Updates, Faoii! Listen up!

I won’t lie, faoii. This is an incredibly difficult update to write.

Remember how I told you once that I’d given up on The Last Faoii ever getting published? (The journey to this point is a long, beautiful that I detail on my blog HERE). It’s true. I worked for years trying to figure out the publishing world, and failed. Over and over. I was young, naive. I dug holes that I couldn’t get back out of and stumbled through the literary world with ungraceful feet. Ultimately, I put Faoii-Kaiya and her story on a shelf and walked away from it. I had prepared to let The Last Faoii die.

Then I found Inkshares and I figured "why not give it one more try?" At this point, what did I have to lose?

Never did I suspect to get so much support. An entire army picked up swords to make this book a reality. We were backed by syndicates and strangers. We almost made it to the top of Inkshares’ biggest contest. Every step of the way was hard work. I wanted to give up several times, but how could I let so many warriors down? And I kept hearing that voice in the back of my head: This is Faoii’s last chance. Take this hill or surrender. So I kept going. I kept going when Thane Studios dropped us right at the beginning of the contest. I kept going when Inkshares changed their royalties without announcement unexpectedly (that was a hard blow--I have probably spent more on editors and promotions now than I will make in return. And yet, it’s still worth it. This book was never about the money). I kept going even as I got sicker; as life got harder. I kept going because every single one of you stood behind me and worked to make this happen. And all you asked in return was a signed copy of the book I created for you.

Well, as it turns out, Inkshares has now decided that it’s not cost-effective to send out signed copies anymore. Poof. Done. Just like that. All the promises I made you apparently mean nothing. I’m putting more money into the project to order bookplates now so that I can at least give you SOMETHING to make your $20 pre-order worthwhile, and if you live in MT I’ll obviously still sign your book(s) when they come in, but all my promises of signed copies? I can’t guarantee that anymore and that hurts me greatly.

At this point I understand if you decide to drop your sword. Pull out of the fight. Demand a refund. No one deserves to be treated poorly, and I would not blame you if this was the last straw. You have fought honorably for this book-- you deserve to be respected. 

But, the beginning of this update still stands true-- I am completely aware that this is Faoii’s last chance. Either I keep going as I have been-- either I keep fighting until there’s absolutely nothing left to fight for-- or Faoii dies with me.

So the march continues.

I’m sorry, faoii. I wish I had better news for you. The book is still coming. You WILL still be able to read it. It’s just, I feel like I failed you, and there was nothing I could do about it.

But what else can we do? Shields up.

Faoii-Tahani

Exciting news, faoii! Listen up!

Today has been a wonderful day. It was the first day that I felt like myself since I got sick over a year ago. It was the first time in a long time that I felt like everything was going to be okay. Honestly, I had gotten so used to feeling run-down that I had forgotten what a true faoii feels like. I remember now. And it’s wonderful. Today was filled with hope and it made all the doctors appointments, fear, desperation, and pain of the last several months seem worth it. Things are getting better, faoii. We are going to make it.

But, here’s what YOU care about: Five minutes ago I sent in The Last Faoii manuscript to Inkshares. It is the first step in the march to publication-- the march to our campaigns ultimate and most glorious victory. Ready your weapons, faoii. The final battle is about to begin.

Shields up. Now and always.

Faoii-Tahani

Orders, Faoii! Listen up!

Thanks to all of you for your honest feedback and advice after my last update. The Last Faoii’s facebook page was filled with advice and opinions, and it’s taken me a bit to sort through all of it.

First things first: Blade-Blessed is a dumb name. We all decided that together. Also, the cover art with Kaiya on it was too cluttered. Most people seem to like the original design that I’ve been using since the beginning. So I’m glad we got those things out of the way. Well done, troops.

The title, though... that has brought up all sorts of discussion. On the one hand, yes, faoii is hard to pronounce if you haven’t already read the Glossary. On the other hand, though... We’re faoii. Every single one of you is a warrior, and I’ve addressed you by your title since your enlistment. Our campaign has been built on that word from the beginning. The world is beginning to know us by that name. It would be hard to drop it now.

But, it does not hurt to ask one more time before making an ultimate decision. Opinions, my warriors?