Jane-Holly Meissner liked the forum thread, G&S Contest: The Story So Far Part 10

(Long post, Wall-o’-text incoming)
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[It’s important to note that this takes a bit of time to write and all numbers and placements are based on where everyone is when I write this. It may be different now but it should be close.]

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You can view last weeks here: The Story So Far Part 9

I may reference an article by @Rick Heinz (author of The Seventh Age: Dawn) written for Geek and Sundry about the underdogs in this very competition, you can read that here: Here Are Five Underdogs in the Geek & Sundry Fantasy Contest.


Welcome back to The Story So Far, my name is @Joey Angotti  and I’ll be your guide for this evening. The amount of weeks I’ve been doing this has hit double digits, ya’ll! As I mentioned last week, that means that there is literally less than a month left in the Geek and Sundry Fantasy contest. The time has come to find everyone you have left that hasn’t ordered yet and annoy them like there is no tomorrow to get those preorders! It’s time to double back and triple check with your cousin’s friend from college that we think is named Steve, but his Facebook says Derek but we’re pretty sure the picture is Steve… Let’s get to it!

Or… Almost get to it. It saddens me to say that @Tara Roquemore ’s Flames in the Dark has fallen out of the Top 10 for the first time in a long time. I’ve been writing about Ms. Roquemore and her unbelievably well crafted and well written novel for almost the entire 10 weeks I’ve been doing this and it is a shame that she’s not getting enough love here! Please do yourself a favor and check out her work, it is amazing and she deserves to hit quill at least!


10.  A Beast Requires by @Jay Lockwood  (103 Readers / Last Week’s Rank: N/A)

Don’t call it a comeback! … Unless you’re me, because I’m not sure what else to call it. Mr Lockwood is back in the Top 10! As I just mentioned, Flames in the Dark has sadly fallen out of the Top 10, but A Beast Requires has returned to 10th place and Mr. Lockwood’s hilarious and entertaining novel has been turning heads everywhere. After being mentioned in Rick Heinz’s article about Five Underdogs in this contest, A Beast Requires seems to have found new life as it returns to the Top 10 and continues to pump out unique readers on its quest to rise in the ranks. It was also picked as October’s pick for the Write Out Loud Syndicate! A huge honor! Diversity is key and important in all aspects of everyone’s life, but it influenced Mr. Lockwood heavily during his writing of A Beast Requires and as soon as you’re introduced to the city of Aurum you can feel that impact. I strongly suggest, as I always have when discussing Mr. Lockwood and his work, that you go read his book page - especially the comments section - and enjoy the funny, quirky and unique presence that Mr. Lockwood brings into your life through his writing. Go check out this book, at least give the prologue and first chapter a try and I promise you will love it!

9. Chronicles of An Domhan by @Conri  (107 Readers / Last Week’s Rank: 9th)

Chronicles of An Domhan by Conri remains at 107 readers and in the 9th spot. I still love this work and the effort put into its creation. It is a shame that it has stayed this way for the last two weeks and I still strongly urge everyone to go check out the book page and the videos that Mr. Conri has posted. I feel bad that this is literally the shortest paragraph I’ve written about any book here, but I don’t have a lot to work with here. Sorry! Come back to us, Mr. Conri! We are eagerly awaiting your return!


8. The Delicate Art of Soulripping by @Sara  (125 Readers / Last Week’s Rank: 8th)
The Delicate Art of Soulripping by Sara Polk is another book featured in Rick Heinz underdog article and for good reason! This is one of the most interesting titles in the whole contest and deserves a closer look if you haven’t given it one yet! The offer still stands that if you order and get 5 others to order, Ms. Polk will write you into the book! I’m shocked this hasn’t generated more orders and more interest as that is easily one of the coolest incentives out there! Be sure to visit Ms. Polk’s page for more details and check out the chapters she has posted so far. If my words are not enough to sway you, allow me to quote this review from @RH Webster , the author of Lucky:

“This novel combines a conversational writing style with a supernatural theme to make Oz, the protagonist, seem to come to life off the page - despite the fact that he’s been dead for 800 years. As Oz explains the ins and outs of the afterlife, the details of soulripping and the process of moving a soul from one stage of being to another, author Sara Polk draws on her extensive experience in the social work field to discuss the big questions about life. How are bodies and souls combined to form a person? Can dogs really see ghosts? What comes next after the physical form is shed?”

Well put! Go check this novel out if you haven’t yet!


