A bumbling madman in an unholy relationship with the written language. Author of Exile, Magus; Exi...
Dear friends and followers,
Over the past little while, I’ve introduced a few of the characters from the novel. You may have noticed that all of them are male. This is perhaps to be expected, given the setting: there aren’t many female members in a gentlemen’s club, I think. Today, however, I’m pleased to introduce one of the women in the novel: Martha Garrett, wife of Edward Garrett.
Ladies’ clubs did exist, incidentally: just like gentlemen’s clubs, offering the same sort of services, but for women only. The University Women’s Club, founded in 1886 as the University Club for Ladies, is still "women only" today.
In the novel, Martha Garrett mentions having lunch at the Cavendish: that would be what is today the New Cavendish Club, founded in 1920 expressly for the ladies of the Voluntary Aid Detachment, or VAD. VAD nurses were not the same as military nurses: the latter were career women with stringent medical training, while the VADs were volunteers who might have had no prior experience. There was apparently some friction between the two at the beginning of the first World War, lessening as the war dragged on.
If the Cavendish was supposed to be for the VADs, would Martha Garrett, as a former military nurse, have been a member? I don’t know, but I’m sure she wouldn’t have let a trivial detail like that stop her.
Five days left! Again, I am fully funded so this is just an extra special thank-you treat! I intend to accept the Quill offer and get all y’all copies of this magnificent book just as quickly as I may! Okay, so here are two more races for your reading pleasure: Kalutai and Minotaurs.
Kalutai
Kalutai are definitively classified as a Hard or Uncivilized race, though their origins are widely disputed. It seems they are a mutation caused by the fusion of some form of biped, such as an orc, and a primeval canid or felidae ancestor, or possibly they hail from the progenitor of both genus. They have evolved into several distinct lines. Collectively, they are called kalutai, and exhibit thick fur, a hunched back, a pronounced snout, teeth with a wide jaw like that of a hyena, and rounded triangular ears set parallel to their eyes and about four inches back. They stand at about seven feet, though they hunch and so can straighten to be closer to eight. Their legs and arms are thick at the base and thin at the tip, with wide hands and feet bent such that they can effectively scramble on all fours, though they primarily walk upright.
In general, a band of Kalutai is composed of between six and ten individuals and never intermingle with other races, though they will contract out as a unit for hordes and mobs. They have thick hides and are largely impervious to fire, which has led to their propensity for using explosives. Most exhibit no natural arcane talent and the race uses both sugelancas and arcane draining bombs very readily. Of note, when one in a band goes into heat, the others almost always do so as well within a few weeks. The entire band will retire to the deep wasteland to dig a temporary den. They raise the collective young for five years before returning to their abandoned occupations. The pups are left to find their way in the world and harbor no bond to their sires or dams. Each female gives birth to a litter of between three and nine pups.
This race has a fascinating biology. All are born female, and the least dominant in a band will become a male. They tend to wear clothing approximating that worn by others in their range. In cities, this means they wear leather breastplates and thick leather shorts, though they have no cultural sense of modesty. They do tend to enjoy the very young of most races, seeing them as no different from their own abandoned pups.
Minotaur
Minotaurs: While this race usually is found in its greatest numbers on the great plains of other nations, the colossal figures do, occasionally, travel abroad. They are generally even tempered as long as nothing threatens them. At an average of twelve feet and well over a thousand pounds, very few things actually seem dangerous.
The omnivorous race is known to live for up to three hundred years, though they do not tend toward civilizations and are decidedly nomadic. When they live in cities, they usually prefer regions with fewer individuals inhabiting them. Thus, haunted, derelict or generally abandoned structures, especially those with broken walls and plenty of holes for sunlight are a preferred residence.
There are very few mutts of the race, as most females would not permit something so frail as a human male to impregnate her. Those few human females who become impregnated usually either miscarry early or die before the second of five trimesters. With considerable arcane expense and a fleet of healers, it is technically possible for a human female to bring a calf to term; a cesarean is the only way of extracting the young and the procedure renders the woman infertile ever after.
