Thomas J. Arnold liked an update for Feyside

Well, here we are: 72 hours left to FEYSIDE’s crowdfunding run. Because of the many of you who have shown such generous support for the project, its inclusion in Inkshares’ Quill publishing line is a foregone conclusion - thank you, truly.

Nevertheless, there is something to be said for finishing strong. If any of you followers have been eyeing this book as a possible purchase, now would be an ideal time to place a preorder. If you have friends or relatives you think might enjoy the story, this is , for now, your last opportunity to steer them to it or make a gift of it for them. And if you’re suddenly seized by the impulse to contribute to the cause of indie fiction and world peace (through flights of fancy, admittedly indirectly) then I likewise welcome your last-minute contribution!

FEYSIDE... it all awaits you at the click of a mouse, at the following link:
https://www.inkshares.com/projects/feyside?referral_code=50f74721

P.S. to my fellow Inkshares authors... I am happy as ever to exchange preorders, my work for yours. Contact me via the usual means or just go ahead and order - I will happily and immediately reciprocate!



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    Thomas J. Arnold liked an update for Project Human

    Wikipedia article: United America, a brief History

    In 2060 the political strife in the USA came to a head with the impeachment of President Kenneth Lu (2017-2091), resulting in the termination of both the presidential system and, a year later in 2061, the individual States. From the ashes of this massive turmoil rose United America, split into the Five Territories represented by their elected Senators –West Coast, Midwest, South, North, and the East Colonies.

    (see: Lu, Kenneth; Presidential system; USA; the Five Territories)

    When the newly formed territories maneuvered for national control, the Senate was formed, consisting of a representative from each of the Five Territories. Each Senator served a five-year term, and the Senate quickly proved its efficiency with the formation of Police Academies whose peace-keeping officers brought an end to wide-spread rebellions such as the Independents and T-Partiers in 2073.

    (see: Senate; Senators; Police Academies)

    Right after the formation of the Academies came the rise of the Android Age in 2085, a movement heavily endorsed by the first West Coast Senator Justin Peraz (2039 –present) who is still one of the leading names in the industry; the gradual population shift and expansion of the Hundred Cities; the Strikes as caused by the android take-over of the minimum wage from 2099-2101; and the growing crime rate in the Cities starting in 2098.

    (see: Android Age; Peraz, Justin; the Hundred Cities)

    The Academies (New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Boston, Detroit, with the headquarters in Atlanta) offered lifetime work and a rigorous training program to counteract the steep rise in crime after the formation of United America, doubling as an extremely capable militia in the possible event of war. The military dissolved into a mere force of five hundred thousand on-duty soldiers after the end of the Middle East War in 2052, and is second to the Academy officer force.

    (see: Atlanta Academy; Militia; Military; Middle East War)

    The Android Age began with the ground-breaking leap in artificial intelligence headed by leading AI scientist Angela Newmenn (2029-2110) in 2035. In 2044 the first commercial androids were released from Newmenn’s company NAT (Newmenn Android Technologies), primarily used for menial labor in warehouses and factories. This revolutionary change in the job industry was quickly followed by improved, sleeker models for a diverse range of use such as teaching aides and bartenders, to personal helpers and sexual Companions.

    (see: Newmenn, Angela; ACT)

    As the androids took over the job market, there became new openings. The entertainment industry took over the nation, and the new demand for android mechanics was also a popular career choice. When the androids first began to replace most minimum wage workers in 2099, there were City-wide strikes across the nation by disgruntled workers, leading to a tumultuous few years until the openings for mechanics and android-worker management appeared in late 2101. As of 2113 the job market is in order of frequently-hired: police, mechanics, android managers, entertainment workers, android programmers, and the medical field, along with their sub-catagories.

    (see: entertainment industry; android mechanics; medical advancements)

    The largest negative for in the Android Age is the growing crime-rate. With the loss of the menial minimum-wage job and the change of Social Security into of the National Welfare Program (NWP) in 2103, the general populace can live on their monthly program funds, resulting in the rise in illegal activity such as drug sales, android hacking, and smuggling.

    (see: android hacking; NWP; Social Security; smuggling)

    ------

    Further articles to come.

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      Thomas J. Arnold liked an update for Deus Hex Machina

      Hail hexers!

      Quick update.  We are at 185 orders, inching at a snail’s pace toward Quill, and hopefully, beyond.  No referrals have come in since my last update, but I’m hoping a few of you have an eye on that prize package and are working behind the scenes to build up a referral base to blast away the competition.

