Tony Valdez · Author · added over 9 years ago

@S.T. Ranscht and Robert P. Beus Oops! Thanks for the heads up. Typo fixed! ...Although, maybe it would have been cooler if Miss Calico was prepping to float like a butterfly and sting like a bee! Haha

S.T. Ranscht · Author · added over 9 years ago

Two notes about the Prologue -- 1. Great fun! 2. If Cassie feinted, was she fencing or faking a faint?

Tony Valdez · Author · added over 9 years ago · 9 likes

Hello readers!

Things have been a little quiet around here, but I wanted to touch base with you all really quick and let you know that things are still very much in motion.

The Inkshares team is patiently waiting for me to finish up the Dax manuscript, at which point editing & production will finally begin!

"How long will that be, Tony?"

Well, to be perfectly honest, I have no idea. This is my first go around the whole authoring/editing/publishing block. Rest assured, I'm pushing to write as much as I can every day.

What I CAN tell you is that the writing is moving steadily along. My biggest obstacle in redrafting the story is reminding myself to reign it all into something cohesive and not shoot off into a million directions and tangents. While the original Dax screenplay told a very direct story out of necessity, novelization opens SO MANY possibilities. Different viewpoints, more commentary, exploring the inner thoughts of the characters, etc. And as I move along, I find myself wanting to scratch that itch more and more.

So I'm doing my best to find a good balance between editing/expanding the original material and just getting the darn thing done. Maybe I'll save the rest for the sequel... :)

"Really? You're already planning a sequel?"

Yep!

"This isn't another one of those Hunger Maze Divergent Runner Games things where you're going to rope me into buying 3 or 4 books just to finish the story, is it?"

Haha, nope. No offense to those books, but I set out to make Dax one complete adventure. Period. But if that leaves people interested in more wacky adventures, I've got another one in the tank. Maybe two. Think more Indiana Jones or James Bond rather than The Lord of The Rings.

"So can you at least tell me around when to expect my book?"

If I keep my current pace, I'm hoping to turn in the manuscript before the end of next month. I will of course keep you updated should that change.

What I can also tell you is that the Inkshares team estimates roughly a 4 1/2 month turnaround time from when I hand over the manuscript to the completed publishing of the book. That of course can also change depending on the length of the text, the amount of editing required, and so on. But this at least gives you folks a better idea of the expected time frame.

"Hey, I won one of your mug contests a while back. Where's my mug?"

Apologies for the delays. I finally got all the mugs to the post office early yesterday. I hope they find their way to you safely and shortly. If you want, send me a pic on Twitter (@rockhollywood8) of you enjoying it and it will warm my heart. :)

"Anything else I should know?"

Yes! Chapter 1 is not actually the start of the book! I've been keeping a secret prologue from you all, which I just finished rewriting. I was going to save it until the book released, but what the heck. I am sending it to your inboxes as we speak. You can also read it here at Inkshares.

That's all for now, folks. Back to the grindstone!

-Tony

Tony Valdez · Author · added over 9 years ago · 7 likes

Hey Dax fans! Okay, okay, I know I already bugged you with an update earlier, but I just had a couple more things to tell you...

1) I have now staked my claim at DaxHarrison.com! It's a simple landing page (which I will improve soon) with a description of the book and a link to the Inkshares page, but it should make telling people about the book that much simpler.

After all, DaxHarrison.com kinda rolls off the tongue a little easier than inkshares.com/projects/dax-harrison-2276. Don't you think? Tell your friends. :)

2) I have another great Inkshares book to tell you about!

Calling all fantasy fans out there! With only 15 days remaining and 177 copies left to order, this book needs your help!

Exile, Magus by Thomas J. Arnold is a fantasy novel set in a land of empires and city-states still haunted by the ancient past. After breaking his people's greatest taboo by practicing magic, a young dwarf must abandon what is left of his family and flee into a world he has only heard of in stories.

To find out more about this project, visit Exile, Magus’ homepage here: https://www.inkshares.com/projects/exile-magus?referral_code=1ec3efd7

OR... read more about it now:

Pentaz has lived a relatively comfortable life in the reclusive island nation of Thierdenvolgenlund. His father had won wealth and questionable fame as an engineer, problem solver, and even a one-time dragon slayer. Still the family's peculiar nature ensures that most view them as oddities, but when Pentaz' study of magic the people turn fully against them.

Fleeing home after both a great tragedy and victory, Pentaz enters a world he has only heard of in stories and legends. Now, he must struggle to learn the ways of this strange, new world in order to survive. The dangers of his new life on the road are many though, and they cannot be overcome alone.

