(Long post, Wall-o’-text incoming)
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[It’s important to note that this takes a bit of time to write and all numbers and placements are based on where everyone is when I write this. It may be different now but it should be close.]
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You can view last weeks here: The Story So Far Part 12
I just want to point everyone’s attention to Drinkshares one more time before I stop doing these little weekly posts for this contest. If you’re pushing for some last minute preorders, you will want to check out the Crowdfunding episodes that I previously linked way back(It scared me how far back Part 8 was…) in The Story So Far Part 8. I’m also going to link the latest episode that is about what to do next once your campaign has succeeded(or failed, technically) - since a lot of these campaigns are reaching quill and nearing completion, it may be a good time to check out what to do next. Even if you don’t fall into this category, I highly recommend checking these videos out anyway as they are really entertaining and fun! Plus they’re doing a Halloween episode next(tomorrow!) and they’re going to be in costume - should be a fun time!
Drinkshares: Crowdfunding 101
Drinkshares: Crowdfunding 102
Drinkshares: Now What?
(The Fantastical Authors of Drinkshares and Where to Find Them: @C. Brennecke , @A.C. Weston , @Joseph Terzieva , @Rebekka S. Leber )
Welcome back to The Story So Far, my name is @Joey Angotti and I’ll be your guide for this evening! Here we are! The final edition of The Story So Far before the Geek and Sundry Fantasy Contest comes to a close. It has been quite a journey for the Inksharians involved in this contest and quite the journey for me as well as I tracked their stories. I read probably close to 100 chapters all together and over analyzed a lot of paragraphs and characters to provide these each week and I don’t regret a single minute of it! It really was a blast getting to take a step back and watch these campaigns unfold. There were some shocking moments, some stellar late additions and some really close weeks that could *still* potentially change within the next 24 hours. I have a lot to say today so I’m going to cut this opening blurb short - but I do want to take a quick moment to thank everyone who has been reading and enjoying these as much as I’ve enjoyed writing them! Thank you!
Honorable Mentions:
Some stories were in and out of the Top 10 and over the last 12 editions of The Story So Far, I got the chance to write about them, read them and form my own opinions and relationships with the characters. I want to take this time to list those who were in the Top 10 at one point and in one of these write-ups that have now fallen out of the Top 10. Some of these campaigns will continue even after the contest ends and these authors are still fighting to reach quill. Please view their book pages and show them some love as they continue to try to make their dreams come true! Let’s help them!
Seven Days a Servant by @Trick Dempsey
Exile, Magus by @Thomas J. Arnold
Flames in the Dark by @Tara Roquemore
A Beast Requires by @Jay Lockwood
Chronicles of An Domhan by @Conri
Arcadia by @André Brun
Her Latent Charm: Book 1 in the Bridge Series by @Dana Brentson
Leaf Falling by @Michael Slusser
10. The Delicate Art of Soulripping by @Sara (131 Readers / Last Week’s Rank: 9th)
"The Delicate Art of Soul Ripping by Sara Polk is one of the most fascinating stories in the top 10. The main focus is on a character named Oz who has been in the Soulripping business for 800 years ever since he died of the Black Plague - he does the job without questioning much about it(mostly due to fear of the ones who ultimately claim the souls - the Reapers) He follows his usual suspects throughout the week, often partaking in their activities(like watching their favorite TV shows) without them even knowing that he’s there. Suddenly, the Reapers begin acting strangely - even interfering with his ripping, which can permanently damage a soul - and he even makes eye contact with one of the living people he’s been following!"
The above paragraph is the first thing I wrote about The Delicate Art of Soulripping 3 months(!) ago. Time has certainly flown by and it’s important to realize that this story has lasted in the Top 10 throughout the entire contest. Unfortunately it has fallen to 10th place here at the very end, but it’s still one of the most interesting titles here. With Halloween coming up tomorrow, now would be a great time to dive into Ms. Polk’s work and find out what this story is all about. It is dark, it has some scary undertones and it’s written in a fashion that is both new and exhilarating. I highly recommend reading the sample chapters provided and experiencing it for yourself.
9. The Living God by @Kaytalin Platt (159 Readers / Last Week’s Rank: 7th)
"The Living God by Kaytalin Platt follows two mages(Saran and Keleir) who dwell upon “The First,” a medieval-fantasy style world of magic which is one of three universes accessible through portals called “Gates.” As a writer of medieval fantasy worlds myself, this story really stands out to me as something that I would choose off a bookshelf or download as an e-book."
Above is the first time I wrote about Ms. Platt’s work, The Living God. My opinion remains the same about the story, but I never imagined that I would grow so attached to the person behind the words! Ms. Platt is an absolutely amazing person and it is a delight to simply share the same community of writers with her. Reading her comments section and book page is enough to convince you that she is one of the nicest people on the planet and she has spent majority of her life putting other people’s dreams and goals before her own. In her most recent update, she explains how it was finally time to try to live out one of her own dreams and she most certainly deserves it! So without further ado, I would like to take the time to congratulate Ms. Platt on living out one of those dreams. That’s right! The Living God has reached quill, currently sitting at 254 preorders! I can’t be more happy for anyone on the planet than I am for Ms. Platt! Way to go!!
