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Ian J. Malone

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robmcclel

FREE BIRD RISING gets an official description

January 7, 2019 by robmcclel Leave a Comment

Story Description

“A noted explorer once asked, ‘Who knows if there are secrets lurking in the unseen corners of hyperspace?’ The answer is simple. There are!” — Colonel Terrance Van Zant, Commanding Officer, Swamp Eagle Security

Taylor Van Zant has a lot on his mind.

Like everyone in Jacksonville, North Florida, the early-twenties bartender from Riverside saw his world upended when his brother, Terry, an interstellar mercenary and local hero, died suddenly in a freak starship accident. Five years later, having been stonewalled for answers, Taylor faced a choice: Honor his mother’s wish that he never go merc or defy it to save her life by resurrecting Terry’s company.

That was thirteen months ago. Now the newly reformed Eagles stand on the verge of a major milestone: owning their own flagship. There’s just one problem. Terry left behind a ship that no one knew about, a rare breed of cruiser with a most peculiar secret.

“Free Bird Rising” is the story of a young man’s quest for justice and to escape his brother’s shadow. The shocking revelations he finds, though, will likely rock the Galactic Union to its core and get him killed.

Free Bird Rising arrives worldwide on January 18. In the meantime, you can read the prequel tie-in with the short story, Pronounced Ry-Lee O-Sy-Ris, available FREE when you sign up for my mailing list!

Filed Under: Book News Tagged With: 4HU, Free Bird Rising, Swamp Eagle Security

COVER REVEAL: Free Bird Rising

December 17, 2018 by robmcclel Leave a Comment

I’m happy to report that my next book, Free Bird Rising, has been approved by the publisher and is set for release on January 18, 2019. For more on this project, visit this previous post on the IJM News Desk.

FYI, as previously mentioned, there will also be a free short story tie-in for this book, titled Pronounced Ry-Lee O-Sy-Ris, which will go out later this month to my newsletter subscribers.

Merry Christmas, y’all!!!

Ian

Filed Under: Book News Tagged With: 4HU, Free Bird Rising, Swamp Eagle Security

IJM previews the 2018 College Football opening weekend

August 21, 2018 by robmcclel Leave a Comment

I typically couldn’t care less about rankings this time of year. But, for the purposes of discussion (and because it’s fun), let’s take a gander at yesterday’s first AP Poll.

Top 5 are as follows…

  1. Alabama
  2. Clemson
  3. Georgia
  4. Wisconsin
  5. Ohio State

No real surprises there. The only cavoite I’d add is OSU at 5. If by some miracle Urban loses his job (which, sadly, isn’t gonna happen), that whole program could nose-dive without its leader.

The top two on this list are absolutely frightening. Bama is Bama every season. The difference in this year and previous years, however, is that with Tua Tagovailoa under center, they can actually throw the football with a modicum of consistency. Combine that with their o-line, running game, and a defense that’s always stout under Saban, and the Tide may be tougher than ever in 2018.

Clemson, on the other hand, is just as frightening on account of their defensive line. I kid you not, out of the four starters, three if not all four will go in the first round of next year’s NFL Draft. Some are calling this the best defensive line IN HISTORY. That’s how good they are.

Other Takeaways from the poll:

FSU checks in at 19: Florida State came in at the same spot in the first Coaches Poll, and I’m good with that. We’re unproven with a first-year head coach and all new systems on both sides of the ball, plus we’re coming off a 6-loss season. People are right to doubt us.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. If FUS ends the season at 9-3 — with this schedule, this offensive line, this linebacker corpse, and all this change — that’s a fantastic conclusion to year one of a new regime.

Note about the schedule: FSU plays four of the teams on this list in 2018 (VA Tech, Notre Dame, Miami, Clemson), plus NC State with Heisman candidate Ryan Finley on the road, Florida at home, and a mean Boston College team that many believe will cause issues for of a lot of teams this year.

