Hello, followers new and old!

Thank you, everyone who made Friday a really good day. It was amazing! I appreciate all of the support so much, whether through pre-orders or follows or encouragement. 

Are you wondering how the reading at Mugshots on Friday went? It was GREAT! There were around 20 people there, which was a small enough crowd for me to talk to everyone there. I realized that my trivia questions were way too hard (I thought they'd be too easy!). Renee won even though she could only remember three characters from Firefly. Congrats, Renee!



Special thanks to Leah (seen above right, interviewing me), who is a shining star, and Ben Saine, who directs a pretty awesome cafe.

NEXT UP:

I'll be reading at the MN Speculative Fiction Writers 2015 Local Author Showcase on Nov 8th at the Acadia Cafe! I only get seven minutes, so I'd better make it good.

The event starts at 3pm and you are all (obviously) invited! I expect all the Canadians to carpool.

Finally, here's a progress snapshot of that Ladies of Scifi poster I'm drawing as a prize for my coloring contest:


I'm going to add Leia and another surprise foundational woman of scifi, just because apparently I can't stop! Alex wants to do some digital color over the pencil; we'll see what we can come up with.

Thanks again, new readers/followers. I'm glad you're here!

:)

Hi friends!

GO LISTEN TO THIS INKSHARES PODCAST; THEY SAY MY NAME AT LEAST TWICE SO THAT MEANS I AM FAMOUS NOW (and also it's genuinely fun and informative)!

BOOKS TO ORDER BEFORE THE PRICE JUMP TOMORROW AT NOON:

A Beast Requires by Jay Lockwood -
When conspiracies threaten to plunge Aurum into civil war, the city's only hope is Deputy Constable Albicon Pine. Unfortunately, it’s his first week on the job.

Drift by Danielle Mohr -
Genetic modification is not just advanced science in the city of Freemont; it's how people live. Zade must navigate her way through a broken and unjust society to search for her missing brother. What else will her search uncover?

Disintegration by Steve Soldwedel -
A group of military officers are thrown together on a mission to raid the enemy stronghold and make off with a precious resource. A'arilon Ray suspects it's a suicide mission but it is just the beginning of a much greater adventure.

Forty Days by J. Durbin -
Dr. Nerana Jackson awakens to find herself stranded on a ghost ship, drifting in orbit near an alien star. Now, she must piece together what happened to the crew and why before time runs out - or she may join them.

Blood Dawn by John Robin (obviously, buy this book immediately, I AM A DRAGON) -
A weaver discovers that her skill is a gateway to magic, the key to restoring a god-king's fallen empire. Hope, the very light of the world, depends on her. But will she find the strength she needs? Will she rise above the traps of the ambitious?

Dracula vs. Hitler by Patrick Sheane Duncan -
Von Helsing unleashes Dracula, the legendary killing machine, in order to repel the Nazis from World War II-era Romania in this thrilling fantasy adventure novel.  With wonderful details and writing style loyal to the original Bram Stoker novel.
(HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA yes)

Witches Undercover by Rochelle Germano -
The idea that the definition of the enemy is in the eye of the beholder.  A witty urban fantasy about sisters.

Scribbles: A Collection of Words by Tabi Card -
A collection of ten short stories from the futuristic and fantastical, to the ordinary and magical.

And if you don't already know, you can use credits to buy books that are in production/published - like Asteroid Made of Dragons, Lost Generation, Ageless, and The Life Engineered!

I just got One Murder More in the mail and I'm loving it. (I totally think the handsome senator guy did it. Cute heroic guys are always the murderer!!!) (I am almost definitely wrong.)

:)

Today was long!!

Here is your... Museday Mix: Goren Edition!

I'll have you know I tried to listen to a Justin Bieber song for this mix, and I just couldn't do it. You're going to have to settle for this "Shawn Mendes" person, and One Direction because Goren loves One Direction un-ironically.

(And if you're not totally into the PacRim+Taylor Swift combo... it's amazing and I feel sorry for you.)

Can't Feel My Face - The Weeknd 
Can't Hold Us - Macklemore ft Ryan Lewis
Drag Me Down - One Direction
Like I'm Gonna Lose You - Meaghan Trainor ft John Legend
Party Rock Anthem - LMFAO
We Are Young - fun.
Riptide - Vance Joy
Polaroid - Imagine Dragons
Stitches (acoustic) - Shawn Mendes and Hailee Steinfeld
Coat of Armour - George Ezra
No Pulse - Ramin Djawadi (from the Pacific Rim Soundtrack)
Shake It Off - Taylor Swift


Hm hmm hmm.

Tra la la.

What? What's that, you say? Something... happened?

Hmm. I suppose I should read the latest message from Inkshares CEO Jeremy Thomas...



AHHHH! CHANGES ARE COMING!!!

Here's a quick rundown, my dear friends, family, and followers:

New total pre-order goal: 750 instead of 1,000
New tier for "light" publishing (light editing, limited marketing and distribution): 250 pre-orders
New pre-order price: $20 for trade paperback + ebook, $30 for hardcover

There are some other changes, but you should just read the whole announcement to get a sense of what is to come.

I've put 14 years of development and 5 years of writing into this manuscript. Alex is a brutal developmental editor (love you, honey!). I'm so confident in this book, and I really think the light publishing track will produce something that I will be proud of... but I still want to shoot for the gold. I want to reach 750 pre-orders. I want to send you all signed first-edition copies of my gorgeous, illustrated book!

So... onward! If you know of anyone who might want to order my book, tell them to order before Oct 30th at noon to get it at the lower price.

