Updates, Faoii! Listen up! You’re going to like these!
The Last Faoii becomes an officially launched book in just a few hours. In that moment, it will be widely available to anyone who wants to hear our tale, and you will have the opportunity to rate/review it on Amazon. Take the opportunity. We’ve already fought tooth and nail to take this hill, and I promised you a year ago that the world will know us. This is how that happens. We’ve fought too hard and come too far for The Last Faoii to be completely lost in the sea of novels already out there. Hitting those little stars is the only way to build our island in that sea. And we won’t just build an island. We will raise a mountain, Faoii, and our banner will stand at its peak. We have conquered every obstacle that’s come before. We will not stop now.
Other things are happening as well, of course. In an attempt to spread the word, I did an interview with Jessie’s Coffee Shop this evening. I will admit, my warriors, that I was nervous at first, and it shows at the very beginning of the set. Get through those first four minutes, however, and things go smoother. There’s a lot of interesting information packed away in there and I hope you find it of at least some interest.
Faoii-Kaiya, too, has been busy. She did her own interview for The Protagonist Speaks earlier tonight. Look through that as well and see what our young leader has to say about her world, her journey, and our army. Get to know the woman that started all of this.
It’s all finally happening, Faoii. I could not have done this without you. And I still can’t. More is coming. Be ready.
Shields Up.
Faoii-Tahani
It’s been far too long since I’ve been able to deliver news of any significant amount of progress with Tantalus Depths. I’ve had quite a few people approach me asking when the book is coming out, and I’ve regrettably had nothing to offer in the way of a satisfactory answer. I’m not sure I made it clear enough during my campaign last year just how long it takes to get a book through this kind of production process, but it can take a very long time.
Fortunately, today I finally have some good news. Progress has at last been made! Last night I finally received my development letter from Matt Harry, my development editor. Matt is the Head of Story Development at Inkshares, and his work has helped books like the amazing Punch Escrow succeed brilliantly during their production processes.
For those unfamiliar with how the publishing process works, all Inkshares books receiving the full editing treatment (such as Tantalus Depths) go through several waves of editing, each one focusing on improving a separate aspect of the manuscript. The development edit is the first, and it focuses on big picture stuff, such as focusing the story’s overall tone, message, and style. Basically figuring out exactly what kind of story Tantalus Depths is and how to make it the best example of that kind of story it can be.
Tantalus Depths has been read by quite a few beta readers and has gone through at least four rounds of edits, but this is the first time it’s been seen by a professional editor. Matt sent me eleven pages of advice on what sort of things I should consider changing to improve the book, on top of dozens of margin notes in my original manuscript for specific lines and sections I should change.
There’s a lot to work on here. The overall story isn’t going to change from the one I set out to tell; in fact, Matt was very clear that they want to make sure I get to tell the story the way I want it. The primary point of these notes is to focus the story properly, to trim out anything that doesn’t work so I can make the stuff that does work even better. Most of the notes he gave me deal with things such as keeping a consistent tone, improving character development, and getting more into the worldbuilding. I was actually surprised by that last one, since I’ve done a tremendous amount of worldbuilding but was intentionally holding back on including a lot of it, lest I get too carried away. Now that I’ve been given a green light to add more, I’m going to be having a lot of fun with these edits.
So, long update short, the wheels are rolling on Tantalus Depths once more! There is still no release date nailed down (I’m afraid there’s still going to be a decent wait ahead), but finally we’re fully into production mode now. I have a lot of writing and re-writing to be doing in the next couple weeks, but I am looking forward to it. We’ve finally gotten to the point where Tantalus Depths is making the transition from a simple manuscript to a proper Novel.
Stay tuned for more in the coming weeks!
Oh, by the way, my campaign for Proteus is still running, and I’m going to go back into campaigning mode as well within the next month or so. Stay tuned for that as well, and if you haven’t ordered a copy yet (or would like to help the campaign out even more by ordering a second one), please do so!
Greetings! Faoii!
My inbox has been FULL the last two days with people telling me that they got their books and are ready to finally read our tale. How exciting!
If you live in or near MT, come celebrate with me at our launch party! If not, make sure to follow me on facebook so you can see pictures and be part of the fun!
As always, Faoii, thank you. This is all because of your support.
Dear Readers,
Ready, set, GO! I have the green light to proceed with rewriting the manuscript. It’s taken a few storyboard drafts, wrong turns, and vision corrections, but we finally have a version of the story that both Inkshares and I are excited about. I think you’ll all love it, too. I was travelling for business the past week and a half, but now that I’m back at home, I can’t wait to get started.
