Hello everyone!

I have not reached out through this platform in a long time, but the publication of Mission 51 is imminent, and I wanted to mention a few things.

First of all, my heartfelt gratitude goes to everyone who purchased a pre-order, especially those who did so during the Inkshares/Nerdist Sci-Fi Contest of 2017. Those pre-orders kept Mission 51 in the top 3 of all contestants and garnered a full publishing contract. Since that time, Mission 51 has been in production, progressively improving the story. It is now fully polished and ready for publication.

The publication date is February 15, 2022.

I am signing the pre-ordered books as we speak.

IMPORTANT:

For those who pre-ordered here on Inkshares, like everyone did during the contest, it’s time to update your address. If you moved since that contest in the summer of 2017, you need to update your address with Inkshares so the book will find its way to you.

If you have not yet placed an order but wish to do so now, it remains available for purchase here on Inkshaers, and is also available on Amazon, B&N, Target…

Thanks again, everyone, for your support and your patience, and I do so hope you enjoy Mission 51!

Ferd Crôtte

It’s Christmas Eve!

So here’s wishing everyone a happy Christmas and all the best for the holidays. And, of course, a good book to curl up with when the weather outside gets dreadful == whether we’re talking northern blizzards, southern heatwaves, or equatorial monsoons. Stay happy, stay healthy, and keep reading.

- Christopher Huang

News! Good news, and not-so-good news.

Let’s get the not-so-good news out of the way. I’ve received word that the release of Unnatural Ends might be delayed another two or three months, though nothing is confirmed yet. This is, apparently, down to some marketing strategy: Inkshares wants to put some extra effort into getting this book into the public eye, and there might be something to aiming for a release in the spring as opposed to the middle of winter. They’re weighing the pros and cons now, and I’m trusting them to do what’s best.

In much better news, we now have a cover!

Credit goes to Tim Barber of Dissect Designs, who’s done some amazing work on a number of other Inkshares titles. For Unnatural Ends, he’s taken the fractured family situation at the core of the story and expressed it as a jumble of mismatched pieces forced together. Brilliance, I think.

Now we just have to wait for Inkshares to work their marketing magic (consider telling your local library) and for the book to make its way to the bookstore shelves.

Hello, readers!

How are you enjoying On Home?! I’ve been blown away by the amazing response and I appreciate every single message, selfie, and review! Please keep them coming!

I would love to have you join me for one or all of the following events:

This Thursday, September 23 at 6pm EST ONLINE: Queer Appalachian Parents, Sex Work, and the End of the World. Join rural authors Alison Stine, winner of the 2021 Philip K. Dick Award, and Becca Spence Dobias to discuss their new books, Trashlands and On Home. Trashlands is a strip club at the edge of an apocalyptic junkyard where a mother works to earn enough to rescue her son. In On Home, three generations of Appalachian mothers, including one who works as a cam girl, struggle with the weight of the past and the small town they call home. What can rural America—past, present, and near-future, teach us about queerness and the volatile world we find ourselves in today? Stine and Spence Dobias will ask each other these questions and more. Register for free here.

October 6, 6-8pm EST ONLINE: Join Beausoleil Book’s Manager, Alexis and I to talk about the writing process, On Home, and representation of the queer community in literature and pop culture. The $5 ticket supports this incredible inclusive bookstore in Lafayette, Louisiana, or there’s an option to get a ticket for free by purchasing a book from them! Register here. 

October 7, 7pm PST IN PERSON at NEW Riverside Main Library Community Room. Join me for a National Novel Writing Event Workshop. I wrote the first draft of On Home during NaNoWriMo in November 2012. In this workshop, I’ll share the journey from that draft to a published novel, provide tips and tricks for “winning” NaNoWriMo, and answer questions. Come prepared to write, as parts of the workshop will be participatory. Signed books will also be available to purchase.

Thank you so much for your continued support!!
Becca

Dear readers,

I hope you have not forgotten me. It has been quite a while, and I admit that things have progressed far slower than I’d hoped. I feel that much of that is my own fault, and that has made me reluctant to post any updates. However, it looks like we’re finally over the slump, and have something real to report.

The book went into copy edits just last month, and should be moving on to the next step within the next week or so. Apparently we have a publication date set for February 2022, so here’s hoping things go according to schedule.

As I’m writing this, the International Agatha Christie Festival is just entering its last day. I was invited to say a little something about Christie’s post-WW1 world, though the ongoing plague means my contribution has had to be online only. Rather a shame not to be there in person, but being "online only" means the video is now available on YouTube. Check it out here: Agatha Christie: Clues to the Post-War World. While you’re there, why not check out some of the other online talks and events for the festival?

Cheers to everyone; stay healthy, and happy reading.

Surprise! If you pre-ordered through Inkshares, check your email! You should get your ebook TODAY!

Holy crap! You can start reading! Hard copies should still be shipped out August 31.

I’m so nervous and excited and so happy for you to finally be able to read this story!

Sending this early also means you have three weeks to read as much as you can and write a review on Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Noble, or wherever! It doesn’t have to be long, or even good. It can just say "I loved it" or "It’s lame." But the more early reviews I have, the better the book will do! If you write a review, fill out this form and I’ll send you an awesome sticker for your help!

Thank you so much for all of your support!! I hope you enjoy On Home!!!!

Hi! It’s just over a month away from launch! Eeeeeeeeee!

Inkshares has asked me to remind you all to update your addresses so that your books go to the right place. To do so, log into your Inkshares account and click on the little profile bubble on the top right side of the screen. There, you should see an option for "shipping address." Contact Inkshares support if you need any help!

I’m so excited that you’ll have books in hand soon!!! Thank you!