I have met some wonderful people here on Inkshares. In fact, I find the entire community to be mutually supportive. What a wonderful spirit!

There is one individual who has gone over and beyond in reaching out to me with support. I’m certain he has done the same for many other Inkshares authors. His clever book, Cape’s Side Bay, is very near Quill. Let’s get James Rasile’s book to Quill publication... and beyond. Please help with a pre-order! :-)

https://www.inkshares.com/books/cape-s-side-bay?referral_code=13a0d0cd 

The Geek and Sundry Hard Science Contest is over and I want to send HIGH FIVES and "YEAH MAN!s" to winners Tal Klein for The Punch Escrow, Brian Guthrie for After Man, and Erin S. Evan for The Pirates of Montana. Each of you offered beautiful, polished work. You set a fine example and a high bar for the rest of us. A big congratulations from the bottom of my heart!

I also want to thank Jeremy Thomas and the Inkshares team for organizing these contests. I see them as a win-win-win all the way around! We are truly fortunate to share this space with the likes of Chris Hardwick’s Nerdist and Felicia Day’s Geek and Sundry. These awesome people help open this platform to the movers and shakers of popular culture. I’m impressed!

Peace to all!

Ferd. :-)

Upon the suggestion of Christopher Huang, the brilliant author of "Murder at the Veterans’ Club," I have edited the introductory text on Mission 51’s home page. It gives away a little bit more of the story, and hopefully piques your interest!

I have essentially completed the chapter previously titled "Mat." The name of the chapter has now changed to "Mat and Dirk," though who knows, it may change again on a fickle whim. ;-)

The first two parts of the book serve to establish Mat’s "humanity." (Picture me doing big air quotes with my fingers.) It has been fun doing that, and I really want you to be able to read it some day. But I don’t think I will upload this chapter. In fact, from now on I may be just uploading excerpts instead of entire chapters, you know, to build  suspense/anticipation and stuff.

The fun really builds after the crash at the end of the second part of the story. That you really don’t want to miss, and I really won’t be uploading any more chapters from the third part of the book!

So just help ease my anxiety and place your pre-order, so the book sees the light of day, and you get to read about the crazy shit that happens to Mat!

If you have already pre-ordered, again I thank you, and ask you to:

• point a friend this way, or

• write a review, or

• make an Inkshares recommendation, or

• all of the above.
  

I do believe that together we can reach the 250 pre-order mark to get Mission 51 published.

Thank you, everyone!

Peace and love!

Ferd. :-) 

I interrupt the regularly scheduled writing frenzy to share with you, dear readers, this precious little bit of my real life.

No secret to those who know us, Princess Gail and I love birding. We spent most of this last week with old friends and new at the New River Birding and Nature Festival in the New River Gorge area of West Virginia. We are in the midst of the spring migration, and we were all there to see as many of our feathered friends as possible, as they make their way to their northern breeding habitats. Despite a few days of cold and wet weather, Gail and I managed to see 80 species. Our group as a whole saw 135 species, and we had a whole lotta fun before, during and after!

For me, the highlight of the trip was a prolonged view of the Swainson’s Warbler, one of the most secretive and elusive birds in all of North America. It was a special treat to see him in lustrous breeding plumage and singing loudly. I’ll remember those moments forever! Here is a picture I took of this lovely individual, for your viewing pleasure.

I return you now, to your regularly scheduled frenzy!

Peace!

Ferd. :-)

Mission 51 has reached an early milestone, with 83, or one-third of the 250 pre-orders required for the book to be published! A sincere thank you to everyone who has helped get us this far!

I ask the Mission 51 followers who have not yet pre-ordered the book to please pre-order now, and help get us past the 100 mark, which would be another great milestone!

Peace and love to all!

Ferd. :-)

This is a "BIG Welcome" sort of update!

First of all, welcome new readers and followers! I am humbled and truly grateful for your support and encouragement! I am glad you are with me on Mission 51!

And, I am SO excited to announce an artistic collaboration! A very warm welcome to Idan Carré, an awesome young artist who will certainly enhance Mission 51 with her unique vision. As pictures speak louder than words, I will let this one speak  for itself. This is a water color by Idan, an interpretation of the opening moments of the chapter titled "The Crash." Enjoy! :-)

Hello, everyone!

I send this brief note in support of Mike Donald’s excellent thriller, Louisiana Blood. He is in his last 17 days of funding and needs just 25 pre-orders to be published. Louisiana Blood is a "Staff Pick," and has earned the support of TWO Inkshares Syndicates. This book is the real deal! In the spirit of crowdfunding excellent work, please support Mike and Louisiana Blood with a pre-order! Thank you!

https://www.inkshares.com/books/louisiana-blood-a-chandler-travis-and-duke-lanoix-mystery?referral_code=13a0d0cd