7. The Living God by @Kaytalin Platt (147 Readers / Last Week’s Rank: 5th)

The Living God by Kaytalin Platt has fallen to the 7th place spot after sudden surges from The Last Faoii and A Light in the Void, but if there is anyone who can bounce back from that small stumble, it is definitely Ms. Platt. She has shown resiliency throughout this entire contest and has been one of the key staples in the Top 10 for the last 10 weeks. That being said, if you’ve visited her comments section or received her updates recently - you will know that she remains in high spirits and has the *perfect* attitude for the way that Inkshares works. She may be a bit far from the Top 3 right now, but she’s more focused on the quill goal and she only needs 56 more preorders to reach it! That means that even without a Top 3 finish, we can all help Ms. Platt on her journey to get published by Inkshares!

If the book itself doesn’t entice you, Ms. Platt has been helping people all over Inkshares(and outside as well!) and deserves our help and support! She’s good peoples, man! Check out her page if you haven’t and you will see what I mean! She’s helping raise money for a fundraiser that she helps out with every year and it sounds like a really awesome and good cause! If all of that isn’t enough for you, she was Geekadelphia’s Geek of the Week! I DIDN’T EVEN KNOW THIS WAS A THING!

Please, if you haven’t yet - make your way over to her book page and give The Living God an honest look and I have a good feeling you will want to back this project.


6. The Last Faoii by @Tahani Nelson  (158 Readers / Last Week’s Rank: 6th)
Though still at 6th place on the site, The Last Faoii by Tahani Nelson is actually tied with A Light in the Void for 5th place! A strong, ferocious campaign has helped Ms. Nelson make her way into the Top 5 and she’s not planning on stopping any time soon. The Epic Fantasy Syndicate has backed The Last Faoii and that support has brought Ms. Nelson under 50 preorders away from reaching quill! She’s also raffling off a chance to name one of the many characters in her book as well as early beta reading privileges, so now is definitely the time to join the fight! As I’ve said before, this is probably one of, if not *the* funnest campaign going on in the entire contest and it’s definitely worth the time to be a part of it. Go check out Ms. Nelson’s page as well as the book page for The Last Faoii for more information!  

5. A Light in the Void by @J. S. Chlapowski  (158 Readers / Last Week’s Rank 7th)
A Light in the Void by J.S. Chlapowski is now tied for 5th with The Last Faoii! This continues to be one of the fastest and most impressive campaigns in the entire contest. Mr. Chlapowski is releasing parts of his story through scenes every time he reaches a milestone of preorders and he’s released a lot of Chapter 1 already for our viewing pleasure. At the rate he’s rising in this contest, we’ll be seeing more of his work soon! Go check out his book page and read what he has posted so far and see if this is the type of book you want to back! I have a feeling it will be, as the writing thus far has been unique and gripping!


4. The Fairy Stepmother, Inc. by @Maggie Hoyt  (208 Readers / Last Week’s Rank: 4th)
As of this writing, The Fairy Stepmother, Inc. by Maggie Hoyt is literally 14 preorders away from hitting quill! That is a HUGE milestone and Ms. Hoyt is so ridiculously close that we can all help her achieve the first stage of her dream! I say first stage, because the Top 3 is still within her grasps with the final weeks still ahead of us! If all of those facts aren’t enough to send you over to her page to click that preorder button then how about a brand-spanking new video? Yeah, you heard me right! There is a new video on The Fairy Stepmother, Inc.’s page which includes Ms. Hoyt herself reading an excerpt from later on in the book. I highly recommend checking that out as it’s really well done and provides a lot more insight on Ms. Hoyt’s writing and how she came up with the idea for the book! (I do miss the costume though, it was super adorbs - not the manliest thing ever said, but something that needed to be said!) Go check out here page and the video!

3. Storm Song by @Allison Griner  (261 Readers / Last Week’s Rank: 3rd)

Storm Song by Allison Griner was only one preorder away from quill on the last The Story So Far so it’s safe to say she got that and then some! I’d love to take some time to congratulate Ms. Griner on her milestone and also mention that she is really deserving of it! She’s been a pleasure to speak to outside of the contest, very supportive in my own goals and even more supportive when it comes to helping write this thing every week. I’m really proud of what she has accomplished and I wish her more and more success in the future! That all being said, there is still a little under a month left in this contest and Ms. Griner will need to continue to push to hold on to the 3rd place spot or move up into 2nd or 1st! Be sure to head on over to her book page and experience some of Thoster Chatwyn’s story! You won’t be disappointed!


