Platform Soul

Do not fear, this is not a terrible chimera of Elvis, Otis Redding and a blond police officer called Ken Hutchinson.

It’s a bit of a mangled idea about Author Platform, as every random scribbler is supposed to have one now it seems. My personal preference for genre – that which I am drawn to, is Science Fiction – but this is not a platform.

A platform needs more.

So we must escalate this to a specific, marketable idea, where it can infiltrate certain circles. So Military Science-Fiction, then, where things overlap and markets begin to expand with soldiers, sailors and aircrew who recognise themselves can get their kicks about that uppity junior officer “sticking it to the man” or a celebration of excellent quality non-commissioned personnel getting the recognition they deserve.

But what about something a bit wider, for those that are minded that way, but for whom the all-out gung-ho military fetish doesn’t fit the bill. After all, I was robustly told once:

“I’m not one of your flippin’ Squaddies”

Polly

She did use the word ‘flippin’, no lie.

So for Children of The Glyph – (and sequels!) I’m messing around with a concept called Paramilitary Science-Fiction to see if it will work as a platform.

You heard it here first.

Not everyone wants to read about the army, or military stricture as they have tried it and/or don’t fit into it. P-SF is a blend of Space Opera and Military SF which gives the reader more than grunts. It gives oddballs a chance to shine, those that don’t fit, but aren’t criminally insane or morally despicable.

This fits a couple of theories about marketing – writing to that market and writing what you enjoy and love.

If you want to live as an author, you need to do both.

On another note, a chap over on the Bolter & Chainsword has bought/downloaded all of my Azhov books and is working through them. Reports are good so far and I’m going to see if I can encourage him to poke a review onto Amazon for me.

If anyone else has my Novellas in the Azhov series and already hasn’t done that, please consider doing so. To those that have: Thank you.

Well, that’s it for now Dear Readers and Good Followers, have a good day. 🙂