No comments

New Publication August 1, 2020 WRITING WITH MIKE SHEPHERD

  By

I’m really excited to share a project that has been in the works for a while.

Over a year ago, I discovered that people had used my name and were listing my books, charging for a list of what I wrote! It rankled me that they would do such a think but what really bugged me was that it was so inaccurate. That got my assistant and I busy compiling an actual list of works: novels, novellas, short stories, and my early trilogy. Also included is true author commentary for each story! Premiering August 1, will be Writing with Mike Shepherd for $3.99 from all major retailers.

In one volume, I will have all of the books and stories I’ve written, with author commentary and ‘inside’ information about each one. This will only be available in eBook format and will be updated annually, likely at the end of the year, with the works for that year, so be sure to turn on your updates and watch Facebook!

My most recent book, Longknifes Defend the Legations, will be included, but the next Kris book will not be – largely because its still a work in progress.

So, for one very reasonable price, you get an annually updated book, with author commentary about stories you like to read!

It is currently up for pre-order and will be available on August 1, 2020. Until then, here is the cover from our fantastic artist, Lee Moyer. I love the blue and green and how he’s captured the far-away look I imagine Kris to have as she talks with Nelly and looks into space.

No comments

The Millennium Trilogy Anthology

  By

n solidarity of our Stay At Home Order in Washington state due to the SARS COVID-19 virus, I’ve had my assistant create for you an anthology with all 3 Millennium Trilogy books in it: First Dawn, Second Fire, and Lost Days. Also part of the collection is the lost-for-over-a-decade prequel called Lost Dawns.

Look for it at your favorite book distributor. Due to prohibitive costs, this will only be available in ebook format and not print. However, print books of all four books are available on Amazon and through Ingram Spark.

Thank you for reading! Now those of you who are getting itchy feet being home will have the entire series to blow through!

Enjoy!

Mike

I

No comments

Longknifes Defend the Legation!

  By ,

I’m so pleased to announce that mid-April, there will be a new book for your reading pleasure!

This book is set during Stalwart. It features Grandma and Grandpa Trouble watching Kris’s kids while she and her troops go off to fight. Kris thought it would be a good thing to have her grandparents, both veterans from the old Iteeche Wars, on hand in her absence. It’s the start of a separate series from Kris, called Longknifes Defend the Legation.

Here’s the advertisement for the book:

Grand Admiral Kris Longknife is rampaging across the stars, kicking butt and taking planets away from the Iteeche rebels. She asks her grandparents, Gramma and Grampa Trouble, to came out to spend time with her kids while she is gone.

Meanwhile, back on the Iteeche Imperial Capitol planet, intrigue and power plays continue. Within fifty kilometers of the Imperial Palace are a dozen clan factions who dream of seizing the purple from the hand of the young Emperor.

The Human Embassy once more comes under siege. This time, however, the entire Legation District, all thirty-six blocks and three million Iteeche must be protected.

Meanwhile, the kids are left on their own. Sneaky parents should not be surprised to discover that their kids are just as sly as they are. Before too long, Little Ruth and Johnny, along with thirty of their Human and Iteeche friends, are in way over their heads.

Can Little Ruth keep her friends alive long enough for Gramma Trouble to race to their rescue?

Can Little Ruth, not yet eight, learn the hard lesson of being a Longknife?

This action-packed adventure of just under 100,000 words is a great parallel story for Kris Longknife Stalwart that shows just what measures need to be taken to keep the home fires burning, because – Longknifes do what they have to do . . . no matter the cost.

~ ~ ~
It’s currently available for pre-order through all your favorite retailers, currently for e-book at $5.99. Print will hopefully be released on April 15 with the ebook.

No comments

Kris Longknife: Emissary at a Special Price!

  By

This month marks my three year anniversary since I’ve gone independent and created my own publishing house, KL & MM Books!

When I started, the first Kris Longknife book to be sold was Emissary. In it, Kris goes to the Iteeche planets and assists them in the defense of their child Emperor. We quickly see why she becomes the fightingest Admiral in the galaxy!

