Hello my friends,

It’s been a while hasn’t it? Thing is, when preparing a book for publication, things can get pretty damn hectic. Toss in an option from a production company and the stakes get really high, which of course means more work. 

That being said, I’d be remiss in not taking a moment to thank each and every one of you for your support in 2016. There’s no way I’d be anywhere near even this modest amount of success without you. I owe it all to you guys. 

So I hope you all have incredible holidays with your friends and families. That 2017 will be an awesome year for you and that you get to accomplish your dreams the same way you’ve allowed me to accomplish mine. And to kick off the next year on a good note, I’d like to unveil the final (kinda) cover for A God in the Shed: 

The designer did an amazing job in creating something iconic and striking that will be a great visual signature for the story. I’m really looking forward to seeing this cover, wrapped around a book, in your hands.

Thanks again for your support and happy Kwanzhannukmas everyone! 

 JF

Hello dear readers, A lot has been going on and that’s kind of why I’ve been rather discreet in my communications. Also, I bet with three contests currently vying for attention, you get enough emails already. So what could possibly have taken up so much of my time?

Let’s start with how I had to do revisions to the manuscript for A God in the Shed. I had already handed it in but after a meeting at WeedRoad Pictures in L.A. a few weeks ago, several ideas to further improve the story demanded to be put to the page.

WeedRoad Pictures? What the hell is that? Well, that’s the second bit of paralyzing news. A God in the Shed has been optioned by Skydance Productions through the help of Akiva Goldsman from WeedRoad (props to Greg Lessans and Alexandra Neil for their part. Amazing people). I can’t do this news justice but you can read the article by The Tracking Board if you want to know more.

 So what does this mean? The short answer? I don’t know! It doesn’t mean that A God in the Shed is going to be a television show but rather that there are efforts behind making that happen. Needless to say that the book is in the hands of some incredibly talented and hard working people. I’m still reeling from the news and gathering the details myself, but as far as excuses for my silence, I think that’s the best I can do right now.

What’s next?

• I think it’s obvious that this has delayed my plans and promises for Arch-Android (Give it a follow why don’t you?), the sequel to The Life Engineered. I’m still a few chapters short of a full draft but that should be taken care of before the end of November. I’m giving myself some room to work with this time so I can keep that prediction.
• I’m also finishing another manuscript for The Ed Greenwood Group.
  
• Obviously, the sequel to A God in the Shed, currently titled ‘CoudFire’ is going to be the first thing I work on after I’ve cleared these other projects. CloudFire is half written already, but it’s going to undergo some serious changes. Let’s just say that I’ve got a good skeleton to work on but I have to tear away the flesh and start that part anew.
  
• I have some more good news coming up. Other cool opportunities and some new projects I want to toss out into the world.
  

Let me finish this with a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to Adam Gomolin and Brooklyn Weaver who worked like tireless maniacs to make this happen, along with the rest of the Inkshares crew for their support and of course, you guys, the readers, without whom none of this would be possible.

On to the next step!

JF

 Well my friends, we did not win a Dragon Award. I was however at the ceremony and must say, it’s a privilege to have been nominated in the first year. There was a level of class (though some tremendous mispronunciation of my name) in these proceedings.

The Dragon Awards, if the they follow this course, may just be the classy award for fan favourite media that we’ve been hoping for. Not that other awards aren’t great, but Dragon Con has always been ’the people’s con’ and having been there myself, I can see why. So it makes sense that their award would follow that ideology.

In other news, I have to apologize. I had grandiose plans to have the campaign for Arch-Android, the sequel to The Life Engineered, ready for this coming weekend. I can’t say that this will be possible. Other obligations have piled up and I have to postpone. Worry not, the campaign is coming and the book will be in the spirit of the first one.

Thanks again for your continued support. Next year... we’ll get that award next year.

JF

Time is running out!

We have until the 28th of August to get as many votes for The Life Engineered for the Dragon Awards (along with fellow nominees Asteroid Made of Dragons and Unattractive Vampire).

