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Recent Posts
- Behind the scenes – or – Why I did not write two new books during lockdown. May 18, 2022
- Happy Endings or Not? April 29, 2022
- What I’m reading (March 2022) March 15, 2022
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- Do You Need an Editor? March 1, 2022
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Tag Archives: crossways
Viewpoint
I’m in a Facebook writers’ group for writers of all levels. Someone asked what the POV (point of view) limit was on a traditionally published debut novel. The answer, of course is: there isn’t one. Sometimes you find prescriptive pieces … Continue reading
Posted in fantasy, reading, science fiction
Tagged books, crossways, empire of dust, fantasy, jacey bedford, Nimbus, POV, psi-tech, psi-tech trilogy, reading, rowankind, silverwold, viewpoint, Winterwood, writing, writing advice
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How to Write a Speculative Fiction Book
I’m not going to be able to teach you how to write a book in the twelve hundred or so words in this blog post – even presuming I have the skills. Yes I’ve written books, seven published so far … Continue reading
Posted in writing
Tagged books, characterisation, crossways, empire of dust, fantasy, jacey bedford, plot, plotting, reading, rowankind, Silverwolf, Winterwood, worldbuilding, writing, writing advice
2 Comments
Space Opera
I write science fiction. I’m pretty sure my sub-genre is (so far) space opera. I’m happy with that definition. I grew up reading my dad’s Lensman books and the distinctive Gollancz yellow jacketed SF which (sadly) I only have a … Continue reading
Posted in reading, science fiction, writing
Tagged books, crossways, empire of dust, jacey bedford, Nimbus, psi-tech, science fiction, space opera, writing
2 Comments
Building a Universe – Law and Order in The Psi-Tech Novels
More about the universe in which the Psi-Tech books are set. The Monitors – Galactic PolicingFormed in 2391, the Monitors are an interstellar policing force largely concerned with providing law in the space-lanes and for those newly established colonies that … Continue reading
Posted in fantasy, reading, science fiction, writing
Tagged crossways, empire of dust, jacey bedford, Nimbus, psi-tech, psi-tech trilogy, stephan martiniere, worldbuilding
1 Comment
Building a Universe – Folding Space – The Psi-Tech Novels.
Early Space ExplorationHumans established several stations on the moon, and a joint scientific facility on Mars by 2050. At the same time commerical expeditions to mine the Kuiper Belt proved successful, and, following a twenty year scientific study, shipyards were … Continue reading
Posted in fantasy, reading, science fiction, writing
Tagged crossways, empire of dust, Folding space, foldspace, Nimbus, psi-tech, psi-tech trilogy, psionics
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Building a Universe – The Psi-Techs
My Psi-Tech Universe has implant-enhanced humans who have telepathy to a greater or lesser extent, combined with other psi talents. My main characters, Cara and Ben are psi-techs. Cara is a top class telepath with a side order of empathy, … Continue reading
Posted in fantasy, reading, science fiction, writing
Tagged crossways, empire of dust, Nimbus, psi-tech, psi-tech trilogy, psionics, telepathy
2 Comments
Building a Universe – Power Structures and Personal Stories.
When I started to write Empire of Dust I didn’t really know much about my setting. I didn’t build my universe first and then people is and dream up stories. The people came first, and along with them a predicament. … Continue reading
Posted in fantasy, reading, science fiction
Tagged crossways, empire of dust, jacey bedford, Nimbus, psi-tech, psi-tech trilogy, space opera, SpaceX, trilogies, trilogy, worldbuilding
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The Geography of Words
Writing science fiction and fantasy involves worldbuilding. Sometimes we take a concept, strip it right down to basics and invent a planet where the sea is pink, the sky is upside down and the dominant life form has seven tentacles … Continue reading
An interview first published in SF Signal
I like doing interviews, especially when the questions are both thoughtful and taxing. Carl Slaughter presented me with an intriguing set of questions way back in 2016. I thought I’d revisit them. CS: Your first series is cyberpunk space opera. … Continue reading
Posted in fantasy, reading, science fiction, writing
Tagged Carl Slaughter, crossways, empire of dust, interview, Nimbus, psi-tech trilogy, rowankind, Rowankind trilogy, SF Signal, Silverwolf, Winterwood
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The Long Haul
Now, here’s the thing… when you write a trilogy you are in it for the long haul. To all those people who write a single book, I salute you. It’s not easy. It takes dedication and effort. Now imagine you … Continue reading
Posted in fantasy, science fiction, writing
Tagged crossways, empire of dust, Nimbus, psi-tech trilogy, rowankind, Rowankind trilogy, Silverwolf, trilogies, trilogy, Winterwood, writing
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Jacey’s Quick Book Links
With the publication of Rowankind just a few days away (27th November), I thought I’d post links to all my books. Obviously the (not-so-hidden) subtext is, go out and buy them, but seriously folks, those advance orders for a new … Continue reading
Posted in fantasy, science fiction, writing
Tagged crossways, empire of dust, jacey bedford, Nimbus, psi-tech trilogy, rowankind, Rowankind trilogy, Silverwolf, Winterwood
2 Comments
The Gift That Keeps on Giving
My first book, Empire of Dust, launched on 4th November 2014 from DAW and, boy, was I excited. I’d waited a long time for that moment. When I got the first review , from Publishers’ Weekly, no less, I read … Continue reading
Posted in fantasy, science fiction, writing
Tagged crossways, empire of dust, Nimbus, psi-tech trilogy, reading, reviews, rowankind, sci-fi, Silverwolf, space opera, Winterwood, writing
6 Comments
What’s the Psi-Tech trilogy about?
