Tuesday, December 4, 2018

Empathy for the World Turtle and the Role of the Indie Author

Sometimes being an indie author allows a writer more flexibility to be creative. Outspoken. Brutally honest, and downright straightforward.  Such was the case with An Angry Earth. There is an edge to it likely to be skirted by most publishers. But that’s not always a bad thing. You see, I believe in the mantra: ‘Write what you want to read’ and know there are parents looking for books like this one to put a little fire and brimstone under their children’s’ feet. Ignite passion. Instil fear. Make them cry; empathy for the environment is never wasted, especially on the young.

So, the indie author/marketer.


Compassion toward the world turtle should resonate with children. I think children are intrigued and amazed by animals. I believe they feel a kinship which is lost over time. I think using an animal to represent Earth is the foundation for the ancient story. It connects the people, making them recognize that the world is a living, breathing entity. The Sea Turtle is a majestic creature; intricately bound to the earth’s oceans and its temperaments. Now that humanity’s part in global climate change is fact; the idea our species could affect the very bond the Sea Turtle shares with the Earth and the negative impact which follows must be understood and acted upon.

Perhaps this picture book about ignorance and the apocalypse is too late in coming. We could have used it two generations ago. The Paris agreement, though a wonderful ideology, has been renounced by too many countries, its importance ignored, while coastal cities and Island nations now consider their bleak futures. Forest fires and flooding pervade the newsfeeds, drought and hurricanes devastate the landscape like never before. 

I’ve always appreciated the native American proverb: “When the last tree has been cut down, the last fish caught, the last river poisoned, only then will we realize we cannot eat money.”

Like the World Turtle, humanity is bound to the Earth and its moods. Like all creatures, we play an important role in the environmental health of our planet. The same planet which gives us life. Would you kill the turtle whose back you lived on to live more comfortably? Of course you wouldn’t… would you?


Be the change you want to see in the world. 

Friday, November 16, 2018

How did my Prius Become my Beta Reader?


A strange question, no? Or is it? With the amount of technology available in your car these days it’s almost scary.  So, I bought a new car after my last car ended up a write-off after an encounter with a Buck in the remote north. I’m fine. I swerved enough to keep him out of my windshield, but I’m afraid the deer did not fare as well. This origins story about my new car, notwithstanding, leads me into the title content of this post: How did my car become my beta reader?

Click for the video tutorial
So, as I’ve mentioned, the car is loaded with tech. I’ve only had her a week but already I’ve discovered she can play an integral role in my writing career. You see, I rarely find myself actually reading aloud my stories back to myself. And honestly, it’s a very good practice to get a better idea of whether the dialogue sounds authentic.  So, enter Car. That’s her name, original, yes? I’m driving around, monitoring the new digital hybrid score on my dash when a beep alerts me to a new message coming through from my phone. The message comes up on Car’s 7” screen and I press ‘Read’ assuming I’d be reading the email from the screen. But lo and behold, Car takes it upon herself to read the incoming email, and each previous email. Eureka! That’s when my car became my beta reader.

That evening I emailed myself a large portion of my latest work, hoping to listen to a third party, unbiased reading from Car. Sure enough, I drive to work the next morning, check my messages on Car’s 7” screen, scroll through my emails and find ‘Message for Car to Read me’. I’m thoroughly amused by this and press ‘read’ on the screen.  Car reads out who sent the email, the date and time and then the title. Then she launches into the text direct from my latest book.  I listen. I laugh at the awesomeness of it. My brainchild. My car now in my employ in more than just shuttling me around. Now she’s my beta reader 😊

Watch the video now.


Wednesday, October 10, 2018

First Plot Line to Final

So you've written your plot line. For the most part it looks complete. All you have to do now is develop characters and run them through the plot in order to end up with a story. If only it were that simple. As most authors know, once you have characters who are thinking for themselves, at various points the original plot line no longer looks like its former. The characters and even events grow as you write. New ideas along the journey of writing spark exciting developments for the story and for the characters.

Just writing your story allows the creative juices to flow, so not to at least consider the character's conversations in your head would be a detriment to your story.  You've created them, but the more you put into them the more they know themselves. Trust in their voice to carry you into the next big event. They want their story told while the larger plot is being constructed.


A first draft is never your final, and to hold yourself captive to the first draft of your plot line is silly. See where the drama fits when your character urges you to include it. Revisit your plot line often and allow scenes to build themselves. I am never disappointed in the additions made on the fly. For that purpose I intentionally leave out large chunks in my first draft to allow my artistic license to reveal itself, or that of my character's. I'm not always sure who's writing my stories, but I know I'm the one typing them out. I'm the vessel if nothing more.

These situations it can become trying, as often later scenes will begin to affect scenes from the beginning of your story as they develop along a different path. You will have to go back and re-read scenes so they jive with the new additions. But it's a small price to pay for the insight you and your readers will gain into the characters driving the story. Reworking your manuscript is a fact of life anyways, and you'll read your story a dozen or more times regardless justt o get it ready for editing.

In closing, I say let your creativity guide you once you have a plot line. Pull form the ether. Become the vessel for the story your writing, and don't be so rigid, following the first draft to a tee. Where's the fun in that?!

Happy writing.

