u/Hefty-Paramedic5718

Hi, I don't normally write in the sci-fi genre, but am working on a novel where ultimately AI takes over...so in a sense it is dystopian AI sci-fi, but is largely happening in the background of the main plot. However, that seems to be the state of the world right now anyway...my question is would this still be considered part of the sci-fi genre? I want to consult the community of experts? Are there similar books you'd recommend?

For people who like their thriller/mysteries slow and strange, The Aftersummer is set in Barcelona and involves a suicidal man haunted by his dead grandfather’s dybbuk, an abducted woman, a mysterious manuscript, a witch burned in Poland, and a Nazi occult program that would really rather remain secret.

It’s multi-genre, delves into back-stories, and has the occasional flowery prose. It is not the usual reader’s "cup of tea"—definitely for those looking for something different—a mystery that stays with you long after the pages turn.

Please enjoy a free copy in exchange for a review!

UK CODES:

Please enjoy one free audio review copy of The Aftersummer, now available on Audible. Redeem the one-time use code below at https://www.audible.co.uk/acx-promo

DZXZETCBNSLBB

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HP8LHCFCR786E

JY7K4WXLDJBHJ

LNW85BUNLP6YA

MNCWU7S3XRLW2

Q44G5CRNGA75Q

QMDLRRB735W8F

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QU3BM4WR75QFG

I am a huge fan of the NYRB crime series but have fallen off in following new releases. I liked "Hard Rain Falling" "Black Wings has my Angel" all the Manchette and Simenon series. Are there any "voicy" stylish crime thrillers that are similar in the series people would recommend?

Hi,

I’m a graduate of J.D. Salinger’s alma mater, Valley Forge Military Academy (you may know it as Pencey Prep), and recently published a novel about my experience called THE FORGE. The school didn’t change much in the nearly hundred years it existed and in some ways is a kind of window into Salinger (and Caulfield’s life). I’d be honored if you checked it out! I have some free audiobook codes I’ll post below for anyone who is interested.

I have also included a photo of one of Salinger’s earliest writings. A hymn for the school. As a young Holden-Caulfield-wannabe, I ripped it out of the cadet Bible during Vespers. Enjoy!

https://preview.redd.it/ktr5efqdpaoh1.jpg?width=2176&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=618a698fb3d03e4f6fd069e9d2b45d2df28b6b11

Please enjoy one free audio review copy of The Forge: A Military Academy Novel, now available on Audible. Redeem the one-time use code below at https://www.audible.co.uk/acx-promo

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Hi! I'm a former wildland firefighter and was on a hotshot crew in New Mexico; I wrote and published a novel a year ago called AMERICAN FIRE and recently hit a sales milestone and was issued more audiobook codes for UK (Works in Canada as well I've been told). I'd like to exchange the freebies for a promise to leave a review of the audio version. Thanks!

Please enjoy one free audio review copy of American Fire, now available on Audible. Redeem the one-time use code below at https://www.audible.co.uk/acx-promo

ZK6M5C5FTYFF7

XU5N2CR2HQH9E

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GMMHE5RN4FLBZ

Hi,

I’m a graduate of J.D. Salinger’s alma mater, Valley Forge Military Academy (you may know it as Pencey Prep), and recently published a novel about my experience called THE FORGE. The school didn’t change much in the nearly hundred years it existed and in some ways is a kind of window into Salinger (and Caulfield’s life). I’d be honored if you checked it out! I have some free audiobook codes I’ll post below for anyone who is interested.

I have also included a photo of one of Salinger’s earliest writings. A hymn for the school. As a young Holden-Caulfield-wannabe, I ripped it out of the cadet Bible during Vespers. Enjoy!

https://preview.redd.it/d4nvlzzeiplh1.jpg?width=2176&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ae991650c1a89fbb3840fde55df486a5934438b7

Please enjoy one free audio review copy of The Forge: A Military Academy Novel, now available on Audible. Redeem the one-time use code below at https://www.audible.com/acx-promo

CB78UBU8XECTU

E267WRNY9UZ4Y

EEYDMN4YYZ5LT

EKGLXM744WHNB

GZZT36BSY8JST

HRGRBM7QCCRK3

HUCT4GM3KLA6Q

JNHPTA794RLTH

UK CODES:

