Great news! We hit our 750 pre-order goal and are off to the races with Inkshares. We couldn’t have achieved this incredible feat without the help of everyone single one of you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you! 

If you’re reading this and haven’t yet purchased a copy of SHADOW OF THE ETERNAL WATCHER, it’s not too late. The goal is always to sell more copies and find more readers. So please, follow, buy and share with any of your friends. The support truly means a lot.

Onward,
Josh Mendoza

I woke up this morning with nowhere to be, and that felt weird as heck.

The last four weekends in a row have been dominated by back-to-back conventions and book fairs all over Ohio, from the shores of Lake Eerie to the West Virginia state border. Let me tell you, it was a rush!

We kicked things off at the Akron Book Fest on March 11th, where I had the great honor of sitting between my friends and fellow authors Cari Dubiel and Kalynn Applewhite. We had a great time and sold a ton of books considering it was only a half day event, and I definitely hope to return next year. 

(Incidentally, Kalynn is currently absolutely crushing a Kickstarter for her upcoming novel, Awakening Anne. I’d like to embarrass her with a surplus of support, so if you’re into paranormal historical fiction, go show her some love and back her Kickstarter.)

The next weekend was Cleveland ConCoction, and I have to say, I think this was the most fun for me, even though I sold the fewest books there. ConCoction was unique in that I didn’t have to man my own table for the event; convention staff sold my books for me, giving me total freedom to explore the convention and participate in the event programming. I had the great privilege to sit on three panels with some absolutely brilliant fellow authors, and pretty much any time I wasn’t in an author’s panel, I was watching one. Even though my sales were pretty slim for this event, the networking I was able to do was absolutely invaluable. I built some great new friendships with fellow authors from all over the Midwest, and had the great privilege to learn from their experiences and share my own in kind.

The following weekend was The Big One: the Cleveland Fan Expo. This one rivalled Galaxycon in scale, and probably surpassed it in turnout this year. Once again I had the chance to participate in a panel with a bunch of fellow authors, discussing our writing and answering audience questions. This was part of a pilot program Cleveland Fan Expo just started this year, so attendance and organization was a bit wanting, but that’s to be expected from something like that coming together for the first time at the last minute. I’m still glad I got to participate, and I’m optimistic to see how it goes next year. And yes, I will be back next year, because my sales were quite good at this one! I beat my record for most books sold in one day here, and you really can’t go wrong with that!

The last convention in this stretch was Ratha Con, and let me tell you, that was an endurance test for me. Four conventions in a row is rough under the best of circumstances, but Athens is a three and a half hour drive away, and it started at 10:00 AM. I got up at 4:00 in the morning and hit the road with my soul still asleep, and didn’t get home that night until midnight. But it was worth it! Even though Ratha Con was much smaller than any of the other cons I’ve gon to this year, I sold just as many in that one day as I would expect to sell at any other event, which really goes to show that you should not dismiss the value of smaller venues. I also had a really awesome fan interaction here that I won’t soon forget. Someone bought a copy of Tantalus Depths in the morning, and came back to my table around noon to let me know they had already made it eleven chapters in, and loved it so much they bought two of my short story collections as well! By the end of the day they were 24 chapters in and still loving it. That one interaction would have made the whole event worthwhile even if those were the only three books I sold.

So that brings me to today: my first weekend off in over a month. I definitely needed the rest, and I’m hoping I’ll make some significant progress writing Proteus this weekend. You know, being an actual author, and all. But this is only a brief interlude, because I am jumping back into the convention world right away. Like, literally, next weekend.

That’s right. I wasn’t overcommitted enough with the events I’d already signed up for, so I’ve added five new ones, starting next weekend with Operation Fandom in Wooster! Add these bad boys to the list of coming attractions:

Operation Fandom
April 16, 10-6:00, Wayne County Fair Event Center, Wooster, OH

Local Author Fair
April 22, 1-3:00, Chardon Public Library, Chardon, OH

MARcon
May 26-28, Hyatt Regency, Columbus, OH

50 Book Challenge Author Fair
June 11, 1-3:00, Twinsburg Public Library, Twinsburg, OH

Columbus Book Festival
July 15-16, Columbus Metropolitan Library, Columbus, OH

That brings my 2023 convention schedule up to 12 events, and I’m probably still going to add more later in the year. You’re probably saying "Even, that is too many events." Yes. Yes it is. I have an underdeveloped preservation instinct, and I’m capitalizing on it. I regret nothing.

