Matthew Poat · Author · added about 9 years ago · 1 like

Hello Everyone,

I’m not sure if you are aware but tomorrow is the US launch of the latest Disney/Pixar film "Finding Dory", sequel to the hit film "Finding Nemo".

Anyway, one of the characters in this film directly influenced my book "Squids In" and so I thought I would celebrate the launch by running a raffle where three lucky backers will win your very own cuddly octopus toy!

Please watch this video that explains everything regarding the raffle and what you need to do to be in with a shout of winning - https://youtu.be/lkF3ZYXJxTM

I will announce the winners of this competition at 12:00(GMT) on Saturday 18th June.

Good Luck!

Matthew

Jamison Stone · Author · added about 9 years ago

Although I highly doubt an Octopus could beat me in Dota2, Starcraft, or even Hearthstone, I look forward to seeing @Matthew Poat pull it off!

Matthew Poat · Author · added about 9 years ago · 1 like

The first of (hopefully) many blog posts about Squids In just went live over on www.nellwalton.com so be sure to head over and have a read. It might give you a little insight into the person behind the octopus!

Matthew

Matthew Poat · Author · added about 9 years ago · 7 likes

Hey All,

OK so following overwhelming support for the new cover, I have pushed the button and switched it over. I have also uploaded chapter two and written a brand new overview of the book. All of this can be found below:

Squids In tells the story of a burnout called Toby who befriends an octopus that animal activists stole from a lab and dumped in his pool. After noticing that the octopus is really good at playing video-games, Toby unleashes the octopus onto the competitive online gaming scene, amassing both wealth and fame. No one knew that the mad gaming skills belonged to an octopus, all they saw was Toby’s face and all they heard was Toby’s voice. It wasn’t until some enterprising hackers compromised Toby’s computer and the octopus is stolen that the wheels start to fall off this mass deception. So what happens next? Pre-order to find out...

PLEASE NOTE - THIS IS NOT A BOOK FOR KIDS. IT CONTAINS FREQUENT USE OF PROFANITIES, MILD DRUG USE, MODERATE SEX SCENES AND ONE VERY NAUGHTY MONKEY!

You can either read Chapters One and Two on Inkshares by clicking the links below or follow the Audiobook link over to Dropbox in order to play/download Chapter One in audio format. Please note that there is swearing so be mindful of who is around you when you play it. Duration is 12 minutes and 40 seconds.

SQUIDS IN - Audiobook (Chapter 1)

SQUIDS IN - Chapter 1

SQUIDS IN - Chapter 2

Thanks for your continued support. Please be sure to recommend the book, any lines of text you particularly like and pre-order if you have not already done so.

Following a massive surge of activity yesterday, the book is now only 13 pre-orders away from breaking back into the top 3 in the Nerdist competition!

Have a great day!

Matthew

Nell Walton · Author · added about 9 years ago

I like the new cover much better!

Matthew Poat · Author · added about 9 years ago · 5 likes

Hey Guys,

Thanks to all those who have ordered Squids In so far. I’m really happy with how this project has come together and with its current 6th place in the Nerdist video-game contest but the competition is not yet over so I am stepping things into high gear.

In recognition of your support I was hoping to get your opinion on some new cover art done by my books illustrator Eugene Karasz over on DeviantArt.

If the majority of people think that this is an improvement over the current cover, I will swap it over tomorrow, so please comment on this update letting me know your thoughts.

Tomorrow I will also be posting Chapter 2, maybe even Chapter 3 if you’re lucky. My intention will be to continue the audiobook with these chapters too when I find time to record them. I will be sure to update you then.

Soon there will hopefully be a raft of blog posts all about Squids In released into the wild, so I hope you’re not too bored seeing Hendrix the octopus on Twitter, Facebook and on the World Wide Web! You’re about to see a lot more of him.

Have a good evening everyone, I certainly will.

Matthew

Matthew Poat · Author · added about 9 years ago · 4 likes

Hey Guys,

I have written some more of the book and am very excited by some of the plot twists and turns my brain is somehow coming up with. I hope to share Chapter 2 with you by the end of the week (if work allows).

Also, I’ve spoken with my illustrator Karasz over on DeviantArt to see if he could do something with the Squids In cover, to bring it more inline with some of the awesome compositions he has been producing. What we have decided is to create both a brand new piece AND rework the original. We will then share both illustrations on a future update/email and ask you guys which one you like the best. This will again happen towards the end of the week.

For now, let me just leave you with this illustration of Hendrix the octopus enjoying himself...

Matthew

Matthew Poat · Author · added about 9 years ago · 2 likes

Hi Guys,

Quick update on the actual book content this time. I’ve written some more of it and have even recorded myself narrating Chapter One so if you’ve struggled to find the time to read my story, why not download the audiobook and listen to it during your next car journey? It’s only 12mins 40secs long.

Note - There is some swearing so please be mindful of who’s about when you play it.

You can listen to or download the audiobook version of "Squids In" via this Dropbox link (142mb) - https://www.dropbox.com/s/mnp6euntp785cl4/Squids%20In2.wav?dl=0

Also, here is sneak peak at the next illustration Karasz is doing for the book. I look forward to adding the finished article to Inkshares sometime over the next few days.

Thanks for all the support!

Matthew

Matthew Poat · Author · added about 9 years ago · 2 likes

Yay, the very first piece of artwork for SQUIDS IN has just been completed. It depicts the very first scene in the book where Toby dives into the pool and first encounters Hendrix the octopus. I hope you love it as much as I do...

This artwork was done by "Eugene Karasz" over at "DeviantArt" and he will be doing some more illustrations for SQUIDS IN that you will see in the coming weeks.

If you would like to see more of Eugene’s work, head on over to his DeviantArt page - http://www.deviantart.com/browse/all/?section=&global=1&q=karasz

Hopefully this extra content will convince a few more of you to pre-order the book!!!

Matthew

Matthew Poat · Author · added about 9 years ago

I know I’ve already sent an update today, but whilst rummaging about I found this...

Now, if you’re a gamer and enjoy bloody hilarious, innovative YouTube comedy, chances are you already know exactly why I own this. If not, send a PM to your fellow Inkshares member Felicia Day and ask her why this squid hat is so on topic for a Nerdist video-game contest (other than its association with my book SQUIDS IN that is).