Have you ever been so close to achieving a goal or dream you could almost taste it? Straining and stretching to reach something that you can almost touch … with your fingertips … just a little more …

When I launched this campaign over five months ago, I had no idea how it might turn out or where it would lead. All I knew is my gut told me to give this a try. Inkshares is not the only way to get a novel published, but it seemed like the right way for me. Seeing my name on the cover of a published novel has been my dream since high school.

At several points since the new year, it seemed this campaign had run out of steam. I was ready to pull the plug. But each time came a reason that gave me the motivation to catch a breath, dig in my heels and keep pushing.

And here we are, with just a couple of days left and the 400 pre-order mark in sight. We are close – I can tell you that for a fact. But the jury is still out on whether Bane of All Things has made the grade. That’s why it is so important to drive that pre-order total as high as possible in the time that remains.

The end of the road: I can tell you with all honesty that at this moment in time, I don’t see a reason to again extend the campaign. Unless something unexpected happens between now and Tuesday morning, the crowdfund for BoAT will end as scheduled. Monday is the last full day.

Allow me to ask one more time: I have asked you several times before I and will humbly ask again. Please consider pre-ordering an additional copy for a friend or family member. Get it as a gift. What have you got to lose? If Inkshares agrees to publish BoAT, you will get your copies. If it doesn’t, you will get a full and unconditional refund. if you have followed but not yet pre-ordered BoAT, you know what to do.

New prize draw ... with a catch: Anyone who does order an additional copy of BoAT (or bring on board a new supporter) between now and the deadline will be entered into a draw for another $50 gift card (Amazon or your choice). BUT … there is a catch. This draw will only take place if we hit 400 by the deadline. And if we shoot past 400 … well, let’s see how it goes.

Again, my sincerest thanks to those of you who have already pre-ordered additional copies or recruited a friend or family member. Those prize draws previously announced will take place and the winners announced on Friday, April 5.

Let’s make this happen!

Cheers

Leo

Good morning! Thanks to a Super-Reader pre-order by Hala H yesterday afternoon, we reached 375 pre-orders.

Why is that number significant? It is 50 per cent of the default pre-order goal of 750.

But as I have said, 750 is not our goal. Some titles published by Inkshares have reached it. Others have achieved success through a combination of other factors. Bane of All Things’ fate now rests on total pre-orders to date plus the overall support and interest it has also garnered on Inkshares.

Remember, this campaign ends on April 1 -- hopefully the joke won’t be on me :). Any and all last-minute support does matter as I wait to hear what BoAT’s fate will be. If you haven’t already, please pre-order another copy as a gift, or recruit that friend or family member. Let’s get to 400!

Cheers
Leo

Good morning, everyone. Happy Ides of March.

Today is supposed to be the day. The campaign for Bane of All Things is currently slated to end around 8 pm EDT tonight.

I could let it end. Or we could push on with the goal of passing 400 pre-orders.

Last Friday was supposed to be the end, too, but adding another week to the campaign paid off. Since Monday morning alone, 26 additional pre-orders! We currently stand at 359.

Is this total enough, when added to those other metrics besides pre-orders that Inkshares is also tracking against BoAT? I don’t know yet, nor can I say at this moment when I might. I had hoped to have something more substantial to tell you at this point, but patience is a virtue, in this world, and the world of BoAT, too.

On the firm belief that no news is good news, I am inclined to keep BoAT in the race. Today, I will have the campaign extended until April 1 (yes, I know what day that is). Fingers crossed that in that time, there will be a definitive determination made about BoAT’s fate.

I humbly ask for your continued patience and support.

As I have stressed in recent updates, keeping that pre-order total ticking up is the important thing we can all focus on to increase the odds of success. Please continue to spread the word to friends and family and consider ordering additional copies. If we cross 400, there will be a new prize added to that list of draws!

If you haven’t had a chance to read the four sample chapters up on the site, please do, and leave a Review/Recommendation – this activity also boosts BoAT’s standings.

It’s been a long ride and I thank you all for jumping onboard with me. When I have news to share, you will all be first to know. Regardless of what that news might be, it will then be time for those prize draws!

Happy reading.

Leo

Good morning, everyone! In the past 10 hours, we have shot past the 350 pre-order mark thanks to the support of old and new. A shout out to our new supporters: The TIE Ottawa crew (Bharat R., Sanjeev S., Kevin F. and Bernie F.), as well as Julian M., Greg M., Janet F., Jantine V., Cindy P., Ricky R., Samantha G. and Rosemary S.

This already-extended campaign is due to end this Friday evening -- the Ides of March, no less. Hopefully this date proves more auspicious for me than it did for Julius Caesar!