When I first posted Emissary as an eBook, it sold for $6.99. In honor of my 3 year anniversary and the holiday season, I’ve decided to mark it down to $2.99 and make it exclusive to Kindle Unlimited.

https://www.amazon.com/Kris-Longknife-Emissary-Mike-Shepherd-ebook/dp/B01N2B8PC3/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1KBPUZ06KKPLB&keywords=kris+longknife+emissary&qid=1576864397&sprefix=kris+longknif%2Caps%2C213&sr=8-1

Happy holidays and thank you for reading!

I always welcome your comments here and on my Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/Mike-Shepherd-1134226486711380/?eid=ARD1ZYYFuCmC6FASRz6gw33MmOKUlJgMCi6hYA0PGVDl6zxlPqE37wBOttu0oU-lLvLZZHnFsrpQ6wIZ

4 Comments

Kris Longknife: Stalwart is LIVE!

  By

On December 5th, we opened Kris Longknife: Stalwart for sale.

Many years ago when I wrote Furious, I really wanted Kris in a Kimono because she was on Musashi meeting the Emperor. ACE said no – they always went with “Girl with a Big Gun.” They put her in fatigues, with a big gun and a pagoda in the background. I was greatly disappointed, and have been wanting to see her on the cover ever since.

This book, we are thrilled to be working with a new cover artist, Lee Moyer. He has made my dream of seeing Kris on the cover in a kimono come true!

As I’ve read your Facebook and blog questions, many of you have asked about the title. This book in the Kris Longknife saga has gone through a couple of working titles. I started with Victorious, then switched to Valiant. My assistant and one of our readers pointed out that the word Valiant was reminiscent of the Finest Generation in World War II, and Kris hadn’t been victorious in quite that way yet – so we chose Stalwart. In this novel, you see her as steadily fighting, steadily protecting, and growing increasingly uncomfortable with the experiences and processes of Iteeche politics. She plods on – in a stalwart manner, hence the title.

In this book, not only do you have the usual space battles, but you have a hostile take-over of Arteccia, which Kris recently liberated, the kid Emperor coming out to play, and an assassination attempt! You also have a really fabulous scene where Kris and two of her staff meet with the Iteeche in kimonos, hence the idea for the cover of the book.

This book is the longest yet, just over 140,000 words of action-packed adventure, space battles, Marine battles, and threats to the lives of those Kris not only loves but has sworn to protect. Because of its length, we had to increase the price by $1, but that covers the cost of paper, ink, and in the case of the ebook, editing. I’d like to thank all of you who have bought the book – we’ve sold 2,200 in the first week alone!

I’ve started on another book….stay tuned here for more details!

7 Comments

New Relase – Kris Longknife: Stalwart

  By ,

I’m so happy to be able to post Kris Longknife: Stalwart for pre-sale! Look for it over the next few days from Amazon and your other favorite eBook retailers.

Here is the temporary cover and the ad copy:

The foolish Iteeche clans that hauled Grand Admiral Kris Longknife back to the Iteeche Capital and interrupted her campaign against the rebels, are dead. Very dead. Their clans are disgraced and their palaces in ruin.

However, while Kris was
handling that noise, the rebels took back one of the planets she had
recently captured, Arteccia, and are planning to take more. Now it’s
time once more again for Kris to kick butts and take names.

However, life is never easy for a Human in the Iteeche Empire.

The Clan Chiefs expect Kris to retake what the rebels took from the loyalists because that is the Iteeche Way. That is a tune she will not dance to. So, the Clan Chiefs play their ace: Do what we want, or we won’t give you command of our ships.

To their consternation,
Kris does not give in. She gives them a literal middle digit salute and
invites every minor clan to join the fun and games of capturing planets
and gaining plunder.

Not surprisingly, the rebels have used their
time well and they have their own plans for Kris, plans that should
leave her fleet in ruins and the young Iteeche on the throne dead.

Unfortunately for them, their plans can’t really hold back Grand Admiral, the Stalwart Kris Longknife.

Note to Readers: Stalwart is the longest Kris Longknife book yet, with approximately 155,000 words. This is half-again longer than the books I wrote for ACE 20 years ago. Consequently, the price has increased by $1 for the ebook – $7.99 up from $6.99.

Those of you lovely readers that love to blow through my books in one night might want to allow for two, or a weekend. Also, we also have acquired the services of an outstanding artist, Lee Moyer, for our covers. All your pre-orders will have the final cover in early December for purchase!

2 Comments

Boot Recruit!

