate History"! (... Yes, all that in <48 hrs...)

Podcast Thursday! "Casual Space, Ep.260: Alan Smale, Blending Science, History, and Imagination", in which I chat with fabulous host-with-grace Beth Mund about Cahokia and my Clash series, my writing process, NASA work, Hot Moon books, and the power of story. www.bethmund.com/casual-space...

Happy Book Birthday to us! "Shapers of Worlds, Volume V" drops today from Shadowpaw Press, edited by @edwardwillett.bsky.social, and featuring my original story, "Red-Eye and Thunderbird", along with new tales from a strong cast of other writers who have recently appeared on the "Shapers" podcast.

Ten years ago today my first novel, CLASH OF EAGLES, came out from Del Rey. Here's the picture I posted on social media that day. I seem quite cheerful about it ...

So a lot happened today, but also: I delivered BURNING NIGHT, Apollo Rising: Book 3 (aka Hot Moon 3) to my publisher. We celebrated with champagne, bangers and mash, and Scrabble. Because you can never have enough words.

Video of the Firefly Aerospace Blue Ghost landing. I love the way the dust kicked up by its plume just drops straight back down to the surface, because there's no air; it's an effect I describe in the Hot Moon books, and very cool to see happening here in real life. www.facebook.com/watch?v=1007...

And we're off! The new ZNB Kickstarter for original SF/F pirate anthology SKULL X BONES is live, for your backing and (eventual) reading pleasure. I'll have a story in this antho, and so will many other fine writers. Please take a look and consider helping us set sail for adventure!

Podcast Thursday! Everything is bonkers so I paused these, but... if you want to escape from reality for a while, check out Ep.50 of "The Science in the Fiction", just released, in which I chat to Marty K. about lunar warfare in an alternate past ... www.buzzsprout.com/2201157/epis...

Virginia peeps! Tomorrow I'll be at Book People in Richmond, 1pm-3pm, reading from RADIANT SKY, taking any and all questions, and signing. Please show up and say Hi if you're in the area, and feel so inclined. www.bookpeoplerichmond.com/event/alan-s...

Thrilled by my latest Analog review: “[The books] make for intriguing speculation.. Smale, who has twice won the Sidewise Award for alt.history, can be counted on to give readers clear-eyed, nuanced takes on alternative events that could plausibly have transpired.” www.analogsf.com/current-issu...

Podcast Thursday: From a land down under! I'm interviewed by Michelle Hamadache, professor of English Studies and Creative Writing at Macquarie University on the literary podcast, “From the Lighthouse”, about books, creativity, imagination, and perseverance. www.fromthelighthouse.org/2025/apollo-...

“The Billion Insights” podcast explores culture, science, technology, art ,business, etc. with guests from around the world. I join host Shree for a deep dive into astrophysics, AI, alt.hist, SF movies, my Apollo Rising books, and many other topics. Podcast: thebillioninsights.com/podcast/epis...

New feature: Podcast Thursday! I've done a -lot- of podcast interviews and radio shows and such recently, and I'll be rolling them out here, once a week, until I catch up. Here we go:

One of the most fascinating things about researching my CLASH OF EAGLES series was learning about how the North American river system and the various watersheds work. I spent days staring at maps like this, making measurements and calculating Viking longship and canoe travel times, etc ...

It's Wright Bros. Day! I thank my friend Tom Doyle for reminding me! And yes, if you want to read an alternate history story about the Wright Brothers (and Sister) -- well, there's the handy link.

The book with three birthdays! RADIANT SKY came out in paperback/ebook on Nov 18, and hardcover on Dec 3, and its audiobook release today (Dec 10) completes the trifecta! Narrated once again by terrific voice actor @vleheny.bsky.social, I can't wait to listen to it myself ...

This was fun to write: an interview with my astronaut hero, Vivian Carter, for “The Protagonist Speaks.” At the start we get Snarky Viv, because she’s operating on very little sleep (surprise!), but later on we get some genuine glimpses beneath the surface... theprotagonistspeaks.com/2024/12/06/v...

A very welcome reader comment. Thanks, Dave! "..RADIANT SKY is big fun, a nicely-crafted SF adventure with a protagonist who wishes people would quit trying to kill her so she can concentrate on exploration... A compelling lead character, a fast-moving plot, and a good dose of sense of wonder..."

