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Tales of the E4 Mafia has arrived!

I’ve done a lot of cool things in my life. I’ve written stories and published books before. But Tales of the E4 Mafia is different. It was my concept and idea.

So thanks to Leo Champion and Henchman Press for backing this anthology. Thanks to the authors who submitted stories (I got to read a lot of cool stories for this), and thanks to the authors included Dan Kemp Author, Andrew Heymann, Barb Caffrey, Gaige Mosher, Scott Reichek – Author, Josh Hill, Chris Sommerkorn, Michael LaVoice, Charles R. Scott, Gail Sanders and the late Ray Daley.

I learned so much in the process of getting Tales from idea to a printed book delivered to my home. From working with authors, to developing my editing process and learning more about my craft by reading the stories these authors generously submitted. Several authors are first time published in this book, so I had the privilege of sharing that ‘first book’ experience with them.

I appreciate everyone who’s supported myself and the authors in this book, those that have shared our many posts about Tales, and let their friends and communities know about this book. We’re all grateful for your reviews and shares, and comments that have been made to us about our stories.

Thank you!

Tales of the E4 Mafia is Live!

Enjoy the cover of Tales of the E4 Mafia!

It’s finally out! Henchman Press has released Tales of the E4 Mafia!

This isn’t just a big deal because I have a story in the anthology, although Mob Rules is a cool story. Tales is a big deal, because it was my idea, and I did the editing and story selection for this. Well, except for Mob Rules. The publisher accepted my story and provided edits for it. Thanks, Leo!

That means you get to read 11 great stories from a variety of authors from all over the place. Here’s the story list:

Better to Beg Forgiveness by Scott Riechek

Short Supply by Michael LaVoice

Burping the Worm by Andrew Heymann

Surprise, Surprise, Surprise by Charles R. Scott

Mob Rules by Keith Hedger (yes, that’s me)

Into the Night by Barb Caffrey and Gail Sanders

Forever Young by Dan Kemp

Missing Man Formation by Ray Daley

Hardcore by Joshua Hill

Helmet by Chris Sommercorn

The Mafia is Eternal by Gaige Mosher

So, along with getting to read a bunch of cool stories, I learned a lot about the other side of writing. That space between writers and published fiction and the work, effort, and tasks that are required to get an anthology from idea to out in the world, available for people to read. I had to vet stories, make suggestions to authors who have churned their guts out to write a great story, coordinate contracts between the authors and the publisher, act as the information conduit between all parties, and become more than a bit of a project manager. In short, I learned a lot, and it’s my hope that you’ll take a change on us and this crazy thing we created.

If you’re into military science fiction, military fiction, science fiction and have a sense of humor, give Tales of the E4 Mafia a shot. It’s all tales from the soldier’s view, getting things done and solving problems in the way that only experienced enlisted soldiers can.

And if you enjoy the stories, please give us a review!

Tales of the E4 Mafia

California Chaos is live!

The cover for California Chaos, courtesy of my lovely wife!

Her country needs the data. The security teams wants revenge. Can she survive and escape?

Her year as Mary Hoskins has Krystal bored and stressed. When a spy attacks her, Krystal has a chip full of classified data and a corpse to hide. While trying to find out if her cover’s blown, Krystal is attacked by a security team.

Once the fight is on, Krystal plans her escape. She’ll dodge security teams, work with others, and create chaos and mayhem to get to her extraction point.

If you love spy stories, cyberpunk settings, and action, you’ll love California Chaos by Keith Hedger. California Chaos is a story in the Burn and Bad Karma series.

Buy California Chaos now!

Read my story Operation Sleigh Ride in the Slay Bells Ring Anthology from Bayonet Books!

I have a new story out in the Slay Bells Ring anthology from JR Handley and Bayonet Books.

there are 18 stories in this anthology written by amazing authors, including:

JR Handley

Nicholas R. Garber
Steve Diamond
HP Holo
Michael J. Allen
Robert W. Ross

J. Clifton Slater
and many others.

Here’s the description from the page:

Ho ho… oh hell!

Is that sleigh bells ringing in your ears or a few rounds from an M60?

You wanted the jolly fat man to bring Yuletide joy, but the season has gifted you with a heart breaker and a life taker — Badass Santa.

Grab your eggnog and camouflage candy canes, strap on your bulletproof holiday stockings, and prepare for thrills and kills.

From blood-stained rebellion at the north pole to a black ops raid on a distant planet, these eighteen action-packed tales will show you Saint Nick as you’ve never seen him before.

It’s all you’ll want for Christmas.

Slay Bells Ring is available for pre-order now at:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJ9RHC7H

My story in the anthology is Operation Sleigh Ride, where Phoebe the Tank and Jesse Wilser meet Santa Claus for a clandestine operation during a Christmas Eve cease fire with the Holy Mexican Empire. If you like Phoebe the Tank, get this anthology now!

What I’ve Been Up To

2022 has been an interesting year. I currently have four novels two novellas, and several short stories through rough draft. And then I moved into a new job and kind of slacked off. So, I’m getting back into the grind.

I’m currently editing ‘California’ which is the working title for the story of Krystal, from Sandblaster, escaped from California. I’m also working on a short story for the E4 Mafia anthology I’m editing. The E4 mafia story is also set in the Burn and Karma setting, and I’m going to try dictating the story to see how that process works for me.

I’ll be running the Nebraska State Fair Marathon (https://www.statefairmarathon.org/) on August 27th, and then the IMT Des Moines Marathon (https://www.desmoinesmarathon.com/) on October 16h.

