Discussion

Happy Friday, everyone!

One thing that sets Stars Rain Down apart from most other book projects here at Inkshares is that it's finished. It's a whole and complete novel that's already available to read, as is its sequel. So, rather than posting sample chapters one by one, I've made both books available for free through Amazon.

Biotech Legacy: Stars Rain Down

Biotech Legacy: Long Fall

This giveaway ends tomorrow night, so be sure to grab your copies now!

And I'll be back tomorrow morning with a brand new short story.

Justin Jelinek · Reader · added over 8 years ago
"That absolutely isn't too much to ask! Tune in this Saturday for a brand new adventure featuring the greatest hero of the Hyperbolic Age, Vengar the Barbarian!"

Wahoo!
Chris J. Randolph · Author · added over 8 years ago
"would it be too much to ask for a short story about a certain barbarian named Vengar?"

That absolutely isn't too much to ask! Tune in this Saturday for a brand new adventure featuring the greatest hero of the Hyperbolic Age, Vengar the Barbarian!

If you don't know Vengar, you can read one of his previous adventures free of charge (and Creative Commons licensed) at Medium — Vengar the Barbarian in... The King, His Son, Their Sorcerer & His Lover!
Justin Jelinek · Reader · added over 8 years ago
would it be too much to ask for a short story about a certain barbarian named Vengar? 

Aloha, good people!

In my last update a few days ago, I introduced myself and told you about my goals here, then started getting hyped for the difficult campaign ahead. Unfortunately, my momentum was almost immediately blunted later that afternoon when I had to rush my cat (and de facto mascot) to the vet. He'd sustained a pretty severe injury to his tail that necessitated an amputation, and none of us here were sure if he was going to pull through or not.

I'm now positively ecstatic to report that Fang is back home and very, very irritated at his new piece of wardrobe.

...which means I can now return my attention to the task of winning this dang contest!

Stars Rain Down currently has 24 pre-orders, which leaves us just a paltry 53 copies outside of the leader board. That's nothing, right? We'll make up the distance in a flash. :D

In order to help that along, I'm announcing an exciting new part of the campaign today: From now until September 30th, I'll be writing and releasing short stories right here in the updates. What sort of stories? Well, that's where you come in, dear reader! Post your ideas in the comments, and I'll choose one every few days and post up the results. It can be anything at all... Write a story about me defeating a giant with a spork! Write a story about an astronaut who discovers alien life in the space station's refrigerator! Write a story about monkeys!

The sky isn't the limit. There is no limit.

As an added bonus, if you're a Super Reader (meaning you've pre-ordered 3 or more copies), your story idea will automatically be chosen! I'm here writing to order, busking for your entertainment. New stories will go up Monday, Thursday, and Saturday.

Let's get this ball rolling!

*tap tap tap* Is this thing on?

Hi there! Some of you know me and others don't, so let's start at the beginning — My name's Chris and I'm a writer. I always have been. While other kids were outside breathing fresh air, throwing balls around, and soaking up sunshine, I was busy dreaming up strange worlds and discovering clever ways to turn a phrase.

That's me in summary, more or less: big imagination and an even bigger mouth.

I've always seen storytelling as a magical pursuit... it's the practice of weaving new realities out of emptiness, using nothing but the jumble of words in your head. With it, you can make your audience laugh, cry, shudder with fear and bubble over with anger. You can inspire them, inform them, surprise them, and even arouse them. It's a field of infinite possibilities bounded only by your own imagination and your ability to place one word after another.

That's pretty damned magical, isn't it?

It's all I've ever wanted to master—all I've ever truly set my mind to—and (if you'll forgive a little pride) I think I'm rather good at it.

Unfortunately, there are some important skills and traits that I lack completely, mostly in the field of sales and self-promotion. I find it nearly impossible to ask for what I want, and if anyone has ever described me as persistent, they were surely being sarcastic. While there are dogged salespeople in this world who can sell ice to Inuits, I'd struggle to sell them a space heater.

But that has to change. Why? Because this contest is important to me. I want the grand prize enough to fight for it, and I believe in my book. I really, really believe in this book.

I'm a long-time fan of Chris Hardwick and the Nerdist crew, and Stars Rain Down is my bid to join them. To get there, I'm going to have to become a different me... one who chases after opportunities, sinks his teeth in and never lets go. I have to become that new me because the old one can't win this.

It starts here. I've sold 16 pre-orders so far and I need another 27 to get on the leader board. I'd need 176 to pull into first place, and that's exactly where I'm setting my sights.

Thank you so much for reading, for ordering, and for believing. Still, I've got a lot of work ahead of me, and I can't do it alone. Please share this campaign with the people in your life, and let's see what we can accomplish together.

~Chris