No matter how you slice it, 2018 is gonna be a tough haul for the Noles.

Florida is MIA: It’s NOT a great… day to be a Florida Gator, and it hasn’t been for quite some time. I maintain that Ron Mullen was the right here in Gainesville, but dude better make an impact now because he’s getting his clock cleaned on the recruiting trail.

What a slate for opening weekend: Wives/girlfriends, please do the right thing and give your husbands/boyfriends a day pass to fly the couch for the entirety of opening day, September 1. There are some FANTASTIC matchups to start the season, and frankly they’ve earned it.

Let’s take a look…

  • Alabama vs. Louisville — I know Lamar Jackson is gone, but Sneaky B. Petrino is still one helluva coach on gameday. I’ll take Bama for the win but expect some Cardinal surprises along the way.
  • Michigan at Notre Dame — In what is undoubtedly a make or break year for Michigan HC Jim Harbaugh, the Wolverines head to South Bend to open their season versus a great Fighting Irish defense. This one’s gonna be a war!
  • Auburn vs. Washington — Auburn returns a strong squad, and no one believes in the Pac 12. That said, both teams bring explosive offenses, which should make this one tons of fun to watch.
  • LSU vs. Miami — The Canes’ season will rise and fall on the arm of their Malik Rosier. Their defense is spectacular, but they got a lot of breaks last season. If they don’t get more production from the QB position, I think they’ll struggle. If Rosier or the kid behind him emerges, though, look for Miami to dominate the Coastal Division en route to the ACC title game.

In closing, I’d like to end this post with a “get off my lawn” rant on a trend that’s quickly (and alarmingly) becoming the norm in today’s college football.

Notice that of all the matchups above, only one (Michigan/ND) has an “at” in the listing. The others have a “versus.” That’s because the vs. matchups are all taking place at neutral sites.

I DO NOT approve of this. College football matchups are meant to be played on college campuses — period — unless they’re bowl matchups. I don’t give a flying rat turd in a handbasket about traveling to Atlanta, Dallas, or Orlando for a regular season CFB game. I just don’t. If FSU plays Texas, I want the Horns in Tallahassee and the Noles in Austin. Anything else is just an NFL game, light edition.

I get it. Big markets equal big money. I still don’t care.

Stop trying to turn college football into pro football, NCAA. Those of us who prefer the former do so for a reason. Stop screwing with it.

That’s all I’ve got for now, y’all. Feel free to weigh in via the comments below, and best of luck to your respective teams in 2018… unless, of course, your teams are Florida or Miami, in which case I hope you tank epically. ?

Cheers, and GO NOLES!!!

Ian

Filed Under: Opinion Tagged With: Alabama, Clemson, college football, FSU, Miami, Michigan, Noles, Notre Dame

IJM on country music and Cody Johnson

August 17, 2018 by robmcclel Leave a Comment

Happy Friday, folks!

It really is great to see the pendulum that is country music trends swinging back in the direction of a classic sound. I’ve got nothing against hip hop or pop music, but I’m just not a fan of the hybrid stuff (i.e. Florida George Line). I get it. Lots are or it wouldn’t be popular. I’m just not one of them. Call it a “chocolate in my peanut butter” thing.

Anywho, I’ve posted a ton about guys like Stapleton, Simpson, Boland, and Creager. However, it’s refreshing to see a new kid from Texas shooting for that old-school, George Strait, “burn the house down with a fiddle out front” kinda sound. And even better? He’s actually getting radio air play. Go figure.

Good on ya, Cody Johnson. You’re officially on my musical radar.

Check him out on YouTube here.

Have a great weekend, y’all!

Ian

Filed Under: Opinion Tagged With: Cody Johnson, country music

INTERVIEW: IJM chats writing, “Colonies Lost,” and more with Rob Howell

August 1, 2018 by robmcclel Leave a Comment

Hey gang, I recently got to sit down with my good friend and fellow author, Rob Howell, for a fun chat about all things genre and craft on his blog.

