Good evening everyone!

I have lots of news to share!

The copy editor finished working through my manuscript a week early, so I’m once again in full editing mode looking over proposed fixes and changes... Probably for the next two weeks. This round is looking at smaller stuff, so it’s more about improving word flow and fixing any remaining grammar mistakes, but also includes catching content that’s out of place or inconsistent. I can already say I’m very happy with the editor’s work and the manuscript is steadily improving even further!

In other news... The designer has come back with the final round of covers! We only have two to choose from this time. He’s incorporated the feedback I gave him and I think the end results are even stronger than before. 

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Look at us go!
 

That’s sixteen in one day! a bit short of my target, but only just barely. With just three days left to earn 60 more pre-orders, we need to shoot for no less than twenty a day. That can be anywhere from twenty new readers buying one copy each, ten people buying two, or two people buying ten. I’ll take whatever I can get!

It should be noted, however, that the success we’ve seen today isn’t even all mine. Tantalus Depths has had yet another honor bestowed on it!

That’s right! We’ve been backed by another syndicate! This time we’ve received the great honor of being October’s pick for the Rite of Passage Syndicate: a newer syndicate that specializes in supporting first-time authors. Their support has really helped keep this campaign on track in its most crucial hour. All the thanks for today goes to these heroes!

Let’s not let up now, though. There are a few minutes left on today’s clock to reach our original target of 19 orders. Heck, getting a head start on tomorrow would be fantastic as well. Either way, we need to scrape together 60 more orders by the weekend, so keep pushing! The end is in sight.

Guess what?

As of right now, we have officially passed the point we were at two months ago when we lost all the false pre-orders. Tantalus Depths’s pre-order count is now 674: the highest it’s ever been.
We are officially exploring unexplored territory now, which, at the heart of things, is what this book is all about.
I’ve taken off the next three days from work. I’m pushing every single responsibility in my life out of the way and focusing entirely on finding new pre-orders. I will eat, sleep, and breathe this campaign.
To get 76 orders in four days is 19 a day. It’s almost impossible. Almost. I’m not a fan of the concept of impossibility. I aim to conquer it.

Meanwhile, enjoy this gallery of past updates: this time focusing on the vehicles and equipment used by the crew on Tantalus 13. Click any picture to be taken to the original update where it was featured.

 

We’ve passed into the double digits! As of right now, we’re at 97 orders to go. We’ve almost caught up to where we were before we lost all the orders. Keep sharing and spreading the word. The time for the final push is here!

Also, I absolutely couldn’t wait to share this: Kaytalin Platt, author of The Living God, has made this amazing Tantalus Depths poster! Feel free to share it anywhere.

 

My dear animals,

I don’t have any words about "The Animal in Man" today. Instead, I have some things to say about a hard sci-fi, cosmic-horror thriller story I think you ought to be aware of: TANTALUS DEPTHS by Evan Graham.

Here’s part of what I said about Tantalus Depths in a review: Combining the immense scope of Mass Effect with the grittier, grounded, hard sci-fi feel of Alien is like a dream come true. ... What an absolutely uncanny, unfathomable universe we live in, where creative minds like Evan Graham’s can conjure stories from the dark unknown spaces between stars... I can’t wait to see where his story leads. 

Let me now say something about Evan Graham himself: ...I’ve met A LOT of hard-working authors around Inkshares, but NONE of them have busted their ass as much as this guy. He has SIX DAYS left to get ONE HUNDRED PRE-ORDERS. 

(Actually, make that ninety-nine since by the time you read this I’ll have already chipped in another order.) He deserves it, people. His book deserves it. I truly believe in this project. It’s not something I say lightly. If you’ve been on the fence about Tantalus Depths, just hangin’ out between Follower and Reader, it’s time to hop down and make the pre-order. You will not be disappointed.

Woah, we’re entering the second week of October. Where does the time go?

Not much news to report this week. We’re entering the final stretch of the CryptTV contest and we’re still sitting nicely at #1. It’s been incredibly flattering to see the support surrounding this twisted book. Truly. I haven’t really been able to fully process it because I’m in campaign mode every day but it really means the world.

Because October is my favorite month of the year, and this weekend is Canadian Thanksgiving - I’m feeling generous. So we’re going to do a contest! 

Every new pre-order placed will be entered to win a copy of The Twilight Zone complete series on DVD. The anthology series completely redefined horror and science fiction. I reckon many of us wouldn’t even be on this site without it. Don’t believe me? Here’s the set sitting on my desk beside me:

Pre-order the book and you’re entered to win. It’s that easy. 

You can do that here.

But Zac! What about those of us who already ordered? 

Well, Zac I’m glad you asked. For those of you who’ve pre-ordered Weaponized already: recommend one friend to do the same. For every new person you refer you get an entry.

I’ll draw the winner on Oct 30th to keep things really interesting.