8. Witherfist by @J. Graham-Jones (159 Readers / Last Week’s Rank: 8th)
Witherfist by J. Graham-Jones continues to punch its way up the Top 10 Ranks, unfortunately time is running out on the contest but time is certainly not running out on Ms. Graham-Jones campaign. Now is the time to invest in an amazing fantasy story that is similar in style to Game of Thrones. Bouncing between character perspectives and conjuring up a twisting tale - Witherfist is a thrilling experience so far from what has been provided on the book page. Seeing as there are still 62 days left in the campaign, this is a story you will want to keep an eye on over the course of the next few months. On top of my own praise and just to follow up, Witherfist has been receiving some high praise throughout the community in the form of reviews. I think @Ben Thomas said it best with his:
“J. Graham-Jones escapes the old standbys of Eurocentric fantasy fiction, instead drawing influences from further East for these interweaving stories of dragon-caravans, imperial bazaars, and serene temples. Amidst detailed, evocative scenery, rhythmic prose sings of desert battles, secret names, and destinies written in the stars. This book deserves a place on any bookshop’s "Recommended" table.”
Well put! Check out Witherfist now and see what all the hype is about! Let’s get Ms. Graham-Jones to quill before her campaign ends!
7. Sorcery for Beginners by @Matt Harry (166 Readers / Last Week’s Rank: 10th)
Sorcery for Beginners by Matt Harry continues to make a big splash in the Top 10! Going up over 50 unique readers and climbing up to 7th place is no easy feat this late in the contest but Mr. Harry has seemingly done it with little trouble. I mentioned last week that this could be a late addition with the potential to shake up the near-decided already Top 3 but I’m afraid time might run out on the contest before we get to see anything dramatic like that happen. Luckily for Mr. Harry the end of the contest doesn’t spell the end of his campaign. Having over 60 days left in said campaign ensures that if Mr. Harry continues at this pace that Sorcery for Beginners will easily hit quill and possibly even full publishing by the time all is said and done.
If you’re wondering if you should contribute to the success of this novel, you should definitely go on over to his book page and give it a look. I particularly enjoyed the “About the Format” section, where Mr. Harry goes into detail about the style of the book. It’s intended to be read in the same fashion you would read one of those “For Dummies” books and even provides references and images on some of the pages to spice things up. It’s a fascinating take on the fantasy genre we are all already so invested in and I think it is that uniqueness that will drive this book to quill and beyond!
6. The Last Faoii by @Tahani Nelson (214 Readers / Last Week’s Rank: 5th)
The Last Faoii by Tahani Nelson follows Kaiya, a warrior known as a Faoii, as she fights to protect and save the last remnants of her family and heritage. I’ve often spoke of the amazing campaign that Ms. Nelson has run throughout the contest. She’s already reached quill, done interviews and throughout the campaign has provided some amazing artwork and videos. Her updates come in the way of how the warriors in the universe she has created would rally up their troops and it’s really exciting to be a part of. Lately, to add to the awesomeness of her campaign, she has been providing audio for chapters(3 posted so far on her book page) and it has really added another dynamic to an already fun campaign. I highly recommend going to her book page and getting involved. Now that quill is already set in stone, we’re getting this story and it’s way more fun to be a part of something as it comes into being than it is to jump on the bandwagon a month or two from now. I don’t know about you all, but I’m looking forward to being very hipster about this one. “I was writing about The Last Faoii before it was cool.” (Just kidding, it was always cool!)
Check it out!
5. A Light in the Void by @J. S. Chlapowski (226 Readers / Last Week’s Rank 6th)
A Light in the Void by J.S. Chlapowski has been one of the strongest entries into this contest. Having pushed its way into the Top 5, Mr. Chlapowski continues to gain the support from those around him and rise with each day. Though he may fall short of reaching the Top 3(not impossible though! Especially not with how fast the readers and preorders are coming in!) he has already reached quill which is an amazing accomplishment! A big time congratulations to him for this milestone and achievement! Do yourself a favor and head on over to his book page and read the comments section. Mr. Chlapowski was a bit quiet up until recently but it was worth the wait. He’s posted some great updates recently and it’s enough to sway you to lend him your support. Check it out when you get the chance and see what I mean, while you’re there be sure to check out the excerpts that Mr. Chlapowski has provided and you’ll get a taste of what his writing style is like!