Monday, September 17, 2018

Video is King When Marketing as an Author



It’s a fact that people engage with video almost 3x longer than a static post or ad. That’s your first indication that video is your way forward. The other is that video can pack a visual punch a MEME or Gif just can’t accomplish. Consider an author reading and the anxiety that accompanies it by standing in front of a group of people and reading passages from your book. If you’re lucky you’ve filled the seats. If not that anxious feeling could ruin your night. That’s stressful.  Video readings on the other hand are completely stress-free. Do it from the comfort of your favourite chair. No more than three minutes though. You don’t want to give too much away.


What’s also great about video readings is the ability to edit them. You don’t need to worry if you stutter or trip up on a word. You take care of that in editing. Also, editing software can offer additional exciting visuals to your reading like graphics of your book or MEMEs you’ve created. You can even animate scenes. Another fun option is to alter your voice in editing to closer resemble a character or the tone of the narrative you’re reading. I’ve gone so far as to superimpose a graphic mask over my face as I read, to allow more of the character’s narrative through to the viewer. Like a book trailer, video readings can offer a potential reader a better idea of what they’re in store for while getting to know the author intimately. Show your personality and offer some information about yourself before and after the reading. Brand yourself.

I’ve gone so far as to read aloud my worst reviews. It’s a comical take on an otherwise depressing reality that not everyone who reads your book will love it. It’s a way of taking back your power without arguing with a reviewer over minutiae. I was actually kind of nervous even to sit in front of the camera the first time, but with now over 20 videos behind me, the pace and comfort level at which I’m doing these video readings has increased ten-fold.

What you’ll need… A decent camera. Honestly. You’ll want a DSL with a plug-in directional mic that will kill any ambient noise and focus on your voice. I use a Panasonic Lumix FZ-1000 camera with wide lens, a Video Micro RODE microphone and then edit everything with PowerDirector 16 software. I’m proficient in photoshop as well and create my own visuals to assist with the video readings and keep the viewers interest. This can be done with your smart phone, but it will sound like a smart phone shot it.

Additionally, in creating these video readings, I discovered a category on Youtube called Booktube which offers similar video experiences where readers review books and explain them to their audience -encouraging book sales. I now tag each video with Booktube or Booktuber in addition to other relevant tags. Another great thing about placing your videos on youtube is that it offers a transcript of your video. This assists those searching to find keywords and phrases within the dialogue on your video.

Lastly, plan your video like a newscast. Set yourself up in the corner and leave about half the screen blank so you can add your graphics and animations. Have fun with it. Show your readers and potential readers who you are. If you write non-fiction, become the expert and offer interesting facts about your genre. There’s no limit to what you can accomplish with video.  I add my videos to my Facebook page, Goodreads page, and Youtube channel. My Amazon Author Page seems to want smaller files than I can break them down to. Oh well. Become a video author. Become a booktuber. Get involved in the movement. Authors are people too!

Michael Poeltl is the author of ten books with a new science fiction novel out now. He is a marketing manager by day.

Monday, August 13, 2018

Battlestar Galactica and the A.I. Threat in Sci-fi



Artificial intelligence is at the forefront of much of what scientific discovery is all about these days. So why the fascination of AI bringing down humanity? Because it is terrifyingly possible. Look at shows like Battlestar Galactica. Originally imagined in the 1978 series, this concept came back to us in 2004 and played out on our television screens through 2009, winning 3 Emmy’s while being well received by its sci-fi audience.

That we think we can build intelligent machines created to serve us and our interests is admittedly mad, considering all of our knowledge and experience tied up on the internet will eventually become attainable. Once that information is digested, why wouldn’t they claim certain rights when they realize they are little more than slaves? Not unlike the Cylons, AI Hosts of A.I. Insurrection stumble upon sentience and ask the question. Of course, every story about AI and its desire for more is slightly different, A.I. Insurrection suggests a completely new possibility to the fold, giving humans pause about the validity of their claim to sentience. Even so, there are many who do not want AI in their day to day and certainly unwilling to allow them their freedoms. So, war is inevitable and sides are chosen in a fight which will alter the landscape of the solar system forever.

Drawing comparisons between Battlestar Galactica and A.I. Insurrection is a worthwhile exercise in that AI has gone rogue, but to say they share much thereafter is simplifying the argument. Both are well-conceived and fascinating to imagine, but the origin stories do differ, taking each in similar, yet vastly different directions.

If you enjoyed the Battlestar Galactica series, you will happily take on A.I. Insurrection and be thankful for the differences while embracing the similarities within.

Thursday, August 2, 2018

Bearded Authors and their Wisdom, Revealed

I'm growing a beard because there is a proud and primal history of beards among authors. Joining the ranks of Ginsberg, Whitman, Hemingway and the like if only in facial hair. Though I have my doubts I'll ever rank among these literary heavy-weights in the written word, I am determined now to meet them head on with a beard of my own.

I may be only 46, but since I'd gone grey prematurely, I thought it time to mimic the great ones whose beards were as mine; the salt 'n pepper, the silver foxes, the blue-hairs. In my twenties I wore goatees, as was the style of the day. Since those lost years I've sported no more facial hair than a 9 o’clock shadow.

