What’s up Pirates!!

First and foremost, a meme because today marks the last Wednesday of 2016:

It’s been a long time since my last update! To be honest, the last few months have been a whirlwind of working on the manuscript, various supporting documents, etc, to get this book into production. Every time I started to write an update, something amazing happened that made me think, "I’ll finish this later so I can tell them more." As a new novel writer, it’s something I’ve never experienced before, but I’m very thankful for the Inkshares team’s support and encouragement. The Pirates of Montana is going to be amazing, and I’m really excited for you to read it!

I submitted my second rewrite just a few days ago, and I’ll be working over next 6 to 8 weeks to really tighten the manuscript. It’s already much stronger than what I originally worked on last May, and I’m very excited for where its going. I’ll be posting my new 1st and 2nd chapters very soon, so stay tuned!

As it stood on Christmas Eve, when I emailed this monster to Inkshares (their request, they are a hardworking bunch!), this is what I submitted:

88,796 total words and (although you can’t see it on the above graphic) 23 total chapters. That means that when printed, I guesstimate the book will be around ~350 pages long. Writing this document was a mixture of stress, joy, and excitement. I’m happy that the next big step has been taken! So is my family, who got really used to tiptoeing around me after 7 pm when I’d finally have time to work.

As it stands, the book will be published by September 2017. Yay! I’ve been proofing my back copy and bio, and we should have those finished in early January.  

Inkshares wrote a wonderful blog post about crowdfunding books. Please read it, as it explains the writing/editing/publishing process, including their timelines for authors (a.k.a ’Why is it taking a year to get my book?’): 

http://blog.inkshares.com/post/154475375840/a-note-on-pub-dates-from-the-inkshares-production

2016 wasn’t easy for a lot of people, myself included, but I KNOW that 2017 will be AMAZING, and it’s all thanks to you: your support, your encouragement, and your indefatigable tolerance of my dinosaur memes. 

Cheers to a wonderful 2017!

Erin

Hey gang! Been a while...right to it then! But first, thanks for being the best! Seriously, I couldn’t do these awesome things without you.

“Exciting times are incoming.” No other more obvious statement has ever been made when one considers the horror that was 2016. With this update, I want to draw your eyes to what I’m seeing in 2017, and I think you’ll have a lot to be excited for. At least three things for sure:

First: “The Animal in Man” continues to lurk in the dark recesses of my brain. I’ve already been thinking of more monuments I can build in the violent world of Herbridia. Literally, a monument of bloodletting and death, a coliseum at the heart of Crosswall, the Leoran capital city featured in the novel’s opening chapters. And more - the ideas just never stop coming. I’m utterly in love with this world, and even while I chomp at the bit to get my production timeline put together, I’m already getting edits written down. Stay tuned for further news as soon as I hear it!

Second: “Hunger.” I took a trip in 2013 to attend my graduation ceremony at Full Sail University in Florida, and during the flight I managed to craft and tighten a pretty fine piece of writing, a little 10-page short film script focused on the struggles of a father and son as they starve in a post apocalyptic world. What would you do if it meant you could eat, and survive? What part of yourself would you give up? “Hunger” has caught the attention of some film-makers based in Sydney, Australia, and WITH YOUR SUPPORT my beautiful little screenplay can be professionally produced and shown on the silver screen! Please visit the project’s Pozible page (a.k.a. The Aussie Kickstarter) and pledge what you can.

Third: “The White Shadow.” My thesis as part of Full Sail’s Masters program was a full-length video game design document, a project I very lovingly pitch as Cyberpunk Soul Reaver, blending traversal through the realm of spirits with a futuristic cyberpunk Japanese setting, a world dominated by omnipotent Megacorporations, pervasive fear, and destructive technology. I put “The White Shadow” on the back-burner while work on “Animal in Man” progressed, but I couldn’t help myself from wandering back into its grimy rain-soaked streets. I decided to turn the story into a novel - MY NEXT BIG PROJECT FOR 2017! - and just finished writing the first chapter today. Please visit my portfolio page right here, and then tell me what you think! Should I turn this into a draft on Inkshares? The possibility has more than certainly crossed my mind…

2016 was tough. I’m glad to be turning my back on it. I’m excited to be turning toward 2017, and I hope you are too. We’ve got plenty of things to look forward to, my dear readers. Rest assured I will be keeping myself ridiculously busy refining old chapters of “The Animal in Man” and completing new chapters of “The White Shadow.” And, with your help, getting a real-world Screenplay-By Credit for "Hunger".

See you in the New Year, Animals. Lets have a Happier one this time.

The Pale-One comes. A preview of artwork from The Children of the Forest - art booklet. 

Apologies for the lengthy period of silence. I’ve been quite busy with work, purchasing a new house, and quite a bit more. Work on the book continues at a healthy pace, with the end for revisions and edits nearing. I’ve gone ahead and posted updated samples of the first 7 chapters, so go take a look if it’s been some time - the updates have made quite a substantial difference in the overall quality of the novel. 

