Jan 8, 2016
My apologies before we begin tonight’s update. It will be a bit long. Here’s a handy Table of Contents. Skip ahead as you see fit, though you’ll miss out on some good stuff. Start at the start and see....
-=ONE=- A quick Animal in Man update
-=TWO=- Some damn fine inkshares books worth your attention & funding
-=THREE=- A link to my 300-reader raffle
So, part ONE:
The Sword and Laser campaign has been my singular life focus for the last several weeks, but that doesn’t mean I have not been writing bits and pieces of “The Animal in Man.” I assure you I have! Mostly scrawled scenes on scraps of paper. Some are ideas to make existing scenes more gloriously violent, more meaningful. Others are Eureka! moments in which I finally realize exactly how to tie off a loose end, snip it, and seamlessly fold it into the rest of the narrative. The bottom line is, dear readers, that I’ve never been more excited to write “The Animal in Man.” I know all of you are watching me. I will deliver a one-of-a-kind experience. This story is unlike any story I’ve ever experienced, and I’ve experienced a lot. You're going to like it.
Part TWO:
Thomas J. Arnold and I share a lot of the same inkshares followers. He’s one of the most talented writers I’ve read. The world he’s building for his Exile series is one of the most unique I’ve visited. The campaign for book one “Exile, Magus” is less than two weeks from its conclusion, and Mr. Arnold needs your help. He deserves your help. I’ve already purchased a SET of copies, and I want you to fill in the rest. I know there are some credits unclaimed in your emails, or stuck to the wall of your inkshares account (upper right corner, to be exact). Claim or unstick accordingly and CLICK HERE to go help fund Thomas J. Arnold’s “Exile, Magus”.
Even though he’s in less immediate need of your help compared with the previous author, Kevin Bragg’s work is just as deserving of your time. It’s been really hard to get out of this campaign chair, stretch my legs, and stroll around the inkshares books lately. But I went for a walk today and ran into Kevin’s book “Transilience”. It is amazing. It is futuristic noir. I know! Even just saying that is thrilling! The atmosphere, the writing… they all just hit the right buttons for me. CLICK HERE and check out this great story.
Yesterday morning I was late to work because I literally could not stop reading Kelsey Rae Barthel’s “Beyond the Code”. Hot damn this story is full of action! At least the first chapter is, and I trust there's more. The whole thing is just one continuous fight between two badasses. I’ve told Ms. Barthel that the setting, the setup, the sword-swings all remind me of some of the darkest, most sinister places I’ve visited in my long career as a video gamer. The pace is just as riveting and intense as what I'd gladly call a GOTY (uh, that's Game of the Year). I know you’ll enjoy it. CLICK HERE to see for yourself how right I am about that.
And THREE:
Why was there a lot less fanfare about my fourth reader-raffle giveaway? Why no facebook post or update the day-of? Well, because as you’ll see in the video (by CLICKING HERE), I am simply not satisfied. You can hear it in my voice (uh, I literally say it, yeah, but I mean, like, the tone too). I want to take this campaign through the roof, through the clouds. The sky’s not the limit, it turns out. I’m not in it for the money, never was, never will be. I’m in it to prove that there are folks who think my work’s worth a damn.
Being a writer… as many of you know… you can hit several periods of agonizingly painful, crippling self-doubt. I’ve been to the dark side. I’ve had those low periods when it seemed whatever I produced was worthless, and I had those abysmal stretches of time that followed soon afterward when what I produced was simply nothing at all.
But I’m coming around. The glimmer of light has me. All of you who follow me, who follow “The Animal in Man,” some who’ve known me forever, some who I’ve just met, you guys know I’m good. Your gravity is pulling me in. What can I say? I’m ADDICTED to this feeling of validation that seeing you give of yourselves brings me. ...so 300’s not enough.
Although in the video you’ll see I set a limit for our next raffle, I plan to thoroughly leave that milestone in the dust too.
Thank you, Animals. Sincerely,
From your Animal in Chief,
Joseph Asphahani