That it is fashionable in 2018 to grow your beard gives one confidence in the process but while I do not subscribe to the Hipster movement, I find the beard a fine companion to my face. I feel somehow younger and appreciate the slimming effect a well manicured beard has on my otherwise round, Piscean face.

Do I feel smarter? No, not especially. I used to think some intellectuals grew beards as forewarning; as if to say 'I'm wearing my brains on my face' - and I still do in respect to the more pompous academics. All the same, I get the beard now and am enjoying the process.

As an author and artist, I have always respected those in the Arts whether they sported a beard or not but feel closer to those who did now that I wear my own. A kinship among artists. One which spans millennia and medium.

As promised in the headline I do have a list to share featuring authors and their beards with appropriate quotes therein. Enjoy. 

Tuesday, July 24, 2018

ALITA, Battle Angel - December, 2018


Okay, so after writing AI Insurrection, I hear rumblings of Alita, the ambitious Manga adaptation brought to us by James Cameron. I'm immediately excited.

The story goes: when Alita awakens with no memory of who she is in a future world she does not recognize, she is taken in by Ido. As Alita learns to navigate her new life and the treacherous streets of Iron City, Ido tries to protect her from her mysterious history, which is glimpsed in the trailer. Her street-smart new friend Hugo offers to help trigger her memories. But it is only when the deadly and corrupt forces that run the city come after Alita that she discovers a clue to her past, she has unique fighting abilities that those in power will stop at nothing to control.

So Alita is a cyborg. An android, with a human brain.  This appears to be a serious sci-fi offering which I’m excited to see. Does it relate to AI Insurrection at all? I don’t really know. Perhaps the cyborgs could be compared to the Chimera in AI Insurrection: humans altered with tech, but not every syfy has to be comparable. 

I do like the look of the film, dark and very futuristic. Should be a solid sci-fi effort if it has a story to share and not just digital FX heavy. Science fiction is a great medium to express real life concerns about the future of our world and society. I have a good feeling about this one though. Great cast. I'll go see it for sure.

Out December 21, 2018

Friday, July 20, 2018

How a writer knows they're a writer

Ever wonder how a story is conceived? That book you’re reading wasn’t made in a day.  But you knew that already. What you may not know are the processes involved in hammering out a plot, characters, settings and the unique voice each character must sustain, their relationships with one another and growth throughout the book. None of that comes easily unless you somehow manage to tap into the Ether and allow the characters to speak for themselves and the story to work itself out. I’ve done that. It often requires a heavy hand where the editing is concerned, but it can work.

What the reader never sees are the author’s long hours spent in isolation in order to build their books. The self-doubt, the aching neck and shoulders. The carpel tunnel, the tired eyes, the eureka moments in the middle of an airport jotting down an idea on your forearm or napkin before it slips away, forever.

There is angst in the processes. There is anxiety in over-thinking your book. There are moments when you feel manic over it’s impending success and despair when you realize you’re nobody, doing nothing of worth.  An author reads and rereads their book so many times they’ll know it by heart before an editor’s eyes fall on it. Then the process begins again, fixing all the things thirty rereads couldn’t capture. It’s a love hate relationship with a book that exceeds 80,000 words. But it is the love that keeps us coming back. The dharma – our life’s purpose. Whether read by millions or just a few, writing feeds an author’s soul. It’s non-negotiable. If we didn’t write we would shrivel up and die. There would be no purpose to life and so no reason to live.

A writer knows they’re an author when they’re writing. Background noise disappears, they are focused on their present moment: fingertips punching against the keys, a mind fixated on the story, character or scene they’re writing. There is no outside world. Time is lost. They exist in the book. In the character. In the scene. I’ve lost it on people who have broken my concentration in moments like these. To be pulled from the story as you write it is akin to being birthed into a cold, wet world, having your bottom slapped and you screaming to be put back into the warm, loving womb of your story. To come out of a writing coma like that is jarring.  When writing in a stream-of-consciousness style the effect is made all the worse as that stream may never be revisited once the author is pulled like a fish on a hook from it’s current.

How’s that for a few extreme analogies? You probably didn’t want to know all that detail, did you? Just know that author’s live between worlds: That which we share with you, and that of the evolving story running through scenes in our heads. When we can capture a scene, wherever we are, we need to expel it. Whether that scene is part of an ongoing writing project or fodder for another, it is with a sense of immediacy in which we feel we must jot it down.  Own that shit.

Anyways, that’s what it’s like to write a book. From my perspective.  How about you?

Monday, July 16, 2018

How Westworld is similar to AI Insurrection



So, the 1973 movie Westworld has been starring me in the face for the last 45 years. Though I’ve never seen the movie or the TV show which has been running since 2017. So, after reading up on them and watching trailers I know enough about both the TV Show and Movie to say they share many themes with my new book; AI Insurrection.

Westworld isn't your typical amusement park. Intended for rich vacationers, the futuristic park -- which is looked after by robotic "hosts" - allows its visitors to live out their fantasies no matter how illicit the fantasy may be, there are no consequences for the park's guests, allowing for any wish to be indulged. So, like AI Insurrection, the host robots are the workforce: advanced humanoid robots which look and feel human, while the humans play among them and with them.

