Julian Green and Finn Mcrae · Author · added over 9 years ago · 4 likes

Die-hard Rebels, and Royal subjects,

The holidays have been time consuming. However! We've updated to a new Facebook Page.

https://www.facebook.com/suffrageworldkeys/

We'll be posting here as well. But Facebook will allow us to do some things and reach a wider audience. Also, we'll be posting up a few additional pieces on the concept art as things progress. The artist we commissioned has been working hard over the holidays to come up with beginning sketches. When we go to publishing, we should already have a few plates of art to put into production.

It is true that somehow Snake managed to get ahold of a cell phone in order to rally support for the Rebels. But our sources say that Heinrich himself has managed to infiltrate the cellular networks. Be on the lookout for any information concerning Heinrich's whereabouts. Because if one of the Monarchs is involved, the others can't be far behind.

/Julian and Finn

Julian Green and Finn Mcrae · Author · edited over 9 years ago · 6 likes

Hello Rebels!,

I know I updated only a short time ago but...

Arty Things! - did you notice our sparkly new cover art? I'm totally doing the snoopy dance right now. Aside from looking extremely cool, it gives everyone a chance to see the quality the artist we hired. I'm impressed. What do you think?

I also have some very preliminary sketches for the Prize art. I'm not going to share them here, merely tease you with their existence, because they are a bit spoilery for the novel. I can assure you that they are very nice indeed. Maybe once I've uploaded more chapters...but for that to happen...we need more backers and to get the word out.

Getting the word out - Finn and I are doing an author Interview with local blogger and all round fabulous woman, Melanie Edmonds. Here's one she did previously with my good friend Matthew Hellscream (yes that's actually his real name and of course he writes in the Horror genre). Keep your eye's peeled for the self-conscious mumblings of socially awkward people. While I'm here, don't forget to connect with Snake here on twitter or Finn and myself here on Google + community for Suffrage.

That's all for now Rebels - Stay free.

Julian Green and Finn Mcrae · Author · added over 9 years ago · 4 likes

Time for an update Rebels!

Progress... Finn has been a rock with the editing, so much so I'm having trouble keeping up! For now though just want to let everyone know that we're still powering on. I'm still thinking and fiddling with the structural edit around chapter 8,9,10. Finn's up around Chapter 19 or so doing line by line edit. We seem to be increasing the size of the manuscript, I think we've added another 20 pages so far. Going forward, I think I'll let you know when we are finished with the first read-through edit.

Social Media...As mentioned before - both Finn and I are socially media inept...but we're trying and learning. Baby steps are needed.

Google+ community for Suffrage - This is mostly Finn's doing and he's doing a good job here. Come link to the community we are hoping to establish.Where you'll see things like...

Twitter - I'm Twignorant...which funnily enough would be the same as our visitors. Somehow Snake managed to get hold of a smartphone. That's not good. Please help the poor confused Rebel understand more about this thing called Twitter. He's just madly pressing little buttons right now. You might also want to ask him some questions. https://twitter.com/Suffrageworld.

Review-a-thon - Time differences being what they are...this kinda didn't happen for me...but I watched the livestream. And I reviewed a few projects I like the look of. Good job to all involved, and I am slowly replying to those that have reviewed Suffrage...thank-you very much. P.S. Inkshares staff - how do I say this nicely...the review process is...clunky and less than user friendly.

Julian Green and Finn Mcrae · Author · edited over 9 years ago · 5 likes

Hello Rebels!

Just got notification of 20 readers, Wooh! Have I told you today how awesome you are? Well you are. So it is update time!

Editing - Finn and I are moving forward with the editing process. We're currently discussing things in relation to chapters eight, nine and ten. We think we need an extra chapter in there to really hit the readers in the feels. We're also trying to learn about social media as neither of us utilize social media in any great capacity.

Prizes - We've hired an artist to provide some work for both the cover and additional plates (We are very excited!). I'm hoping that very shortly we will be able to show you some initial concept art and sketches for the novel. And don't forget, a major prize will be drawn for an original piece of art by a professional artist when we reach follower and pre-order milestones.

