Click HERE to enter the contest!
Click HERE to enter the contest!
Going to need to be speedy about this because I woke up with some killer pain in my right shoulder, which means computer work is rough right now. But we got our 80th reader this morning, which means I get to giveaway another copy of Shadow of the Owl!
Raffle news, times 2!! First, if you click the video link you can see who won the raffle of Beagle Freedom swag (cap and scarf), but wait, there's more!! Also on the video is an important announcement about a new raffle. Next 20 people to pre-order "Women Like Us" will get a chance to win a $75.00 Gift Certificate to McCall's Meat and Fish Company. If you live in Los Angeles and you like to cook, you probably know about McCall's -- it's easily the best butcher shop in the city, and both Nathan McCall, and his wife Karen (an excellent and immensely talented Pastry Chef who makes the most delicious pastries and breads that are also for sale at McCall's) are super, super nice! I remember when they opened their doors a few years back (I think I was one of the first people through those doors) and it's been a joy to watch this business grow and expand and become a really important part of the community. When we were based in Malibu I would even drive in to town with a cooler so that I could stock up for a week or more at a time. Anyway, if you want in on the raffle and you don't live in LA, not to worry -- McCall's also sells some very well curated groceries (beautiful pastas and hard to source dry beans and olive oils and spice blends, etc) and I could easily put together a really nice basket of goods for an out-of-town winner. So no worries!
Here, take a look at the raffle video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DG_C6Z4pAA
And here's the gift certificate for McCall's, just FYI:
Now go get that order in!! If you've ordered already, no harm ordering a second copy for a friend, right?!
And as always, thank you for the support of "Women Like Us".
I’ve got 99 problems but readers ain’t one! 99 more readers and we’ll be #1!
I was in the middle of recording a saweeet rap video update…. Regrettably the videocamera’s batteries died ;-) I know you’re all devastated.
So, we’ll just go with the typed jingle...
OK, super quick update for my devoted Machiners!
We have 1 week to go!! 1 week. It's homestretch time!
Over 270 followers and as of this writing, 215 readers! Spectacular! Can we get to #1? Who knows, really. My original goal was 150. Not too long ago 215 was totally farfetched. Maybe we can surprise and hit 300?
I may agree to a real rap video if that happens. If you think that would be epic, and you haven’t pre-ordered, then do so immediately!!
Dearest readers, backers and devoted followers!
Happy New Year!
As some of you are aware, I got the cover done. Thank you so much Melissa berg!
Over the last few months I have fallen in love with editminnion.com, this is a free editing tool every writer needs!
I have been delinquent with posting a new chapter(S). "Tis the season”, is an excuse I am loathe to use, but I am anyway.
Expect some improved differences (I hope) today when I put up the new chapter 1. I would love to hear some feed back.
I have begun working with John Robin on a structural / developmental editorial assessment, through his Story Perfect Editing Services company. You can find out more with the following link.
http://www.storyperfectediting.com/
As my project on inkshares dwindles down, I realise part of the reason for my lack of success, is lack of participation, updates and consistency with putting up chapters. I will be improving on this with the support of John Robin and others.
For those faithful few who are still wanting to see this work publish, you an follow me on my website and twitter.
@jodhanford
Thank you all, and good day!
Hello you lovely people. Yes you. A happy new year to you all.
So, what have you been doing James? Well, I've been procrastinating to be honest as the holiday season came upon us and, well, gosh darn it, I turned everything electronic off for a few weeks. You know, to recharge the family batteries. And yes, Santa did visit our 8 year old (as he was mostly nice last year. Mostly).
I'm so very aware of the numbers game though... the good ones... 42 followers and 30 copies sold... and the bad ones... 45 days before the deadline... 220 pre-sales needed even before e-publishing is an option. Numbers, numbers.
Well, let's get this out now... it looks like I don't have enough time to do my day job (I own two businesses), my family job (dad and husband), my passion (writing) and my dream (write a novel) all at the same time given the deadlines involved. Which do I 'give up'? My job? Then how do I pay the bills? My family time? Then who am I writing for? The marketing for the novel? Then how will it be published? The novel itself? Then what's my new dream going to be? After all, this has been a dream for close to 40 years now. So, what to do?
