I am interrupting my day at work because of this unbelievable happening, and I simply had to share it with you! I have gotten the highest honor I have ever received for my writing! I was notified a few minutes ago by @Matthew Isaac Sobin, the syndicate lead of the GREAT SCIFI for the 21st CENTURY and BEYOND SYNDICATE that Mission 51 is their July selection!!!!

Like I told Matt, this honor has left me spinning with feelings. I am humbled that anyone would think of me and my work like this. I am overjoyed! And I feel like a funny fear has been lifted, a fear that my thought and words are insignificant. This honor is very encouraging!

Here is what Matt had to say:

The SciFi syndicate is thrilled to support Mission 51 with our July selection! Ferd Crôtte has created something truly intoxicating. The perfect premise, which takes one of the great mysteries / intrigues of the 20th century and puts us directly in the alien’s shoes; it’s SciFi and historical fiction wrapped into one. In addition, there is special artwork which illuminates the story with a deft touch. We can’t wait to read more, and for this story to become a book on our shelves. We encourage our fellow Inkshares authors and readers to support this praiseworthy project!

Matt, thank you very, very much from the bottom of my heart for this valued honor! I am re-energized to continue making Mission 51 the absolutely best it can be! Thank you!!!

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First Edit is DONE!

Hey folks, I’ll try to walk the line between too many updates and never hearing about the progress of Pilot X, but I think this is a good milestone.

The Developmental Edit is done!

What the heck is a developmental edit some of you ask? Now some of you are sneering because you know what it is. Stop that. Not everybody is as smart as you.

Basically this is the edit where Clete finds the things that I abd my beta readers didn’t realize were confusing or contradictory. I slap my head and go WOW how did I miss that? I take his suggestions add a twist of my own and YOU end up with a better story.

Among the highlights

- The people of the Fringe Cascade have much more readbale names but their horrible spellings have been preserved as a hilarious joke. At least Clete and I think it’s hilarious

- The Encyclopedia chapter is now at the end of the book as an appendix so you all don’t throw the book out the window thinking the whole thing is a dry recitation of facts

- A really confusing bit where Pilot X travels back int time to the same point three times is now understandable.

There’s more but it would be spoilery.

So there you go. Developmental Edit MANAGED.

Now it’s off to the copy editor where they will wail and gnash teeth at all my typos and utter lack of comprehension of the proper use of a comma. Clete tried to catch most of those things but he is only human and I am really awful at commas.

MARKETING PLAN! There’s a marketing plan. Spoiler: THIS IS PART OF IT RIGHT HERE!!! But also exciting things like newspapers and blogs and radio and podcasts. Heh. Podcasts.

Also a side note. Amazon decided the book comes out in February which it doesn’t. The expected release date is still March 14. Amazon just makes up stuff sometimes apparently.

And that’s it!  By all means please let me know if you have any more questions and I’ll keep you up to date as we pass more milestones.

As always THANK YOU for your belief in this book and making the publishing possible. You are the best.

Tom