Eric Goebelbecker's Blog

Hi.

It’s been too long since my last missive. One reason for the gap is that I was away for a few weeks. The other is... well, no good reason. Too busy being busy, I suppose.

Cycling the Rhine

Regular readers are familiar with my time in the Army and how most of those eight years were spent in Germany. I fell in love with my father’s native country during my time there, and can’t get back often enough.

It wasn’t the best. But it was close.

So, for a few weeks in May and June, a friend and I rode bicycles from Basel to Amsterdam. Most of that trip followed the Rhine from Switzerland through France and Germany, but after we reached Utrecht in the Netherlands, we veered away from the river and to the sea before riding into Amsterdam.

In a little village outside Koblenz.

The flight from Newark to Frankfurt is just over 3800 miles, but riding a bike through Germany felt like a return home. I think a lot of that was because we rode bicycles through Germany, rather than driving in a car.

“Coffee Shops” in the Netherlands don’t serve coffee. I know that now.

Cycling brings you closer to the land and the people you’re visiting than any cruise ship, bus, or car will. A bicycle puts you in the midst of things and even makes you more approachable—especially in cycling friendly places like Germany or the Netherlands. People are more willing to help with directions or just strike up a conversation with a couple of guys on bikes than they are someone in a rented Opel.

Not the castle Disney copied.

While I spent most of my military service stationed well east of the Rhine, the trip still took me through some familiar territory, including the village Emil Zimmerman and Ludwig Oberacker’s Eueleheim is based on, which also happens to be where my father was born. We spent a few days with family there and even had a chance to visit a nearby decommissioned nuclear reactor.

At the Amsterdam train station. If you recognize this guy, you’re probably old.

We had a great time, and we’re already talking about setting up a return trip in the next couple of years.

Clouds Audiobook

The audio version of Shadows in the Past has been out for a while now, and it’s selling much better than I expected. To be honest, I thought of it as more of a very expensive vanity project than anything else when I kicked the recording off, but sales have been brisk. I attribute much of that to Stuart Gauffi’s excellent narration.

So, I kicked off the audio version of Clouds in the Future last month. I don’t have a release date yet, but it will likely be available at your favorite retailer by the end of October.

Which brings me to the bad news...

Murder Reschedule

Last week I pushed the release date of Murder in Soft Words to the end of November. Without delving into a bunch of personal issues, things have been rough the past few months and holding off so I can get things right with this book is better than rushing to get it out the door.

I’ll be sharing a chapter or two with you later this month or early September as I get my head back in the game.

Sci-Fi and Fantasy Deals!

While you’re waiting for Murder’s November release, you can load your e-reader up with exclusive deals over here!

I’m part of a fun promotion this month. It includes everything from complete space opera series to some truly intriguing fantasy. I’ve already picked up a few new titles myself, and the trick will be making sure I finish writing my book before I dive too deeply into someone else’s!

See you in a few weeks.

First and foremost, welcome new subscribers! I hope you'll hang out for a while.

One of the more frustrating parts of being an author is the lack of direct feedback. All we have to rely on are reviews, which are one-way and all but anonymous, the sporadic email from a reader, which is always welcome, and the newsletter subscriber count.

So, when I see the bump I've experienced the past couple of weeks, it's a nice shot in the arm.

Thanks for subscribing!

Next week, I'm leaving for a twenty-two-day bicycle tour of Switzerland, France, Germany, and the Netherlands. We'll follow the Rhine from Basel to Cologne, hop a train into Holland, and then make our way to Amsterdam. While Iwon't make it to any of the settings in Shadows of the Past or Clouds in the Future, I will be visiting family in the Liedolsheim, the inspiration for Emil and Ludwig's home town.

Even though we've been planning the trip for nearly a year, the past month has been a whirlwind of planning, packing, and getting things for an extended trip away from home. So, this is a short newsletter and June's edition might be delayed.

Support Locus Magazine: The Heartbeat of Science Fiction & Fantasy

Locus Magazine has been an essential science fiction and fantasy publication since 1968. But, like many magazines, it's suffered a drop in readership in the past few decades.

But you can help! They've launched their 2025 Indiegogo campaign, and it's got some sweet deals!

If you're not familiar with Locus, it's the industry's leading source for comprehensive reviews, author interviews, upcoming book listings, and the hosts for the prestigious Locus Awards. This latest fundraiser offers fantastic perks, including signed books, author chats, story critiques, and exclusive merchandise.

