Wow, guys! Wow, wow, wow. 

Would you believe we went up 10 pre-orders in a day? I knew you could make it happen. So as promised, by tomorrow you’ll have a brand new sample chapter! 

The level of encouragement I’m seeing from you all is astounding. It reminds me why I started this book in the first place: to reach people like you with a wacky idea for a space opera. 

Now for the important news...

This is officially the last week of the Nerdist Space Opera Contest! Next Tuesday the contest will close, and that means that whichever authors have books in the top three will be set up with a publication deal. 

If we aren’t there it means we’ll have to work a lot harder in the future to make sure this book sees the light of day. I don’t know about you guys, but I’d rather finish this now so I can make sure the book goes to market in this collection.

Again, this is referral week! I’ll reiterate what that means for the newcomers and folks who don’t read the bottoms of every email:

If you refer three people to pre-order this week you’ll get: 

•  A signed first-edition draft version of the book complete with random scribbles of frustration
  
  
• A collection of sketches of characters and setting, 10 in total, as a bound art-book
  
  
• A pack of 10 Traveller’s Cup bookmarks

• A custom Traveller’s Cup mug so you can enjoy your hot caffeinated beverage of choice with your new book

All of these items will be delivered physically to you after the release date, complete with a spacey thank you note. If you refer by word of mouth, that counts too. Just send me an email or message telling me how you know the person. 

So with that out of the way, I again want to say a space-sized thank you to you. You belong in this crew because of your dedication to our mission: to make more space books and send them to the worlds beyond. 

Your Overworked But Determined Space Captain Whose Blood is Now Caffeine,
-AC

Quick exciting update to share!

Today I had the honor of being a guest on the Inkshares blog. I was asked some questions about the relentless community building work I’ve been helping with, and given an opportunity to reflect on the future of the Inkshares vision of a democratic publishing model:

http://blog.inkshares.com/post/139935867965/qa-with-john-robin-a-pillar-of-the-inkshares

Enjoy -- and please share this. The more readers who know about Inkshares, the better.

p.s. remember a few months ago I rallied to help get Jack Bender’s, The Elephant in the Room to its funding goal? Well, I received my three copied yesterday -- and read it in one sitting. What a great book! Stephen King calls it a picture book for adults, and it comes with high praise from J.J. Abrams and David Benioff and D.B. Weiss. Well, I read it in one sitting. What a book! In some parts I laughed hard, but most places touched my heart. Jack has a dark sort of wisdom that’s contagious and it was nice to spend a good hour with him in those pages. Highly recommended! Here’s a link: http://www.amazon.com/The-Elephant-Room-Jack-Bender/dp/1941758797

Thank you all for the support so far.  I hope you have enjoyed the 1st two chapters.  I am so close from entering the top 10 for the Nerdist competition.  Only 2 pre-orders. If you haven’t’ pre-order I would really appreciate if you would.  I should be posting the 3rd chapter by the end of the week.  I really want to get in the top 3 and be one of the winners for the competition. Thank you again for your support. Gracias!