My jefe, whom I call Melon Baller, a.k.a. the Editor, says to post a few lines from Chapter 4 of Murder Happens.

But first, a big THANK YOU to everyone on this site. It’s been a terrific experience. Super appreciative for everyone I’ve met and all the support received.

I fully intend to support as many writers as possible. And I’m taking a breather from extorting pre-orders and breaking knuckles so participating authors can focus on their Launchpad entries.

Anyway, very excited about this story again, and actively working on the manuscript that I’d finished a few years back.

I always blame my day job when I hit a slump, and Melon Baller goes for my heart with, you guessed it, a shiny steel melon baller.

Ouch!

But you know that feeling when you write something, and you sit back and read it and are able to see it without your can’t-kill-your-darlings bias? 

It’s like that, it’s good and creepy and the story is evolving much stronger.

Here’s an excerpt from Chapter 4 titled Oh My Darling

Hello, Mission 51 family!

It has been three quick months since you pushed Mission 51 into the top three of the Nerdist Sci-Fi Contest on Inkshares, guaranteeing its publication. I have taken this time to continue polishing the story before turning in the manuscript to the Inkshares editing gods. I have now come to realize that I might never be satisfied. I might always want to change this, delete that, embellish and refine, cut and paste, drag and drop, etc., etc., etc.

I had given myself this three-month limit for final polishing, and my time is up. Overall, I am happy with the story, so I am going to hand it in by the end of the week and get in line for the real editorial work. I fully anticipate making further changes as I work with Inkshares’ developmental editing team. I can’t tell you how exciting it is to be starting the process.

Along with the manuscript, I am to hand in my responses to an extensive questionnaire that will direct the Inkshares team on how to best approach my story, create a stunning book cover, and develop a successful marketing plan. It will be a long process, and I look forward to the hard work of putting it all together. I will keep you updated with progress reports from time to time.

Again, I want to thank you very much for this tremendous opportunity. It is only through your kind and generous support that Mission 51 will come into existence. I will never forget what you all have done for me!

Before I go, let me recommend four books that are currently in Inkshares contests, written by authors I greatly admire. They would certainly love your crowdfunding support. Please check them out!

In the prestigious Launch Pad Contest:

Susan K. Hamilton’s The Devil You Don’t https://www.inkshares.com/books/the-devil-you-don-t

TCC Edwards’ Far Flung.     https://www.inkshares.com/books/far-flung

In the Inkshares 2017 Horror Contest:

André Brun’s Arcadia.     https://www.inkshares.com/books/arcadia

M. Robert Randolph’s The Dark Mountain https://www.inkshares.com/books/wings-of-the-crallow

Thanks again! Peace and love to all!

~Ferd

Autumn is here, and the cogs are steadily turning...

.

In my last update, I explained that the developmental editor and I were working on the rewrite 100 pages at a time. He edits one section while I rewrite the next... Well, I am pleased to report that I am roughly half-way through with the third and final segment. I hope to have that turned over in about two weeks. I’ve combed through and rewritten all of the existing text, and am now drafting a brand spanking new ending that will get the blood pumping a bit more than the original.

There will be at least one more round of developmental edits as I address the notes that Matt makes on the new draft. Each run-through should be swifter than the previous. After that, we move on to copy editing, then proofreading, then ARC printing and marketing. Cover design will take place alongside the final steps.

I am crossing my fingers that an estimated release date will be assigned once we have an idea of how long the rest of the developmental edit will take. My best guess is Summer ’18 (based on the trajectory of other books further along in the production process). If the last two months are any indication, I will be hard at work until the last minute (and after). As always, thank you for your support.

Until next time,

-Jacqui

Thank you all so much for your support kind readers.

Ran across this and thought many of you might be interested in submitting a shorty. 

http://theredheadedstranger.com/2017/09/1st-submissions/

Hello My Lovelies, 

Very happy to see you. 

If you’re following Murder Happens, your support is very much appreciated. 

If you’ve shown your commitment to support the project with a pre-order, I am eternally grateful. 

Remember, Dean has your back. 

Murder Happens is currently in 4th place in the Horror 2017 Contest. 

Would like to jockey into 3rd place and ride the beast home. 

Hope you will join me. 

Received some fine reviews on the chapters posted here. My editor caught wind of them.   

“Needs work,” she said. She’s a tough cookie. 

Working on the revisions and looking forward to writing time on the manuscript. 

78 days and counting. 

Please reach out to me for anything that’s on your mind. Love to hear from you. 

Let me know how you’re doing, how your project is going, if there’s anything I can do to support your efforts. 

All the best, 

Dean