Hello Machiners! A pleasant Saturday to you! 

We have VERY significant news on a numbers of fronts. I am going to list the highlights just below, so you can quickly see what I’m covering in this update - then you can read more on any topic!

1. We have an AUDIOBOOK!

2. A second bookstore event - East Coast-style!

3. Last Machine artwork in an ART GALLERY!

4. Slash and burn prices! eBook now only $1.99!

5. 1,500 total book sales!

6. We need more REVIEWS on Amazon!

#1: I know. I said this was a big-time update! So for the AUDIOBOOK. It’s available on Amazon, Audible, and iTunes. It’s narrated by voiceover professional Scott R. Smith. It’s amazing! Don’t take my word for it, listen to it yourself!

This is what I’m doing. If you haven’t read Last Machine yet, no problem! Send me a message - Email (matthew.sobin@gmail.com), or on Twitter or Facebook, and I’ll send the first 10 people a coupon code to get the Audiobook for FREE. That’s right! I assume that if you are receiving this email, that you at least have some interest in reading / listening to Jonathan’s story. All I ask in return for the free audiobook is a review on Amazon and Goodreads. It can be as short as a sentence or two about why you liked the book. Reviews are critical - more on this below!

#2: Do you live in the New York area? I’d love to see you in October. I will be doing a second event, this time at Book Revue in my hometown of Huntington, NY! I’ll be reading and signing copies, and refreshments will be served. What could be better? It’s on Monday, October, 23 from 7-9 pm. 

It’s by no means required, but if you want you can RSVP here! 

#3: Are you in the San Francisco Bay Area? Super treat for you then! The artwork for The Last Machine in the Solar System is part of an Art Gallery Show! So crazy cool. It’s an amazing show with an eclectic mix of SciFi and Steampunk artwork. The show runs through August 5 at the Sun Gallery in Hayward, CA. The ARTISTS RECEPTION is next Saturday, July 22 from 1-4 pm. I’ll be there with the legend himself, Jack Katz. I hope you can join us for artwork and a double signed copy! :-) 

Also, not necessary, but you can RSVP here!

#4: Look, I want everyone to read this story. I really do! The eBook is now available on Inkshares and Amazon for only ONE DOLLAR & 99 CENTAVOS. You like SciFi, right? So please do us all a favor and grab Last Machine for Kindle and leave a review on Amazon :-) 

#5: 1,500 sales?! Holy cow!! Thank you, and THANK YOU! Next stop, 2K! 

#6: This has somewhat been covered already, but it bears repeating: REVIEWS are the absolute lifeblood of newly published books. We need to get to 100 on Amazon. It’s not really an option. Like winning the contest, that wasn’t optional either. So let’s make a big push! We’re at 32 on Amazon right now. 68 to go! 

As mentioned before, we have an Audiobook now and I’m offering it for FREE in exchange for Reviews on Amazon and Audible. Also, I’ve slashed the eBook to $1.99. No barriers to entry for this entertainment! Leave a REVIEW!! 

I will leave you with this today. The Last Machine is doing amazingly well, and I have you all to thank. That’s forever. But there’s still a ways to go. Below, you can see us in the Tri-City Voice newspaper about the Sun Gallery exhibit, and in Green Apple Books, a San Francisco institution, on the fiction table - next to some guy named Neil Gaiman! Keep spreading the word!

July 24, 2017

Good morning, everyone. Sending out a brief update on Shadow King to keep all of you informed on what the current scoop is:

Shadow King
I’m still in the queue for the editor. After speaking with Angela at Inkshares, she let me know that they will try to kick-off my project as soon as possible, however, there are close to 50 books in the Quill forecast and they are a small team. They try to honor submissions on a first-come, first-served basis but some other considerations factor in (I’m hoping to find out a little more about those factors).

They’re currently working on three Quill books with Reedsy but will only kick-off new projects when they are confident they can be managed without a sacrifice to quality. I’ll keep everyone posted as I learn more--thank you as always for sticking with me through all of this!

