Dan Ellrick
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dan2042.bsky.social
Dan Ellrick
@dan2042.bsky.social
340 followers 410 following 110 posts
Writer, lover of real and fictional space stuff, life in Japan, and Jesus. Voted for Kamala.
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dan2042.bsky.social
This free short stories promo will end soon.
Check it out today.😁🧐
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Other hashtags for books: #SpaceOpera #mustread #readers #bookworms #TBR #WIPSnips #ShamelessSelfPromotion #writesky #writingcommunity #BookSky #SciFan #SFF #ScienceFiction
Short Story Smorgasbord
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November 24, 2025 at 1:40 AM
dan2042.bsky.social
For #WIPSnips "crystal." From the rough draft of Interstellar Refugees Book-4. #ShamelessSelfPromotion #writesky #writingcommunity #BookSky #SciFan #SFF #ScienceFiction
“Anyway, at this point, it's just a heads up, but my crystal ball says we have a trip to Titan in our future. So, start working on a plan. You’ll likely need to rebuild to make more interior space for cabins, supplies, and fuel. And you’ll need some trajectory profile options ready for when Miharu asks. Also, you and I both need to let Amber know we will be unavailable for a while.” “The Anglican church does not approve of crystal ball gazing. So, please don’t mention that when we have premarital counseling with Bishop Martins.” Limei threw a lap pillow at the camera. “It’s just an expression, silly cowboy. I don’t have a crystal ball. And what’s this about premarital counseling? All we need is someone to conduct the wedding.” Cirrus shook his head. “Bishop Martin’s not that easy. He made Jeff and Aiko go through a ton of counseling before he agreed to marry them. Apparently, it’s a standard
November 22, 2025 at 11:36 AM
dan2042.bsky.social
For #WIPSnips "direction." From the rough draft of Interstellar Refugees Book-4. #ShamelessSelfPromotion #writesky #writingcommunity #BookSky #SciFan #SFF #ScienceFiction
Martins nodded and turned to Cirrus. “Anything to add?” “No, not really.” Cirrus focused on the Stetson in his lap, turning it in different directions as if examining it for clues. He’d been a bit embarrassed ever since the discussion about sex. “Okay, then. We might circle back in a bit, but for now, let’s go on to today’s topic. Have the two of you talked about children much? For example, how many you might want and when? And, for you two, I also need to ask, how?” Limei frowned slightly. “Kids? Well, that’s a bit complicated, and…” Limei trailed off and looked to Cirrus for help.
November 21, 2025 at 12:12 PM
dan2042.bsky.social
For #WIPSnips "special." From the rough draft of Interstellar Refugees Book-4. #ShamelessSelfPromotion #writesky #writingcommunity #BookSky #SciFan #SFF #ScienceFiction
She also checked out Daiki’s profile to her right, indulging in the memory of the crush she once had on the former Japan Special Forces Group officer and then government intelligence agent. On her first trip home after her role as ambassador for the Teewuns was announced, the Prime Minister of Japan had assigned Daiki as Miharu’s bodyguard. They had bonded after Pakistani commandos launched multiple missiles at their helicopter, forcing them to jump out into an ice-cold lake. While fleeing through the snow-covered Hidaka Mountains in northern Japan, they had wondered whether the commandos or hypothermia would kill them first. Before they were safe, they had both killed to protect themselves—and each other.
November 21, 2025 at 12:06 PM
dan2042.bsky.social
For #WIPSnips "third." From the rough draft of Interstellar Refugees Book-4. #ShamelessSelfPromotion #writesky #writingcommunity #BookSky #SciFan #SFF #ScienceFiction
Miharu nodded. “Okay, Senior Scholar Ilyon, the Titan Colony and Teewun physiology—that’s two taboo topics. What’s the third?” Ilyon sighed and leaned back into his chair. “What is the saying? The last shall be first? Well, the third topic was the first one we made taboo. The Council decided this soon after our scientists determined that Earth was home to a sentient species. It’s taboo to tell humans what happened to our home system.” Miharu caught her breath. Thousands of humans had asked the Teewuns, “What happened to your home planets?” But every inquiry was rebuffed.
November 20, 2025 at 8:36 AM
dan2042.bsky.social
Hey, Scifi and Fantasy lovers. Check out these free books:
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November 19, 2025 at 3:32 AM
dan2042.bsky.social
Hey, everyone,
My book, Finding Friends, is free on Monday and Tuesday. Don't miss this chance!
www.amazon.com/dp/B0FKW1C8QJ