Since I have so many events now, it’s getting hard for even me to keep track, so I’ve set up a page on my website conveniently listing all of my upcoming events and linking to their respective websites. I’ll update it as often as possible, so stay tuned for a lot more stuff in the future!

Hi all you fantastic supporters!

Wait, you’re probably like, new number, who this?

Well, it’s me, dear friends, Erin S. Evan. That book writer you pre-ordered from all those years ago. Let me refresh your memory....

The Spring of 2016. My son Jack wasn’t even a year old, the sky was blue, the earth was filled with fossils, and you preordered a book called The Pirates of Montana. 

So much has happened then, amirite? Moving (for me, a total of three times), new babies (my daughter Sara says hi), new jobs, a global pandemic. I’m sure you all have new updates and stories to tell. I hope they are all wonderful and bring you joy! Except for that pandemic. That can go to hell.

But the most important part of this update- THE BOOK COMES OUT ON APRIL 11! 

A HUGE thank you for your patience all these years. For those that preordered a copy years ago, you’ll get it sent to you around April 11. For those that didn’t, check out Amazon or, better yet, ask your local bookstore to order a copy.

In fact, for those that preordered, you should have gotten an email from Inkshares asking for your updated address, if needed. Definitely fill that out! I wouldn’t want the book going to an old address you haven’t lived in for years (I’ve updated mine)

Now, the hard question- why did it take so long? Because Inkshares is a small publishing house, I had to wait in line. Plus I needed to become a better writer. I went into this never writing fiction before. I’ve always made up stories, often spinning my yarns to my kiddos during their bedtimes, but I’d never put anything on paper.

Now I kinda claim I’m not too bad at it. What is that saying? You need 10,000 to master a skill? Well, I’m probably about a third of that way along. Not kidding- I’ve got lots of drafts of this book on my hard drive, plus tons of notes, treatments, summaries, etc.  Over the years, Inkshares set me up with several amazing editors who challenged me to become a better writer. For that, I’ll forever be thankful.

When you read the book, check out the acknowledgements- there are many individuals that have impacted this book and your name might be in there. 

And, just when we finally were about to publish, Covid hit. The closures of bookstores was brutal for the industry, to say the least. E-books did okay, but Inkshares, like many indie publishing houses, makes money through the sale of physical books. So we decided to wait till people could go back into stores.

So we waited.

And waited...

And waited….

Until now!

Now the fun stuff. 

I’ve changed the title, as you probably noticed. It’s now called The Bone Wars. This is a nod to the greatest paleontological race in American history, the rivalry of O.C. Marsh and E.D. Cope. You’ll learn more about it when you read the book (along with a ton of other cool paleontologists). However, the book is now apart of a series called The Pirates of Montana. So keep your eyes peeled for more info in the future on that.

While the book is now defined as a Young Adult book, I’ve written it so that adults will enjoy it too (think Hunger Games).

Booklist, one of the literary trade publications, has reviewed the book and given it a fantastic review. To quote: it "is a remarkable combination of incredible scientific detail and convincing fabrication." What does that mean? Well, you’ll have to read the book to find out (muahhahaha).

Professor Charles Marshall, Director of the University of California Museum of Paleontology, wrote a really awesome blurb for the book. It’s on the back cover. I’m really proud of his review. I haven’t been in "the game" for a while now, and to have a professional paleontologist read my book and not find any glaring errors was a fantastic feeling. His email was so nice, just a suggestion or two (which I incorporated). Additionally, he really enjoyed it! 

Another science fiction author, Tal Klein, also wrote a nice blurb for the book. For those that have been on Inkshares for a while, you’ll definitely remember his book, The Punch Escrow. If you haven’t read that one, stop reading this update and go order it. It’s fantastic. 

The Bone Wars will be on Audible! I met with the voice actors last year, and they are amazing. More on that to come!

Finally, the book was also selected by the Junior Library Guild as one of their Gold Standard Books, which is also very cool. The Guild helps Libraries choose books for their students. Fun fact: First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt was on its editorial board for decades! I’m incredibly honored to have been selected.

