Hello my friends,

It’s been a while hasn’t it? Thing is, when preparing a book for publication, things can get pretty damn hectic. Toss in an option from a production company and the stakes get really high, which of course means more work.

That being said, I’d be remiss in not taking a moment to thank each and every one of you for your support in 2016. There’s no way I’d be anywhere near even this modest amount of success without you. I owe it all to you guys.

So I hope you all have incredible holidays with your friends and families. That 2017 will be an awesome year for you and that you get to accomplish your dreams the same way you’ve allowed me to accomplish mine. And to kick off the next year on a good note, I’d like to unveil the final (kinda) cover for A God in the Shed:

The designer did an amazing job in creating something iconic and striking that will be a great visual signature for the story. I’m really looking forward to seeing this cover, wrapped around a book, in your hands.

Thanks again for your support and happy Kwanzhannukmas everyone!

JF

Dear friends

 Happy Holidays

I hope you have a wonderful time with your family and those you love. No matter which holiday you celebrate, I think we can all agree that the theme this time of the year is love. Love those around you, love the people who love you and support you through the tough times, and love what life has given you. Every day we live is a gift, so let’s enjoy them all.

I am excited about 2017. I have three writing projects to work on during the coming year. Too Many Controllers, the short stories anthology which won the Nerdist video games contest. Bad Medicine, my latest horror novel which won the Crypt TV horror contest and, of course, Worlds Walker, the sequel to The Catcher’s Trap.

Next year will be busy and exciting, and I hope you are still on board to continue this journey by my side. After all, it is because of you that I can call myself a published author.

If the Holidays put you in a giving mood, please check out my other projects, especially Worlds Walker. Many people have asked me for the sequel to The Catcher’s Trap. The manuscript is ready, but I don’t have a publishing deal yet. You can change that. Click here to follow the project or pre-order.

We’ll talk again next year!

Love you all, have a wonderful Holiday!

Psst! Hey friend,

Just a reminder that phone cameras are dumb and always make my forehead look like a fivehead.

Also, MERRY CHRISTMAS! And Happy Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Festivus, etc...

Oh, and Life Day. Can’t forget the Wookiees.

7 days left until THE LIST 2016 contest comes to an end. Bought your copy of Dax Harrison yet? Good. Convinced all your friends and family to buy it too? That’d be swell.

Whatever the outcome, let’s hope the new year brings a swift publishing date for Dax and his pals.

Cheers!
Tony V.

Acolytes!

It has been too long, I know, but I’ve been consumed by my work and have become a slave to the beast that is writing. However, I have returned at last, and I bear good news! First and foremost; Storm of Fury. Unfortunately, at this time I still do not have any update as to when publication will be, however I am working very hard to make sure that this book is as perfect as can be. (Don’t worry, this wasn’t the aforementioned good news.)

On a more cheerful note, I’ve finished the first draft of my second novel, (not the sequel to Storm of Fury) and it has been the beast taking the majority of my time. But, with it finished, I’m able to turn my attentions to the next big thing I’ve been working on, which I now have the pleasure to unveil;

I’m on Patreon!

For those who might not be aware, Patreon is a site that allows writers, and other creators, to host and publish works directly onto the site, which avid readers, like your good self, can go and view for a small monthly fee. (Namely $1, however there are rewards for higher donations.) My goal for Patreon is to upload one short story per month, each around 6,000 words or so, ranging in genres of namely fiction and horror. So, if you’re tired of waiting for Storm of Fury, (Believe me, I am too. I can’t wait to get it into your eager hands!) and still want to see what I can do, please check out my Patreon using the link below.

The first story is called ’The Only Decision,’ and it’s the tale of a depressed super hero and his dealings with a tyrannical government. Also super villains. It’s scheduled to go up next week, after holiday festivities are over, and if you’ve joined me as one of my patrons, you’ll recieve access to the story as soon as it goes up.

If you think you’d be interested in this, please check it out! (There’s even an awkward welcome video, yay!) If you do consider a contribution, then thank you so much! I couldn’t do any of this without your help, and you’ve already given me the opportunity to do what I love with your support of my novel here on Inkshares.

To see my Patreon, click here! Thank you again for your continued support and patience for Storm of Fury. It’s coming, I promise! And I hope to see you in a week, when The Only Decision launches on Patreon. But until then, good night, and Merry Christmas.

Respectfully,

Andrew Wood

Greetings hexers and machina pilots,

I just closed the book on the revision of my second draft of Deus Hex Machina. The feedback from the beta readers was positive, so I felt pretty confident in pushing forward with a general language pass on the draft.

In the end, I have about 73,000 words, which comes out to just under 300 pages spread over sixteen chapters. I am very happy with the end result of my personal edits, so no matter what results come of The List contest, I will be submitting my draft to Inkshares on the 31st (that if I can keep my overexcited self from just sending the thing over today) From then the book heads into a production process that takes anywhere from 12 to 18 months. 

Thank you for supporting this book for the year it took to fund and then write it. Hopefully next year I’ll be talking to you about a book that’s already published. Wouldn’t that be a great way to end 2017? 