#ShamelessSelfPromotion #BookSky #SciFan #SFF #ScienceFiction #SpaceOpera #readers #mustread #readers #bookworms #TBR #WIPSnips #writesky #writingcommunity
Interstellar Refugees
Visit Amazon's Interstellar Refugees Page and shop for all Interstellar Refugees books. Check out pictures, author information, and reviews of Interstellar Refugees
www.amazon.com
November 17, 2025 at 8:59 AM
dan2042.bsky.social
For #WIPSnips "spend." From the rough draft of Interstellar Refugees Book-4. #ShamelessSelfPromotion #writesky #writingcommunity #BookSky #SciFan #SFF #ScienceFiction
“Captain Riko, Petty Officer First Class Elijah Dawkins off Lyndon B. Johnson, requesting permission to come aboard. I’m delivering three thou-sand kilograms of steel bars for ballast and twelve thermos bottles of assorted hot soups for storm rations. And, if you’ll have me, I’ll stay aboard to assist during the typhoon.” Captain Riko gave the sailor a skeptical once over. “How much expe-rience do you have sailing yachts in storms? I don’t need any NUBs.” Dawkins held his salute and stood rock solid without apparent effort as the utility drone pitched and rolled on the waves, its engines whining with the power required to stay alongside Serendipity without banging into it. “During sixteen years of cruising with my parents on an Oceanis 43, I’ve seen a dozen North Atlantic storms and two Gulf hurricanes. This will be my first typhoon, ma’am, but I don’t want to spend it on a destroyer. Can’t properly feel the sea on a steel ship.”
November 17, 2025 at 8:56 AM
Reposted by Dan Ellrick
emilysue.bsky.social
i just read something about grief from C.S. Lewis and his book, “A Grief Observed”

basically, when someone you love dies, it isn’t just them that you miss, but the parts of yourself that person brought out of you that can never be brought out again.

i feel that with my dad.
November 16, 2025 at 11:51 AM
dan2042.bsky.social
#ShamelessSelfPromotion #BookSky #SciFan #SFF #ScienceFiction #readers #mustread #readers #bookworms #TBR

Don't forget to grab your free short stories before this promotion ends! 😄📚

A prequel story for my Interstellar Refugees trilogy is included. 😁📖

books.bookfunnel.com/short-story-...
Short Story Smorgasbord
All reads less than an hour!
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November 15, 2025 at 2:11 AM
dan2042.bsky.social
For #WIPSnips "little." From the rough draft of Interstellar Refugees Book-4. #ShamelessSelfPromotion #writesky #writingcommunity #BookSky #SciFan #SFF #ScienceFiction
 “Thank you, Cirrus.” Miharu swept a few more notecards to the right on the smart desk. “This is probably a good place to say a little more about the term papers. I want fifteen to twenty thousand words from each of you explaining your thoughts on the best diplomatic approach for establishing formal relationships with sentient AIs. I will provide some background files about three sentient AIs for your reference. The first file will be about Dr. Aiko Trapp, the second will be about Cirrus, and the third will be about Addy, my former personal AI assistant, who became self-aware after integrating software upgrade packages provided by Dr. Trapp. All three of these cases are complex in surprising ways, but you'll see that in the files.”
November 8, 2025 at 9:16 AM
dan2042.bsky.social
Free this weekend (Sat. & Sun.)
Dialing Earth, book one of the Interstellar Refugees trilogy
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B...

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Dialing Earth (Interstellar Refugees Book 1)
Amazon.com: Dialing Earth (Interstellar Refugees Book 1) eBook : Ellrick, Daniel: Kindle Store
www.amazon.com
November 7, 2025 at 11:03 PM
dan2042.bsky.social
For #WIPSnips "movement." From the rough draft of Interstellar Refugees Book-4. #ShamelessSelfPromotion #writesky #writingcommunity #BookSky #SciFan #SFF #ScienceFiction
Miharu sucked in a deep breath. The precise and methodical way Cirrus had made the s’mores had reminded her of a Catholic priest preparing the bread and wine. Now, she wondered, was Cirrus also signaling something? A delicious snack made with slow movements. Opportunity and caution? After a long silence, she nodded. “You’re right. And I hadn’t even thought of that. Let’s talk again after I see what Captain Chelya has to say. Meanwhile, start working on some options for getting us there.”
November 7, 2025 at 9:03 AM
dan2042.bsky.social
For #WIPSnips "trail." From the rough draft of Interstellar Refugees Book-4. #ShamelessSelfPromotion #writesky #writingcommunity #BookSky #SciFan #SFF #ScienceFiction
“That girl has caught it bad. I wonder if she understands what she’s getting into—falling in love with an AI?” Jeff shrugged. “She’s had counseling from Carol, and Limei and I have talked it over a lot. I was the first one on this path; she’s the second. But honestly, I think relationships between sentient AIs and humans are more difficult for the AI than for the human. So, the bigger question is, ‘Does Cirrus understand what he’s getting into?’” Amber was still looking at the hatch. “At least the feelings between them are mutual. Not like a one-sided love…” her voice trailed off into silence. Miharu thought she saw dampness in Amber’s eyes. I’ve never asked her why she stayed single. After a moment, she cleared her throat. “Okay, everyone. Time to do the zero-g shuffle to the transport pod and get back into gravity—or at least spin-induced, artificial gravity.” She grinned, then turned and moved down the lime-green triangle-marked path, carefully keeping her feet flat on the floor.
November 6, 2025 at 9:00 AM
dan2042.bsky.social
books.bookfunnel.com/short-story-... Your click adds to my Bookfunnel share score, and you might discover a new favorite author. Thank you!