And thank you, really, you who have already ordered. Thank you.

NOW, AN UPCOMING EVENT:

I have acquired a promoter (who is very enthusiastic and also particularly smart and beautiful). Leah has arranged a reading + costume contest + photo booth + scifi trivia event at Mugshots Coffee Company this Friday night!!! Is it crazy for me to suggest you drive to Minneapolis if you're not from here? I DON'T CARE! Come to this event!

Look at this postcard she made to advertise it:



And she's been making these graphic thingies that are pretty cool, too:



And she even made this author quote thing from that rant I went on in an earlier update!!



Look at all this! Is this what it feels like when people believe in you? This is WEIRD but also COOL and I like it in the sense that I've worked really hard on this book and now people are seeing value in it and talking about it, which is GREAT. But I'm also, you know, hyperventilating with anxiety from all the pressure, hahahahAHAAHAHahahaha. It's all good, don't worry. It doesn't count as bravery if you're not scared.

Thank you, Leah. You're amazing. And the rest of you are amazing, too!

I hope to see you Friday...




I'm sorry. I need to collect myself a little bit. I'm in pieces strewn across the floor after watching the new Star Wars: The Force Awakens trailer.

Stories matter so much. Dumb, wild fantasies about space aliens and explosions and adventure matter - they can actually make a difference in people's lives. They can give us hope and help us dream and teach us how to fight through hard things and find ways to love one another and face our fears and understand what is going on in our heads and why people act the way they do and who we are.

I. LOVE. STORIES.

Anyway, here's my *CHANGES* conversation with Sally Ember, Ed.D. I am super-awkward!!! Yay!

Guess who's NOT super-awkward? THESE GUYS:



JF and Paul did it!!! INKSHARES PODCAST INKSHARES PODCAST INKSHARES PODCAST!!!

I'm so excited!! Go listen to it NOW!

Finally, here's your Museday Mix: Ky Edition:

Ky is a sexy bundle of secrets wrapped in angst and mystery and smirks. I love him the most, except for all my other characters whom I also love the most.

Renegades - X Ambassadors
King Rat - Modest Mouse
Hangin' - Bastille
Misery - Maroon 5
Lonely Man - Alpha Rev
Whispering - Alex Clare
We Might Fall - Ryan Star
Seven Devils - Florence and the Machine
Lost Cause - Imagine Dragons
It's Just My Skin - George Ezra
The Driver - Bastille
Invincible - OK Go

It's still Museday, right? It is in Minnesota!

So far, every single person I've asked reports that Tannor is their favorite character after reading my first 3 episodes. She is pretty kickass... but can Relai trust her?

I can't wait to get the book into your hands so you can find out.

Museday Mix: Tannor Edition! (seriously click "play all" and jam ok this one is fun)

Bang Bang - Jessie J, Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj

Royals - Lorde

Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You) - Kelly Clarkson

Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down) - Nico Vega (cover)

Lips are Movin' - Meghan Trainor

Electric Lady - Janelle Monáe

Never Let Me Go - Florence and the Machine 

You Could Be Happy - Snow Patrol 

Bad Blood - Taylor Swift

I Remember - Damien Rice

(I Just) Died in Your Arms Tonight - Bastille (cover)

Neon Lights - Demi Lovato

Hi everyone! Guess what? I made a blog! (I'm still getting it figured out, so bear with me.)

Here's a preview of my first real post - a rundown of Fall Comicon! Can you tell I don't know what I'm doing???


It was AMAZING. Find out more about my experience here

And don't forget: tomorrow morning I'll be chatting with Sally Ember Ed.D via the magic of a Google+ Hangout about writing, science fiction, art, and all sorts of other things. Watch our *CHANGES* Conversation live or check out the youtube video anytime after!

Finally, your Museday Mix: Tannor Edition is coming soon...



Hi, everyone! Three things for your Friday enjoyment:

1. Tomorrow is Fall Comicon!


  • Where: Minnesota State Fairgrounds
  • When: 10am-6pm
  • Who: A and C Weston
  • What: An independent convention for tons of local artists and creators! My table will have coloring sheets from the coloring book I hope you've all colored by now...

2. *CHANGES* Conversation with Sally Ember!

  • When: Wednesday Oct 14th, 9am-10am CT
  • Where: LIVE at this Google Hangout link
  • or anytime afterward at this Youtube link
  • Who: Me and Sally Ember, Ed.D
  • What: A conversation between Sally and I where we'll discuss my book, art, and all sorts of esoteric things probably! You'll get to see me in all my nerdy glory, so check it out! You fellow authors out there may want to consider doing one of these conversations, too! JF Dubeau did one this week. Go watch him in all his French-Canadian glory!

3. Exclusive excerpt coming soon to Art Books Coffee!


  • When: October 19th
  • Where: Art, Books, & Coffee, an incredible blog for anyone who likes art or books
  • What: an exclusive excerpt from Episode X of my book involving the idea of different cultural expectations for physical contact...

Bonus 4th Thing: Finally, there are six postcards of my "Busy, Busy Alien" illustration left. Order now if you want one!


Happy weekend to you all!


Leah, you made order #300! I'm so excited!

This milestone snuck up on me, I gotta say. Leah is going to help me organize my social media presence and, er, life. She is brilliant and amazing.Thank you, Leah!

To celebrate, why not do a giveaway?

The next 10 readers (you don't have to be new - you can order another copy) will receive a 5x7 postcard print of this illustration I did when I was bored one time:


Busy, Busy Alien!

Dave Barrett · Author · added almost 10 years ago
Good luck with the table!  
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