A.C. Weston · Author · added over 9 years ago · 4 likes

You thought I died, didn't you? I think I died, too.

But somehow I'm still going to be at the Holiday Geek Expo tomorrow! Look at these nerd-tastic graphic things Leah made:









As you can see, I'm giving away some of my colored Ladies of Scifi postcards if people order my book right then and there. Come say hi, if you can!

Leah also made THIS for me to hand out at the expo (using a logo made by the fantastic Paul Robinson, author of Ghosts of War):




:)

If you can't come to the expo, you should definitely check out all the new books entering into the Sword & Laser Contest: Part Deux! I'm pretty excited. New authors are coming into the fold and we'll be here for them. Right? RIGHT?

The first book in the contest I ordered is The Last Machine in the Solar System by Matthew Isaac Sobin. Check it out!

And have a wonderful weekend!
A.C. Weston · Author · added over 9 years ago · 6 likes

Hey followers... special update.

Theres's this book I really like that only has 4 days left in its campaign to reach publication with Quill:



I really want to see this published, guys! The story deals with complex issues of class and race and environmentalism, and the writing is really good. 

Also, the lead character is a fierce warrior princess who rides a giant wolf. NEED I SAY MORE?

Ok, I will.

The next 50 people who pre-order The Children of the Forest will receive a 5x7 postcard of this art:


...in the mail, sent by author Byron Gillan. (The art is by me and Alex.)

Get yours by pre-ordering the book here!!!

Thanks!
A.C. Weston · Author · added over 9 years ago · 12 likes

HEY.

GUESS WHAT.


Get ready for the inaugural Inkshares Review-a-Thon!

On December 19th, all authors and readers are invited to leave reviews on currently funding Inkshares books using the Inkshares "leave a review" option.

Throughout the day we'll be hanging out on Twitter in the #InksharesReviews tag as we share our favorite book projects, answer author Q&As, debate the merits of astronauts with swords versus cavemen with lasers, and more!

Then, from 6 - 8pm ET, JF Dubeau and Paul Inman of the WriteBrain Podcast will be hosting a video livestream filled with author interviews, review readings, and live announcements of prize winners!

Prizes?!?!

Everyone who leaves a review on December 19th by 6pm ET will be eligible to win one of our fantastic general prizes:

  • Sword & Laser Contest Winners Package - print copies of the six winning books from the Sword & Laser Inkshares contest!
  • Nerdist Contest Winners Package - print copies of the five winning books from the Nerdist Inkshares contest!
  • An immediate pre-order of the book of their choice for five winners!
  • $30 in Inkshares credits!


Readers: Peruse the "currently funding" books on Inkshares and leave as many reviews as you want on Dec 19th. You could even start up a "must-have" list of books to order in case you win a free pre-order or the $30 in credits!

Authors: Join our review exchange to leave three reviews in exchange for two guaranteed reviews on your Inkshares project and a chance at author-exclusive prizes! Email me at cara.c.weston@gmail.com to learn more and get on the list.

(And authors, if you're in, please copy the message above and include it in your next update!)

It's gonna be fun. 

A.C. Weston · Author · added almost 10 years ago · 11 likes
Hey everyone!

I have news! News and plans!

SOME PEOPLE SAID NICE THINGS ABOUT ME

Paul Inman and JF Dubeau featured me and my book on Episode 4 of the WriteBrain Podcast!!! I turned all red listening to it. They focus on my book starting at 16:20, but you should listen to the rest of it, too!

The episode also features the book Monkey Business by Landon Crutcher (which is now IN PRODUCTION, congrats, Landon!).



Listen on JF's blog
Listen on itunes


A BOOK TO SUPPORT RIGHT NOW, TODAY

The Children of the Forest by Byron Gillan is a really great, complex fantasy book that needs 105 more pre-orders in the next 12 days to get published!



Faced with the ecological collapse of her world, a princess must embark on a perilous journey to save her kingdom from ruin. The novel is the first of a two-part series, exploring the tenuous balance of man and nature and its inevitable conflicts.

The writing is really solid, and the protagonist is a fierce warrior princess that rides a giant wolf, ok? Ok.

Help this book get published!

FINALLY, THERE WILL BE NEWS TOMORROW

But I can't tell you anything today.

(It's about the Review-a-Thon!!!)

So... until tomorrow!

:)
A.C. Weston · Author · added almost 10 years ago · 4 likes

(I don't feel like this needs any context at this point. Just... space wolf angel.)

A.C. Weston · Author · added almost 10 years ago · 13 likes
Hi lovely people!

If you think about it, Friday is pretty much the weekend. And if you close your eyes and breathe deeply on a Monday morning, you can almost imagine that it's still the weekend. SO here's my Friday update!

Everyone go read this absolutely stellar interview, "What's Hybrid Publishing All About Anyway?" by John Robin on book coach Jenni Nash's blog. If you ever wondered how to explain Inkshares to friends, family, and strangers, read this!

Here's the video of me reading an excerpt from the end of Episode I last Sunday at the MNSpec 2015 Local Author Showcase! I have that problem where I'm mortified watching myself on video and hearing the sound of my own voice recorded, but OH WELL!

