Greetings Friends,

Quick update with two items,

As previously mentioned, I'm appearing at Barnes & Noble in Salem, NH this Sunday afternoon from 1 to 3 pm. Most of my local supporters have already purchased the book, but I would still love it if you could stop by and help make this important event a success.

I need to have a good enough showing to have a chance of ever being invited back. So for anyone in the area who already has the book, I would appreciate it if you would consider purchasing another one at the event - I will reimburse you for the purchase afterwards and you could keep it or gift it.

Any copies purchased and left with me (as gifts) will be donated to Webster House in Manchester NH - I think the kids that are 13 to 18 years old who are temporarily residing there might enjoy having a personally autographed copy of the book. http://www.websterhousenh.org/

The second item is that Inkshares is having it's first annual Review-a-thon! I am donating five $20 prizes that can be used to buy one of Inkshares books.

Select a currently funding book at Inkshares.com, read *excerpts* and write a review for chances to win some amazing prizes. BONUS: help authors hone their work and get recognized! Check it out on

https://www.facebook.com/events/683611381775339/ 


Thanks everyone!

Rich saunders

BIG NEWS!  

I've taken a brief leave from my day job to finish the manuscript of the second book in the Maren Kane Mystery Series. The working title is A Timely Murder! Without revealing too much, I can share that one of the main characters from One Murder More (Book 1) runs for office, one is shot (no!) and Maren finds herself in deep trouble  on the strip in Las Vegas.

I also want to share that although I’ve been fortunate to have several agents wooing me, I am staying with Inkshares!  I could not imagine a more reader and author-friendly environment in which to write. But it does mean I need to have sufficient pre-orders to meet the threshold for Inkshares to publish me again—there is no “free pass” for sequels; each work must (appropriately) stand on it’s own. So I will be asking you soon to consider preordering the 2nd book in the Maren Kane mystery series, and to encourage others you know to do so. In particular, the system has changed—for  One Murder More, money could be contributed without being linked to additional books to the backer. Under the new system only money  to purchase books will be accepted, and 750 books total must be preordered to qualify for  full publishing via Inkshares.  This is  true democratic publishing in action—you "vote"  to secure the future of the book by purchasing copies  in advance.  

While all backers in the new system will receive special insider updates from me, I want to ask your input now on recommendations for a special incentive for individuals  who order 10 books or more.  (Upon request, I’ll arrange to have any books  that a backer  does not personally wish to receive  donated to reputable charitable organizations. One I have in mind is the Downtown Women’s Center for homeless women in LA http://www.downtownwomenscenter.org.  I welcome your suggestions for organizations that would similarly benefit from books for adult literacy efforts and for resale for their  fundraising.) 

Your Ideas for Incentives?  In particular, what fits the “Maren Kane Mystery” gestalt?  Also, I will need to be mindful that any incentive will be at my cost for production and shipping. In a general post Inkshares suggests " a t-shirt, mug or coloring book".  Not sure any of those fit though...One idea I had is writing a special short story that would go only to  “super-backers”, prior to being submitted to mystery magazines for publication.

 Finally, I would appreciate your assistance in coming up with a better name than “super-backers” for those who are able to offer more support.  

Thanks again for everything! It’s been quite a journey so far.

Kris   

www.kriscalvin.com

ps Thanks for the  great audiobook  development suggestions! Will keep you posted...

Mark your calendars!

Greetings all,

Things are proceeding at an increasing rate with more news coming in.

Very excited to report that I've just scored an author appearance / book signing at Barnes & Noble in Salem, NH on one of the highest foot-traffic days of the year!

Sunday, December 20 from 1 to 3 PM!

Stop by and say hello. Please help me spread the word in your social media!
As Donald Trump would say - This is HUGE!

 
(In case any of you don't know it by now, the Daniel Trask character in my book really is Donald Trump and that method-written story is absolutley True!) That hook is getting me the radio interviews!

