Discussion

(This should be a single email ONLY if you do not follow my other book, The Battle for Oz.)  

Get A FREE Book Now!!!

Well... not this book. I’m sure you already have a copy. But... I’m talking about my newest title on Inkshares, Whispers of the Wind! And what I meant to say was, you can now READ the entire book, all 65,841 words, for free as part of its participation in the 2020 All-Genre Manuscript Contest!

So... what is the book about? 

Seventeen-year-old Robb is the king of Zeruko. He, and his twin sister Myra, ascended the throne after their father’s passing. According to many, King Daemon-arch-nemesis and ruler of Tentazoa-murdered the late king. But despite the claims, Robb believes his father is still alive.

With a desire to bring his father home, Robb leaves Zeruko with his trusted friend Spion. The pair travel to the realms of the universe through the magic of raindrops. From the hazardous trip behind enemy lines to the festive East Asian-esque Meihua; from the kingdom hovering above the clouds to the heterogeneous society of a tunneled realm, every step in his journey uncovers a gem of his past, present, and future. And in one foresight, Robb learns the daunting fate of Zeruko.

 (Book cover below)  

You can read more about the book on the book page, alongside all chapters ready to be devoured in your spare time.  The book is also open for pre-orders, should you wish to fund it. That being said, if you love realm travel, magic, and youthful adventures, do give Whispers of the Wind a try! I would really appreciate it.

READ ’WHISPERS OF THE WIND’ NOW!

It’s publication day! But... am I playing with fire?

Yes, it’s May 29! And I’m about to ask you to leave a review on The Slave Prince... on publication day. So tell me, am I playing with fire? I sure hope not!

If you’ve finished reading The Slave Prince and have thoughts you’d like to share about it, please consider leaving a review on Goodreads and Amazon. The more reviews there are on these platforms, the better it is for the book... especially when it has just hit the market! So, if it isn’t too much of a hassle, please do leave a review. 

Also, since it’s pub day, could you give the book a shout out on your social media platforms (again)? I know, I’m asking a lot--sheesh, when do these requests stops, am I right? But... please? Pretty please? Insta your copy of the book and tag me on Instagram. Help get #TheSlavePrince trending on Twitter with THIS QUICK LINK. And... go cray cray on Facebook with your thoughts on the book!  

It’s May 29--it’s the middle of the week. But who cares? It’s pub day! Let’s celebrate crossing the finish line together! 

PS, I’ll be doing a Twitter takeover on Young Entertainment Magazine on May 31st (EST 7pm). Yes, I’ll be tweeting from their account! I plan to answer questions, share excerpts, and more! So... if you’re on Twitter, be sure to hop on on that day!
You can SOON read The Slave Prince!

If you’ve pre-ordered a paperback copy of The Slave Prince, it is now on its way to you. If you’ve pre-ordered an ebook, Inkshares will send it to you 2 weeks before May 29th. Yes, you can soon read The Slave Prince

*Here’s the book on Inkshare’s desk!*

To everyone who supported the book back in 2016, thank you again for making this a reality. You are a huge contributor to this project and the book wouldn’t be here today without you. Thank you so very much--you made this dream a reality!

With that said, allow me to be a little brazen today. If you’re excited to read the book, could you share your excitement on your social media platforms? Take a snapshot when your copy arrives and post it on Instagram! TWEET THIS on your twitter account! SHARE THIS on your Facebook! Don’t forget to tag @jeynagrace and #TheSlavePrince too. Your influence on social media will give the book the boost it needs to compete with the big boys--there’s only so much a small fry can do. And thank you, in advance, for utilising your influence. Really, thank you! 

Honestly, no words can express how grateful I am to have you a part of this journey. We did it... together! It might not feel like you did much, but you kick-started the production of this book! So I truly, truly hope you enjoy The Slave Prince.

I thought long and hard about the cover...

Should I stick with the crown of blood or should I head in a different direction? I chose a different direction. And this... is the result.

Why constellations? Why is there a crown in the sky? Why is Thom standing on grass? OK, so I don’t know why he’s standing on grass. But for the first two questions, the answers are in the book. I guess its safe to say, this cover reflects the content of the book more than the title itself. And that... makes it even more awesome. Oh, I can’t wait to see it in print! Can you?

Aside from this new cover, the content of the book is well on its way to publication. It has been sent to the media and influencers for the pre-launch marketing campaign. So, the next time you hear from me, the book will be on its way to you.