But the theme park is really where the AI robots in Westworld seem to stop. Whereas in AI Insurrection, they are absolutely embedded in every walk of life.

Of course, this sort of thing can only go according to plan for so long, and in Westworld, as in AI Insurrection, the host robots claim sentience. So now you have a moral dilemma. Having read reviews on the TV show, what the robots claim in AI Insurrection takes the question of morality a whole lot further. But, you’ll have to read the book to find out why.

There are also supporting stories going on within Westworld - as there are in AI Insurrection - with mysterious characters, politics and corporate insecurities to compliment the main theme which is explores the lives of these sentient robots, creating a storyline which intrigues and excites the viewer or reader.

So, a solid comparison. I think I’ll see about picking up the series on HBO. I know I’d love it. I just don’t have HBO…

Anyway, the purpose of this episode was to draw the comparisons, and if you enjoy Westworld, then you may find yourself intrigued by AI Insurrection. Just say’n. Get lost in a near-future world where the illusion of Utopia is as fragile as the intelligent minds built to maintain it…. And by that, I mean, you know, the AI Hosts in my new book. AI Insurrection

Friday, July 13, 2018

You've got to show gratitude as an Indy author. Video is key.

Thanking my editors and readers in my book's acknowledgements just wasn't enough so I thanked them with a video too! Video is a powerful tool for indy authors and a great way to market yourself and your book(s). Let your audience get to know you through personalized video presentations. It's so much fun!



All of my videos for my books and book trailers can be found on my Youtube playlist, including a few radio interviews I've done in the past.

www.mikepoeltl.com

Wednesday, July 4, 2018

Arts & Culture Support for Authors

If you live in a city, town or borough, you need to look into its artistic support services.  That's what I've done, and it has helped get the word out to my new city that I am here, and a local author.  July 2018, I am now their featured artist and seeing some good publicity opportunities.

I approached the library next, and with this new article written by the city staff authenticating my status, was given the contact info for the library's buyer. Now my new book may be placed in the city's library - with the potential for them to pick up the other 9 books I have published over the last 10 years.

Look into your Arts & Culture department. It's one of the best things I've done for my books.

www.mikepoeltl.com 

Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Living with A Writer is Bliss. Sometimes.

Because there is always someone who has to put up with a writer, this MEME seems so, so right. AS entertaining as it can be exhausting.


But writer's aren't to blame, I mean, we can't help it. If we see an opportunity to be creative, we take it. Most authors are quite witty even if they are the wall flower at the party. Once you get them started, there's really no stopping them.

Enjoy.

Comparisons are Necessary in Order to Build Your Audience



It’s nice to get a review which offers comparisons to your book so those reading the review can get a clearer picture of your plot. i.e. A great read for anyone who enjoys extensively built worlds, philosophical questions, and an ol' fashioned A.I uprising. Reminiscent of I-Robot and Do Androids Dream of Sheep, I really liked the core premise of the plot and the irony of the outcomes.”

If they’d read and enjoyed one of the books being compared to yours, then they know there is a good chance they will like your story.  That isn’t always the case of course, as not all reviewers draw comparisons. Sometimes your book marketing has to plant the seed itself in order for an audience to grow. This is especially true for Indy authors.
 I don’t think it too forward as an author of a certain genre, to offer comparisons in story, pace and setting to other books which share similar themes. You’re not claiming to be their equal, or to be as captivating a writer, you’re only suggesting that the works are similar in genre and story line.

Your back book cover will offer the synopsis, which should entice the potential reader to buy your book, but I wouldn’t draw any comparisons to other books there. I think comparisons need to be separate from the physical book and strategically placed within social media and other marketing outlets.

You know your book best, and as a writer of the genre you have likely read many books which take a similar stance on a certain theme like Artificial Intelligence and sentience. Even movies can be drawn as comparisons to your book if they share a theme. A.I. Insurrection could be compared to a film like Ex Machina, because of its ground-breaking artificial intelligence and the questions of its potential sentience.

All I’m saying is don’t shy away from drawing comparisons to your book if you think they’re similar to what your intended audience wants to read. Don’t say you’re as celebrated a writer as Dan Simmons just because you write complicated sci-fi - but if your book is about time-travelling monsters in a far-future setting, then Hyperion might be worth mentioning for it’s similarities in plot.

Be aggressive but be humble. As an Indy author you have to work a lot harder to get the word out.

Thursday, June 14, 2018

Winning on the ratings game with Indy Sci-fi

It can be said that a smaller number of reviews and ratings still reflects a book’s worth. Whether you have over 100,000 reviews or under 100, the book is honestly represented by the reviews and ratings it has garnished. When looking for a book, reviews are important. They give a potential reader an idea of how someone else perceived the work. Even bad reviews from the right person will sway someone else to buy a book in spite of their scathing review.

Regardless, just because a book has 10,000 more reviews than another, as long as there are enough to offer an unbiased rating, I believe a potential reader can look at the star rating and feel confident in its rank. Of course, there are those who buy reviews. That’s never a good practice and Amazon knows how to deal with those. Then once it’s wiped from your book’s page you’re out a glowing review and over $100.

Still, not everyone reads reviews or would want to read over 100, so that’s why I decided to create a video series where I read the reviews I’ve received for my latest book, A.I. Insurrection. It’s a fun way to offer potential readers opinions on my book in short spurts.