Nimbus, the final book in my Psi-Tech trilogy, is out now. Who-hoo, I have five books out and this is the first complete trilogy. Sometimes big ideas start with a bang and arrive fully formed, sometimes they start small and … Continue reading
Happy Book Day To Me!
My new book, NIMBUS, is out today. Let me say that again because it never gets old. My new book, NIMBUS, is out today! It’s my fifth published book, and the third in my Psi-Tech universe. It represents a milestone … Continue reading
Posted in science fiction, writing
Tagged ben benjamin, Cara Carlinni, crossways, empire of dust, Nimbus, psi-tech, psi-tech trilogy, publishing, science fiction, space opera, writing
4 Comments
Due Process
My publishing process goes like this: The publisher offers a contract (negotiated by my agent) which may be for one, two or three books, and on signing I get half the advance. My agent takes the agreed cut and I … Continue reading
Posted in fantasy, science fiction, writing
Tagged crossways, empire of dust, jacey bedford, Nimbus, psi-tech, publishing, rowankind, Silverwolf, Winterwood, writing
3 Comments
Worldbuilding for a Series
In the last blog I talked about Committing Trilogy, but glossed over the worldbuilding aspects so I could talk about them in this blog entry. I’m going to (mostly) talk about the worldbuilding involved in my futuristic SF trilogy, though … Continue reading
Posted in fantasy, science fiction, writing
Tagged crossways, empire of dust, jacey bedford, Nimbus, science fiction, space opera, worldbuilding
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Overnight Success in Only Sixteen Years
The beginning of my writerly story is lost in the mists of my childhood. I struggled with writing at school because, being a fluent reader (but not a writer) by the age of five, I was put into a class … Continue reading
Posted in fantasy, science fiction, writing
Tagged Artisan, crossways, empire of dust, jacey bedford, literary agents, Silverwolf, Winterwood, writing
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Pitfalls of Publishing, or Lest I Forget
I’m now in the fortunate position of having three books published by DAW, with two more due out in January 2017 and October 2017, but achieving a novel publishing deal took years from my first short story sale to a … Continue reading
Posted in fantasy, science fiction, writing
Tagged book deal, book one, book two, books, crossways, empire of dust, Silv, Winterwood
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Gotten, Tannoy, and Trug
Another milestone. I just hit send and emailed the manuscript for my fourth book to my editor. It’s 134,200 words long which is roughly the same size as Winterwood. Silverwolf is scheduled for publication on Tuesday 3rd January 2017. It’s … Continue reading
Posted in fantasy, science fiction, writing
Tagged crossways, empire of dust, fantasy, science fiction, Silverwolf, Winterwood, writing
4 Comments
Fan mail
I just received this from Hugh, a friend in Canada, who is currently in the middle of reading Crossways. I think it may constitute genuine fan mail even though we do know each other personally. Hugh McMillan is a very … Continue reading
My Writing Year – 2015
It’s been a pretty good year in the word-mines with my second book, Crossways released in August to some decent reviews – though not many of them, which I understand is pretty normal for a second book in a series. … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged 2015, books, crossways, publication, Winterwood, writing
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CROSSWAYS is OUT TODAY!
It’s BOOK DAY! Crossways, my second novel, is out today. What starts out as a search for survivors turns into a battle for survival. Space stations, corrupt corporations, telepathy, relationships and something moving in the depths of foldspace. Not read … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged ben benjamin, book two, books, Cara Carlinni, crossways, psi-tech, publication
6 Comments
New Two-Book Deal
With Crossways less than 2 weeks away from publication I just got the go-ahead from my lovely agent (Amy Boggs of Donald Maass Literary) to announce this. I have a new contract with DAW for another two books to follow … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged agent, ben benjamin, book deal, book three, book two, Cara Carlinni, crossways, empire of dust, Nimbus, psi-tech, Silverwolf, Winterwood, writing
11 Comments
Book Cover: Crossways
Crossways, my follow up to Empire of Dust, is due out on 4th August, so with only a few weeks to go I thought I’d delve a little deeper into the cover art by Stephan Martiniere. Stephan did the gorgeous … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged book cover, book two, cover, crossways, empire of dust, stephan martiniere
3 Comments
Crossways – the Process
It’s page-proof time. The last opportunity to catch any typos and last minute (small) alterations in the text of Crossways before it’s sent to print. I have nearly two weeks to check 173,000 words of text. From the writer’s point … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged ben benjamin, book, book cover, Cara Carlinni, copy edit, crossways, editing, page proofs, proofreading, publisher, publishing
2 Comments
On Delivering the Second Book
Empire of Dust came out in November 2014 and yesterday I delivered the final version of Crossways. Second books are difficult, mind bogglingly, scarily difficult. For starters, you never quite know how much backstory to filter in from the first … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged ben benjamin, books, Cara Carlinni, crossways, empire of dust, psi-tech, publishing, writing
2 Comments
Crossways Cover Reveal
I got the illustration for my new novel Crossways a few months ago, but until yesterday’s SF Signal featured it in their ‘Coming Soon’ section I hadn’t seen it complete with titles. So here it is. The cover illustration is … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged ben benjamin, book, book cover, books, Cara Carlinni, crossways
2 Comments
Editing and Time Travel
Editing one book while writing the first draft of the sequel is as close as I will ever come to time travel. My first book, Empire of Dust, is due out from DAW on November 4th and while waiting for … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged book, book two, Cara Carlinni, crossways, editing, empire of dust, novel number one, publication, writing
5 Comments
Jumping in at the Shallow End
So after a week of bringing together plot notes, I’ve now started writing the new book. Working title: Crossways. It’s a sequel to my space opera. Writing a sequel is in some ways easier and yet also more difficult. On … Continue reading