I got you a Christmas present. 

Well, I’m kind of ’re-gifting’ it. Every year, me and my co-conspirator Jonathan Sparks get a bunch of friends together and make a Christmas album. This is our sixth one from last year, and I just uploaded it all on Soundcloud and made a fancy playlist for you all to enjoy.

As should come as no surprise: it is weird. But some nice songs! Your heart will be warmed even as you are confused.

AMOD Update: Turned in copy edits this week, so we are full speed ahead into proofing, production, and staying on schedule for release in April. It was odd/nice to do my final ’creative’ work on the book - there’s always a tiny ache along with the relief as my brain gets to free up resources for other projects. I am beyond proud of this book - and very eager for you all to get to read it.

Reviews and blurbs. Over the next few weeks you’re going to start seeing me actively address and educate you about the massive importance of reviews to the success of AMOD. All of the backers should be receiving copies of the book before the official release - those early reviews are crucial to the long-term survival of the book. I’m also on the hunt for extremely influential and famous people who want to tarnish their reputation by reading the book and giving us a blurb for the cover - which is daunting!

Thanks as always for your support and attention! Enjoy the Shadeaux Bros!

Greetings all,

The eBook version of Journey has been released and everyone should have received a link to download it onto whatever device you use. I know how busy everyone gets this time of year, but I hope you are able to somehow squeeze in some time to read the book and possibly post a star rating or a review online.

This afternoon I had my first media interview. I was on WRJN in Milwaukee, Wisconsin for 20 minutes of live air without a commercial. I have been apprehensive about how I would perform in these situations. The host was smooth and professional - I was not.

I was a stammering idiot who talked too fast. I also got a little tongue tied when he asked a couple questions that I hadn't anticipated. But I got through it and realized that I can do this. I know that I will improve over time and will eventually become adequate, which is my goal.

My publicist is pitching the book's connection to Donald Trump, which makes the story both interesting and topical. If I am able to become articulate enough doing these interviews, I should be able to book more of them.

I was surprised at how they handle these things. I had imagined that the show host or a staff member would interview me first off air and we'd discuss what we would talk about. I don't expect most of these radio hosts to read the whole book before the interview but I thought there would be some pre-show prep.

Basically what happened is that they recieve a one page pitch with a little background on the book and a few proposed questions. The station booked me with just two days notice.  The host (Glen Klein) glances at the pitch sheet and calls me a minute before we go on air; we chat for 30 seconds while a song is playing on his station and then we go live and the host just wings it. It was kind of impressive how smooth he was with near zero preparation.

As this process unfolds, it becomes more important that I have star ratings and reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. If people hear about the book in the media and go on Amazon to check it out - 99.9% of them will click away from it if they see that it doesn't have many ratings or reviews.

That is why it so important that my supporters here on Inkshares become the first group to post knowledgeable reviews. One of the keys to the book's success is for the reviewers to know or believe that the Donald Trump, Dan Brown, Governor Weld, Columbine Memorial etc. stories really are true stories that I fictionalized. That is what will make this book stand out and so far the people reviewing it on Goodreads don't really know about this aspect. It just went live on Amazon so almost no one has reviewed it there yet. 

You are the people who got this book published and I hope that you also become the ambassadors who will write the early reviews that give the backstory some credibility. I don't expect any strangers to take my word for anything, but they will give credence to your thoughts. And I can't claim to be  a so-called "Great Impostor" and then expect anyone to believe any claims to truth that I talk about. 

I would like to see ten Amazon reviews by the end of the weekend - who's up for that?

Here's the link to the PR material that relates the fiction to the real-life episodes.  

And once again, here are the links to the book's page on Amazon and Goodreads where reviews can be placed. A few kind words or a couple of sentences are fine. If anyone wishes to do a longer review that's great, but that's above and beyond what I'm asking for.


I still can't thank you good people enough for making this Journey possible for me! I will keep updating you on any developments so that you can continue to experience it with me.

Kindest regards,

Rich Saunders

G'day folks,

Found this article in today's West Australian... page 6 of the Today lift-out.

Hopefully, it will provide exposure, pique curiosities and boost sales! Yes, I'm still going for 750! Please help me! If each of you get one more reader, that's 2/3 of the way there... so, your partner/wife/husband/bf/gf, mum, dad, sister, brother, friend, work colleague, your local IGA check-out chicks/chooks, uni mates, lecturers, evil ex-girl/boyfriends... all you have to do is get them to:

1. Sign-up - wait ~10 minutes for the email confirmation;
   
2. Click the CLAIM CREDIT button;
3. Go back to the site and click PRE-ORDER my book for USD$5;

To assist, I have prepared the following comebacks for some of the most common responses:

1. "I don't read" - "don't need to, just wait for the movie."
   
2. "I don't read sci-fi" - "really? are you saying you don't have an imagination?"
3. "I hate sci-f"i - ... (quietly walk away from the crazy person, then run fast)
4. "I don't know, it's expensive" - (scornfully look at the takeaway coffee in their hands, then say) "seriously?"
5. (general display of apathy) - "look, it's the season of giving, and by pledging your support, you're helping an upcoming author tell his story and you get to be part of that journey! While he might not be the next J.K. Rowling or Andy Weir (actually, he just might), but your contribution today might just push him in the right direction."
6. "Sure, how do I do it?" - (don't freak out, calmly and purposefully get their email, and send them this link https://goo.gl/UJujLI) "Thank you so much! I'll let Vincent know, I'm sure he'll be stoked!" (or ask them to google "The Cora Chronicles")

So, what are you waiting for? :^)

Cheers.

Sincerely yours, Vincent

P/S: Merry Christmas!

Greetings all!

A few months back, I had announced the publication of a free short story prequel to Blood Dawn, called One Who Waits.  In this short story, we meet A'la, a boy in the Sun Priesthood whose father is about to kill him, and learn about how this experience leads to the events of Blood Dawn.

Today, I'd like to announce that One Who Waits is no longer available for download from the Noisetrade site where it was hosted -- I've now published it on Amazon and Smashwords, for the price of $2.99, the first of many such complementary titles that spin off from the main epic Blood Dawn and its sequels will form.

Click on the cover to buy it on Amazon:

Greetings wonderful people, 

For any of you who saw my earlier concept art I got some more for you. I posted a battle ready Aurora and a casual Ethan. Take a look and let me know what you think. 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/138300049868157/

I can't saw this enough but thank you all for your continuing support. And if you like what you've seen so far please remember to pre-order to help this crazy dream come true. If we make it to 35 copies ordered I'll post 2 more chapters. You be able to see the fallout of the last chapters dramatic conclusion and you will also become one of my favourite people in the whole of the verse.  

For those of you who already have pre-ordered, each and every one of you is a gentleman or woman and a scholar. Thank you so much. 

As promised, new blog post is up here.  This one is a long poem telling of the downfall of the sister world to Pentaz' own world.  Enjoy!