*IMPORTANT NOTE: If you ordered a paperback, log into your Inkshares account to double check your shipping address. Be sure it is the correct place you’d like the book to be sent to. If you have trouble logging in, please contact hello@inkshares.com for assistance.

Well, that’s about it for this short update. I hope you like the cover, as much as I and the team at Inkshares do. Until you hear from me again, have a wonderful week ahead!

2017 Round Up

As the year comes to a close, I have a few awesome announcements to make regarding The Slave Prince.

First, the book has (almost) completed copy editing! Cover design is next and I cannot wait for it to begin. It’s the best part of book production -- seeing a new, fancy cover that would soon sit on bookshelves. I’m excited!

Second, the book has a release date! May 29, 2018. Coincidentally, it’s one day before my mum’s birthday. So it’s going to be a celebratory week!

Third, feast your eyes on the map below. This world map was made by John Robin, my super author friend with undeniable talent. And if you think revealing the map is a #spoiler, it isn’t. Because... it’s not the only map in the book! There’ll be a kingdom map too!


With three awesome announcements to end 2017, I definitely have a lot to be thankful about this year. 

Even though it took some time -- waiting for the book to start production -- I’m so thankful that things are falling into place. I’m thankful that you supported my book last year, and have been patiently waiting for its publication. I’m thankful for the team at Inkshares, who’re helping me better the book in every aspect. And I’m thankful for everyone who has continued to encourage me, with a desire to see my book become a success. Indeed, it’s a very merry Christmas and a happy new year for me. And I hope... it is the same for you too.

Looking forward, I believe 2018 is going to be a good year. No matter what happens -- whether I find success or don’t -- it’s still going to be better than 2017. So please remain seated -- the ride isn’t over.

Till my next update, have a merry Christmas, happy holidays, and a wonderful new year!

It’s August again.

One year ago, The Slave Prince entered the Geek & Sundry Fantasy Contest. Boy oh boy, weren’t those days fun? I remember hustling you for support, checking my book’s status daily, and worrying if I could tough it out till October. It sure doesn’t feel like a year ago with such an experience. But, I’m glad I did it all.

One year later - this very month itself - The Slave Prince begins production. Yes, the ball is rolling! But as much as I’m celebrating, I have my work cut out for me. And I have to say, it’ll take a while before the book will be in print. 

A week ago I received developmental notes from Inkshares’ Story Head, and just last Wednesday I responded with my rewrite outline. To make The Slave Prince better, some scenes have to be changed, more world building needs to take place, and a deeper drive must be given to the characters. So, I’ve decided to put writing the sequel of my trilogy on hold to focus on this novel. And I hope, I really hope, that I’ll be able to get the book ready for copyediting by the end of this year.

With all that said, there’ll be silence in the coming months. But the next time I write to you, I should be done with developmental editing. Now, it’s time I put my gameface on - it’s time I finish this race.

MID-YEAR UPDATE

I’m guessing most of you, at this point of time, might’ve completely forgotten about my book. Which is fine by me - a blessing, in fact. However, I don’t want to take your patience for granted. So thank you for waiting. Thank you for understanding. And thank you for, as odd as this might sound, the silence. 

Since I’m writing today, you’re probably wondering if there’s good news. Alas, I write this update simply to say I’m still waiting. I submitted my manuscript and all the related documents on March 31st. Since then, I’ve decided to trust that The Slave Prince will start production in its own perfect timing. Silly, I know. What kind of gullible faith is that? However, I choose to believe that the day The Slave Prince is made, is the right day for it to be made. I don’t know when that will be - it could be in 2018 (I hope) - but I believe.

Recently, I wrote a blog post about the perfect timing. It’s sort of my life’s motto (you can read the whole post here: https://jeynagrace.wordpress.com/2017/06/01/the-perfect-timing/). Naturally, I approach this novel with the same mindset. Since it took 3 years to find the right place for The Slave Prince, what’s a few more years? At the end of the day, The Slave Prince is simply a part of my writing journey - it isn’t the finish line.

With all that said, I hope you’ll continue to wait with me. I truly appreciate all you’ve done - supporting the book during the contest, and post-contest with your syndicates (those were such pleasant surprises). I’m looking forward to the day I present you with my book. But until then, believe with me - its perfect time will come.

It’s 2017!

But I’m afraid... I have no news on when The Slave Prince will hit the shelves. 

At the moment, I’m waiting for Inkshares to request for my manuscript. With a long list of books to publish, I can only hope I’ll be contacted soon. But while we wait, here’s an interesting article on Inkshares’ book production timeline. 