Milestones and general rambling- ... we are at 20 preorders, enough to keep us in the top ten, but a lot of work needs to be done...and frankly we need your help. I'm from the 'Bah Humbug' school of social media, shaking my cane and telling the kids to get off my virtual grass. I'm not a Twitterer, just a twit when it comes to all forms of social media. Finn seems similarly inclined despite his leprechaun charm. BUT there are just over ninety people following Finn and myself, and some fifty-odd following the project. So what have we got that we can leverage? We both think we have a cracking story, something that has elements that will appeal to a wide audience (if only they could hear about it)...but we ask ourselves...is that enough, especially when you can only see a tiny bit of it and I know from what the Alpha readers are telling me that by the fifth chapter they are hooked and by the tenth chapter if they don't get the rest of the manuscript they will hurt me to obtain it. Hmm.

So without further ado, as a reward for reaching 20 backers, I'm adding a couple more chapters. Please tell people, tag them on Facebook, Tweet them on Twitter, blast them on Goodreads, Pintrest and Instagram photo's and whatever else I am missing.

Note that whilst these chapters have had a quick fly-buy and shotgun edit, Finn and I were mainly concentrating on the big picture stuff. When we wrote this the end of the book was still a bit hazy in the crystal ball, so we've mainly been fixing up and foreshadowing things. I haven't received all my alpha readers comments back and we are still in the process of finding a selection of beta readers. If you see a typo or awkwardly phrased segment of text, please let us know via the comment section, or via email - suffrageworldkey@gmail.com

Stay Free Rebels - New chapters are incoming just as soon as I upload them.

Julian

P.S. Thought I'd add another Anime styled image from awesome daughter of one of the Rebel team. Say hello to Mack (short for Mackenzie). .

Lexen Verite · Reader · added almost 10 years ago

I'm very excited to get to settle in and read this. :) I may also be claiming partial responsibility for getting you two together. Just sayin'.

Julian Green and Finn Mcrae · Author · added almost 10 years ago · 4 likes

Hello Rebels! (And a special hello to Captain Jack Sparrow who is expressing how I'm feeling in a remarkably succinct way)

TGIO Party and Editing - Today I went to the Nanowrimo Thanks Goodness Its Over party, where there was just a tonne of fun had with my fellow Wrimo's. This was a reward for all the hard work we've been putting in, and an opportunity to do some marketing for the project. The minions will be minioning over the next week on social media, getting the word out about the book. Wrimo minions, I salute you! You make me feel so special about my little project.

Over the last week Finn and I have been rapidly editing the first ten chapters of the book, with a major re-write of chapter three. We've also got a couple of alpha readers who are happily tearing through the first third of the book. My wife (the high school teacher) got out her red pen and blasted through about eight chapters in one night. I think my teenage daughter is in heaven...pointing out all the mistakes her Dad made when his mind was afire with story. It's simply glorious that we have people around us who are so supportive.

I am reminded of something I read during Nano in an article somewhere. The most important thing about writing is that you write. Don't get bogged down in editing when you are writing because all those fizzing idea's that are flowing onto the page will disappear. You're essentially shovelling sand into a pit to build sandcastles with later. It's during the editing phase that you take that sand, remove the cigarette butts and plastic tops of bottles and all the other beach detritus and really make something special....and I think we are. Despite the funny faces I'm pulling as I re-read the text and wonder if I was suffering from Caffeine induced dyslexia. Is it perfect yet? No, but it is a great improvement I feel on where we were even a week ago. Very shortly I will be uploading our amendments to the Prologue and Chapter 1. I hope you like the changes we've made to make the story flow better.

Sword and Laser & Prizes - When I had the price reset by the helpful Inkshares staff on the project to bring it in line with what everyone else was charging, I somehow lost the first six orders that occurred on the first day of the project. So we are officially over ten pre-orders on the project as of now and it's time to reveal the first major prize that Finn and I have agreed upon for people who are backing the project. Suffrage is the first book in a planned series. When we reach fifty pre-orders, we are going to draw the name of one of our backers and use that name for a minor character in the second book. We make no promises regarding the likelihood of said character surviving to the third book.