Achieving 356 pre-orders is an amazing milestone, but still not a guarantee that I will earn a contract offer from Inkshares. As I announced last week, Bane of All Things was Inkshares Staff Syndicate pick for February.  That has my fingers crossed.

Now more than ever I need your help to finish strong. Any and all last-minute support matters. I also want to give a shout out to existing supporters who have stepped up in recent days to pre-order additional copies or enlist others to the cause: Francis M., Ian G., Bryan Y., Howard C., Megan A., Yves B., Elle P. and Jacqui C.

If you haven’t already, please lend me your support with a pre-order. If you have a few dollars more to pre-order another ebook copy, please do. And if you have anyone in mind you could also recruit to the cause, now is the time. Those prize draws I promised last time are still pending!

This whole endeavour wouldn’t be anywhere without you. I am truly humbled by the support and encouragement you have all so graciously given.

Cheers

Leo Valiquette

Good morning, everyone. And welcome to those of you who just joined in the past few days.

Like I said on Friday, the campaign for Bane of All Things is now in bonus overtime. We have less than five days left. It’s a whole new spin on March Madness. I am asking you to dig deep and consider how you might bring in one or two additional pre-orders (or more if you can) for me over the next couple of days.

One way is to enlist a friend or family member. Another is to simply order an additional copy or two yourself. All it takes is an ebook purchase for US$10. Several existing supporters last week did just that -- Andrew. C., Andrew S., Steve H., the team at HostedBizz.

"But, Leo," you might ask. "What am I going to do with another ebook copy?"

Fair question. Give it as a gift, share with friends and family. When BoAT publishes, you will be able to download your ebook copies in whatever file format you prefer, making it easy to email them on. And additional print copies of course make great gifts, especially when signed by the author :).

There will be prizes

Any existing supporters who this week order additional copies will have their names entered into a draw for a $50 Amazon gift card (or gift card of your choice). Those who already ordered additional copies last week will be entered into this draw as well.

And anyone who brings in/refers a new supporter this week will also have their names entered into a second draw for another gift card prize. But I am putting a caveat on this one -- at least five you must have brought me a new supporter before that draw will take place.

And there is still the draw for original signed artwork that I promised would happen once we passed 300 pre-orders. EVERYONE who has pre-ordered by the final deadline for this campaign will be in that draw.  

Together, we can make this happen!

Cheers

Leo

Good morning, folks. Notice how more frequent these updates have become as we get down to the wire? (I can practically taste that wire, how about you?). 

No word yet on whether or not Bane of All Things has made the cut. The good news today is that the deadline has been extended a few more days. We are in bonus over-time now. If you or anyone on your contact list is still on the fence about pre-ordering, it’s time to commit.

And again, a sincere and humble thanks to all of you who have undertaken this journey with me and supported as best you can.

Cheers

Leo

Hey, folks, some fantastic news to share! The clue is in the screen capture above from my campaign page -- that sticker that reads "Syndicate Pick."

What does this mean? BoAT has been selected as the Staff Syndicate pick for February. It is a huge endorsement for which I am immensely grateful. A sincere thanks to fellow author Chip Colquhoun for putting BoAT forward for consideration. Check out his novel, Ripe for Execution. 

For those of you who don’t know what an Inkshares Syndicate is, this is a group of people who contribute $10 or $20 a month to a pool and then use that to back a title in funding each month with a gift basket of pre-orders. There are and have been many syndicates over the years, for fantasy, science fiction, stories with strong female characters and other themes. 

The Syndicate that has chosen BoAT as its February pick is the Staff Syndicate. This is, as the name suggests, led by Inkshares staff. Anyone can opt in, including other Inkshares authors. (I am part of this Syndicate myself and cast the deciding vote on the January Syndicate pick.)

What does earning this distinction mean for BoAT and this campaign? Frankly, I don’t know yet, but with only two days left, the answer to that question is going to come soon. So, as I said on Monday, help me finish strong -- keep those pre-orders coming by ordering another copy for a friend or family member, or even better, by prodding those friends or family members to pre-order their own.

And if you have followed BoAT but haven’t pre-ordered yet, please, take the plunge!

Cheers

Leo

Good morning, everyone. Just a quick heads up that only five days remain on the campaign for Bane of All Things. At present, we stand at 295 pre-orders. 

As I said in my previous update, Inkshares decides which titles in funding to publish based on campaign metrics beyond just pre-orders. Will driving past 300 pre-orders in the time that remains land me a publishing deal? It just might. 

So, if you have spoken with any friends or family who may have said "Yeah, I’ll check it out" but haven’t, now is the time to give them a sharp poke.

Also, many of you have followed Bane of All Things but have not pre-ordered. If you have any interest in doing so, now is the time.

It’s been quite a ride since October. Driving this campaign makes actually writing a book seem like a walk in the park. But one way or the other, the end is at hand. Thanks again for all your support and patience.