#ShamelessSelfPromotion #BookSky #SciFan #SFF #ScienceFiction #SpaceOpera #readers #mustread #readers #bookworms #TBR #WIPSnips #writesky #writingcommunity
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November 6, 2025 at 1:33 AM
dan2042.bsky.social
For #WIPSnips "nice." From the rough draft of Interstellar Refugees Book-4. #ShamelessSelfPromotion #writesky #writingcommunity #BookSky #SciFan #SFF #ScienceFiction
“Hi, beautiful!” he said. Limei blushed. Sometimes he makes me feel like I'm fourteen. “How long until we leave orbit?” A timer appeared on the wall over Cirrus’s right shoulder, and he pointed at it with his thumb. “Three minutes until we burn for escape velocity.” “Can we start the trip with low acceleration so I can enjoy a nice shower?” Cirrus doffed his wide cowboy hat. “Of course, Limei. I'll limit the acceleration to one gravity for the first hour. That should give you time to shower and eat before I ramp it up to three gravities.” “Thanks, lover.” Now Cirrus blushed as Limei unbuckled and headed for the shower.
November 3, 2025 at 8:50 AM
dan2042.bsky.social
For #WIPSnips "ancestor." From the rough draft of Interstellar Refugees Book-4. #ShamelessSelfPromotion #writesky #writingcommunity #BookSky #SciFan #SFF #ScienceFiction
Limei left Cirrus Fire and launched herself across the zero-g hangar, directly for the transport pod entrance, with the silver and bronze cases clipped to her belt. A few nearby Teewuns stopped to watch as she caught the bar on the back of the open floor hatch cover and somersaulted over it to drop herself in the bench-style pod seat. They loved watching her; in zero-g, Limei was poetry in motion; her movements possessed an exquisite grace no Teewun could match. Popular opinion held that such grace was only possible for species whose ancestors had flown from tree to tree. Teewuns, descended from burrowers in warrens and caves, had other gifts. Limei held herself down with her left hand while she pulled the lap bar down with her right and said, “Hi, Pod. Medical Center, please.” “Certainly, Limei. But, if you’re going to medical again so soon, I hope everything is okay.” Limei looked at the implant cases at her side and beamed. “Pod, everything is wonderful and getting better.” She leaned back into the seat, deeply content.
November 1, 2025 at 11:05 AM
dan2042.bsky.social
For #WIPSnips "monster." From the rough draft of Interstellar Refugees Book-4. #ShamelessSelfPromotion #writesky #writingcommunity #BookSky #SciFan #SFF #ScienceFiction
Zach gently lifted Chloey’s leg off his lap and sat up, then leaned toward Sandy. “First, amen to what Cirrus said— except maybe the romantic love part. That’s important for me and a lot of people, but not for everyone.” He glanced at Chloey and waved an ear. “That’s a point for me for the first appropriate use of the word of the day.” The group ignored the young pair’s English study games. Zach returned his attention to Sandy. “The word courage came up earlier. Courage overcomes fear; without fear, there is no real courage. If you face something scary—for example, a hideous monster, and overcome your fear, that’s courage. And courageous action is the stuff of heroes, even if the monster eats you—that’s something Limei taught me—I didn’t figure it out by myself. And the world needs heroes. But you can’t be a hero unless you feel fear and overcome it. Sandy, you could be a hero someday, but only if you become sentient because the path to becoming a hero begins with feeling terrified.”
October 31, 2025 at 11:19 AM
dan2042.bsky.social
#SpaceOpera #mustread #readers #bookworms #TBR #writesky #writingcommunity #BookSky #SciFan #SFF #ScienceFiction