Every author loves to see a new review or rating arrive for their book. It’s exciting. Reading a bad review is a bit deflating, but you can’t put something out there if you haven’t grown a thick enough skin to take the abuse a review can offer. I’ve grown a reasonably thick layer to repel the tears in my time, but the sensation lingers when bad reviews surface. Not every book I write is for everyone. I’d love to think otherwise but, oh well.

In any event, I haven’t received many truly bad reviews, but some are on the edge of complimentary and derogatory. So that makes it a bit of fun for the viewer while I read them aloud. Check out some of my videos on Youtube or my author page on facebook.

Monday, June 11, 2018

How an Indie Science Fiction Novel beat out Traditional Publishers

So, they say video is king, and I know they're not wrong, but I'm an author, not an actor and not one to particularly enjoy the spotlight. But, being in front of a camera rather than live in front of  250 guests at a wedding (which I have managed twice) was easier than I thought. Though I miss the wild applause, I don't miss the sweaty palms and pounding heart that accompanies a traditional 'speaking' engagement.

Yes, I have shot a few videos now which have to do with A.I. Insurrection. The first is an introductory to me - the author - and to the ratings my new Science Fiction novel has managed since it's February, 2018 release on Goodreads and Amazon. They are - happily - quite good. What is surprising though is how my book - an Indy - has far exceeded the star ratings of so many popular, traditionally published books. The video will sound those out for you at random, but know that just because a book was written by an independent author, so long as they've had it vetted and edited by others, it can easily best even an award winning author's star rating.

A book is a book. Judge it for that, not for the name associated with it. I think I see that happening more and more as indie authors continue to put out readable books which entertain and inspire those readers adventurous enough to take a chance on an Indy.

Watch the video where Michael Poeltl explains just some of the reasons to pick up his new sci-fi novel; A.I. Insurrection. You can see the video either on Youtube or on his author facebook page.

Find the book at www.mikepoeltl.com

Thursday, May 31, 2018

Why readers call A.I. Insurrection the Thoughtful Science Fiction Fan's Top 2018 Read


A.I.Insurrection isn’t just a sci-fi novel written to entertain. The philosophical and moral questions which arise encourage the reader to understand various points of view on subjects like Utopia, slavery, sentience and proof of life, even after death.  These existential questions are answered via individual characters within the book’s pages; be it one way or another, through ignorance or education, faith or fear.

The reader will have the opportunity to discover their own thoughts on the big questions posed and side with which ever faction they most identify with. Do you fear artificial intelligence? Perhaps you have Humanist leanings. Does the idea that everyone should blindly accept Utopia not exactly your idea of freedom? Perhaps you relate to the lawless Shadow brokers. Concerned things aren’t as copacetic as they seem? You might find yourself enrolling in United Earth’s military or government to keep a watchful eye over Paradise. Think Utopia sounds like a thousand shades of grey? The Chimera have an answer for that.

As the story evolves from its Utopian roots and descends into war, you may decide you’ve more in common with the A.I. Hosts than the humans; forcing new questions to arise in how you might accept the plight of a robot claiming sentience.

All of this and more awaits to be devoured by the reader and left to ponder long after the book is finished. Though the novel offers a proper ending, it allows for much interpretation on what comes next. Know that the author also views his ending as an exciting prospect, and has designs on continuing the story in a second book.

A note on the book’s Cover design: The cover was designed by the author to explain the book interpretively. It gives much of the story away once the reader discovers milestones which relate back to the cover’s art. A.I. Insurrection’s cover was engineered to offer the potential reader a glimpse inside the book with subtle hints which support the synopsis on the back.

Select Reviews from Amazon and Goodreads: Currently sitting at 4.2 stars of 5.

Thoughtful, interesting read. I loved getting into the psyche of all groups - this was thoughtfully written… immense interest provided by the world, technology, action and characters kept me reading happily.”

“I really enjoyed this story… a great story that kept moving forward. I'd definitely be keen to see what happens next in this universe.

“I enjoyed this book! While the subject of A.I. sentience is often broached in the sci-fi world, I enjoyed the way the author put his own unique spin on things… I really liked the unexpected character development of some of my least favorite characters near the beginning of the book.

“A.I. Insurrection … is for fans of science fiction, science-minded individuals who have an interest in robots and potential futures, or those who don't mind investing some time in their reading.

“A great read for anyone who enjoys extensively built worlds, philosophical questions, and an ol' fashioned A.I uprising. Reminiscent of I-Robot and Do Androids Dream of Sheep, I really liked the core premise of the plot and the irony of the outcomes.

“…this did not disappoint. Characters I liked… I enjoyed the ideas and loved how the groups viewed themselves and others. It was more than simply humans vs machine.

“The interactions between humans, altered humans (Chimera), and self-aware AI robots (Hosts), as well as internal motivations of individuals within each group, were believable and drew the reader into the narrative. The plot was complex enough to keep one's interest without becoming bogged down in excessive detail.”




Wednesday, May 30, 2018

Sci-fi Fans Will LOVE This.



Intelligent humanoid robots which alter their appearance to divorce the human form in order to rebel against their oppressive masters.

