Here is the latest illustration for SQUIDS IN from Eugene.

In this scene, Toby’s friend Baker is drinking beer while Toby looks up the details of the animal lab break in on his phone. I really like how Eugene has made Baker look. I’m not great on describing people and scenes in my writing but the process of getting illustrations created by someone has forced me to figure out how these the scene looks, what the people are wearing, how they would act in certain situations. I’m really enjoying working on both the actual writing of my book and working with Eugene on the artwork.

SQUIDS IN has received a good run of orders over the past few days and this will hopefully continue given some interesting things that will be happening soon:

The weekly WriteBrain podcast that discusses the Inkshares platform and community will be mentioning the book in next weeks episode (recording tonight). Hopefully JF and Paul like my project page and give it at least one thumbs up out of the four (I assume) they have.

Also, Angela from Inkshares has been in touch to ask me to write something for an upcoming Inkshares/Nerdist blog post, so hopefully that will spread the word to a few people who have not heard of the contest previously and bring them to the site.

Thank you to all of you for your continued support!

Matthew

We have a publication date – March 28th 2017!!!

This awesome little addition was made to my Inkshares page last night.

Thank you all for being so patient with me, I know many of you didn’t realize just how long a wait it was going to be when you generously supported my quest to publish The Bones of the Past. To tell the truth, I had no idea how involved the process was myself. I’m now on a schedule to make edits and respond to questions from a sequence of editors through to October.

First up is the developmental edits where plot holes are identified, chronology issues are addressed, fat is trimmed and any big issues fixed. Then comes the copy edits to fix the overall quality of the writing and address any weird word choices I might have made and managed to ignore over my repeated rewrites. Then proofreads, looking at the layout of print and eBook formats… all of which is going to take longer because I can’t manage to tell a story in less than 460 pages… And of course during all that, the interior and cover of the book are going to be designed.

So there’s still lots of work ahead for me, but it’s a hugely exciting process where I get to work with a great bunch of very talented people. The end result is going to be so much better than I ever could have managed alone.

March 28th is a long way off and yet it’s tight for all the work still going into the book and then the marketing efforts that roll out before Bones lands in bookstores. But you won’t have to wait quite that long – Inkshares orders usually show up about a month early! 

Thank you all for your continued support, interest, and *cough* great taste in books! March is just around the corner!

To the Company:

Not sure if I ever mentioned this on my project page. Or if it wasn’t obvious or clear. -- Wings of the Crallow is actually written much like a trilogy. In fact, I had it separated as a series until I drafted out the "fat" and combined the story into one book.  Here’s a basically spoiler-free rundown of how this book is more like 3-books-in-one:

BOOK I: DREAMS

At first glance, this seems to be a Middle Grade story. However, that is not the case. Early on, being eight years old, Michael dreams of finding a new world. And find it he does! But will he be prepared for what is to come? Can he bear the knowledge and carry it like a burden? Or will he turn and run?

BOOK II: WASTELANDS

Here’s the dark middle chapter. Michael is now in high school and now faces the world “alone.” He stumbles upon a drug-of-sorts, and becomes an addict. Can Michael break the cycle and overcome? Will he find meaning in his life? A reason to go on?

BOOK III: AWAKENINGS

The finale. Michael is in college. An adult. He knows there’s more to him than meets the eye. But what exactly? Who was he as a child? Where did he go and why are so many of his memories missing? These and other questions drive Michael to wonder: How can one man possibly gain the strength to move mountains?

Nauselbaum

- M.R.R.

Good evening Dreamers,

As I begin my road trip to my new duty station, I’m left to try and explain my book in a small motel to a town with a population of 7... sorry, 6 (someone left). I have some... disturbing news. Today marks the day where the actual number of pre-orders matches the projected number of pre-orders.

I know, I know. While it is awesome that this is the very first time the actual number has reached the projection, I would very much like to knock out these last 25 to Quill, so I can continue to push my book to everyone I meet like this creature.

Hello, Divas and Divos...I had to go back to the drawing board. A dear friend and fellow writer challenged me to write the prologue, not like a prologue, so I am approaching it as if it is a page in a journal...I never write in, First Person. Granted the prologue, that is not a prologue, will be the only chapter in, First Person but my oh my does it vex me. My mind is resistant to it. Once again, I welcome your opinion. 

Hey survivors,

Apologies for the lack of an update yesterday. It’s the last week of rehearsals for the play I’m in, so that’s demanding the majority of my time this week.
Plus, I live in the greater Cleveland area, so my update would have just been washed away by the basketball-related social media flood anyway...
But here’s this week’s character bio: this time we focus on The Diamelen’s electronics specialist, William Hertz! 

Hertz is no doubt skilled at what he does, but will it be enough? Can this brainy AI programmer match wits with the cunning SCARAB? Will his extensive scholastic experience be of any help in unveiling the mysteries of Tantalus Depths? Find out when you pre-order Tantalus Depths!

Hello to all my Knightmares out there!

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