Among the topics discussed include:

  • Colonies Lost
  • The craft of writing
  • The SF genre
  • Fandom
  • Pets
  • Personal favorites for foods, superheroes, music, and more

Click here to read the interview, and be sure to check out Rob’s work when you’re done reading!

Cheers, and talk soon… Ian

Filed Under: Interviews Tagged With: colonies lost, Denny Crane, Food, music, superman

‘Colonies Lost’ arrives on paperback!

July 6, 2018 by robmcclel Leave a Comment

Hey y’all.

Just wanted to give a quick heads up that Colonies Lost is now available in paperback. You can purchase your copy on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Colonies-Lost-Ian-J-Malone/dp/1948051125/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1530900004&sr=8-1

Also, please be sure to leave the book a brief four or five-star review afterward if you felt the story deserved as much. This is enormously helpful to me.

You can leave your review in seconds at https://www.amazon.com/Colonies-Lost-Ian-J-Malone/product-reviews/1948051125/ref=cm_cr_dp_d_show_all_top?ie=UTF8&reviewerType=all_reviews

Thank you as always, gang. Take care, and have a great weekend… Ian

Filed Under: Book News Tagged With: colonies lost, Trip Hackett

NEW RELEASE: ‘Colonies Lost’ is here!

June 13, 2018 by robmcclel Leave a Comment

It’s finally here, folks! As of June 12, Colonies Lost is officially for sale to the world!

To purchase your copy, visit the Colonies Lost book page on Amazon, or visit the Red Adept Publishing website for links to other sellers like Kobo, Barnes and Noble, or the iBookstore.

Book Synopsis:

Trip Hackett needs a beer.

On the heels of his latest suspension, the disgraced US Marshal packs up his Stetson and returns home to Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, where he hopes to circle his wagons and find a new means of supporting his family. He knew the shooting had been justified. However, with Trip’s history plus the white-hot spotlight on cops these days, and the deceased turning out to be the son of a Washington senator, he bet his paltry retirement savings that his time in investigations was over.

Enter the enigmatic Mr. Smith, an odd-looking stranger from out of town with a proposition. If Trip will help Smith’s employers find a missing girl then the former will never want for money again. Grudgingly, Trip takes the case, expecting it will be the last of his career. He may be right, though for reasons he could’ve never possibly imagined.

Trip soon goes on a journey to escape his present, only to run straight into a past he never knew existed. Trip Hackett’s travel to the stars will bring him face-to-face with the answer to America’s greatest unsolved mystery.

What other authors are saying…

“Colonies Lost is a twisting, turning, awesome sci-fi adventure wrapped in a police procedural wrapped in a history story garnished with introspection and mystery. Ian J. Malone has crushed it out of the park with this one. Reminds me of the old-school sci-fi I loved as a kid.” John G. Hartness, author of The Black Knight Chronicles

“With Colonies Lost, Ian J. Malone did one of my favorite things: He tossed half a dozen different genres in the blender. It’s a Police Procedural/Thriller and a Western, mixed with Historical Mystery and Science Fiction. Something for everyone, and great fun!” NYT Bestselling Author Taylor Anderson

Filed Under: Book News Tagged With: colonies lost, scifi

PODCAST: IJM invades the Sci-Fi Shenanigans Podcast

May 27, 2018 by robmcclel Leave a Comment

Did an interview recently with the Sci-Fi Shenanigans Podcast that was a lot like taking a trip to the local buffet. For starters, we steer completely off the reservation in the first five minutes with a full-blown foodie discussion then roll tastefully through every topic imaginable from writing to geek stuff, and yes, even a little sports talk.

Click here to play the interview!

Thanks again to JR and Christopher for having me. This was a fun one!!!

About the podcast

Hosted by JR Handley and Christopher Winder, the Sci-Fi Shenanigans Podcast (SFS) is a regular audio production featuring a wide range of content, from author interviews and discussions of craft to geek culture rants and fan analysis of trending topics.