It explains how their books are made - the steps required and their time frames. TL;DR It takes 12-18 months to produce a novel upon manuscript submission. So with that said, it is safe to assume The Slave Prince will only be out in 2018. 


The wait is agonisingly long, I know. However, I plan to use the time to tinker with the manuscript again. And while I do that, I’ll be pitching my other novel to traditional publishers, embarking on a new fantasy blog series, and writing a whole lot more. 

If you’re interested in joining me on my bookish endeavours, while diving into free fictional reads, head over to my blog: https://jeynagrace.wordpress.com/ It should fill your time while waiting for The Slave Prince. Once the book starts production, I’ll be sure to update you.

To all those who recently asked about the book, thank you for your excitement. Knowing you’re as eager as I am makes my day. To the rest, thank you for your patience. It is very much appreciated. Please remain seated, as I’ll be back.

Happy (belated) New Year everyone! 

And Happy (early) Lunar New Year to those who celebrate!

 
(*No. I will not apologise for the cat memes. No.)
Frequently Asked Questions

Apologies for the radio silence! It’s about time I said something. And I believe some of you might have questions in regards to the book, so I thought of answering the common ones today. If you have any further questions, you can find me on Facebook and Twitter. Feel free to ask away on those platforms.

1. What’s the next step for The Slave Prince?
Having spoken with Inkshares a few weeks ago, nothing is set in stone yet. But when the book production launches, hopefully soon, the manuscript will be submitted for developmental editing.

2. When will I get the book?
There’s a possibility that Inkshares might be able to include The Slave Prince in their Fall 2017 catalogue. If they do, the book will be out in time for next Christmas! And you know what makes awesome Christmas gifts? Books! 

3. What is your royalty share from all the pre-orders made during the contest period?
Nil. I do not make any royalties. All the funds collected from the pre-orders you made will be used to subsidize the cost of the book’s publication.

4. How many words is The Slave Prince?
The final manuscript draft sits at approximately 65,000 words.

5. Why is the book cheaper after the campaign?
The book is cheaper because the campaign is targeted at raising funds while selling copies at the same time. The amount is higher to lighten the publication cost.

6. Can I still pre-order The Slave Prince?
Of course, you can. Pre-order as many as you want! Pre-order now, so that when the book is ready, it’ll be shipped to you immediately! You can also pre-order as a gift, by having it shipped to your friend. 

7. Can I get a discount?
Unfortunately not on The Slave Prince. But you know what? The Battle for Oz is on sale from now till December 16th! You can get the book at a 50% discount, with free shipping within the US. Oh, and the cover is green - it’ll look awesome under that Christmas tree of yours.

I hope I answered most of you in this update. If you have any more questions, please reach out to me. Thank you once again for your support in my writing endeavours. And for all those celebrating thanksgiving, happy holidays!
Paying It Forward

’You don’t need much to change the entire world for the better. You can start with the most ordinary ingredients. You can start with the world you’ve got.” - Catherine Ryan Hyde, Pay It Forward


A total of 326 readers pre-ordered The Slave Prince! But since my initial goal was 350, I’ve decided to round off the donations to RM700. Nothing wrong with giving more, right? Anyway, I’ll be handing this envelope to the director of Change Your World today. It’s signed off by Thom, as he has agreed to represent us all. He’s the perfect person to do so, seeing as how your support of his adventure prompted this very act. So thank you, once again, for defining generosity and inspiring me to give back. Thank you for your huge favour, that the only way to repay... is to pay it forward. 



Congratulations to the 3 winners! Please check your email inboxes. 

To wrap-up the giveaways, I’d just like to say another round of thank you’s to Richard Saunders who offered his own writing, Salt x Paper for their artsy creations, Devespresso Games for the perfect game this Halloween, and Relent Band for their awesome music. Thank you for your extended support and willingness to get behind The Slave Prince with your own works. You made this campaign way more fun than it would’ve ever been, and I’m extremely grateful for that. You guys rock!

(P.S. Every reader should’ve received the ’Good Vibrations’ download email by now. If you’ve yet to, please send an email to jeynagrace[at]gmail[dot]com.) 

Notable Readers

Kelsey Rae Barthel
Joseph Terzieva
Matthew Isaac Sobin
Avalon Marissa Radys
Tony Valdez
Brian Guthrie
Peter Ryan
A.C. Weston
James Rasile
Joseph Asphahani
Amanda Orneck
Dave Barrett
John Robin
Byron Gillan
Michael Sebby
Thomas J. Arnold
JF Dubeau
Greg Chen
Jason Pomerance
Michael Haase