Have you heard the news that “Tentacles: Night Of The Machines” by debut novelist Paul M. Harper, was a finalist in the American Writing Awards? Why am I sharing a book someone else wrote? Because I spent weeks helping him transform the version he initially sent me, into the version he submitted to his publisher. Because he’s not only a fellow Australian but a fellow Victorian. Because it’s an interesting story.

It was my first time editing someone else’s novel and a process I won’t be repeating again this year :). It felt good being able to share some of what I’ve learned about writing over the last 10+ years with someone else willing to learn. If you are a budding author research “showing instead of telling”, it’s one of the biggest lessons you can learn to improve your readability.

“Tentacles: Night of the Machines” blends science fiction, politics, history, and spiritual themes into a global thriller set across Melbourne, Washington D.C., London, and Tokyo. Unlike familiar alien-invasion stories, Harper imagines a peaceful race known as the Elke — three million refugees searching for a home.

Key themes in the book include:

• Communication as the foundation of trust
• Immigration, ethics, and global responsibility
• The influence of multinational powers
• Faith, conscience, and the courage of ordinary people
• The dangers of misinformation
• Cooperation without compromise

If you want to give us both Christmas presents this year

• Grab yourself a digital or physical copy
• Leave an online review
• Share it on your social media
• Ask your friends if they’ve read it
• Request it at your local book store if you still have one
• Request it at your local library
• Buy extra copies for Christmas gifts

It’s the first in the series of a planned trilogy, so hopefully before Christmas next year, book two will be out.