Joni Dee · Author · added over 9 years ago
Congrats Amanda on starting production. Good job! can’t wait to get the book!! 
Amanda Orneck · Author · added over 9 years ago · 13 likes

It’s the last day to help fund Deus Hex Machina, and I’m in a giving mood. 

EVERY order today will get a gift from me: a graphic novel short story I wrote as part of the compilation Winter’s Eye (available on Amazon here). 

So how can you, the book supporter who’s already ordered help? Please get ask one friend to order to the book today!

Yes I know it’s an impossible task, but I have visions of full funding today. Of waking up to 750 orders. That’s only 450. NBD.  Totally doable. Do I *know* 450 people? NOPE. Aye, there’s the rub.

Love to all you crazy book lovers. You’re the reason this book is a thing. 

See you on the other side of funding



Amanda Orneck · Author · added over 9 years ago · 12 likes

The end is nigh my friends...200 of you intrepid adventurers have put your trust and hard earned money into this making this book a reality, and with 10 days to go, funding is almost completed. Barring some major shift in events behind the scenes, Deus Hex Machina will be headed toward production shortly thereafter.

If you are following the book and would still like to get in a preorder before the end of funding, now is your chance. After June 16th I won’t be giving out any more codes to read the manuscript before it’s published.  I figure that’s my little gift to those who got in early, on the ground floor as it were. 

December 15th seems like a lifetime ago, but here I sit, looking at a successful funding campaign and a book about to be completed.  My promise to you is this: I will finish the last three chapters by the end of the funding period. It’s going to be hard work, but I said this book would be completed in April, and I had to push it to May because of all the extra scenes I found in it. Now it’s June, and this is a wonderful motivator to get the book’s first bones knitted. Once that is done it’s time to contact my development  editor about making sure this book is the best it can be. I think I might slip a beta reader cycle in there somewhere. Let me know if you are interested.

For now, thank you, a thousand times thank you. You made this book happen, and I am humbled to be the steward of your faith.
Amanda Orneck · Author · added over 9 years ago · 11 likes

Hey all! I’m in the thick of it with chapter 8 on Deus Hex Machina, and things are getting CRAZY. Mechs and Goldfarmers and hexing, oh my!

But I want to talk to you about what I’m working on after DHM. I’ve joined an all-star writing team to put together an anthology all about my second love (after writing) -- video games. It’s called Too Many Controllers, and will feature stories from me and 14 other writers from Inkshares. I am SUPER DUPER excited about this guys, and have been itching to tell you about it.

Today the project went live and I’d love if you checked it out and backed it. Here’s a link: https://www.inkshares.com/books/too-many-controllers?referral_code=302fcf04

If you have any questions about the project, I’d be happy to answer them. I’ll give you a hint as to what my story will be about: It takes place on the Grid. Want to know more? Preorder today and find out!


Amanda Orneck · Author · added over 9 years ago · 6 likes

The following is a PSA for all those writer types out there on my follower list:

Get ready, because Draftshares is about to begin!

When: May 30th - June 4th
Readers: Check out as many drafts (projects currently in the Draft stage) as you can during the week of May 30th - June 3rd, and participate by opening and commenting on your favorite drafts’ excerpts.
Why: To encourage community engagement...and, PRIZES!

Prizes you say?: Yes! For every Draft (or synopsis*) you critique, you will be entered into a drawing for the following:

Prizes for Anyone
  • Three sets of a copy of Asteroid Made of Dragons, button, and shirt
  • Church of Technology/Deus Hex Machina swag (pins and shirts)
  • Copy of Shadow of the Owl
  • Signed copy of Ageless
  • Order of Dax Harrison
  • Order of Bones of the Past
  • Order of Proxy
  • Original drawing by Jack Katz
  • Ladies of Sci Fi poster from A.C. Weston
  • Mix CD set with custom cover art by C. Brennecke
  • $25 in Inkshares Credits

Prizes for Authors
  • Video editing by Yicheng Liu
  • Interview on The Warbler
  • Guest spot on Drinkshares: Last Call
  • $25 in Inkshares Credits