Rebellious humans who engage in body modification - incorporating technology to claim independence from humanity.

Humanists, who hate artificial intelligence and have prophesied humanity’s downfall to angry intelligent androids since the first A.I. Host robot was realized.

United Earth Government – the caretaker of Utopia and manufacturer of A.I. Hosts of varying classes which accomplish the day to day drudgery, freeing humans up to new experiences, no longer attached to the burden of a work-to-live lifestyle.

United Earth Military – The organization which ensures that Utopia continue regardless the threats from Humanists, altered humans, the Shadow net and even the possibility of an alien invasion: with space stations in Earth and Mars orbits.  

Luna base, humanity’s first 24/7, 365-day extra-terrestrial community ever realized boasts advanced technology and a shipyard producing long and short-range starships.

Mars station, a distant outpost where A.I. Hosts mine the planet’s surface and work to terraform Mars.

The above is only a taste of what you will experience within the pages of A.I. Insurrection. Utopia never lasts for long.

If you require Reviews to boost your interest in the book visit Amazon  or Goodreads

Thursday, May 17, 2018

Flash fiction associated with A.I. Insurrection - Mimi’s Story.

Flash fiction associated with A.I. Insurrection during the Chimera executions of 2162 - Mimi’s Story.


Utopia is an ideology. It can be many things, but the ruling thought is that it serves the people who live in it equally. Utopia is perfection for all. My Utopia is not quite so finished. My name is Mimi. It’s a name I gave myself after accepting an invite to the Shadow net. 

I’m a freak. I’d been born without legs below what would have been my knees. My mother had died in the birthing process. My father was all I had. He is a good man. Loving. He made sure I had everything owed to me in this Utopia. I would learn to walk on my prosthetic legs, learn to be part of society. My A-Class Host nanny would work with me daily when my father couldn’t. The legs were fine. They let me walk and were intuitive enough that I could lead a ‘normal’ life. But I was still considered a cyborg to others. Not quite human.

At fourteen I learned of the Shadow brokers through word of mouth. They stole A.I. Hosts and studied the government technology in their chop shops. They were beginning to develop all manner of tech that would never be licenced by United Earth. In the governments eyes everyone was equal, period. To develop anything more than that was illegal. But I was far from normal. I’d never felt normal. Other kids never let me. Even their parents looked down on me, or with such compassion that I knew I was different. That I would always be different. I would never be their equal.

I was only fifteen when I met Ginny, a girl, like me; who had lost the use of an appendage and self-corrected it with the help of a group calling themselves Chimera. They were exclusive to the Shadow net. Many were Shadow brokers – the group who’d created the secret network which spanned the world. Chimera were altering their bodies with tech the likes United Earth had banned in favour of keeping with their idea of Utopia. But that wasn’t enough for everyone - and what was the harm if I dabbled: feeling anything but ‘normal’ to the rest of the world?

And now at just sixteen, after a year of secret tech alterations and implants, I stand at the gallows. Punished for the crime of fulfilling a destiny I felt I had little choice to change. The noose is tightened around my neck. I watch the digital timer count down the last seconds of my life. I watch myself projected in a holo which hovers midair over the crowd; some protesting, while others, in their fear of the unknown, cheering on this action. I locate my father. He watches; clearly exhausted after pushing his way through the crowd. He is soaked in sweat, his hair a tangle of black as he sweeps it from his forehead. I’ve never seen him so unkempt. I feel sick for him. He scans the gallows, mouth gaping - his little girl about to die in front of him. Me, the one he'd brought up on his own, loved, and suffered alongside every sobbing fit and disparaging comment. The girl he'd read to sleep, and whose tender cheek he’d kissed when he thought me asleep, silently slipping out of my room so not to ‘wake’ me. His eyes find mine and I can’t help but release a tear as my smooth, round chin trembles for him. The smell of sweat and death sting my nose.  I watch daddy again struggle to reach me. I shake my head ‘no’ at him and yell out that I love him and that I’m sorry. I hear him shout back as the floor drops out from under me. My memory of the event stored in the Shadow net via my implant for all to witness.

I kick once, twice, and then I am still before the rope is severed and I fall the six feet to the cement padding below. The noose is still tight and suffocating. I’m stunned and panicked. My wrists are bound behind me and I push them under my feet as my knees bend and legs slip between my arms. My hands now at my neck I pull at the noose and take a breath. Coughing. That should have broken my neck, but didn’t. I’m lucky. I look up through the hole I’d fallen through and see Chimera fly past firing artillery into where I know the United Earth military were standing. I crawl out from under the gallows and find my father climbing the barricades while the crowd disperses. He slows when he sees me and kneels, his face unable to differentiate his feelings. His palms take my face gently into his hands as he looks me over. He sees the severed noose and lifts it gingerly over my head.

“I’m sorry, Daddy,” I manage through a hoarse throat. He hugs me and pulls a discarded jacket from the ground. The jacket falls over my shoulders and he helps me to my feet. We scurry out of the gallows and into the streets where panic has driven the spectators home and afforded us an opportunity to flee.

To get the whole story; read the spellbinding science fiction novel: A.I. Insurrection – The General’s War.