Happy reading.

Cheers

Leo

Good day, everyone. It’s been an intense four months to get where we are and now it’s crunch time for Bane of All Things.

I can’t emphasize this enough – it’s now or never. We crossed the 250 pre-orders mark a week ago. Help me get this thing past 300 by March 1 by encouraging a friend or family member to pre-order, too.

(And if you have followed BoAT but haven’t yet pre-ordered, please do!)

Before I go further, let me again acknowledge and express my deepest thanks for the support and patience of each of you. This campaign would not be anywhere without you.

Help build the Ripple Effect

Most funding campaigns on Inkshares fail. Some that succeeded hit that 750-pre-order goal, but many did not. As I wrote in my previous update, the Inkshares team is tracking metrics beyond just number of pre-orders to decide which books to publish.

The common denominator among Inkshares’ success stories is that the author’s friends and family had the biggest impact—they not only pre-ordered, they brought in their friends and family to also lend support. This ripple effect is key. An extended community of people who wanted to support a new author, even if the author’s kind of story wasn’t necessarily their thing. 

Many of you have helped to bring in those additional supporters. You have helped to spread the word. And some of you are of course Super Reader supporters. Again, thank you all.

It takes just one, for US$10

I have asked you before about bringing in other supporters. I can definitely appreciate that it may seem like a daunting task. But you don’t have to muster a whole team—it takes just one to make a difference. A single additional e-book purchase by a fresh face for a mere US$10. (Of course, if you can bring me more than one, please do!)

So, I ask you, please and thank you, can you find me that fresh face, today, tomorrow or by the end of the week? It could be your sibling, parent, cousin, child, co-worker, neighbour, workout buddy—anyone interested in supporting a new author and a good cause.

We may be literally a few dozen more supporters away from success! Together we can cross the finish line.

Reach out with a direct message/email or phone call. This is much more effective than social media posts. Remember to tell them that this also supports autism services and if my campaign does not succeed, they do get a refund.

There will be prizes

If we cross the 300 mark, I will be holding a prize draw for a piece of artwork printed on canvas, signed by me and the artist. Do you remember that skull and sword illustration from the early version of the BoAT cover? This is the work of award-winning Canadian comic book and graphic artist Dominic Bercier:

An additional prize will be drawn for those of you who bring in an additional supporter(s) between now and then – a $50 Amazon gift card.

And FYI: You can also pre-order additional copies of BoAT yourself. Up to 10, in fact. That includes e-books. The way Inkshares’ shopping cart works, you can’t purchase multiple e-book copies on one transaction – you have to do separate transactions. But anyone who pre-orders at least three copies, even if they are all e-books, will be recognized as a Super-Reader supporter.

Thanks again, and happy reading.

Cheers

Leo

Hey, everyone. I hope you made it through January with your sanity intact. Things continue to chug along with BoAT. Inkshares has kindly granted another extension on the campaign. We continue to be the top title in funding in terms of pre-orders, and one of the top titles trending on the entire Inkshares site.

But we are still a looong way from hitting the 750 pre-order mark. You may be asking at this point, and rightly so, if that goal is even obtainable.

The fact is, I don’t have to hit 750 to get this book published with Inkshares.

That’s right. The Inkshares team has seen enough to know that pre-sales alone are not a full measure of a title’s popularity or marketability. It is tough to convince strangers to pre-order a book which they can’t actually have and read yet, even if they like it.

That’s why Inkshares also has a program called Blink that tracks metrics like page visits and time spent reading chapters. Inkshares will also chose a book for publication based on these metrics, aside from number of pre-orders.

The thing is, I have no idea how well I am doing on these other metrics. Inkshares doesn’t share them with me. I could be close, or still miles away. That’s why I have kept the focus with you on reaching 750 – it is the clear and obvious goal that I can track through my Inkshares dashboard. 

But I have done plenty to drive those non-pre-order metrics.

I have reached out to hundreds and hundreds of people, tried Tweet promotion on Twitter, post boosts on Facebook, secured local newspaper coverage, posted flyers and business cards in my local coffee shops, library and gym. Many of you I know have also been spreading the word to friends and family and supporting my efforts on social media with shares, likes and retweets, and I thank you.

Together, we are driving eyeballs to BoAT’s page, even if those pre-orders are slow to come.

So, let’s keep at it. While pre-orders remain of utmost importance, know that the needle is moving on other key indicators behind the scenes, too.

Lastly, I want to give a shout out to Ricky Ruszin, who launched a campaign for a suspense thriller called Showtime only 17 days ago and has already racked up enough pre-orders to make BoAT look like it’s standing still. That’s hustle for you. 

As always, I remain truly humbled and grateful for the support each of you have lent this dream of mine thus far.

Cheers

Leo