One last request: For anyone interested in preordering DHM, there are 10 more days in The List contest, so now’s the perfect time. While you get a copy of the book, you also will help give it a chance to get a full publication contract, which means a spiffy pro cover, even more delicious edits to hone the story, and distribution onto bookstores nationwide. 

Have a great Tuesday friends and as always

May the code replicate eternal.

Hello Friends & Readers 

Many of you have already purchased my book, taking it one step closer to getting published on Inkshares. Thank you. I’m working hard to deliver something worthwhile of your support.

And as many of you already know, we’re competing in the Launch Pad Manuscript Competition, which ends tomorrow (Friday) at noon PST. The top 3 projects get published. We’re sitting at #4, only a few orders shy of the coveted spot.

For those who have not yet pre-ordered the book—I ain’t mad ‘atcha! I’ve only had time to pre-order a few books myself, but after receiving such generous support, I know I must pay it forward.

For now, I’d like to offer you a short excerpt from The Loving Wrath of Eldon Quint. If you like it, please share with your peers.

Much love to all,

Chase

https://www.inkshares.com/books/the-loving-wrath-of-eldon-quint

Excerpt: 

The mortician’s office sat adjacent to the Hazelwood Cemetery grounds. It was the warmest day all month; nearly all the snow had melted and the sodden whiff of decaying leaves soaked the air. The mortician was a short, bulky creature with a shaggy vandyke and a fraudulently soft-spoken manner. It seemed we had interrupted a late lunch, but he was not vexed. He ushered us into his shop and began with a tour of the display coffins. He was an eager salesman and at every turn pushed for a more expensive item. Eldon was unimpressed and settled on a modestly priced but handsome wooden casket. He made the mistake of calling it a “casket” not a coffin to which the mortician started quoting Hawthorne. But I recognized the language and called him out. “You are quoting, sir,” I said.

He looked quite astonished. I thought he might get angry and prepared for the response but instead he demurred. “Excuse my dumbfounded visage, but it is not oft I meet one of your shade in possession of an education.”

“Get used to it,” I said.

He did not smile and turned dryly to Eldon. “As you will likely be storing the deceased for up to three month, I assume you will require a Bateson?”

“What’s that?” asked Eldon.

“A popular device of proven efficacy that promotes peace of mind for the bereaved.”

“Would you be so kind as to untangle your language?”

“I mount an iron bell inside the lid of the coffin, just above the allegedly deceased’s head. The bell is connected to a cord that is placed in the hand—”

“A bell?”

“Should this be a case of premature expiration, the faintest tremor would sound the alarm.”

Eldon laughed in astonishment. “Sir, my son has surpassed even Duke Wellington in his time above ground. No such device will be necessary.”

“Then you believe him to be sufficiently deceased?”

“He’s frozen solid.”

“Understood. Still—might I suggest leaving the body with a crowbar? Just to be safe. I have one available for a reasonable sum.”

We left the mortician and headed across the road to the cemetery. Eldon stopped to talk to the director and he informed us that the earliest burial would be at least two months away. Sometimes the ground didn’t thaw until April, this being one hell of a winter already. Eldon seemed to expect such a response and took it in stride.

Under the sun and the dripping icicles I took charge of Ian while Eldon ventured on down the hill toward his wife’s grave. The cemetery spanned some eighty acres, but it was relatively new and much of the land was still pasture. Eldon was not sure of the location of the grave but thought he would have no trouble finding it. I watched him wander a bit without success. After a thorough search of the grounds, he went back to the office. When he emerged ten minutes later he looked like the starch was taken right out of him. I left Ian and Walter to amuse themselves with a mud puddle and went to speak with him. But he was too incensed to make words. He simply shook his head in a daze. “She’s not here,” he barked.

“Who’s not here?”

“My wife.”

“What do you mean?”

“They have no record.”

“Record of what?”

“Of what? Of her being buried here.”

“There must be some mix up. Perhaps they’ve misspelled her name.”

“She died last August. She was buried the same month. But the director just informed me that not one single soul was laid to rest here in August, or September for that matter, because of problems with the groundwater and the old sewage lines.”

“Could it have been that they meant to bury her here and then had to change locations and you simply didn’t receive notice?”

“I received a telegram from the marshal of this county informing me that my wife had been buried here, at this place, in August of 1882. I received a bill for her headstone and ecclesiastical fee. Overall I spent near four hundred dollars.”

“Then we must go see this marshal,” I said. Then I touched his arm, so he’d know that he wasn’t alone. We were in it together. Some white folks passed by, staring at us. I kept my hand right where it was.

Core77’s 2016 Ultimate Gift Guide Contest

Hopefully this will make you smile some. It’s goofy and a touch of mirthful good news. My gift guide"Best Aunt/Uncle in the World–All 5 for $100" is winning list in design website Core77’s 2016 Gift Guide contest. Woohoo!

However what’s really fun is what’s on the list…

…including the Fondoodler, a $25 hot glue gun for cheese!

Which ALSO WORKS WITH CHOCOLATE.

(Of course The Astronaut Instruction Manual is on the list, too.)

Happy gift-giving, everyone. Fun notwithstanding, the best gift of all? Thanks.

Mike