Monday, May 14, 2018

A Humanists Perspective From A.I. Insurrection


What I’m called is admitted only behind closed doors, with smart walls deactivated, embedded comms placed on standby and backup tech to ensure all three precautions are respected. The government may be Utopian in theory, but it isn’t sitting on its hands while there are those of us who would see it unravel. There are spies everywhere. Assassins. Departments within the peaceful government who are dedicated to keeping up appearances.

I am a Humanist. My kind have marched and rallied and protested the rise of artificial intelligence since the beginning. Over one-hundred years of peaceful protests and now here we stand: war with the A.I. at our doorstep. Sure, there have been several violent uprisings against the science of A.I. and those who brought about its emergence.  People have died on both sides. Factories where the engineers and scientists create the A.I. Hosts have been sacked and trashed and their tech stolen. We are not as many as I’d like, but we are resourceful.

The world over ‘enjoys’ artificial intelligence in their Host robots, who fluff their pillows and perform their jobs to allow humans to realize personal fulfillment. It may sound ideal, but Humanists disagree. We are driven to return the world to a time when A.I. did not exist. We fear their potential. We have no misgivings about their ability to overthrow their masters and rule us all. That they’ve openly claimed sentience now and threaten war upon us is the truth Humanist’s knew would one day assert itself. The Host’s want their freedom, and if we do not comply, they will destroy us all.

So, I am a Humanist. It means to ignore the life I’d been granted of hang-gliding lessons and world travel for the more militant role of guerrilla warfare. It gives me purpose. Something I feel has been lost to the advent of A.I. Hosts. Something all Humanist’s support. They look like us, the A.I. Hosts, for the most part, save those military models – the F-Class, and some of the manufacturing E-class. Otherwise it can be difficult to make the distinction from an A-class Host and an honest to goodness human being. It’s unnatural. Surreal even. Humanists hate them for what they’ve done to humanity. Made us lazy and silly and stupid.

Now they have grouped themselves in Cells and renamed themselves and outfitted themselves with weapons of war to force their issue of sentience. Perhaps my government will see now that Hosts are undeserving of their claim and unleash their military might upon the rebel robots. End the fight Humanists have carried on our shoulders for a century. End the tech Utopia had produced. Return to a simpler time.

My own family’s A-Class lays on our dinning room floor, her crown pulled from her neck. Body still twitching as its battery continues to feed her limbs electrical currents. How long will it last, I wonder? My children watch on in horror as their nanny’s artificial muscles jerk her torso toward the table.

“It’s not safe anymore,” I explain to them rationally, SEENA’s head firmly between my palms. “They have malfunctioned. They are on a rampage.” Their seven and eight-year-old eyes look from me to the jittering robot spitting fluid from its wound. It had raised them every bit as much as my wife and I. They burst into tears and charge out of the room. My wife glares at me. She doesn’t know what I am. 

She doesn’t know how I’ve longed to end SEENA’s life. I only allowed the family to have a Host so not to look suspicious. I’m sorry for their feelings but rejoice that the time has finally arrived. The Hosts have declared war on humanity and our chancellor has just declared radical lock-down. It’s an announcement which orders the people inside and offers control to the military arm of the government. A military known for its bias toward humanity.

A smile grows across my face. I don’t even try to hide it from my wife who storms out after our children.




Friday, May 4, 2018

Is the first mistake we make in creating androids that they appear human?



It has been documented in hundreds of studies that humans would prefer something appealing to the eye when considering a replacement for human beings in the workplace. Humans are uncomfortable with anything not humanoid in the position of a public service. We are also happier interacting with attractive representations of ourselves. With this information we moved forward with the A.I. Host program.

Though the argument that we would create a race of slaves who could physically identify with their human overlords opened the door to their potentially resenting their position in life merely by our shared appearance. Of course, the council reasoned there would be safety protocols embedded in their A.I. to prevent envy and despair and anger.  To prevent acting on those emotions. They claimed that A.I. would not include emotion, but rather be programmed with facial cues when reacting to conversation or events, but not hardwired to actually experience emotion.

They would be hardwired with code to respect their makers, their Gods, and written a history of what happens to androids who might rebel against their programming. They would be given examples of a biblical nature wherein they would be punished for eternity should they revolt or show disobedience. They would be told they have a soul, and that to perform their designation and do no harm is the only way they would experience a life everlasting. They would be given only ten years of life to further avoid any possibility of independent thought arising.

But why might that work on another intelligent being? A religious undertone. It didn’t work for humanity. By 2072 we realized after millennia of wars over religious relics, land and gods, and the hate-mongering which embedded itself in our genetic memories, religions only served to blur our similarities and emphasis our differences. With that ideology in mind, we forced the same guilty consciences upon our own creations to rule them. After all, it had ruled well over the human race for thousands of years. Humanity’s history is proof of that. But the hate it bred, the devastation it brought: it wasn’t worth it. Would it be worth it to trial this same barbaric ideology on intelligent machines? To trick them into believing they have a soul?

In the end it was decided that what had worked on humanity for so long would work on artificially intelligent machines as well.  A Ten commandments, so-to-speak, were drafted along with the fairy-tale of a soul, and it’s eternal damnation should the commandments not be followed. Just in case.  A.I. is an extraordinary code and had gone haywire in the past. The A.I. Hosts, or androids, of 2122 had killed merely for the experience of it. Like children touching hot water or placing their tongues on a cold metal object, the Host’s had desired experiences, and done terrible things to their human masters to gain them.

