Tony Valdez liked an update for Ghosts of War

Hey guys and gals,

Firstly an apology. I'm not exactly sure where the last 7 weeks have gone to, but things have been a bit all over the place and a lot of stuff has gone by the wayside. As such there hasn't been an update for a while. Well it's now a new year, and with it comes a new focus on getting this book done and out to all of you. So, on with the update.

Writing update 
As I said above, a lot of stuff has gone by the wayside lately, finding time for writing has been one of those things. This year I'm attacking writing from the angle of it being a Monday to Friday job, with a minimum of 1,000 a day to be written each weekday. So provided I don't add another couple of chapters, the first draft will be done in the next couple of weeks. This is a handy thing too, because:

Campaign Update
As of this writing there are only 5 days left in Ghost of War's funding campaign and we're currently sitting at 292 copies sold which is great. Beyond great in fact. In actuality it's miles beyond what I could have hoped for when I set out to do this.

I could extend and shoot for 750 copies sold, but with the recent rate of sales (11 copies sold since the 29th of October), the amount of time I'd have to extend wouldn't be worth it. So I'm sticking with the original end date and I'd imagine, with the work left to do on the book, that it will be getting to you in the second half of 2016.

Other Updates

Cover Art - Since Ghosts will be a Quill book, I have to provide the cover art. So I'm currently exploring a few other options in case I (or Inkshares) decide that the current cover doesn't work for whatever reason. I'll keep you all posted with progress on that front.

Sequels - I've been continuing plotting out the sequels to Ghosts over the christmas break (other than Star Wars it's about the only thing I could focus on) and they're starting to take shape. The third book had been especially nebulous for a long time but is really beginning to come together. 


Well, I think that will do for now. I plan to get back to doing weekly updates, especially now that things will be ramping up a bit. Look for them on or around Sunday's from now on.

Until next time.

PS: If you haven't ordered a copy of Ghosts of War yet, there's still time to do so and get yourself a signed first edition copy.
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    Tony Valdez liked an update for The Knight Proper

    Knights, Gravewalkers, Minstrels and mouldering corpses lying in the mud, tis’ high time we delivered an update worthy of your purview!

    We’ve fought, clawed and scraped our way into 5th place, this parade of champions known as “The Sword and Laser Contest”, this morbid celebration concerning implements of death, but also of fantastic writers and their accompanying books – and we duly tip our hat to them.  

    As such, the competition is fierce, but we shall fortify our gullets with our usual wine of ill-repute and ask for your favor, no, not *that* kind of favor, but the one that involves PRE-ORDERS. Steel thyselves and drag out your friends, family and animal companions (at least the ones in possession of e-mail addresses) and grant us victory! Er, with more PRE-ORDERS, that is! We grovel, we beg, we-

    Ok, ok, enough of all that. But yes, the pre-orders. REALLY important.

    We leave you with one last bit of THE KNIGHT PROPER trivia for you…  our rabble-rousing minstrel “Cass”, was originally “Cain”, inspired by a character that Matt had originally written for the game, Neverwinter Nights 2.
    But Adam, sly agitator that is he is, had the great idea to turn “him” into a “her” and Matt cried and wept inconsolably at first, but then came to see that it was indeed for the better… and we think you’ll agree!

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      Tony Valdez liked an update for The Last Machine in the Solar System

      My wonderful Machiners! 

      Tonight I have an important update for you which includes a call to action. 

      Earlier today we reached our 170th unique reader! We continue to hold 2nd place in the standings. 170 is an amazing number, and to be quite honest, we have exceeded what I originally thought possible in this contest. However, with 10 days remaining, it has become clear that it will not be enough. Perhaps not close to enough. 

      The standings remain incredibly close, and it's a testament to both the great talent in this contest and the great opportunity presented by Inkshares.

      So, I must ask more of you. Having seen the tremendous support throughout this competition - including at least one new reader every day since I jumped in on December 2nd (which I’m particularly proud of) - I have great confidence that my friends, family, co-workers, associates, classmates, athletic team members, and the many supporters who I have no connection to other than through this story, will answer the call. 

