My apologies before we begin tonight’s update. It will be a bit long. Here’s a handy Table of Contents. Skip ahead as you see fit, though you’ll miss out on some good stuff. Start at the start and see....


-=ONE=- A quick Animal in Man update

-=TWO=- Some damn fine inkshares books worth your attention & funding

-=THREE=-  A link to my 300-reader raffle

So, part ONE: 

The Sword and Laser campaign has been my singular life focus for the last several weeks, but that doesn’t mean I have not been writing bits and pieces of “The Animal in Man.” I assure you I have! Mostly scrawled scenes on scraps of paper. Some are ideas to make existing scenes more gloriously violent, more meaningful. Others are Eureka! moments in which I finally realize exactly how to tie off a loose end, snip it, and seamlessly fold it into the rest of the narrative. The bottom line is, dear readers, that I’ve never been more excited to write “The Animal in Man.” I know all of you are watching me. I will deliver a one-of-a-kind experience. This story is unlike any story I’ve ever experienced, and I’ve experienced a lot. You're going to like it.

Part TWO: 

Thomas J. Arnold and I share a lot of the same inkshares followers. He’s one of the most talented writers I’ve read. The world he’s building for his Exile series is one of the most unique I’ve visited. The campaign for book one “Exile, Magus” is less than two weeks from its conclusion, and Mr. Arnold needs your help. He deserves your help. I’ve already purchased a SET of copies, and I want you to fill in the rest. I know there are some credits unclaimed in your emails, or stuck to the wall of your inkshares account (upper right corner, to be exact). Claim or unstick accordingly and CLICK HERE to go help fund Thomas J. Arnold’s “Exile, Magus”.

Even though he’s in less immediate need of your help compared with the previous author, Kevin Bragg’s work is just as deserving of your time. It’s been really hard to get out of this campaign chair, stretch my legs, and stroll around the inkshares books lately. But I went for a walk today and ran into Kevin’s book “Transilience”. It is amazing. It is futuristic noir. I know! Even just saying that is thrilling! The atmosphere, the writing… they all just hit the right buttons for me. CLICK HERE and check out this great story.

Yesterday morning I was late to work because I literally could not stop reading Kelsey Rae Barthel’s “Beyond the Code”. Hot damn this story is full of action! At least the first chapter is, and I trust there's more. The whole thing is just one continuous fight between two badasses. I’ve told Ms. Barthel that the setting, the setup, the sword-swings all remind me of some of the darkest, most sinister places I’ve visited in my long career as a video gamer. The pace is just as riveting and intense as what I'd gladly call a GOTY (uh, that's Game of the Year). I know you’ll enjoy it. CLICK HERE to see for yourself how right I am about that.

And THREE:

Why was there a lot less fanfare about my fourth reader-raffle giveaway? Why no facebook post or update the day-of? Well, because as you’ll see in the video (by CLICKING HERE), I am simply not satisfied. You can hear it in my voice (uh, I literally say it, yeah, but I mean, like, the tone too). I want to take this campaign through the roof, through the clouds. The sky’s not the limit, it turns out. I’m not in it for the money, never was, never will be. I’m in it to prove that there are folks who think my work’s worth a damn.

Being a writer… as many of you know… you can hit several periods of agonizingly painful, crippling self-doubt. I’ve been to the dark side. I’ve had those low periods when it seemed whatever I produced was worthless, and I had those abysmal stretches of time that followed soon afterward when what I produced was simply nothing at all.

But I’m coming around. The glimmer of light has me. All of you who follow me, who follow “The Animal in Man,” some who’ve known me forever, some who I’ve just met, you guys know I’m good. Your gravity is pulling me in. What can I say? I’m ADDICTED to this feeling of validation that seeing you give of yourselves brings me. ...so 300’s not enough. 

Although in the video you’ll see I set a limit for our next raffle, I plan to thoroughly leave that milestone in the dust too.

Thank you, Animals. Sincerely,

From your Animal in Chief,

Joseph Asphahani

Click HERE to enter the contest!

Going to need to be speedy about this because I woke up with some killer pain in my right shoulder, which means computer work is rough right now.  But we got our 80th reader this morning, which means I get to giveaway another copy of Shadow of the Owl!  

Raffle news, times 2!!  First, if you click the video link you can see who won the raffle of Beagle Freedom swag (cap and scarf), but wait, there's more!!  Also on the video is an important announcement about a new raffle.  Next 20 people to pre-order "Women Like Us" will get a chance to win a $75.00 Gift Certificate to McCall's Meat and Fish Company. If you live in Los Angeles and you like to cook, you probably know about McCall's -- it's easily the best butcher shop in the city, and both Nathan McCall, and his wife Karen (an excellent and immensely talented Pastry Chef who makes the most delicious pastries and breads that are also for sale at McCall's) are super, super nice!  I remember when they opened their doors a few years back (I think I was one of the first people through those doors) and it's been a joy to watch this business grow and expand and become a really important part of the community. When we were based in Malibu I would even drive in to town with a cooler so that I could stock up for a week or more at a time. Anyway, if you want in on the raffle and you don't live in LA, not to worry -- McCall's also sells some very well curated groceries (beautiful pastas and hard to source dry beans and olive oils and spice blends, etc) and I could easily put together a really nice basket of goods for an out-of-town winner. So no worries!

Here, take a look at the raffle video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DG_C6Z4pAA

And here's the gift certificate for McCall's, just FYI:

Now go get that order in!!  If you've ordered already, no harm ordering a second copy for a friend, right?!

And as always, thank you for the support of "Women Like Us".

I’ve got 99 problems but readers ain’t one! 99 more readers and we’ll be #1! 

I was in the middle of recording a saweeet rap video update…. Regrettably the videocamera’s batteries died ;-) I know you’re all devastated. 

 So, we’ll just go with the typed jingle...

 OK, super quick update for my devoted Machiners! 

We have 1 week to go!! 1 week. It's homestretch time! 

Over 270 followers and as of this writing, 215 readers! Spectacular! Can we get to #1? Who knows, really. My original goal was 150. Not too long ago 215 was totally farfetched. Maybe we can surprise and hit 300? 

I may agree to a real rap video if that happens. If you think that would be epic, and you haven’t pre-ordered, then do so immediately!! 

Hello you lovely people. Yes you.  A happy new year to you all.

So, what have you been doing James? Well, I've been procrastinating to be honest as the holiday season came upon us and, well, gosh darn it, I turned everything electronic off for a few weeks. You know, to recharge the family batteries.  And yes, Santa did visit our 8 year old (as he was mostly nice last year. Mostly).

I'm so very aware of the numbers game though... the good ones... 42 followers and 30 copies sold... and the bad ones... 45 days before the deadline... 220 pre-sales needed even before e-publishing is an option. Numbers, numbers.

Well, let's get this out now... it looks like I don't have enough time to do my day job (I own two businesses), my family job (dad and husband), my passion (writing) and my dream (write a novel) all at the same time given the deadlines involved. Which do I 'give up'? My job? Then how do I pay the bills? My family time? Then who am I writing for? The marketing for the novel? Then how will it be published? The novel itself? Then what's my new dream going to be? After all, this has been a dream for close to 40 years now. So, what to do?

Well, fear not.. I WILL write the novel. BUT... I may run out of time here (let's face it, I will run out time).  So, I will either re-submit (once I have more written), or I will move to a different forum (Amazon Self Publishing for example) which I don't want to do, but may have to if I'm unable to resubmit on Inkshares.  

If at first you don't succeed... 

I will update you all again soon and remember, none of this means any of you are any less lovely.

J