  By ,

This month, in the Infinite Stars: Dark Frontiers Anthology, I’m sharing some character history – the very beginning of how Kris gets started in the Navy. I chose the form of a short story and called it Boot Recruit, because that is what all beginning Navy are called, regardless of where they come from.

In this short story, we see a different side of Kris – the young college graduate who experiences a pivotal moment and decides what she wants to do with her life. We see her parents and the privilege she comes from; the very beginning of the woman we now know to be Commander Kris Longknife.

Enjoy the story! I’d love to hear your comments. I will get the rights back in 2020, so I will be posting it for individual sale then. Until then, here is the Amazon link:

https://www.amazon.com/INFINITE-STARS-Bryan-Thomas-Schmidt-ebook/dp/B07PWT1XSZ/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=dark+frontiers&qid=1572712066&s=digital-text&sr=1-1&fbclid=IwAR1deTvqMRae3_oWCsi9pH3Fkr_FMAewE7TrYQCBK_I6cGS7fUZ6vjv-7g8

For the very latest in Mike Shepherd news and releases, follow Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Mike-Shepherd-1134226486711380/?eid=ARD4vTaY872Usy5AfwmhpjPrSZi6-rKwDb-XF0RIBJ3_WV_rYQV7OcJts0OiqioxlRX5Y67mvf5CMEoJ

No comments

Series Order of Kris Longknife Books

  By

Many readers have been inquiring about the order of the Kris Longknife books. I understand that it’s not easy to start a series in the beginning, so here is the list. Over 20 years ago, I started with ACE Science Fiction through Penguin Press. In 2017, I created my own publishing house, KL & MM Books. For those books listed with an astrics (*) those are newer and published by me. They are available through all major retailers – online and in print.

Here is the order of the Kris Longknife books:
Mutineer
Deserter
Defiant
Resolute
Audacious
Intrepid
Undaunted
Redoubtable
Daring
Furious
Defender
Tenacious
Unrelenting
Bold
* Emissary
*Admiral
*Commanding
*Indomitable
*Stalwart (coming out Dec 2019)

Vicky Peterwald Books (Kris’s archenemy, then friend)
Target
Survivor
Rebel
*Dominator
*Implacable

Sandy Santiago – Kris’s Replacement on Greenfeld when she went off to the Iteeche alien world
*Kris Longknife’s Relief
*Kris Longknife’s Replacement
*Kris Longknife’s Successor

Jump Universe (History on where Kris got her grit and desire to be in the Navy – basically the history of her grandparents)
First Casualty
Price of Peace
They Also Serve
To Do or Die
* Enemy Unknown (Rita Longknife)
* Enemy in Sight (Rita Longknife)

Lost Millennium (This was my first trilogy beyond the short stories, that I wrote in the 90s. The prequel was found and published a couple of years ago. I now own the rights, so they are also published under KL & MM.)
*Lost Dawns – prequel
* First Dawn
* Second Fire
* Lost Days

Short Story Collections: (These were the first few short stories that got me published and nominated for a Nebula. The first three have personal narrations about the short stories.)
A Day’s Work on the Moon
The Job Interview
Strange Redemption of Sister MaryAnn
* Kris Longknife’s Maid Goes on Strike and Other Short Stories

Kris Longknife Short Stories
Training Daze
Welcome Home/ Go Away
Bloodhound
Assassin (Part of Vicky’s Story)
* Ruth Longknife’s First Christmas
* Among the Kicking Birds
* Kris Longknife’s Bad Day
* Kris Longknife’s Maid Goes on Strike

For current information, be sure to follow Mike Shepherd on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/Mike-Shepherd-1134226486711380/?eid=ARD4vTaY872Usy5AfwmhpjPrSZi6-rKwDb-XF0RIBJ3_WV_rYQV7OcJts0OiqioxlRX5Y67mvf5CMEoJ

17 Comments

Update on Kris Longknife Books

  By

I wanted to put an update here for all my readers and fans who don’t follow me on Facebook.

As many of you know, there was not a new Kris Longknife book for purchase on November 1. This is the first time this has happened in years.

My dear wife of fifty years and I were having some health issues from June through early October. Consequently, I’ve not written anything for months and am slowly getting back into writing.

The next Kris Longknife book, Indomitable, is planned for a first quarter 2019 release. Please follow Mike Shepherd on Facebook for the latest news and updates.

