Amanda Orneck sent an update for Deus Hex Machina

So I got this weird sort of communique this morning from RAMSES and thought I would pass it along:

The seventh installment is complete. Intrepid supporters may search for it now using the usual methods. More to follow as security allows. Tell no one. They are always watching.

Creepy right?  Want to know what she’s talking about?  Make sure you preorder the book and then sign up for the email list! 
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    On a mission from god, a group of eccentric old men use illegal substances to spread everlasting love throughout England but their existence is under threat from a former member. Only some new members can help them in their efforts...
    Amanda Orneck liked the forum thread, How I got to 250 orders in 10 days
    I’m writing a follow-up to this, but likely won’t be done until after the contest. The short of it is that I think I’ve simplified the Inkshares marketing strategy into the four P’s:

    Perseverance: You will have good days, bad days. Treat marketing your project as you do writer’s block. 

    Positivity: Be positive. All the time. If you’re not positive, fake it. Yes, people like Morrissey have made a career out of being sad saps, but they are the minority. It’s crucial that you believe and understand that you can create luck. It’s a fact. Doubt is the enemy of luck.

    Personality: Who are you? Can I believe in you? Are you someone I’d want to hang out with? Also, when reaching out to old friends, what do they remember fondly about you? You are selling your book but you’re equally selling your own personal brand. Do people want to be associated with your brand? The answer should always be yes, but defining your brand is up to you.

    Persistence: Make a plan. Don’t make the plan too rigid, but ensure that it encapsulates how you reach your goal. You need to sell 750 books. What is your plan for getting there? Who is going to help you? Can you anticipate pratfalls? What resources are your disposal now/later?
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    People who have liked this comment in the forum thread, How I got to 250 orders in 10 days

      Amanda Orneck liked the forum thread, How I got to 250 orders in 10 days
      So I’ve gotten a ton of messages about how I got The Punch Escrow to "Quill" in 10 days. Hopefully this is useful to some of you. I think it basically boils down to: Treat it like a job. It’s your job to get your book sold. If you believe in what you’ve got, if you think you know the audience you wrote it for will love it, then invest your time, energy, and money in your project.

      1. Get lucky. Luck is something you need to succeed. Luck is something you can actually control. If you don’t believe me, do the research. Having a lucky attitude makes a huge difference. 

      2. Move quickly! I learned this through a couple decades in marketing. When it comes to contests, creating a distance between you and anyone behind you pays back huge dividends. Once you’ve established yourself as the frontrunner, you gain the benefit of being perceived as the favored incumbent. It pays to burn through all of your promotional energy early. If you manage to grasp first place, trust me, you will find a second wind. If you don’t, then you’ll have a pretty good perspective of your likelihood of winning and you can make the call on how much energy to reinvest based on that analysis.

      3. I steadfastly followed the advice given by previous Inkshares contests winners. I hustled really really hard and harassed everyone I knew through multiple channels: Texts, twitter, FB, WhatsApp, Snapchat, even LinkedIn. I would say personal contacts accounted for over 50% of the pre-ordered books. I injected a sense of urgency by explaining the contest, the timeline, and the ask: "I’m in a contest to publish my first book. If sci fi is your thing, you’re going to love it. Especially if you like hard sci fi, like The Martian. I need to get 250 pre-orders to get it published. Please click here to pre-order it."

      4. Engage engage engage!  Every single time someone bought my book I acknowledge and thank them. It makes them feel good and it encourages them to engage back with you and help promote the project. They’re part of the team now.

      5. Get to know your fellow authors. Inkshares is an AMAZING community of readers and authors. I have yet to have a negative interaction with anyone here. I’ve joined three Syndicates and have interacted with countless authors. Everyone here has something valuable to pass on to you. It’s worth listening.

      6. Promote and Invest! Remember when I said treat your book like your job? Well, you should also treat is like an investment. There’s a flywheel effect when people see you investing in your own work. It makes them feel like you really believe in it. I’ve been creating a ton of world-building content, videos, as well as taking advantage of every interview opportunity, promoted tweets, Facebook boosts, and such. If publishing this book is your dream, invest in making your dream come true. 

      So, these are the six steps I followed. Hopefully it’s useful to you. If you have more specific questions about those or the book itself, I’m at your service.


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        Amanda Orneck liked the forum thread, Discovered Inkshares via Geek and Sundry, staying for the creative outlet!
        Hello. 

        I joined Inkshares very recently after seeing a post on the Geek and Sundry website about a writing competition. Even though I’m not going to enter their "Hard Science Fiction" comp, the idea of this site and its community intrigued me. I have since uploaded the first chapter and extended blurb for a book I am working on called "Cupid by Proxy" and created a short intro video whilst driving around earlier today.

        I congratulate G&S on promoting this site and bringing it to the attention of those people who were thinking of searching for an online creative writing community.

        Let’s hope it all goes well and I find myself getting engaged in the sites content, just like you long time users seem to!

        Matthew
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          Amanda Orneck liked an update for Seeking the Elephant

          Back about a month ago, when Seeking the Elephant won the April book of the month for Break the Bechdel with Strong Female Characters Syndicate, I promised that syndicate a short-story thank-you gift. 

          That short story will be released later this week, for my fellow Syndicate members! The story is "The Dread Harvester," an introspective & origin tale for one Seeking the Elephant’s major antagonists. It features some backstory on the events of Maggi Lopez’s life prior to her role as the The Bruja, as well as foreshadowing for the third act of Seeking the Elephant.

          If you have supported Seeking the Elephant, YOU TOO can enjoy "The Dread Harvester." Just send me an email or DM. If you haven’t supported Seeking the Elephant, now is the time -- here’s all you need to get your copy of "The Dread Harvester" and final cover art!

          1) Pre-order Seeking the Elephant!

          2) Say; "Yo, Molisani, I pre-ordered your sweet book. Let me at this awesome short story!"

          It’s that simple!

          Below is early concept art for the The Harvester herself. 




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            Amanda Orneck liked an update for The Punch Escrow

            I inadvertently set the book’s crowdfunding expiration to coincide with the date of the contest’s expiration, not realizing that crowdfunding expires at midnight and the contest ends at noon. So, if you haven’t already, you’ve still got 9 hours to pre-order the THE PUNCH ESCROW and be entered into the shirt and MAJOR PRIZE raffles.

            I’ll actually be 38,000 feet in the air when the contest ends, so I’ll announce raffle winner when I land.

            Again, if you haven’t pre-ordered the book, please do so now. I’m within striking distance of a win, but need your support to get over the finish line. The ebook is only $10 – it’s cheaper than buying me a drink, but infinitely more meaningful.

            Lastly, click here for a new interview with me that just got posted, it sheds some additional insights into me and the book.

            Thank you! 9 hours - make em count!!

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