I am currently in San Fran visiting family and will attend Inkshares One Year Anniversary Party! It is Tuesday night 6-8 pm 415 Jackson St, San Francisco. Three or Four other authors will also be there to sign books, meet & greet. There will be free alcohol, so please drink responsibly - or get smashed if you want, as long as you have a ride (and don't turn into an obnoxious drunk - from my experience, pleasant drunks are very nice people and so much fun to be around! (not that I recommend it as a frequent habit)

 I can't stress enough the importance of having a decent amount of positive reviews on Amazon  and  Goodreads. Post a review this week and I will send you one of these cute puppies for Christmas (or whatever holiday you might celebrate) - while supplies last!

I continue to add to the list of bookstores that are stocking my title - see the list at the bottom of my website home page. www.sam2.org

Friday update,

Did my second radio interview yesterday. Slight improvement, but I'll need a lot of practice before I'm ready for prime time. I'd grade my performance with a B-

The sound quality wasn't that good because I used a cell-phone. They recommend always using a land-line, so I am having one installed next week for future interviews, if I'm lucky enough to get any.

Still looking for and NEED reviews! Amazon      .......     Goodreads

Here is a link to the archived radio interview with WOCA, Florida

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/79528924

Have a great weekend!

Rich Saunders

Greetings all,

The eBook version of Journey has been released and everyone should have received a link to download it onto whatever device you use. I know how busy everyone gets this time of year, but I hope you are able to somehow squeeze in some time to read the book and possibly post a star rating or a review online.

This afternoon I had my first media interview. I was on WRJN in Milwaukee, Wisconsin for 20 minutes of live air without a commercial. I have been apprehensive about how I would perform in these situations. The host was smooth and professional - I was not.

I was a stammering idiot who talked too fast. I also got a little tongue tied when he asked a couple questions that I hadn't anticipated. But I got through it and realized that I can do this. I know that I will improve over time and will eventually become adequate, which is my goal.

My publicist is pitching the book's connection to Donald Trump, which makes the story both interesting and topical. If I am able to become articulate enough doing these interviews, I should be able to book more of them.

I was surprised at how they handle these things. I had imagined that the show host or a staff member would interview me first off air and we'd discuss what we would talk about. I don't expect most of these radio hosts to read the whole book before the interview but I thought there would be some pre-show prep.

Basically what happened is that they recieve a one page pitch with a little background on the book and a few proposed questions. The station booked me with just two days notice.  The host (Glen Klein) glances at the pitch sheet and calls me a minute before we go on air; we chat for 30 seconds while a song is playing on his station and then we go live and the host just wings it. It was kind of impressive how smooth he was with near zero preparation.

As this process unfolds, it becomes more important that I have star ratings and reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. If people hear about the book in the media and go on Amazon to check it out - 99.9% of them will click away from it if they see that it doesn't have many ratings or reviews.

That is why it so important that my supporters here on Inkshares become the first group to post knowledgeable reviews. One of the keys to the book's success is for the reviewers to know or believe that the Donald Trump, Dan Brown, Governor Weld, Columbine Memorial etc. stories really are true stories that I fictionalized. That is what will make this book stand out and so far the people reviewing it on Goodreads don't really know about this aspect. It just went live on Amazon so almost no one has reviewed it there yet. 

You are the people who got this book published and I hope that you also become the ambassadors who will write the early reviews that give the backstory some credibility. I don't expect any strangers to take my word for anything, but they will give credence to your thoughts. And I can't claim to be  a so-called "Great Impostor" and then expect anyone to believe any claims to truth that I talk about. 

I would like to see ten Amazon reviews by the end of the weekend - who's up for that?

Here's the link to the PR material that relates the fiction to the real-life episodes.  

And once again, here are the links to the book's page on Amazon and Goodreads where reviews can be placed. A few kind words or a couple of sentences are fine. If anyone wishes to do a longer review that's great, but that's above and beyond what I'm asking for.


I still can't thank you good people enough for making this Journey possible for me! I will keep updating you on any developments so that you can continue to experience it with me.

Kindest regards,

Rich Saunders