Down in Miami II

In the distant future, Earth is trapped in ruin from excessive decadence. The only thing that can break it out is discovering a truth long buried and forgotten. What are the Phantoms, and what do they really want? What is the secret to this state of decay?

Find out today!

What you are looking at is the trailer for my current serialized story, Phantom Mission. The music was composed by one Jacob Calta of 365 Infantry fame, who did a killer job. I wanted to get the vibe of the story off in a small minute and a half preview, and this is what came out. The full version of the track is available to backers on the Patreon, so if you want more you get it here. Trust me, the whole thing is a banger.

We are rounding the bend on the conclusion of the first part of what is looking to be three in the overall serialized Phantom War story. If you want to back to read Phantom Mission, which is the opening act, you can join the Patreon right now and have access not only to that, but also exclusive updates and podcast episodes you can't get anywhere else. While I'll still be posting here, backers will get more on top of what is usually released to the public.

If you want to read this ongoing epic before anyone else (because it will be a long time before I can get it out to the public), then be sure to back the Patreon today! It'll really help me in getting more material out faster for everyone involved.

In other news, as recently revealed to backers, I just passed 30 written short stories. That's a crazy number to reach, and I've still got more on the way.

As for any new news on that front, my story "Mirage Carousal" will be in the next issue of Cirsova coming out in September!

Here is the cover:

Preorder it here!

The description of "Mirage Carousal":

Mirage Carousal
By JD COWAN
When a coven of witches all but ushers in the end of the world, Nick seeks the one dissenter in an illusory wasteland of violence and degeneracy, offering redemption!

If you read my piece in Sidearm & Sorcery Volume 3 then you might recognize the name of the main character here! There is a good reason for that. If you have not read either I would recommend starting with Mirage Carousal first then moving onto What's it Like in There? in S&S3. The reason for that will become clearer once you read them both.

Related to new stories, I've also got a few more completed and submitted to different markets, but have no idea of their current status, so I will keep you posted when I am able to. At the same time, I'm also working my way through other pieces, as well as the sequel to Phantom Mission. There's quite a bit on the way.

And I've got even more on the way.

I guess it was little more than a small update today, but I think it's a solid one worth sharing. The year's not done yet, so keep an eye out! You're bound to see a few more surprises before it's up.

Don't forget Star Wanderers is out! 8 Tales of sorcery, bullets, and fighting back the dark!

Phantom Mission has Begun!

Note: my next book has begun serializing on Patreon! Check it out here!

Hey all, I'm sorry that I've been focused on this one project so much recently, but as you can tell, there is a good reason for it. And we've got an update in time for the weekend! As of Friday, the first chapter of my next book, Phantom Mission, is now out for patrons of the brand new Patreon! It's been a long time coming, but it is here.

What I wanted to do with today's post was describe what exactly Phantom Mission is, what it's about, and why exactly I've decided to release it this way. I'll try to not get too into the weeds about it, after all, reading is part of the fun, but I still need to get across the general intent.

First off, this is that "crazy project" I've been teasing for awhile on the blog and elsewhere. I'm finally able to unveil it to you all today. It started as a lark one day, a decision to make the most "me" story I ever could, tempered with my interests as a kid, teenager, young adult, and even now, and turn it into a book. In other words, I wanted to put out the most high octane weird adventure action tale only I could. Every single trope and cool thing that stuck with me, recontextualized and made into something original and exciting.

And that ended up being the project known as Phantom War.

If you're confused at the title, don't be. Phantom War is the name of the series; Phantom Mission is the name of the first book of what is looking to be three (though the second one has taken on a life of its own, so we'll see what comes next) and its kind of overwhelming me a little as to what this story seems to want to become. That's one of the reasons it took so long to release. That and everything else going on in the real world over the last couple of years.

