Jotham Austin, II lives in Chicagoland with his wife and two sons. He has his PhD in Botany, and can be found taking electron micrographs of cells at The University of Chicago. His Rom-Com novella, “Tomorrow May Be Too Late” will be published as part of the romance anthology, “Askew Ever After,” January 2021. His debut novel, a sci-fi psychological thriller, ‘Will You Still Love Me, If I Become Someone Else?” will be released February 2021. Jotham recently started a newsletter that explores the science in science fiction (signup at jothamaustin.com). Preorder books and Follow Jotham on social media at https://linktr.ee/Jothamaustin
It’s January 2022, and even though we are 8 days into the New Year, and a little late to the party, I’m going to wish you all a Very Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year!
I always wonder how late is too late to wish someone a Happy New Year. I mean what if the first time you see someone is in March, is it okay to say, “Happy New Year.” Okay, March may be pushing it, but when do you stop saying, “Happy New Year?” The same day the Holiday decorations come down; after the Chinese New Year? Or are you wishing Uncle Charlie a Happy New Year and Independence Day with some potato salad? LOL
Okay, I’m being a little silly!
At the end of the year Georgia (atomicnumber14) and I found out that Rabbit Hole of Research would have a table at the eighth NWI Comic Con on February 12th 2022! This was exciting and terrifying news and we realized we had a bit of work to get done. But I am happy to report we have put together some Zines a coloring book and some other fun stuff to debut at the Con. Here is a sneak peek of one of the Zines:
This has been a fun collaborative project. Mark your calendar: more details coming soon about the Comic Con!
Oh, ignore that microphone in the picture, that would have nothing to do with that podcast thing I’ve been talking about. That’s not the handwavium you are looking for!
The other thing that has been filling my time is working on the Developmental Edits of my new Novel. I did meet my goal to have the first round of cuts and structural rewrites finished early January. Doing the numbers I cut around 7,000 words, and added back around 17,000, for a net gain of 10K words.
Now I am reading the novel to make sure no plot holes opened up during all this restructuring, and filling them in. I am very excited about this novel and looking forward to the day it get’s into your hands, but the road to publishing is a long a arduous one. But while you wait don’t forget about my two stories out right now:
My paranormal romance werewolf shifter novella, ‘Eve’ will be gone soon! So, Order it Now: Kindle Unlimited, ebook and paperback! If you picked up a copy, thank you!
Also, my Sci-Fi Psychological Thriller Novel turns 1-years old next month, ‘Will You Still Love Me If I Become Someone Else?’ Order online Now: e-book and paperback!
Maybe a limited edition Hardback copy giveaway to celebrate will be in order! If you cannot wait for the giveaway, I have some copies for sale on my web shop
One last thing would be the Standing Desk I mentioned last month. I ordered some electric legs off Amazon and I will be attaching the top I am finishing this weekend to it. I will post the finishedpictures, but here are the legs. (Ignore the unfinished basement floor.)
Okay, That’s all of the major news. Keep reading below to check out the new feature, and check out some of the creatives that are keeping me entertained.
This is the third issue in the Horror anthology series. A great collaborative effort! I am looking forward to more stuff from Guerrilla Publishing. Full disclosure: I backed this project on Kickstarter, and even got my Face on the back cover. Still a good read! Go get it!
Edited by Tracy K. Smith and John Freeman LETTERS FROM A CRISIS
A wonderful anthology that I’ve been digesting slowly over the past couple weeks; best summed up in the book’s description:
“Galvanizing and lyrical, this is a deeply profound anthology of writing filled with pain and beauty, warmth and intimacy. A remarkable feat of empathy, There’s a Revolution Outside, My Love offers solace in a time of swirling protest, change, and violence-reminding us of the human scale of the upheaval, and providing hope for a kinder future.”
I read or listen to this masterpiece of fiction yearly. Reading and thinking about the way this story is constructed (pacing, tone, dialogue, plotting) has been helpful to my own writing. Check it out!
Music:
I have been really digging this new soulful alternative country mash up. Go add Amythyst Kiah’s Wary Strange to your playlist!
Okay, that’s where I’m at. I’ll try to update y’all every month on books, comics, and music that I’ve been digging! I’ll try to add some indie author reads!
Email me and let me know what you’ve been into and what I should check out! Or follow me online for more realtime updates: Jotham’s Social Links
It’s December and I am unsure where the year has gone.The last couple months have seemed to drag along, but it’s time for holiday cheer, egg nog, cookies, lights and all that jazz!
