Whether your inhale or don’t, a trip through the weeds is always more pleasurable in the outer solar system.
Space Weed, the final book in the Space Squad 51 series, is on preorder wherever fine ebooks are sold. Release date: 5/12/2026.
Even after the 200th edit, this story still made me laugh and smile for days. Don’t miss out.
Get Lost in an Alternate Universe Read More »
Independence Daysaster. If this reminds you of a more famous movie title, you’re not mistaken, and you also wouldn’t be wrong in then assuming that the plot is similar. As a B-level movie goes, this one is better than most. The special effects are above average. The acting is decent, though some of it is just average, and the plot is interesting. While it has echoes of its more famous version, it’s also very much its own thing.
What was extra fun for me was it being set in Oregon. I will validate that it looked very much like Oregon. They named the town Moose Ridge, though, and moose don’t live in Oregon. Still, that’s not as egregious as the assumptions in The Crater Lake Monster, where Oregon somehow ended up between LA and Las Vegas.
The explosions weren’t as spectacular as in the more well-known version, but they were well done and there were quite a lot. The alien ships were cool, and the story was fun. Again, better than usual for this grade of movie.
If you want to sit back and enjoy an alien invasion, this one isn’t at all disappointing. For that reason, I give it a one beer rating. One is enough to enjoy this one. It’s streaming free on YouTube.
Here’s the trailer:
Science Fiction Worth Watching: Independence Daysaster Movie Review Read More »
Earl Blacke in The Rifters has a fascinating real-world inspiration: the legendary outlaw Black Bart, born Charles Boles. Black Bart wasn’t your typical bandit. He lived a life full of twists: a gold miner, a soldier twice promoted in the field during the Civil War, sometimes a farmer, husband, and father. Later, he mingled with San Francisco’s high society, posing as a wealthy gentleman. According to the people who considered him a friend, he was charming, personable, and well mannered.
A posh life needed money. When funds ran low, he turned to the open spaces of California and to the Wells Fargo stage coaches. His methods were original:
A dropped handkerchief during one heist finally led to his capture, and he served time in San Quentin. He confessed to only that one robbery despite suspicions of at least 28. When released in 1888, he vanished, leaving the world to speculate about the “gentleman bandit’s” fate.
I read multiple biographies about Charles Boles and thought long and hard about what kind of man he might have been. I tried to get into his head and imagine his psychology. Here’s what I came up with:
I don’t think he was cold-hearted. I think at that point in his life, he was just incapable of giving more of his heart and needed to cut ties with those he knew, including his wife and children. He was probably in survival mode. His real life disappearance was a mystery I couldn’t resist.
The name I use in the series comes from his real life middle name and his outlaw name. I loved the idea of taking someone so complex and sending him through a rift into another time. In Settler, Earl Blacke arrives forty years younger with a chance to atone. However, the rift has other plans for Earl.
The Outlaw Who Disappeared… Read More »
The Enchanted Greenhouse delivers the same cozy charm that made The Spellshop so enjoyable. It is warm, gentle, and full of magical wonders. The worldbuilding and setting were my favorite parts. Belde feels inviting in a way that made me wish I could step through the page and wander its gardens.
The book has a consistently pleasant tone, and it succeeds at being a comforting read. It is exactly the kind of cozy fantasy that lets you unwind and drift through a whimsical world.
That said, a few elements kept it from reaching its full potential.
The plot holds no surprises. Nothing unfolds in an unexpected way, which weakens the sense of discovery. Cozy fantasy is my favorite branch of the genre, but even a quiet story can offer a moment or two that catches the reader off guard. This one does not.
I also found the emotions, worries, and internal thoughts of the main character to be extremely repetitive. At times, I skipped through large sections because the character circled the same ideas and emotions again and again. And again!
The characters themselves did not go as deep as I hoped. Their reactions and emotional beats often felt predictable, and sometimes I had trouble relating to the main character. I actually found her counterpart and the magical plants more compelling.
Even so, the book remains light, cute, and pleasantly low stress. Despite its flaws, it succeeds as a gentle comfort read. If you want something charming, imaginative, and easy to settle into, The Enchanted Greenhouse provides exactly that.
Book Review: The Enchanted Greenhouse Read More »
Status: Second First Draft Almost Done! Pushed like crazy to write the last novel in the Rifters series, The Warder, and I’m almost done. I had given myself until the end of April to finish this first draft and will complete it early. Woot! After this, editing of both books will begin. Definitely on schedule for the Kickstarter launch in October 2026. Signup to be notified the second it goes live! PRELAUNCH
Status: KS completed. Regular launch at retailers
Status: Steady as she goes!
Writing the rough draft live on Discord. A new episode is uploaded every month. Come join me at Paxport!
Status: In the line up after the Rifters series is complete
I’ll be giving The Renaissance of Hetty Locklear a new title and a new cover, but it will be the same content. I have the new covers! Hate that I have to wait to show them off. Have made more notes on what to do with the new stories. The titles will be: Cloaks, Powers, and Masks. Planned a permafree story with a working title of Invisible, an extra story for fans called Lairs, and a Kickstarter exclusive comic. Have rough ideas as to what each book will be about.
The final box set of the Backworlds series is on PREORDER as well. It will release 7/14/2025.
Keep your comm channels open for more updates. If you haven’t joined the M. Pax Dimension yet, come join me! MPAX DIMENSION
Stay tuned and peace out,
M. Pax
Almost Done! First Draft of the Final Book in the Rifters in the Home Stretch! Read More »
It’s rare for a novel to make me this curious, but On the Wings of a Word sent me down a rabbit hole researching Norse mythology long after I turned the last page.
While I’m familiar with some of the myths, C. M. Sinner explores corners of the lore I hadn’t encountered before, weaving them into a story that feels both fantastical and fresh. The worldbuilding has depth without ever slowing the momentum, and every new reveal made me want to learn more.
The main character especially stood out. They have a gift with language and poetry that I honestly wish existed in real life. The idea of bringing words to life—of language itself holding tangible power—is such a cool, imaginative concept, and it’s used in clever, meaningful ways throughout the story.
What I loved most were the solutions to the dilemmas the characters faced. Instead of predictable outcomes, the story consistently surprised me with smart, unexpected turns that felt earned. Add in a cast of lovable characters and an engaging plot, and this became one of those books I didn’t want to leave.
Engaging, imaginative, and full of heart, On the Wings of a Word is a fantastic read for anyone who loves mythology-infused fantasy and the magic of language.
I’ll definitely be picking up the next book.
Hurry up and write it, C. M. Sinner.
On the Wings of a Word by C. M. Sinner Read More »