Independent authors rely on publications like Locus to connect readers with new voices in the genre. Please consider supporting this cornerstone of our community by subscribing or contributing to their campaign. Your support helps them continue celebrating and uplifting authors, artists, and stories for years to come!

🚀 FREE SCI-FI & FANTASY BONANZA - MAY EDITION! 🧙‍♂️

Craving your next otherworldly adventure? I've teamed up with another stellar group of sci-fi and fantasy authors to bring you a treasure trove of FREE books this May!

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Why you'll love this giveaway:
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- Limited time only - This offer vanishes at the end of May!

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Don't miss this chance to fill your e-reader with captivating new worlds.

See you next month!

Come See Me at the Montclair Literary Festival!

I'm thrilled to announce that I'll be taking part in the upcoming Montclair Literary Festival on May 3rd!

I'll be at the First Congregational Church (40 S. Fullerton Ave in Montclair) from 12:45 - 2:45 PM, where I'll be joining other local authors to meet readers and sign books. This festival is a wonderful chance for book lovers of all kinds, with events running throughout the week.

You can find me at the Local Authors showcase from 12:45 PM to 2:45 PM.

Event Details:Date: Friday, May 3rd, 2025Time: 12:45 PM - 2:45 PMLocation: First Congregational Church 40 S. Fullerton Ave, Montclair NJDetails at Succeed2gether's Local Authors 2025

This community event brings together readers and writers from across our region. I'll have copies of my books available, and I'd be delighted to chat about my writing process, sign books, and connect with fellow book lovers.

The Montclair Literary Festival, organized by Succeed2gether, is a celebration of literature that supports their excellent educational programs for underserved students in our community.

Whether you're a long-time reader of my work or just curious about local authors, please stop by! I'm looking forward to meeting you and sharing stories together.

📚April's Science Fiction & Fantasy Freebies!📚

Incident at Grovers Mill is part of a Science Fiction & Epic Fantasy giveaway this April!

This giveaway is a perfect opportunity to discover new worlds, epic adventures, and imaginative stories. You'll also discover more independent authors like me while adding to your digital library. Check out all the available titles here.

Hope to see you soon!

Hello readers!

Incident at Grovers Mill, a prequel novella to the Great War of the Worlds series, is available for download right here.

This story is about what happened to Ben Johnson, a name you may remember if you’ve already read Shadows of the Past, when the Martians invaded for the first time. You’ll learn how he survived and ended up working with Thomas Edison.

You might also recognize the setting: Grovers Mill. That’s where Orson Welles set his famous retelling of The War of the Worlds on the radio in 1938.

Download your copy today.

(That link doesn’t require an email address. If you want to share with your friends, please send them here instead.)

A Long Time Ago...

Harvey Hamer, another independent author, runs a periodic feature called “A Long Time Ago...” where writers have an opportunity to write about their early experiences with Star Wars.

My post goes live today. I wrote about Splinter of the Mind’s Eye , the first original novel set in the Star Wars universe. Check it out and consider subscribing to Harvey’s list, especially if you’re a Star Wars fan!

New Markdown file

Hi Everyone!

Just a quick note in between regular newsletters.

I’ll be signing books at Barnes and Noble in Paramus, NJ on Saturday, March 22nd, starting at 1:00PM.

B&N in Paramus

Here are the details if you’re not familiar with the location. Note that the listing has the time wrong at the moment. I’ll be there from 1 - 6, not starting at 6. Stop in and say “Hi!” if you’re nearby. I’d love to see you there.

On May 3rd, I’ll be at the Montclair Literary Festival.

Montclair Literary Festival

They don’t have the details up on their website, yet. But I can tell you that I’ll be at First Congregational Church, 40 S. Fullerton Ave in Montclair from 12:45 - 2:45 PM. I’ll include more info about the festival in the April newsletter. It’s a weeklong extravaganza for readers!

Finally, I have a new short story for subscribers in the works. Look out for a link in the regular newsletter on the 22nd.

See you soon!

Songs are my Madelines. The “short, plump little cakes” open a flood of memories and emotion for Proust’s narrator, and music does the same for me. Even my earliest recollections are driven by a soundtrack.

