Progress on The Seclusion is happening on all ends!
At some point in the next week or so, my editor will submit the first three beautifully-polished chapters of the book to Ingram - a book distribution company that major retailers, and most indie bookstores, use to stock their shelves.
In other exciting news, the book is starting to pop up on major online retail sites for preorder! 
The goal, as of now, is to shift from developmental-edit to copy-edit by April 1st. I’ll be hard at work every day until then to make sure we stay on schedule for a fall release, so that we can get this book in your hands!
I’ve been spending any and all free time over the last couple of weeks combing through the manuscript with two primary goals in mind - 1) Add to the inner voice of the protagonist, Patch 2) Flesh out additional world-building details. I regularly have at least one reference book open next to me as I work to sneak up on each scene from a new angle. My favorite as of late is The Emotional Craft of Fiction: How to Write the Story Beneath the Surface, by Donald Maass.
Last week, in an effort to soak up new world building inspiration, I used random photos found online and my favorite quick-marketing toy (Canva) to throw together a few concept images. Lately, I have these open as I hammer out my descriptive imagery for any given scene. Below are a few if you would like to take a look:
CHILDREN’S CLASSROOM

CITY CENTER

COMPLIANCE OFFICERS (COMPOS) AND PACIFIER (DIRECTED ENERGY WEAPON)
I am guessing that over the next month I will hear from the Inkshares marketing team, and that cover design will kick off soon.
Back to edits! Until next time.
-Jacqui
Hello Dear Readers,
Just wanted to send a quick update to let you know that The Battle Within is entered in the fourth annual Kobo Emerging Writer Prize.
Did you like the novel? Even if you didn’t, why not give it a rating on Kobo? The contest may use reviews and ratings as judging criteria and more importantly, it’s always great to hear feedback. If you want to leave a rating, just head over to the following link: https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/the-battle-within-1
Stay tuned, the short list will be announced on May 1, 2018!
All the best,
Alastair Luft
Unless there are delays,
BB will
release in thirty days.
It’s a poem I’ve been wanting to write for ages. Congrats to us all, and I wish everyone FANTASTIC success!!!
Isidore RAM steps into the Font, sweeping the cables connected to her Shroud behind her like a train. She flips a switch, connecting her synapses to the Circuit and sighs one whispered phrase, like a prayer "July 10, 2018."
Hey. Hi there.
I have news. A couple of bits actually. I shall save the best for last though.
New book title
Ghosts of War is now.....Ghosts of War: Retribution. The change was made by me to help the title stand out a little more, and it gels better with what the story is actually about (and with the titles of the series going forward). I’m quite pleased with the change.
With that change though, means something else...
A new cover

Production Status
Very good news on this front. This last Monday, Ghosts of War: Retribution winged it’s way across the interwebs into the hands of it’s copy editor. That means it is getting a thorough going over as it moves ever closer to release later in the year. Typically the time frame is 6 months from kickoff to publication, so it should land somewhere around the middle of the year.
I should be hearing back from Inkshares soon with some more solid dates related to the production schedule and release, and I’ll keep you guys updated where I can.
Praise for the book
I’ve been getting the first lots of feedback on Ghosts of War: Retribution in the last few weeks, here’s a few blurbs that’ll be showing up in various promo materials going forward.
"Imagine that bastard you hate. Got it? Now imagine yourself gut punching them then throwing them down the stairs, and stealing their last donut. Robinson’s debut novel takes arch-rivalvary up a notch while giving that oh-so-satisfying desire to chew bubblegum and kick ass." - Rick Heinz, Author of The Seventh Age: Dawn
"Sci-Fi action-adventure at its very, very best. Paul Robinson gives us complex characters facing complex conflict in a futuristic world that, although dystopian, always carries the ring of truth. There’s revenge, retribution, heroism and, sprinkled throughout, satisfying bits of wry humor. A winning combination, and a debut author worth watching." - Jason Pomerance, Author of Women Like Us
“Ghosts of War: Retribution is an adrenaline-fueled adventure perfect for fans of fast-paced action sci-fi.” - Robert Batten, Author of Blood Capital
"Paul Robinson thrills his readers in the style of James Rollins and John Grisham, and then brings them to another world in the style of Robert Heinlein. You should pick up Ghosts of War: Retribution, though be warned: it’s hard to put down. ★★★★★" - Jonathan Maas, Author of Flare
What now?
As production finally ramps up on Ghosts of War: Retribution, I’ll be working hard with Inkshares to get it into your hands and I’ll also be continuing to work on the sequels which are now called Ghosts of War: Reprisal and Ghosts of War: Reckoning.
As always, stay tuned for updates.
More news for my wonderful follower!
We have booked a launch event at Happy Harbour comics in Edmonton, Alberta on Feb 11/17 at 11 am till 3 pm. If you’re in the area, come by and see what it’s all about. It’s a bit early but soon I’ll post more information about Happy Harbour and the event. Just wanted to give my wonderful followers a heads up. I hope to see some of you there.
Kelsey Barthel
Hello again my wonderful followers,
BIG NEWS!! The ebook for Beyond the Code is READY!!!! That means that anyone who pre-ordered the digital copy or the physical/digital combo can read the book RIGHT NOW!!! And if you have yet to join the club and want to see what all the fuss is about, you can order a digital copy of Beyond the Code for only $6.99 and download it right away. No more waiting!
And remember, once you have read Beyond the Code, make sure to give it a review on amazon, goodreads, or the Indigo website. Reviews are an authors best friend and I am eager to know what you think of my first published novel.
Thank you all for staying with me on this journey to publication and I hope you all enjoy reading Beyond the Code as much as I’ve enjoyed writing it.
Kelsey Rae Barthel
It’s been a full 1 year anniversary! So, time for a bloody damn hand-biting update.

I’ve finished the first draft of the sequel! Pix Pl0x is 100% done and is going up on Amazon later this week (announcement on that soon) and I need more reviews on the original.
If you’ve read the first book - Please go here and leave a review.
Click Here!
In other news, now that I’m done with the 1st draft of book 2. I’m in the market for more awesome art. If you know anyone who wants to do some doodling so I can start building more awesome art like this Death Lords from the 7th Age!
But please please please - It’s review time guys. 
You’ll hear more in the coming weeks now that projects are finished and work on production begins in earnest.
Thank you for everything in the past year!
GREETINGS SPACE GENTS,
Okay, it’s been a bit, but I wanted to have some really freaking great news for you before I put any wish-washy pseudo-updates out. So here goes.
We are IN PRODUCTION. Full stop. We’ve blasted out of our old star system into the new, and the destination is in view. Do you know what that means?
First it means I have a whole lot of work to do, but this is some fast-tracked, scheduled, definitive (as can be) work. And it also means I have a...how do you say...release date?!
Okay, no question mark. I have a release date. And because I have a release date, you too are going to get it! Now, this is my first time doing the whole pro-publishing gig, so I don’t want to say that it’s 100% certain, but I have a pretty official-looking timeline, and it looks like the book will be releasing on...
dundundun...

That’s right; this thing is slotted for May Day! It’ll be in your hands before you know it.
(Also, author’s note: I’m PUMPED about this release date coincidence, because as many of you know, this book is all about that class war (and also space).)
I hope this news finds you well, and in the meantime I’m working with Inkshares’ editing and production staff to make the book solid, as well as getting together the packages I owe many of you from the campaign.
Thanks for your support and patience along this magnificent space quest.
Your spaztastic Space Captain,
-AC