Coming soon: Pre-order a copy of Shadow King and enter to win a signed copy of Darkstar Rising.
Earlier in my writing career, I self-published a fantasy novel called Darkstar Rising. You can read more about it on my website: www.susankhamilton.com. If you have not pre-ordered Shadow King yet, you could win a signed copy of Darkstar--stay tuned for details coming in August.

Please follow The Devil You Don’t on Inkshares
Entries are now closed for the 2017 Launchpad Competition, and in the coming weeks, I’ll find out if lightning can strike twice for me. Devil has its own Inkshares page now: www.inkshares.com/books/the-devil-you-don-t. I’m very excited about this new story and would love to keep you updated on it as well.

Thank you!
Thanks again to all of Shadow King’s supporters; your enthusiasm means the world to me. I’ll send another update in August. Have a great week!

Best,
Susan

PS. Hopefully, those links are active above--when I update from this particular computer I often have trouble with links looking live as I write, but then not working after I send. Fingers crossed!

Good morning and Happy Anniversary to Women Like Us, because today is one year since Pub Day!

Here’s a look back at me holding the book for the very first time. I still pick it up, leaf through it and find it amazing that it actually exists.

A lot happened around this little book in the past year. Here are a few of my favorite things.

It made it into the top 100 of its top sub-genre on Amazon (still pushing to get it into the top 10, though). 

Some nice folks did interviews with me about the book. Here’s a couple, in case ya missed them.

http://www.theindieview.com/2017/05/11/indieview-with-jason-pomerance-author-of-women-like-us/

http://renderositymagazine.com/the-art-of-story-interview-with-author-jason-pomerance-cms-759

Also, the book made The Malibu Times!! This may not seem like a big deal, but we lived in Malibu for a short while, and First Point Malibu is still a favorite surf spot, so it just makes me smile. Here it is--

http://www.malibutimes.com/malibu_life/people/article_0dea1256-283f-11e6-b17a-8bda111c1653.html

We’ve given away many signed copies on Goodreads (a favorite thing to do...in fact one is going on now so go over to Goodreads so check it out) and given some away to our nearby free Local Libraries too.

p

The push to the thousand mark in print and ebook sales is getting slowly closer. That was always a sort of goal on this book but, you know, if we go well into the thousands that’s good too. Don’t stop spreading the word, people! Sales happen when marketing happens but reviews are still so vitally important. If you’ve read and not reviewed, please leave a few words on Amazon (remember I still donate 10% of my royalties to the Beagle Freedom Project so helping with sales helps free more beagles). Remember you don’t have to say anything more than "Great book" (or "Crappy Book" works but we prefer great). Here’s the Amazon link--

https://www.amazon.com/Women-Like-Us-Jason-Pomerance-ebook/dp/B01IOZUBEW/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1501024483&sr=1-1

Meanwhile, the biggest recent news is that an audio version of the book is in production right now!! It’s being narrated by a wonderful voiceover actor, Yolande Clark. I’ve heard the first 15 minutes and it’s amazing. The audible version should be available around September. Stay tuned.

Finally, just to demonstrate how it’s not all sunshine and daffodils, in doing some research for this post I came across this really not nice review on some blog...ouch!! 

https://www.reynoldsreviews.com/single-post/2016/12/18/Women-Like-Us

You gotta take the good with the bad, huh? 

Thanks all for the support. Seriously.  And Happy One Year Since Pub Day Women Like Us!

Greetings, Hexers!

Another art update!

Here’s the next stage of the Dax painting, sent by the artist Jessica R. Van Hulle. (theladyjessica.com)

First color layer is down. Per Jessica, this is following the technique of Boris Vallejo, classic fantasy artist and creator of such epic movie posters as Barbarella and National Lampoon’s Vacation. Ahhh it’s looking so good!

More to come!

-Tony

Hi everybody,

Well, here we are, a little more than one month since The Battle Within’s publication date. I won’t take much of your time as I know it’s the middle of summer.  

Thanks again for all the support. The book launch was a success, and the feedback that has been coming in about the story to date has been very positive.

