Mike Luoma returns with his second book of catholicism and science fiction, this time with Vatican Ambassador:
BERNARD CAMPION has killed for the Pope as an agent of the Office of Papal Operations, the OPO. But the old pope is dead, and Pope Linus the Second is no friend of the OPO! The adventures of Bernard Campion, the Vatican Assassin, continue. BC has helped Governor Marc Edwards rebuild Lunar Prime, but can he help build peace between The Universal Islamic Nation (UIN), The Universal Trade Zone (UTZ) and the New catholic Church (NcC)? And just what is the mysterious Project?
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December 19th, 2007 at 1:33 pm
Welcome to the second book in my “Vatican Assassin” trilogy! The adventures of BC continue. This picks up about three months after “Vatican Assassin” ends. Hope you enjoy the listen/read, and feel free to post here with comments or visit my web site, glowinthedarkradio.com
December 19th, 2007 at 1:33 pm
Or, rather post on the book site
…sorry!
December 29th, 2007 at 2:37 pm
Two more podcasts going up soon. Chapters Seven and Eight were short, so I’ve combined them. Chapter Nine is pretty long! I read this chapter at a recent book reading/signing and got a great response. Feel free to say hello and let me know how you’re enjoying the book.
Mike
January 14th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
“Vatican Ambassador” continues!
Just uploaded Episode Nine containing the first part of Chapter Eleven. For the OCD inclined, I’m sorry that the Episodes and Chapters don’t match up.
What works in print doesn’t always work in audio. Chapter Eleven has been cut in two. The second half will come along in Episode Ten. Chapter Twelve will be Episode Eleven. And Chapter Thirteen? It’s the longest chapter in the print version of the book, and looks like it will need to be cut into three loooong parts, probably around 40 minutes each.
How do you like the book? Feel free to leave a comment and let me know!
January 14th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
Hi Mike,
I’m really enjoying the story but the last chapter ended quite abruptly. It sounded like not all of the file was uploaded properly.
Keep up the good work
AWB
January 14th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Sorry that chapter is 11 part 1
January 15th, 2008 at 9:49 am
AWB,
Very strange. Verified. You were right. I re-uploaded a good file. Give that a shot.
February 2nd, 2008 at 10:24 am
Evo tells me technically we’re all good now on Part One of Chapter Eleven.
I’m uploading a new Episode today. Episode 12 is actually Part One of the very long Chapter Thirteen. I’ll explain: When writing, I tend to let the text take over and dictate things like chapter breaks. As I originally wrote “Vatican Ambassador” for reading, not listening, I wasn’t worried about episodic length. So now as I read the book aloud, I come to Chapter Thirteen.
Chapter Thirteen (Lucky Thirteen) of Vatican Ambassador starts on page 121… ends on page 166! Freakin’ long chapter!
I took a couple of breaks as I was reading the chapter. I’ll be uploading part two next week, and part three the following week. But these are meaty chunks o’ chapter… Part One clocks in at just over 40 minutes, Parts Two and Three are looking to be around 38 or so each. So even though these are parts, they’re substantial parts.
So Podcast Episodes 12, 13 and 14 will all feature the book’s Chapter Thirteen. Hope that makes sense. Not sure that it even matters. Just wanted to offer some clarity. Or maybe I’m just confusing things further. I don’t know…
February 21st, 2008 at 9:50 am
All of the massive Chapter Thirteen is up now, as Episodes Twelve, Thirteen and Fourteen. This is a major dose of background material, a major unpeeling of the onion, if you will, as we begin to see the “bigger picture” and start to get a sense of humanity’s place among the stars.
I’ve just started in on the third draft of book three of this trilogy, btw, the draft I turn over to my readers for feedback…
Always more over at glowinthedarkradio.com
March 14th, 2008 at 8:06 am
Hey I think I am going to have to wait until this one is done to finish it
the time between episodes is so long that I forget what happened in the last one by the time the new one is up
I loved the first one though so I think it will be worth the wait
March 27th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
Well, ColONeill, turns out a little glitch had held up a couple of episodes… we should be back on track now!
Thank you for your patience, everyone.
Mike
March 27th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
Little glitch my hairy behind. This blame rests totally on my shoulders folks. Mike gave me those episodes at least two weeks ago, and I never managed to put them live. Totally my fault.
E.
