To all of you who’ve already been such great supporters of my upcoming debut novel, "Skavenger’s Hunt," I’m happy to say we’re closing in on the finish line. Everything’s good-to-go for our November 14th pre-holiday-season release date, with the printer about to push the button on our very first round of books. Today’s update, though, is one I’ve been looking forward to sending your way for quite awhile now, because I get to give you the first-ever look at the last component of the book itself: Will Staehle’s flat-out amazing cover. 

You’ve seen the front cover for awhile now; which, in my opinion, was so good we could have simply placed a blank cover on the back and we would have been okay. But, no surprise, Will reached into his bag of designing talent and pulled out a SECOND image that staggered me: a silhouette time-traveling image of the story’s main character, young Henry Babbitt, tumbling through an hour-glass from present-day New York on Christmas Eve, into summer-drenched New York from long ago. July 10th, 1885, to be exact, where the lion’s share of the adventurous story takes place.

Will - I’m grateful to you for giving my first book such a fantastic look. I’m dead-honest when I say it’s one of the best book covers I’ve seen in a long, long time, and I’m beyond thankful that it’s on mine. Thanks to Adam Gomolin who had the intuition to bring Will onboard. Thanks as well to Oscar-winning producer Mark Johnson, to the Wibberleys (writers of the film "National Treasure") and to Ocean’s 13 writer Brian Koppelman (creator of Showtime’s "Billions") for their incredible blurbs in support of the project. 

To all of you, the early backers of "Skavenger’s Hunt," stay tuned as we approach that November 14th release date, because I’ll be out pushing the book every opportunity I can get. And a special thanks to Inkshares marketing wiz Angela Melamud for helping spread the word. We’ll keep everyone posted on the when-and-where of bookstore reading-and-signing events. 

Until then, hope you enjoy this look at Will’s cover, which you’ll be holding in your hands just a few weeks from now. The "Hunt" is about to begin...

Greetings, Faoii!

I cannot even begin to describe what today has been like, my warriors. To know that The Last Faoii is finally a real book available to everyone. After so many years of hard work and uncertainty... it’s indescribable. 

People are already answering the call to fight the next wave. We currently have two reviews on Amazon and seven ratings on Goodreads. In addition to that, the amazingly-talented and incredibly supportive Evan Graham (Author of Tantalus Depths) wrote this wonderful and humbling update to honor our success. 

I’ve been posting reviews in an album on my Faoii Facebook Page (Like us if you haven’t already) but the newest one is a bit long for that. However, it’s too good not to share. So I’ll leave you with another Faoii’s battlecry and once again thank you for all of your continual and greatly appreciated support. This could not have happened without your help and will not go any further without you, either. 

Thank you, my warriors. Keep those shields up.

Review via Goodreads: 

 "An amazing first novel from a young voice. It’s apparent that Ms Nelson comes from a world that I have only glimpsed. Her characters are strong with personality; you will care about them and remember them. Her world is unique and it’s apparent that we’ve glimpsed only a bit of the whole. 

Initially, one might assume this to be a period in the world we know. It’s not. There are so many small signs, indicators, beliefs that simply aren’t part of what we see every day. This is a well conceived world of it’s own.

I enjoy varied books and movies. I read SF heavily and Fantasy occasionally. I have no direct comparison for this; it’s unique and fulfilling. In some instances, it reminded me of Asimov’s Foundation series, but mostly as you learn more of the running of the world.

Marketed as a YA book, I (a mid-50s male,) thoroughly enjoyed it. The characters are vivid, the world interesting, the story fast and engrossing. As the main character is a woman of color, this is a bit unusual in today’s books and is inclusive, though natural within the world of the Faoii. 

Nothing here is quite what one expects; everything here is quite what it should be."

RUNE’s Two Year Crowdfunding Anniversary and a New Crowdfunding Campaign is Live!

Hello fellow Apprentices and Masters! I just got back from Baltimore Comic Con where we celebrated the 2 year anniversary of our first RUNE Booth! It was also Freya’s very first Comic Con this weekend, and yes, she is sporting a “Straight Outta Asgard” shirt! #WinningAtParenting ?

So wild, just over two years ago we started this whole crowd funding thing, and you all have been with us every step of the way! What a trip it has been! Even as I type these words, I can hear Becca and Freya laughing in the other room! From the bottom of my heart I thank you! The picture below (my first booth ever!) makes be both smile and cringe, but I have learned a lot, and look forward to many more books, booths—and maybe—babies :) But I digress...

I wish to thank all of you for making Rune of the Apprentice possible. If reading it gave you even a fraction of the joy I had writing it, then I consider it a wild success! In that vein, I also would like to humbly request that you leave RUNE a quick review on Amazon by clicking here or by going to www.RuneOfTheApprentice.com It will only take you a moment and will ensure that I can publish many more books in the future—both sequels AND prequels! 

Which leads me to my next crowdfunding project called The Last Amazon and it just went LIVE! Yes, you heard right, on the 2 year anniversary of starting my crowdfunding campaign for Rune of the Apprentice I launched the crowdfunding campaign for The Last Amazon, an Epic Graphic Art Novel on Kickstarter! Yay! Go check it out by clicking here!

Fear not, fans of RUNE, for The Last Amazon is a prequel to RUNE and The Rune Chronicles. This story arc not only shows how a desperate human race got from a broken earth to the technologically majestic world of Terra, but also chronicles the birth of Terra’s creator, Numen Consciousness! I am excited beyond words for this book and so proud to be partnered up with David Granjo, illustrator extraordinaire! He is a truly magnificent artist, and now, dear friend! 

David and I have so many awesome things planned for this 96 page, 9 x 12 Landscape "Graphic Novel!" Art of this caliber deserves nothing less than the highest quality of inks, printing, hardcover, and care, something which Inkshares is unable to do. To learn more about this epic project click here or go to www.TheLastAmazon.com. If you want to bring this epic near-future sci-fi graphic novel to life, please back it now!

Again, our Kickstarter is now LIVE and taking pledges! How awesome! We are so excited to share more info about The Last Amazon with you in the coming days, so stay tuned. For now I will leave you with these awesome action illustrations below and give you this warning—the fall of liberty is upon us! Beware! To learn more go to www.TheLastAmazon.com

Please support my new book today at www.TheLastAmazon.com THANK YOU!

Updates, Faoii! Listen up! You’re going to like these!

The Last Faoii becomes an officially launched book in just a few hours. In that moment, it will be widely available to anyone who wants to hear our tale, and you will have the opportunity to rate/review it on Amazon. Take the opportunity. We’ve already fought tooth and nail to take this hill, and I promised you a year ago that the world will know us. This is how that happens. We’ve fought too hard and come too far for The Last Faoii to be completely lost in the sea of novels already out there. Hitting those little stars is the only way to build our island in that sea. And we won’t just build an island. We will raise a mountain, Faoii, and our banner will stand at its peak. We have conquered every obstacle that’s come before. We will not stop now.

Other things are happening as well, of course. In an attempt to spread the word, I did an interview with Jessie’s Coffee Shop this evening. I will admit, my warriors, that I was nervous at first, and it shows at the very beginning of the set. Get through those first four minutes, however, and things go smoother. There’s a lot of interesting information packed away in there and I hope you find it of at least some interest.

Faoii-Kaiya, too, has been busy. She did her own interview for The Protagonist Speaks earlier tonight. Look through that as well and see what our young leader has to say about her world, her journey, and our army. Get to know the woman that started all of this.

It’s all finally happening, Faoii. I could not have done this without you. And I still can’t. More is coming. Be ready.

Shields Up.

Faoii-Tahani

Friends, Readers, and Sorcerers All,