430 of 750! Last night’s ’Stories from the Wild’ film fest event in Idaho Falls with Teton Regional Land Trust was a hit. Hundreds of people, plenty of laughs and our biggest pre-order day of this crowdfunding process. 19 days to go. Thank you for sharing the wild ride with me. -Kris

Update!
Just a short one today, but a worthy one.

Proteus has finally passed 300 preorders! We officially have more pre-orders than the Somnambule has crew members (conscious ones anyway. We still need to sell about 49,700 copies to match the number of colonists in stasis. We’ll get there). This is solid progress! We’re slowly crawling up on the halfway mark, and I’m hoping to reach it within the next two weeks. We’re slightly behind schedule, but not by very much, and progress has still been pretty steady overall.

I’ve mentioned it before, but the stretch between 250 and 500 pre-orders is a vast, empty wasteland for a pre-order campaign. We’re right in the middle, so we don’t get to feel the surge of excitement that accompanies the first couple weeks of a campaign’s launch or the similar surge as we see the finish line approaching. Right now, nothing seems to make an impact. But I assure you, it does.

Please keep showing your support by liking and sharing Proteus on all your social media. Tell all your family and friends about this book, online and in person. I know I say that every time, but I can never overstress how important it is to spread the word. If you haven’t yet pre-ordered a copy, or if you think you’d be willing to order a second or third one to support the project, I implore you to do so. Proteus only becomes a book with your help. I’m just the writer here; you’re the ones who can turn it from a concept in the notes on my computer to a printed book on shelves worldwide and in your own hands.

Thank you as always for your support, it means more to me than I’ll ever be able to express. I cannot wait to share this book with all of you.

Almost halfway!  THANK YOU!

So we’re progressing along on Trigor. I knew this would move a little slower than Pilot X because sequel, but it’s progressing nicely. I also remember that even with Pilot X we had a bit of a mid-way slowdown. It’s something psychological. People love being in at the end to help push something across the finish line. 

So I need your help getting that momentum back and rolling past the midway point. If you could, sometime today just mention Trigor and the Inkshares campaign. If you’re feeling really generous, tweet it or post it on Facebook or sing it on Musical.ly or whatever it is you kids do these days. Any passing of the word is truly appreciated!

AND let me know what else I can do for you in return? Another sample chapter? A recipe for pie? A song? You name it!

Thanks again SO much for believing in good ol’ Pilot X.

Tom

We are up to 344! 406 to go by April 30. I’ll keep writing. You keep pre-ordering. Thanks for throwing in with me. - Kris

Dear All,

Thank you to all that have gotten a pre-order of Cities in the Dust. I appreciate it! 

I still need more help. If you haven’t gotten a copy yet, please consider doing so. I need all the help I can get. And as soon as I can afford to do so, I will return the favor if you have a book you’re funding (or when you start)

Also, for those of you out there that have had books published here on Inkshares, I would appreciate any advice on how to get the pre-orders I need.  

Marie

Hi Readers! 
Rock of Ages’ campaign was set to end today but you all helped me do it a month early! Thank you for saving me this month of stress! It’s also my dad’s birthday. I know he would be really proud of what you all helped me do.

I’ve sent Inkshares my manuscript, a marketing brief, and a creative brief, so they have all the info they need to get started editing, marketing, and creating a cover for Rock of Ages. It’s all so exciting! They’re estimating the developmental editor will be able to look at my manuscript this summer. I’ll keep you all updated!

Greetings, Faoii. There’s something we need to talk about before it blows up larger than it already has. 

Two days ago I wrote an uplifting or at least solidarity-type post about depression on my Facebook page. Many people (including more than a few Inkshares authors) saw and commented on the post. Almost everyone was incredibly supportive, grateful, or kind. One person, however, said some very infuriating and hurtful things, and I took a stand to show support for people that have had to listen and endure such harmful rhetoric on a regular basis. Dozens of you chose to stand with me. Friends, loved ones, and so many of you wonderful Faoii drove him off of multiple posts using facts, logic, and a fair amount of sarcasm. 

Then, within 24 hours, I received this terrible piece of hate mail through a burner e-mail on Inkshares. (I’m sorry for the language. I blurred the worst of it out).

Now, this is the important part. Even though certain parties seem suspicious given the timing and nature of the mail, there is currently no evidence about who this came from, and as such, I am asking that you do NOT confront anyone on the matter. We are better than that. Even if there was evidence we could direct our anger towards, they can’t do anything more than start a smear campaign or throw one-star reviews on Faoii’s Amazon page, anyway. And we are stronger than that, too. 

So, be on the lookout, my warriors. We may have to be vigilant if we want to keep from being drowned in lies and slander. But also remember that a poorly written, vitriolic death threat from a petty soul on the internet is just one of the signs that we are starting to be known. I choose to see this as a good sign.

Shields up.

Faoii-Tahani