March 28th, 2008 at 9:57 am
Ha! Thanks, Evo. Very stand up of you! And here I was trying to be diplomatic, lol!
April 3rd, 2008 at 12:55 am
Wow greatest podiobook so far,
thanks for making this book mike.
*laugh* I’m most likely your youngest listener at 15 XD
April 3rd, 2008 at 5:00 pm
Hi there, Andrew, glad to have you aboard! Hope you enjoy the rest of the story
April 3rd, 2008 at 11:23 pm
Thanks Mike,
Hey Mike i was wondering where do you get your inspiration for a story?
I’m trying to make my own book based on a teenager stuck inside a video game,
but as of yet every thing i have tried wont fit vary well.
sorry to ask but i couldn’t help it.
also great books i want to get both Vatican assassin and Vatican ambassador , I’m buying them both hope fully within the next week.
April 7th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
Just keep writing, Andrew, that’s the best advice I can give you. It’s the best advice I’ve been given. Try to write a couple of pages every day… that advice comes from my writing “hero” Joe Staczynski, who created Babylon 5. Google his name and “writing” or “words” and you’ll find columns about writing in different places. Here’s an old column: http://www.newsarama.com/Straczynski/Wordsx3_1.html
Lots of people talk about writing, wanting to write, etc. But writers write. You have to discipline yourself and hunker down and bang out pages.
As for inspiration? Keep writing and you’ll find yourself coming up with stuff… because you have to. Keep a journal and write down any random idea that strikes you. Might be useless now, but it may be a trigger to greater ideas later. Keep the journal next to your bed and write down any dreams you have as soon as you wake up. Dreams can open the door to the imagnation.
For me, this whole story started with a short story, with BC in the sewers under Lunar Prime. Then I began to wonder… how did we get to this point? I mapped out a future history timeline, and then the bigger story began to just sort of appear. I was writing a number of different drafts at the same time, too, writing the first draft of book three while polishing the final draft of book one and rewriting book two… that was fun, actually, and helped me tie the elements together over the longer story.
The fun for me right now is writing the third draft of the last book… it’s coming together nicely!
April 8th, 2008 at 6:41 pm
Thanks mike that actually helped me a lot,
i might have a few drafts in a few days.
April 11th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
All right, Andrew! Good luck!
April 20th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
Hi Mike,
How many episodes are planed for this podcast? Not that I am looking forward for it to end, I want it to last as long as possible. One last question, when will the third podcast come out?
April 21st, 2008 at 5:15 pm
Hey Brian,
Thanks for your interest. I’m glad you’re enjoying the story!
I’m afraid there are only 3 more episodes left for “Vatican Ambassador”, comprising Chapter Nineteen, Chapters Twenty and Twenty One, and Chapter Twenty Two, for 24 total episodes in the podcast.
As for the next podcast, this one will start as the next book is published. I’m finishing the third draft of book three right now, with hope of publishing it at the end of May or early June.
May 1st, 2008 at 4:02 pm
Just curious. In episode 19 at about 18:40 -ish, when BC’s staffer says “maybe you shouted it out she said quixotically” did you mean that word or did you mean enigmatically, provocatively, or something else? Quixotically implies that she is attempting something grand and not particularly sane I think.
Great series btw. The first download I listen to when new chapters are released. Bravo.
May 5th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
I was using it more to mean confused and provocative… not exactly in the sense you mention, and upon consideration probably not the best word choice, Barry. “Puzzled” would have been better. Clearer.
Hope it hasn’t diminished your enjoyment any, Barry! Thanks for listening.
Mike
May 9th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
Great audiobook, Mike. The way you narrate for BC reminds me of Duke Nukem guy.. Very entertaining.. Can’t wait for the ending of this book.. And.. well.. The next one.. Keep up a good work, man. We will be waiting.
May 14th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
Thank you, Anton! I was travelling for Mother’s Day and now I’m sick, so there is a slight delay for the last chapter… sorry to everyone! Hope you’ll bear with me!
Mike
May 18th, 2008 at 11:37 am
The first two books have been amazingly awesome! Do you plan on podcasting the 3rd one as well?