Thank you for all your kind words, inquiries and words of encouragement.

I am doing my best to make sure you have quality stories.

Mike Shepherd

No comments

Vicky Peterwald: Dominator is available for purchase!

  By

This summer, I wrote the fourth book in the Vicky Peterwald series – Dominator.  It is now available for purchase and will be available from Audible late this summer.

Here is the cover copy:

Grand Duchess Vicky Peterwald has everything. A loving fiance who’s soon to be her husband, adoring crowds, and she gets to share her golden wedding carriage with Kris Longknife. What more could a girl want?

Well, the Emperor, her father, could have showed up to walk her down the aisle, but she’s not really bothered about that. Then suddenly, she is. It turns out that he didn’t make the wedding because he’s broke and living nearly homeless in an abandoned half-built palace. How’d that happen?

News isn’t coming out of Dad’s side of the Empire, so it looks like Vicky may need a battle fleet to go pay Daddy dear a visit. Oh, and four or six brigades of infantry and tanks. Somebody should have known better than piss Vicky Peterwald off. Now they have, and she won’t let anything get in her way of being Vicky Peterwald: Dominator.

~ ~ ~

Vicky and all of Kris Longknife’s stories are available from your favorite book distributor!

Look for Kris Longknife: Indomitable this November!

One Comment

Kris Longknife: Commanding Available for Pre-sale!

  By

Kris Longknife: Commanding, the latest new novel in the Kris Longknife series,  is up for pre-sale with Amazon and Kobo! It is the same length as Admiral, so the price will be the same at $7.99 for ebook and $14.99 for print.

Commanding will go live on May 1, 2018. Here is a short teaser for the book:

“Grand Admiral, Her Royal Highness Kris Longknife is up to her ears in problems . . . again.

While summoned to the Imperial Iteeche Court to be humanity’s Emissary, it turns out that what the Iteeche really want is a fighting admiral!

You see, they’ve got this huge civil war going, and the Imperial side isn’t doing so well.  Kris now has command of the entire Imperial Combined Fleet.  Sort of.

The Iteeche Empire has a ten-thousand-year long history.  There is nothing that won’t say, “We’ve always done it that way,” pointing to a track record lasting for thousands of years.

Even when Kris reminds them they’re losing, many have a hard time changing.

Many Iteeche also wonder if letting a human win this war for them isn’t to lose everything already.

Kris managed to win a defensive battle with a scratch force.  Now she’s thrown together a larger force and is ready to take the fight to the rebels.

It’s full speed ahead with Kris Longknife: Commanding.”

Kris Longknife Commanding cover

No comments

Successor – Book Revision

  By

This post concerns a revision to the book, Kris Longknife’s Successor, the latest Kris Longknife book. We have uploaded a revised copy, which has a few minor content revisions to the text. After speaking with the eBook distributors, the consensus advice was that you, the reader, should archive and then delete the old file, then you will be able to download the new, updated one, for free.

For those of you who got a different book, I apologize. We held the space open with the description of Successor and the text from the 2nd book in the series which was a similar length to allow for pre-orders. When we uploaded the final copy before release, this was corrected, so I’m not sure why an incorrect copy was given. Please be sure to archive, delete, then update a new copy.

Thank you for your readership. The process of self-publishing is a constant learning curve.

6 Comments

Kris Longknife’s Successor: Grand Admiral Santiago on Alwa Station COMING SOON!

  By

Coming out on February 1 is the third book with Grand Admiral Sandy Santiago serving as Kris Longknife’s Relief, then Replacement, and now Successor on Alwa. She has all the challenges a gal could ask for. Granny Rita is on the rampage, and the cats have gone on strike. Leaving the Colonials to deal with Granny Rita, Sandy heads off to work with the cats, only to discover she is not the only one who has a bone to pick with them – alien monsters have a vendetta as well! Sandy has to work to find a way of peace among the Alwans, feisty cats, and a new alien race.

You can pre-order on Amazon!

No comments

Kris Longknife – Emissary is out

  By

Kris Longknife: Emissary coverSome 2500 copies of Emissary have already been bought on just the first day it’s for sale! Here begins a new life for Kris as she discovers there’s more to life than blowing stuff up. Or is there? Here is a place to share your thoughts on this new turn in Kris’s life. Spoilers allowed.