Well, friends, the campaign has ended and we didn’t meet our goals. If you pre-ordered a copy you should be receiving a refund shortly.
It is with a heavy heart that I write this update, but I am proud of what has been accomplished since this started way back in February.
I’ve written short stories, poetry and songs for nearly as long as I could write and even before I knew how to play an instrument. I have always wanted to write novels, but wasn’t sure I could pull it off and was always afraid of failing. I finally put aside that fear earlier this year and decided to try and take one of the plethora of the novel ideas bouncing around in my skull and make it into a reality. I attribute a lot of that courage from my incredibly supportive spouse and a couple of mentors in the English department at school who pushed me to reach for something more. What I began working on was a fantasy novel, but I quickly switched gears when the Nerdist Space Opera contest began. I took a character I had made up when I was in high school and was enamored with Emma Peel, James Bond and retro-science fiction serials and put her center stage.
When the contest began I had a rough idea of the story and all of its beats, but barely enough to make a full novel. I asked one of my best friends, a professional graphic designer, if she could create a cover for me and I began the truthfully draining process of trying to promote a book I hadn’t really finished yet. This was always the part I dreaded, the self-promotion part, but despite my social anxiety issues I went door-to-door pushing my novel, went to comic book stores and coffee shops, messaged every single person on my Facebook friend’s list, began building up a Twitter following, did interviews for podcasts and local news and networked with a lot of brilliant authors throughout Inkshares and Goodreads. The solidarity with my fellow authors is what helped me push forward the most and it is something I’m going to continue cultivating. It really helps to know you’re not alone in this endeavor and that authors of all levels of success and experience are willing to lend a hand or ear when it’s needed.
I lingered around 19th place in the contest, pretty respectable considering there were nearly a hundred submissions. When it was over, I put the aggressive marketing on hold and worked hard on completing a more polished draft. By the time I had asked for my first extension I had finished the second draft clocking in at about 75,000 words. I can tell you now, that all of the work I’ve put into this book has not been done in vain and despite the outcome of the campaign, I’m still going to continue to polish this book until it is the best it can be.
I’m not going to sit here and tell you what I think I did wrong or what wasn’t enough. That’s self-defeating and I call this a near-success, not a failure. Ending with 119 pre-orders out of 250 is not bad at all. What I will tell you is that while I continue to fine tune my novel (and the aforementioned fantasy novel) my role on Inkshares and Goodreads is going to be more cheerleader rather than self-promoter. There are still a lot of great authors out there trying to meet their goals and I encourage you to give them a look and help them get where I couldn’t. This is not the end for me or To Live and Die in Avalon by a long shot. My only plan right now is to finish the best version of the book possible before I decide what to do with it next.
I’d now like to acknowledge some of the Inkshares authors who showed their support for me and I encourage you to look them up, follow what they’re doing and help them reach their goals. Or at the very least, be the cheerleader for them that they’ve been for me:
Michael Haase
Tony Valdez
RH Webster
Billy O’Keefe
Eric H. Heisner
Stephen Carignan
Joseph Asphahani
Thomas J. Arnold
Nell Walton
Mike Donald
Tal M. Klein
Tabi Card
Matthew Poat
James Rasile
RF Martin
Bekki Leber
Seriously, the list goes on and on and if I didn’t mention you by name, trust me, every single person on my follow list for both me as an author or the book itself is important to me. Thank you. You’re all wonderful people for even just caring to see where this book could go.
A special thanks to Jeremy and the Inkshares peeps, I love you guys. Thanks for providing a platform for fledgling writers like myself to take a chance and put it out there. You’ve opened huge doors for me and I’m eternally grateful for that.
The story is not over yet. This is not goodbye, just see you later.
Thank you!
Jason
Hey Campers,
There are 54 of you who are following the book who haven’t ordered yet. What are you waiting for? Preorder today and Sunshine is Forever will pass the Quill publishing mark.
https://www.inkshares.com/books/sunshine-is-forever
Thank you so much for the support! I will be back promoting in full force on Monday.
