For many years I have been writing as a hobby.
Nothing has been properly published, yet. Soon, though, that will change. This blog is among the first steps into making that change official.
Self-publishing has gotten easier and easier, especially with the rise of electronic books. Which means I could have a novel available on Nook or Kindle in relatively short order.
But to do so without a finished product, or without a marker, may be premature. So I'm attempting an old tactic: a whisper campaign. Consider it self-advertising, but I'm going to try to gain some interest in what I write before I get it out "in the wild." I'll post snippets of notes, explanations and essays of concepts, sketches, and even rough chapters. I'll accept beta readers, though only at a limited rate and not yet.
This persona, R.J. Allison, is a pen name. I chose it because of my enjoyment of aviation: Allison is the name of a company that built engines for US fighter planes in World War 2. The initials "R.J." stand for "Reginald James," coming from the middle names of the designer of the Spitfire and the founder of Curtiss, respectively. I chose this name so that I could use my given name symbolically in my stories. If you are curious, merely chase the etymology of "Allison."
I write a little of everything, having started with an interest in science fiction, thanks to Star Wars. Allow me to give some examples of just what I'm working on by describing the plot of my most "complete" stories in a single sentence.
The son of the rightful ruler returns to his nation only to find it under control of a manipulative collaborator.
Two orphans discover they are the heirs to the heroes of a world under magical oppression.
An interstellar colony ship seeks out a new world while fighting an alien race and a lie that could destroy their existence.
A cloned warrior steals an advanced tank after discovering he was stolen from his parents.
A former conductor is hired to guard a shipment that has no destination.
A military AI system discovers what it takes to be human. *
The only thing that stands between the empire’s total victory is the grandson of a knight and the only granddaughter of history’s most infamous villain. *
After surviving a plane crash in China, a young fighter pilot finds himself in a forgotten world in need of a guardian.
A pilot is coerced into aiding a young woman who is heir to a fabled lineage and on the run in the Caribbean from the British, Nazis, tycoons, and criminals. *
A time-traveling researcher discovers a plot that could destroy history.
Having been raised for war, a young woman becomes central to a plot to upset the balance of power in a collapsed kingdom.
After receiving a strange gift, a racing pilot finds himself at the center of a race to harness a mythical force.
Any of these sound interesting? I hope so. Many are aviation related, since it interests me. Regardless, I write what I would like to read. Some of these are quite developed, and likely to be seen in print (or e-book) relatively soon. I'll let you guess which they are.
Keep reading.
- R.J. Allison