      But enough about the buying of the book, since you’ve already done that.  This weekend I will be joining some brilliant lady scifi writers from around Inkshares on a live chat!  I would love it if you stopped by and listened to us talk about the state of science fiction and what it means to be a female writer in a male dominated genre.  I might even spill some plot secrets from Deus Hex Machina. You never know.

      Tune in Saturday at 2pm CST/3pm EST : https://www.facebook.com/events/611136085710105/

      And feel free to share this with your friends.  

      I’m never comfortable on camera, but I am comfortable talking about things I am passionate about. Which will win out, the passion or the awkwardness?  You’ll have to watch to find out!
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        Thomas J. Arnold liked an update for Women Like Us

        Hey all:

        As part of the campaign to get Women Like Us to its publish goal, some of you might be aware there was a contest that involved one our dogs, Derric of the Beagle Freedom Project. Derric spent the first five years of his life caged up in a lab, and during this time, before Beagle Freedom Project secured his release, he was known by the numbers and letters tattooed in his ear -- BCT-8. Some others who have fostered and adopted these dogs have gotten tattoos of their own that somehow incorporate the beagle’s tattoo as a way of honoring the dog, and I’ve always loved that idea. I’ve said this before but it bears repeating: I consider Derric to be so very brave and courageous. Seriously, how many of us could survive being caged up pretty much our entire lives and still emerge to become the happy, sweet little man we have today. Anyway, Victoria Weaver, also a BFP adopter, won the contest, which allowed her to chime in on the tattoo design and placement on my person. So here it is, folks!  

        All hail The Beagle Freedom Tat! Thank you Derrek (!) at Broken Art Tattoos in Silver Lake. This, by the way, takes car of the last of the Women Like Us contest loose ends! News about publication date should be coming soon, so stay tuned!

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          Thomas J. Arnold liked an update for The Animal in Man

          [No Easter Bunnies were harmed in the writing of this update] [...but there might be a hollowed-out bunny-human ribcage or two in the latest scene I wrote for “The Animal in Man.” No joke… Happy Easter.]


          Good day, animals. **

          Just a quick update to let all The Animal in Man’s followers know that its author is still alive and semi-well (wife just passed her flu to me, I suspect). Some of you have messaged me directly, wondering when the book will be released. Well, I cannot say for certain, and I hesitate to confirm anything, but by my best guesstimate you will have the completed story at your fingertips no sooner than late-2016. (In the meantime, there are PLENTY of other books on inkshares to blow your mind!) I might have mentioned this in a previous update… when I got back into writing it, I revitalized my outline and discovered that this story is much more massive than I realized.

          “Why not cut it into a trilogy then, Joe?” Good question! The reason I won’t do so is because it’s ONE complete story, an epic adventure that ramps up quickly and never slows down, start to finish, all within about two week’s time (I think). It is, however, diced up into three parts… Maybe three and a half.

          Some of the characters you’ll meet along the way, besides our heroic and cunning fox Maxan, include:

          • A white wolf wizard (seen in chapter 1)
          • His apprentices, twin squirrels
          • An octopus samurai (guess how many swords)
          • A one-winged eagle preacher
          • A rhino who charges through buildings
          • A grey horned owl sorcerer who never blinks
          • A thousand-year old [senile?] snapping turtle
          • A grizzly bear wasted away by poison

          And more… I promise this is not going to be a cutesy tale of anthropomorphic, cuddly snugglemongers. No. It’s a tale about killers. Because in case we’ve forgotten… Animals are killers.

          Are we any better?

          Peace to you and yours this holiday.


          ** (My mom was wondering why I’m calling her an animal with every update... Kind of awkward... When I call you animals, please know that I do so with the utmost endearment, and remember that the question of whether or not mankind is any better than animal-kind is one of the central questions driving the story. Animals are also capable of love, I believe, and I do so love each and every one of you.Thank you for your support and attention.

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            Thomas J. Arnold liked an update for A Beast Requires

            Well, I’m not dead, and neither is A Beast Requires. 

            We all fall short sometimes. It sucks. It can be devastating. In the months since the campaign ended, life gave me constant reminders that time keeps moving on. I lost a war with a dying washing machine, celebrated the one year anniversary with one of my gaming groups, and failed once again at reading all seven volumes of In Search of Lost Time. 