As the year winds down, I got the first round of Developmental Edits from my agent (Developmental edits are 30,000 foot big picture edits of the manuscript, plot, pacing, character arcs, etc.). I know a lot of folks don’t like the editing process, but I actually enjoy it. What do you like more, editing or writing? I’m curious, email me and let me know!
When people ask why do you need to work with critique partners, writing groups or developmental editors, I always say, “they are the eyes in the author’s blind spots.”
That’s right. No matter how much love I’ve put into crafting a twisty plot that will keep you turning the page, the tone, pacing, emotional growth of my characters always improve going through these important developmental edits.
Always remember not to take the comments personally. I know it is hard to send your baby out into the world and someone tells you your favorite scene drags on, before you go into crazy mode, remember these are just suggestions, one person’s thoughts, but this is someone whose judgment you respected enough to send you baby to in the first place.
So, when I get back comments, I read them, I mumble and curse to myself under my breath about how idiotic the negative comments are (the positive comments are always spot on) then I put the comments away (I may read the positive comments again, but then put it away) for a couple days or so, and busy myself with something else. After the excitement of finally moving forward with the manuscript fades a bit, I approach each comment in a serious and thoughtful way.
Even if you disagree with a comment or potential change, you should revisit that scene or the character’s emotional arc, tone, sensitivity, colorism, physical abuse, sex, abrasive language, etc.
If you are still hesitant to go in and take the scalpel or sledgehammer to your baby, copy the section(s) or chapter(s) in question into a new document (save it as MS_awesome_as_is), turn on track changes (they should already be on) and then experiment with changing the scene or section within your manuscript, and see what you think (ask yourself honestly, do things read better? The same? Or the original was the bee’s knees!)
I’ll be the first to admit that cutting and rewriting big chunks of your perfect baby is hard. My WYS_awesome_as_is file for Will You Still Love Me… was about 20,000 words over a couple rounds of Developmental edits (I cut an entire chapter), but in the end the pacing of several chapters improved, characters and plot lines I introduced but never fully fleshed out were removed and all this created space to more fully explore the world and growth of the main characters of the novel, Alex, Marci and Leslie.
And, bonus that chapter and other stuff you cut may be useful as a scene in the sequel (Did I mention I finished the first draft of Will You Still Love Me If I Become Someone Else part 2!)
Okay, I’m going to get off my, “editing is great,” soapbox, but I’ll share more of my process as I go along, like how I edit scenes in my stories using Comic book Panel formatting. But, more on that later.
Speaking of Comics, I just found out earlier this week that Rabbit Hole of Research (atomicnumber14 (Georgia) and I) will have a table at the NWI-Comic Con in February 12th 2022!!!
Mark your calendar: more details coming soon!
If you missed it:
My paranormal romance werewolf shifter novella, ‘Eve’was released October 31st in the Moonlight Anthology! You can Order it Now: Kindle Unlimited, ebook and paperback!
Also, check out my debut Sci-Fi Psychological Thriller Novel, ‘Will You Still Love Me If I Become Someone Else?’ Order online Now: e-book and paperback!
Okay, Enjoy the rest of the day! you can always email or follow me online for real time tracking and to see what craft beers I’m drinking (find me on Untappd @jomega22).
I often get asked how does a research scientist balance using Handwavium to write Speculative Science fiction or Paranormal stories and staying Actual Factual?
So, little secret, I don’t try to keep any balance. I do a bit of research (sometimes I get lost in the Rabbit Hole of Research) about things that I may use in a story trying to learn more about the history/origin of paranormal legends and think about how these phenomena can be explained using science fact, or research how a technology may work and the limits that exist today and push past these limits in a “speculative” way to create interesting plot twists in a story.
Yet, after I do research, I often put it away, and focus on writing the first draft (just get those words down), and not let the Actual Factual box my story in.
It is in latter drafts where I square the Actual Factual using as little of Handwavium as possible to plug those pesky plot holes (which I like to explore in the Rabbit Hole of Research).
Speaking of werewolves (I did an episode on the science of werewolves; check it out here) and balanced the Paranormal with Actual Factual in writing my paranormal romance shifter novella, ‘Eve’:
My paranormal romance werewolf shifter novella, ‘Eve’was released October 31st in the Moonlight Anthology! You can Order it Now: ebook and paperback!