      Most importantly, please know that I continue to work. Heartened by your support, I am not asking myself, how can I hold onto 2nd place? I am asking myself, how can we make a run over these 10 days to win. I didn't really expect to be here. And now that I am here, why not go for it? It may not be possible. We face a considerable deficit. But the push continues, and in 10 days we let the chips fall where they may. 

      So, if you haven’t yet pre-ordered, please jump in and join me. If you have pre-ordered, I need you to spread the word, and implore your nearest and dearest to jump in too. 

      Thanks so much! 

      Machiner-in-chief

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        Tony Valdez liked an update for Rise

        Happy New Year!  Hope you had a great holiday time and that you get a good start on whatever goals you set for yourself.

        So, updates for you!  I completed the developmental edit and submitted it to the editor for round two.  It was a fun task that involved a lot of juggling and slashing and gnashing of teeth and many, many, many hours of Civilization 5 keeping my focused with its turn based system of game play:-)

        Also, we've settled on a concept for the cover, taking the original version and blending it with an idea suggested by a reader that touched on themes the publisher felt were significant.  

        Rise Concept Cover

        My thanks to the Inkshares and Girl Friday teams as well as to the artist, Chris McElfresh, for the work and care they've given to see this project come even closer to fruition.  September will be here before you know it!

        We aren't doing this in a vacuum.  All of us authors who are in development or production or who are already printed owe this community for the help and work each and every one does on their own projects.  We bring more eyes to this unique community with our successes and even our failures.  Taking the power of publication selection and giving it to you the reader is such a novel concept, pardon the pun, and I hope you take advantage of it to help expand Inkshares library of completed projects.  I, for one, am looking forward to an entire shelf of Inkshares books and that's saying something as my wife and I went digital a long time ago.  Be sure to check out all the funding projects, especially those competing in the Sword and Laser Sequel contest (https://www.inkshares.com/contests/the-sword-laser-collection-contest-the-sequel) as that competition ends in just over 10 days!

        Onward and upward!

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          Tony Valdez liked an update for The Problem with Prophecy

          The next installment of "The Problem with Prophecy" as promised. In this chapter, we come face to face with the evil demi-goddesss who is a little cranky after being woken up from her thousand year nap. Also, some old-fashioned tomb raiding, dead things walking, and a barbarian with anger issues. (What a surprise!)

          Read Chapter Five at:

          https://www.inkshares.com/projects/the-problem-with-prophecy-0166/book_segments/chapterfive

          or start at the beginning:

          https://www.inkshares.com/projects/the-problem-with-prophecy-0166

          Thanks for all your support! Please help by following, recommending, reviewing, sharing or pre-ordering.

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            Tony Valdez liked an update for Deus Hex Machina

            Happy Monday everyone!

            I wanted to take a moment to give you a bit of a status report on DHM.  

            1. Chapter One is finished, unexpectedly.  I had started writing scenes and realized, once I finished them, that they naturally ended our chapter on a great intriguing note.  It's available in its entirety on the Inkshares page, and I would love it if you read it and let me know what you think.  

            2. To date, no one has figured out the DHM ARG.  We have a couple of people playing, but no one has crossed the finish line.  The clues start with the book trailer I posted a while back.  Will you be the first to finish the game and save Timble Ada?

            3. Here's some general math on how the campaign is going: We are 2 orders away from our next raffle, 45 orders from fifth place, 92 orders from 2nd, and 182 orders from 250 -- which is my goal. The road is long, and the chances for winning dim, I have to be honest.  I felt really good seeing all the people who came on board this weekend - 10 orders in just two days! - until I saw that the other guys are getting dozens of orders per day. That knocks the winds out of my sails a bit, I must admit.

            HOWEVER, there are 11 days, and I plan on working on this until January 16th. I also have a contingency in case this doesn't pan out, the Sword & Laser contest I mean. I believe in Deus Hex Machina, I see it being a successful book read by thousands of people.  I would like those thousands of people to read it with an Inkshares label on the back, but even if that does not happen, I will be working to make sure it is published properly.