What am I talking about? The Life Engineered was nominated in the Science Fiction Literature category for the Dragon Awards at Dragon Con this year. Also in that category: Kim Stanley Robinson and Ann Leckie.

I know what you’re thinking, surely this is a sign of the End Times or at the very least a weakening of the barriers separating reality from my fantasies. Well, if we’re all doomed anyways, might as well see if we can win an award.

Click here to sign up to vote. Enter your information. You’ll get an mail to confirm your registration. Afterwards it’ll take a few days but you’ll get a ballot survey to fill out. Vote for whatever you feel should win, but seriously, vote for The Life Engineered (and Asteroid Made of Dragons and Unattractive Vampire).

This is some potentially life-changing level stuff going on. It won’t cost you a dime and you’ll be making history. My history, but it sounds selfish when I say it like that.

Cheers,

JF

Once more, my friends, I turn to you for help.

You... you did it. I mean, I never doubted your level of commitment but I thought the competition would be so fierce, so aggressive and overwhelming, that there really wasn’t any chance.

But you magnificent sentient organisms you... you fraking did it.

You got The Life Engineered nominated for a 2016 Dragon Award in the Science Fiction Category.

I don’t even know what to say about that. Thank you? Seems a bit weak, so I’ll go with the next best thing; go vote again. Click this link and go put in your vote for The Life Engineered. We’ve made it this far, let’s find out the distance we can push this crazy thing.

Simply magnificent...

NOTE: If you’re in the mood to encourage other fantastic Inkshares authors along with The Lie Engineered, may I suggest An Unattractive Vampire and Asteroid Made of Dragons. Two fine books also in the Sword & Laser Collection.

JF

Hello everyone,

I guess I should talk about this shouldn’t I? 

There’s a minuscule little article on The Tracking Board that talks about me and my upcoming book; A God in the Shed. Go read it. It’s fun. I’ll wait. 

You’re back? Awesome. So what do you think? Yeah, I was a bit overwhelmed. Still sort of am. I’m not exactly wired to take compliments or bask in the glory of good news on that scale. I’d love to pretend that it’s because I’m humble and level-headed but in truth I’m just terrified of disappointment and incapable of processing success. My own issues aside, I think it’s important to know a few things about this announcement. 

What this isn’t: 

• The rights to A God in the Shed haven’t been sold. 
• You’re not going to see A God in the Shed on TV any time soon. 
• I’m not rich and famous. 

What this is: 

• An important step in the right direction. 
• A sign that the rights might one day sell, which still wouldn’t mean a series would get produced, let alone distributed, but again; step in the right direction. 
• Nic Pizzolatto is now my new best friend and can come to all my birthday parties. 

The great Mike Mongo (Astronaut Instruction Manual) once told me; "However long you think this process is going to take, double that." and the awesome Adam Gomolin also shared this nugget of wisdom; "It’s a no until it’s a yes." 

So I’m going to try and take it easy. Keep the day job and continue chipping away at my other projects (check out Arch-Android, the sequel to The Life Engineered, along with Too Many Controllers). 

Thanks again for the support everyone. Go read that article again and while you do that, keep telling yourself; ’I’m part of this.’ 

Because you are. 

JF    

 Yup, here we are; the last day of the Nerdist Video Game Contest. 

If you haven’t heard, I’m participating with 14 other extremely talented writers in an anthology that you can pre-order now. I feel privileged to part of this group of fantastic artists and I believe you will be impressed with what they have to offer. However, if you’re looking to be part of the action. If you want to get a signed copy with whatever other bonuses we throw in. If you’re the kind of person who likes to point at cool things and say "I was a part of this.", then you better hurry my friends. July 15th at 3pm EST, the contest is over. 

We want to finish with a bang. You want to be part of the action. So follow this link and get yourself this 1-Up of a book. It’s your last chance. There are no save points. 

Back to Arch-Android content soon... 

JF 

As a side note: How did we not name the e-reader level ’DLC’ for our campaign?