Author name: gardensofhansen@hotmail.com

Aloha! It’s been a crazy month health-wise, but a fun one when it comes to my books. My publisher ran a promotion for the Salt of the Earth series, and it climbed to #3 in Science Fiction! The rankings have slowly slipped back since the promotion ended, but it was exciting to see the series reach that level. Salt of the Earth (Book 1) is now available through multiple outlets, including Audible. I’m still a bigger fan of Chirp, though, because it offers authors and readers more flexibility. Production of the Sea of Salt audiobook is underway. Meanwhile, Viper, Book 4 in the series, is still in editing. I expect it to come out before the end of the year. We’ll be cutting it close, though! After several requests—most importantly from my wife—I’m taking a break from the Salt of the Earth series to write a follow-up to Project Lilliput. The first book is the kind of adventure I loved reading as a young teenager, or even a preteen. Getting the voice right for the next book has been challenging. Salt of the Earth is very much an adult series, and shifting back to the younger perspective required for Project Lilliput is proving to be an interesting exercise. Meanwhile, my publisher has now set all five books in the classic Orion’s Spur series. I still need to sign off on Paragon’s Virtue, and then we’ll move on to the covers. I’m excited about this re-release! What’s ahead in 2027? Right now, I’m about a quarter of the way through the Project Lilliput follow-up. I anticipate having the draft completed by Christmas. After that, the big question is whether I’ll return to the Salt of the Earth series. It has a wonderful world-building foundation, and I want to continue exploring it. There are still plenty of stories to tell in that universe. But first, I need to finish the book I’m working on! Meanwhile, happy Halloween!

Pretty exciting news from my perspective. With the release of Book 3 in the Salt of the Earth series, “Pandora’s Box”. The publishers decided to put book 1, “Salt of the Earth” on sale in various channels of ebooks for the month of September. I’m pretty happy with the results so far. Best Sellers Rank: #1,554 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store) #3 in Crime & Mystery Science Fiction #9 in Science Fiction Crime & Mystery #10 in Space Exploration Science Fiction eBooks The story follows three young scientists in their efforts to launch the first asteroid mining mission. The geo-economic issues on Earth are as complex as the quest for survival and success in the cosmos. I could do with some more ratings. The review on Amazon reads: “The story surprised me with its depth. The characters were engaging and memorable, in the story, although science fiction, was very plausible and enjoyable. The author definitely showed his range here with the complexity of the story, while keeping it a fun read.”

“Salt of the Earth” is on sale for just 99¢ on Amazon Kindle! Why the sale? The third book in the series, “Pandora’s Box,” is here—and now is the perfect time to jump into the series. If you enjoyed The Expanse, imagine going back to an earlier stage of humanity’s expansion into the solar system: before the familiar politics and sprawling colonies, when mining and the race for extraterrestrial resources were driving humanity into space. Salt of the Earth follows that emerging frontier with a story that balances believable science, compelling characters, business, politics, and adventure. The author describes it as a more adult science-fiction exploration of the challenges surrounding space mining and the question of who gets to exploit the resources beyond Earth. “The story surprised me with its depth. The characters were engaging and memorable, and the story, although science fiction, was very plausible and enjoyable. The author definitely showed his range here with the complexity of the story, while keeping it a fun read.” Start the series now for 99¢!

Aloha – Book 3 of the Salt of the Earth series, “Pandora’s Box” has just been released by my publisher in ebook, paperback, and hardcover an Amazon and other distributors. This story follows the wild expansion into the solar system and the implications of naomium. The publisher let me know that they are featuring book 1, “Salt of the Earth” in the month of September in correlation with the release of “Pandora’s Box”.

I’ve been rather quiet of late. A botched heart surgery has slowed me down a bit. I’m alert enough to share some updates now. 1. “Salt of the Earth” book 1 is still being narrated for audiobook format. It sounds great, but the work is proceeding slowly. I’m not sure if it will be available before the end of the year. I love my narrator. He has a great voice, and I accept good over fast. 2. Book 3 of the Salt of the Earth series, “Pandora’s Box” got a front cover this past week. I like it. I wish I loved it, but it stays to the art theme of the first two books. I believe the publisher will have this book out in print and ebook this fall. 3. Book 4 of the Salt of the Earth series, “Viper” has a completed manuscript and is in editing now. It should be out in print and ebook sometime in 2027. 4. I’m dabbling with Book 2 of “Project Lilliput”. This is a fun story that I would love to continue. My wife is insistent that it should be the next writing project. What of the Orion’s Spur series? The 5 books making up that series completed the story arc for the central characters. It is set up for a subsequent next generation series, but the Salt of the Earth universe is so rich I don’t think I’ll make it back to that series anytime soon. It has had quite a revival since the audiobook versions came out on Chirp. The audiobooks have far outsold the print or even ebook versions. I gave up on Audible and switched to other sources so if you’re looking for the series in audiobook format look to Chirp, Barnes and Noble, Google Books, and Apple.