The story covers a race of beings called Phantoms that landed on Earth half a century ago during the Dark Year when humanity slept, unaware of what occurred or why they were put there. Phantoms seem to be just like normal people only with a weird purplish tint to their skin, but there are rumors that there is more to them than originally thought due to their strange alien-like knowledge. They are practically human as it is.

However, despite nearing 50 years of supposed unity, things still seem to be falling apart at the seams. The fragile peace that has held things together is breaking down. Phantoms are starting to disappear, leaving half-bloods as the most common Phantom you will see, and an indescribable menace is bubbling below the surface of the planet. Were the Phantoms really the saviors of humanity, or are they something more sinister at play?

Phantom War takes place in Miami II, post-reconstruction, on Menace Beach (formerly Miami Beach before the new location was built and expanded over the ruins of the old) where the Outlaw Games are held. This legendary location, once a paradise for wanderers and starry-eyed travelers, is now little more than a slum for the broken down and forgotten, where gangs fight over territory and the old buildings are remnants of a better age that never came. Now, as the world looks to be ending--this Golden Age of unity might truly never arrive at all.

Phantom Mission stars a team of four Mavericks, participants in the Outlaw Games, who are tasked with going to Peace Island to find a mysterious doctor that should already be dead by now. The completely man-made Island, based on the reconstructed Menace Beach, at least initially, was formed into a walled city where the two races were meant to coexist as one. However, decades back a terrorist blew it to hell and everyone inside supposedly died, leaving nothing but an empty oversized city sealed off from the world. And now the four Mavericks are being sent in, unofficially and unarmed, to broker a peace with this supposed doctor.

What will they find on the scrapped island in the middle of the sea? Will it bring the peace they desire, or will they unearth a past that should have stayed dead with the old world?

You'll have to check out Phantom Mission and see for yourself!

But that's not all. For non-patrons, I've recorded myself reading the beginning of Chapter One. It's not the whole thing, but a decent chunk to get an idea of the tone of the tale and where exactly I'm planning to go with it.

This is also to help give you a tease of what is to come:

Please excuse my reading. I'm not built for voice work!

I hope that gives you all you need for now, because this one gets a little wild, and book two even wilder. But we're not there yet so please enjoy this sampling of the new dish I'm preparing for you all. I promise it's going to be worth the wait. Have I steered you wrong yet? After eight years of putting out books, and a decade of Wasteland & Sky, I'm not planning on stopping anytime soon. We've got more worlds to visit!

Regardless, if you want to read more, check out the Patreon! I'll also be talking more about Phantom Mission itself in the proper Episode 1 of the podcast which is coming out next week. And in case you missed that bit of news, Episode 0 was released for free on the 4th! Everyone can listen to that one right now on the Patreon!

Okay, that's all for this one, folks. I want to thank you for being patient with me as I get this new project sorted out. I've also had some personal stuff get in the way a little, but I'm still trying to put my best foot forward on this. I've been wanting to share this one with you all for years, and now it's finally happening!

Thanks for reading, and I will see you next time!

You can check out Patron for both my new serialization & podcast!

Letters from the Wasteland is Go!

Hello, all! It's a short update this time. The reason for that is that I have an entire podcast episode to share with you today!

It's also completely free to give you an idea of what the podcast included in the Patreon will be about. So give it a listen and let me know what you think.

You can hear the premiere podcast episode for free on the Patreon here!

I'll also take this time to mention when of the things announced in the podcast regarding the next book, since it pertains to here as well. It's no big secret, but it's coming out this week.

On Friday, July 5th, the first chapter of Phantom Mission, my next work will be put up for serialization on Patreon. Every week after that, for all of July, there will be two chapters a week. Really getting into that summer spirit for a book that is very summer influenced. It will then drop down to one chapter a week until we reach the end. All of this is beginning this week! So you can see why I've been so quiet around here recently.

That's all for today, I hope you had a great fourth of July and I will see you again very soon!

Don't forget that Sidearm & Sorcery Volume 3 is out! Classic action in a modern setting!