2020 from the Altrix Side

2019 was an amazing year for Altrix — one of accomplishments, learning, and planning for what's to come. While not everything came out in the time frame we hoped for, we have a lot of things loaded in that are ready to go at last.

We released our first two anthologies this year: Unearthed (edited by Kara Dennison) and Master Pieces (edited by Paul Driscoll and currently on sale). Through them, we found a lot of fantastic new talent, and re-discovered many writers and artists we already knew we loved working with. We're hoping we helped you discover a few new favorites, too!

We also finally got to unveil the first year of The Chronosmith Chronicles, which is heading steadily toward the first of its six book releases. After Vincent is in its final stages, with Eleanor's Tears nearly set to fly off for editing. We're also excited to be bringing you new work from Jon Arnold (in his first novel) and M.H. Norris (with lots of work under her belt, but her first for Altrix).

Plus, we've opened calls for Master Switches, the sequel anthology to Master Pieces. We're looking forward to raising as much as possible for the Stroke Association, and discovering more great writers along the way!

Obviously, we're not tipping our entire hand for 2020. If you want to know what we're up to at any given time, keep an eye on our Facebook and Twitter. That's also a great way to stay in touch with us!

We hope you all have a wonderful end of year, and look forward to bringing you more stories in the new year and decade to come.

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Master Pieces II: Call for Pitches

Thank you for all the lovely responses to our Doctor Who charity anthology, Master Pieces. 

The character has certainly been making a big splash of late, culminating in the recent Big Finish announcement of Masterful.

We are excited to be playing a small part in the Master’s takeover!

We aren’t quite done with the character yet, either. In late 2020, we will be releasing a follow-up to Master Pieces! Official announcements will come in due course, but at this stage we are looking for contributors.

So if you have a story to tell about the Doctor’s nemesis, here’s your chance to see it published.

Like the first book, Master Pieces, this will be a charity anthology with proceeds going to The Stroke Association. 

For further details and guidelines on how to pitch, please click on the following link:

Master Switches Submissions Guide 

Please note that pitches must be submitted by 31^st January 2020.

Good luck!

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THE CHRONOSMITH CHRONICLES: Read Works from Our Year 1 Writers!

We're gearing up to bring you announcements about our first book in The Chronosmith Chronicles, After Vincent, very soon. (And, for that matter, the others as well!) In the meantime, we'd like to direct you to the works of the writers in year 1 — partly so you can get to know them, partly to give you some quality reading material between now and kickoff!

Paul Driscoll

Co-Creator, Author of After Vincent and Sceptre of the Innocents

Fans of the Black Archive series from Obverse Books are in luck, as Paul has a double dose of writing for them! You can pick up his take on 11-era story The God Complex, or celebrate 25 publications from the book series with his analysis of the 1996 TV movie (complete with polls and number-crunching).

If you'd like some online reading, keep an eye on his contributions over at WhatCulture!

Kara Dennison

Co-Creator, Author of Eleanor's Tears and The Hummingbird Conspiracy

Kara just so happens to have a book coming out as we speak! She's bringing things home for Obverse's anniversary Sextet series with Vanishing Tales of the City, a City of the Saved anthology that includes appearances from Iris Wildthyme, Señor 105, and more characters from your favorite Obverse lines.

For online reads, follow her over on Crunchyroll, where she's a regular news and features writer.

Jon Arnold

Author of Art of History

Jon has also had a hand in the Black Archive — in fact, his entry kicked it off! Pick up his book on Rose from Obverse Books.

Additionally, he was co-curator of the wonderful Me and the Starman from Chinbeard Books, a fantastic read for Bowie fans.

M.H. Norris

Author of The Importance of Glass Slippers

M.H. has an impressive background of original and charity works, among them curation of the anthology All the Petty Myths for 18th Wall. 

Speaking of 18th Wall, she also writes the weekly column If Walls Could Talk for their blog. Topics include favorite shows, the ups and downs of writing, and research tips for oft-misrepresented concepts.

We'll be showing off more work from our contributors regularly on our Facebook and Twitter, so be sure to keep an eye out! And, of course, we'll have more on the Chronosmiths as it happens.

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For Reviewers and Podcasts: Get Your MASTER PIECES on!

Do you run a blog or podcast with a Doctor Who, sci-fi, or literary focus? Want to help us help a good charity? Get in touch with us about Master Pieces!

We're looking for review or news posts on the anthology to help signal boost the project. We want to raise as much as we can for the Stroke Association; but as a relatively small operation, there's only so much we can do on our own. Help from readers, reviewers, and other interested parties makes all the difference.

Your outlet doesn't have to be exclusively Doctor Who related to get in touch. If you want to help out and feel that your reader/listener base would enjoy the anthology, that's more than enough reason to get in touch. We can supply digital review copies if you would like to review the book, and have plenty of extra materials (and time to answer questions) if you'd like to go into more detail on the project.

At present, the best way to get in touch is via our Facebook or Twitter. We'll get back to you in a timely manner. If this is something that interests you, we recommend getting in touch soon, as this is a charity project and thus will have only a limited-time print run.

Additionally, if you're interested in being kept in the loop on future projects (such as upcoming charity projects and The Chronosmith Chronicles), be sure to drop us a line! We'll keep you posted as there's news to give.

Thanks again for all the support and orders we've received so far. We're so happy to be able to benefit yet another great charity with the help of amazing fans and talent.

Buy Master Pieces from Altrix Books

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THE CHRONOSMITH CHRONICLES: Who Is Tor Fasa?

With the official announcement of The Chronosmith Chronicles out in the world, it's time to re-introduce our last returning player. We've met Mordicai the engineer, Savalia the soldier-poet, and Kendo the politician. All that's left is Tor Fasa; and of course, we've left the most complicated for last.

Who — or what — is Tor Fasa? In his life before the events of The Chronosmith Chronicles, he was a scholar and a pacifist. His methods were, however, a bit on the unorthodox side. Through connections in high and low places, he brought together the group we'll be following. He was indirectly responsible for Mordicai and Savalia meeting, and pulled strings to help Kendo gain certain favors in government... though what she did when she got there ended up being somewhat outside his control.

The Chronosmiths' arrival in our universe on the Time Winds has left him with what one might term "superpowers"... though what they are remains to be seen. He uses them sparingly, if at all, and they aren't always as helpful as one would hope. The one he turns to regularly is his access to the Altrix: the databank of the Chronosmiths' ship, containing truths of the universe. Though these truths don't always play out as they should.

Fasa holds the Chronosmiths to their mission by way of the Altrix... though what exactly that mission is, and how he does it, you'll have to find out on your own. As it happens, our heroes are still working that out for themselves, too.

Fasa is possibly the most enigmatic of the four Chronosmiths, with secrets about his past even he doesn't know. From the scar on his face to the dark corners of his own memories, there are some truths even our heroes may not be able to shed light on.

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Cover art and design is currently underway on book 1 of The Chronosmith Chronicles, After Vincent by Paul Driscoll. Book 2, Eleanor's Tears by Kara Dennison, will be entering the editing phase this month.

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