To learn more about the SFS Podcast, visit them online via their website or join their Facebook Group.  You can also subscribe to SFS wherever podcasts are distributed.

Filed Under: Interviews Tagged With: 4HU, colonies lost, Firefly, Four Horsemen Universe, Mako, Star Trek, star wars

IJM weighs in on Solo: A Star Wars Story

May 26, 2018 by robmcclel Leave a Comment

Solo is the scruffy looking smuggler’s tale I hoped for when I entered the theater. The story is entertaining. The cast is solid from top to bottom, and the star did as well as anyone could’ve asked filling the shoes of an icon.

I’ll admit, after the stink bomb that was The Last Jedi, I really didn’t have much expectations for this one. Maybe that’s why I was so pleasantly surprised by it. Is it the greatest Star Wars film of all time? Not by a long shot. However, for my money it’s the best of the bunch behind Rogue One since Disney took over the franchise.

Well done, Ron Howard. You made Star Wars fun again.

Cheers, y’all. Have a great Memorial Day weekend and talk soon.

Ian

Filed Under: Opinion Tagged With: Han Solo, star wars

Colonies Lost is available for pre-order!

May 21, 2018 by robmcclel Leave a Comment

Hey y’all, I’ve gotta keep this quick as I’m swamped with work today, but wanted to let you know that COLONIES LOST is now available for pre-order on Amazon. I say this for two reasons:

  1. I know you guys have been waiting a while for your chance to score a copy, and
  2. If you pre-order now, you get the book for the reduced into price of $2.99!

Ya’ll know me, man. I’m all about saving a buck where I can, and these days I figure a lot of you are in the same boat. I hope this helps.

Also, for those wanting a paperback, you’ll have to wait a bit longer there. COLONIES LOST is currently under consideration for a review by Publisher’s Weekly, which requires a delay of the print run. As soon as I have a release date for the dead tree version, I’ll let you know.

Gotta jet, gang.

Cheers, and talk soon.

Ian

Filed Under: Book News Tagged With: colonies lost, lost colony, scifi, Trip Hackett

NEWS: IJM to return to 4HU with “Free Bird Rising”

May 18, 2018 by robmcclel Leave a Comment

This week, I signed a contract with military science fiction publisher, Seventh Seal Press, to pen a full-length novel set in the Amazon-bestselling Four Horsemen Universe (4HU).

The book will be titled, Free Bird Rising, and tells the story of Taylor Van Zant, a bartender from Jacksonville, North Florida who is left to pick up the pieces when his older brother, a successful mercenary and local hero, passes suddenly away in a freak starship accident. It’s a story of legacy, loyalty, and loss, and one of a young man stepping into his own, only to stumble onto a conspiracy that could change the Galactic Union forever.

Free Bird Rising will continue the tale begun in A Family Tradition, the short story featured in last year’s 4HU anthology, For a Few Credits More (click here for more info).

Stay tuned to social media and the IJM News Desk as more details about this project unfold!

About the Publisher

Seventh Seal Press is the military science fiction imprint of Chris Kennedy Publishing (CKP) for books in the Four Horsemen Universe. CKP focuses on fun, message-free science fiction and fantasy for readers of all ages. You can learn more about their books and authors at chriskennedypublishing.com, or follow them on Facebook.

Filed Under: Book News Tagged With: 4HU, Military Science Fiction, Swamp Eagle Security

NEWS: “Colonies Lot” to arrive June 12

May 3, 2018 by robmcclel Leave a Comment

Hey ya’ll, I just got the official word from the publisher.

My new novel, Colonies Lost, will be released worldwide in e-book format on Tuesday, June 12.

Stay tuned here and on social media as more news unfolds. You can also get a jumpstart on this story by reading Nightfall, the prequel short story to Colonies Lost by signing up for my email list!

Filed Under: Book News Tagged With: colonies lost

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