So, when “Right Here Right Now” by Jesus Jones started playing over the public address system at job number three (I train dogs part-time for a major retail pet store chain), I was hit with a wave of nostalgia and melancholy.

Right here, right now

There is no other place I want to be

Right here, right now

Watching the world wake up from history

(Click to watch the video)

This song transports me to my first few years back in the United States after nearly eight years of military service, most of it a stone’s throw from the Grenze, the border between East and West Germany.

When Mike Edwards wrote Right Here, Right Now, he was inspired by the 1989 revolutions. He was born around the same time as me, and it seems like he felt the world shift under his feet too.

Perestroika and glasnost had given way to irrevocable change in Eastern Europe. There were strikes in Poland. The end of Ceaușescu in Romania. The Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia. The list of oppressive regimes that collapsed under their own weight or were overthrown by their citizens is too long to list. They were liberated from tyranny, while we saw the threat of nuclear war fade into memory.

The fall of the Berlin Wall was the big moment; the one that brought tears to my eyes. It came just a few months after I returned to the States. With the collapse of East Germany, the Cold War receded in our collective rearview mirrors.

By then, even the most dedicated hawks talked about a peace dividend. While the battle over how to spend that money was often bitter, it was an argument over where to redirect the money usually reserved for upping the ante on destroying the planet.

But what does this have to do with science fiction?

Science Fiction Without The Cold War

The Cold War had loomed over genre fiction for decades, and then it was gone.

A Canticle for Liebowitz couldn’t happen anymore.

Orwell’s 1984 went from cautionary tale to artifact of the past.

Tom Clancy’s Red Storm Rising (a fun book to read while stationed in the Fulda Gap, BTW) mutated from possible future to alternate history.

Starship Troopers’ allegory about a clash of civilizations was obsolete.

Star Trek’s goofy, optimistic future suddenly seemed just a little bit more possible.

Science fiction needed to change. It had to embrace a brighter world or find new different threats.

The Call Came from Inside The House

In 1991 cyberpunk was nearly a decade old, and it had already told us who the new enemies would be. Instead of a single evil empire, its pages were filled with powerful corporations, terrorists, class warfare, environmental disasters, and out-of-control technology.

It took the real world a few years to catch up, but by 1994, we had the World Trade Center Bombing, the siege at Waco, and the crime bill. In 1999, Glass-Steagall was completely overthrown, setting the stage for the giant corporations dominating our lives today. We didn’t lose Big Brother. He formed a holding company.

Science fiction found its new villains, and so did we.

Life finds a way.

Kobo Plus

Kindle Unlimited (KU) offers a wide selection of science fiction and fantasy. With a single subscription, you can read a metric diskload of great series. It’s streaming for ebooks.

But KU is all or nothing: if an author wants to put their ebook there, they can’t sell it outside of Amazon. So, it’s not a great deal for authors who want to make their books available anywhere else, including their own store.

Fortunately, Kobo has an alternative: Kobo Plus. You read with a single subscription and we retain control over our books. We can make our stories available there and still sell them wherever we want.

My books are on Kobo Plus, and I’ve joined a group of science fiction and fantasy promoting books there this month. Check them out here.

Non-Romantic Fantasy and Sci-Fi

The biggest book in the world right now is Rebecca Yarros’ Onyx Storm. It’s a romantic fantasy that’s breaking 20-year-old sales records! I’ve heard enough about it and the series that it’s part of that I picked up the first book a few days ago.

But I’m not so sure about romantic fantasy. If you’re still on the fence too, check out these books.

New here? Please consider subscribing if you haven't already!

See you soon!

Happy New Year!

My holiday season went exactly the way I like it: quietly at home. We entertained friends a few days before Christmas, and then our son and his wife came over for a Christmas Eve dinner and to exchange gifts. New Year’s Eve, not a big deal for my wife or me, came and went quietly.

Pretty much perfect.

How did yours go?

Clouds in the Future Paperbacks!

Paperback copies of Clouds in the Future are available on my website and Amazon. Hopefully, they’ll start showing up at other online bookstores soon.

Clouds in the Future

Selling an ebook couldn’t be much easier for an independent author. You upload your manuscript, fill out a few forms, and it’s available for sale in hours (if not minutes).

Physical books are a different story. First, there’s the obvious difference between electronic and tangible goods. Someone has to print the book, which involves not just the actual work but the finances, too. Someone has to risk paying to print books before they’re sold. (That would be me.)

