It’s time to answer the great question I’ve been asked several times: "When will the damned book come out?"

Here’s your unequivocal answer: "I’m not sure yet." 

Perhaps I was being a little lax about my use of the word "unequivocal." 

Here’s the deal: Inkshares is awesome. They want me to get my best work out to you. They are not rushing me. As of right now, I tentatively sent them a submission date for my manuscript for "sometime in May." (There I go, failing to be unequivocal again.) Once I submit my manuscript and submission packet (don’t worry about that, that’s for me to figure out), then the process begins. If you fish around on other books’ pages that are in the status of "in production," you will see a progress bar with an anticipated release date. I will only obtain such things after I submit my manuscript. So, it’s all up to me. 

And when will I be submitting my manuscript? I’m not sure yet. Hopefully by May. And then hopefully the book will be out in autumn...maybe by Christmas. I’m not sure yet. 

Sorry for the unequivocal level of ambiguity in this update...

The reasons for any delay are as follows, and I believe they are good reasons:

1) I want to submit the BEST book, not the fastest. I am a fast storyteller, I have written an entire novel in a month, but that does not mean that I want that version of the novel to be released upon the general public. You all are my backers, my loved ones, my friends...if there is a little longer wait, then it is out of respect for your investment. I believe Mr. Butler is an amazing story (it’s kind of grown a lot larger than I thought! It might even become a series...?), and I want it to be the best it can be. On the flip side of that coin, I promise not to be a perfectionist and keep polishing this thing into the ground up until the point of being released in 2019. I do know when to stop.

2) My son is due to be born in May. Could be any day now. Not sure. But he will require focus, and that might delay things, perhaps. Got a problem with that? 

In the meantime, I’m also enjoying my time as a staff writer for Renderosity Magazine. So far, I have four articles involving me: 

1) An interview with me as a novelist and my approach to writing

2) An interview with me as a new staff writer, and what I plan on bringing to the magazine

3) Four reasons why you should write every day

4) How writing improves all art

I plan on writing articles about Inkshares for the magazine, and I plan on featuring author interviews in the near future. I’m also going to be doing reviews of writing software. (I’m currently enjoying "Ulysses" for Mac and iPhone...amazing.)

I want to motivate all others to write, so please don’t hesitate to contact me at madmrbutler@gmail.com. Inkshares is an incredible opportunity if used wisely. So let’s all get wise. Also, don’t be offended if I don’t get back to you right away. I have filled my plate at present. 

Good luck to all who are involved in the new Geek & Sundry contest. Those contests are beasts, so let me know if you need any advice, and don’t be afraid to connect. 

Thank you all for your support and your patience. 

Have a wonderful day.

-Michael.

Good (late-late) night denizens of prose!

The first 7 days of funding for Seeking the Elephant have been amazing! More so than I expected. How amazing? Over 100 folows on Inkshares & Facebook, 12 Recommends, 40 Pre-orders, and 3 reviews. If every week is that good, we WILL hit Quills in 90 days!

I wanted to send this update sooner, but I was out of town working. I want to thank each and every one of you who has supported, each and every one of you who cared that much to make this dream a reality! Each Monday, I will be posting more and more of the second act. When I started in Inkshares I didn’t realize that I should spread it out more! Seeking the Elephant is a complete novel, and I simply dropped the entire first act online. Now, as an incentive, I will be adding more and more of the second act. I hope you enjoy it!

Remember, also, all pre-orders get a copy of Alviso, a short story I submitted in the 2016 Baen Fantasy Adventure Awards. I’d like to vary up and more appreciation gifts because I’m so amazed by the support. Do you have any ideas on that? Let me know! I’m all ears!

Spread the word. Get it out there. Link Seeking the Elephant on Inshares to your friend who likes post-apocalyptic books. Or who knows lots of trivia about hidden America. Maybe you know someone who knows a thing-or-three about Lwa. Have they ever visited Evegreen Cemetery in Santa Cruz, or the Citadel Ruins in Ceder Mesa?

Get them reading -- because I can promise they’ll fall in love!

Have a wonderful week!
-C. M. Molisani

Hello everyone! It has been a week since I started campaigning! Time went by so fast, it’s all been a blur to me. But that might be due to spring break and how crazy my work has been. That and spring allergies have done quite a number on my sinuses, rendering me quite the zombie. As I sit here, recovering, I am thinking just how amazing it is so have 12 copies pre-ordered thus far. That’s 12 wonderful people to believe in my novel! For this I thank you all!

Now obviously this doesn’t stop here. There is still a lot of work to be done to get others who feel the same way and convince them to grab a copy as well. For those reading this, if you haven’t grabbed a copy yet, then please take a look at JT Stevensen and consider getting an ebook for yourself or a copy of the book as a gift for someone who enjoys fantasy and magic! Even better, recommend it to someone who may. 

https://www.inkshares.com/books/jt-stevensen-and-the-agents-of-vermillion-?referral_code=a5ed4a1c

I have a few ideas as a way to reward those who pre-order as the book reaches certain goals. Raffles seem to be very popular, so in the next few days I will announce what those will be! As a hint, I like to make things with my hans so that might be you a good idea.  

Thanks again everyone!

S.J. Petersen.