So, while I’m keeping up fitness training, helping my fitness clients, and keeping up with home life and my day job, I’ll be committing time to getting California and Burn and Karma Book 4 edited for release in the next few months, and getting the E4 Mafia stories edited and back to the publisher.

It looks like it’s going to be a busy fall and winter. I’m going to need a plan!

California is next out

Pretty descriptive of everything i’ve got going on

So, I’m doing the heavy edits for the next story. It’s got a working title of ‘California’ and covers the events that lead Krystal Cruz into the job in Sandblaster. It’s been a bit of a tough run, because my editor and I both think it needs some additional scenes and expansions to move it to novel length, and because the rest of my life has been pretty busy.

I’ve also got the first story in the Chicago books written in rough draft (Bad Karma goes to Chicago. Alone. And, yes, that does mean bad things happen).

I’m also about to do the last long run for my training cycle for the Nebraska State Fair Marathon (next week) and then get into taper cycle for that. August is going to be busy.

So hang in there. If things go well, I should start getting more of your favorite characters into published stories over the next few months. Getting books out fasters is becoming a bigger priority for me, so expect me to make some changes in how I get them done!

The Blasters and Blades Podcast is Live!

I recorded a podcast episode with Cisca and JR at the Blasters and Blades podcast and it went live today! You can check it out on Youtube here:

or at Anchor.fm here: https://anchor.fm/blasters-and-blades/episodes/Episode-157-Keith-Hedger-The-Karma–It-Burns-e1kfcg4

Go listen, but be warned that it’s a long podcast. We went about 95 minutes. Perfect for your long run or work commute!

Recent Events and New News

thanks, Army.mil!

So a lot has happened in the last couple of months. I hosted my first panel at Desmoinescon (www.desmoinescon.com) and it went over very well. I’m going to work with the con coordinator to attend some future cons as well, and present panels. I might even have a table in the dealers room!

I also recorded a podcast with JR Handley and Cisca Small at The Blasters and Blades Podcast (https://anchor.fm/blasters-and-blades/)! I had a great time, and even picked up a few notes on things I need to do in the future as well as trying to be as entertaining as JR and Cisca. They’ve got a great podcast (available on Youtube and the usual podcast venues). Give them a listen. I think our episode comes out in the next week or so. I’ll post when it does.

And, last, I sold another story to an anthology to Bayonet Books. The anthology requires Santa Claus as a military door kicker/operator type. And, well, I had Phoebe sitting right there. So I have now sold a story about Santa Claus, a sentient tank and a blue haired special operations hacker. That’s got to be a first of some kind. I’ll give more details when the publisher lets us know, but the anthology is targeted to release shortly after Thanksgiving, so look forward to Operation Sleigh Ride!

Thanks for checking in, and I’ll post more soon!

Upcoming Events for May 2022

I have things going on!

Well, May got busy for me as a writer. I’ve already done a book signing at Pella Books during Tulip Time, where I got to meet a lot of great people and even sell a few books.

Tonight (19 May 2022), I’ll be participating in my first podcast as an author with the Blasters and Blades crew. Once JR and Cisca let me know when the episode goes live, I’ll let you know, but having listened to their podcast for a while, this will be fun! I’ll be focusing on how Sandblaster and Amarillo by Fire Fight in Baen Books World Breakers anthology) are connected, with attention to Phoebe the sentient tank and how she came to be.

I’ll also be a panelist at Desmoinescon on Sunday, May 22nd 2022, (11:30 AM in room 107) running a panel about what new writers need to think about (besides telling great stories) when they’re getting started if they want to write for the long term. Des Moines Con also has a slate of other panels and a host of guests, so check it out here!

I’m also wrapping up a short story for an anthology about Santa Claus as a special operations guy (and Phoebe gets to work with Santa in this one) and I’m working with Henchmen Press to build an anthology of military science fiction stories about the E4 Mafia. I’ll post more about that next time, but it’s coming and it’s another new thing in my writing life!

Thanks for everyone’s encouragement and support. My writing world is expanding and I’m doing more in this world, which is scary and cool and fun all at once. I’m also getting some more Burn and Bad Karma stories together. The next one out will be about Bad Karma returning to Chicago!

What I’m up to currently

Bad Karma with hair extensions or if she ever grew her hair out.

Here’s an update on what all projects I’ve got going or coming up:

Working Title Malta: Rough draft in progess and near the end, with Burn and Bad Karma meeting up with the Grey Man from Mexican Escape while everyone is trying to recover something from a yacht in the Mediterranean Sea.

California: the story about Krystal Cruz’s from Sandblaster’s experience in California. This is in major edit phase and should be ready to go out to first readers some time next week.

Chicago Story 1: I completed the rough draft of this story about Bad Karma going to Chicago to follow up leads about her past. I’ll get into edits after California goes out to 1st readers.

Santa Claus Story: This is a story about Phoebe the Tank, Jess Wilser, and Santa Claus that I’m submitting to an anthology about Santa Claus as a high level military operator. Krystal Cruz has it in hand.

Bad Karma Short story: I’ve finished the rough draft on this, but I’m planning to use it for a reader magnet when I get my email list started. Bad Karma, an FBI team, and a guy who couldn’t pay his child support because of the war. Much fun and, surprisingly, no dead bodies in this one.

Once I get a chance, I’ll be outline Chicago Story 2, and developing an outline for an urban fantasy Chosen One story I’ve been thinking about.

Have a great weekend, everyone!