4. The Fairy Stepmother, Inc. by @Maggie Hoyt (238 Readers / Last Week’s Rank: 4th)
“The 10th place spot is often one of the most entertaining as 7DAS(Hope it’s ok I abbreviate it my own way!) just recently pushed into 10th with 20 readers. Honorable mentions to Morose(a comedy) by Jim McDoniel and The Fairy Stepmother Inc. by Maggie Hoyt who both held that spot numerous times throughout the first week and are hot on Mr. Dempsey’s trail.”
Above is a paragraph talking about the 10th spot in the Top 10 on the very first edition of The Story So Far. You may be wondering the importance of that paragraph but Ms. Hoyt and her book The Fairy Stepmother, Inc. were in and out of the Top 10 during the first week of the contest but did not hold the 10th spot when I did my first write up for the contest. The week that followed found Ms. Hoyt in the 9th spot in the Top 10 and then she never looked back. The week after that she was in 8th, then she jumped up to 5th place. It wasn’t until the 5th edition of The Story So Far that Ms. Hoyt solidified her current 4th place standing. She remained here throughout the entire contest and has run one of the most interesting campaigns. Literally on the doorstep of the Top 3, catching Storm Song is no easy task but she’s still not out of the race yet. @Rick Heinz wrote an article about the underdogs in this contest, but none wore the mantle better than Ms. Hoyt early on in this contest. She’s now no longer even in contention for the idea of being an underdog as she’s run a fantastic campaign with videos(If you haven’t seen the video where she dressed up, you’re missing out!), amazing author comments and sample chapters.
This is one campaign worth checking out and reliving through these forum posts and her comments and definitely one to consider backing in the final stretch!
3. Storm Song by @Allison Griner (310 Readers / Last Week’s Rank: 3rd)
We’ve come a long way since I used to misspell Allison with one “L” instead of two. That’s how I’ll always remember the start of this campaign because it bothered me the first few times I went back in to edit this thing, lol. My typos aside, Storm Song by Allison Griner has been one of the most dominant books in this entire contest. The development of this book from Dungeons and Dragons campaign all the way to quill right here on Inkshares is an intriguing story in and of itself, but the journey of Thoster Chatwyn in the land of Elysia is not one to be missed. Just from reading the sample chapters alone, you immediately feel the connection with Thoster and his written charm through the outstanding word manipulation of Ms. Griner makes you want to know Thoster in real life. If Storm Song can manage to hold the 3rd place spot, Ms. Griner will receive all of the publishing assistance she needs to make Storm Song the best she possibly can. At the end of the day, we’re all winners if that comes to pass as I believe we’re all awaiting the release of this story by now.
If you have yet to go to her book page and see why I get so excited talking about this book, then I strongly suggest you do so. I also highly recommend reading the sample chapters provided as well as the comments section! I’d also like to take a quick moment to congratulate Ms. Griner on reaching 300 unique readers! That’s a huge milestone!
2. The Slave Prince by @Jeyna Grace (312 Readers / Last Week’s Rank: 2nd)
If I may piggy back on my own statements from a moment ago - The Slave Prince by Jeyna Grace has ALSO reached 300 unique readers! A big congratulations to her and her campaign on this amazing milestone! I’d also like to once again point out Ms. Grace’s comment section. I know I sound like a broken record as I think I’ve mentioned it in literally every single one of these but it is important that you check that section out for yourselves. It is easily some of the most inspiring and uplifting stuff on this entire website. I’ll definitely be reaching out to Ms. Grace to see if she has a blog(or push her to write one) because I need more of those posts in my life!
Enough about me and my wants, though! The Slave Prince has been an intricate part of this contest for a long time. It is the very first, first place title I have ever written about in The Story So Far and despite a potential 2nd or 3rd place finish, nothing will ever change that. If I continue to carry this on through the next Inkshares contests to follow, it will always hold a special place as that first first place book I wrote about. It has stayed in the Top 3 throughout the entire contest and has left an impact on readers and aspiring authors alike. Ms. Grace knows how to run a campaign but she also knows how to weave a very interesting story with extremely high stakes. Thom and his journey are something I’m very much so looking forward to reading about a few months from now and it’s something you should consider investing in now before the contest ends to fully experience the journey as well.
1. Sparked by @Lena (Helena and Malena) (475 Readers / Last Week’s Rank: 1st)
Sparked by Helena Echlin and Malena Watrous. This is it, the last write up for The Story So Far. We end with a 1st place title that needs no introduction at this point. Sparked came out like a bat out of hell on September 1st, 2016 when it entered the Geek and Sundry contest and has been unstoppable ever since. This is the part where I throw numbers at you, so brace yourself.
475 Unique Readers - Not to take anything away from Storm Song and The Slave Prince, but those two titles that have the 3rd and 2nd places, respectively, are just now celebrating their milestone victories of 300 unique readers. That’s something that Sparked accomplished *SEVEN* weeks ago!
740 Preorders - To receive full publishing perks from Inkshares without finishing in the Top 3 of a contest, you must reach 750 preorders. With technically a month left in their campaign, Ms. Echlin and Ms. Watrous only need *10* more preorders to reach 750 preorders. Even if they don’t receive those 10 before the contest ends(they’re finishing in first place anyway but still) they would have easily hit 750 preorders before the actual campaign time ends.
