Dear readers,

I want to announce an exciting opportunity for you all!

Starting today, I am launching the 100 for $100 contest.

Here is how it works:

The names for everyone who orders the next 100 copies of Blood Dawn will be entered in a draw for a $100 amazon gift card (US funds). You can order more than one copy if you choose -- your name will be entered once for every copy you pre-order. As soon as I hit 204 copies (100 pre-orders from the 104 where I'm sitting now), I will print out all the names that go with the pre-orders, and I'll put them in a blue wizard's cap and draw out the name of the lucky winner.

If you've followed Blood Dawn but haven't backed it yet, this is the perfect time to jump in.

You can back the project in two ways:

• Become a SUN PRIEST by ordering 1 copy, and get your name entered once in the contest
  
• Become a GOD-KING by ordering 3 copies, and get your name entered 3 times in the contest
  
• For those of you who are already SUN PRIESTS, this is a great time to become a GOD-KING! You'll get your name entered 3 times, and you'll have some extra copies of Blood Dawn to pass out to your  friends (as well as having your name printed in the back)
  
• For those of you who are already GOD-KINGS, there's never such thing as too much power (even if it means, like Azzadul, you might be struck down with a blood-consuming curse -- hey, at least you'll have that gift card). You can order as many copies as you'd like to (that is true for SUN PRIESTS and those still aspiring toward the priesthood). Just head on over to
  https://www.inkshares.com/projects/blood-dawn and you'll see the option to order multiple copies under the header "GOD-KING"
  

Want to listen to the opening chapter, or read it, before you decide?  Here's a link. You can click on the reading by Paul Inman at the top of the chapter:

https://www.inkshares.com/projects/blood-dawn/book_segments/opening

So, it begin! Initiates, time to aspire to the priesthood, priests, aspire to godhood, god-kings, reach far, far, if you dare...

I'm pleased to share with you all an audio recording of the opening chapter of Blood Dawn, read by Inkshares' own Paul Inman -- Sword and Laser Contest winner and author of Ageless.

Paul surprised me this morning with an email linking me to his recording, which he told me he had a lot of fun making, and he even went to the extra effort of creating a YouTube page for the reading so that I could share it.

You can listen to it here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Fpb70AkLFk

Paul did a fantastic job! I have read my writing aloud, but there is something surreal about hearing someone else read it. I hope you all enjoy it and please click like if you do, and leave a comment if you feel so inclined.

For those of you not familiar with Paul's work, go on and check it out. Paul's book Ageless is now in production. Here's a bit about it:

(Click the cover to go on over to Paul's Inkshares page)

s

Alessandra has spent her extraordinarily long life in hiding because she is unlike anyone else. She has a secret that could change the world. Buried somewhere in her genetic code is the key to extended life, possibly immortality.

After being experimented on by as a child, Aless will do whatever it takes to keep herself hidden from Special Agent Mark Richards of the CIA; a man anxious for retribution after the murder of a loved one.

With eight decades of basically being alone and on the run, can she come to trust Grey Chapman, a new ally, or has she finally grown tired of running?

If you could live forever, would it be worth it?

Ageless, the debut novel by Paul Inman, is a science fiction thrill ride, filmic in nature, that takes you on a tragic, nonlinear journey across the past, present, and future.

I am excited to read Ageless! I've ordered my copy. If you're wanting to get on board, then here's the link:

https://www.inkshares.com/projects/ageless

Paul is also writing another book called Motor City Chronicles, about the struggles of a 17-year-old orphan in nuclear-war-torn 2030 -- an orphan who holds an ancient secret that might restore balance to the wounded Earth.

Check out our here:

s

I had real cause to celebrate today!

We hit 100 pre-orders! Thank you so much to those who stepped up in the last few days in response to my request to help us reach this important milestone. Now onto the next one -- more coming soon about the fun I have in mind for us to reach that.

Watching the pre-orders creep up to 100 was exciting for me today. Sunday is usually the day when I write my 15 pages for Blood Dawn. I began writing today with Blood Dawn sitting at 96 pre-orders, so I thought I'd stir up some coals and ask on my social media channels for 4 people to help.

Half of my writing day was spent in one of my favorite Starbucks here in Winnipeg. I completed a Lantis chapter, one that nearly had me in tears. Darn, why does storytelling make me so emotional? I've guess it's because I've walked with these characters for a year, so now that they are going through their dark moments, I really feel their pain. Well, I did my writing then went home for dinner -- and I was so pleased to see I had two pre-orders!

I only had a bit more to write, so I hauled my butt off to a Tim Hortons. This was a Jane chapter. Jane, Rena's adoptive mother, is a lot of fun to write. Think of her like a sort of posh, conniving incarnation of Hallmark's Francine. I didn't think the Jane chapter would be more than 4-6 pages, but I was wrong. I also didn't think it would be hilarious -- and I was wrong about that too. I had a hard time restraining my laughter as I wrote my way to the end of her chapter.

It was nearly midnight, and I hit 23 manuscript pages for the day. This one is a record! But if that wasn't enough, I checked my email and saw ... pre-order #100!

I really don't know what to say, so I'll hand it over to Wilson again.

Thanks, folks! You all rock!

Guess what? We've crossed the 2% mark for Blood Dawn's funding goal!

Now I'm reaching out to you with a challenge to help us double this. Here's what you can do:

Think of three friends who might be interested in backing Blood Dawn and forward them this email. If you can think of more, great! If you can only think of one, then that's great too.

For those who might be reading this forwarded email, please visit http://www.inkshares.com/projects/blood-dawn and check out the 2 minute trailer for my epic fantasy novel, Blood Dawn. If it interests you, you'll find out more there about this project and the awesome publishing company Inkshares, and why we're reaching out to you for help.

I'm very passionate about this project and the possibility of bringing Rena's story to life through Inkshares. The success of this project will be determined by how many readers back this project through pre-ordering a copy, so the support of each and every one of you means so much to me.

This is also a great time to be spreading the word about Blood Dawn. The Nerdist Collection Contest is running until September 30th, and Blood Dawn is in! The five science fiction and fantasy titles with the most unique pre-orders during the contest time will be published. So let's work hard to spread the word together. I can't do this without you, so thanks to everyone who is willing to step up and help.

All the best,

John Robin