Of course, there’s still much to do. I don’t have an estimate on how long it will take to rewrite the manuscript, as I intend to do much of it from scratch using all the great new story telling skills I’ve acquired, but I’ll have my older manuscript copies open for direct reference. There are about 300 pages and 80,000 words to compose, but I plan to keep at it daily and I hope to do 2000 words per day (40 days and 40 nights…hmm). Once I’m done, I will submit it back to Inkshares for the development edit, and there will be at least one round of edits at that point, maybe more. Then it goes to the copy editor. Then…actually I don’t know what the next steps are after that, but I’ll keep you posted!
Cheers, Debbie
WE’RE ROUNDING THE CORNER TO THE NEXT PHASE OF EDITING!!!
Yesterday I got the clearance from editing master extraordinaire Matt Harry to start writing my final draft of Deus Hex Machina. Today I built my new editing scene list to help as a roadmap for what I’ll be doing for the next month. As you can see, most of the book is changing in some way, although a lot of the changes are going to be minor. I love this part of the process: Getting to dive into the book, polish up the rough edges and round out the wonky corners. It’s like falling in love with the story in a completely new way.
I’m unsure what happens once I’m done with this draft, so for the moment I’m going to assume that I go into an edit phase like the rest of my cohort. My guess is that such an edit will be very brief because we spent so much time upfront preparing for the 4th draft writing phase.
I can’t help but smile to think how far Isidore RAM has come. I am so proud of this little book, I can’t wait for you to get a chance to read it.
Cheers,
Amanda
At ease, Faoii. This is a short update. But an exciting one!
We just hit 300 pre-orders!!
If you haven’t yet, there’s still time to pre-order your copy, as well. You can do so through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or Inkshares. For all those warriors out there who use paypal as their weapon of choice, here’s your chance to get in on the fight!
Also, if you haven’t yet, make sure you like The Last Faoii on Facebook. I update there WAY more often than here, because it facilitates conversation, and I’m constantly looking for feedback on design changes and little updates. You’ve been part of every single step in the war up until now, make sure you’re part of every battle from here until the end. I want your opinion, and I, as always, appreciate your support.
I just sent the final few changes to Inkshares a few minutes ago. Next step is the printer. I can hardly believe it myself.
Shields up. Victory draws near.
Faoii-Tahani
I have a tendency to disappear sometimes. Actually, to escape. And at times escape so thoroughly that it’s like I can feel the whole Earth turning beneath me, forgetting it’s left me behind. ...but then I snap out of it, and I realize it’s really just my fault. I’ve been quiet a little too long. This reader update is long, long overdue.
As of this writing, The Animal in Man has sold 495 copies. As of months and months ago, that number was practically the same. I realized today I would very much like to see 500, and I’m asking all of those who have followed the novel recently to make a pre-order and help me achieve that goal. Of course, I’ve also been working on my sales pitch:
The Animal in Man is like Lord of the Flies, but instead of asking whether young men beguiled by the beast inside can ever be human again, the story asks if there’s something human already in every beast. Instead of stumbling, terrified, through a jungle of fear, they are born in a world of constant violence, perhaps designed that way by its creator. Are we so very different, I wonder.
The original description I typed years ago when I first launched the inkshares page are still true, perhaps more than ever before: The Animal in Man “is our story. The story of mankind." But if words alone aren’t enough to earn your pre-order, then consider these images.
When you read The Animal in Man, what you’ll see first is this:
But it’s really all about this:
It’s about why anyone would ever think violence could be the answer. It’s about my belief that all of us at some point in our life have heard that whisper inside our hearts that says this it might just be.
Is it?
Quick update!
Thank you for hanging in there, everyone!
I’m nearing the end of the first phase of developmental editing, which means that the story itself is getting a polished shine so bright you’ll be able to see your face in the cover when you get the book (subject to glossiness of the actual cover). This means in the coming weeks I will be moving on to rewrites. The developmental editing process has been incredible. Mr. Butler and friends have truly come out on top through this process. Endless thanks to Matt Harry, my editor, for his patience with me during a difficult summer, his ability to see the story the same way I see it, and his willingness to challenge me along the way.
"Cool. So when do I get my book?"
I’m working hard to try and get it into your hands during the first half of next year. I can’t thank you all enough for your investment in my dream to become a published author. I realize it’s unconventional to buy a book two years before getting it, but the end will pay off, I promise. Inkshares books are still getting published faster than traditional publishers’s books, and all the while they are gaining international attention, securing TV, movie, and audiobook deals, and winning awards. This momentum is no doubt part of the careful attention they are giving to books like mine. This is a dream, and I thank you all for your investment.
If you wish to see my other writing, poetry, and music while you wait, please take a look at talltalestold.com. It’s my personal blog and home for all things writing. You can watch me become a Viking and play guitar...but not in the same entry...yet.
If you’re on Facebook, stop by and give Tall Tales Told a "like." There’s also a group on that page where I post the Mr. Butler news and updates, in case you’d prefer seeing them on there rather than through an email.
That’s all I’ve got for now. I’d better get back to work.
Thank you for your support, as always.
Love,
Michael