8 weeks in 1st place - I was in between editions of The Story So Far when Sparked entered the fray and by the time the next one released, Sparked was already in first place. Since the moment it entered the contest it has remained in the 1st place spot on The Story So Far and held that place for 8 weeks straight.
I can not say enough good things about Sparked and Ms. Echlin and Ms. Watrous - but with this being the last edition of The Story So Far for this particular contest, I will say that these two absolutely deserve their accomplishments. Having spoken to both of them outside the constraints of this forum post, I can say that both are very passionate about writing in general. Not just their own writing, but helping people improve and succeed with their own writing as well. These two are positive components to the writing community and have deserved every bit of success that they have received along the way. Congratulations to you both on your accomplishments and I can’t wait to see where Sparked takes you in the future!
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Repost from last week: I’d like to say amazing job to all of the entries, even if you didn’t make it into any of The Story So Far editions or into the Top 10 - putting your work out there and entering a contest of this magnitude takes a lot of courage and whether you ran an amazing campaign or not, you’ve accomplished something here and you’ve gotten a taste of what it’s like and sometimes experience like that can go a long way in this wild world we live in. Don’t take defeat the wrong way - honestly, don’t even look at it as defeat. You put your best foot forward and gave it a try, the next time you take a swing at something like this, you’ll be better prepared mentally and physically and you’ll know exactly what it entails. That’s nothing to be ashamed of. Nothing to be disappointed about. Don’t stop writing, hone your craft and make sure that the next time you give this a go you’re providing the best content you can.
This world can be tough to navigate, it can take its toll on you - but that’s what’s so amazing about the Fantasy genre, right? We can escape this rough world we live in. It’s why we CREATE our own. Now write that scene you’ve been stuck on, finish those edits you’ve been “too busy” playing Overwatch to finish(this one might hit too close to home - oops!), get out there and get ready to invite us to your world that YOU created! Because, damn it (wo)man, we want to go there! Gonna take my inspirational cap off now, I’ll see you ladies and gents next week in some shape, form or capacity. Until then, I’m Joey Angotti - this has been The Story, YOUR story, So Far. Good luck and God bless!
(I’m hoping to do this with the next contest and the contests that follow as well, so if anyone has any more feedback or ideas to spice this up a bit for the next go(or the last two weeks), I’m all ears. Feel free to message me on here or reach out on Twitter(@SoldiersCrest). I’m also hoping to do a final wrap-up of the contest when it’s all said and done that will most likely just include the winners since it might be difficult to get a concrete final Top 10 once the main page of the contest updates.)
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*I’m not sure people who aren’t tagged are even reading this or slightly interested. Also, people not using the forums enough could not be seeing this as well. Any and all extra exposure of this forum post would be appreciated!(It’s a lot of work to not be seen by more people on the site!) - A mention on your books page or more comments could keep this afloat and make sure more people see this post - therefore more exposure and good things for your entry! Plus it might get more people involved on the forums which is good for Inkshares as a whole, imo.*
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Shameless Plug: First, I want to say that I’ve finally reached 30 reviews on Amazon for my book “A Soldier’s Crest!” It’s a huge milestone of my own that I’ve been striving for and it’s nice to have accomplished a little something of my own as this contest I’ve been tracking comes to a close. I don’t know if 30 reviews will translate into more exposure like I’ve been told it can, but it’s a big accomplishment that I’m proud of regardless.
I plan on returning to doing these for the next big contest here on Inkshares, but if you’re interested in helping me out in any way, you can do so by either leaving a positive review on A Soldier’s Crest on Amazon or purchasing an E-Book version of A Soldier’s Crest on Amazon to help me drive up my author/book rank.
Thanks to everyone that has written a review or supported, you’re all amazing and fantastic. Even if you didn’t leave a review or support - you’re still cool. Much love!
My Book on Amazon: A Soldier’s Crest
If you’re all interested in keeping in touch outside of Inkshares(I check my DMs on here every day but still), you can find me on just about every form of Social Media:
Twitter: SoldiersCrest
Instagram: SoldiersCrest
Facebook: A Soldier’s Crest Book Page
If you’re interested in reaching out to me through Email, you can private message me on here or any of the above social media platforms for further information.
Lastly I want to thank Inkshares for making this site and giving aspiring authors like us a chance to share our stories. I also want to thank all the Inksharians, especially those in the Top 10, for giving me some interesting stories to read and write about.
Cheers!
-J.A.
(I post it first then add the links after, so if you click on it right away you may not see the links. Just know that they’re gonna be added in an edit right after! Thanks for your patience and sorry for the inconvenience!)
EDIT1: Added main links, still need to add the honorable mentions.
EDIT2: Links for Honorable mentions added. Let me know if any mistakes!
