1. Introduction
2. Book/Storyline Updates
3. Recommended Reads from 2023
   1. Sci-Fi
   2. Fantasy
   3. Classical
   4. Horror/Thriller
4. What to Expect this Month
5. Closing

Introduction

Welcome fellow fiction writers to the Christmas, X-Mas, or Holiday season! However you like to celebrate December, I hope you have a great month ahead of you and had a great November. Thank you for checking in this month on everything Myers Fiction related.

The December 2023 Myers Fiction Newsletter is covering some updates on my book progress, which will be the last official updates where Myers Fiction Writers and Readers will be on the same newsletter, a reminder that the Myers Fiction Storylines are moving, and a reflection on some of my most recommended books from my read pile from 2023.

Book/Storyline Updates

Hey my nugs, I’ve now passed the 75% mark on the Scroll of Stone and have reached a whopping 211,520 words! This has been an insane experience for me and using NaNoWriMo was the perfect way to finish off the first draft, though I do still have about five more chapters to finish. Once I finish those chapters, I’m going to keep The Scroll of Stone put away for the next little bit and work on the Second Draft of my Please Subscribe series/book. After finishing the first draft of Please Subscribe I realized that it might be better as a book instead of a serial fiction. So I’ll work on that second draft as the Scroll of Stone stews in my subconcsious for a little bit. Please Subscribe will probably end up being somewhere closer to a 90,000 word standard novel length, so it won’t take as long, hopefully.

Speaking of serial fiction storylines, I’ll be moving the following storylines off of this blog on December 31, 2023: The Practice of Susbandry, Thank You for Your Donation, The Exhibit, The Day the Earth Went Dark, and Frozen in Line. I’m moving all of these storylines to Kindle Vella after some editing and rewriting. The Practice of Susbandry will be the first title to be released late January to early February. I hope everyone will enjoy the updates and newest drafts of the storylines. Feel free to explore some of the early drafts for free until then. Any feedback is greatly appreciated.

Recommended Reads from 2023

So far this year I’ve read 48 books. Of those books I thought I would share a recommendation from each Genre I’ve read, even if I didn’t too a Myers Fiction review on it.

Sci-Fi

Speaker for the Dead by Orson Scott Card

I don’t know how many of you read Ender’s Game as a required reading back in grade school, but I don’t think I appreciated the great writing by Orson Scott Card as much as I should have. Not to mention, when I opened book two, Speaker for the Dead, I wasn’t sure how you followed up after Ender’s Game. Speaker for the dead is an amazing study of what happens when two worlds interact and what really happens when you try to keep alien species separated by a fence. You’ll love Speaker for the Dead if you want to explore an alien race, culture, practices, biology, and everything the little ones have to offer. Speaker for the dead gives you the same sense of high stakes without children fighting children, and offers a great read for those ready to sit by the hearth fire for hours.

Fantasy

Soul Scepter: Time Marauders by Eric Westergard

Admit it, we read fantasy to escape the world we currently live in, and sometimes, fantasy does exactly that. Soul Scepter: Time Marauders will take you from a modern day world to a medieval time where the characters are forced into unexpected situations. The attention to detail in this Military story shows the struggles of young Will Donovan and his struggle to overcome the past that seems to follow him everywhere. Written by a veteran, this book adds some great key details that only someone who’s been in can share with the world. Join Will and his friends as they try to prevent the worst change in history from happening as a band of military mercenaries work to take over 1345 England.

Classical

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea was an amazing adventure story dense with scientific information. If you or someone you know really appreciates the science in a book, especially related to the study of species, this is a great classical read for them. Follow Pierre Aronnax on his adventures to hunt the impossible to capture beast and his journey with the Semi-Sane Captain Nemo of the Nautulus. Even with the heavy science I found this story engaging and well worth adding to your read pile. Also, it’s a classic, you can’t go wrong with a classic.

Horror/Thriller

The Tommyknockers by Stephen King

“The Tommyknockers” by Stephen King is a thrilling and captivating tale that combines elements of horror, suspense, and science fiction. Set in the small town of Haven, Maine, the story follows the awakening of a mysterious force buried deep within the earth known as the tommyknockers. As the townspeople become obsessed with the unearthly power, the line between reality and fantasy blurs. King expertly develops a sense of unease and tension, keeping the reader guessing as they try to unravel the truth behind the tommyknockers. This thought-provoking novel explores human nature, obsession, and the consequences of power, making it a must-read for fans of Stephen King.

What to Expect this Month

We’ll close out the discussion of Point of View with “First Person Point of View: A Close-Up,” “How to Write the Second Person Point of View,” and “Expanding to the Third-Person.” These should be great posts that help build a better understanding of each POV you could use as a writer. Knowing the best point of view for your story can be the difference between a good and great book. So to finish off your year of mastering the craft, use December to study Point of View and how it changes your story.

Closing

Thank you again for stopping by this last month of 2023 to catch up on all things Myers Fiction related. I hope all my nugs have a wonderful holiday season. This is a time of gratitude and gift-giving, and don’t forget that your time is sometimes the best gift of all.

Don’t forget to follow me on social media! @myersfiction for everything writing related, and @kennethwmyersAuthor for all things related to my fiction. Soon, I’ll be updating my pages to link you to my stories on Kindle Vella.

Thank you all for a wonderful year, and hope you’ve been able to find ways to Master your Craft! Come back next year to learn everything you need to know about Science Fiction and Fantasy, and writing it well.

Previous Post: Introduction to Point of View

Previous Newsletter: November 2023

Next Post: First Person Point of View: A Close-Up

Next Newsletter: January 2024