2. The Slave Prince by @Jeyna Grace  (268 Readers / Last Week’s Rank: 2nd)
The Slave Prince by Jeyna Grace has also reached quill this week with 276 preorders! I’d like to also take the time to congratulate Ms. Grace on this accomplishment! She has run a wonderful campaign thus far with easily some of the best written and entertaining comments in her comments section and I couldn’t be any more proud of her than I am right now! Highly likely to finish in the Top 3 at this point in the contest, I am excited to feel like I’ve been along for the ride of this journey that has an extremely bright future! Week in and week out I have written about the Top 10 authors and I truly feel excited and proud for them as they reach these amazing milestones. Ms. Grace is well deserving of this accomplishment and I am happy that she received the backing and support to make this possible. With all of that being said, there is still a month left of work to be done by everyone in the Top 10 and if Ms. Grace wishes to finish in the Top 3 - a place she has called home for majority of this contest - she can’t take her foot off the pedal just yet. I look forward to seeing where she lands come November 1st and you should all go to her book page and read about Thom and his journey and consider placing a preorder if you haven’t already!

I do quickly want to mention that she’s also giving away 3 Steam Keys for the video game: The Coma as part of her campaign. As a huge gamer, I had to throw this in out of respect for how much I love this idea. Good choice! Check out her comments section for more details!


1. Sparked by @Lena (Helena and Malena)   (401 Readers / Last Week’s Rank: 1st)
Sparked by Helena Echlin and Malena Watrous treats milestones like candy and have done so since entering the contest. 400 unique readers! The first to do so and before anyone else even reached 300! Sparked continues to impress and turn heads all over the internet and the world as do the two lovely authors behind the project! I’ve mentioned Ms. Echlin and Ms. Watrous’s absolute unstoppable drive to help other authors find their way in the writing world. This week was no different as Ms. Echlin was a guest writer over on KidLit.com where she shared her experience with crowdfunding and provided *extremely* useful tips for running a successful campaign. If you’re still trying to find your way in this contest or prepping for the next big contest here on Inkshares, this article is a must read. You can find it here. It’s really great advice that is backed by the fact that Ms. Echlin and Ms. Watrous were able to secure 250 preorders on day 1(literally enough for quill in a single day) and have dominated the contest since they entered on September 1st.

Lastly, I think it’s important to mention that their current preorder count is at 619. The full publishing goal is 750 and they are almost there already! 401 unique readers have backed this project, so if you haven’t taken a look at it yet, now is definitely the time to do so. They just recently posted Chapter 4 and the story is really starting to heat up. Chapter 5 promises to be the big impact that changes the story to a more formal Fantasy genre. Look forward to that and much more as Ms. Echlin and Ms. Watrous continue to solidify their place on Inkshares as well as in the writing industry!

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I’m doing my best with what I’m being provided by the authors and what’s actually happening in the contest. I feel like the quality has dipped quite a bit but it’s hard at this point in the contest. A lot of resources for the authors have run dry and it’s slowing things down a bit. I’m not sure if we’ll see surges or anything too crazy in the last month, but I’ll continue to provide the weekly recap even if it’s pretty basic like this week. I want to take a moment to once again congratulate those that have hit quill on their projects, that really is a huge milestone and I mean every word when I say I’m really proud of you all, awesome job! I also want to thank Rick Heinz, Allison Griner and Helena Echlin for reaching out to me to continuously help me add to this each week. It’s not easy coming up with some of the material, but their support made it a bit easier the last few weeks. Thanks!


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I’m not sure people who aren’t tagged are even reading this or slightly interested. Also, people not using the forums enough could not be seeing this as well. Any and all extra exposure of this forum post would be appreciated!(It’s a lot of work to not be seen by more people on the site!) - A mention on your books page or more comments could keep this afloat and make sure more people see this post - therefore more exposure and good things for your entry! Plus it might get more people involved on the forums which is good for Inkshares as a whole, imo.

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Shameless Plug: Still at 25 reviews on Amazon. I’m really trying to hit 30 so if anyone could help out with that, I would really appreciate it! Even if you don’t want to leave a review without actually owning or completely reading the book - I would definitely love some feedback on the Chapters posted on my Heroes of Khroma book page or on the preview on Amazon. Thanks to everyone that has written a review or supported, you’re all amazing and fantastic. Even if you didn’t leave a review or support - you’re still cool. Much love!