Also, check out my debut Sci-Fi Psychological Thriller Novel, ‘Will You Still Love Me If I Become Someone Else?’ Order Now, e-book and paperback!
Hey y’all, I hope this email finds you safe and well. No matter how you found my newsletter, thank you for joining.
I know what you are thinking, “Jotham, what is this Rabbit Hole of Research?” Well, my newsletter comes out twice a month (this is the goal), one edition will feature an author interview, book promos/samplers and giveaways; The second edition will explore the quirky science in fiction. Also, I say Handwavium a lot. Handwavium is a fictional material used to smooth plot holes.
So, a couple quick updates and no Handwavium.
A lot has happened since the last Rabbit Hole of Research newsletter—I am now represented by the literary agent Kat Kerr at the Donald Maass Literary Agency!
I am excited to work with Kat!
Other thing that has gained some attention in the last couple week is my mustache! I’ve been trying different waxes to tame the might-stache—you can follow the adventures of the stache and craft beers I’m drinking on Instagram. Been trying some different waxes to tame, shape, the stache.
Last weekend, Georgia and I along with two friends finally got to see RENT. During the lockdown there was a NPR story about the 25th anniversary tour and the life and legacy of Jonathan Larson (Check it out here). I was driving down the relatively empty streets of Chicago and my eyes teared up listening to this—Once parked I immediately texted my good fried who is a huge RENT fan and asked if she wanted to go (she has seen RENT with her wife 10+ times). She said yes! LOL This was the first live performance we all had been to since early 2020. Masked, vaccinated and it was nice to be out and see this fabulous performance. Also, I discovered that I really enjoy musicals—
And finally, my paranormal romance shifter novella, ‘Eve’ was delivered to the publisher and will be released October 31st in the Moonlight Anthology! You can Preorder it now!
Also, the publisher just let us know that a limited number of paperback copies will be available—stay tuned for more on that.
Okay, That’s all the major updates and news. And you can always email or follow me online for real time tracking). So, no author interview this month, but did find some awesome authors to share and book fairs!
Katherine, How do you come up with ideas for a project?
It sounds so easy when I say it, but I have an idea come into my mind and I work on it in my head until I can write something down. I once had an idea hit me when I was in the shower. Sometimes I say that I have a poem in my fingertips that must be written down. Sometimes projects come to me from what someone else says or as I am people watching.
After you have a new idea, how much research do you do?
I do enough research to satisfy myself I can write about the topic. Sometimes I do none, then sometimes I wander the internet for hours reading on a topic.
Do you research things throughout your creative process or just at the beginning?
I will research throughout a project as needed as the ideas flow. Sometimes a new idea will come up in my writing and I want to know about it, so I search the internet.
What’s the strangest thing you’ve researched for a project (go check that Google search history)?
The strangest thing I researched was what to feed a mule versus a horse. Every now and then a mule needs to eat a certain type of pellet to help with their attitude. I’ve not used this in a book yet.
When you write, do you try to stay close to the Actual Factual or are you fast and loose with Handwavium (a term used when a writer waves their hand at reality for sake of the plot)?
I am reality based with a little Handwavium mixed into it. When you have created a new world to play in you can bend the rules a little more.
Have you ever stopped reading a story to go look up how factual something was?
I have pulled up the internet to read about a topic that has come up in my reading. It give me more of the story to enjoy.
Do you create with music, other background noise or complete silence?
I usually have cartoons, a ghost hunting, or a paranormal show on the TV going on in the background. Bluey is the newest cartoon I tune into. Sometimes I need quiet to sort something out.
Do you have any pet helper?
I have two cats and a dog. As you can see the cats are super helpful!
ButterscotchPumpkinTrinket
Do you create better at 5am or 5pm?
I create better from 9pm to 1am. It’s weird to get my best writing done super late into the night.
Which team apocalypse are you on: zombie, asteroid, or alien invasion?
Team apocalypse: Zombie. Someday some scientist will come up with something that will get loose and change mankind.
You ask your readers to be creative. How do you stay creative?
I take classes on art to stay creative. I draw and paint. I also make ATCs- Artist Trading Cards to trade. I read a lot of scifi/fantasy books. Last year I rea dover 52 books and am well on my way to catch that amount this year.
I see on your resume that you have extensive teaching experience, and I’m wondering how classroom management has helped you in your writing career?