Please enjoy one free audio review copy of The Forge: A Military Academy Novel, now available on Audible. Redeem the one-time use code below at https://www.audible.co.uk/acx-promo

2RRJ5A5HP2KZX

5FA8LLD45FEPP

6AEUS5NAJJ7TJ

6MPAQP2FLD5GC

7KES7N4P4Z74N

9EWLSUQESHZ9T

9NZ3ZTRPN4E4K

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Hot nights filled with summer thunder. Heat lightning far and thin and the midnight sky becrazed and mended back again. Suttree moved down to the gravelbar on the river and spread his blanket there under the gauzy starwash and lay naked with his back pressed to the wheeling earth. The river chattered and sucked past his elbow. He’d lie awake long after the last dull shapes in the coals of the cookfire died and he’d go naked into the cool and velvet waters and submerge like an otter and come up and blow, the stones smooth as marbles under his cupped toes and the dark water reeling past his eyes. He’d lie on his back in the shallows and on these nights he’d see stars come adrift and rifle hot and dying across the face of the firmament. The enormity of the universe filled him with a strange sweet woe.

She always found him. She’d come pale and naked from the trees into the water like some dream old prisoners harbor or sailors at sea. Or touch his cheek where he lay sleeping and say his name. Holding her arms aloft like a child for him to raise up over them the nightshirt that she wore and her to lie cool and naked against his side.

The school year is about to start again soon, and today all I can think about is last semester. A contemporary philosophy class met before mine. The class dealt with such heavy issues that they were issued a therapy dog, a golden retriever, which would walk around and be petted while students went back and forth discussing whether the president was the Pharmakon--(the medicine and the poison of our times).

Well, whenever I entered the room to set up, that therapy dog focused all its attention on me. I remember with some affection and some sadness that I was high priority for that dog.

And I don't know how to feel about that.

Hi! I'm a former Gila Hotshot who wrote a novel about wildland firefighting called American Fire. I have some free audiobook codes left for my book and wanted to share them on this page with the people who appreciate the highest highs and lowest lows of the job. Stay safe and I hope you have a good end to the season!

PS I'm told that most of the codes are gone. Posted a few extra codes below!

Please enjoy one free audio review copy of American Fire, now available on Audible. Redeem the one-time use code below at https://www.audible.com/acx-promo

42JYAZRJLD77P

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AUZ965JS8EZPW

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Y39X6PY5DF2EG

XQL6GMGJTTBYB

XEAUGN2A8CHU9

XBA5D39H89SGQ

I’m a graduate of Valley Forge Military Academy (now closing) and recently published a novel about my experience called The Forge. The school was valuable training for me and I spent twenty years or so working on the novel--only releasing it now because the school closed this year, which is a real tragedy. It gave students the chance to experience military life and discipline and decide whether the armed services was a viable route.

I wanted to post some codes to the audiobook if you are interested. Thanks!

Please enjoy one free audio review copy of The Forge: A Military Academy Novel, now available on Audible. Redeem the one-time use code below at https://www.audible.com/acx-promo

27X4SLRCHJSSD

28KH6BPBDDLBC

2BENSYPZQ26J6

2EQ58X4KMCAQH

43PQGZ7F4LDY4

5335HRW2THKAR

5BCU54QXBJAEX

64F8KBW9LFQRJ
6MHGRBP66BJF7

Hi,

I’m a former cadet at Valley Forge Military Academy (now closing) and recently published a novel about my experience called THE FORGE. My book captures plebe system and much of new cadet life. A few of my teachers were former West Point instructors. I have some free audiobook codes I wanted to share. Thanks for all you do, and I hope you enjoy!

Please enjoy one free audio review copy of The Forge: A Military Academy Novel, now available on Audible. Redeem the one-time use code below at https://www.audible.com/acx-promo 

PS8LRFAZBWLK9

QUF4RL55ZDS6L

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WLJ3PB3LM882H

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XM6SJB6ABHP5G

Hi! I'm a former wildland firefigher and was on a hotshot crew in New Mexico; I wrote and published a novel a year ago called AMERICAN FIRE and still have plenty of audiobook codes for UK (Works in Canada as well). I'd like to exchange the freebies for a promise to leave a review of the audio version. Thanks!

