We did it! The Punch Escrow is getting published!!
I’m on a plane and my laptop battery is about to die, so I have to make this quick. You lot have done something which my wife would have heretofore deemed impossible: I am speechless. So, while I do a little happy dance to myself, I wanted to recognize a few people, and then we’ll get on to all the raffle winners and such tonight (alas, victory doesn’t afford me the ability to shrug off my job).
Rachel Klein: I know it’s not easy being married to me. Thank you for putting up with my creative obsessions. I love you.
Iris and Violet Klein: My two beautiful muses. You’re too young to understand, but you’ve given my life purpose.
My extended family. Especially the Brown ladies, who are making me discuss my book at their book club at our next family reunion. Thankfully there are no sex scenes, although the protagonist does get naked once or twice. (’ey lord! Bless his soul!)
My “staff” (+3 of great friendship, 20% savings throw bonus when asking others for favors) – These folks have gone above and beyond to assist me in various phases of the book. Without them, The Punch Escrow would not be: Peter Birdsall, John Hannon, Joe Santoro, Dave Sontag, Ian Ellison, Russ Mitchell, Dan Salinas, Ben Murphy (kindof), Ryan Potter, Meredith Peruzzi, Acar Altinsel, Robert Kroese
My Inkshares “mental support” crew: James Rasile, Rick Heinz, Pat Edwards, Peter Bats, and my arch nemesis Brian Guthrie (who, despite the fact we were competitors, was always on hand to help me understand the Inkshares contest process, and teach me promotional tips and tricks).
Micah Pegman - Won the shirt raffle this week!
Our top 3 referrers in the past 96 hours (each gets a "teleporting" The Punch Escrow coffee mug):
Pete Downing
James Rasile
Nicola Sarjeant
Stay tuned for the MAJOR PRIZE announcement. Also, if any of you who participated in the Penguin Magic promotion have not gotten your Tarbell 51 code, please let me know, don’t bother the Inkshares or Penguin Magic support people.
More soon!
-Tal
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. :-)
Deus Hex Machina was just chosen to be part of the illustrious Sword & Laser Collection here on Inkshares. I would write more about this, but I’m too busy shaking with gratitude.

Hello all!
Another quick update. We passed 200 orders! Thank you all so very much! This is incredible, I’m still in disbelief. Long long way to go, but very happy at where we sit right now. You’re seriously all the best!
The Geek & Sundry contest is over. Congratulations to Tal M. Klein, Brian Guthrie, and Erin S. Evan! You can still check out and order their books, and be sure to check out the other books in the contest. There are some really great gems in there that can still use your support!
That’s all for me. Please, as always, share, recommend, review, pre-order, talk about, and let’s get Cape’s Side Bay to Quill (and possibly beyond?)!

Hello!
It’s Sunday and we are at 199 orders. Unbelievable. Thank you all SO much.
If any of you reading this plan on ordering Cape’s Side and haven’t yet (or you have some spare credits lying around!), I’d love to hit 200 by tomorrow!
This weekend has been a huge boost, and BIG shout out to Joni Dee for helping me out! It’s a long tough road and help & support from fellow inksharians is always nice! If you haven’t checked out his book, AND THE WOLF SHALL DWELL, you’re missing out!
The GEEK & SUNDRY contest in almost over! It’s been a heck of a month, if you haven’t backed a book yet you have a few more hours to do so!
The top 5 as of this writing are:
THE PUNCH ESCROW by TAL M. KLEIN
THE PIRATES OF MONTANA by ERIN S. EVAN
WE CLOCKED THE T-REX by RONALD VALLE
TANTALUS DEPTHS by EVAN GRAHAM
It’s quite the race and can’t wait to see the outcome! Best of luck to you all!
Finally, I just want to say I cannot believe that this update is going out to 220 people! Thank you all so much for believing in me, this book, and your continued support.
p.s SCRIBBLES by TABI CARD (who designed the Cape’s Side cover art) received an extension until Thursday! Help get SCRIBBLES: A COLLECTION OF WORDS to Quill!
We’re only 8 Pre-orders away!!! As promised here’s more art!
This is the Concept Art for Aurelius and his Storm Chaser. Enjoy!

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