Today I want to talk about an awesome Inkshares author.

The last few weeks I've had the opportunity to connect with several great authors, and JF Dubeau is one who has really stood out for his helpfulness and overall know-how. He has helped many authors selflessly while also promoting his great book, A God In the Shed (It's a great book, and you should definitely check out the recording of the Prologue by Paul Inman).

I'm going to talk more about JF Dubeau's work, and his great interview today on my blog (which you can check out here), but first I want to share something else JF did -- something he created for me....

A NEW COVER FOR BLOOD DAWN!

Isn't it amazing? I'm just so grateful for what he's done, for me, and for other Inkshares authors. Actually, on the note of covers, check out the cover JF did for fellow author KE Madsen for her book Silver Eyes (The cover is also clickable so if you enjoy  high fantasy adventure, be sure to check out KE's book):

So, I'm just absolutely buzzing today! JF's amazing cover. Paul Inman's recording of the Blood Dawn opening (Missed it? Check it out here). Yicheng Liu's assistance in creating a trailer for Blood Dawn. This project has come so far in the last month and it's been in the collaborative spirit of authors working together, which I think is the best way to do business. We all have so much work to do to get to our goals, so why not do it as a team and have fun in the process? May it continue.

A few more things about JF Dubeau, because I want you to know more about him so that you can follow him and his work:

First, as I mentioned, JF is a guest on my blog today. He brings his insights to the table on how storytelling is the best source of generating a rich world, and draws on his experience writing A God In the Shed and The Life Engineered. Do be sure to check this interview out:

https://epicfantasywriter.wordpress.com/2015/09/09/world-builders-jf-dubeau/

A quick word also on JF's books.

JF is a winner of the Sword and Laser Collection, with his now-in-production book about our robot descendants trying to avoid the mistakes of humanity, The Life Engineered. Click on the cover to find out more about it:

JF's current book, A God In the Shed, is part of the Nerdist Collection Contest, so I'm sure he'd love your support as backers for this great project! A God In the Shed is about an ancient trans-dimensional god trapped in a backyard shed -- a sort of Stand By Meet with a Great Old One (minus, perhaps, a Tardis). Click the cover to check it out:

So, that's JF Dubeau.

Before I sign off, I want to thank everyone who has stepped up to back Blood Dawn. As I approach 100 readers, I'm just thrilled by the momentum. 2,501 pre-orders is a long way to go, but each and every time I get a pre-order it makes my day.

When I was a teenager, I used to go to the fantasy section of the bookstore and look at all the fat books, full of adventure; flip through and look at the maps or the appendices on magic or houses or kingdom politics; dream that someday I'd have a book up there. Inkshares can make that dream a reality, and it's so exciting to be here now with that opportunity, to connect with so many of you who have told me this is a book you can't wait to read.

We will get there. I've every bit of faith, and have a lot of things planned these next 7 months to make sure this book you believe in becomes a reality, complete with maps, awesome drawings, and a glossy cover. It will be there in Chapters, Indigo, and other bookstores for fantasy lovers, another fat book rife with promises of adventure, suspense, and magic, a portal to a rich world you can enjoy with your morning cup of coffee.

Onward!

Hey everybody who can see this.

First, thanks for being able to see this. That means you’re someone with excellent taste in book pitches about portal fantasies featuring casual drug use. Oooor a personal friend/family member I guilt-stared into supporting my dream. Either way, thank you.

Your support has put me in a respectable position in the contest, if still outside the winner’s circle by a bunch. Which is why I must now ask all you fantastically good look people with such impeccable taste to help me out. See, I’ve pretty much reached the limits of my broadcast radius. I’m shouting ‘buy my book!’ to a group of people holding my book and looking at me, like, “Dude.”

So what can you do? Wow, what a great question. You’re very smart, also handsome/pretty/other. Unfortunately, yeah, I don’t really know. Right? I mean this is my first time too.

I guess tell other attractive, intelligent people that if they want to be cool like you, they should create a unique login for a website they’ve never heard of and give over their financial information to help a stranger. Maybe phrase it differently, I dunno, mix it up, have fun with it. Assure them they won’t be charged if I fall short of my dreams on account of their inaction. Tell them prepaid cards work if they like privacy so much.

You know what else works? And I’m just spit-balling here: startling your eldest relative from a nap by shouting, “Quick I need your email address and credit card information to get the internet off your lawn!” Like, not that I’m recommending that. But I’m not discouraging it either? If we understand each other.

BONUS IN BIG LETTERS: if you get people to sign up via ‘Recommending’ you’ll get credits to buy other future books on Inkshares. Consider starting a pyramid scheme with that information. Also they – and you – should like my page on the Book of Faces where I’m posting ~800 words snippets to entice and amaze. Come by and say hi. It’s right here: https://www.facebook.com/BadTripBook

Have you already read any draft of Bad Trip? Please leave comments or reviews that assure all the nice people it’s worth it. That you know what they’re thinking. You had doubts too. But seriously, the book is pretty good once you get into it. Like CS Louis and JRR Tolkein had a much funnier baby. Who grew up to have another baby with JK Rowling… and then there was a mix up at the hospital and… listen, it gets weird from there, you don’t have time. Just tell them they’ll like it, and should give it a shot.

Have questions or comments? Please leave them on Inkshares or the aforementioned Facepage. Unless they’re hurtful. I mean, I have feelings, you know?

Thanks all of y’all again. For your time, interest, patience, or any combination of the three. Also your money. Really, the money part is key for the contest thing.

--MC

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Better a late update than none at all! I blame the holiday. 

First, an update on pre-orders and the contest. Sadly things have slowed down. Currently, 3point8 is sitting in the 9th/10th spot…and yes, we’re close to slipping out of the top ten completely. If you’ve been waiting to order, or know someone who is, now is the time! Being in the top 10 is actually a huge help, we get additional promotion and exposure thanks to the Nerdist. 

Which brings us to the second item this week, Nerdist News will be highlighting the top 10 books this week. I’ll be linking to it when it goes live…I’m assuming it’ll be part of the video update. It’s weird to think that Jessica Chobot (someone you may know from G4, Mass Effect 3 or the Bizarre States podcast) might be mentioning my book. 

Last bit of news, I’m posting new excerpts of the book to Inkshares. These are just a few sample sections of the story to give potential readers a taste. Just follow the link below to check them out! 

bit.ly/3point8excerpt1

Thanks again for your interest, time and support. As always, if you have any questions you can reach me at 3point8.novel@gmail.com 

 3point8 Page: bit.ly/3point8novel 

Author FB Page: bit.ly/MMelilli