February! 

I’m still working on my second developmental rewrite. I’m on chapter 13 of 42 and this draft is much harder. As I’m learning more and more about what it takes to make a book exceptional, I’m working more slowly to try to incorporate what I learn. 

I woke up around 5am for about a week to try to get writing in before the kids woke up, but then my daughter started waking up at 5am. Lately I’ve just been squeezing in writing time wherever I can. 

Inkshares had me read a manuscript of another in-production book an an exercise. I wrote a letter about the idea, characters, theme, conflict, plot, prose, and setting, and soon they will send me the official editor’s letter about those same things. It should be really interesting to see what  I caught and what I missed and then apply that to my own book. It’s not a book I would usually pick at all, but I loved it. Writers, read outside your genre!

I usually ask y’all to send encouragement, but this month...send babysitting!

Thank you, as always, for following along and for all of your support!

The end date for my pre-order campaign was yesterday, and I’ve just received word that the refunds have been processed. Thanks to everyone on the Inkshares team for always being quick to answer my questions, I really appreciate it.

If you’re reading this, unfortunately, I didn’t make the cut. I’ve learned a lot over the last few months, and I’ve had a lot to think about regarding what I could’ve done better. One thing I’m sure of is that most of my pre-orders came from the Inkshares community itself. Those of you I have never met in person and ordered my novel solely off of interest in the material. That gives me hope that I might just have something of value here. Thank you all so much for that.

To my friends and family who ordered, I appreciate you more than you’ll ever know. You put up with my extremely amateur marketing attempts for a long time and stuck with me anyway. You are forever awesome, and I can’t thank you enough.

To all my fellow contestants, I implore you, congratulate yourselves. You put yourself out there, and that is a HUGE step. If you didn’t get selected, or didn’t meet the quota, you still accomplished something. It’s not over.

Those of you who got the green light, congratulations as well. It was well-earned, and I look forward to diving into those stories.

As for me?

Not sure.

I have some decisions to make as far as the future of Ereshk, whether I give it another shot here or take my show on the road. Right now, I think I’ll be working on what I’ve got for a while and do everything I can to make it better. I owe you all that for getting me this far. Even though I didn’t make it, meeting you all has been an invaluable experience, and I’m glad for this crazy year.

The show must go on.

I’ll be sending out updates here to let you know what happens, and I’m active on Instagram if you like.

Thanks again everyone, it’s been an honor.

Until next time.

Oh, and there’s more stories I have to tell. 

Oh yeah. This is not the end.

Stay tuned.

Happy New Year Everyone!  I hope that 2019 is off to exactly the start you were hoping for.

I recently discovered a review that was posted back in December. That was quite the nice new year discovery!

I wanted to let you all know that paperbacks of More Fun and Games are now available! You can get them the following ways:

Your own friendly local bookstore can order them through Ingram. It’s ISBN 9780578214610 
or
You can order them through Amazon 
or
If you would like a signed/inscribed copy, you can order them through my own friendly local bookstore, The Briar Patch.  If you had previously ordered the ebook on release day, you can use the code EBOOKFUN to save 99 cents on the purchase. You can put in inscription requests in the comment section at checkout.

I’m also determined to write more this year, which at least so far has exhibited itself in the form of working on my webpage, authordavebarrett.com. In particular, I’m going to be writing mini-blurbs/reviews of books as I read them this year. I’ve got two posted already, though I’m certainly not going to maintain a two-book-a-week pace. I’m also going to try to keep up with my blog.

As always, you can follow me on twitter or check out my facebook page.

And not but least, if you’ve already read More Fun and Games and haven’t left a review at your favorite etailers and Goodreads, please do so! A review is like giving an author a hug!

Thank you all for your continued support.

Dave

Its been a long time but Billette Hall is now released and available to the worlds!

If it wasnt for the little Horror Contest here at Inkshares, I probably wouldve never wrote this book. It was a story I toyed arouned with and never thought of finishing until the contest. But now its here, and its actually been getting some good reviews.  (Inkshares missed out on publishing a good book... shhh dont tell anyone lol)

But visit my website for the links 

dljonesbooks.com/billettehall

Or go directly to the amazon page and get your copy of the ebook for 99 cents (introductory price, ends on the 20th)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KV3QQWB

Thanks again!  now on to the sequel!