Sci Fi, Fantasy, Historical events, and a splash of mystery is what intrigues me. What about you?

Follow

Billy O’Keefe liked an update for It's All Fun and Games

We have a cover!!!!!!

Hi Everyone! After several months of working like dogs, revising, re-revising, and tweaking, the design crew is ready for the big reveal. Here it is!

Well I'm just tickled pink by it. So cool, so cool, so very cool.

In other news, here's a quick update on where things stand:

The manuscript is currently with the copy editor, hammering out all those last pesky commas and such. That should be wrapping up in the next couple weeks. Once I've gone through and checked out all the comments it goes into book format, and another couple sets of eyes make sure the conversion from doc file to publishing file didn't muck up any of the formatting and stuff. Then off to the printer!

The file is scheduled to get sent to the printer mid-April, with the ebook going live by early July and the finished book hitting bookstores August 2. Backers should, in theory, be getting their copies well in advance of that August date - the late date has something to do with book store purchasing cycles and whatnot.

So there we have it! Thank you again for all your support! Since the project went live the price has gone up somewhat from what you paid, but if you know someone who would like a copy, the $5 credit for new Inkshares users is still live. And if they use your referral link you'll earn $15 in credit (only once per project), which you can use to order or pre-order other great books from the site.

Cheers

Dave

like · liked by John and 15 others

Teri Donahugh followed Billy O’Keefe

Billy O’Keefe

I write mostly unamusing web code by day and moonlight as a writer and illustrator of words and pict...

Follow

Billy O’Keefe followed In a World of Darkness: Book One of a Trilogy

In a World of Darkness: Book One of a Trilogy

A witch,necromancer,healer,gremlin band together in a plague-ravaged world as they are hunted by humans led by their demon master.

Billy O’Keefe liked an update for Storm of Fury

Hello everyone,

Sorry about the recent radio silence lately, but in truth, there really hasn't been anything happening here that warrants an update. We're currently sitting at 191 copies of Storm of Fury sold, which leaves us with 59 books remaining and 45 days to sell them.

The number of sales has increased since my last update, which is due to the fantastic efforts of my very generous family. And while every sale is a good one, I can't help but feel disheartened by it. There has been little to no growth in Storm of Fury's following, which is a very bad thing. While I may be able to sell a few here and there, very soon sales will grind to a halt.

As we currently stand, we have to sell more than one copy each day, at the very least, in order to hit 250 copies in time. Some might begin to worry. Others might start to have doubts.

But not me.

I will not doubt this project, not for a single moment and not even in its final day. I do not take my writing lightly, and I've spent years crafting story after story, and I would not dare present one for publishing that wasn't worthy of an audience. I know Storm of Fury is a story worth reading and sharing, I know it's a novel worth publishing. I've seen the reviews my fellow peers and authors have left on SoF's page, and I've seen them rally to support me. The people here at Inkshares have helped SoF rise into the view of potential readers since day one, and I know they'll continue to do so until the end. I couldn't do this without the people I've met here and I couldn't do this without each and every one of you. You, my readers, are the most important part of this whole campaign. You're the reason I haven't given up, for I know that you will someday soon hold a copy of this book in your hands.

Thank you. Thank you for your contributions and continued support.

59 more copies? Peace of cake.

-Andrew

like · liked by Reader and 12 others

Billy O’Keefe liked an update for The Bully Book

Background about me... and a little advice on how to get attention of an agent or publisher

After 4yrs I published my first book with an imprint that had been bought out with a major publisher. I had over 100 rejections from agents and publishers, but managed to finally get a publisher in a round-about way.

Because I was writing a memoir based on my line of work, I approached the biggest nursing union in the world that has a weekly magazine, and gave them a copy of one of my rejection letters. The rejection letter said the following...

'...no one wants to read about a nurse...no one will buy a book about a nurse...'

Naturally this seriously pissed off the nurses at the union, and they replied with the following...

'...everyone knows a nurse...everyone like nurses...and everyone wants to read about nurses...we're happy to read your work.'

They read it and loved it, and recommended me to a contact in the publishing business.

I now have 2 books published and around 200,000 sales later (majority of them ebook, although was on UK airport shelves and in WHSmith) but the imprint has closed and the overseeing major publisher will not even look at my work without getting an agent.

I can't even get an agent with such a history of sales and 2 books out. In fact, when I had my first contract offer, I approached a dozen agents, and only 1 was interested in taking me on, even with a guaranteed contract. Some even said to me that they had not heard of anyone getting a major publisher without an agent, and could not tell me how they could be of benefit to me.

I also learned that when your imprint closes, and the overseeing publisher takes over, they don't bother with promotion. So they own the rights to my 2nd book, while I get left with a lot less input than my first book.

I tried discussing this with them, and they ignored my email.

So, here I am, trying not to be bitter. But my current project 'the Bully book' is something I truly feel could be huge. I work with teenagers, and they cannot put it down.

So I'm a bit nervous about inkshares, not because of anything they've done, but I have very little trust left in any part of the whole publishing business. But what I have found on this site so far is encouraging, and that is genuine people.

So thanks for your kind words so far. I will get round to reading more of the books I have followed, but will take bit of time is all.

like · liked by Matthew and 3 others

Billy O’Keefe commented on The Bully Book

I'm enjoying your story in these comments as much as I'm enjoying the snippets you've shared so far of The Bully Book. I hope you keep these biographical notes handy, as you could probably create a killer book on its own about your travails as a writer in the extremely frustrating world of publishing.

I think you've come to the right place. I hope you stick around — I'll be pre-ordering the first day I can.

like

Billy O’Keefe liked an update for The Bully Book

Please check out 'Bob'

I need your opinion because I can no longer tell whether what I write is good, bad, or simply terrible. One day I'll look at some of my work and think I'm a literary genius, and the next day cringe, while wondering where I get the nerve to think I could ever be a writer.
But that's what over 100 rejections from agents and publishers, despite two best sellers and over 200,000 in sales.

Oh dear, I think I'm turning bitter.

Please help.

like · liked by Billy and 2 others