Greetings Readers,
It’s taken me nearly three months, but I am proud to say that the latest draft of this novel has been submitted to the editor.
If you recall, during the spring 2017 I was invited into the first Cohort for Inkshares novel production. Part of that process was looking at the story from the bones up, and during all the work I did for the cohort I realized that the current title of the book doesn’t really fit what it’s become.
Initially this was a graphic novel, a sort of retooling of Akira except with mechs. As I continued to write, the story morphed into something deeper, an exploration of what it means to treat technology as a sort of religion, and what would happen should it actually become one. As such, Isidore’s journey became much more tightly focused on her relationship with the Church of Technology. And the title of the novel, one that used to be about this fun sort of sci-fi romp, didn’t make sense anymore for her story.
As I wrote this latest draft (number 4), I started thinking about the title and if it still served the story. I came to the realization that it did not. Therefore, I’ve decided to change the title of this book. Without further ado, I would like to introduce you to the new title: Sister of the Circuit. As soon as I made the commitment to the new title, I got super excited about how it connects to the themes of the current iteration of the novel.
Now I step back in the editing queue to wait my turn to see what Inkshares thinks of the book. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous. I’m going to pass the time working on another project to give myself some space from Circuit.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Dear Readers,
Thank you for your support here on Inkshares.com. Although the Lore of the Aos Si will not be published by Inkshares, Nemeton: The Trial of Calas, Book One of the Hallowed Veil Series will be released as an eBook on November, 30th on Amazon Kindle.
For those of you who subscribe to Kindle Unlimited, you can read it for FREE. Everyone else will be able to afford the eBook for $2.99. Isn’t that exciting!?
I will be releasing a Paperback version, but it will take me a few weeks to format and finish the product. I will let you know when it is ready. Pre-Orders are available for the eBook now.
I do hope you enjoy the story, it has come a very long way since its inception and its time here on Inkshares.com. Can’t wait to share the journey I have taken with you!
Pre-Order Nemeton: The Trial of Calas on Amazon.
Cheers,
Christopher Lee
11/21/17
Hi everyone, just a quick update before we hit the Thanksgiving holiday.
First, I am delighted to announce (and tremendously thankful) that "Devil You Don’t" was selected by Inkshares’ Staff Syndicate as their pick of the month for November!
THANK YOU VERY MUCH to all the members of that syndicate for their support. I truly appreciate your enthusiasm for this manuscript, and am really looking forward to getting it into your hands as an actual book.
What does this syndicate selection mean? Well, it means that between now and December 31, I still need to get about 60 copies pre-ordered (before the selection that number was much higher!). I’ve had a few verbal commitments that I’m excited about, but I can’t just kick back and put my feet up. After Thanksgiving, I’ll be announcing another giveaway and updating my "about" page on Inkshares to officially kick-off my homestretch efforts.
I’ll send another update when all that’s ready for prime time.
Wishing all of you who celebrate it a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving with your friends and families. Please know that you are all on my list of things and people that I am grateful for!
Best,
Susan
At ease, Faoii. This isn’t really an update. Instead, I’m sending out a reminder to all of you other hopeful authors out there who are working for a dream but constantly feeling like you’re just spinning your wheels.
I get it. It’s not easy. It’s exhausting and soul-crushing and painful. It feels like you’re giving everything you have and that you don’t even have dignity anymore after all the times you’ve begged and pleaded and prayed just to get this far. Then you get another rejection or one hurtful comment or the hundredth "seen" notification on your messenger feed that will just sit there without a response for the next six months (assuming that person doesn’t just straight-up unfriend you for being annoying) and you realize that maybe you did have some dignity left-- because it just got crushed a little more. I know you want to give up. I know how hard this is.
Don’t. Don’t give up, okay? Because some part of you still thinks that this is worth it-- that’s the part that keeps convincing you to send out one more DM, one more Tweet. That’s the part that keeps encouraging you to write one more sentence. Sometimes only a single word, but it tells you to keep going. And that’s the part that people are going to see and respond to. Don’t let it die.
If you follow my Facebook or my blog, you probably know that I’ve been feeling pretty burnt out lately. Blades, my last blog post might have been a full-on mental breakdown. And I kept asking myself the entire time "who can blame me for giving up here?" After battling armies on all sides during the crowdfunding phase of things, I thought this entire book thing would get easier. But then I fell short of the contest I was going for, my health failed terribly at the end of my campaign, and I didn’t have any idea how hard marketing would be. Trying to get people to review or even share posts about your book is an insane battle all on its own, and you start to doubt yourself. Maybe no one is sharing because I’m not a good enough friend. Maybe I really can’t write. Maybe this entire dream was stupid. It’s mind numbing and heart-wrenching and terrible.
And it’s wrong.
I’m sorry I forgot that, Faoii. I’m amazed that it took the help of others to remind me of what I’m fighting for. What we’re all fighting for. But today I got an amazing letter from a fellow Inkshares author that you should definitely follow. And I (for probably the millionth time) got more encouragement than I deserve from this Inkshares friend who has picked me up and dusted me off after every single fall thus far. (Make sure to follow him, too--of everyone I know, none are more deserving of happiness than he is). And between the two of them, I remembered something that I tried so hard to put into words when I was writing an entire book that it’s ridiculous that I might forget it myself.
Keep going.
Keep going. We forget sometimes that even our hardest moments can be beacons of light for others. Standing to face our demons can sometimes give someone else just enough courage to rise against theirs. Facing and overcoming challenges means proving to others that it CAN be done. And so, while we face our own challenges in hopes of overcoming them and forging ahead to our own future-- do not forget that by rising up, you may also be helping others to do the same. This book is greater than you, now, and has been since the first day you chose to put yourself out in front of the world and declare it worthy.
I know it’s hard, these demons you face on and off your book’s platform. But, whatever you’re going through--don’t be afraid to tell the world that it’s happening. Some might come to your aide (and hopefully many will), but if they don’t-- that might be because they just needed someone else to be strong for a while. You can be that person without ever knowing it.
Quick update-
11/12/17
Hello, everyone.
Wanted to just give you all a quick update on what’s going on with "Devil You Don’t." After Launchpad wrapped up, I confess I paused my campaign. My brain needed a break, and you all probably needed a break from me. :-)
Right now, we are 84 copies away from "The Devil You Don’t" qualifying for Inkshares’ Quill publishing level.
I’ve asked for (and received) an extension on my funding window until the end of this year. So at midnight on December 31, the funding window will close. At that point, either I’ll be qualified for Quill--or, I won’t be and you’ll all receive a refund for your pre-ordered copies.
I’m going to start digging up more intrepid readers. Of course, I’d love to have everyone’s continued support so if you know anyone who might be interested, please share my page: https://www.inkshares.com/books/the-devil-you-don-t.
If you’ve ordered, consider ordering a second copy--anyone who orders a copy that they’re planning to give as a gift, please let me know once you’ve ordered. If you’d like, i’ll send you a certificate you can give while the book is in production!
That’s it for now -- thank you as always for your continued support. I’ll send an update as we get into the start of December to let you know how everything is unfolding.
Best,
Susan