A Soldier’s Crest

Lastly I want to thank Inkshares for making this site and giving aspiring authors like us a chance to share our stories. I also want to thank all the Inksharians, especially those in the Top 10, for giving me some interesting stories to read and write about.

Cheers!

-J.A.  

(I post it first then add the links after, so if you click on it right away you may not see the links. Just know that they’re gonna be added in an edit right after! Thanks for your patience and sorry for the inconvenience!)

EDIT: Links added. Please let me know if any of the links are wrong or if there are any typos. Thanks!
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People who have liked this comment in the forum thread, G&S Contest: The Story So Far Part 10

    Jane-Holly Meissner liked the forum thread, What if there's no contest appropriate for what I really want to write?
    @TCC Edwards Don’t sweat the contests. Build your contacts lists, talk to people, get to know the authors here. Make connections and build content for your book. Once you have a good base of people interested, it’s all about creating interesting content to grab readers attention. Also, don’t rush into a campaign unprepared, it will only hurt you. 
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    People who have liked this comment in the forum thread, What if there's no contest appropriate for what I really want to write?

      Jane-Holly Meissner sent an update for Fae Child


      Hello Readers, Followers, and Lurkers!

      Quick update today: Christopher Lee (author of The Lore of the Aos Sí) made a book trailer for Fae Child! It is complete, and here it is (you can also view it on the Fae Child main page):

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MDVWv88J4w

      I just love it. Thank you again, Christopher! As a reminder, he is running a promotion where if you preorder his book and review/recommend it he will make you a book trailer. If you’re in need of some fancy multimedia to help promote your book you should jump on it!

      ~ Jane-Holly

      like · liked by Geoffrey and 8 others

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        Jane-Holly Meissner liked an update for Tantalus Depths

        We’ve passed into the double digits! As of right now, we’re at 97 orders to go. We’ve almost caught up to where we were before we lost all the orders. Keep sharing and spreading the word. The time for the final push is here!

        Also, I absolutely couldn’t wait to share this: Kaytalin Platt, author of The Living God, has made this amazing Tantalus Depths poster! Feel free to share it anywhere.

         

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          Jane-Holly Meissner liked an update for The Slave Prince
          Underdogs Do Not Exist

          Underdog: 1. One that is expected to lose a contest. 2. One that is at a disadvantage. - American Heritage® Dictionary

          I entered the Geek & Sundry Contest thinking I was an underdog. I expected to lose because I was at a disadvantage. With 1USD equaling RM41, how can I win? With an eBook the price of 8 meals, how can I convince readers to give 4 times more than my competitors? But after 2 months, I realised I was wrong. Me thinking I was an underdog was just me thinking I was an underdog. It was a thought. It wasn’t true. After 2 months, I finally realised underdogs do not exist.

          Now, why do I say that? Here’s a question: what makes a rags-to-riches story memorable? 

          What makes the tale of a homeless man becoming a billionaire inspiring? What makes the small town baseball team going to the major leagues uplifting? What makes any story of success empowering?

          Is it the neighbourhood the characters grew up in? Is it their poverty-striken families? Or... is it their passion, drive, and determination to succeed despite all odds? Do you remember the story because they came from a third world country, or do you remember their story because they bravely faced the giants? I believe we can all agree it is the latter. 

          So, is there such a thing as an underdog? No. Being an underdog is a state of mind. It is how we look at ourselves. It is what people might call us. But ’underdogs’ by default do not exist. Nobody is made to be an underdog. Nobody is born a loser. Our upbringing, our country, and our circumstances, do not define who we are. If we are fighters, we will keep on fighting. We will not succumb to the idea of being an underdog. We will write our own story with passion and determination, and we will keep doing so until we succeed.

          Honestly, I don’t know why I entertained the thought of being an underdog, especially when Thom himself never saw himself as one. Thom may not have the faith to free his people, but at least he didn’t think he was at a disadvantage. He was part of the minority, but he was determined to win. He didn’t box himself in a label, and chose to believe he was an equal. If Thom could do that, in his fight for freedom in a world so bias, then I can do it too. 

          I am not an underdog. I am an equal. And so are you.


          It’s October, guys. You know what time it is, right?

          The Coma: Cutting Class is a horror game, heavily focused on storytelling, by Devespresso Games. Devespresso Games is an indie game developer from South Korea. And the CEO, Min Ho, is someone I’ve worked with in my early days of Oz. As a fellow creator, storyteller, and fighter of dreams, I am ecstatic to receive his generous support. 