Today on John Scalzi's "The Big Idea", I discuss my brand new novel, RADIANT SKY, and the joys of sequels and science-fictional pasts and futures ... whatever.scalzi.com/2024/11/18/t...

Happy book birthday to Me! Today sees the release of my latest, RADIANT SKY, published by CAEZIK SF & Fantasy. I loved going back to the Moon with clunky Apollo and Soyuz technologies while writing this one, and continuing the adventures of Vivian Carter and her astronaut (and cosmonaut) colleagues.

They're here!! -- Two weeks out from the November 12th release of RADIANT SKY, and I have my publisher's copies. Excited!

And Rosie seemed delighted to have it … @rcwordsmith.bsky.social 😀

Four weeks until the book release of Radiant Sky! (Nov 12.) Eight until the audiobook release! (Dec 10.) On the latter: check out the RB audiobook homepage: delighted that awesome voice actress Vivienne Leheny @vleheny.bsky.social is back at the mic to narrate it! rbmediaglobal.com/audiobook/97...

It me! Check out this quick 12-minute author interview, where I talk about my current writing projects, and reveal the juicy details of the story I'm writing for the new SKULL X BONES anthology from ZNB!

And we're off! The new Kickstarter is LIVE, featuring 3 new original anthologies, one of which will contain an alt.hist pirate story by yours truly! These anthos are Good Stuff, and I'm delighted to be making my 2nd appearance in one! ... That is, if we fund. Take a look if you can!

Avast there, maties! Delighted to be an "anchor" author in another ZNB anthology, and to be surrounded by such a worthy crew under the command of Cap'n Joshua. The Kickstarter opens one month from today ....!

Lovely new review for Clash of Eagles: "Each detail... was carefully researched, put together in the best way possible, and it works wonderfully." Characters: Smale went all in with making each and every one of them real." Thanks, SFFInsiders! www.sffinsiders.com/home/review-...

Last night ! If you're a fan of thrilling and innovative SF, please consider pledging to the ZNB Kickstarter... Not gonna lie, we have a big hill to climb, but Never Say Never. Lots of great writers and editors have poured their hearts and souls into this indie press. I'd love to see this succeed!

Our ZNB Kickstarter needs some love! Just one week left to pile on some dollars and fund the "ZNB Presents" magazine for another year! Another full year of great stories by great writers ... and mine as well!

Here you go: the recording from our fast-paced discussion of "For All Mankind", in all its depth and breadth, is now available for your streaming pleasure. We covered a lot of ground in that hour, I'm just sayin'. @randee.bsky.social @authorduderuss.bsky.social

Coming up at 8pm! Join us while we discuss the past and future in space that we might have had, and all the ins and outs of this popular Apple TV drama!

I first watched For All Mankind S1 with trepidation, having independently written a book with a similar premise, but no worries: show and book are very different. My current S1 rewatch is more enjoyable, and I'm impressed anew by the story, acting, pacing, + production values. Belatedly recommended!

I retired from the day job five months ago to become a fulltime writer, but it’s only been in the past couple of weeks that I’ve really felt like one.

Excited to be an anchor author for the upcoming for Year Three of the ZNB PRESENTS magazine! Kickstarter opens at the end of the month. Really looking forward to writing this story ... if the Kickstarter gets funded, that is ... and there are plenty of other fine authors in the line-up. :)

Since the holiday season is upon us, I suppose I would be remiss if I didn't mention that HOT MOON is now out in paperback and available to gift to any and all of your hard SF / Apollo-nerd hard-to-buy-for friends and rellies ...

Got my latest COVID shot today, which brings me up to six vaccinations in 2023. I figure my blood must be mostly antibodies by now.

Doing #Nanowrimo is a much calmer experience now I've quit the dayjob. Even with family difficulties and a 9-day trip in the mix, I wrote 57,621 words in November to complete my tenth Nano. "Career" Nano wordcount now stands at 572,118.

TFW you finally grasp that the cherished subplot in your current book needs to be stripped out to be its own standalone novel with completely different characters. Thanks, Brain, I actually wasn't looking for a whole new book to write, just now.