Hello,

Check out the pre-order stats provided by Inkshares for SQUIDS IN:

As you can see, the rate of funding has flattened off as we approach the end of the Nerdist video-game contest. By keeping a close eye on the leaderboard (I swear my F5 key is going to break due to all the double-tapping) I can see that this is apparently also true for a lot of the other entries in the contest too. The quiet before the storm perhaps?

If the contest ends as is, I would of course be slightly disappointed not to have made it into the top 3 but I would be supremely chuffed with how the contest has gone. I never thought that my silly book about a video-game playing octopus would receive this much support from within the Inkshares community and honestly, you guys make up like 50% of my pre-orders, so thank you for making me feel so welcome here! 

In return, I have decided to give something back to the community by starting up a new syndicate called "Why So Serious" which will focus purely on funny, humour filled books to make us all smile and laugh in these dark and desperate times. 

Feel free to join the syndicate and help us to decide the first book we should back.

https://www.inkshares.com/syndicates/why-so-serious-

All the Best

Matthew

A Huge THANK YOU !!

As all of you who already checked your emails have found out - WE DID IT !

I must admit that in every scenario I ran through my head writing this email - it was always close or pretty damn close, but never have I dreamt that we would reach 750 orders, and 11 days ahead of schedule.

What next? Well, the truth of the matter is that I do not know... The book is already available to buy as a regular book on Inkshares, but it will take time for me and whoever will be chosen as my editor, to create a final marketable version. What I do know, is that I will work as hard as I can to make this novel the best & worthy of your support.

I want to thank each and every one of you who pre-ordered. But before I will quickly run through what I’ve learnt during these 4 hectic months and a day,  I wanted to specially thank people who actively helped getting me orders & supported in any way they could: First my wife Yael who not only helped but endured this thing firsthand; my Dad Yosefi, Mom Mira & Sister Michal who actively bugged everyone to a great personal cost of their own; my Aunt Ilana who is by far the top referrer; My mother-in-law Orit; James Rasile & Evan Graham who came close second as referrers; My mom’s friends who helped raise orders as well: Dieda Robins & Judith Lynn, and everyone else who pitched in - I am forever grateful. Finally all my wonderful friends from home and work, who I bugged relentlessly, and they keep answering my calls regardless - you know who you are! 

A special thanks to friends I’ve made along the way who helped with orders or just moral support: Billy O’keef, Peter Ryan, Kelsey Barthel and Rick Heinz - you guys are the best. As well as to all my supporting Goodreads buddies (Vicky, Paula, Diane & Anna Jane) who have been more than kind but actively took a chance on someone who was, until recently, a stranger.

All these people have helped with no personal gain of their own, simply because they like me or my book, and this means a lot.

Regarding the Charity - I want to keep the pledge to Norwood UK a while longer - so any book sold in the course of July, regardless of the referral, will grant 3.5$/2£ for this special cause.

Finally, before i come back with an official schedule (I am just in the dark as you are), I wish to take the time and tell you what I have learned in these educating 4 months and a day:

I learned to write better; I learned to accept criticism; I learned Social Media (is the devil); I learned video making; I learned crowdfunding; I learned that a picture is truly worth a thousand words;
I learned about the kindness of strangers;
I learned about cruelty and jealousy;
I learned that best friends are best friends (and they are always there for you);
I learned that family is family - no matter what you decide to do;
I learned the value of  helping others;
And I learned there’s nothing we can’t do - however far it may seem, if we just set our minds to it.

Oh and these babies will be going out to top referrers, so expect a personal email about it soon ;-)

More in due time...

J Dital