Steampunk, OODA, and Cons – Author Malcolm T Upton

I’m at a family reunion this weekend, so unless you’re one of my siblings, nieces, or nephews – no books available this weekend.

I created several pieces of marketing collateral (signs) for Steampunk Galveston. It also included a picture of Endeavor.

One of the most useful models I’ve even found on decision making is Col. John Boyd’s OODA Loop. In many ways, it can explain the success or failure of competitions or conflicts better than almost anything else. For example: during the Vietnam war, many significant decisions had to cycle through Washington D.C. before action could be taken on the battlefield. Both because those decision makers tended to be civilian bureaucrats instead of military officers, and Washington was literally on the other side of the world (11-12 hours difference), often US actions were too late to be meaningful. During the various conflicts in the Middle East in the last several decades, one of the first aims of US forces was to damage the ability of central dictators to coordinate with their forces. At the same time, civilian authority in Washington has tended to provide strategic direction, and leave tactical decision in theater. The OODA loop for US forces could often cycle several times before the Dictator could get word back to troops that were no longer in anything resembling the same situation. All that to say, Observation, Orientation, Decision, and Action may show up in chapter titles—and now you know the secret behind those choices…

I went to the Galveston Steampunk Festival. Sold Jam and Books. Revenue was so-so. Jam sales sucked. Book sales were several times better than any other event. I think If I have 2 more titles, I’ll be ready to go to cons with books alone. I’ve decided to try out the following at least:
http://www.fencon.org/

https://guides.mysapl.org/popmadness

https://www.comicpalooza.com/

https://soonercon.com/

https://www.texasbookloverscon.com/

https://rebelscumconventions.com/

https://www.san-japan.org/

https://fanexpohq.com/fanexpodallas/

https://armadillocon.org/

https://www.p-con.us/

https://texasbookfestival.org/
Let me know if you can think of others I should try. It is looking unlikely that I’ll get into any of these this year…

One of the problems with ChatGPT is that it does its most useful work when cornered like a rat in a trap. One of the ways to do that is be very detailed about the considerations for anything it does (assess chapters, outlines, etc.). I added some more rules about, specifically, what Dolores believes a good wife looks like. https://greshamverse.fandom.com/wiki/Counsel_on_the_Worthy_Wife

Another minor character and image only available to those who have access to Secret Knowledge. This is Countess Swallows. https://greshamverse.fandom.com/wiki/Countess_Swallows_Returning_at_Twilight

Selene Unchained Audiobook is about half way reviewed. It should be released sometime next week.

I made a little progress on Martian Phoenix, but it was mostly in outline and realignment of previous scenes with where I’m going next in the story.

A little progress on Martian Phoenix. Chapters this week:
Observation and Orientation – finished
Decisions – started

Word Count is 25,248 in 7+ chapters of an estimated 80,000-95,000 in 24+Epilogue Chapters.

Advertising: Between May 1-20, I sold 1 ebook for $4.99 in revenue. Since I spent $42.46 on advertising, I’m still upside-down there. Still, every book sold is the chance of getting another review, the more reviews the better the chance of making sales, the more sales the closer I get to break-even…

Antarctic Honeymoon is #1,508 in Steampunk Fiction, #5,752 in Alternate History Science Fiction (Books), and #9,677 in Exploration Science Fiction. If you don’t have yours yet, you can get the paper version here, or the kindle version here. The audiobook is available here. No reviews yet. If you’ve finished the book and haven’t left a review, please do so here.

Artemis Rising is #635 in Steampunk Science Fiction (Kindle Store), #2,051 in Alternate History, and #3,066 in Alternate History Science Fiction (Books). If you don’t have yours yet, you can get the paper version here or the kindle version here. There is also an audiobook version here. Seven reviews for Artemis Rising. More will help others find the series as well – if you’ve finished the book and haven’t left a review, please do so here.

Celestial Accord is ranked now. #1,272 in Steampunk Science Fiction (Kindle Store), #1,515 in Steampunk Fiction, #3,672 in Alternate History. If you don’t have yours yet, you can get the paper version here, the kindle version here, or the audiobook version here. One review so far. If you’ve finished the book and haven’t left a review, please do so here.

Forging the Chain Breakers is #591 in Steampunk Science Fiction (Kindle Store), #693 in Steampunk Fiction, #1,920 in Alternative History. If you don’t have yours yet, you can get the paper version here, the kindle version here, or the audiobook here. No reviews yet. If you’ve finished the book and haven’t left a review, please do so here.

Selene Unchained is #1,122 in Steampunk Science Fiction (Kindle Store), #1,244 in Steampunk Fiction, #3,296 in Alternate History. If you don’t have yours yet, you can get the paper version here, or the kindle version here. Audiobook should be finished next week. No reviews yet. If you’ve finished the book and haven’t left a review, please do so here

Mirim’s First Christmas is #7,628 in Colonization Science Fiction, #11,003 in Alternate History Science Fiction (Books), and #13,986 in Science Fiction Short Stories. You can find the paper version here or the kindle version here. One review so far. If you’ve finished the book and haven’t left a review, please do so here.

Just for grins-this is the list of books currently written, in progress, planned, or conceptualized.

Selene Reborn Series

Book 1: Artemis Rising on Amazon, Kindle, and Audible
Book 2: Celestial Accord on Amazon, Kindle, and Audible
Book 3: Forging the Chain Breakers on Amazon, Kindle, and Audible
Book 4: Selene Unchained on Amazon, Kindle, coming soon to Audible

Walter & Eleanor Stories

Antarctic Honeymoon on Amazon, Kindle, and Audible
Secrets of Kilimanjaro forthcoming
Riddle of the Sphinx forthcoming
Return to Mars forthcoming
Martian Clue forthcoming
Venusian Ratanaba forthcoming
Saharan Atlantis forthcoming
Palestine’s Ghosts forthcoming
Floating Cities of Venus forthcoming
Dwarves of Mercury forthcoming

John Graves on Mars stories

John Graves and the Queen of Burnished Towers forthcoming
John Graves and the Sky Kingdoms forthcoming
John Graves and the Four Canals War forthcoming
John Graves and the Crown of Mars forthcoming
John Graves and the Hidden City forthcoming
John Graves and the Lords Below possible