Classroom management has helped me to be more on task when I am writing. My students did one thing at a time and that is how I work. I take on writing, email, or marketing one task at a time. I am also fast at turn-around times for projects other people want me to be a part of. I tend to do my part first, so it’s ready to go when needed.
If you got to use some “Handwavium” and send younger Katherine one note about writing, editing, or marketing, which would you chose and what would you say?
“You know more than you think you do, so get to work on your ideas for marketing your books.” “Be patient with the teams you work with.”
You have a release coming out soon, can you give us some details?
Grey Dawn of Dharaven: Katz Island will be released sometime toward the late summer. I am waiting on a cover from my publisher, the 120 or so days later the book will come out.
An ancient map found by Mountain Dragon Clan born Grey leads to an expedition that everyone else in her field thinks is crazy. Threats are made against her and the university that supports her. As an archaeologist, Grey is determined to finish her mission to find an underground human settlement on Katz Island. Will she find adventure taking her to the end of her career or to the find of the century?
Katherine, thank-you for your time. Is there anything else you’d like folks to know about you, your work, or your research process?
Stay tuned at https://katherineesoto-author.com at Creating New Worlds. New things are coming as I put together more creative things to share.
I also have a story in the anthology Abducted An Alien Romance Anthology. We are taking preorders now. The book will be out in September of 2021. Here is its preorder link: https://books2read.com/AbductedAnthology
Love built on betrayal. Lust that can’t be denied. Temptation of the forbidden. Prepare for out of this world stories as you delve into these 8 unforgettable sci-fi alien romances. This isn’t a rescue mission. This is ABDUCTED. Abducted includes stories based on forbidden romances, enemies to lovers, and happily ever afters – there is something for everyone! Available for a limited time so grab your copy and discover 8 new book boyfriends today! Authors in this anthology include Elvira Bathory, Lissa Lynn Thomas, Katherine E. Soto, Mandy Melanson, Jordan Elizabeth, Victoria Escobar, Nikki Landis, and Helena Novak
Let us know where we can find you on Social Media.
Hey y’all, I hope this email finds you safe and well. No matter how you found my newsletter, thank you for joining.
I know what you are thinking, “Jotham, what is this Rabbit Hole of Research?” Well, my newsletter comes out twice a month (this is the goal), one edition will feature an author interview, book promos/samplers and giveaways; The second edition will explore the quirky science in fiction. Also, I say Handwavium a lot. Handwavium is a fictional material used to smooth plot holes.
So, a couple quick updates and no Handwavium.
So, the last couple weeks have been extremely busy. With bookstores and festivals opening up again, I have been able to do book events and signings!!
I was at Green Door Bookstore in Hobart, IN September 4th. It’s a super cool spot with a lot of art and writing events, and all the used books are 1 dollar!! Go check them out!
I am planning to do an Art and Science style lecture there sometime in October or November, stay tuned!
Okay, That’s all the major updates I can share at this moment (can always email or follow me online for real time tracking). So, let’s move on to Katherine Soto’s interview, and awesome promos and giveaways!
Hey y’all, I hope this email finds you safe and well. No matter how you found my newsletter, thank you for joining.
I know what you are thinking, “Jotham, what is this Rabbit Hole of Research?” Well, my newsletter comes out twice a month (this is the goal), one edition will feature an author interview, book promos/samplers and giveaways; The second edition will explore the quirky science in fiction. Also, I say Handwavium a lot.
So, Just a couple quick updates and no Handwavium.
September 11th I’ll be signing books at the 36th Annual Chicago Printer’s Row Lit Fest!! I’ll be at the CWA booth from 12-3pm on Saturday September 11th—it’s an awesome time, read more about the festival here, and come out and say hello!
And—drumroll—at both signings I will have paperback and hardbackbooks! That’s right after some delays—long story and there will be some very limited edition misprint copies coming soon—I have hardback copies of Will You Still Love Me If I Become Someone Else? These will be available at the signings and for order on my shop!
Look at these Lovelies! And if you have eagle eyes, yes, that is the Cowboy Bebop Board Game I got recently in the background!
Okay, That’s all the major updates (can always email or follow me online for real time tracking).
August 15th I’ll be at the Munster Community Market with Georgia (Atomic Number 14) . I’ll have books, both paperback and hardback for signing! I hope to see you there!
