Hey everyone! Well, it looks like we're coming to the end of the Nerdist contest in 2 days. I joined up pretty late in the game, so I wasn't planning on any miracles happening (though that would have been pretty amazing!) So an early congrats to the soon-to-be official Top 5! I can't wait to read your stuff!

As far as Dax Harrison, we're in it for the long haul. To recap, I've got till Dec 6th to make at least 750 pre-orders for an ebook publishing, and at least 1000 orders for printed paperbacks. I don't know about you guys, but I want to go for the gold! Technology is great, but I LOVE holding a good book in my hand, smelling the paper and slipping my favorite bookmark in when I reach a stopping point. We gotta make this happen, guys and gals!

I am entertained and honored to see just how many people love the retro zaniness of the current book cover! As I've noted in the "About the book" section, the art was created using a fun little website called the Pulp-O-Mizer, created by Bradley W. Schenck. As the rights to the images used in the Pulp-O-Mizer belong to Mr. Schenck, this artwork was meant to be a temporary placeholder during the campaign only. (audience "awws" and "boos")

But fear not! I have reached out to a couple terrific artists about designing an original cover for the book which, I assure you, will capture the same flair and ham-fisted bravado that Dax rightly deserves! Futhermore, Mr. Schenck DOES allow the printing of Pulp-O-Mizer created images through his personal web store. That said, if we meet our publishing goal, I will be more than happy to purchase and send out the original Dax cover as bonus art to you fine folks! I haven't run all the numbers yet. I'm sure it'll cost a pretty penny. But guess what? I love you guys that much. :)

Last thing: As always, I need help generating buzz for the book. Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who has already shared it! One more thing that helps: reviews. If you didn't know, as you read Chapter 1 or Chapter 2 on the website, you can select passages of the writing that you like. Did you like a certain moment? A certain line of description? Did a line of dialogue make you laugh? Click and highlight it, and Inkshares will give you the option to leave a comment. ("I laughed out loud!", "Ooh, nice imagery.", etc.) Those comments show up in the Inkshares newsfeed for other members to see, which brings in more potential readers! Pretty cool, huh?

Ok, this post is super long-winded, and I've got writing to do. Go forth! Share the book with all your friends, family, coworkers, and fellow coffee drinkers on your morning Starbucks run! Don't forget, when someone buys a book using your referral link, you get $15 back to spend on more Inkshares books! ...More copies of Dax Harrison, for example...

Cheers!

We have hit 500 readers! (well, 510 because I only do updates on Saturday). So in celebration....

Welcome to Deadland. Zac. A MERE T-REX T-Shirt! HA! I scoff at this!!! I raise you an ARMY!!!!!!!

 "A turkey, huh? OK, try to imagine yourself in the Cretaceous Period. You get your first look at this "six foot turkey" as you enter a clearing. He moves like a bird, lightly, bobbing his head. And you keep still because you think that maybe his visual acuity is based on movement like T-Rex - he'll lose you if you don't move. But no, not Velociraptor. You stare at him, and he just stares right back. And that's when the attack comes. Not from the front, but from the side....." 

As you can tell... after 41 days I am growing more and more crazy. 

So. I have two special shout outs: The first is to lucky number 500. 

PopultureHQ can be found:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PopCultHQ

Tumblr: http://popculthq.tumblr.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CultHq

The World Wide Web: http://popculthq.com/

They are pretty much all your really cool stuff in one spot. Plus Cosplay Coverage! 

Next is TPK Gaming: 

My goal is to make that namesake a reality in an upcoming rpg game... you can find them:

World Wide Web: http://tpkgamingstore.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TPKGamingStore

A special thanks to both of them for helping me out greatly. Showing me the ropes a little bit. And letting me loiter in their store asking anyone who walked in the door if they like to read. Support your friendly local gaming store people! Wherever you are!!

Well... we have 4-5 days left. The march continues. I think we are all pretty tired at this point. But, if you feel up to it: Make one last poke to your friends and readers. It's the last chance to get the book AND have it help for the contest. 

Thank you so much everyone! I'm feeling pretty good about this!

SIERRA!!!! (that's me shouting) THANK YOU!

You and the next five readers win a "Ladies of Scifi" poster featuring Sarah Connor, Ellen Ripley, and Furiosa!


Now here's a longer update for you all...

The Coloring Book

We've had some discussions about the exclusivity thing with the coloring book, and we realized - the authors with fewer readers aren't going to benefit from it, because so many potential readers will have already received the coloring book from other authors. The book will work as a straightforward introduction into the world of our books, and we want to get it in front of as many eyeballs as possible.

SO! The Inkshares Authors Showcase Coloring Pages and Activity Book is no longer exclusive to our readers!!! We'll share it however we want, with whomever we want, in the hopes that we can lift up those with fewer readers and spread the word about Inkshares in general far and wide.

• DOWNLOAD THE COLORING BOOK!

My Coloring Contest

Deadline extended to 9pm Sunday Sept 27th so people have more time to color!

And I realize not everyone may have software easily available to extract my page from the larger pdf, so here's a link to download just my coloring page for the contest:

• The She Is the End Coloring Page!

Nearing End of the Nerdist Contest...

Yes, I am trying to get back in the game! But consider this: I'm in it for the long haul. I'm going to be okay. Slow and steady wins the etc etc.

BUT THERE ARE BOOKS YOU SHOULD BE PRE-ORDERING RIGHT NOW.

That's right. I'm asking you, friends, to support these awesome Inkshares authors - not because I think they're better than me, or better than any of the top 5 books - simply because their books are high quality... and everyone loves a close race, right?

These Old Bones by A.J. Ainsworth - Fifteen year old Tommandros must survive the road where brigands await to steal his powers—or take his life—in order to reach the Summoner’s trials where he must prove himself worthy of his Calling or lose the legacy he never knew he had.
(If you haven't pre-ordered this book yet, LOOK AT YOUR LIFE. LOOK AT YOUR CHOICES.)

The Fable Hunt by Rachel Berkey - A sleepy town, a couple of readers, and a fairy on a quest to save stories from extinction. Will they find new sources of inspiration or will books die out forever?

(Those of you who have been following me for a million years will remember I already recommended this one before it was cool. It's Literary and Good. It's top 10 and it should be top 5. Go!)