Kyle T. Cowan
(Long post, Wall-o’-text incoming)
A pull ahead at the end of the week and a competitive fight for the 10th place highlight this first week of the Geek and Sundry Fantasy Contest right here on Inkshares! Let’s take a closer look.
(All numbers and placements based off where they were when I wrote this, may be different now)
10. Seven Days a Servant by @Trick Dempsey
Coming in at 10th place as of Saturday 8/6/2016 is Seven Days a Servant by Trick Dempsey. Mr. Dempsey goes on to describe the book as:
“In the palaces of Brilliance, the fear of death is a distant memory. For the Dynasties of The Enlightened, the flow of Nectar assures youth and health for all eternity. When a young heir discovers the rotten truths behind her ideal nation, she must choose between justice and order.
When life is everything, what is worth dying for?”
A Chapter 1 that highlights a family that is great at lying sets the tone for an introduction to a series not to be missed.
The 10th place spot is often one of the most entertaining as 7DAS(Hope it’s ok I abbreviate it my own way!) just recently pushed into 10th with 20 readers. Honorable mentions to Morose(a comedy) by @Jim McDoniel and The Fairy Stepmother Inc. by @Maggie Hoyt who both held that spot numerous times throughout the first week and are hot on Mr. Dempsey’s trail.
9. The Delicate Art of Soulripping by @Sara Polk
The Delicate Art of Soul Ripping by Sara Polk is one of the most fascinating stories in the top 10. The main focus is on a character named Oz who has been in the Soulripping business for 800 years ever since he died of the Black Plague - he does the job without questioning much about it(mostly due to fear of the ones who ultimately claim the souls - the Reapers) He follows his usual suspects throughout the week, often partaking in their activities(like watching their favorite TV shows) without them even knowing that he’s there. Suddenly, the Reapers begin acting strangely - even interfering with his ripping, which can permanently damage a soul - and he even makes eye contact with one of the living people he’s been following! Here’s the last part of the description from Ms. Polk:
“But then the reapers start to behave oddly. They interfere with when souls are ripped, a dangerous business that can leave a soul damaged beyond repair. And Oz isn’t sure of it but he would swear that he made eye contact with Dalila, something that should not, and indeed can not, happen between planes of existence. The reapers even come to him with an ultimatum: peacefully accept his own reaping or be forced into it, something he knows is a fate worse than, well, any regular death.“
Sounds intense! Definitely check her out and her comments section(She calls her fans “Rippers”; Love it!)
8. Exile, Magus by @Thomas J. Arnold
Exile, Magus by Thomas J. Arnold follows Pentaz Muix(Awesome name!) a dwarf who, despite his race mostly shunning magic, needs to utilize magic to save his own people. Ironically, even though he’s trying to help, he’s forced to leave his home due to their discovery of his magic-studying. On his journey to save them, he meets(and forms a relationship with) a half-dwarf warrior named Buscidia. Turns out Pentaz can’t quite shake his old homeland and those living there so easily. Here’s part of the description from Mr. Arnold himself:
“While he explores the mainland and its many perils, he is unaware that his homeland has not let go of him as easily as he believes. Unbeknownst to him, he is pursued by the last surviving member of his family, his brother Palkaz. Their reunion follows closely on the heels of Pentaz’ biggest mistake and tragedy, and they find themselves facing off against one another amidst a danger neither of them had imagined. Can they put aside their differences long enough to survive?”
Mr. Arnold is no stranger to Inkshares contests as part of the Too Many Controllers 1st place victory in the Nerdist contest, something that has been quite the heated debate here on the forums. With a solid following and a love for uploading his work(Which none of his readers mind, I’m sure!) he could be the man to beat in this contest.
