So, this update is a day late...but there's a pretty great reason for that.

We did it. We got there. Ghosts of War's funding campaign is finished and it is now a part of the Quill Collection at Inkshares.

I couldn't have gotten Ghosts to this point without the help of those who backed it during it's run, and for that I'll be forever grateful. I really can't thank you all enough.

In closing, I think this sums up my feelings about today...

Hello Everyone!

Wow, the holidays sure did fly by this year didn't they? One minute I was eating five meals a day to train my stomach for the onslaught of Thanksgiving (It takes dedication), the next  I am trying to find space in my house for the sweaters my grandma gave me for Christmas.

I wanted to share some exciting news with my "Not Afraid of the Fall" family! We have reached the 250 preorder mark and are 1/3 of the way to 750!! I cannot thank you enough for your support. By preordering this book, you are helping me reach a dream of mine and I cannot wait for you to read about the many successes and mishaps of our journey. From moped crashes in multiple continents, to Buddhist rituals performed on us from 90 year old Shamans, you are in for quite a journey.

I am getting a bit ahead of myself here...we still have a long  way to go to reach 750 preorders. I still need your help spreading the word and sharing the book with friends, family, co-workers, neighbors, mailmen and pets (Animals use wifi by now right? I saw both a dog surfing and an elephant painting on Facebook yesterday. If they aren't preordering books yet I would be amazed...)

Just think, if everyone reading this shared the book with just TWO people, we would reach our goal of 750! (I know I know... but this type of math helps me sleep at night).

LASTLY, (I am sure only 32% of you have made is this far) remember to let people know that when creating an account on Inkshares, they receive a $5 credit towards any book. This makes the price of an E-book only $5!! 

You guys really are amazing people for supporting an aspiring writer. Not to mention, what better way to start off a new year than to build your 401-Karma account. 

Cheers my friends,

Kyle James

One Door Closes

For the past month, The Astronaut Instruction Manual spent nearly every day as #1 New Release Children's Book (Science >;;;;;;;;;;; Astronomy & Space) on amazon. It looked like this:

Today marked Day 90 as a New Release Children's Book on Amazon. Meaning The AIM is no longer a "new release". We immediately disappeared from the list. (And trust me, I loved The AIM being #1 on that list. Like, loved loved loved it.) However, as the saying goes, one door closes...

...and another opens. This week I am heading to Florida Educators Technology Conference in Orlando. While I am there I will be teaching at two schools, including Orlando Sciences Elementary School, where I am teaching 4th and 5th graders subsequent to a book buying parent who took the initiative to send an open invitation.

Amazingly, we are paying for the trip by offering Astronaut Instruction Manual books to students for pre-sell. (Which I then sign and personalize–after astronaut teaching and working with the classrooms.) It's like our very own Inkshares book fair!

This entire turn of events is literally a dream come true. Astronaut teaching and getting The Astronaut Instruction Manuals into the hands of young student readers? Yes!

So let's move this forward. If you think your student would like for Mike Mongo, astronaut teacher to visit their school sometime in the near future, let's do it. I'm 100% game!

Letting today's students know that tomorrow's jobs are in space gives them a critical competitive advantage to live, work and place in space. Let me know if such a student may be someone you know at a school you support.

(And if you don't have a student in school but know of a school that would be receptive to reaching students with a space STEM message, drop me a line too.)

I can be reached at mike at mikemongo dot com. Email me! Have books, will travel!

Next step, here we come. Keep up the good work and have a terrific 2016,

Mike Mongo
astronaut teacher

Thank You!!!

As of bedtime-o'clock last night, Seven Shards has hit the Quill funding goal! This means it will be published!!!!!!!!

The little bundle of nerves that has been sitting in the pit of my stomach since August has now transformed into a miniature fireworks show. And not one of those blink-and-you-miss-it fireworks shows, but a fully choreographed, big-budget fireworks extravaganza. Coffee? Haha, who needs it!

I must extend my deepest gratitude to the members of the CEO Syndicate and John Robin's Epic Fantasy Syndicate for pushing Seven Shards over the edge. You (you beautiful people, you) surprised me and humble me and basically make me much more than a little verklempt.

There's probably more I could say, but right now the bottom line is Thank YOU!

We have books! Now it's time for a "pawtograph"...

Yes, if you've been anywhere on Facebook these last few days, I don't think you could have missed Rikki's beautiful mug on the cover of Encounters with Rikki and all the great comments from readers.