We also have another idea we are kicking around but isn't confirmed yet for another major prize. To my surprise, Finn's brother is very arty, as in, he makes a living from it. We are considering asking him to produce an original piece of art of an iconic scene in the book. If Finn's brother agrees, we'll get him painting up a storm and post details and a picture of it when it's finished.

Okay update over - back to the editing - stay cool Rebels and spread the word among all your scifi adventure loving friends about the project.

P.S. - There are very cool things coming that you'll see when more chapters are added. I can't wait.

Julian Green and Finn Mcrae · Author · added almost 10 years ago · 5 likes

Hello Rebels!

Sword and Laser - Well, what an interesting last 24 hours. After managing a very small amount of pomp and ceremony I pressed the accept pre-orders button on the project, because I am a man of my word and the draft has been completed. I then watched a movie and went to sleep. When I woke I decided to check my e-mails and see if anyone had actually ordered the book. To my utter delight two people had, including Thaddeus Woodman the co-founder of Inkshares. With a very warm fuzzy feeling inside, I started reading the rest of the emails from Inkshares and just about fell off my chair. "Sword and Laser competition! What are you doing? Not now, I'm not ready yet." I said to the only person who could hear me...our cat Kisa, who merely wondered if this was going to interfere with her jam-packed day of staring at birds and napping.

I spent several hours on tenterhooks waiting for Finn to stop sleeping, during which time I pressed the button to follow a whole bunch of people and pitched the book like a madman, and finally managed to contact him. Well, we're on the leaderboard...do we do this? Do we take the challenge offered by Sword and Laser and start up a social media campaign, cover art, rapid editing process, alpha and beta readers, prizes, marketing, and telling everyone we've ever met about our book?

YES WE SHALL

Price. - apparently Suffrage is 30 dollars for a hard copy and 15 for an e-book...and everyone else in the competition is 20 and 10. Wha? That's not right surely? Okay how do I change that? WHA? I can't change that? Urgent desperate e-mail sent to the helpful Inkshares staff...check. Shortly (hopefully very shortly) you'll be able to support the book at the same price as everyone else in the competition. If you've already ordered the book at the exorbitant price of 30 dollars...I am humbled and I salute you, but don't worry you'll be able to get it at the cheaper price. If you ordered the e-book at 15, yeah, you'll get that cheaper too. This horse doesn't need to run in the race with that kind of handicap.

Prizes and rewards. - So of course we are going to release more chapters as we hit follower and pre-order milestones, but that means we need to revise and edit and have beta readers and we need it now. Finn and I started revising last night and knocked off the Prologue and first two chapters. We'll be putting out the improved version of the prologue and chapter One...in the next couple of days. We have also managed to convince a couple of mates to be Alpha readers and have shared the first ten chapters with them. There will be more awesome prizes coming out...we just haven't decided on what they will be because we've been a little busy.

Stay tuned Rebels for more exciting developments as they occur.

Julian Green and Finn Mcrae · Author · added almost 10 years ago · 1 like

EPIC UPDATE TIME!

Nanowrimo and my blood oath - Wow! What a wild ride. That was awesome. You'll be pleased to hear that the blood oath I swore to Titivillus the Demon Patron of Writing Errors has been fulfilled. At 6 pm last night I wrote the words "The End" on this first part of the story, coming in at 95,815 words in total for the first draft. I feel like I've just given birth. No seriously, I know I am a male and right now all the women reading this are scoffing and saying things like "You don't have the pain tolerance to give birth pal." and cracking their knuckles in a meaningful way...but it is honestly how I feel. There's this beautiful, amazing thing that has been created that is looking at me with baby blue eyes all full of innocence and asking "What will I become Daddy?". Awww. And like any freshly hatched baby it's covered in blood, sweat, and tears, and while I think it's beautiful I realize she needs a bit of wash up so that other people don't freak out at the sight of her and can truly appreciate her.

