Jon Austin
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jonaustin.bsky.social
Jon Austin
@jonaustin.bsky.social
Husband, father, son, brother, friend, neighbor, human. Communications consultant in the Twin Cities with interests in politics, technology, gadgets and science fiction. Author of "The Mechanic."

https://bit.ly/MeetTaylorValerii
Serious question for the eight senators that broke ranks on the shutdown: what was the point of the last 41 days? If you were going to fold WITHOUT GETTING ANYTHING, why not do it before causing all this pain?

Assuming none of them get back to me, I welcome others to try to explain it to me.
November 10, 2025 at 5:13 PM
When I decided to publish "The Mechanic" I was asked to write down the milestones of success. I came up with five; this was one of them.

Say hello to the newest member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association.

Thanks for being part of the trip!

bit.ly/MeetTaylorVa...
October 17, 2025 at 10:06 PM
September 5, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Check out my interview with Don McCauley on The Authors Show about "The Mechanic!"

bit.ly/the-mechanic...

bit.ly/MeetTaylorVa...

#sciencefiction #scifibooks #artificialintellegence #AI #singularity
August 6, 2025 at 1:36 AM
The guy who wrote a near-future sci-fi novel about AI has thoughts about the current state of the technology and what it means for Minnesota.

jonaustin.substack.com/p/dispatches...

#ai #artificial_intelligence #sciencefiction #singularity
Dispatches from the Future
AI, Minnesota and the Future of Work
jonaustin.substack.com
August 3, 2025 at 8:28 PM
The man pushing China to the top of a new world order.

Party Secretary Wang Lei, the final character profile from "The Mechanic."

bit.ly/MeetTaylorVa...

#ai #aifiction #artificialintelligence #BooksWorthReading #ReadersFavorite #sciencefiction #scifi #scifibooks #technothrillers
July 23, 2025 at 11:48 PM
To quote Terry Benedict in Ocean's 11, "run and hide."
July 22, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Dear GOP -

Never, EVER, tell us again how you're the party of fiscal restraint and the champion of working people. Even in our fact-free world, that shit stinks to high heaven.
July 21, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Reposted by Jon Austin
Give this guy a medal
July 17, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Meet Marshall "Nekko" Konecko. The "glue" who's held his family together through tragedy, is he strong enough to keep a world on the edge of catastrophe from breaking apart?

bit.ly/MeetTaylorVa...
July 15, 2025 at 11:54 PM
In 2035, the world will rest in the hands of a 20-something combat veteran still fighting her demons. Meet Tiffany Shepherd, humanity's emissary to the first sentient AI.

bit.ly/MeetTaylorVa...

#sciencefiction #scifi #scifibooks #aifiction #ai #artificialintelligence #singularity #themechanic
July 7, 2025 at 11:51 PM
In 2036, the first sentient AI will step out of the digital shadows. How will we greet it?

bit.ly/MeetTaylorVa...

#AIFiction #ScienceFiction #scifi #scifibooks #bookstagram
July 2, 2025 at 4:11 AM
Got my first royalty payment today from The Mechanic. Landed surprisingly hard on the emotional scale, right up there with the first time I held a physical copy of the book.

Thank you to everyone who has supported me on this journey. I am so grateful.

www.amazon.com/Mechanic-Tay...
The Mechanic (A Taylor Valerii Novel)
The Mechanic (A Taylor Valerii Novel) [Austin, Jon] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The Mechanic (A Taylor Valerii Novel)
www.amazon.com
June 30, 2025 at 6:26 PM
What’s your favorite reading spot? Under a tree on a warm summer day? A cozy chair next to a window? On airplanes?
May 30, 2025 at 5:51 PM
What's your favorite chapter from THE MECHANIC?

My favorite is Chapter 50, where Taylor reveals itself to the world and makes its pitch for AIs and humanity working together. In some ways, it’s the payoff of the entire book.

Let me know below!
May 29, 2025 at 3:19 PM
In the world of THE MECHANIC, most jobs worth having are either human-required, human-preferred or human-led; which category is yours?

Read more about the future of work in THE MECHANIC at www.amazon.com/Mechanic-Tay....
May 26, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Polly of My Word Publishing and I had some amazing conversations this week about My Word Publishing, working with editors, etc. Videos coming next week!

You can still order THE MECHANIC here: www.amazon.com/Mechanic-Tay...
May 16, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Thank you to @loftliterarycenter.bsky.social for hosting THE MECHANIC last night! A great turnout with great conversations and friends!

More to come!
May 15, 2025 at 12:57 AM
The Mechanic Book Launch in Support of the Loft | The Loft Literary Center
loft.org
May 13, 2025 at 1:53 AM
The AI seeks to be non-threatening yet compelling. Not seductive, not artificial — precise.

Order THE MECHANIC today: www.amazon.com/Mechanic-Tay...

#SciFi #BookRelease #NewAuthor #SciFiCommunity #AI #Future #WritingCommunity #genrefiction #fiction #dystopian
May 12, 2025 at 8:35 PM
“…a thoughtful and impressively sweeping read that had me hooked from beginning to end.” -Jamie Michele for Readers’ Favorite

Hear Jon Austin read THE MECHANIC at @loftliterarycenter.bsky.social on May 13th! loft.org/events/mecha...

#BookRelease #NewAuthor #WritingCommunity #Mn #Minneapolis
The Mechanic Book Launch in Support of the Loft | The Loft Literary Center
loft.org
May 8, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Thank you to Leslie of @MyWordPub for discussing everything THE MECHANIC on my Substack!

Subscribe to read more here: jonaustin.substack.com/p/a-conversa...
A Conversation with Jon Austin on his book The Mechanic
Submitted by Leslie Kinne
jonaustin.substack.com
May 6, 2025 at 2:49 AM
"With China vying for technological dominance, the stakes are global, and the battle for control becomes a fight for survival." - K.C. Finn for Readers’ Favorite

Order THE MECHANIC here: www.amazon.com/Mechanic-Tay...

#SciFi #BookRelease #NewAuthor #SciFiCommunity #AI #Future #WritingCommunity
May 3, 2025 at 4:22 PM
One week in and sales have hit triple digits. I don’t know how other authors feel about such things but this one is thrilled, grateful, amazed and a dozen other emotions. Thank you one and all!

The Mechanic, a near-future AI adventure, on sale now www.amazon.com/Mechanic-Tay...
The Mechanic (A Taylor Valerii Novel)
The Mechanic (A Taylor Valerii Novel) [Austin, Jon] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The Mechanic (A Taylor Valerii Novel)
www.amazon.com
May 1, 2025 at 12:59 AM
I'm hosting a book launch and fundraiser for THE MECHANIC at @loftliterarycenter.bsky.social on May 13th!

Stop by to buy a book and have it signed!

loft.org/events/mecha...

#BookRelease #NewAuthor #WritingCommunity #Minnesota #Minneapolis
April 28, 2025 at 5:16 PM