(Long post, Wall-o’-text incoming)
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[It’s important to note that this takes a bit of time to write and all numbers and placements are based on where everyone is when I write this. It may be different now but it should be close.]
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You can view last weeks here: The Story So Far Part 12
I just want to point everyone’s attention to Drinkshares one more time before I stop doing these little weekly posts for this contest. If you’re pushing for some last minute preorders, you will want to check out the Crowdfunding episodes that I previously linked way back(It scared me how far back Part 8 was…) in The Story So Far Part 8. I’m also going to link the latest episode that is about what to do next once your campaign has succeeded(or failed, technically) - since a lot of these campaigns are reaching quill and nearing completion, it may be a good time to check out what to do next. Even if you don’t fall into this category, I highly recommend checking these videos out anyway as they are really entertaining and fun! Plus they’re doing a Halloween episode next(tomorrow!) and they’re going to be in costume - should be a fun time!
Drinkshares: Crowdfunding 101
Drinkshares: Crowdfunding 102
Drinkshares: Now What?
(The Fantastical Authors of Drinkshares and Where to Find Them: @C. Brennecke , @A.C. Weston , @Joseph Terzieva , @Rebekka S. Leber )
Welcome back to The Story So Far, my name is @Joey Angotti and I’ll be your guide for this evening! Here we are! The final edition of The Story So Far before the Geek and Sundry Fantasy Contest comes to a close. It has been quite a journey for the Inksharians involved in this contest and quite the journey for me as well as I tracked their stories. I read probably close to 100 chapters all together and over analyzed a lot of paragraphs and characters to provide these each week and I don’t regret a single minute of it! It really was a blast getting to take a step back and watch these campaigns unfold. There were some shocking moments, some stellar late additions and some really close weeks that could *still* potentially change within the next 24 hours. I have a lot to say today so I’m going to cut this opening blurb short - but I do want to take a quick moment to thank everyone who has been reading and enjoying these as much as I’ve enjoyed writing them! Thank you!
Honorable Mentions:
Some stories were in and out of the Top 10 and over the last 12 editions of The Story So Far, I got the chance to write about them, read them and form my own opinions and relationships with the characters. I want to take this time to list those who were in the Top 10 at one point and in one of these write-ups that have now fallen out of the Top 10. Some of these campaigns will continue even after the contest ends and these authors are still fighting to reach quill. Please view their book pages and show them some love as they continue to try to make their dreams come true! Let’s help them!
Seven Days a Servant by @Trick Dempsey
Exile, Magus by @Thomas J. Arnold
Flames in the Dark by @Tara Roquemore
A Beast Requires by @Jay Lockwood
Chronicles of An Domhan by @Conri
Arcadia by @André Brun
Her Latent Charm: Book 1 in the Bridge Series by @Dana Brentson
Leaf Falling by @Michael Slusser
10. The Delicate Art of Soulripping by @Sara (131 Readers / Last Week’s Rank: 9th)
"The Delicate Art of Soul Ripping by Sara Polk is one of the most fascinating stories in the top 10. The main focus is on a character named Oz who has been in the Soulripping business for 800 years ever since he died of the Black Plague - he does the job without questioning much about it(mostly due to fear of the ones who ultimately claim the souls - the Reapers) He follows his usual suspects throughout the week, often partaking in their activities(like watching their favorite TV shows) without them even knowing that he’s there. Suddenly, the Reapers begin acting strangely - even interfering with his ripping, which can permanently damage a soul - and he even makes eye contact with one of the living people he’s been following!"
The above paragraph is the first thing I wrote about The Delicate Art of Soulripping 3 months(!) ago. Time has certainly flown by and it’s important to realize that this story has lasted in the Top 10 throughout the entire contest. Unfortunately it has fallen to 10th place here at the very end, but it’s still one of the most interesting titles here. With Halloween coming up tomorrow, now would be a great time to dive into Ms. Polk’s work and find out what this story is all about. It is dark, it has some scary undertones and it’s written in a fashion that is both new and exhilarating. I highly recommend reading the sample chapters provided and experiencing it for yourself.
9. The Living God by @Kaytalin Platt (159 Readers / Last Week’s Rank: 7th)
"The Living God by Kaytalin Platt follows two mages(Saran and Keleir) who dwell upon “The First,” a medieval-fantasy style world of magic which is one of three universes accessible through portals called “Gates.” As a writer of medieval fantasy worlds myself, this story really stands out to me as something that I would choose off a bookshelf or download as an e-book."
Above is the first time I wrote about Ms. Platt’s work, The Living God. My opinion remains the same about the story, but I never imagined that I would grow so attached to the person behind the words! Ms. Platt is an absolutely amazing person and it is a delight to simply share the same community of writers with her. Reading her comments section and book page is enough to convince you that she is one of the nicest people on the planet and she has spent majority of her life putting other people’s dreams and goals before her own. In her most recent update, she explains how it was finally time to try to live out one of her own dreams and she most certainly deserves it! So without further ado, I would like to take the time to congratulate Ms. Platt on living out one of those dreams. That’s right! The Living God has reached quill, currently sitting at 254 preorders! I can’t be more happy for anyone on the planet than I am for Ms. Platt! Way to go!!
