Hi, everyone :)

Just a quick update to show off an image I forgot about. This is every major and minor character in Blurred Weaponry. It’s not quite perfect, with some characters needing different hair or natural eye color (a bunch of these people have silvery-gray or gray-tinted eyes in the book), and it’s definitely not how the characters look in my head, but it’s a fin thing. Here you go: 

Also, there’s the occasional emphasis via italics that’s missing from the uploaded chapters, but unfortunately Inkshares’ "upload chapter" option or even copy-pasting completely negates that stuff, which quite frankly needs to change. Sorry about that, and I’ll have downloads for those chapters available next week that has the formatting fixed.

I’ll also be looking at a lot of Inkshares updates over the next couple of days too, so you’ll find my “likes” on tons of projects. And as soon as I’m not ultra-broke, I’ll be supporting more books and joining a syndicate or two.

Thanks to those that follow, and I’ll have some stuff for y’all to see and read next week!

Peace out,

Michael Valdez

Hello Everyone!! 

Lore update:

Exotech Industries is the biggest innovator in the Colonial Hegemony, and is responsible for developing some of the most impressive technological advances of the century. Their expressed goal is to push against all limitations to humanity.
With the expedition to Tantalus 13, however, Exotech may finally have pushed too far....
 
Learn more about that fateful expedition in the pages of Tantalus Depths. Pre-order a copy today!

Team Pirates!!

Hope your week is going well! Quick update: I’m now incorporating edits from Beta Reader Tom, so things are right on track!

I came across this list while surfing during my kid’s afternoon nap break.  Neil Gaiman is one of my favorite writers, and I thought this was very interesting and helpful. Inspiring, even. 

I hope it gives you all the feels:

8 Rules of Writing from Neil Gaiman 

1. Write. 

2. Put one word after another. Find the right word, put it down. 

3. Finish what you’re writing. Whatever you have to do to finish it, finish it. 

4. Put it aside. Read it pretending you’ve never read it before. Show it to friends whose opinion you respect and who like the kind of thing that this is. 

5. Remember: when people tell you something’s wrong or doesn’t work for them, they are almost always right. When they tell you exactly what they think is wrong and how to fix it, they are almost always wrong. 

6. Fix it. Remember that, sooner or later, before it ever reaches perfection, you will have to let it go and move on and start to write the next thing. Perfection is like chasing the horizon. Keep moving. 

7. Laugh at your own jokes. 

8. The main rule of writing is that if you do it with enough assurance and confidence, you’re allowed to do whatever you like. (That may be a rule for life as well as for writing. But it’s definitely true for writing.) So write your story as it needs to be written. Write it ­honestly, and tell it as best you can. I’m not sure that there are any other rules. Not ones that matter.

And now for some hard science:

-Erin

Hey Everyone,

Pixilated Obsidian Roses has been selected for the new Library of Alexandria collection. I’m thankful for the invite. We hope that with our combined efforts we can get the book to at least a Quill status (with all your support, of course). Here a part of what has been said by the collection lead:

"This is one of those rare books that speaks to the reader. The imagery R.F. Martin uses is poignant and provocative. The way he has created this creeping sense of dread throughout the chapters that are up is pervading. He has obviously spent the time to create a detailed and well thought out world for the characters, inventing back stories, interspersing memorabilia from their lives in a way that makes you forget it’s fiction. Chernosoren hovers around the edges of the main characters like those dark shadows that H.P. Lovecraft made famous - the feeling of some unknown sinister motive is present, but not overwhelming, preferring to sneak into you and wait for the moment to reveal itself. If the writing is any indication, the reveal won’t be some explosion of action or flurry of plot points, it will be insidious."

We also put up some new cover art.

Thanks to all of you who have supported the project.

Rob

Hello Friends

My childhood is filled with sweet memories of a big and loving family, but also terrifying episodes of bullying. I grew up knowing I was different, and other children noticed it and tortured me because of it.

While I started re-imagining myself, I also met the most amazing man, and I convinced him to marry me.

I have the best crew of dedicated followers out there. You guys are just so fantastic! 

TOO MANY CONTROLLERS, the short story project I’m part of, has hit the Quill funding goal and that means THE BOOK WILL BE PUBLISHED even if we don’t win this contest. 

But let’s be real, you guys are going to make that happen, amiright?

Here’s why YOU need a copy - There are 15 amazing Inkshares authors coming together for this book for the first time in Inkshares history. I can tell you that each of us brings something great to the table. Trust me, I know, I have seen the synopsis of all the stories and even some of the early drafts. This book is going to be KILLER! 

Since it’s now public, here is the synopsis for MY short story.

1989 - Paul Inman

• A rare, old arcade game is dropped off at a modern repair/restoration house where it is discovered that gameplay holds the keys to changing the events of the future.

Make sure you PREORDER YOUR COPY if you haven’t already. (I’m borrowing this great graphic from J.F. Dubeau)

Also very important, AGELESS is still looking for your reviews on Amazon and Goodreads!

Speaking of Ageless, I’m going to be at my local Barnes and Noble this SATURDAY for a Q&A and signing! If you are in the Myrtle Beach area don’t miss out! If you don’t have Ageless we will have some on hand! Come let me thank you in person for helping me achieve this amazing goal! 

I have just realized that, with all the excitement about finally hitting the Quill goal, I completely forgot to give my Wednesday update, the author recommendation. Naturally I realize this as I’m on my way out the door to work, but I’m still going to throw one out there.
 

And The Wolf Shall Dwell caught my attention for its fascinating noir-esque themes and tones. It has a solid ensemble cast of strong, well-developed male and female characters. The plot is reminiscent of an Alfred Hitchcock story like The Man Who Knew Too Much, and the pacing keeps you gripped the further you get into it. Definitely give this story a look if you like thrillers. I’m eagerly awaiting my own copy. I eat this kind of stuff up.
Also, yeah...don’t forget to keep pre-ordering Tantalus Depths too...it can still use some loving.

Tantalus Depths is only 3 pre-orders away from reaching Quill! Let’s get there tonight!