I did not mean to disinclude "The Astronaut Insruction Manual" by Mike Mongo in my last update...my apologies!!!

I still can’t believe it. I’m trying and failing to process the fact that I won the Space Opera contest. Incredible.

First and foremost, I want to acknowledge all of the other wonderful entries. I’m not going to be as bold as others have been to name favorites, but I want to summarize it all very simply:

EVERY BOOK IN THE CONTEST IS AMAZING. Take the time to peruse the entries. if there’s nothing that strikes your fancy, then you are entirely too picky and weird to be here...GO HOME!

Seriously...there are some incredible ideas out there, and I hope everyone puts all of their effort and love into taking them as far as they can. I know I have. I’ve had a few people email me directly to ask about the "secret to my success," and my answer is simply this:

Do you know anyone who doesn’t know you’re a writer? Do you know anyone who doesn’t know you have a book that could be published unless it doesn’t reach a certain number of pre-orders? 

If your answer is "no" to either question, then you aren’t doing enough. This is your life, your story, your career as an author. Nearly all of my neighbors and every single one of my wonderful friends on Facebook and Twitter bought a copy of my book. Why? Because I asked them very nicely and directly, and I am a good person and a good writer. I believe in myself, and I told everyone I possibly could that I do. Have you done that yet? If you haven’t, you should. 

That is all for now, as far as advice goes. I hope I didn’t come off as cocky; I only want the best for all of our stories, and that is seriously what has worked for me thus far.

Otherwise, my week has been exceptionally amazing in that I have also been invited to be a writer for Renderosity Magazine! Renderosity is a site that mostly focuses on computer-generated animation and art, but the magazine branches out and includes many subjects, including an article featuring yours truly. I will be starting an arts forum on their website, so look out for that...

Also worth noting is another amazing happenstance of this week in receiving a shipment of other Inkshares published books:

If you haven’t, then please go and get these works:

"An Unattractive Vampire" by Jim McDoniel

"The Life Engineered" by J.F. Dubeau

"Abomination" by Gary Whitta

"Asteroid Made Of Dragons" by G. Derek Adams

These books represent our future, and if they aren’t well received, then what should you expect? Get as many Inkshares published books as you can, and then please review them on Amazon and wherever they appear. Why? Because Inkshares is a label, and the more sales and the better reputation Inkshares gets, the better off everyone who gets published by them is!!! Do it! Got extra credits? Buy a book you’ll get in your own hands in a few days! 

Hey Everybody,

Just a quick update as publishing week continues.

The first of the two podcast interviews is up. Fellow Inkshares authors JF Dubeau and Paul Inman had me on their WriteBrain Podcast. Check it out there or on iTunes. 

Also for anyone in the Chicago area, it’s time to party! I will be at Bucket O Blood Books and Records (3182 N. Elston Ave) tonight starting at 7 PM for my official book launch celebration. So take a break from binge watching Daredevil and eat something. Also, if you know anyone who is in Chicago who doesn’t yet have my book, send them that direction. Bucket O Blood has a Bucket O Copies.

Remember to write those Amazon reviews!!! I can’t stress that enough. Amazon reviews are super important to advertising this little book by a first time author who no one has ever heard of. That’s how people will hear of me or more importantly my book (drinking game...take a drink every time I say book). So please, please PLEASE  place a review on Amazon when you are done reading. Or while reading. Or before reading. I’m not particular. Here I’ll even make it cut and paste easy for you:

I liked this book.

I didn’t like this book.

There. Feel free to post one of these amazing reviews on Amazon.

Before I go I wanted to congratulate the winners of the Nerdist Space Opera Contest Michael Haase, Christopher Leone, and Patrick Edwards. So yeah, those books will be coming down the line, but there are still lots of other worthy stories that didn’t win looking for funding. So continue to check Inkshares to help fill your bookshelves/e-reader space/heart.

Anyway, I have to go deliver more postcards to anyone who will let me (and maybe a few who just won’t notice)...as always thank you.