This is the best update of them all!

WE DID IT!!!

With the help of you who are receiving this email (the “follower” list,) we finished the contest in the top three and have won the publishing prize! That is the dream of every writer, to be published. I have ONLY YOU to thank for that. There are many excellent writers who never have this opportunity. The difference here was YOU!

Here are the numbers: Mission 51 has an awesome number of “Followers” on Inkshares: 419. Most of you helped with a pre-order. Mission 51 would not be getting published like this without those pre-orders! Pre-orders is what Inkshares uses to determine who merits publication. It can’t be done on Inkshares without your vote of confidence and crowdfunding support! - Many followers helped with public exposure and awareness by simply “liking,” and “sharing,” and “commenting” on the Inkshares site, facebook, twitter, and instagram. Even without purchasing a pre-order, drumming up support for Mission 51 like that was enormously helpful. The level of interest and enthusiasm for Mission 51 was phenomenal! I will point out proof of that in just a bit.

Of the 419 Followers, 246 of you purchased a pre-order. Wow!!! That’s the number that counted for the contest. That’s the number that was top three out more than 180 submissions.

Those 246 fabulous supporters purchased a total of 267 copies, as some people purchased multiple copies of the book. That’s the crowdfunding Inkshares is looking for to: 1. prove the project is worth it, and 2. provide funds so they can at least start the expensive process of pre-production and production.

Those 267 copies broke down like this: 63% ordered ebooks, and 37% ordered physical books. That amounts to over $3,600 worth of crowdfunding support!!! That’s HUGE!!! Inkshares will use all of that and more to provide world-class editing, layout, production, marketing, and distribution services. I will update you all later on the timeframe of this exhaustive and comprehensive process. 

So the Mission 51 project page on Inkshares suddenly changed at 3:00 AM EDT this morning as the contest ended. The part that said “Funding” now says “In Production.” I am so very, very happy and proud about that! The green funding bar has disappeared. But I’m happy that most of the content is still visible. 

There is now one new little badge which appeared under the title and description on the Mission 51 project page. It says, “#18 Community Interest in Science Fiction.” I am blown away by that!!! There are many Science Fiction projects on Inkshares. To be ranked as #18 in Community Interest is unbelievable! That’s the proof about "interest and enthusiasm" I was alluding to!

I am starting to receive emails from Inkshares about my next steps. I have a number of things to learn and to decide, as you might imagine. As I know more, I will continue to keep you all informed through this medium. I ask for your patience as Inkshares navigates Mission 51 through their pre-production process. The goal is to eventually have a professionally polished product in your hands as soon as humanly possible. It won’t be as soon as anyone of us would like, but I will do my part to make it happen as soon as possible. I’ll keep you informed.

Again, THANK YOU! From the bottom, middle, and top of my heart, THANK YOU!!!

Peace!

Ferd 👽

Thriller Fans, in two weeks, July 11th, I will be headed to NYC to attend ThrilerFest.  This genre’ specific conference brings together the biggest names writing thriller novels for four days of inspiration,
education and celebration.  I will take part in the Debut Authors Program.  Check out the link for a Q&A spotlight about Tears of the Assassin on Book Trib.    ThrillerFest Q&A

Drop me a reply if you’re in NYC, I’d love to meet more fans of Inkshares.

Also, today is your last chance to help Ferd Crotte in the Nerdist Contest. Mission 51 is an awesome book and he could use your help to get it published through this very tight contest. https://www.inkshares.com/books/mission-51

All the Best,

William Schiele  

Dear Readers,

Thank you so much for your support over the last month. I am still sitting firmly in 8th place in the Nerdist contest, which, as you know, is out of the running. Mutants: Uprising will not be published through this contest - and you know what? That’s okay.

The story is in no way DEAD - it still exists and will be published at some point. However, you will be refunded your money for this campaign after the contest ends. 

THANK YOU so much for following me on this journey! It means the world to me.

Jane-Holly

Hello, readers. Tomorrow is the final day of the Nerdist Sci-Fi contest. 1000 Faces has been sitting in 7th place, with the same number of readers, for a little while now. In fact, the whole leader-board from 6th place downward has been rather quiet.

To those of you who have preordered 1000 Faces, thank you for your support. It means a lot to me to know that you believed in the concept or in me (or both!) enough to put your hard-earned cash towards it. As it stands, time will run out for 1000 Faces crowdfunding campaign on June 30th. Some time after that, you’ll receive a refund. I still plan on completing 1000 Faces and getting it out to the world somehow. I’ll be in touch with you again once I know how.

While I have your attention, I’d love it if you could take a look at and consider supporting Mission 51 with a preorder:

https://www.inkshares.com/books/mission-51

It’s The X-Files meets The Immigrant, and readers are calling it one of the best sci-fi books they’ve ever read. 

~ Jenny

We are down to the last few updates regarding Mission 51 and the Nerdist Sci-Fi-Fi Contest. There are only 54 hours left and we are holding on to 2nd place, but just barely. Here are the current standings:

209 for the contestant in 1st place

192 for our Mission 51 in 2nd place

190 for the contestant in 3rd place

171 for the contestant in 4th place

Three of these four contestants will win full Inkshares publishing contracts. The fourth will not! We are in serious need of a few more pre-orders to keep a distance from 3rd place.

Those of you yet to pre-order, this is your chance to make a HUGE difference! Please place your pre-order now!

Those of you who have, you are the very reason Mission 51 has gotten this far! You are the ones who can save the day! I humbly ask that you find one other pre-order among your family and friends, and I urge you to do it soon, real soon.

This will be an exciting finish! I’ll keep doing what I can to bring us new pre-orders. Please do what you can, too. Thank you, everyone!

Ferd  :D

Mission 51 continues to (barely) hold on to 2nd place in the contest. It is because of the continuing pre-orders we are receiving. Thank you!

But this is no time to let up. The contest was extended to June 27. We must keep gathering regular pre-orders if we are to stay in the top three. There continues to be large movement in the leaderboard.

Here are the current standings:

197 unique name/email pre-orders for contestant in 1st place

180 for our Mission 51 in 2nd place

178 for contestant in 3rd place (continues to move up fast!)

152 for contestant in 4th place (seasoned competitor)

121 for contestant in 5th place

Mission 51 followers who have yet to pre-order, you’re help would be priceless at this time! Well, there is a price, but a simple $10 pre-order might make all the difference between having Mission 51 receive a full publishing contract by this contest or not! Please be a part of crowdfunding this book into existence! Please help with a pre-order!

Thank you very much, everyone, for your amazing, continuing support!

Peace!

Ferd 

Hey all, so this is it, last day of the campaign and the end is nigh.  

While we won’t be seeing Rule Britannia published through Inkshares, there are plenty of other books worth your time, and $. The Nerdist Sci-Fi competition is nearing its end and if I were you, I would be taking my refund/credits and using them to get yourself a copy of Ferd Crotte’s Mission 51.  

Head on over to the story page and read some samples, then get in quick and lets help Ferd get over the line!