Also, if you're interested in any of my other books, I have audio codes for those as well (mostly UK codes)

Cheers!

Please enjoy one free audio review copy of American Fire, now available on Audible. Redeem the one-time use code below at https://www.audible.co.uk/acx-promo

2URKTET9RWF6T

38Q65DBWZ5UR8

4CAAB4QX3862T

6Y92SMUXMMKWQ

96M4T92XWA6GB

A2KGWKZGTAY9M

A64J87G7LNEBR

C3YGQZKKKBXHE

CD6BY3AFR85X2

CFKY2Y79PGYA3

D9TH9GCMU96GC

HRNJX22Q5JEU3

JCPMX62HML98B

MXNFMAFSNDG4T

N433TZP3WGDJN

SEJE3W6TDBBCW

WEC7Y96U2NXLG

Hi! I'm a former wildland firefigher and was on a hotshot crew in New Mexico; I wrote and published a novel a year ago called AMERICAN FIRE and still have plenty of audiobook codes for UK (Works in Canada as well). I'd like to exchange the freebies for a promise to leave a review of the audio version. Thanks!

Also, if you're interested in any of my other books, I have audio codes for those as well (mostly UK codes)

Cheers!

Please enjoy one free audio review copy of American Fire, now available on Audible. Redeem the one-time use code below at https://www.audible.co.uk/acx-promo

2URKTET9RWF6T

38Q65DBWZ5UR8

4CAAB4QX3862T

6Y92SMUXMMKWQ

96M4T92XWA6GB

99NBGN7Z88JHX

A2KGWKZGTAY9M

A64J87G7LNEBR

C3YGQZKKKBXHE

CD6BY3AFR85X2

CFKY2Y79PGYA3

D9TH9GCMU96GC

HRNJX22Q5JEU3

JCPMX62HML98B

MXNFMAFSNDG4T

N433TZP3WGDJN

SEJE3W6TDBBCW

UPYQEQN5MANLT

WEC7Y96U2NXLG

For what it’s worth, a novel I wrote two decades ago and just released is unexpectedly gaining some traction and I wanted to share my personal experience in the hope it may be useful to others.

Brief backstory: I was sent to Valley Forge Military Academy when I was sixteen and wrote a novel about it in college. I wrote the first draft in two months (wicked carpal tunnel) and spent about twenty years revising it without seriously considering ever releasing it.

The reasons I held back:

1)     The book is written in a young voice that isn't necessarily who I am as a writer/person now; reading it made the perfectionist in me cringe.

2)     I also thought no one would give a crap about a highly personal coming-of-age story at a military school—so to publish it in my perfectionist mind was just an embarrassment.  

As I said before, to my surprise, the book is selling decently and also receiving some heartfelt responses. It has been totally worth it, and the point of this response is to encourage others, and say don't be hard on yourself! You'll be surprised how many people out there want to hear YOUR story, even if it seems insignificant.

A few random insights/things I did differently publishing this time:

1)     I priced the book a dollar higher than usual. Don't sell yourself short!

2)     I used to stress more about reviews, but this is my fourth novel and I find its like having a fourth kid--you really don’t have the energy to be a helicopter parent to your book. Some people will like the book, some won’t. Do your best. It doesn’t matter, and aside from marketing and writing a good novel, it's out of your hands. Even if you get a bad review, at least people are reading my book, and whatever they say may be useful.

3)      The one unforeseen challenge I've had with this book is because it is based on a period in my life, some readers have recognized their fictional counterparts in the story and aren’t pleased by their depiction. I'm not going to pretend it doesn't stress me out—I don’t want to hurt people’s feelings--but it shouldn't prevent you from sharing your story. People are always going to complain and find fault with...anything. That’s life. You can’t please everyone.

So, though it sounds cheesy, I wanted to say: there are people out there who are interested! And will care about your book, even if it feels like you wrote it at a different stage in your life and now you’ve outgrown it. I encourage you to have faith and return to some of projects you might’ve prematurely called failures and shoved in the drawer. Don’t criticize yourself so harshly. Take another look, don't undersell yourself.

Good luck and happy writing! Hope everyone had a nice semiquincentennial!