May 18th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Episode Twenty-Four and Chapter Twenty-Two have ended, and with them “Vatican Ambassador”! Thanks for listening to the story! I’m finishing up the third book, “Vatican Abdicator” right now. I have a couple of good friends who help me proof read and edit the book before the final copy is ready. They’re reading it now, so I should be working off of their corrections soon. I’ll begin podcasting the book soon after that here at Podiobooks.com. I don’t think it will be a long gap, probably about a month.
Thanks for the high praise there, Josh! Good to know you’ll be here for book three!
Mike
May 18th, 2008 at 7:45 pm
Great story. Can’t believe how far Bernard has come in just a few years. I’ll be interested to see what happens in the next book. I like how the book has taken on a decidedly Alien nature.
May 21st, 2008 at 2:59 pm
Just finished listening to the last episode and I already can’t wait for Vatican Abdicator! Mike has kept my undivided attention, and the story has kept me guessing through the first two books. GREAT JOB!
May 23rd, 2008 at 4:17 pm
Hey Chris and Danielle,
Thanks for letting me know how you liked the books! I’m using my Memorial Day weekend to revise “Vatican Abdicator”, as one of my readers just gave me back his corrected copy. Getting closer…
Thanks again!
Mike
July 23rd, 2008 at 7:01 am
NIce,very nice.. thanks
August 2nd, 2008 at 3:37 pm
Hi folks, Mike Luoma here… just wanted to let you know, “Vatican Abdicator” goes live here on Podiobooks.com on Friday August 8th. I’m very excited to be releasing the final book in the Vatican Assassin Trilogy!
More on my books and stuff at http://glowinthedarkradio.com
November 28th, 2008 at 9:38 am
I’ve just put together a special 3 in 1 hardcover, omnibus edition of the entire “Vatican Assassin” Trilogy! You can now get all three books – Vatican Assassin, Vatican Ambassador and Vatican Abdicator – together with an Appendix including my world-building material – timelines, future history, outlines – all under one cover for $35.99. This 3 in 1 is a special edition available for a limited time through my website (a similar edition sells on Amazon for $50). Head on over to http://glowinthedarkradio.com and get your copy today!
I’m trying to get news about a new edition of the Trilogy out, so I’m posting this under all three books comments’ – sorry if this is repeated information for you!
January 16th, 2009 at 5:01 am
I’ve got a new column on my books over at http://cosmicbooknews.com – check it out if you have a chance!
March 27th, 2009 at 3:13 am
My latest new column on my writing is up over at Cosmic Book News: http://cosmicbooknews.com/articles/mlmakingup6
And you can read my comic book “Panthea Obscura” for free, too! New pages are going up every Wednesday and Saturday here: http://www.drunkduck.com/Panthea_Obscura/
Thanks for listening and reading!
Mike
April 22nd, 2009 at 1:58 pm
You can listen to an interview with me on this week’s Podioracket podcast! Thank you, Rhonda and Heather! Listen in at http://www.podioracket.com
May 20th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
I’m trying out the new Scrib’d Store (beta). My books are on sale there for $1 each for a pdf downloand: http://www.scribd.com/MikeLuoma. Scrib’d gives the author 80% of the price. Amazon gives you 35% for your Kindle book…
Mike
May 28th, 2009 at 7:12 am
I was tipped off to a great site for ebooks: Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com
As a writer, I upload my books to Smashwords and their software, known affectionately as the “Meatgrinder”, takes the original document and converts it into several different formats. Smashwords then makes the ebooks available for sale using PayPal. As the author, I can set a price for my book, allow the reader to pay what they feel like, or offer it for free. As Smashwords says on their website, they offer “…multi-format, DRM-free ebooks, ready for immediate sampling and purchase, and readable on any e-reading device.”
Decided to try it out! I’ve uploaded all three books in the “Vatican Assassin Trilogy”: Vatican Assassin, Vatican Ambassador and Vatican Abdicator, as well as my collection of poems, lyrics and spells, Synthetic Marmalade, and my book on Gnosticism and early Christianity, NEO-GNOSIS. I’ve set all five books to allow the reader to pay whatever they like for them. You’ll find them here at my Smashwords profile page: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/mikeluoma .
There’s also a link on my site, so you can just head over to http://glowinthedarkradio.com and go from there if you like.
June 4th, 2009 at 9:33 pm
Just received an email this morning from Lulu. Get 10% off your purchase of any of my books through the end of this month! All you need to do is enter the sale code when you check out: JUNECONTEST10.
