So I just got an email from Inkshares, letting me know Deus Hex Machina was selected as this month’s CEO Syndicate pick!  Alluva sudden we’ve blown past 200 orders, and are almost to 220!  It’s amazing!

ONE GOAL DOWN!!  THANK YOU

So we JUST hit the quill goal which means the book will be published it will get an ISBN and it will be real honest book!

You all are the best. I’m so excited to get this story into people’s hands and I can’t thank you enough.

ONWARD to the full goal!

So we’re a third of the way to the full publishing goal. If we get 750 pre-orders we not only get published but get a full edit and polish, professional type people sweating over the cover art and armies of marketing people planning spectacular things including author events, bookstore placement and more!

So if you can, please spread the word. In fact, mathematically speaking, if each of you convince two other people to preorder, we would be guaranteed to get the full publishing goal. It’s science!

In celebration of hitting this first goal I’m adding a new sample chapter for you to take a look at. I hope you enjoy!

Tom

Greetings All,

We are quickly approaching 1500 copies of An Unattractive Vampire! Fifteen Hundred. One thousand plus five hundred. That’s about Fourteen hundred and fifty more than I ever thought I might sell. So...what’s a way that you...people who have mostly already bought and read/are reading An Unattractive Vampire do to help push us over that milestone...well, how about...

WRITE A REVIEW ON AMAZON

(because Hypnotoad wants you to.)

Seriously, I know I’ve harped on this a lot, but customer reviews are really important particularly for first time writers. So if you’ve read the book please, please, PLEASE go to Amazon and leave a review. And if its good, that’s a bonus.

Other news:

Did you know: I have a website. It’s true. I paid for it and everything. Anyway, I’ve started putting up a some blog posts about references and inspirations in/for An Unattractive Vampire. So if you’d like a little insight into how the sausage was made head on over there and look for the ugly mug of Kurt Barlow.

Next up...

The next book in the Sword and Laser Collection came out this week. Congrats to G. Derek Adams. If you’re in the mood for some high fantasy silliness, I recommend you check it out. 

Also this week marked the beginning of the latest Inkshares contest, this one hosted by Geek and Sundry (SQUUUUEEEEEE!). The theme: Hard Sci-Fi. (For the uninitiated, that’s science fiction where all the science is accurate, not science fiction that goes to the gym to get swole.) So head on over to the contest page and check out the next soon-to-be published novels. Or hey, better yet, throw your own hat into the ring. Come on...I know you want to.

Also also...I have some appearances coming up this month I’d like to promote.
On Saturday the 23rd I will be joining my Our Fair City cohorts at the Columbia Geek Culture Gala. We will be there from 2-3 talking about podcasting, audio drama, and very likely smashing some fruit. Also, I will be passing out postcards like a bleeper bleeper.

Then on Saturday the 30th I will be in ye olde Quad Cities (of hometown fame) at Barley and Rye doing a meet and greet/signing for backers. So if you are in or around the Quad City area...

(Not seen above...East Moline. That’s right, East Moline, you still don’t count.)

...on April 30th come by and get a book signed. I will sign any book you bring me, though I’d prefer if it was mine. We may even be giving out a few copies in exchange for donations for Children’s Therapy Center. So swing by, say hi, and do a third thing that kind of rhymes at Barley and Rye. (Ha...nailed it.)

Anyway, that’s all for now. Hopefully the next time I write a lengthy possibly annoying update it will be to announce WE DID IT! Until then, remember...
AMAZON!

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls of all ages...

...it’s crunch time.

In little less than two weeks we will be seeing the end of the ’A God in the Shed’ campaign. It’s great news as this sort of self-promotional effort does no good for my anxiety and self-worth but not as good when one notices we are still a little over 200 pre-orders away from our goal.

I’ve already gotten in touch with those of you who follow the book but haven’t ordered. Thanks for indulging me and double-thanks to those who have decided to pre-order as a result. If everyone who’s still on the fence like this pre-orders we’ll be funded in no time as there are over 300 of you.

For those of you who’ve already ordered, don’t think you’re off the hook. I know it’s asking a lot from someone who’s already benefiting from your support and generosity but I need your help just as much. Here’s what I want you to do:

1. Look at your friend list or around you. Find that person you know who loves a good horror story or is really passionate about crowdfunding or being part of the early crowd for cool projects. I know this is likely yourself but see what you can do.
2. Send them an email or if possible show them the project page in person. Tell them why YOU pre-ordered a copy and show them the parts of the project that hooked you. Share your passion.
3. Get them to pre-order. Don’t allow them to tell you they’ll do it later.
4. Have them use your reference code for the book so that you get credit for it (important so you can get more books and so that you’re counted for more entries in my raffle to win a bit part in the book).
5. Enjoy the glow of knowing you’ve done something for an aspiring writer and pat yourself on the back for being a patron of the arts.
6. Message me that you’ve done it. I want to do something special for my last minute ambassadors.

Thank you everyone for paying attention to this project and for the support you’ve shown. I have other treats planned over the next few days that I hope I have time to put together. I feel very strongly about showing my gratitude.

Regards,

JF