Thank you everyone, for the fantastic support. I’ve just had the campaign extended to January 1st, in order to help bring in more preorders.
Progress is going great on the book. The latest chapter I’m working on introduces a lot more world-building as Jonathan finds himself thicker and thicker in the weeds of the case.
I’m going to put out another challenge to the subscribers out there: If we hit 75 readers, I’ll release Chapter 3 exclusively to people who have preordered. I look forward to sharing more of the book with you!
The winner of the GET YOUR NAME IN BLUE WATER contest has been chosen. Congratulations to Annie Boehnen! You’re now a character in the book! Want to see if she survives to the end? Preorder the book and tell your friends. Otherwise, you might never find out.
I promised if Tantalus Depths reached 500 pre-orders by July 16, I would upload the first chapter for all to read. Well, as promised, here it is.
I also promised I would upload a special video of me reading it to you. Also as promised, here it is.
I hope you all enjoy. It is a shorter chapter, and mainly consists of setting the stage and making introductions to our cast (which is why I chose to use chapter 3 as my main sample chapter instead of chapter 1, since I felt it gave a better impression of the book’s overall tone).
When Tantalus Depths reaches 600 pre-orders, I’ll release chapter 2 and another video reading. I might even throw in a video of me reading chapter 3, if it’s something people want.
Keep up the good work everyone! This insurmountable task is starting to feel really doable. Thanks to all your help, we’ve made it this far. We can make it the rest of the way too.
Tantalus Depths has just received one of the biggest conceivable honors it could have been given on Inkshares.
I am indescribably honored to announce that Tantalus Depths has been selected as the July pick by the Break the Bechdel with Strong Female Characters Syndicate.
I’ve mentioned this before, but it bears mentioning again now: one of the primary reasons why Tantalus Depths was written in the first place was to create a story with a strong female lead. I wanted to do my part to break the gender imbalance in sci-fi media. I wanted to write a female lead that could inspire and impress male and female readers alike. I took great pains throughout the entire writing process to make Mary Ketch feel like a real person, her experiences relatable and accessible.
To be honored by the Bechdel Syndicate is to be assured that I have, at least in part, realized my goal. Truthfully, this moment is almost as important to me as earning my full publication goal. If Tantalus Depths hadn’t been worthy of an honor like this, in my own eyes it wouldn’t be worthy of publication either.
With the support of the Bechdel Syndicate, Tantalus Depths is now ahead of schedule. We’re only 214 pre-orders away from our full publishing goal, and we will not settle for anything less than 100% success.
To the Depths!
Hey all!
In my excitement about reaching Quill and following the aftermath of the contest I forgot to show the full painting since we reached 250! Here it is:
You’ll all be getting a copy of this painting (without all the lines of course).
Finally, I want to congratulate Kendra Namednil on reaching Quill with her fantastic project Borehole Bazaar: A Vow Unbroken !! Kendra has been one of my biggest cheerleaders during the contest and the first person I connected with on Inkshares so for that I am grateful. The Inkshares community has been so wonderful to me and I appreciate every single one of you :)
I will make sure to keep ya’ll updated on AYSYWTQ? as I go. Have a wonderful week!
Holy $#(^!!!!!! Okay, let me explain… Hwa ha ha ha ha!!!!! SO HAPPY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh my goodness, YES!!!!! Dreams are AWESOME!!!!!!!! OWWWWWW! Okay, dreams are awesome, and so is my next door neighbor, but running through my backyard to tell her that I just funded leads to splinters. Geesh! Well, it’s only a little blood, so… Worth It!!!
Okay, breathing. Good. Thank you all SO EXPLETIVE much!!!!!!!!!
I’m kinda glad I wrote the bulk of this letter yesterday. I’m so excited I keep typing in circles but that’s okay cuz I HAVE FAITH IN EVERY LAST SOUL OF HUMANITY!!! Seriously! All of you are amazing, wonderful, PHENOMENAL PEOPLE OF WORTH!!!!! OWW! Doesn’t matter if my foot hurts from that twig-thorn, I’m too happy not to dance!!!!! Okay, the rest is from yesterday, so it’s probably cogent. Love y’all. Genuinely. Love. I… I’m gonna paint mugs and work on my short story and tell people they’re awesome and make the whole world feel as amazing as I do RIGHT NOW!!!
For anyone who was looking to get the limited-run prize, tomorrow is the last day to pick up two or more copies of Borehole Bazaar. This is a super-awesome opportunity to get a uniquely hand-illustrated collection of cute short stories mailed diretly to your home well in advance of your copy of Borehole Bazaar. That said, I’m hoping BB will be up and ready SUPER quickly so it can get into all your happy hands!
This week, I hit 250!!! What this means is that I have yet another three RAFFLE WINNERS!!! The lucky winners are Rebecca Rubin, Crwebber707 and Lauren Huffman!!! I’ll be getting ahold of you to hear your choice of prizes, but they include an etched glass mug, a hand-painted ceramic mug, a laser-etched coaster (or four!) or an entirely wooden (with hinges) book from those listed below! If there is something else you would prefer, please just let me know! I’m fairly crafty and I love my small power-tools!
The list of books should all be child-friendly but I’d advise giving each a once-over, especially A Simple Game and Forgiveness in a Latte. This week’s selection, Kalla Names a Pup, is indented and alludes to cannibalism and death, so use extra caution with it.
---->;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; Kalla Names a Pup
As always, please Chase Your Dreams. It’s worth it, as are you.