There have been some problems around here, but nothing serious.

I now have a new computer, since every single component in my old system failed, one at a time. Except for my mouse, and that is less than perfect, but I can live with it. I've had to re-program the thing six times now, but I think that I've got every furry little head beaten down now.

Marina just sold our other extra lot for $20,000. That makes $42,000 she's brought in during the last six months, off of a total investment of around $2000. Wives can be useful. That will finish the roof, and get the wiring and maybe the plumbing and heating in.

Last Christmas, my publisher, Jim Baen, was having a very rough time of it. He's just broken up with a lovely Russian girl that I'd introduced him to, for reasons unknown.

Then he lost both of his parents. His mother, whom he loved inordinately, died of cancer. His step father, whom Jim had always hated, decided that he couldn't live without his wife and committed suicide.

Jim then rejected book 7 of the Conrad series (Conrad’s Crusade) as being bad writing, and canceled all of our other contracts. I seriously doubt if he ever read it.

That is to say, he fired me, which put me in considerable financial stress, but loans, gifts and help from friends carried me through.

Rodger Olsen, a friend who helped me write Conrad's Crusade, has written a science fiction novel of his own, entitled The Empire of Texas.

After the worst plague in history, the world is not rebuilding itself. Everyone knows that meddling with God's ways is what killed everyone, so around the world, the shell shocked and terrified survivors have driven the world back into the dark ages. With help of an unlikely ally, a six-shooter, and plain old sneakiness, Emperor Burton Adams is trying to get the Empire of Texas back into the modern world -- without getting lynched by his own citizens for trying. Evidence that someone else, a mean and vicious someone else, is already well on the road to recovery makes everything urgent.

Attached is a preview. If you like it the preview, the book is available in Great Authors Online. In any case, Rodger would like to hear your comments at rodgerolsen@yahoo.com.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.

--Leo

I'm leaving tonight for Helsinki, to get my Russian visa renewed. Hopefully, this will be the last time that I will have to make this stupid and expensive trip. Stupider that ever, since the trains have changed their schedules, and don't get to Finland until 11:30 AM now, but the Russian Cosulate is still insisting that one gets there at 9:00 AM. This requires that I spend a night in a hotel there.

Grumble.