I didn't expect to have to make this announcement, but here we are. When I got onto the Inkshares platform to crowdfund The Life Engineered it was because of the Sword & Laser Collection contest. However, despite having a very attractive grand prize of a full publication run with Inkshares, coaching from Gary Whitta and an interview with Sword & Laser, not to mention being part of the Sword & Laser collection of course, I had no aspirations to reach such heights. Even the concept of finishing in the top five and getting published seemed like a challenging goal but at least that was attainable.

So I entered and I campaigned and through the patience and support of, well, you fine intelligences, we managed to get The Life Engineered into the top five and I was ecstatic.

Go head and click on that link. Watch the video and come back. I'll wait.

So there we are. The Life Engineered will be one of two books, along with the awesomely titled 'Asteroid Made of Dragons', to premier in the Sword & Laser Collection. Dear readers, give yourselves a high-five, shake your own hand and slap yourself on the back because you did it. My congratulations to you for succeeding in this and my thanks for what you have given me. 

Now if you don't mind, I'm going to go have some chocolate to celebrate.

JF

Apart from a most heartfelt "thank you" dear contributors, you are off the hook today. I know that traditionally, in the last few days of this race I should be 'rallying my base', but today I want to talk to my followers who are not yet part of the assembly. I want to talk to the followers who still hesitate to pre-order.

Hi guys. Thanks for taking an interest in The Life Engineered. Whether you got here because you like robots, the sample chapters intrigued you or some other detail of my book hit a nerve, I want to say I'm glad for your presence. Even if, in the end, you do not pre-order, I'm still happy for the audience. A lot of this campaigning is a performance. A lot of hard work being put into making just the right amount of noise, keeping it pleasant and putting on a show. Having spectators is important.

Let me point out however, that your contribution would be incredibly appreciated. If you're sitting on a few credits, consider tossing them my way. I've tried to add on some incentives in the form of art prints and a raffle for a model but in the end, the true reason to pre-order The Life Engineered is the book itself. I don't want to brag, but there is something cool and unique about the optimism and characters in this book that I think, if you made it this far, you'll truly enjoy.

So please consider pulling the trigger on this and pre-ordering on (or more) copies. Then one day, we'll meet at a book show or con and we'll have coffee and talk about robots and it will be awesome.

Thank you again for your support.

JF