But then there’s distribution. While an ebook listing shows up at online sellers like Apple and Barnes and Noble within twenty-four hours, the lead time for paperbacks is measured in weeks.

Why? No idea.

As far as getting it on shelves goes, see above about who pays for the printing. I have to agree to accept returns for unsold books. Of course, that includes paying for the shipping to get them to me. So agreeing to accept returns actually means, “Go ahead and shred them. I won’t get mad.”

I used a different printer for Clouds. They (allegedly) have better, albeit slower, distribution. They also print better-looking books. I’m switching to them for Shadows, and then I’ll try a few strategies for getting them on shelves at indie bookstores.

H.G. Wells Audiobooks!

Stuart Gauffi, the narrator for the Shadows of the Past audiobook, just released a new audiobook version of H.G. Wells’ War of the Worlds! I’ve already told you how happy I am with how the audio version of Shadows came out. That has a lot to do with Stuart’s approach to the story. His performance on WOTW is fantastic.

This is the fourth entry in Stuart’s chronological reading of Wells’ novels. Check out the rest here.

Short and sweet this month! See you in February!

Happy Holidays!

This month, I’ve got a couple of exciting announcements and a special Christmas offer for you!

Clouds in the Future is Ready for Release!

Clouds of the Future is finished and will arrive on e-readers this Sunday or Monday, depending on which store you ordered it from.

Clouds picks up in France, where Shadows of the Past left off. Emil and his group had saved Reims from a Martian attack and were headed to Pairs, where they’d heard another, greater, Martian attack was coming.

Clouds is a shorter book than Shadows, which places a bit more emphasis on action and suspense. I hope you’ll check it out—and leave a review!

Shadows of the Past Audio Hits Stores!

It would be an understatement to say I’m excited about publishing my second book. It’s especially important when I consider that this one took eight months after the first took a few years. But it’s even more remarkable that the audio version of Shadows of the Past hits stores like Audible and Audiobooks.com one day later!

You can read more about the audiobook in my last newsletter and pick up a copy in your favorite audiobook shop or on my website.

Which brings me to the holiday sale!

Holiday Sale

I set up a store on ericgoebelbecker.com a few months ago. Buying books directly from me means I take home a few more pennies, and you get a DRM-free version of the ebook, audiobook that you can listen to anywhere, or an autographed copy of a paperback! (Paperbacks of Clouds in the Future are in the works.)

And, between now and January 5th, you can save 50% on anything in my shop with this coupon code:

CLOUDYHOLIDAY

Grab a copy of Clouds in the Future or Shadows in the Past now!

First Days of the Apocalypse

Need some reading for the holidays? A last-minute gift for a science fiction and fantasy fan? Here’s a very special sale from independent authors like me!

It's the end of the world - and here's how it happened.

Society crumbles. Criminals thrive. Everything changes when you'd do anything to survive.

These bestselling authors have teamed up to take you on an adrenaline-pumping journey through an all-thriller no-filler selection of stories, packed with apocalyptic mayhem, intense character conflicts, life or death survival situations, and the ever-present threat of destruction for everything our heroes hold dear.

So plug in your e-reader, grab your favorite snacks, and add some books to your TBR pile, because you're in for a real treat!

Check out First Days of the Apocalypse now!

It’s been a busy time finalizing Clouds in the Future for release, reviewing recordings for the audio version of Shadows in the Past, and coordinating various personal projects, but I’m here with some exciting news, a quick book review, and a link to where you can find some great deals on indie novels.

But before I get started, I'd like to welcome my new subscribers! Welcome, I hope you enjoy my sporadic news and brief book, TV, and movie reviews.

##The Shadows in the Past Audiobook is here!
I can’t overstate how excited I am to have a professionally produced audio version of Shadows of the Past! I picked an outstanding narrator, Stuart Gauffi, and he did a fantastic job of bringing the book to life.

To be honest, I wasn’t looking forward to listening to the book—I’m the sort of author who dreads re-reading their earlier writing. But Stuart did such a fantastic job creating atmosphere and mood, and a few scenes surprised me, even though I knew what was coming.

You can listen to a sample here on my website.

I hoped to have the audio ready by the time I released Clouds, and I did it! You can buy it directly from my website right now.