(I say "uh" about 17 times at the end. You'd think I've never done any public speaking before! UGH CARA WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU.)

Upcoming Events:

  • I'll have an artist's table at the Holiday Geek Expo Dec 5th and 6th. I'll be selling a bunch of art and trying to hock my book, of course!
Look at this mock cover Alex made from my illustration!



  • Inkshares Review-a-Thon Day! (Date TBD)
I'm planning a day of getting people (authors and readers) to review books on Inkshares. We already have several prizes in the works for people willing to post reviews during the event. I want to do author Q&As throughout the day, maybe hold something live like a Google+ hangout, and I'd love for authors to come up with their own ways to participate. Make up your own contest, give away prizes, whatever you want!

 IF YOU WANT TO HELP ME PLAN THIS THING message me on twitter @acwestonwrites. Thanks!

  • Inkshares Authors Showcase Coloring and Activity Book, 2nd Edition!
Yep, we're doing another one. Details to follow.

FINALLY:

If you liked the Wheel of Time series, go check out Storm of Fury by Andrew Wood:

The Fury has stood for a thousand years, and the bones of men are scattered beneath its terrible winds. Legions of horrors are forged within by a vengeful god and march outwards to wage war upon all sinners. This is humanity's fate.

ORDER IT!
Michael Valdez · Author · added almost 10 years ago
I am in jealous awe :)
A.C. Weston · Author · added almost 10 years ago · 15 likes

Look what I just finished...



Now I need to scan it in, order prints, and send them off to my longsuffering coloring contest winners!

I think prints will be a prize for another thing I'm planning, too.

Happy Veteran's Day!

A.C. Weston · Author · added almost 10 years ago · 7 likes
Dear followers! 

What a time to be alive! 

You'll soon be able to pre-order ebooks on Inkshares for half the print book price, MST3K is coming back, and John Robin showed us his stupidly handsome face!

What will happen next???

Anyway, here's one grainy shot of me reading at the MNSpec 2015 Local Author Showcase hosted by Conrad Zero on Sunday! Video is coming soon, they say. Everyone was very complimentary and encouraging, and I was impressed by the quality of the other readings. 10/10 would do again.



The coolest part of this event by far was meeting other interesting authors. Notably, Linday Loree, who read from her short story that's part of Twin Cities Speculations: An Anthology of Sci-Fi and Fantasy! She's super cool and awesome and I recommend you check out that anthology.

I also made friends with two awesome kindred spirits, Erika Hammerschmidt and John C. Riker, authors of Kea's Flight. They are everything I'd want out of a local author scene and MORE.

Speaking of awesome things from the Twin Cities...

GUESS WHAT

TIME FOR A TOUR OF MINNESOTA

Today's Museday Mix: Tom Wood Edition will float you down a Mississippi River of awesome Minnesota artists. Did I mention my characters spend Episodes IV - IX in Minnesota? Well they do!

Tom is me if I were single, jobless, bearded, and believed aliens live among us. He is ridiculous.

Museday Mix: Tom Wood Edition

Lady You Shot Me - Har Mar Superstar*
Where Have You Been - The Fattenin' Frogs**
Only Life I Know - Brother Ali
Bei Mir Bist Du Schon - The Andrews Sisters
Junkie - 4onthefloor live at First Ave***
Times They Are A'Changin' - Bob Dylan cover by Peter Jones
Purple Rain - Prince
Closing Time - Semisonic

You get only 8 songs because Tom doesn't enter into the story until Episode V.

Finally, here's a serious recommendation:

Tacos. Eat tacos and pre-order Tacocity: Los Angeles Through the Eyes of a Tacophile by Rob Gokee. Because tacos.


I have some plans and events coming up, but I'm thinking I'll do a separate "upcoming events" update on Fridays from now on!

Until then... 


* Har Mar is a mall we go to all the time.
**Mike and Bill!
***I went to my first concert with my husband at First Ave. We saw P-Funk and it was awesome.
A.C. Weston · Author · added almost 10 years ago · 6 likes

I MISSED MUSEDAY I'M SORRY

I need to make you a mix for Tom and Hope next; these are characters you haven't met yet. They're Earthan and ridiculously awesome. You're going to love them.

Tom is an alien conspiracy theorist who mostly goes around debunking other people's stupid theories and pissing everyone off, and Hope is a Homeland Security Agent who kicks a LOT of ass (even though she can't stop spilling food on herself).

In the meantime, here's an update snapshot of that poster I'm making:

Just one more character to add... who will it be???

Upcoming events:

Don't forget to come to my reading at the Acadia Cafe this Sunday for the MN Speculative Fiction Writers 2015 Local Author Showcase at 3pm! 

We're going to get a better recording of this reading than the one last week (I'm still debating posting a link to that one; the audio's not great). 

(Ok FINE, if you want to see what was inspiring me yesterday, it's just this song over and over. I listened to it about, oh, 90 times, and now I have a plan for several key scenes in books 2 and 3. Somebody's gonna betraaaaaaaay someoooooone...)

:)

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