Evan Graham · Author · edited over 9 years ago · 3 likes

Well, Geek and Sundry’s Hard Science Fiction competition has come to an end. It’s a tremendous honor to have been able to come in fifth place in the running, especially after getting such a late start and a slow build at the beginning. I’d like to give a heartfelt congratulations to the winners: Tal Klein, author of The Punch Escrow, Brian Guthrie, author of After Man, and Erin S. Evan, author of The Pirates of Montana. All three of them deserve every pre-sell they have gained. They’ve worked hard, built a huge following from the ground up, and most importantly, they’ve all told brilliant stories. I heartily recommend following them all.

I’d also like to give a shout out to Ronald D. Vale, author of We Clocked the T-Rex, for coming in fourth place (although if the contest had lasted a few more hours, I totally would have passed him. Just saying :P). I understand he’s suspending his own campaign, but his book also looks absolutely fascinating. Follow him, and please give him support when he inevitably decides to give it another go!

So what does this mean for Tantalus Depths, not winning the competition?

Absolutely nothing.

I knew from the very beginning I had about zero chance of winning it. I didn’t even start my campaign until the contest had already been running for three weeks! Therefore, I was never banking on a win. Sure, it would have been nice to catch some unexpected windfall and take the lead, defying all odds. But a wise man never depends on chance, and I’m only a fool on weekends.
The work really begins now. We have 91 days to get Tantalus Depths to 750 pre-orders. We’re getting those pre-orders.
If I have to print out posters and put them in every shop window in my entire state by hand, I will. If I have to beg for coverage from every book blog on the internet, I will. If I have to take out a loan just to buy enough books to do enough author-swaps to reach goal, I will. I’ll allow for no obstacles. Tantalus Depths is, above all, a story about one lone person overcoming unspeakable odds to come out of the experience victorious, and if I can’t hold myself to the same standards that my main character embodies, I’m no author at all.
I may not sleep until August 16th, but so be it. I perceive a need.
Keep following, keep spreading the word. You’re all a part of this. We will descent into the Depths together, and we will come out the other side.
To the Depths!

Evan Graham · Author · added over 9 years ago · 1 like

Tantalus Depths is currently only 30 pre-orders away from 4th place in Geek and Sundry’s Hard Science Fiction contest. We gained 27 yesterday. Think we can close that gap before the contest ends today?
I do.
Let’s do it!

Evan Graham · Author · edited over 9 years ago · 6 likes

We’ve had another big spike of new supporters today, thanks to all of you! Tomorrow is the last day of Geek and Sundry’s Hard Science Fiction Contest, and I’d still love to see how much farther we can go. Keep the pre-orders coming in! Share everything everywhere! Put it on all the social media, tell all your friends, blackmail all your enemies, just get it out!
Also, if you’re interested in seeing a more in-depth, more personal look at both the story and the author, check out this interview a dear friend of mine did with me for her youtube channel. We get a bit further into the story and themes than I have so far.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3qRbqE74gE

Evan Graham · Author · added over 9 years ago · 2 likes

We’ve just sold our 100th pre-order! There is a long way yet to go, but we’re making steady progress toward our goal, thanks to your support.
Also, only two days remain in Geek and Sundry’s Hard Science Fiction competition. We may not be able to win at this point, but I’d like to sneak in and steal fourth place, just for my own personal gratification. Let’s see what kind of damage we can do!

Share us on all the social media, and if you haven’t made your pre-order yet, now is the time! Let’s give it one big push over the next 2 days and see how far we get!

Evan Graham · Author · edited over 9 years ago · 3 likes

Only two days remain in Geek and Sundry’s Hard Science Fiction competition. Barring a miracle, there’s no winning it at this point. Is that the end? Hardly. Tantalus Depths will continue raising support until it hits the necessary goal of 750 pre-orders and sees wide-spread publication. Nothing less will suffice.

If you’ve not yet bought a copy, now is the time. If you’ve not yet shared with your friends, now is the time.

The secrets of Tantalus 13 will be revealed regardless of what happens. There is a force there that is waiting to be witnessed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMEigpjY6do

Jamison Stone · Author · added over 9 years ago

Great video and very intriguing story. I look forward to adventure and mystery that awaits upon Tantalus Depths, not only for the crew of the Diamelen, but also SCARAB, their self-aware artificial intelligence, too!

Evan Graham · Author · added over 9 years ago · 5 likes

Thanks to everyone who’s been supporting Tantalus Depths thus far. A recent outpouring of support has helped Tantalus Depths surge forward dramatically in the rankings for Geek and Sundry’s Hard Sci-Fi competition. However, only four days remain and the top three ranks are all but untouchable.
We need another surge of support! If you haven’t reserved your copy yet, we need your help. Ask all your friends, pester them one-by one. Share us on social media, talk about us on book blogs. Reach out!
Even if Tantalus Depths fails to place in Geek and Sundry’s competition, we will not be stopping until we’re a hundred percent funded. It’ll be a long and restless road, but we WILL get there.

Evan Graham · Author · added over 9 years ago · 3 likes

Check out the new video promo for Tantalus Depths, now available here!

Evan Graham · Author · added over 9 years ago · 2 likes

Tantalus Depths has been featured on a book blog! Check out The Warbler’s interview here to see it:
http://www.thewarblerbooks.com/featured-author-evan-graham/

Evan Graham · Author · added over 9 years ago · 2 likes

Thanks to an enormous outpouring of support over the past two days, Tantalus Depths is rapidly becoming the dark horse of Geek and Sundry’s Hard Sci-Fi competition!. We are now solidly in fifth place and are soaring steadily ahead into the vast gap between fifth and fourth. Keep the support coming! Share with your friends and family, bring in everyone you know. There’s a long way to go yet, but we’re making tremendous progress!