Along the way he finds new friends and allies, fellow students of magic, a money-grubbing caravan master, a dwarf of the mainlands whose culture is perhaps most alien to Pentaz, and even an eccentric king overly fascinated by gnomes and their workings. Most importantly he finds Buscidia, a half-dwarven warrior and vagabond, and in her he finds love and hope for a new family to replace the one he had lost. But can Pentaz overcome his own insecurities and pain in order to build the life with her which he desperately desires?

His home has not forgotten Pentaz or his crime however, and unbeknownst to the exile his brother Palkaz has made his way to the mainland as well. As his hunt for the young magus comes to a close, the two find their charged reunion interrupted.

Thrust against a danger the two brothers never imagined, can they overcome their differences long enough to survive?

Want to hear more? Check out the homepage and read the first five chapters for FREE!

And take a look at what a couple of other authors had to say about Exile, Magus:

John Robin, author of Blood Dawn says "Exile, Magus brings out the grand voice of high fantasy. Thomas Arnold brings together echos of Gulliver's Travels, Terry Pratchet, and Tolkien with his witty, scholarly narrative voice, strange races with strange names, and sense of a rigorously-thought-out world. I excpect from what I read to enter something amusing, thoughtful, and intriguing all at once!"

Tabi Card, author of says "Exile, Magus is a unique fantasy tale, giving new maenaing to the world 'Epic'. As you follow the life of Pentaz, you will be treated to an intricate blend of myth and magic, sit on the edge of your seat through intense battles, and chuckle at the witty banter of the characters as they face a variety of threats. If you read fantasy, read this - I promise it will not disappoint!"

Go ahead, take a look and buy a book!

BUT HURRY! The book’s campaign ends on JANUARY 22nd SO ORDER YOUR COPY NOW!

https://www.inkshares.com/projects/exile-magus?referral_code=1ec3efd7

Tony Valdez · Author · added over 9 years ago · 6 likes

Hey guys and gals! How's everyone's first week of 2016?

My wife and I have been fighting a nasty, nasty cold/cough/sore throat/harbinger of phlegmy doom. So Dax progress has been a bit derailed the last few days. I'll be back with a proper update soon. Listening to the rain and enjoying buckets of hot tea has been lovely though. For those of you here in Southern California having to commute, stay safe! It's crazy out there.

I like to imagine Chris Farley is somewhere above us right now having a laugh...

Now, an important message for fans of epic fantasy! With only eleven days remaining and 94 copies left to order, a fellow Inkshares author needs your help!

Storm of Fury by Andrew Wood is an epic fantasy novel set in a war-torn land besieged by its own god. While avoiding a seemingly endless web of political schemes and plots, a young man must overcome his own lack of skill to confront his deity.

To find out more about this project, visit Storm of Fury’s homepage here:https://www.inkshares.com/projects/storm-of-fury

OR, read more about it now:

If there was one thing in certain in life, it was that man was a sinful creature. It his nature, it permeates his mind and perhaps even his very soul. It is whispered that once, long ago, man could simply ask for forgiveness, and it would be granted freely. But not anymore…

The great, almighty god Na’lek has scorned his creation, angered by their constant failings and unholy acts. Now, his divine rage is made manifest as an immense, supernatural storm. This is the Fury, and its sole purpose is to eradicate mankind.

This eternal war, god against man, has continued for countless years. The Fury has assailed men for so long that even the storm’s origins have grown vague in the minds of the people. This was the era that Kaven was born into.

After nearly two decades of proving himself over and over to be a failure in all he does, Kaven is presented with an opportunity. While the world falls apart around him, Kaven is tasked to go out into the Fury and beg for mankind’s forgiveness, one last time.

But if Kaven can survive the perils within the storm, the anger of his god and the treachery of his fellow man, the secrets that he uncovers may be far too much for him to bear…

Want to hear more? Check out the homepage and read the first three chapters for free!

And take a look at what some fellow authors had to say about Storm of Fury:

"The world Andrew Wood takes us to with this story is superb and believable. It's a tough act to establish a storm as an antagonist, but Wood does a great job of creating real extensions of this storm that give it a tangible, menacing presence, a la George R. R. Martin's White Walkers or Jordan's Myrdraal. In fact, the mood and tone very much conjured the familiar world of Wheel of Time, where instead of a dark one we have a menacing storm that is just as terrifying. This is fine epic fantasy and I very much hope to see this book in print so I can read it in its entirety." -John Robin, author of Blood Dawn

"A wonderfully immersive example of what epic fantasy should be. Whether describing the fury of a divinely created storm, the horror of monsters and titans, or the love of pastries shared by father and son soldiers it does so in a fast paced but highly detailed way. It will leave you wanting to know more about what are both highly developed characters and a highly detailed world. I can't wait to read the entire book." -Thomas J. Arnold, author of Exile, Magus

Go ahead, take a look and buy a book!

