Friends, Family, and Supporters,

The contest has come to a close, and I‘m happy to announce that Inkshares will be publishing The Ghost Tracks! I want to thank each of you for supporting me throughout this process. It has been a truly rewarding experience, which has allowed me to both reconnect with old friends and make new ones. I will never forget the outpouring of support I have received the last few months.

For those who I talk to often, thank you for being there. For those who reached out and bought a book even though we may not have seen each other in many years, thank you for still caring enough to support me.  And to my family, thank you for being the first ones to step up and for advocating on my behalf.

There were many excellent books entered in both the Horror and Mystery/Thriller competitions. It is my great hope that they are published soon, because they surely deserve to be.

Also, a big congratulations to Patrick Delaney and Michael Saltenberger, fellow horror authors who are also going to be published. Please check out their awesome books, The House that fell from the Sky and Blind.

Even though the contest is now over, there is still much work to be done. In order to get the book into the best shape possible, additional re-writes and editing will have to take place. But I will definitely keep everyone up to date as the book proceeds towards publication. Thank you again for your support and for being a part of this experience with me.

Celso

We did it! The Inkshares Mystery & Thriller Contest has ended, and with your help, I came in first place. I don’t think that’s ever happened to me since I ran a 10k race, New Year’s day in Toronto some years ago and it was so cold just about no one showed up. 

Thank you everyone who supported this creative project. It’s because of your support that Gumshoe Rules will be published by Inkshares. I couldn’t be more excited about this. In November, I pledged a donation of $5 per order to the non-profit NaNoWriMo.org that organizes National Novel Writing Month and then doubled that in December. I rounded up and donated $1,000 to NaNoWriMo.org,  a very good charity that encourages writing and creativity.  

As I understand it, the process from here is as follows: There’s still about half of the book left to edit for this latest draft, which will take until January. Then I’ll submit the manuscript to Inkshares and we’ll begin another round of editing. Depending on what input and feedback they have, I’ll have to rewrite some sections of the book. Then a cover is selected and there’s proofreading, copy-editing, marketing and so on. Eventually, many months from now the book will be formatted, printed and shipped out. Hopefully all that happens in 2019.

I’m fully committed to getting the book completed as fast and with the best quality possible. I will share updates as milestones are achieved, but communications will be less frequent. If you ever have questions about the book, you can shoot me email and I’ll do my best to respond.  
Thank for giving me this opportunity to publish my book.

—Z.Z. Traver
PS. It was a thrill to meet with Inkshares CEO & Publisher Adam Gomolin at their offices this week. He knows more about story structure and closing rights deals than I will ever know.   

The second chapter will be out as soon as I’m done with my last final. So, after Monday, expect an update! I hope you all are excited, because I sure am to share with you what’s next.

Also, please, remember to continue sharing, "In Warm Blood," with your family and friends. We have a long way to go in order to reach the funding goal. However, with enough determination and willingness, I believe we can do this together.

Thank you,

Fiza H.

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?

Exactly a week ago I sent out a message about how I’ve reached 3% of my goal, and now that has increased to 5%! Thank you to all, who have pre ordered and answered to my call for help. People who hadn’t read a book in for years, pre ordered only because I asked them to, and that truly means a lot!

The mystery/thriller competition will be ending soon, in give or take a few hours, and currently I have been able to pre sell 40 copies out of 250 in a month’s time. For me, that’s amazing. But, I’m really hoping you guys can all help me reach at least fifty pre orders. Those of you who have intentions of pre ordering but still haven’t gotten your copies, please, get one now. If you know anyone who might be interested, but they are unable to order for themselves, then please gift them a copy too.

I have finals today and tomorrow, so I am unable to place my full attention on promoting my book and spreading the word. This is why, I am asking for your help. Every single reader counts and every pre order that I receive will work towards building the destiny of my book.

I will remember you all in my prayers, and wish you happiness in life. Have a great day!

Go to the link below if you would like to pre order now for yourself or family and friends: https://www.inkshares.com/books/in-warm-blood-c04a00

Thank you,

Fiza H.

As of this writing, we have about FORTY-TWO HOURS LEFT on the Inkshares Mystery & Thriller contest. If you haven’t placed a pre-order yet for "Cat’s Paw", now would be the time to do it.

From the last will and testament of Sir Lawrence Linwood, dated 14 September 1914:

...However, in the event that I should die from unnatural causes, that is, by another’s hand; and, assuming the identity of my killer remains a mystery to the police; then, in lieu of the above, I bequeath the entirety of my residual estate, less the bequests listed in the first section, to whichever of my three children (Alan, Roger, or Caroline) first identifies my killer to the police....

From Sir Lawrence Linwood’s letter to his younger son, Roger Linwood, dated 28 March 1921:

...As such, I will be contacting my solicitors within the next week to alter my will in your favour. I’m afraid Alan will not be pleased, but as he has no time for England, I have no time for him; and Caroline, of course, never expected anything to begin with. Keep this information close to your chest. If anything should happen to me....

THE AUDIOBOOK IS OUT!

https://www.audible.com/pd/B07L18NC9G?

.

Less than one week to go!

Ladies and gentlemen, we have less than one week before the end of the Inkshares Mystery & Thriller contest. We’re currently at second place with 119 readers, but anything can happen in a week, and our friends down in 3rd and 4th are just hitting their second wind. Do we have a second wind? I hope we do. If you know anyone who might be interested in a tale of suspense -- of murder, conspiracy, and suspicion -- be sure to point them this way. Don’t forget to check to see if you really have placed your order.

And remember, pre-ordering a physical copy of the book also gets you the e-book bundled in together!

Greetings, adventurers!

It’s the first Monday of the month, meaning that this is #MushAnch Monday. I know it has still been only two weeks since you heard from me last... perhaps a minor oversight on my part, but hey, at least I’m being consistent!

Because it has, in fact, only been two weeks, I don’t have any updates or info--at this rate, I’m quite sure it’ll be 2019 before I have any news for you. I’ve been proven wrong before, though!

To let you in on some life updates, I’ve been doing a little freelance editing and proofreading of late. If you’re in need of an editor or just someone to bounce ideas and concepts off, please get ahold of me! I really love editing and will give you honest, constructive feedback to help you progress. Give me a shout for my rates and I’ll happily chat with you.

I’m getting ready to launch my next large-scale project, with details on that to come very, very soon. I’m so excited about this project and it’s coming together much faster than I thought it would. So you can be aware of when this is going to happen, I recommend following my Facebook page or signing up for the newsletter on my website. I’ll give you a teeny hint: it has something to do with the Practical Escapist!

As this is likely to be the last update before 2019, I want to take a moment to thank you all for your support in 2018. It’s been a quiet year for Mushroom and Anchovy, but hopefully the sleepiness is building up to a great 2019. I can’t wait to share all the exciting new things 2019 will have in store, and I’m thinking it’s going to be a really creative year.

What are your wishes for 2019? What are your highlights from 2018? I’d love to hear them. Shoot me a comment on my Facebook page or Patreon, or send me a DM through Inkshares. 

Talk to you on January 7th for the next #MushAnch Monday. Have a fantastic holiday, whatever you celebrate, and all the best to you in 2019!

My your adventures be fraught with wonder and just enough peril to keep them interesting,

K. M. Cooper

PS: Here is a doodle I did this weekend. I’ve been slowly getting back into art after a lengthy hiatus. Enjoy!