Lulu is conducting monthly “sales contests” where the authors who sell the most books win cash prizes. Blatantly trying to drive traffic to Lulu.com, of course! What the heck – Didn’t cost anything, so I signed up for June’s contest. I received the email with news of the 10% discount this morning. All of a sudden the contest seemed worth entering.
My books at Lulu can all be found on this page, my Lulu “storefront”: http://stores.lulu.com/mikeluoma
I was surprised enough by the discount that I wanted to share!
August 9th, 2009 at 9:21 pm
I’m happy to see Podiobooks.com team up with Smashwords.com – I’ve had my books available through Smashwords ever since I was turned onto their site a couple months ago. Their “meatgrinder” is especially impressive!
I also like that Smashwords lets me offer you the e-books for the price you choose to pay… for free, or for what you feel they’re worth. I’m still proving myself as a writer, so I’d rather you checked out what I’m writing than charge you for something you don’t connect with. If you like it, you can always buy another copy… just saying! Actually, people have been good, a lot of free downloads at Smashwords, but a lot of people paying between 1 to 3 bucks a book. The print copies are still selling and that’s awesome, too – thanks to everyone who’s picked up my books in paperback!
But I digress… this is a cool partnership!
Mike
August 19th, 2009 at 10:49 am
Just did a great interview, talking to Rhonda from Podioracket about “Vatican Assassin – Remastered” and all my books and projects. I’ve got it posted on my blog:
http://glowinthedarkradio.blogspot.com/2009/08/blog-post.html
November 4th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
Did you know you can get news about my books and behind-the-scene glimpses into my notes and notebooks when you listen to the chapters of ALIBI JONES on my Glow-in-the-Dark Radio Podcasts? You get the pure book, chapter by chapter, here at Podiobooks. If you want more, visit: http://glowinthedarkradio.podomatic.com/
ALIBI JONES is now also available at Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/Alibi-Jones-Mike-Luoma/dp/0557122155
November 12th, 2009 at 2:46 pm
I go into detail about my new science fiction novel ALIBI JONES in my new column – just up over at Cosmic Book News:
http://www.cosmicbooknews.com/articles/mlmakingup11
There’s also preview art from my upcoming comics – including the graphic novel adaptation of VATICAN ASSASSIN!
November 17th, 2009 at 10:19 pm
Now you can read my books on your phone – Thanks to White Wolf Press and Mobipocket!
http://www.mobipocket.com/en/eBooks/AuthorDetails.asp?authorId=117289&authorName=Michael+Luoma
December 23rd, 2009 at 7:55 pm
“Vatican Assassin” is becoming a Graphic Novel! Artist Cristian Navarro and I are adapting the story, turning it into a comic book!
The first issue of the black and white comic book is available now at online comic book store Indy Planet (IndyPlanet.com). The pages will be appearing twice weekly as a webcomic at Drunk Duck (drunkduck.com) beginning January 1st.
More details at http://glowinthedarkradio.com... Direct link to the comic book: http://www.indyplanet.com/index.php?id=3144
Mike
October 9th, 2010 at 12:50 pm
BC’s son Alibi Jones is back – this time in a new comic book! Earthbound Comics has just released the new anthology “Spacebound” – and my story “Alibi Jones: Blind Eye” – with spectacular art by Meisha – opens the book. The story is set BEFORE the events in the novel – it’s a prequel of sorts. You can read a preview of the first page here: http://glowinthedarkradio.com/AlibiJonesBlindEye_pg1.jpg
Spacebound #1 is available through Indy Planet:
http://indyplanet.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4223
April 16th, 2011 at 2:23 pm
You may have noticed the spiffy new cover on my novel ALIBI JONES – beautiful new artwork by Federico Guillen. With this lovely new cover and a second edition, the first edition copies of ALIBI JONES are now-rare collector’s items… and I’m giving my last two away!
You can win a signed copy 2 ways:
1) “Like” ALIBI JONES on facebook. One of ALIBI’s facebook friends will be chosen at random to win one of the copies: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Alibi-Jones/142797717510
2) Email mike.luoma (at) gmail (dot) com and put “Alibi Jones Contest” in the Subject.
You can enter through the end of April, and you may enter both contests if you like. Winners will be drawn on May 1st and announced on May 7th on the Glow-in-the-Dark Radio Podcast.
Good Luck!