7. Flames in the Dark by @Tara Roquemore
The first book of a trilogy that has been over 15 years in the making, The Flames in the Dark by Tara Roquemore only has a prologue uploaded so far but it is definitely worth the read. Following the story of Ivy, Hayden and their two children Brand and Edana - the prologue begins with Ivy having a vision of a terrible flood that’s coming to ruin their village during an annual Artist festival. Many people will die but Master Dillon, the village’s mayor, thinks that Ivy’s visions are nothing to worry about and is basically tired of hearing her warnings. I don’t want to get too much into it because A LOT does happen in this prologue and you should go read it! What I will talk about is Ms. Roquemore’s beautiful and powerful imagery throughout. Definitely worth a look for that alone. (That second paragraph especially!)
Also: Shout out to Hayden, Ivy’s husband, for awesome fire-story telling. Read it and you’ll know what I’m talking about. Sounded awesome.
6. Storm Song by @Allison Griner
Storm Song by Allison Griner has one of the best descriptions and intro sentences: “Like any good story, it started with a bit too much to drink.” - Fantastic opener! Storm Song follows Thoster Chatwyn from Merrowport who has always thought his role in life would be telling Fairy Tales, not actually living one. A chance-meeting with a captain of a ship at the local harbor changes everything and we soon find our leading man embarking on an adventure so dangerous and “wonderous” that it puts his own fairy tales to shame! After reading the first Chapter, Thoster Chatwyn is a character for the ages with overflowing charisma and perfectly constructed dialogue(kudos, Ms. Griner!) he could easily be a character seen on the big screen right now. I wonder if Ms. Griner has thought of who would play him in a film yet, I know we’ve all done it with our own stories - maybe she can let us know!
Either way, this is a story worth checking out - lucky she’s already uploaded 3 Chapters to wet our appetite.
5. A Beast Requires by @Jay Lockwood
A Beast Requires by Jae Lerer, the self-proclaimed(?) Keeper of the Ice Cream Harem(I seriously need to know more about this!) , has been up and down the top 5 throughout the first week of the contest. Judging by its description it certainly deserves to be there. In Mr. Lerer’s own words:
“A comedy with a body count, A BEAST REQUIRES has a bit of everything: riots, royal plots, forensic gastronomy, interspecies politics, and a collection of historically significant chamberpots.
When conspiracies threaten to plunge Aurum into civil war, the city’s only hope is Deputy Constable Albicon Pine. Unfortunately, it’s his first week on the job.
Urban life isn’t what Albicon imagined: his landlord is a huckster, the constables are as shady as the criminals, and the sprawling, ancient city overflows with garbage. But when bodies start dropping, Albicon and the constabulary must unravel a mess of grisly deaths, pointy shoes, and a forgotten sewer system before the city burns.”
With a prologue and five chapters available for our viewing pleasure, the flow of this story is unique and well-executed. I’m looking forward to reading more!
4. Chronicles of An Domhan by @Conri
“A political power struggle between diverse factions in a Victorian Horror/Fantasy universe. Mysteriously unconnected events lead three Marshals down dark paths to hidden Truths in Aberdown.“
If this introduction to the story, Chronicles of An Domhan by Conri doesn’t spark your intrigue, then I’m not sure what will. With Cover Art by Kassandra Leigh Purcell(Off Topic: I recognized the name immediately, have been a huge fan of her cosplay for years! No idea she could draw so amazingly!) that is both dark and gripping, an editor worthy of praise in C. Sacco, this one, two(three!), punch is building up to one heck of a story. And build up seems to be the key when discussing Mr. Conri’s work. He has been working on short stories loosely based on the overall narrative for over 20+ years and it is finally culminating in this novel. Be sure to check it out if you’re into Victorian era things, Gothic Horror and drama done by an author with roots in gaming, role-playing and creative writing!
3. The Living God by @Kaytalin Platt
It’s time to talk top 3! The Living God by Kaytalin Platt follows two mages(Saran and Keleir) who dwell upon “The First,” a medieval-fantasy style world of magic which is one of three universes accessible through portals called “Gates.” As a writer of medieval fantasy worlds myself, this story really stands out to me as something that I would choose off a bookshelf or download as an e-book. Here’s some of Ms. Platt’s own description:
“The Living God is the first in a four-book fantasy/science fiction series about Mages who fight to stop a Rauke, a creature forged from the excess matter left over at the birth of a universe, from collapsing dimensions upon themselves in order to form a single, perfect one for his kind.”
