Just a quick Tuesday update to clog up your inbox. A Beast Requires now has a Facebook page. Yea, it's a thing.

https://www.facebook.com/abeastrequires

Happy Tupdatesday?  That just doesn't have the same ring, does it?

I promised I'd follow up with a word of thanks to any author who generously helped me spread the word about Blood Dawn this weekend while I busied myself with the story. Well, I worked hard -- until 3am yesterday -- and I did it! 20 more page of Blood Dawn not just written, but, according to my editor in an email I just received an hour ago, I wrote one of the most fascinating dialogues in the book to date.

What I find AWESOME, is that while I buckled down, 10 new readers stepped up and bought a copy of Blood Dawn. To those readers who were following and decided to jump on board, thank you so much! And guess what? We're now at 196 copies, which means there are only 9 more pre-orders to go until ... the 100 for $100 draw!

A special thanks to Andrew J. Ainsworth, who spread word to his followers about Blood Dawn and generated some great momentum. Readers, if you haven't heard of These Old Bones, Andrew's great fantasy book which is currently doing amazingly in the Nerdist Collection Contest, go and show your support now. It is the final two days now of the contest, so at this point each and every new reader counts. If you like adventure fantasy with magic and awesome world building, then definitely check out this book.

Andrew isn't the only author who I owe a special thanks to. Pat Jamison, a new Inkshares author who is still feeling out the ground, has generously assisted me with graphics and web design over the last few weeks has offered to make me small graphics and banners, and to redesign my website as a thank you for connecting him to the growing Inkshares author community. Pat is just wonderful, and he is also one of my DRAGON backers (Patazamazzon). I'm just overwhelmed with gratitude at the support I've been shown from the Inkshares community. Blood Dawn would not be where it is today without it.

You can check out Pat's handiwork by visiting the new pages on my website. Although the whole site he made is great, I'm particularly fond of the Blood Dawn page he Here is the link:

http://www.epicfantasywriter.com/blood-dawn/

Pat also made me a timeline for Blood Dawn, as a visual way to share with readers my schedule and what I have lined up to ensure the manuscript I deliver to Inkshares this April is polished to perfection. Check it out:

Pat's novel is called The Stones of Ragnarok, about a CIA and CSIS worker who must stop the end of the world at the hands of ancient Viking stones. Although he's not funding yet, I'm sure Pat would love your support. Go and check his project out and please follow him if it interests you. Click here.

Finally, in spirit of the mad dash toward the finish for those who are in the Nerdist Collection Contest, I want to point out one special author who I also owe a great deal of thanks so: AC Weston, artist extraordinary, and my official dragon lady. You may recall an earlier update where I shared her excellent artwork -- my dragon logo. I am in the process of coloring it in and will soon share with you the colored Blood Dawn logo, which will be used on the t-shirts I'm giving out to DRAGON backers if Blood Dawn reaches its funding goal.

AC Weston's book, She is the End, is an excellent, action-packed space opera novel told in twelve episodes. Please go and have a look at this great book and consider showing your support while there is still time in the contest.

Thank you for your continued support. This is an amazing team we have, and I have every bit of confidence it's going to continue to grow, and together we will make the dream that is Blood Dawn a reality.

It is my hope also that as readers you will spread the word about Inkshares and the excellent, growing catalog of books they have, to help us not just see Blood Dawn as a real book on bookshelves, but to let this community where readers get to vote on which books get published thrive.

Only a little bit of time left in the Nerdist Collection Contest and I can't believe I hit 600 readers! At each milestone I hit I'm continuously shocked by the outpour of support from everyone, and even saying 'thank you' 600+ times doesn't seem like enough to convey what you've all done for me. There is still some time to go though, and hopefully we'll be bringing Welcome To Deadland to even more hands.

As per tradition, I'm including another photo to celebrate, this time I wanted to show my writing space where Welcome To Deadland came alive. I've spent countless hours in this chair and at this desk planning, writing, editing, and rewriting to make Welcome To Deadland what it is, and I know I still have countless more until it's exactly what it needs to be for all of you.(Rick, I see your photoshopped mustache from 400, your abundance of dinosaurs at 500, and raise you a writing space and an abundance of mustaches.)

Shout out to my homegirl, JK Rowling, for giving me the courage to write and the inspiration for my creative space. Without the impact of Harry Potter in my life, Welcome To Deadland might not have ever come to be what it is. 

As we gear up for the final few moments of the contest, I say thank you once more. We're nearly there, but for now, we press on. 

-Zac

I've held 5th place for over a week now and there are only 1.5 days left in the contest! Keep spreading the word and sending your readerly friends my way and we'll nail this publishing contract and possible film adaptation. We're already there!

I am so thankful for every investment in my book. I hope you will view my dedication to my craft as an investment in you, especially when you're finally holding a hardcover edition of my book in your hands.

I'm happy that your generosity isn't something that can be bought. It's freely given. In the end, that will make for a sweeter, hard-earned victory, shared by you and I. Thanks guys!

I just wanted to thank you all for your incredible support. With your help, I hope to stay in the Top 20 for the next two days, until the competition finishes on September 30th. Now for some updates:

Exciting news- Talkers was featured on the very talented Laura Bynum's blog "Words on the Outside." If you want to hear me read one of my favorite chapters check it out. Even if you don't, check out her page, she is doing wonderful work for independent writers!!

 Here it is on youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmHOLRYeOXU&feature=em-upload_owner

And here it is on the referring, author index page:
https://wordsontheoutside.wordpress.com/authorindex/