Hello. Weekly update time! This week, I'm going to focus this update on saying thank you to everyone who has helped. Including some of the author friends I have met over this contest. The amount  of support from everyone has been incredibly inspiring. It really goes to show that you never know what kind of help you can find by reaching out to complete strangers and engaging in mutual support. Audio files, cover art, editing, coloring books, advice.... the list goes on.

If you are another author who is following this book, chances are you are in the genres of Cyberpunk, Dystopian, Urban Fantasy, Dark Fantasy, or Epic Fantasy. Its because I've already followed you. These are the genres I read. We are building a community of Inkshare Authors here: You will find all kinds of mutual support. Now that being said. Time for some shout outs:

Runes of The Apprentice: 

Jamison is the guy to talk to. Fantastic person, great community organizer, and writer of some Epic Fantasy. If you like Myths, Maps, and Magic this is your jam. I'm not kidding, he has some of the most detailed maps of his world I have seen in any of the inkshare contests and they are absolutely amazing. His prologue is full of blood, violence and conspiracy that sets up a very nice journey. In true fantasy fashion, the world is unique and his own, and I'm damn sure he can tell you what is in every nook and cranny in his world. 

Motor City Chronicles:  

Paul Inman and Patrick Ryerson hit me in the soft spot with Urban Fantasy set slightly in the future. The year 2030, the world struggles to find balance after nuclear war.  17 year old orphan, Cam Blackwell, holds an ancient secret that could bring balance to the Earth.  But first, he has bigger problems. These are also great authors to know as they have already done Inkshares before. AND they offer amazing support. They will do book readings, audio files, advice on crowd funding. 

A Beast Requires:

Jay has written something very unique. It's a fantasy world. Traditional style. With massive elements of urban fantasy, police procedures, humor, politics and conspiracy. The best of both genres. Jay is also a wizard at 'the twitter' and helping other authors out as well. 

Blood Dawn:

For those reading this: Know that I am a huge Robert Jordan Fan. Epic fantasy with massive stories and plots over a long series I love. Many of you might as well. While John is not in this contest with the Nerdist, his book is on Inkshares. I feel it's fair to say, that John Robin has been the figurehead of organizing authors together in forming a community in this inkshare contest. For this alone: I salute you sir. 

The Catchers Trap: 

If you want to talk about random encounters from reaching out to people. Ricardo Henriquez takes the cake for me. Runner? Check. Super nice guy? Check. Former City of Heros player? Check. Into Demons and Horror? Check. Go check out his stuff.

All of the authors I've mentioned, are fine people, and there are many more in this contest as well. If you are just following my book, and haven't backed it yet, consider hopping in. The same with all of these other people. You may find yourself with an ever expanding network of friends you never knew before who are all in the writing world that will go well beyond the duration of a single contest. Because let's be real here: Sept 30th is coming up fast and I'm going to wager that none of us are going to stop writing after that date. 

Today I want to talk about an awesome Inkshares author.

The last few weeks I've had the opportunity to connect with several great authors, and JF Dubeau is one who has really stood out for his helpfulness and overall know-how. He has helped many authors selflessly while also promoting his great book, A God In the Shed (It's a great book, and you should definitely check out the recording of the Prologue by Paul Inman).

I'm going to talk more about JF Dubeau's work, and his great interview today on my blog (which you can check out here), but first I want to share something else JF did -- something he created for me....

A NEW COVER FOR BLOOD DAWN!

Isn't it amazing? I'm just so grateful for what he's done, for me, and for other Inkshares authors. Actually, on the note of covers, check out the cover JF did for fellow author KE Madsen for her book Silver Eyes (The cover is also clickable so if you enjoy  high fantasy adventure, be sure to check out KE's book):

So, I'm just absolutely buzzing today! JF's amazing cover. Paul Inman's recording of the Blood Dawn opening (Missed it? Check it out here). Yicheng Liu's assistance in creating a trailer for Blood Dawn. This project has come so far in the last month and it's been in the collaborative spirit of authors working together, which I think is the best way to do business. We all have so much work to do to get to our goals, so why not do it as a team and have fun in the process? May it continue.

A few more things about JF Dubeau, because I want you to know more about him so that you can follow him and his work:

First, as I mentioned, JF is a guest on my blog today. He brings his insights to the table on how storytelling is the best source of generating a rich world, and draws on his experience writing A God In the Shed and The Life Engineered. Do be sure to check this interview out:

https://epicfantasywriter.wordpress.com/2015/09/09/world-builders-jf-dubeau/

A quick word also on JF's books.

JF is a winner of the Sword and Laser Collection, with his now-in-production book about our robot descendants trying to avoid the mistakes of humanity, The Life Engineered. Click on the cover to find out more about it:

JF's current book, A God In the Shed, is part of the Nerdist Collection Contest, so I'm sure he'd love your support as backers for this great project! A God In the Shed is about an ancient trans-dimensional god trapped in a backyard shed -- a sort of Stand By Meet with a Great Old One (minus, perhaps, a Tardis). Click the cover to check it out:

So, that's JF Dubeau.

Before I sign off, I want to thank everyone who has stepped up to back Blood Dawn. As I approach 100 readers, I'm just thrilled by the momentum. 2,501 pre-orders is a long way to go, but each and every time I get a pre-order it makes my day.

When I was a teenager, I used to go to the fantasy section of the bookstore and look at all the fat books, full of adventure; flip through and look at the maps or the appendices on magic or houses or kingdom politics; dream that someday I'd have a book up there. Inkshares can make that dream a reality, and it's so exciting to be here now with that opportunity, to connect with so many of you who have told me this is a book you can't wait to read.

We will get there. I've every bit of faith, and have a lot of things planned these next 7 months to make sure this book you believe in becomes a reality, complete with maps, awesome drawings, and a glossy cover. It will be there in Chapters, Indigo, and other bookstores for fantasy lovers, another fat book rife with promises of adventure, suspense, and magic, a portal to a rich world you can enjoy with your morning cup of coffee.

Onward!