What now? - The button...the sell pre-orders button is talking to me. It wants me to press it. It knows I want to...and tonight...with beer, and ceremony and as much pomp as I can manage ...I will be pressing that button. You know what you have to do rebels. Spread the word. But Finn and I have a big list of things we want to achieve in the next couple of months. This is where we make our amazing and beautiful baby even more amazing and beautiful until everyone falls in love with her at first sight. We will be working hard doing...

Cover Art - there are several major iconic scenes in the novel that I think would make exceptional fodder for an artist. Finn's brother is kinda artsy, so he's going to give it a red hot go. Failing that we'll be looking around for an artist to replace my rubbish attempt at a cover.

Editing and Beta reading - Part of my brilliant decision (I know, so modest right?), to bring Finn McRae on board is because Finn is detail orientated like me. He spent the first few weeks going over what I'd written and editing it, putting some of his own flair and sprinkling magical leprechaun gold dust over what I'd already managed to achieve. Then, like a couple of Sherpa's tackling a mountain together, we'd write together, with one of us taking the lead, (while the other edited along behind) and then swapped leads when brain turned to mush or we felt the cruel whip of our Muse. It worked better than I could have possibly imagined. But I KNOW there are sections of the text that could be better, particularly when I was struggling along alone without my lucky leprechaun. So there will be a very quick edit by Finn and I (particularly around chapters 8-9) then a round of beta reading. I expect all of this to be finished by the end of January. Depending on feedback we will do another round of editing and then evaluate. If we need to we'll do some other things, and then we will unleash our creation upon the world... Mwa ha har.

Website and/or Facebook Page - I've never been a big social media user, I just never saw the attraction. Do people really want to see the blueberry bagel and coffee I had for breakfast? Or the awesome manly cocktail I had when my brother was in town. Really? But for the Novel, I think she needs it. So I'll be making a Facebook page, or making a small simple website...or both! So we can get our social media thing happening.

Updates - I really want to figure out how to do one of these updates correctly. I have no idea what I'm doing wrong or how some other authors manage to produce beautiful updates with pictures in the middle and other kinds of fun stuff. It's just a box you type into, there's no WSYIWYG controls. You have to right click to get anything and it's only got 8 items on it. You can't preview what it looks like before you press send!!! *deep breath* Okay rant over. I feel better now. I'll figure it out.

Goals and goodies - I want to do a list of goals and prizes for reaching pre-order targets. There may be arty things, wordy things, declarations of undying love and gratitude...Who Knows!

Other Things - That's right, we will be doing all the things! You know those things I can't think of right now. Those things.

Finally I wanted to share something else my awesome talented teenage daughter did in celebration for me completing the novel and participating in Nanowrimo ... https://www.wurrly.com/wurrly/vrAn8q7Jb5

*Hands out Mops* Explodes with fatherly pride.

Next update when I have some progress to report.

Keep up the good fight Rebels

Julian Green and Finn Mcrae · Author · added almost 10 years ago · 1 like

Epic Update Time...

The day of discombobulation - I know I said I'd be going radio dark until December because of Nanowrimo and my blood oath to complete the draft by the end of November, but no writing is happening today. Today is for beer and commiseration. In an effort to do something constructive I thought I would update you all. I find myself unable to get into my usual productive head space because my bosses wife backed her four wheel drive into my small hatchback. Of course it's my bosses wife...I had to smile and say "No it's fine, accidents happen, aww look you scratched your towing ball. Yes it IS rather a lot of damage to my car, thank-you for noticing." rather than call her a HEAVILY CENSORED.

So How's Nano Tracking? - It is going wonderfully. Apparently feeding my muse with constant wordage makes her happy. The novel is rapidly approaching the 100K word mark, with probably only about 15k of words left to write in the draft. December I will be raising a glass and celebrating as I push the pre-order button. Then a new mad stage of this whole process begins...I'm actually looking forward to it.

I'm going to attempt to put in another anime style character that my daughter did. Here's hoping a) I succeed and b) they appear at the bottom of this update instead of the top. *Facepalm* Oh well, say hello to Jay up the top there.

Till next time Rebels.