8. Witherfist by @J. Graham-Jones (159 Readers / Last Week’s Rank: 8th)
Witherfist by J. Graham-Jones continues to punch its way up the Top 10 Ranks, unfortunately time is running out on the contest but time is certainly not running out on Ms. Graham-Jones campaign. Now is the time to invest in an amazing fantasy story that is similar in style to Game of Thrones. Bouncing between character perspectives and conjuring up a twisting tale - Witherfist is a thrilling experience so far from what has been provided on the book page. Seeing as there are still 62 days left in the campaign, this is a story you will want to keep an eye on over the course of the next few months. On top of my own praise and just to follow up, Witherfist has been receiving some high praise throughout the community in the form of reviews. I think @Ben Thomas said it best with his:
“J. Graham-Jones escapes the old standbys of Eurocentric fantasy fiction, instead drawing influences from further East for these interweaving stories of dragon-caravans, imperial bazaars, and serene temples. Amidst detailed, evocative scenery, rhythmic prose sings of desert battles, secret names, and destinies written in the stars. This book deserves a place on any bookshop’s "Recommended" table.”
Well put! Check out Witherfist now and see what all the hype is about! Let’s get Ms. Graham-Jones to quill before her campaign ends!
7. Sorcery for Beginners by @Matt Harry (166 Readers / Last Week’s Rank: 10th)
Sorcery for Beginners by Matt Harry continues to make a big splash in the Top 10! Going up over 50 unique readers and climbing up to 7th place is no easy feat this late in the contest but Mr. Harry has seemingly done it with little trouble. I mentioned last week that this could be a late addition with the potential to shake up the near-decided already Top 3 but I’m afraid time might run out on the contest before we get to see anything dramatic like that happen. Luckily for Mr. Harry the end of the contest doesn’t spell the end of his campaign. Having over 60 days left in said campaign ensures that if Mr. Harry continues at this pace that Sorcery for Beginners will easily hit quill and possibly even full publishing by the time all is said and done.
If you’re wondering if you should contribute to the success of this novel, you should definitely go on over to his book page and give it a look. I particularly enjoyed the “About the Format” section, where Mr. Harry goes into detail about the style of the book. It’s intended to be read in the same fashion you would read one of those “For Dummies” books and even provides references and images on some of the pages to spice things up. It’s a fascinating take on the fantasy genre we are all already so invested in and I think it is that uniqueness that will drive this book to quill and beyond!
6. The Last Faoii by @Tahani Nelson (214 Readers / Last Week’s Rank: 5th)
The Last Faoii by Tahani Nelson follows Kaiya, a warrior known as a Faoii, as she fights to protect and save the last remnants of her family and heritage. I’ve often spoke of the amazing campaign that Ms. Nelson has run throughout the contest. She’s already reached quill, done interviews and throughout the campaign has provided some amazing artwork and videos. Her updates come in the way of how the warriors in the universe she has created would rally up their troops and it’s really exciting to be a part of. Lately, to add to the awesomeness of her campaign, she has been providing audio for chapters(3 posted so far on her book page) and it has really added another dynamic to an already fun campaign. I highly recommend going to her book page and getting involved. Now that quill is already set in stone, we’re getting this story and it’s way more fun to be a part of something as it comes into being than it is to jump on the bandwagon a month or two from now. I don’t know about you all, but I’m looking forward to being very hipster about this one. “I was writing about The Last Faoii before it was cool.” (Just kidding, it was always cool!)
Check it out!
5. A Light in the Void by @J. S. Chlapowski (226 Readers / Last Week’s Rank 6th)
A Light in the Void by J.S. Chlapowski has been one of the strongest entries into this contest. Having pushed its way into the Top 5, Mr. Chlapowski continues to gain the support from those around him and rise with each day. Though he may fall short of reaching the Top 3(not impossible though! Especially not with how fast the readers and preorders are coming in!) he has already reached quill which is an amazing accomplishment! A big time congratulations to him for this milestone and achievement! Do yourself a favor and head on over to his book page and read the comments section. Mr. Chlapowski was a bit quiet up until recently but it was worth the wait. He’s posted some great updates recently and it’s enough to sway you to lend him your support. Check it out when you get the chance and see what I mean, while you’re there be sure to check out the excerpts that Mr. Chlapowski has provided and you’ll get a taste of what his writing style is like!