This free promo will expire soon. If you like SciFi, grab a couple of books before it ends.
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Indie Space Adventure
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October 27, 2025 at 11:45 AM
dan2042.bsky.social
For #WIPSnips "hat." From the rough draft of Interstellar Refugees Book-4. #ShamelessSelfPromotion #writesky #writingcommunity #BookSky #SciFan #SFF #ScienceFiction
Limei put down her chopsticks and pushed her VR chair back, patting her stomach in appreciation of the garlic chili oil drenched Biangbiang noodles that Cirrus had simulated for their dinner. “Cirrus, that was wonderful. The taste and texture were perfect. Where in the world did you get the code for Shaanxi-style noodles?” Cirrus touched his cowboy hat and nodded in thanks for the compliment. “I wish I could say I developed it myself, but, in truth, Addy sent it to me. She has an advantage—a dozen Chinese chef friends with new visors who can tell her when she gets dishes just right.” Limei felt like she should at least pretend to be jealous of Addy’s influence on her man, but she couldn’t help but laugh out loud. Her trust in Cirrus was granite solid. But an inner voice chastised her. Then why haven’t you talked to him about… I will.
October 26, 2025 at 8:06 AM
dan2042.bsky.social
Check out my new book trailer for Interstellar Refugees. My older WIPSnips are from this. New Snips are from Book4.

#ShamelessSelfPromotion #BookSky #SciFan #SFF #ScienceFiction #SpaceOpera #readers #bookworms #SpaceOpera #mustread #readers #bookworms #TBR #WIPSnips #writesky #writingcommunity
October 25, 2025 at 11:53 AM
dan2042.bsky.social
For #WIPSnips "total." From the rough draft of Interstellar Refugees Book-4. #ShamelessSelfPromotion #writesky #writingcommunity #BookSky #SciFan #SFF #ScienceFiction
Miharu relaxed and plowed on. “So, why am I standing up here? Because I’m the first human with actual experience in Interstellar Diplomacy. How did I get that experience? Well, it all started two years and four months ago when I got a message from a dating app called Friends, Maybe More. Has anyone else here used the FMM app?” Everyone glanced around and spotted the three hands that had gone up. A rumble of soft laughter followed. “For dating, FMM was a total bust for me. I never got a message from a guy over FMM that I wanted to have dinner with, let alone anything more. But I did get a message from someone named Dr. Aiko Trapp, a woman who said she was looking for a friend.” A hand went up. Good, Miharu thought. This always goes better once people start asking questions. She looked at the young Teewun and, after an instant, remembered his name was Zach. “Yes, Zach.” “Was that the same Dr. Aiko Trapp that the Kizunor sent to Earth as an internet worm long ago? And the same one who just served as the arbitrator for the United Nations panel?” Several humans gasped in shock and confusion.
October 25, 2025 at 2:54 AM
dan2042.bsky.social
For #WIPSnips "dodge." From the rough draft of Interstellar Refugees Book-4. #ShamelessSelfPromotion #writesky #writingcommunity #BookSky #SciFan #SFF #ScienceFiction
Jeff nodded and continued. “Miharu seems open to the possibility of representing him in negotiations with Earth, but not with Kizunor. But—a big but—Dalyet insists that Miharu should visit Titan Colony first so she can understand what he has to offer in trade to Earth. He says she has to see it to understand, and he refuses to explain in advance.” Jeff paused to shake his head in disbelief at Dalyet’s demand. “Lastly, he wants my wife or my daughter to join Miharu for the trip to Titan, but he also hasn’t explained why he wants a sentient AI to visit Titan.” “I’m not going,” Ai and Addy chimed in unison. Jeff exhaled loudly. “Good. This whole thing is as dodgy as half-price sushi, and I don’t want my family mixed up in it. But— “Jeff sucked in a deep breath, “as RRI’s chief of security, I need to stay close to Miharu. So, I’m going.”
October 18, 2025 at 6:59 PM
dan2042.bsky.social
For #WIPSnips "push." From the rough draft of Interstellar Refugees Book-4. #ShamelessSelfPromotion #writesky #writingcommunity #BookSky #SciFan #SFF #ScienceFiction
Limei was waiting in the zero-g hanger when Cirrus Fire arrived. As Miharu, Amber, Jeff, and Daiki came out, she gave them each a firm hug and said a few words of greeting. Then she disappeared into Cirrus Fire and closed the hatch behind her. Miharu laughed and called Cirrus through her visor. “Hey, Cirrus. I know you and your girl want some private time, but tell her if she wants her present, she should come back out for a moment.” A moment later, the hatch reopened, and Limei pushed off from the ship and floated slowly to Miharu, stopping herself with a hand on Miharu’s shoulder. “Is it true? Did you really bring me implants and a visor?”
October 13, 2025 at 4:10 PM
dan2042.bsky.social
#ShamelessSelfPromotion #BookSky #SciFan #SFF #ScienceFiction #SpaceOpera #readers #bookworms #SpaceOpera #mustread #WIPSnips #WIPSnips #writesky #writingcommunity #BookSky #SciFan #SFF #ScienceFiction

Wow! I did not expect this!
Three for Free -last day (Oct 13th)
www.amazon.com/dp/B0FKW1C8QJ
Book cover images for Daniel Ellrick's Interstellar Refugees trilogy.
October 13, 2025 at 7:36 AM