If you purchase the audiobook there, you can download DRM-free MP3s or listen to it via Bookfunnel’s audiobook app. (Bookfunnel only distributes MP3s. If you want FLAC, email me a receipt, and I’ll send it to you.)

If you prefer more traditional venues, it will hit most audiobook stores on December 17th.

##Batman: Resurrection

It’s hard to imagine, or even remember, how different things were for superhero fans when Tim Burton’s Batman film hit theaters in 1989. Right now, the market is oversaturated, but back then, we hadn’t seen a truly good effort since the second Superman film starring Christoper Reeve.

Burton found a balance between drama and camp. He cast real actors, and he worked from a script that respected the source material without taking it too seriously.

Unfortunately, the rest of the films in that series went from “Meh.” to “What the hell were they thinking?” Only a hardcore Batman fan can sit through Batman Returns and the rest… Well, the less said the better.

So when I saw that John Jackson Miller, a respected science fiction and fantasy author, was writing a pair of novels that would cover the time between the first two films, it piqued my curiosity. What would they cover? Would he do something with Billy Dee Williams’ Harvey Dent? Would he explain what happened to Vicki Vale?

I picked up the audiobook and was not disappointed. Miller expands on many of the characters in the first film, starts weaving in the second, and creates a few more of his own. He’s also a talented author, which you might already know if you’re a fan of Star Wars.

I don’t want to spoil any plot points. If you’re a fan of those Batman films or Batman in general, grab this book.

##Winter Book Sale

I'm sending this out on a Thursday so you have time to take advantage of a special online promotion: Featured Books Friday! Check out a curated collection of science fiction and fantasy books on sale for the holiday season here.

It’s October!

You probably knew that—I’m the one who needs to be reminded. The past month and a half has been a whirlwind with finishing Clouds in the Future, a new website, attending all-day classes two days a week, and kicking off the audiobook version of Shadows in the Past.

Shadows in the Past Audio!

My use of audiobooks has grown over the past decade. Not just because they’re a convenient way to keep “reading” while moving around, but because an audiobook performed by a skilled narrator is entertaining. I might even say more entertaining than simply reading it.

(This is not the final artwork. I'm waiting for some typography updates.)

So, I felt I was missing out by not creating an audio version of Shadows in the Past. Doing it myself was never an option: note the part above about skilled. I’m not. I have an annoying New Jersey accent and dislike my voice so much it often interferes with my ability to speak.

I played with AI narration and it was terrible. I may have been too critical of some of the better technologies because, deep down, I wanted to hire a skilled narrator. I am vain enough to want to hear my words read by a talented actor.

So, I finally took the plunge, did some research, and found the right person. Stuart Gauffi is an experienced narrator, can pull off the various voices Shadows required on both sides of the Atlantic, and is familiar with the genre.

The plan is to release it in December, right around when Clouds in the Future hits the Interwebs.

But stayed tuned for an exclusive preview and a chance to pre-order directly from me next month!

Halloween!

Halloween is almost upon us, and I would be remiss without a reference to the infamous War of the Worlds radio broadcast on October 30, 1938. This program scared the dickens out of many people in the New York metropolitan area. Some, it seems, actually thought aliens had invaded. Others assumed it was the Germans or even a natural catastrophe.

Regardless of how many people took the radio drama seriously, the press had a field day with it. Here’s footage of a press conference Welles gave the next day.

For more info, check out this special on American Experience.

Clouds in the Future

The draft is done and ready for my wonderful editor! This means that it will be available on December 15, 2024. (Preorder here ! ) I’m just a wee bit exhausted and need to collect my thoughts.

I’ll have a new blurb that more accurately reflects the story next month.

Judy-Lynn del Rey

It’s nearly impossible to overestimate the impact Del Rey Books has had on fantasy and science fiction. They’ve published books from The Sword of Shannara, a huge chunk of the Dragonriders of Pern and Star Wars series, and too many authors to list here.

Until recently, if you had asked me who the “del Rey” in Del Rey Books was, I would have said Lester. Boy, was I wrong! His wife, Judy-Lynn, masterminded the operation.

Here’s a brief look at her illustrious career and uncanny skill at identifying talented authors:

Science Fiction Book Fair

Searching for your next favorite science fiction thriller?

Look no further! I’ve joined up with a bunch of bestselling authors to offer you some wonderful deals on a page turning selection of thrilling books.

Check them out here!.