4. The Fairy Stepmother, Inc. by @Maggie Hoyt (238 Readers / Last Week’s Rank: 4th)
“The 10th place spot is often one of the most entertaining as 7DAS(Hope it’s ok I abbreviate it my own way!) just recently pushed into 10th with 20 readers. Honorable mentions to Morose(a comedy) by Jim McDoniel and The Fairy Stepmother Inc. by Maggie Hoyt who both held that spot numerous times throughout the first week and are hot on Mr. Dempsey’s trail.”
Above is a paragraph talking about the 10th spot in the Top 10 on the very first edition of The Story So Far. You may be wondering the importance of that paragraph but Ms. Hoyt and her book The Fairy Stepmother, Inc. were in and out of the Top 10 during the first week of the contest but did not hold the 10th spot when I did my first write up for the contest. The week that followed found Ms. Hoyt in the 9th spot in the Top 10 and then she never looked back. The week after that she was in 8th, then she jumped up to 5th place. It wasn’t until the 5th edition of The Story So Far that Ms. Hoyt solidified her current 4th place standing. She remained here throughout the entire contest and has run one of the most interesting campaigns. Literally on the doorstep of the Top 3, catching Storm Song is no easy task but she’s still not out of the race yet. @Rick Heinz wrote an article about the underdogs in this contest, but none wore the mantle better than Ms. Hoyt early on in this contest. She’s now no longer even in contention for the idea of being an underdog as she’s run a fantastic campaign with videos(If you haven’t seen the video where she dressed up, you’re missing out!), amazing author comments and sample chapters.
This is one campaign worth checking out and reliving through these forum posts and her comments and definitely one to consider backing in the final stretch!
3. Storm Song by @Allison Griner (310 Readers / Last Week’s Rank: 3rd)
We’ve come a long way since I used to misspell Allison with one “L” instead of two. That’s how I’ll always remember the start of this campaign because it bothered me the first few times I went back in to edit this thing, lol. My typos aside, Storm Song by Allison Griner has been one of the most dominant books in this entire contest. The development of this book from Dungeons and Dragons campaign all the way to quill right here on Inkshares is an intriguing story in and of itself, but the journey of Thoster Chatwyn in the land of Elysia is not one to be missed. Just from reading the sample chapters alone, you immediately feel the connection with Thoster and his written charm through the outstanding word manipulation of Ms. Griner makes you want to know Thoster in real life. If Storm Song can manage to hold the 3rd place spot, Ms. Griner will receive all of the publishing assistance she needs to make Storm Song the best she possibly can. At the end of the day, we’re all winners if that comes to pass as I believe we’re all awaiting the release of this story by now.
If you have yet to go to her book page and see why I get so excited talking about this book, then I strongly suggest you do so. I also highly recommend reading the sample chapters provided as well as the comments section! I’d also like to take a quick moment to congratulate Ms. Griner on reaching 300 unique readers! That’s a huge milestone!
2. The Slave Prince by @Jeyna Grace (312 Readers / Last Week’s Rank: 2nd)
If I may piggy back on my own statements from a moment ago - The Slave Prince by Jeyna Grace has ALSO reached 300 unique readers! A big congratulations to her and her campaign on this amazing milestone! I’d also like to once again point out Ms. Grace’s comment section. I know I sound like a broken record as I think I’ve mentioned it in literally every single one of these but it is important that you check that section out for yourselves. It is easily some of the most inspiring and uplifting stuff on this entire website. I’ll definitely be reaching out to Ms. Grace to see if she has a blog(or push her to write one) because I need more of those posts in my life!
Enough about me and my wants, though! The Slave Prince has been an intricate part of this contest for a long time. It is the very first, first place title I have ever written about in The Story So Far and despite a potential 2nd or 3rd place finish, nothing will ever change that. If I continue to carry this on through the next Inkshares contests to follow, it will always hold a special place as that first first place book I wrote about. It has stayed in the Top 3 throughout the entire contest and has left an impact on readers and aspiring authors alike. Ms. Grace knows how to run a campaign but she also knows how to weave a very interesting story with extremely high stakes. Thom and his journey are something I’m very much so looking forward to reading about a few months from now and it’s something you should consider investing in now before the contest ends to fully experience the journey as well.
1. Sparked by @Lena (Helena and Malena) (475 Readers / Last Week’s Rank: 1st)
Sparked by Helena Echlin and Malena Watrous. This is it, the last write up for The Story So Far. We end with a 1st place title that needs no introduction at this point. Sparked came out like a bat out of hell on September 1st, 2016 when it entered the Geek and Sundry contest and has been unstoppable ever since. This is the part where I throw numbers at you, so brace yourself.
475 Unique Readers - Not to take anything away from Storm Song and The Slave Prince, but those two titles that have the 3rd and 2nd places, respectively, are just now celebrating their milestone victories of 300 unique readers. That’s something that Sparked accomplished *SEVEN* weeks ago!
740 Preorders - To receive full publishing perks from Inkshares without finishing in the Top 3 of a contest, you must reach 750 preorders. With technically a month left in their campaign, Ms. Echlin and Ms. Watrous only need *10* more preorders to reach 750 preorders. Even if they don’t receive those 10 before the contest ends(they’re finishing in first place anyway but still) they would have easily hit 750 preorders before the actual campaign time ends.