For those who missed the book launch, there’s a book signing on August 19, 2017 at the Chapter’s in Kanata Centrum, from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. And for those in southern Alberta, I’ll be signing books at the Irricana & Rural Municipal Library on August 5, 2017, from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

If I can ask one more favour, please consider leaving a rating and / or review at the following sites:

Amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/Battle-Within-Alastair-Luft/dp/194264549X

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31922135-the-battle-within

The bottom line is that ratings and reviews help drive exposure and every little bit helps. I’d love to get to 100 ratings on each site and would greatly appreciate your help to do so. Of course, please also feel welcome to send me feedback directly; I’d love to hear what you thought of the book.

I hope everyone is having a great summer and once again, thank you for your support.

All the best,

Alastair Luft

Monthly update time for Human Resources!

Last month I mentioned the focus of the developmental edit had been on expanding the world-building and firming up some of the science behind the novel. I’m pleased to report that is now complete, I have new beat sheets and scene outlines, and am officially writing pages again!

Speaking of science, the _MIT Technology Review_ just published a very interesting article on CRISPR being used to edit the DNA of human embryos. Why is this interesting? Because this application of CRISPR is a key trigger for the creation of the world in my novel. I’ve uploaded a special new excerpt to the Inkshares site telling the history of the world, from today to when my novel starts. You can read it here.

In other news, I took advantage of receipt trip to Sydney (the setting for the book), to further explore some of the relevant locations for scenes. I use the apple maps 3D city render, along with google street view extensively, but there’s nothing better than standing on-site. A couple highlights below.

Sydney Botanical Gardens, looking at the Harbour Bridge and Opera House. In 2120 this is The Farm.

Sydney Conservatorium of Music. In 2120 this building stands at the main gate of The Farm, and is used as the Warden compound and clinic.

St Mary’s Cathedral. Adjacent to the Southern end of The Farm, the interior is used for storage in 2120.

That’s all for now — I need to get back to the manuscript and finish writing it so you can all read it.

Cheers,

Robert.

Happy Friday, readers!

1000 Faces continues to fight for it’s spot in the top 3 of the Nerdist contest. Check out the leaderboard to get a look at the numbers. I’d tell you which position the book is in right now, but chances are, it will have changed by the time you read this! The important thing is that you can help push 1000 Faces up the board and into the top 3, where it will be guaranteed full, international publication by preordering today.

In other news, I’ve been invited to do another author interview on Natacha Guyot’s blog. While my interview isn’t available to read just yet, you can checkout Natacha’s #SciFiWomen Interviews featuring lots of other women who read, write, and support science fiction.

With that said, I’d like to share some of the reviews and feedback that 1000 Faces has received so far. (Don’t forget, you can leave a review of your own if you’ve enjoyed what you’ve read.)

"Great elevated sci-fi concept! Can’t wait to read this one." - Tal Klein, author of The Punch Escrow (winner of The Geek & Sundry Hard Science contest)

"The second I read the description of Jenny Graham-Jones “1000 Faces” I knew I had to have a copy. That kind of dystopian, bleak-future vision of our world - where everyone wears a mask and all is never as it seems - is my kind of jam." - Joseph Asphahani, author of The Animal In Man (winner of The Sword and Laser: The Sequel contest)

"1,000 Faces does exactly what all good science fiction should do: explore and aspects of society in a new and thought-provoking light. What happens when the internet is no longer anonymous, but the real world is? I can’t wait to find out. " - Evan Graham, author of Tantalus Depths

"If this were a movie, I imagine it stylistically looking like V for Vendetta. You can feel the character’s emotional conflict in the second excerpt. While the first excerpt gives a great look into the societal concept. I’m really excited for this one." - Ryne Drogemuller, author of Through The Ghost

Hello, readers! Just a quick reminder that my next project, 1000 Faces, is competing to win the Nerdist Sci-Fi contest.  

In a paranoid near-future where every private part of the internet is public, people hide their identities behind digital masks. Desperate for intimacy in this impersonal world, a mask designer risks everything to feel close to another human being.

Sounds cool, right? As with other Inkshares contests, the top 3 projects get a full publishing deal. I’m currently in 4th place and need your help to get a strong position in the top 3.  

Preorder today :)

~ Jenny

https://www.inkshares.com/books/1000-faces