We’re at the finish line. Thank you all for the support and encouragement over the years. It took longer than I would have liked, but thankfully it meant a stronger, more fun book with an awesome cover (by the fantastic M.S. Corley! Check out his work at www.corleyms.com!) 

Best, 

Erin S. Evan

Well, today is the day.

After years of drafts and edits, over 100 literary agent rejections, a lengthy pre-order campaign, delays related to pandemics, supply chain issues, and swarms of locusts, and a college advisor whose best advice to me was that I “pick a real career”, my debut novel, Showtime, has been released into the wild. While it’s the second one I’ve written, it’s the first one that has been published, and it’s crazy to think that something I wrote for me, that once existed only in my imagination, now belongs to…well, everyone (yes, you).

The first draft (written way back in the summer of 2017 took about 6 months to write. I remember exactly where I was when I wrote the first line—in a shoebox of an office, during a break while substitute teaching an elementary music class (which I don’t recommend, by the way)—and the feeling that the story I was waiting to tell wasn’t going to get written unless I sat down and actually wrote it. So, I did. I didn’t end up using any of the first chapter (or the second, or the third) of that first draft, but I got words on paper, and that’s what counts. Which is a long-winded way of me saying that the book has evolved a lot (re: a lot) over the past five years. There were countless rewrites and revisions, drafts and edits, late nights and weekends, and more than a few times when I wanted to hurl my laptop out the window and stuff my face with cake rather than write another damn word (I definitely did that last one, though). But giving up would’ve been easy. It also would’ve given the win to anyone who’s ever told me “no”. Plus, I’m stubborn.

So, while it has taken a lot longer than I thought it would take to get here, I’m so grateful that we’re here together. Your copies of Showtime will be arriving shortly (if not already) and, if you’re lucky, maybe you’ve even got a comfy reading chair, a roaring fireplace, and perhaps a warm beverage or two to pair it with.

Stories are unique in that they allow us to be transported, for however brief a time, into the other: other times, other places, and into the shoes of other people. They’re a blissful escape, but also a vital part of what makes us human, as integral to our lives as a heart and brain, food and water. They make us feel, make us think, and, most importantly, they build empathy in a world and time that could really use a whole lot more of it.

I hope you enjoy Showtime, and the stories of Jordan, Sam, Charity, and Matt. They’re flawed people, but I like them a whole lot. After living alone with them for so long, I’m excited for you to meet them. If their adventures make you think differently about someone or something, or act as an escape as you unwind after a rough day, or make your heart skyrocket with adrenaline—if they make you feel—then I’ve done my job.

I mention this in the Acknowledgements, but it’s worth repeating: while writing the book was a solidary endeavor, it literally would not be in your hands (or on its way into your hands) without the unwavering support, enthusiasm, excitement (and more than a dash of saintly patience) of my family, friends, co-workers, and complete strangers who offered me their time, eyes, and hard-earned dollars. Thank you for your support of my writing, your confidence and trust, and for coming together to support books.

I’ll only ask for one more thing: after you finish the book, would you please leave a review on Amazon and Goodreads? Early reviews generate buzz, and buzz is vital to an author’s securing of another book deal. I’ve got another one written and ready for you (it’s called Monsters, and boy is it a doozy), and I’d love for it to make it into your hands as well.

But for now, let’s read. I’ve got a story I want to share with you. 

Ricky Ruszin
12/6/2022

Apologies for the looong delay in this update! I can hardly believe it’s been four years since my raw manuscript was chosen as a winner of Inkshares’ mystery and thriller contest. Since then, myself and the force of nature that is Adam Gomolin have been working tirelessly on the project. And now, after no fewer that eight  - yes, eight! - drafts, The Unforgiven Dead is done. Finished! Finito! 

Although the exact publication date is yet to be confirmed, we’re looking at spiring or summer of 2023. Until then, you can get a taste of what to expect by checking out the first five updated chapters on Inkshares.com. You can also see the new cover, courtesy of the ludicrously talented Tim Barber at Dissect Designs. 

I can’t wait for everyone to meet Angus, Gills, and the colourful cast of characters that populate this supernatural thriller. Thanks to everyone for their patience - good things come to those who wait...