The Jewel of Tusco

My next book is scheduled. Finally. I got it edited a year ago, but I’ve been sitting on it forever because I wanted to release it with the audiobook. Well, I finally got the audiobook recorded, so we’re rolling. I forgot how much stuff there is between “the book is done” and “the book is published”.

I got the artist, Scott Uminga, to do 5 interior pieces. They will be full bleed in the print books. Hopefully. Waiting on the proofs to come back and observe. He actually did the cover back in 2021, and I contacted him again in 2024 to get the rest of the art.

The book is a collection of 5 short stories/novelettes. The working title for the longest time was The University Vignettes. It follows 5 people at Tusco University, each one rubbing up against a different unsavory aspect of higher education. Price gouging, professor roulette, degree depreciation, etc.

In particular, I tried to make stories 3 and 5 comedies, going for a joke density of 1 per paragraph. I think story 3, To Any Degree by Suzel Jaynes, turned out to be something special. If you get the chance, you should listen to the rendition I give in the audiobook.

Speaking of, this is my first audiobook! Additionally, the first time I’m going to try to to hardback. Hopefully both go well. Amazon doesn’t allow you to do pre-orders for audio or print, so those of you lusting after those media types will have to bridle your passions a moment longer.

I have ideas for a sequel if this goes well. It would also be a collection of 5 stories from 5 different characters, but instead of focusing on university, it would focus on business and be called The Ghost of Fozen.

Anyway, go preorder it!