James Rasile liked Tantalus Depths

Well, Geek and Sundry’s Hard Science Fiction competition has come to an end. It’s a tremendous honor to have been able to come in fifth place in the running, especially after getting such a late start and a slow build at the beginning. I’d like to give a heartfelt congratulations to the winners: Tal Klein, author of The Punch Escrow, Brian Guthrie, author of After Man, and Erin S. Evan, author of The Pirates of Montana. All three of them deserve every pre-sell they have gained. They’ve worked hard, built a huge following from the ground up, and most importantly, they’ve all told brilliant stories. I heartily recommend following them all.

I’d also like to give a shout out to Ronald D. Vale, author of We Clocked the T-Rex, for coming in fourth place (although if the contest had lasted a few more hours, I totally would have passed him. Just saying :P). I understand he’s suspending his own campaign, but his book also looks absolutely fascinating. Follow him, and please give him support when he inevitably decides to give it another go!

So what does this mean for Tantalus Depths, not winning the competition?

Absolutely nothing.

I knew from the very beginning I had about zero chance of winning it. I didn’t even start my campaign until the contest had already been running for three weeks! Therefore, I was never banking on a win. Sure, it would have been nice to catch some unexpected windfall and take the lead, defying all odds. But a wise man never depends on chance, and I’m only a fool on weekends.
The work really begins now. We have 91 days to get Tantalus Depths to 750 pre-orders. We’re getting those pre-orders.
If I have to print out posters and put them in every shop window in my entire state by hand, I will. If I have to beg for coverage from every book blog on the internet, I will. If I have to take out a loan just to buy enough books to do enough author-swaps to reach goal, I will. I’ll allow for no obstacles. Tantalus Depths is, above all, a story about one lone person overcoming unspeakable odds to come out of the experience victorious, and if I can’t hold myself to the same standards that my main character embodies, I’m no author at all.
I may not sleep until August 16th, but so be it. I perceive a need.
Keep following, keep spreading the word. You’re all a part of this. We will descent into the Depths together, and we will come out the other side.
To the Depths!

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James Rasile liked an update for Mission 51

The Geek and Sundry Hard Science Contest is over and I want to send HIGH FIVES and "YEAH MAN!s" to winners Tal Klein for The Punch Escrow, Brian Guthrie for After Man, and Erin S. Evan for The Pirates of Montana. Each of you offered beautiful, polished work. You set a fine example and a high bar for the rest of us. A big congratulations from the bottom of my heart!

I also want to thank Jeremy Thomas and the Inkshares team for organizing these contests. I see them as a win-win-win all the way around! We are truly fortunate to share this space with the likes of Chris Hardwick’s Nerdist and Felicia Day’s Geek and Sundry. These awesome people help open this platform to the movers and shakers of popular culture. I’m impressed!

Peace to all!

Ferd. :-)

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James Rasile liked an update for Project Human

Quick pop-in to say that I almost have a first chapter ready to share with those who have recommended Project Human so far . . .

And I’m putting together a poll/suggestion board for the name of the second book.

Finally, a brief synopsis of Project Human (like those publisher ones on the copyright page):

Android fighting in Atlanta City brings a human girl and experimental AI together as they navigate through a web of politics, secrets, and the fact that they might just be falling for each other.

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James Rasile liked an update for First on Mars

Hello all! Today marks the final day of the contest.

First of all, I want to congratulate the top three winners of the contest:

The Punch Escrow by Tal M. Klien

After Man by Brian Guthrie

The Pirates of Montana by Erin S. Evan

They are all deserving authors and all three have already passed more than 250 orders. I’m a firm believer that you can never have enough books, so check them out and pre-order if you are so inclined. Although I would have loved to be in the top three, I’m happy and humbled to have finished eighth out of over a hundred entries!

Now that the contest is over, it’s time for the real funding process to begin. In case you haven’t noticed, the book has until September 1st to reach its funding goal. That’s 107 days from now. It’s currently 25% of the way to Quill.

PS. Congrats to Michael Haase who won the T-shirt contest! Your shirt is on the way.

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