Campers!
It is update time! Thank you to everyone that has followed and ordered so far. To the new followers and readers - welcome to the show!
The Walls are Closing In has presold 448 copies as of this morning, leaving just 302 to go, and 89 days left of the campaign. My calculator informs me that this leaves 3-4 copies per day. Considering that we are only 2 1/2 months in from the original start date, I am optimistic! But, the work is far from over and spreading the word is still greatly appreciated.
Now that the book is taking off, if you would like to reconsider ordering a few more copies and getting your name(or the name of your organization/business) displayed in the back of the book, far be it from me to try and stop you! The following is the acknowledgment page from a recently published Inkshares book (Tears of the Assassin by William Schiele) so that you can see what that would look like:
Currently, I am spending about 3 hours per day spreading the word. I will be beyond thankful to take a much-needed break from twitter and facebook come June, before jumping back in and keeping everyone updated with the production process.
As promised, I have added an audio version of Chapter 1 to the book’s main page. Check it out if you want, or you know, just go back to what you were doing before I interrupted you with this email.
A few other upcoming perks:
April 13th - Winner of Dystopian Book Bundle announced. If you have not entered yet, you can enter here.
500 Orders - Design revealed for signed postcard, bookmark, or bookplate that will be mailed to all backers (regardless of e-book or paperback purchase) as soon as the campaign ends!
600 Orders - Audio Version of Chapter 2
700 Orders - Audio Version of Chapter 3
750 Orders - Campaign ends, winner of $250 Airbnb gift card announced, and then I collapse into a heap for a day or two.
On the actual book front - in my spare moments I am perfecting the backstory (a never ending process as the news shifts from day to day), but the rest of the manuscript (all but approximately 10 pages) is finely tuned to my liking and ready to hand over to Inkshares for developmental editing as soon as the campaign portion of the programming is complete. I am eager to start the process that will get this book in your hands, so keep in mind that the sooner 750 is met, the sooner the making of the book can begin!
Until next time!
-Jacqui
Yes !!!!
750 !!!!!!!!
We made it !!!!!
I wanted to sincerely thank each and every one of you for making it happen! Now it is going to be a real properly published book! For me, it has been an important a project of almost 5 years and it is hard to describe how happy and thankful I am!
The book is finished, so, hopefully, it will not take too long for Inkshares’ story editors, line editors, copy editors, designers and marketers to turn it into the final real deal. I will keep you updated.
Thank you very much again !
Hi everyone,
Now that the dust has settled on the first couple of weeks since pre-orders opened, I’ve been turning my attention to trying to drive more traffic to the story page for Rule Britannia. I know I’m treading a well-worn path that a lot of you have taken before me, so I’ve been poking around your updates, social media, forum posts etc to see what has been tried, tested, failed and succeeded at.
I’ve spent my time over the last week or so working on my online presence. In addition to launching the Facebook fan page for Rule Britannia, I’ve registered a domain name with the intent of setting up an author page (stay tuned). I’ve been trying to get to grips with Twitter, and through Fiverr.com found a consultant who set-up a social media schedule for me to get my head around what to post when, and to where.
All this, and like most of the rest of you, working full-time. Roll on Easter.
Here’s my pick of the week(ish).
Everything is Normal: The Life and Times of a Soviet Kid By Sergey Grechishkin
"One eventful middle-class childhood behind the Iron Curtain in Soviet Leningrad. A mix of a fun memoir and social history of the years preceding the collapse of the USSR."
I said in my review of this book that history is written by social historians like Sergey, the sample chapters (which I enjoyed so much I stopped reading because I didn’t want spoilers for the full book), are engaging and full of the little details that pull you into a story and keep you reading. Sergey’s book has nabbed three syndicate picks, including the coveted Staff Syndicate, and as of today, is tantalisingly close to 750 - just 52 more pre-orders needed.
’till next time,
Helen.
Welcome to new followers, and greetings to those who have faithfully stuck with me for awhile. I have some glorious news! 384 copies of The Walls are Closing In have been presold, which slides us over the 50% mark! This leaves 366 copies to go!
I am working on an audio version of Chapter 1 to be released once the 400 order target is met - likely sometime in the next week.
That is not all on the exciting news front! In addition to the dystopian book bundle giveaway that I am running to help spread the word, I have also decided to offer a raffle specifically for those who place a preorder. I will be raffling off a $250 gift card for Airbnb as soon as the 750 order mark is met. Everyone who has already ordered has automatically been entered! 
So, for $10, folks can support an emerging author, and enter for the chance to win a $250 Airbnb gift card. Please tell your family, friends, and random strangers you pass on the street.
In the meantime, check out these other great books currently on Inkshares.
Everything is Normal: The Life and Times of a Soviet Kid
One eventful middle-class childhood behind the Iron Curtain in Soviet Leningrad. A mix of a fun memoir and social history of the years preceding the collapse of the USSR.
A female airship Captain and her crew work to prevent a despotic Queen Victoria expanding her empire.