Drafters: Let us know if you’d like to receive a soft critique or a hard critique by messaging a member of the DLC cast or tweeting your project link @drinkshareslc with either the #critiquemekindly or #critiqueme hashtags. If you want your synopsis critiqued, include the hashtag #critiquemypage too.
Soft Critiques (#critiquemekindly): This is the default critique if the author has not specifically requested a hard critique. The tone should be supportive and curious. Point out things you like, comment on the broader story ideas, and ask questions.
Hard Critique (#critiqueme): Only give a hard critique if the author has specifically asked for one. This is where grammatical errors, typos, and oversights can be pointed out. It’s best to include elements of a soft critique too, but you can unleash your inner editor a bit more here.
*Synopsis Critique (#critiquemypage): Interested Drafters should create a thread in the Inkshares forum (https://www.inkshares.com/forum_threads?topic=promo), linked to their book draft, titled “Synopsis Edits: [Book Title Goes Here].”Throughout the week, fellow authors will browse these threads and offer help with editing and improving your project page synopsis so you’re better prepared to switch over to funding with a fantastic, compelling, error-free introduction to your book!
Not sure where to start? Check out these Drafts first!:https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1QP0JPCCsijyIFIa0YKk4ZdQjHJPFW3mqtVvyOpNO3x4/edit?usp=sharing
Watch: Tune in at https://youtu.be/82ged3xwwew on Saturday, June 4th @ 4/3 Central to watch us discuss the drafts and announce the winners!

Good Luck & Great Drafting!
Amanda Orneck · Author · added over 9 years ago · 8 likes

Hey there hexers,

I just realized that I had forgotten to share with you the Pinterest boards I’ve been working on for the characters in DHM. I have Isidore RAM completed, as well as Daxas Piers, and am starting on CRI-LUX.  It’s a fun exercise in visualizing characters that up until now have just lived in my head.  

We have 193 readers for this novel so far. Can we make it to 200?  

Have a great Tuesday!
Amanda
Amanda Orneck · Author · added over 9 years ago · 13 likes

I’m currently in the middle of a staycation here in the Orneck household. Movies, minimal cooking, discovering old restaurants made new...it’s heaven.  It’s been great to get my creative juices flowing, so I am sitting down to sneak some planning in for Chapter 8, the big set piece.  

In other news, recently I wrote an article about DHM over on Game Geex that is worth reading, and I was interviewed over on The Warbler, which was amazing. 

It’s Monday, a fresh week with fresh possibilities. I can’t wait to see what’s in store. 

Love,
Amanda
Amanda Orneck · Author · added over 9 years ago · 21 likes

Deus Hex Machina was just chosen to be part of the illustrious Sword & Laser Collection here on Inkshares. I would write more about this, but I’m too busy shaking with gratitude.

I am honored beyond words to stand amongst these great writers. Holy cow!


Amanda Orneck · Author · added over 9 years ago · 6 likes

So I got this weird sort of communique this morning from RAMSES and thought I would pass it along:

The seventh installment is complete. Intrepid supporters may search for it now using the usual methods. More to follow as security allows. Tell no one. They are always watching.

Creepy right?  Want to know what she’s talking about?  Make sure you preorder the book and then sign up for the email list! 
Amanda Orneck · Author · added over 9 years ago · 14 likes

I sat down to write, with a fresh cup of coffee and a real desire to see what happens to Isidore next. Then I saw that we got another order (#265), and now I might be too happy to write. I mean, I will write, but as it stands I am in a good mood filled with good coffee with a lovely Spring afternoon tempting me to just run through the wildflowers outside. It’s hard to write about people in dire situations when you just want to twirl on a mountainside like Maria.

But I’m going to write. I’m going to write because yesterday I finished a pivotal scene in the middle of chapter 7 and the plot is barreling downhill toward its conclusion now. I’m going to write because Isidore is standing on the precipice (figuratively, friends, not literally) and she deserves to step out of limbo and into action once more. I’ve discovered what a strong character she is, internally, and how good at coping she is when challenges face her. I’m about to test that strength and I look forward to seeing how she reacts.

And more importantly, I’m going to write because there are a hundred and eighty some odd of you waiting patiently for this book. I want to create the best possible version of this story for you, but to do that I must first get the worst possible version down on paper in order to improve it.  

So I’m going to get to it. I’ll see you on the other side of chapter 7.

Love,
Amanda
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