BUT HURRY! The book’s campaign ends on JANUARY 17TH ORDER YOUR COPY NOW!

https://www.inkshares.com/projects/storm-of-fury

(Authors, please copy and paste this into your updates if you also want to help spread word about this great book to your readers.)

Tony Valdez · Author · added over 9 years ago · 12 likes

Happy New Year's Eve! Just a quick update today.

So this, this is pretty cool to see...

We have officially joined the Quill Collection page! Even though Dax is still technically in progress, this little detail makes it just a tiny bit more real and gives me the warm-and-fuzzies. Woo hoo!

Also, fantasy author Jamison Stone (Rune of the Apprentice) invited me to write a guest blog post at his site, Apotheosis Studios! I discuss a bit of my creative background, along with some of the inspiration for Dax, as seen in the dashing rogues gallery below.

Check out the article HERE.

New Year's resolutions, anyone? I have a couple.

1) Finish Dax, of course
2) Enjoy a nice break after publishing. Get through at least some of the stacks of books and video games I've amassed.
3) Maybe finally take up violin
4) Back to the gym. My back is killing me with all this sitting at the computer. (Yes, despite popular belief, it is totally possible to be a super nerd AND fit!)

OK gang! Back to writing, writing, writing...

-Tony

Tony Valdez · Author · added over 9 years ago · 9 likes

Hey everyone! And Happy New Year's Eve Eve!

It's time for a long overdue Dax Harrison video update! Now that the funding campaign has come to an end, I'm giving away the final 6 COFFEE MUGS! So you probably want to watch this one. :)

CLICK HERE TO WATCH!

-Tony

Tony Valdez · Author · added over 9 years ago

LOL. 2word & La2er! It hurts so good!

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

Sword & Laser 2: Laser Harder

Sword & Laser: Winter Soldier

Sword & Laser Into Darkness

2word & La2er

Tony Valdez · Author · added over 9 years ago · 5 likes

Hey everyone!

I'm probably going to be on radio silence for the next few days, so here's a few quick things to keep in mind over the holiday weekend...

The Sword & Laser Collection Contest is in full swing. If you're not familiar, this is a contest held by Inkshares including any sci-fi and fantasy books currently in funding as of December 1st. When the contest ends on January 15th, the 3 books with the most individual pre-orders will be guaranteed publishing! They don't even have to hit the usual 250 order minimum, so long as they are in the top 3 versus the other competitors.

Now this is tough for me, because I am now quite familiar with so many of these authors and their great works. Honestly, they all deserve publishing. So just go take a look, and consider backing any of these fine people. It'd be a nice Xmas present.

Side note: Technically this is the 2nd Sword & Laser Collection contest, so the full title is really "The Sword & Laser Collection Contest: The Sequel". ...Or I suppose you could call it "The Sword & Laser Collection: Part Deux", "Sword & Laser 2: The Quickening", "Sword & Laser Episode II: Attack of the Books", "Sword & Laser 2: Inkshares Boogaloo" .... "Live Free or Publish Hard"? Okay, I'm done.

Secondly, Dax is now sitting pretty at 260 pre-orders, which means it will indeed be published. However, that doesn't mean you should be deterred from continuing your orders! For those of you who have been following the project but have not yet decided to order a copy, feel free to take another look. Maybe read those sample chapters over your holiday weekend, perhaps

as you bask on the couch in a glorious food coma, and see if it tickles your fancy.

Sunday will mark the end of the initial funding campaign, however the book will remain available for pre-order until its release sometime next year. And then, it will be out! Out in the wild! Ready for one and all! Fly, my pretty! Fly!!

ALSO, don't forget! I am still raffling off those gorgeous Dax coffee mugs every 10 orders throughout the funding campaign, and that includes all orders from now through Sunday! I'm behind on my raffle videos, but I will catch up immediately after the weekend festivities are over. As it stands, I have 5 more mugs to give away, and if 2 more people order in the next couple days, there will be a 6th!

And finally, to everyone out there, have a happy and safe holiday weekend. A very merry Christmas to you all. And/or Hanukkah. Or... you know what, hang on a sec...

There we go! A friend made this a few years back. Merry Chrismahanukwanzakah everybody!

-Tony