I’ve been quiet of late. I tend to wait for big news to post. It has been busy, but not huge announcements. The release of Rise of Ryder which combines the first three books of the Orion’s Spur series is out in e-book, audible, and print versions. Meanwhile I have been busy with “Salt of the Earth”. The first two books, “Salt of the Earth” and the follow-up “Sea of Salt” are published. “Salt of the Earth” is slowly progressing in audible form and I hope it will be released later this year. That’s all old news. I’m just wrapping up edits on the third book in the Salt of the Earth” series, “Pandora’s Box”. This will be headed off to the publisher in July. I recently finished writing the fourth book in this series, “Viper”. Now for the rather frustrating part of editing. Pray for my editor. I’m still debating on my next adventure. The “Salt of the Earth” series has plenty of story left. Frankly its just opening a fascinating sci-fi universe. But I keep getting asked to write a sequel to “Project Lilliput”. By next week I’ll have to make a decision as final proofing of “Pandora’s Box should be complete and I’ll need to do something new 😉

The first three books in the Orion’s Spur series, listed under Ryder Rising, are now available in audiobook, eBook, and print formats. You can find eBooks and print editions on Amazon. Audiobooks are available through: • Google Play Books • Apple Books • Chirp Audiobooks • Books-A-Million (BAM!)

It has been a busy winter. My wife and I haven’t been able to travel, which has given me more time to focus on writing. First, Sea of Salt, the second book in the Salt of the Earth series, was released in April 2026. It’s available in e-book, paperback, and hardback formats at multiple retailers: Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GWSWVFC1 Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/sea-of-salt/id6762133795 Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/…/sea-of…/1149900754… Google Books: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=9JHQEQAAQBAJ Rakuten Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/ebook/sea-of-salt The audiobook for Salt of the Earth is moving forward, albeit slowly. We have a phenomenal narrator—he previously voiced the entire Orion’s Spur series as well as Project Lilliput—but quality takes time. The draft of Pandora’s Box has been complete for a while and is currently with the editors. I expect it to be published this fall. I’ll admit, the final editing process isn’t my favorite, but I’ll be diving back in once the line edits come through (and remind me just how much work my grammar still needs). I’ve also decided to conclude the Salt of the Earth story arc with Viper. The draft is finished, though it hasn’t yet gone to editors. My goal is to have it released by the end of the year. As for what’s next: I promised my biggest fan—and toughest critic, my wife—that I would write a sequel to Project Lilliput. The plan is to visit the Olympic Peninsula this summer, which will serve as the setting. I’m looking forward to reconnecting with Eric and the gang to see what trouble they get into next. On the audio front, we’ve moved distribution from Audible to Chirp, Barnes & Noble, Apple, and other platforms. This gives me more flexibility in promoting the books. The Orion’s Spur series, in particular, has been very well received on Chirp. It’s a great alternative to Audible, offering authors more promotional freedom and listeners some excellent deals. Over the past two months alone, we’ve reached more than 7,000 listeners worldwide. Thank you all for your continued support—it means more than you know.

Great news! Sea of Salt, the latest science fiction novel from Next Chapter Publishing, is now available in ebook format on all major platforms, including Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Google Books, and Rakuten Kobo. At a release price of $3.99, now is the perfect time to dive into this exciting new story. If you haven’t yet read Salt of the Earth, you can grab both books together—an ideal way to experience the full scope of this gripping series. About the Series Salt of the Earth is a bold adult science fiction novel blending high-stakes adventure with deep intrigue. It explores the geopolitical and economic realities of asteroid mining, weaving together conspiracy, ambition, and the cost of power. The story centers on a strained father-son relationship: Marshall Salt, an ambitious and estranged son, seeks funding to launch a revolutionary space mining expedition. Arthur Salt, his wealthy father, is drawn in by the promise of profit—but must navigate political pressure, economic resistance, and global intrigue. For Marshall and his team, the mission is about more than wealth—but how far are they willing to go? The Journey Continues: Sea of Salt The sequel expands the stakes: The cost of success—both personal and corporate Fractured alliances and evolving relationships The race to expand humanity into the Solar System Ongoing conspiracies that threaten everything Marshall and Arthur have built With rising tension and deeper complexity, Sea of Salt delivers a powerful continuation of the saga. Fans of grounded, politically rich sci-fi—especially readers of The Expanse—will feel right at home in this universe. Available at: AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GWSWVFC1 APPLE BOOKS: https://books.apple.com/us/book/sea-of-salt/id6762133795 BARNES & NOBLE: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/…/sea-of…/1149900754… GOOGLE BOOKS: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=9JHQEQAAQBAJ RAKUTEN KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/ebook/sea-of-salt

Aloha – Well my expectations were fulfilled. “Project Hail Mary” is a great film. I read the book and frankly was disappointed in the extreme amount of detail that often took away from the story line working on technological solutions to problem after problem. If you love Asimov meets McGyver that you’ll like the book. I found it dragging often despite a very interesting premise and story line. I was therefore looking forward to the movie as they wouldn’t have time for each problem/solution in 25 pages or less. I was not disappointed. The movie has all the key elements of the book without spending inordinate time on technology. The flashback sequences are done very well and cover the most important pieces including the surprise. Every now and then I struggled with the Rocky character when he would be watching videos with Grace for example. It doesn’t make sense with the challenges of his character, but I set that aside as the film overall is excellent. I took delight in the setting for the final segment. It was much better than I expected. I highly recommend the film, and also the book if the description of technique appeals to you.