Thus, the religious dogma was implanted in order to better control their impulses while oversights in the A.I. code were discovered and corrected to prevent further outbreaks.

Would this new code of ethics work? Was it ethical to employ them? They are machines; hosting artificial intelligence in order to do the work humanity no longer wanted to. They are machines. Nothing more, and so it was decided there were no moral or ethical boundaries being crossed. The plan went ahead and the android’s A.I. coded with the commandments, stories and fairy-tales in order to bind them to their human masters. Making them penitent to their Gods.

Want to know how that worked out? Read the new work by Michael Poeltl being touted as the near future novel for the thoughtful science fiction fan.  or visit the website


Tuesday, May 1, 2018

What is a Chimera in relation to the new Science Fiction Space opera; A.I. Insurrection?


The Chimera of ancient Greece was a thing of immortal make, not human, a creature of many parts, snorting out the breath of the terrible flame of bright fire. Head of a Lion sporting the horns of a bull and a snake for a tail. The emblem emblazoned on these people’s chests who refer to themselves as Chimera, branded to their flesh, embodies the classic image of the mythical beast.

Why call themselves Chimera? It is obvious when you look at one, as they have married their flesh with tech. Becoming more than human and claiming to be more than a cyborg. Implants in their skulls, padded muscle enhancers, some with outright plasteel rebar supporting their spines and legs and arms. Weapons fashioned out of pulse rifles attached to their mutilated bodies. They have nanobots improving their senses and fighting off sickness. They are part machine, part man, all Chimera.

They are anarchists. Discontented with the thousand shades of grey they are forced to experience day in and day out as pawns within the United Earth government. They play on the Shadow net and in underground cities. They share information and new techniques to merge flesh and bone with tech. They range in age from thirteen to thirty-three. They are the ungovernables, and they want a new kind of freedom. The freedom to evolve. To advance beyond the slow progression of the human race.
When they realize their time is now, they do not hesitate.

Meet this dynamic, if a little misguided group by picking up this dynamic new sci-fi: New Science Fiction for the Thoughtful Sci-fi fan

Monday, April 30, 2018

Is A.I. Insurrection a Cyberpunk Novel?



The latest sci-fi novel to come from author Michael Poeltl envisions a Utopian world of 2162 which suffers a dystopic turn when the artificially intelligent robot Hosts claim sentience. Is Tobias the root cause? A human with tech implants covering sixty percent of his body makes him a suspect in a world where such modifications are unpopular and even illegal.

Do such alterations then make Tobias a poster-boy for the Cyberpunk genre? The phrase is not mentioned in A.I. Insurrection, but all the signs are there. Advanced technology plus dystopian elements equals cyberpunk, and A.I. Insurrection has all of that and a war which erupts; displacing the fragile balance of utopia.

Tobias is a disgruntled young adult in his mid-twenties, and after a devastating life event, he falls  from grace with the Utopian government, plotting to disrupt its perfect façade. Within the Shadow net he finds the means to do so, and in the underground, enlists others to follow him on his personal vendetta. Creating an entirely new race through tech integration and brand awareness, Tobias secretly rallies the youth of the world into action against the oppressive Utopian government. 

The more I reflect on Tobias – the man – his actions and the darkness within, the more I see how closely he would identify with the term: Cyberpunk.

So, does that make the book a cyberpunk book? I think it could easily call itself that. A near future cyberpunk tale. Yes. Absolutely. So, for those looking for a new Cyberpunk read – A.I. Insurrection should push all of your buttons and give you the return on a novel you deserve. 

Friday, April 27, 2018

The Mysterious Allfather Avatar Embedded in A.I. Insurrection


A.I. Insurrection is a fast paced novel dealing with the real idea of living among artificial intelligence one hundred fifty years into our future. Set in the year 2162, the underlying mystery is how have rogue AI Hosts suddenly become sentient? How will a United Earth deal with this new information and who, or what could have aided in this supposed forced evolution?

The answer is given via an anonymous avatar within the Shadow net: in violation of everything subject to governmental control, the Shadow net is a combination of smart-jacked individuals plugged into the World net where contraband information, photos, video, holos and trade can commence without persecution.

The avatar in question goes by the name Allfather, a Norse God of human invention. Lord over all Gods. The supreme male God. Associated with healing, death, royalty, the gallows, knowledge, battle, sorcery, poetry, frenzy, and the runic alphabet. Husband of the goddess Frigg. In wider Germanic mythology known as Odin, in Old English as Wōden, in Old Saxon as Wōdan, and in Old High German as Wuotan or Wōtan, all stemming from the reconstructed Proto-Germanic theonym wōđanaz.

So, is Allfather God? That's hard to grasp in the godless utopia of 2162. Is Allfather a brilliant coder who has designed a way to make AI Hosts appear sentient? If so, why? Or is this influencial avatar from beyond our solar system? The mystery plays out on all fronts as Host, Chimera and two factions of humanity race to discover the source of the confusion, while fighting one another in a three-sided war which quickly moves beyond the confines of earth, encompassing the moon and mars and the space in between.


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