1500 COPIES
WE DID IT!!!! In fact, we killed it! It’s dead! We are over 1600 copies on our way to 1700. VAMPIRE PARTY!

  (When going to your snobby vampire blood tasting, swirl the blood in your glass and take in the full bouquet.)

DID YOU KNOW?
9 out of 10 hypothetical doctors say that leaving a review on Amazon makes you super cool. The last doctor is your dentist who keeps trying to give you adult braces. Don’t listen to her. Leave a review!

NEWS
An Unattractive Vampire was this months featured book pick of the Paranormal Shopping Network. I also did an interview with them on Twitter which I compiled into a handy little post here. Also, I will be a spotlighted author on the 125 Pages blog in September.

 Dragon Con is accepting nominations for their new awards and there is a push to get Inkshares authors into the mix. So head over and nominate An Unattractive Vampire in either the Fantasy (Paranormal) category or...Asteroid Made of Dragons in Fantasy and An Unattractive Vampire in Horror. Either way, be sure to nominate The Life Engineered in Science Fiction.

As for events:
Tonight

 Our Fair City is having a fundraiser at Headquarters in Chicago (2833 N. Sheffield) Come out, say hi, and support your favorite dystopian mad science audio drama featuring a wall of meat.

Saturday

Our Fair City (including me) will be doing a podcasting panel at the Columbia Geek Culture Gala at 2 PM. I will have postcards to hand out and fruit will be SMASHED!

Next Week:
I will be returning triumphantly(?) to my old Quad City stomping grounds to sign books for backers at Barley and Rye in Moline, IL. There will also be copies available for those who make a donation to Children’s Therapy Center. 

OTHER NEWS:

Big congrats to fellow Sword and Laserer J-F Dubea for hitting tha magic 750 preorder number for his second Inkshares book.

Remember: there are still lots of worthy books out there looking for love in all the right places (Inkshares). For example Lucky by RH Webster and the contestants for the Live Free or Die...Hard Science competition.

So that’s all for now.

Go forth and leave Amazon Reviews.
(I must be this guy...because I keep Harping on that.)

So something happened overnight that I wasn’t expecting. We hit the light publishing goal. No matter what, this book is getting published, and I have you generous, handsome, intelligent, marvelous people to thank for it.

I can’t stop smiling.

On the writing front, I am one scene away from finishing chapter 5, and then I’ll send it out to all the backers. Isidore has left Ess-Dee behind, and next she’s heading into the heart of Oh-See, the house of mouse. It’s going to be a blast to write, especially as someone who used to work there.

I want you to know I won’t stop hustling on this project. I still have the Machina Crew rewards for those that refer people to buy the book. Those referrals might be easier now that it’s guaranteed that they will get their book in their hands. I still have 57 days to see if I can get this book fully funded.  But even if I don’t, the book you receive will be professionally edited, with a professional cover and all the love I have for Orange County poured into its pages.

Today though, no hustle. Just writing. Well, writing and smiling.

I’m excited to announce that The Body of Chris was named a Finalist in the 2016 Next Generation Indie Book Awards for TWO categories: "Religious Non-Fiction" and "Spirituality." The Indie Book Awards are open to independent authors and publishers, excluding major publishing houses. Some have referred to it as the "Sundance" of the book publishing world. Fun times!

Thank you all for making this possible. There’s no telling what could be in the future for this book. Over the last few months, I’ve realized how difficult it can be to market a book about mental illness and spiritual awakening. The mental health community has mixed feelings about the spiritual stuff, and the spiritual community has reservations about the mental illness stuff. They are two very different ideas for most, but I’m hoping this book might play some small role in bridging the gap. 

I recently read a review that my story was not quite inspirational, probably because it ends with a great deal of ambiguity. Truth is, I didn’t want to give too many answers or solutions, mostly because I’m still finding my own. But on a deeper level, the real antidote is being able to stay with the gray, to sit with the diversity of human experience. And so I hope readers are left with an open invitation of sorts. Suffering is the tinder that ignites the flames of transformation. Pain, or trauma, or heartbreak, or disillusionment, is what burns us up, revealing our true nature beyond form and conception. We all have our own trials. No two are the same. Each holds the promise of transformation. May you know yours.

 Hello there wonderful followers. 

We have broke the 200 orders mark and you know what that means. We have another 50 Point Raffle!! WOOT WOOT!! Thank you all for your awesome support. You’re all the reason this campaign has climbed this far. Pat yourself on the back. Good job. 

Without further a due the winner of this 50 Point Raffle is...

  Paul Robinson!! Congratulations!! 

Your super soft Beyond the Code blanket will be making it’s way to you shortly. 

We only have 50 orders to go in 20 days. We can do this!! So please put your order in if you haven’t already. You’ll get your hands on a super cool action adventure novel, your name entered into the next 50 Point Raffle and good karma in helping someone’s dream come true.  

Hop on-board the Beyond the Code train and see what people are talking about. 

Kelsey Rae Barthel