8 weeks in 1st place - I was in between editions of The Story So Far when Sparked entered the fray and by the time the next one released, Sparked was already in first place. Since the moment it entered the contest it has remained in the 1st place spot on The Story So Far and held that place for 8 weeks straight.
I can not say enough good things about Sparked and Ms. Echlin and Ms. Watrous - but with this being the last edition of The Story So Far for this particular contest, I will say that these two absolutely deserve their accomplishments. Having spoken to both of them outside the constraints of this forum post, I can say that both are very passionate about writing in general. Not just their own writing, but helping people improve and succeed with their own writing as well. These two are positive components to the writing community and have deserved every bit of success that they have received along the way. Congratulations to you both on your accomplishments and I can’t wait to see where Sparked takes you in the future!
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Repost from last week: I’d like to say amazing job to all of the entries, even if you didn’t make it into any of The Story So Far editions or into the Top 10 - putting your work out there and entering a contest of this magnitude takes a lot of courage and whether you ran an amazing campaign or not, you’ve accomplished something here and you’ve gotten a taste of what it’s like and sometimes experience like that can go a long way in this wild world we live in. Don’t take defeat the wrong way - honestly, don’t even look at it as defeat. You put your best foot forward and gave it a try, the next time you take a swing at something like this, you’ll be better prepared mentally and physically and you’ll know exactly what it entails. That’s nothing to be ashamed of. Nothing to be disappointed about. Don’t stop writing, hone your craft and make sure that the next time you give this a go you’re providing the best content you can.
This world can be tough to navigate, it can take its toll on you - but that’s what’s so amazing about the Fantasy genre, right? We can escape this rough world we live in. It’s why we CREATE our own. Now write that scene you’ve been stuck on, finish those edits you’ve been “too busy” playing Overwatch to finish(this one might hit too close to home - oops!), get out there and get ready to invite us to your world that YOU created! Because, damn it (wo)man, we want to go there! Gonna take my inspirational cap off now, I’ll see you ladies and gents next week in some shape, form or capacity. Until then, I’m Joey Angotti - this has been The Story, YOUR story, So Far. Good luck and God bless!
(I’m hoping to do this with the next contest and the contests that follow as well, so if anyone has any more feedback or ideas to spice this up a bit for the next go(or the last two weeks), I’m all ears. Feel free to message me on here or reach out on Twitter(@SoldiersCrest). I’m also hoping to do a final wrap-up of the contest when it’s all said and done that will most likely just include the winners since it might be difficult to get a concrete final Top 10 once the main page of the contest updates.)
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*I’m not sure people who aren’t tagged are even reading this or slightly interested. Also, people not using the forums enough could not be seeing this as well. Any and all extra exposure of this forum post would be appreciated!(It’s a lot of work to not be seen by more people on the site!) - A mention on your books page or more comments could keep this afloat and make sure more people see this post - therefore more exposure and good things for your entry! Plus it might get more people involved on the forums which is good for Inkshares as a whole, imo.*
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Shameless Plug: First, I want to say that I’ve finally reached 30 reviews on Amazon for my book “A Soldier’s Crest!” It’s a huge milestone of my own that I’ve been striving for and it’s nice to have accomplished a little something of my own as this contest I’ve been tracking comes to a close. I don’t know if 30 reviews will translate into more exposure like I’ve been told it can, but it’s a big accomplishment that I’m proud of regardless.
I plan on returning to doing these for the next big contest here on Inkshares, but if you’re interested in helping me out in any way, you can do so by either leaving a positive review on A Soldier’s Crest on Amazon or purchasing an E-Book version of A Soldier’s Crest on Amazon to help me drive up my author/book rank.
Thanks to everyone that has written a review or supported, you’re all amazing and fantastic. Even if you didn’t leave a review or support - you’re still cool. Much love!
My Book on Amazon: A Soldier’s Crest
If you’re all interested in keeping in touch outside of Inkshares(I check my DMs on here every day but still), you can find me on just about every form of Social Media:
Twitter: SoldiersCrest
Instagram: SoldiersCrest
-J.A.Facebook: A Soldier’s Crest Book Page
If you’re interested in reaching out to me through Email, you can private message me on here or any of the above social media platforms for further information.
Lastly I want to thank Inkshares for making this site and giving aspiring authors like us a chance to share our stories. I also want to thank all the Inksharians, especially those in the Top 10, for giving me some interesting stories to read and write about.
Cheers!
(I post it first then add the links after, so if you click on it right away you may not see the links. Just know that they’re gonna be added in an edit right after! Thanks for your patience and sorry for the inconvenience!)
EDIT1: Added main links, still need to add the honorable mentions.
EDIT2: Links for Honorable mentions added. Let me know if any mistakes!