Afternoon! I hope everyone is keeping warm on this absolutely frigid day. For those of you in Florida, or anywhere else that it’s warm, enjoy it! In spite of the record low temperatures, I decided early this morning to shoot over to the Jersey Shore and recharge my creative batteries. After spending some time on the beach and taking in the sights and sounds of my summertime backyard, I feel much better.
Anyway, it’s way past time for a book update so here goes….
I am in a holding pattern with Red Blitz ’87 (Working title, not the final.) Late in December, the publishers and I realized that if the situation with Russia and Ukraine comes to blows it’ll have a decidedly negative impact on my novel and sales will be stillborn. Fewer people will be buying a book centered on a fictional war with Russia 30 years ago if Russian tanks are rolling through Kiev. So we came to a decision to continue working towards a tentative mid-February release date and to monitor real world events with Russia. To make a long story short, if they do cross the border between now and early February, my second novel, based on a war with China in the not-too-distant future, could become my novel to be released. Which is very frustrating for a number of reasons, I’m sure you can agree.
In the meantime, I’m working on a novella or two which will be released on Kindle in early March if Red Blitz ends up in deep freeze. And I’ll also start working on improving the blog’s layout to make accessing earlier entries easier. In fact, I’m planning to start on that this evening. As for the next D+20 entry, the North Atlantic will kick off either tomorrow night or Monday. Looks like that segment will be a two-parter the way it looks now.
Enjoy the rest of the weekend, everyone! –Mike
Third World War 1987 
Wow. Incredibly frustrating and just a little frightening. A couple of questions- 1)In your mind, how likely is a Russian offensive in Ukraine, and 2)If Russia invades why wouldn’t China take advantage of the distraction and invade Taiwan?
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Honestly, I think there’s probably around a 70% chance of a Russian military operation being launched within the next month. And that percentage increases with every passing day.
I’d take advantage of it. One reason China may not is timing. They’re set to host the Winter Olympics. If Russia moves before or during the games, China won’t be able to take advantage of the distraction. After the games is another story.
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Hate to be the cold-water guy, but it certainly is possible both the Soviet Russians and Red Chinese will put a crimp in those plans (sort of like the 2024 situation on the other blog).
Here’s hoping I’m wrong and Putin and Xi are saner than I think they are.
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Oh, I know. Good possibility of that occurring and there’s a plan in the works for that. But yeah, hopefully it won’t come to that.
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I was wondering this afternoon what was becoming of the novel – appreciate the update. Perhaps Red Blitz ‘22 would be more apt in current circumstances …
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Funny, you’re not the only reader who was wondering about the novel status yesterday afternoon. lol Somebody else asked about it on Twitter and I figured that was a good time to bring you all up to speed.
Red Blitz 22….I like that. Not the war it might project, but the title 🙂
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Fingers crosed for you and everybody elses sake that it doesn’t come to pass.
Cheers,
Pete.
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Thanks, Pete! Much appreciated!
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Mike, I think the same thing happened to the movie release of Flight of the Intruder during Desert Shield. Why watch a movie when you can see the real thing on CNN. I pray your book is released as a “might have been”, It’s going to snow 6-8″ in middle Tennessee tonight and tomorrow!
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Wow 6-8 inches of snow in mid-Tennessee. You guys have had more snow this season than we have in the East! 🙂 Enjoy it pal. I think that is a good comparison with Flight of the Intruder. I hope its released period, whether as a might have been or anything else 🙂
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First of all, I’m sorry for the delay on your book, Mike. Getting creatively tripped up by external forces is the worst. One day we’ll crack a beer and swap war stories, D&D writing tales for Technothriller writing tales!
Still, and while I think you and your publisher know best, it’s kind of a head-scratcher: WW3 novels absolutely flourished in the 1980s/90s, and that was just as big a danger back then as Russian shenanigans today.
Anyway, you’ve got a small audience but a very dedicated one here, who love what you do.
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Sounds like a plan! 🙂
I agree, but I understand where they’re coming from. With things on edge in Europe they don’t want to take a chance. Its one of the bigger publishing houses and they’re looking at it from the sales point of view. Add to that, I’m an investment now. They’ve already shelled out a nice advance, and spend a tidy sum getting interviews, publicity and all ready to go as the release date nears. Now all of that is up in the air. What can you do.
I love this audience more than I can ever explain. I’ve met some great people here, forged some friendships and learned a lot along the way. For that, I thank everyone who takes the time to read this blog.
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PS we’ve had gale force winds and it was like 40 here in “sunny, warm” Florida this morning! :O
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I saw that during the Buc-Eagles game. Holy heck, its blowing down there!
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