I don’t know about you, but the description and concept of a Rauke sounds equally awesome and terrifying! This is the first book in what seems to be shaping up into a can’t-miss 4 book series. Don’t miss her comments section, she has some pretty good book recommendations by other Inksharians, thank yous and even mentions uploading a video about the book, her project and the contest itself and what it means for her and her fans/supporters! Definitely worth a look!
2. Arcadia by @André Brun
Arcadia by Andre Brun is the work of another winner from the Too Many Controller’s Inkvengers from the last Nerdist contest. Mr. Brun knows how to sell his work - don’t believe me? Be sure to go check out the video on his page. It’s only 15 seconds but it’s enough to give you chills and haunt your nightmares for quite some time. Chilling and haunting things might deter the average person but to the readers on this site, I would think that just sparks your interest even more!
Arcadia itself is a collection of 10 short stories that are based on 3 themes: Love, Sacrifice and Death. In the end the 10 stories connect for one epic finale. As a lover of stories of this nature, I am totally psyched to read this. The manuscript is already complete and ready to go, so either way it will be in production when the contest ends.
1. The Slave Prince by @Jeyna Grace
The Slave Prince by Jeyna Grace follows the story of Thom, a mischievous prince who discovers his lineage lies in the slave race. Armed with a magical dagger and heeding the call to become “the chosen one,” Thom must venture out to save his people.
Ms. Grace is no stranger to Inkshares. Her previous project, The Battle of Oz, was fully funded back in January 2015. A year after that she entered the Sword and Laser Collection contest but unfortunately didn’t make it. As she put it: “Third time’s the charm, right?”
Right she is! Currently sitting two readers ahead in the first place spot(as of this post), Ms. Grace is generating a lot of buzz as her fans and supporters are back for more. She’s been working on this title off and on since 2013 and is finally ready to shed some more light on it here on Inkshares. With a lot of competition in this contest compared to the recent Nerdist video game contest, it will be interesting to see if she can hold on to the top spot!
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Sorry for the long post. What do you guys think? Do you like something like this? Should I do more of these? I understand this might provide more exposure to the top ten and the people fighting for one of the top ten spots(myself included) might not like this as it might make it harder for them to crack the top ten but I thought it would be cool to add some more exposure to the contest itself. Let’s face it, we’re all going to be watching those reader numbers go up throughout the contest anyway. Why not discuss it? Whether or not it’s your book, it’s still kinda exciting to see 5th place and 4th place are only separated by a single reader. 1st place and 2nd by only 2 readers. Let me know what you think so I can improve the next one, or let me know why I shouldn’t do another one.
I also want to point out that I’m not a hypocrite. I understand I’m shedding more light on former winners from the last Nerdist contest but in order to make this a fair “update on the top 10” I couldn’t simply omit people because of my feelings. I already feel bad that my post may or may not be the reason why Rick Heinz backed out of this very contest when he was in 1st place by a large margin. If winners of the Nerdist contest are still allowed to participate - I leave that up to the people who run this site and those authors themselves and will not speak more on the matter.
Lastly, as I am also in this contest myself, as a fellow “player of the game,” I’d love to do some quick shameless plugging for my own entry and simply ask that you check out A Soldier’s Crest: Heroes of Khroma.
Thank you, I hope you enjoyed the read and let me know what you all think!
(Obviously readers and placement in the top 10 may or may not have fluctuated during the writing of this - it took longer to write than I thought it would. I get carried away sometimes... Sorry if it doesn’t reflect it perfectly when you read it, should be close!)
EDIT1: Aesthetics purposes, made it so clicking a work will link you directly to the work, tagged Jim and Maggie at the top because I forgot - sorry guys!