As I ease back into the social media spotlight, I’m hoping I’ll be able to post a bit more regularly, offering additional previews and what-not as everything falls into place for CotF. I also wanted to offer everyone my wish for a happy New Year, and my thanks for sticking with the project throughout this crazy year. ~

First of all: merry Christmas, and a happy New Year.

Second: we’ve passed 300 readers, which means I can start talking about how I’m defending my position on The List with 300, like King Leonidas at Thermopylae. Have you looked at The List’s leaderboard today, though? The contenders from the Launchpad competition have just been transferred in, at 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th. While the top three Launchpad entries are, according to the rules, probably going to be taken out again, there’s still that one contender, the fourth Launchpad entry, currently in 6th on The List, who’s just 10 readers below me and still taking orders....

In short, my position is Extremely Precarious, and I’m probably going to need a bunch of new readers within the next week to ensure my place.

In book news, the manuscript is complete and ready for submission. So is a brand new plan of the Veterans’ Club ground floor--and yes, the manuscript has been edited to take into account the new layout.

In short, we’re ready to roll. It’s just a question of what happens over the course of the next week. Now, more than ever: tell your friends, tell your enemies, tell your complete strangers. King Leonidas may have made an impressive defence of Thermopylae with his 300 Spartans, but that ultimately ended in defeat. Let’s hope the same doesn’t happen with my 300 readers.

Greetings wonderful followers, 

Sorry for the long silence. I’ve have my nose to the grind stone, working hard to make Beyond the Code the best it can be. But even with how hectic this time of year can be and how hard I’ve been working I just wanted to take a moment and wish you all a Merry Christmas or happy which ever winter holiday you celebrate. 

I know it’s been one hell of a year for everyone but it’s almost to a close so try and take some time to reflect of the good things that have happened and the great things we still have. 

I, for one am grateful that I got the chance to connect with all of you. Thank you all for the fantastic support you all have given me and I wish you all the best in the coming year. 

Kelsey Rae Barthel  

Hello my friends,

It’s been a while hasn’t it? Thing is, when preparing a book for publication, things can get pretty damn hectic. Toss in an option from a production company and the stakes get really high, which of course means more work. 

That being said, I’d be remiss in not taking a moment to thank each and every one of you for your support in 2016. There’s no way I’d be anywhere near even this modest amount of success without you. I owe it all to you guys. 

So I hope you all have incredible holidays with your friends and families. That 2017 will be an awesome year for you and that you get to accomplish your dreams the same way you’ve allowed me to accomplish mine. And to kick off the next year on a good note, I’d like to unveil the final (kinda) cover for A God in the Shed: 

The designer did an amazing job in creating something iconic and striking that will be a great visual signature for the story. I’m really looking forward to seeing this cover, wrapped around a book, in your hands.

Thanks again for your support and happy Kwanzhannukmas everyone! 

 JF

Hello my friends,

It’s been a while hasn’t it? Thing is, when preparing a book for publication, things can get pretty damn hectic. Toss in an option from a production company and the stakes get really high, which of course means more work.

That being said, I’d be remiss in not taking a moment to thank each and every one of you for your support in 2016. There’s no way I’d be anywhere near even this modest amount of success without you. I owe it all to you guys.

So I hope you all have incredible holidays with your friends and families. That 2017 will be an awesome year for you and that you get to accomplish your dreams the same way you’ve allowed me to accomplish mine. And to kick off the next year on a good note, I’d like to unveil the final (kinda) cover for A God in the Shed:

The designer did an amazing job in creating something iconic and striking that will be a great visual signature for the story. I’m really looking forward to seeing this cover, wrapped around a book, in your hands.

Thanks again for your support and happy Kwanzhannukmas everyone!

JF

Dear friends

 Happy Holidays

I hope you have a wonderful time with your family and those you love. No matter which holiday you celebrate, I think we can all agree that the theme this time of the year is love. Love those around you, love the people who love you and support you through the tough times, and love what life has given you. Every day we live is a gift, so let’s enjoy them all.

I am excited about 2017. I have three writing projects to work on during the coming year. Too Many Controllers, the short stories anthology which won the Nerdist video games contest. Bad Medicine, my latest horror novel which won the Crypt TV horror contest and, of course, Worlds Walker, the sequel to The Catcher’s Trap.

Next year will be busy and exciting, and I hope you are still on board to continue this journey by my side. After all, it is because of you that I can call myself a published author.

If the Holidays put you in a giving mood, please check out my other projects, especially Worlds Walker. Many people have asked me for the sequel to The Catcher’s Trap. The manuscript is ready, but I don’t have a publishing deal yet. You can change that. Click here to follow the project or pre-order.

We’ll talk again next year!

Love you all, have a wonderful Holiday!