            You can help!

            If you believe in this book as much as I do, there are things you can do to help.  You can share DHM on your own Inkshares updates, should you be an Inkshares author.  If anyone out there wants to work on a cross promotion with me, I would be more than happy to help.

            Anyone who is on the fence, intending on ordering but hasn't yet, please make the plunge and order today. Isidore and Dax need your help.

            Even if you are not an Inkshares author (or heck, even if you are), you can still help push DHM into the top three. All you have to do is reach out to three of your friends and ask them to order.  Send them to this Facebook post on instructions how to order the book for free. 

            What I am doing:

            I am continuing to write Chapter 2. This 366 days of writing is exhilerating. I should be getting to Dax soon. 

            I am reaching out to everyone I know, something I did not do with Shadow of the Owl. That's how much I believe in this book -- I'm facing my social anxiety to ensure that DHM wins this contest. 

            Phew, that was longer than I expected.  Guess it's not such a quick update after all!

            Have a great Monday!

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              Tony Valdez liked an update for Lies and Deception

              Happy Monday, and Happy New year.

              I hope you guys had a great time during this holiday season. I had :)

              I am really happy. pre order are going well. working on finishing Chapter 2, and Chapter 3 is on the way and should be updated very shortly.

              I am now back from vacation and going for the last run for this campaign.

              Let me know  what you think of the content I uploaded so far, feedback are always appreciated.

              Raffle : at 100 readers I will be giving out a 50$ gift card of the winner choice, of course it has to be ordered online.

              share the word with your friends. :)

              have a great week :)

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                Tony Valdez liked an update for Women Like Us

                Hey!  Happy Monday!!  Back to work, eh? Well, just wanted to let you know all slots filled in the Mugs raffle, so as soon as I can get it together to do it I will. Hopefully I'll get it on video for ya!  But if you're still interested in some swag and you haven't pre-ordered -- or you just want to again, I have few slots left in the Beagle Freedom Project Raffle.  Here's what you could win:

                bfp swag

                Yep, it's a scarf and cap to keep you warm in this chilly wet weather we're having.  Or maybe where you are you're even having snow.  You want to keep warm, don't ya?  Remember as well I am going to donate 10% of all sales to the Beagle Freedom Project if publish goal met.

                Anyway, stay tuned for the raffle...

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                  Tony Valdez liked an update for Dracula v. Hitler

                  Hello all! Happy New Years, I hope everyone had a relaxing one and have made a list of resolutions that can last beyond next week, ha. 

                   Now that we're clear of the holidays I'm eager to get momentum towards our 750 sales goal for Dracula vs Hitler. Towards that end, I will be releasing an additional chapter at 300 book sales, which we are quite close to. If you are following the book but not yet an orderer, your $10 ebook purchase will definitely help at this point to reach new people and get us to the goal. And if you've ordered, share your order with your online friends, maybe a few would like to read along with you!

                  As a reminder, If we reach 750 sales, a professional editor will work very closely with me to improve the manuscript much more that at the 250 e-book only mark we've hit. I think that definitely is a win for everyone.
                  Appreciate all your support and am eager to get the book polished and released. 

                  Thank you
                  Pat
                   
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                    Tony Valdez liked an update for The Amaranth Chronicles: Deviant Rising

                    Hey everyone! Hope you all had a great New Years! Was I the only Californian that didn't go to Tahoe? My Facebook feed was filled with people hitting the slopes and proposing to their GF/BF's on the frozen lake. Felt like the nerdy kid that wasn't invited too the party... ... ... Who was home writing Science-Fiction...  /sigh

                    ANYWAYS! Just wanted to thank everyone whose already grabbed a copy of the book and remind everyone who hasn't yet that there are only 11 days left in the Sword and Laser competition. I'm hoping we can still place in the top ten so we can make our March release date!

                    For those of you who haven't seen it yet check out our "Directors" video here:

                    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDfRsDTH9EQ

                    Now onward too the new year!

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