Well, fear not.. I WILL write the novel. BUT... I may run out of time here (let's face it, I will run out time). So, I will either re-submit (once I have more written), or I will move to a different forum (Amazon Self Publishing for example) which I don't want to do, but may have to if I'm unable to resubmit on Inkshares.
If at first you don't succeed...
I will update you all again soon and remember, none of this means any of you are any less lovely.
J
Hello all!
Thanks for all the support as I tried out this new thing! I'm a little late with this final update, but you know how the end of the year gets. Or if you don't, then let's just say life gets busy and I start getting more interested in wine by the fireplace than staring at screens more than work requires. But I digress. New year, no holidays, the time has come to rev up my creative engines once more.
I would not be surprised if Inkshares has already sent out notes to you all on my behalf informing you that Beneath White Clouds is back in "draft mode." My book did not meet its funding goal for Inkshares publication by its December 31st deadline. This is not a shocker. 750 pre-orders were required, and I think I gathered sixty-odd. No worries, as promised, the book will plow on.
Business: If you pre-ordered under the old model, where your payment info was saved for future withdrawal, pending I hit my goal, well then no fundage will be charged to you. If you pre-ordered under Inkshares' new model, where payment was taken up front, then that money is back to you.
Seeing that my crowd-funding drive was going to stay in "I think I can" territory without actually getting over the hill, I started snooping around for other stuff to try out. Last December I participated in #SFFPit, a twitter event wherein authors hurl book pitches into the twitterspace and see if anything sticks. Pitches for Beneath White Clouds picked up a little love - 3 small publishers and 2 agents showed interest. As of this writing, I've contacted all but one of the publishers (who seemed shaky to me). "Thanks, but No" responses have come back from 1 agent and 1 publisher. I'm waiting to hear back from the others. Patience is the name of the game as things progress at the speed of the publishing industry.
If nothing comes from those avenues, I might try Kindle Scout - It's an amazon thing that works a little like Inkshares, but with no money exchanged, just votes, and no hard goal. Just gather lots of votes, and some Amazon droog will take a look and deliver final arbitration as to whether the book gets Kindled. I dunno. Might try it, but on the other hand, I'd hate for the book to only be available for Kindle. On the other, other hand, it would cost nothing for anyone, I wouldn't be asking for money, and I might get paid. Eh, we'll see.
In any case, no matter what, I can always self-publish. I did that for BREAK!, and had a lot of fun doing it, and that's what really counts. (Oh, hey! As a thank-you for being a supporter, and for reading this far, here's a gift. If you like Epic fantasy, you can download BREAK! in any e-book format from here. Use the coupon code JA52C to get it for free. Enjoy!)
So, one way or another, Beneath White Clouds will come out in 2016. I'll keep in touch personally, and remember each contributor in the book. Look for news to come through e-mail from my addy: eland001@gmail.com. You can also keep up with all my ranting and occasional useful info through facebook, twitter, and ericlandreneau.wordpress.com.
It's been a fun attempt. Didn't work out, but I learned some great new things and made connections with some fantastic people. Can't put a price on that. Thank you all. Most of you are writers, all of you occasionally have to write something, so I'll end with my preferred send-off: Happy Writing!
Peace,
Eric Landreneau
Wow! It's only been a week since I first put up the draft of The Two Stegosauruses, and the response has been amazing! As I am writing this, the project is one of the top trending books on Inkshares. My phone wouldn't stop buzzing with notifications yesterday! Thank you so much to everyone who has followed me and my book. I'm glad that there is something in The Two Stegosauruses that is resonating with you. And a HUGE thank you to those who have recommended the book to their followers or friends and have sent me such nice comments and reviews. As an artist it's easy to get lost in the vacuum of your own concerned opinions during the creative process, and to hear all of your kind words really helps me to remember that this is a project worth pursuing.
I am currently redrawing some lines on a few pages that I felt weren't clean enough for the finished product. I'm not ready to start selling preorders just yet, but please keep your eye out for that announcement soon. I don't know if it's possible, but it would be great if we could get The Two Stegosauruses fully funded and ready to be published before Valentine's Day, as I think it's a pretty great gift to give to a significant other.
Again, if you have any questions or concerns about the current state of the book, just let me know on the project page. And if you know anyone else, on Inkshares or otherwise, that might enjoy a book like The Two Stegosauruses please let them know too! Every follower helps towards getting this book published.
Thank you,
Daniel