Hello to all my supporters. 

In my area, the leaves are about to turn and fall. School is back in session and to me, the year is terrifyingly close to the end. Most of you were introduced to this work mid-year when the rollercoaster of funding started, but back in January this work began with a simple goal, publish a book in 2015 by any means necessary.

I could not know where this would all lead me when I started, but it's been an adventure, at times stressful, at times incredible and illuminating, and I'm glad you've all come along on this experience.

With happiness and relief, I say to you all that the book is nearly ready to be handed off to the capable hands at Inkshares. In the next month, I am reading the book, smoothing out the lines, and making sure the content is in the best shape I can put it in before the editors get it. To see the novel in the condition it is now is very inspiring, and I am excited for you all to get your hands on it.

I'll share more chapters with you, but not until I'm certain I don't want to tweak them much more. For now, here is a passage about thirty percent into the book. In this version, I've altered out any spoilers, so you can read it without fear.

Snow fell in heavy sheets and blanketed Hammond Bay all in white. Rooftops took on an icing glaze and the coverage blurred the divide between the walking paths and roads all but for the fire hydrants, little red markers with white caps in a row. By way of the heavy grey clouds in the sky and how light cast itself against the fluffy covering, the days looked much like the nights except for the way the shadows moved. And when the darkness did come, it came so gently that eyes did not perceive it until the there was a calm moment to look around and take in your surroundings. 

Along the road a taxi carefully crawled, leaving fresh treads, two long lines to mark its path. It moved along the roads in the district where the buildings once stood. The roughshod buildings replaced by with solid foundation, infrastructure, electric strung along the lines above, a network of webbing that brought modern convenience to a place where there was once none. The taxi stopped in front of a social club, The Turned Coin, and idled in its place. The engine hummed with soft revolutions. 

After a moment, Duke stepped out from the taxi, snow already collecting, little flakes that clung to his shoulders and hat in speckled spots. In this time, the place he knew as a child had become unfamiliar. The dramatic collapse and reimagining made this a foreign place and as if anything, he was a stranger now.

I hope you like what you've read, and if you haven't pre-ordered, please consider doing so. I promise you will want to get comfortable with the characters and a place of Lost Generation.

P.S. I'd like you also to consider pre-ordering Andrew J. Ainsworth's These Old Bones. Click here to check out his book. Andrew has survived two Inkshares contests and is currently in fifth place. Your pre-order helps him cement his position and ensure publication. There are many talented and deserving writers in the Inkshares system, but Andrew has run the gauntlet and put himself out there so many times that he deserves a spot on the published list. Give his work a chance.

Thank You! More Soon!

I've held 5th place for over a week now and there are only 1.5 days left in the contest! Keep spreading the word and sending your readerly friends my way and we'll nail this publishing contract and possible film adaptation. We're already there!

I am so thankful for every investment in my book. I hope you will view my dedication to my craft as an investment in you, especially when you're finally holding a hardcover edition of my book in your hands.

I'm happy that your generosity isn't something that can be bought. It's freely given. In the end, that will make for a sweeter, hard-earned victory, shared by you and I. Thanks guys!

Who are ‘Trekonomics’ readers (II) : qualitative overview

Dear Trekonomics backers and readers,

As promised, here is the first installment of my responses to your responses. Please pardon the apparent lack of structured argument!

First, the mystery of the single backer sent from libertarian haunt Marginal Revolution has been solved. He is from a city above the Arctic Circle, famous for its iron ore, in lovely Sweden.

Second, I must say that people are nice. My cynicism and declining faith in humanity have been proven wrong. Your responses are an inspiration and a reminder that yes, some of the strange altruistic behaviors on display in Star Trek are in fact already a reality.

Next to the numerous words of encouragements, all much appreciated, one of you asked about my experience writing and publishing the book. Here’s DH:

“Curious about your experience getting this book written and to publication. I'm currently working on a fairly narrow-interest book (probably unsuitable for mainstream publishers) and am looking at distribution options.”

So far my experience has been very, very good. I was going to go the old school route, through an agent and a legacy publisher. Felix Salmon convinced me otherwise and connected me with Inkshares. While a startup, Inkshares has already several books under its belt. They know their stuff, and have been very supportive in both small and large ways. Larry Levitsky, chairman and co-founder, keeps repeating to me that the book is the “author’s business” and that Inkshares is merely the platform. It is an understatement and a humblebrag : Inkshares not only helps authors build a public following for their work, it also edits, designs and print the books (once successfully funded). Amazon, to mention the elephant in the room, does not.

So DH, narrow-interest does not necessarily mean small audience (Trekonomics is a case in point). In fact, promoting your “narrow-interest” project through inkshares and social media may help you reach all those interested in a much more efficient way. In short, I would definitely consider Inkshares.

Some of you expressed disappointment at the announced publishing schedule (right now, it says August 2016). For instance:

“I have to wait another year? I thought this things was ready to go. Doesn't matter -- I'll be excited whenever it arrives.”

Me too I thought it was ready to go! It is hard to stop writing and hand over the manuscript. But even when ready to go, it is not: once you hand over the manuscript, it must go through editing. It is a fairly involved process which adds to production time. Designing the cover and the look-and-feel are next. This requires many iterations and tweaks as it is what the public will see online and in bookstores. Finally, printing in large volume is not done overnight. 

In short, editing, publishing and distributing a book is neither easy nor quick. In fact it is long and difficult (and note that I am not even talking about writing itself). Legacy publishing houses have lead times of one to two years. Inkshares, while more nimble than others, is still an honest to goodness publishing house. It strives to cut down a lot of the usual time-to-market, but absolutely refuses to cut any corners or skimp on anything. So there you have it. The book, inside and out will be as awesome as can be. Which means time and care. As I mentioned before, we are doing our utmost to deliver the book in your hands earlier than advertised.

I will close this first round with this observation by another reader

“I think trekonomics is not just an understanding of what the world could be but also a state of mind. After just reading the first chapter my thinking on personal wealth, goals in life, and what is truly important, was changed forever.”

This is a very startling comment, and I cannot thank that reader enough for sharing it. It touches upon some of my long-time obsessions, most notably with the kind of effective altruism first proposed by Peter Singer in his famous 1972 paper: “Famine, Affluence and Morality.” For those who do not know about it, please take some time to read that article. It is arguably one of the most important philosophical thesis of the past 50 years.

Until the next update, with all my gratitude,

Live long, and prosper.

Manu