            I’ve also kept editing. It’s been a slow process, often times with complete rewrites of scenes. The brain lives in autocorrect mode, skipping over homonyms and dangling commas. I wish I could do it all via computer, but I need my dead trees and red pen. But after months of working at it, I have the first ten chapters done. 

            You all were behind me in the campaign. You all bolstered my confidence, forming a wall of support that encouraged me to push forward even when my emotions were telling me otherwise. It meant the world to me. So I have this things. It’s up on Google Drive. If you want to read it, let me know. 


            Be excellent to each other. Party on, dudes.


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              Thomas J. Arnold sent an update for Exile, Magus

              Exactly 1 week from today my first newsletter will be sent out, so sign up for it here if you haven’t already!  On the 1st of each month I’ll be sending out a new one with an update on the current progress of getting Exile, Magus in shape for another run.  In addition I’ll be including other exclusive content and sneak peeks such as maps, articles describing background information on my world and its peoples, short stories, and artwork once I can afford to start the commissioning of such.

              On the artwork front I’ve compiled a list of artists I’m most interested in doing each of the 15 pieces of artwork I want for the book, but I also know there’s always the possibility of talent hiding under my nose that I don’t even know about.  With that in mind, if any of you are yourselves artists, whether that is with drawing, painting, digital, or any other still-visual media I’m leaving out then feel free to contact me if you would be interested in trying to get a bit of side-work making a piece for the book.  Even if I don’t hire you for Exile, Magus once I’ve gotten this book out and start looking at really getting Exile, Hunted ready for publication I’ll need new art for it (18 new pieces actually if memory serves).  For now though my focus is entirely on Exile, Magus’ art though.  Contact me here on Inkshares, via Facebook or Twitter, or fully direct by email (redtom.mythmaker@gmail.com) if you’re interested.

              That’s all I’ve got for now.  Thanks for your time, and hope to see you on the newsletter roster soon.  Enjoy yourselves and keep reading!

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                Thomas J. Arnold liked an update for A God in the Shed


                Campaigning is hard.

                Either you’re spending all your time working to find new backers or you’re worrying non-stop about not knowing where to look for new backers. I’m currently in later. One thing that is consistent however is the constant stress.

                That being said, sometimes you get to do some fun things. Last week I was interviewed by the always charming Alicia Smock of Examiner.com about A God in the Shed. Being able to chat about the project with someone asking interesting questions about the book and story has reignited the fire of working on this story more than anything in recent memory. Check out the article for yourself. There’s some fun revelations about where I come up with some things and why I made some of the decisions for the story.

                As always, if you know someone who might be interested in A God in the Shed, sit them down, look them straight in the eyes. Stare them down like you’re trying to see the color of their very soul. Look at them until they stop giggling and asking you what this is all about and instead start getting nervous. Then, tell them about how awesome supporting fantasy-horror books from independent publishers is and how A God in the Shed deserves their support.

                Before I leave you, allow me to recommend a few books from friends on Inkshares: 

                • A.C. Baldwin’s ’The Traveler’s Cup’
                • Tom Merrit’s ’Pilot X’ 
                • Christopher Huang’s ’Murder at the Veteran’s Club’

                Thanks for supporting me and other independent writers.

                JF

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                  Thomas J. Arnold liked an update for Lies and Deception

                                                                            I was too fast this morning ,

                                                                         Only fools don’t change their minds.

                   Quill Brotherhood Syndicate is now active, and running.  let’s see which book will be chosen by Quill authors every month.

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                    Thomas J. Arnold liked an update for Lucky

                    Dear Readers,

                    THE BIG NEWS: I am participating in a live Google+ Hangout on Saturday, March 26, at 3pm Eastern time (1pm Mountain time). I am excited to be joining Elayna Mae Darcy for a live version of her "Women Slaying Sci-Fi" blog series, along with Inkshares authors AC Weston and Amanda Orneck.

                    If you’re interested in joining us, follow the event on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/events/611136085710105/

                    Join us to ask questions about sci-fi, our creative processes, our favorite colors...you get the idea. :)

                    Still working on editing Chapter 8! I’m hoping to get it up this weekend for your viewing pleasure. However, Raiders of the Lost Ark is showing at my local cinema this weekend so I can’t promise that 1980s action movies won’t get in the way...!

                    As always, feel free to reach out on Twitter (@RH_Webster) or Facebook (www.facebook.com/RHWebster.ScienceFiction) with any comments, questions, or just to chat.

                    Have a wonderful weekend! Hope to see you at the hangout!

                    - Webster
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