Good morning, Dax fans!

DAX COUNTDOWN: 5 days, 15 orders to go!

In my foolish, sleep-deprived state, I previously forgot to mention a few thank yous in my last update...

Dax received a plethora of amazing reviews during Saturday's Review-A-Thon event. Yes, a plethora, which gave me a big lump in my throat, made me a little weepy eyed, and generally left me about as happy as El Guapo on his birthday...

You know, before the Three Amigos crashed the party.

Thank you to Vincent Lim, Amanda Orneck, Andrew Wood, Jamison Stone, G. Derek Adams, Jason Pomerance, Shannon Saldin, Paul Inman, Landon Crutcher, Thomas J. Arnold, Alan Tucker, Steve Soldwedel, Jim McDoniel, and Chris Robinson.

I've tagged each of their names with links directly to their respective projects, because they deserve your support too! To post all of their kind words about Dax here would be far too self-serving. But I at least have to share G. Derek Adams's epic review, as it is a bit of a hilarious work of art unto itself:

G. DEREK ADAMS
"Comedy is harder than drama. Drama is open to interpretation, discussion, analysis -- everyone knows funny. And you can't force funny via interpretation, discussion, analysis. It is either funny or not funny. The Grand Binary. Dax Harrison is funny. Tony Valdez is funny. I love the setting and the crazy-ass Buck Rogers pastiche, I am 100% on board with the aesthetic and the plot arc I see developing in the first excerpts. Interrogating heroism, public perception, duty - I am HERE for all these grand concepts explicated through a patently silly premise. But what's really exciting me is that this book is funny. The punch lines land, the asides are light and bouncy, it never stops and alerts me that 'THIS IS A JOKE'. This is a rare thing. A precious thing. A shiny, shiny unicorn who wants to take you to McDonalds and talk about Macross continuity. Recognize it and treasure it. Sidebar - if you can watch Tony's video and not make a pre-order then you are a mean person who can't feel joy and puppies hate you."

Sci-fi & Fantasy author Amanda Orneck also posted a lovely review of Dax on her author blog, Immersive Cursive. READ IT HERE!

And last but not least, another big thanks to Amanda and Inkshares team member Avalon Radys for organizing a guest post for me on the official Inkshares blog! READ IT HERE!

Stay tuned, gang. We're in The Final Days of Dax, and we're going out with a BANG!

-Tony

Hey everyone. Just added a thank you video to the main page.

Happy Holidays All!

Is it wrong for me to think that a demon named Pus Drinker is just about the best thing ever? Combine the morals of, well, a demon with the enforced playlist that makes me think of Iron Man taking over everyone's speakers in the Avengers sure seems the best thing ever to me, that's for sure. Go Pus Drinker!

A new twist on the post-apocalyptic world - Plagues, aliens, and demonic possession! I already have a soft spot for Pus Drinker. Come on people - Get this book funded so I can read the whole thing!

…This promises to be a heartbreaking story of a man trying to find redemption and meaning in a world that has lost so much shortly after discovering we are not alone in the universe. There are interesting parallels between the aliens inhabiting the earth and the demon inhabiting Abraham's mind. An interesting take on the post-plague story.

This book is a fun read and it had me hooked immediately. Aliens, demon possession, and magick, what a delightful read this one is and I highly recommend this one to those who enjoy a good end of the world story that shows the human race isn't out of the frying pan yet.

Dear Friends

My editor Penny-Lane and I want to wish you all a Happy Holidays.

Thank you for your support, for your words of encouragement, and for making 2015 one of the best years of my life.

This year I did two big things: I ran the New York City Marathon, and I wrote a novel. It would be easy to pat my back and congratulate myself for such achievements, but the truth is that the blood, sweat and tears that took to achieve those two things were not only mine.

There were so many people cheering for me every time I reached a milestone; there were so many friends and family picking me up when I fell and thought I couldn’t keep going. There was all of you, who took a chance on my book and helped me reach my funding goal.

If I learned anything this year is that hard-work is not all it takes to achieve big dreams; a support system, a network of love is what make dreams come true.

So once again: Thank You All!

It wouldn’t be a proper end of the year update without a quote from the wisest man in the universe:

 “There’s a lot of things you need to get across this universe. Warp drive… wormhole refractors… You know the thing you need most of all? You need a hand to hold.”

The Tenth Doctor, Fear Her.

Hi!  Time for another cocktail, I think. Again, people, a recipe, so put that glass down. But first a little background via a short excerpt from the book.  Here Susan Jones, who has taken over as chef at an old haunt in Pasadena, is in the middle of a mid-shift rant when Edith Vale shows up with her friends, the girls, although all of them are in their 70's!  This restaurant, like I said, is a venerable old haunt -- here in LA think Musso & Frank, or Taylor's but every town has one -- and it's famous for cocktails. One of the ones it's most noted for is a Moscow Mule, best served icy cold in copper mugs but if you don't have copper mugs by all means use a glass.  So first the excerpt, then the cocktail. And then if you haven't pre-ordered, please do so!

Excerpt

She spun around. There stood Edith Vale, Oatsie O’Shea, Evelyn Brookby and Tish Van Buren, all of them impeccably turned out in sweater sets and pearls, pocketbooks clutched in their hands, all of them bright eyed and more than a little lubricated after copious samplings from the cocktail menu. The four had decided to have their ladies’ night out at Chadwick’s that week, and Susan, already red-faced from the heat and steam of the kitchen, went a darker shade of scarlet as she wilted before them. She smiled sheepishly and dusted a plate of sole with finely minced parsley. “Did you ladies eat?” was all she could manage. 

 “It was delightful, dear,” said Oatsie. 

 “I haven’t set foot in this place since 1989,” said Evelyn Brookby, “but I’ll be back.”

 “Girls, maybe we should go. She’s obviously busy,” said Tish. 

 “Well, we wanted to pay our compliments to the chef,” said Edie. “But we obviously caught you at a bad time.” 

 “Oh, don’t leave,” said Susan. “Let me send out some desserts.” 

 “Darling, we all shared a blueberry buckle, and it was divine,” Oatsie said, “although do consider putting Floating Island back on the menu.” 

Susan nodded. The ladies left the kitchen, and the dishwasher, Luis, practically invisible under the huge stockpot he was scrubbing, popped up and said, “I don’t know about anybody else, but that grey haired one? She had one hot ass. For an old lady I mean.” 

“I’d tap it,” said Stacy. 

Susan couldn’t help it. She forgot what set her off and started to laugh. And so one crisis was diffused, only to be replaced by another, when one of the wheezy old waiters tottered into the kitchen and said to Susan, “you’ve got a problem, honey-doll. You better get out to the bar.”

Moscow Mule (recipe adapted from the NY Times Book of Cocktails)

1 1/2 tbsps. fresh lime juice

2 tbsps. simple syrup

1/4 cup vodka

Ginger beer

Candied ginger or sliced lime for garnish, if you like

1. Fill a copper mug or glass with ice. Add lime juice, simple syrup and vodka. Top off with ginger beer. Stir vigorously. Garnish with Candied Ginger or lime slice.

I got mentioned in this week's Sword & synergyhttps://sword.ongoodbits.com/2015/12/21/sword-synergy-weekly