          The poster above tells everything you need to know about the contest. If you’re a gamer, who likes story-heavy games and can handle jump-scares, here’s your chance to play The Coma for free. Just order yourself a copy of The Slave Prince, ’like’ the picture on Facebook*, and you might just be able to add this game to your inventory in time for Halloween.

          (*I know some people don’t play games and those who do might not like horror, hence why I require the Facebook ’like’. It’ll help narrow down who actually wants to win the steam keys.) 
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            Jane-Holly Meissner liked an update for The Animal in Man

            My dear animals,

            I don’t have any words about "The Animal in Man" today. Instead, I have some things to say about a hard sci-fi, cosmic-horror thriller story I think you ought to be aware of: TANTALUS DEPTHS by Evan Graham.

            Here’s part of what I said about Tantalus Depths in a review: Combining the immense scope of Mass Effect with the grittier, grounded, hard sci-fi feel of Alien is like a dream come true. ... What an absolutely uncanny, unfathomable universe we live in, where creative minds like Evan Graham’s can conjure stories from the dark unknown spaces between stars... I can’t wait to see where his story leads. 

            Let me now say something about Evan Graham himself: ...I’ve met A LOT of hard-working authors around Inkshares, but NONE of them have busted their ass as much as this guy. He has SIX DAYS left to get ONE HUNDRED PRE-ORDERS. 

            (Actually, make that ninety-nine since by the time you read this I’ll have already chipped in another order.) He deserves it, people. His book deserves it. I truly believe in this project. It’s not something I say lightly. If you’ve been on the fence about Tantalus Depths, just hangin’ out between Follower and Reader, it’s time to hop down and make the pre-order. You will not be disappointed.

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              Jane-Holly Meissner liked PRE-COGNITION
              17,500 words (12 chapters) into PRE-COGNITION!  I can’t wait to finish this story!  I’ve also been very active on twitter as @RTrusardi if you want to keep up with me there, I talk a lot about movies, book writing, and screenplays.
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              People who have liked this comment for <i>PRE-COGNITION</i>

                Jane-Holly Meissner liked an update for The Last Faoii

                Orders, Faoii! Listen up!

                We’re getting close, Faoii. We’re only 40 or so pre-orders away from Quill and select publication. If nothing else, we can earn that victory.

                It’s a little more sobering to realize that we’re 100 unique readers away from the top 3 in the Geek and Sundry contest. That hill is more challenging-- but I think we can make it, too. I know I keep telling you that I want our banner on that hill-- but it’s more than that. I want to be able to put The Last Faoii in the hands of girls across the nation. I want to give them a heroine that’s worthy of being emulated-- who’s more than a pretty face looking for a husband. Who’s strong and fierce and wearing armor that covers all of her vital organs. I want young LGBT people to have someone whose main characteristics isn’t that they’re LGBT. Kaiya is a warrior, a woman, a faoii-- she’s more than "just" a lesbian, and I want people to be okay with that.  And I think a lot of you do, too.

                Prove it. Get this book out there, to as many people as you can. I want to win that contest because I want Kaiya to help us change the face of fantasy literature and heroines. We can do that. We are faoii.

                -Faoii Tahani

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                  Jane-Holly Meissner liked the forum thread, If you want to contribute thoughts about Blink, we'll be keeping an eye on this thread.
                  @Luke Fellner http://blog.inkshares.com/post/151488294120/announcing-blink
                  like · liked by Peter and 4 others

                  People who have liked this comment in the forum thread, If you want to contribute thoughts about Blink, we'll be keeping an eye on this thread.

                    Jane-Holly Meissner liked the forum thread, If you want to contribute thoughts about Blink, we'll be keeping an eye on this thread.
                    Does Blink apply to books that are in the draft stage, or is there still an expectation that they raise some funding on their own?

                    Also, to me it seems like some part of the funding process is meant to demonstrate to Inkshares that the authors are genuinely serious about their book and dedicated to getting it published. Isn’t there some risk that blink might select a project where the author, for whatever reason, really isn’t ready for, or ultimately even fully interested in, bringing a polished and complete book to the publishing table?
                    like · liked by d and 8 others

                    People who have liked this comment in the forum thread, If you want to contribute thoughts about Blink, we'll be keeping an eye on this thread.

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