Jamison Stone commented on The Seventh Age: Dawn
I wish I could draw all the things things... 
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    Jamison Stone liked an update for The Seventh Age: Dawn

    So in today’s Seventh Age update I’m going to write about some of the production stuff and projects I’m trying to assemble prior to the book launch on 11/1/2016. 

    After the Editing:

    • Cover Design is still underway. 
    • I keep staring at my actual website and don’t have a friggin’ clue what to do with it.
    • Wrote an actual acknowledgement.
    • Placed my claim that all spiders need to be destroyed. 
    • Anddd.. all the Grand Patrons who ordered the book using handles, character names, or odd-ball emails: I have a particular set of skills, and I will find you. Processed Meatman will be printed in the back of the book. 
    • Actually... Processed Meatman is pretty damn hilarious. It stays. 

    Looking for artists!

    I will pay you for commissions related to the Seventh Age! Email me at CrankyBolt@gmail.com if you are interested in helping with art. My website is in vast need of an overhaul, and I’m trying to collect artwork related to the book so I can flesh some things out, make a better book trailer, and swoon over artistic ability that I have not.

    The Quest to 1000:

    We, and I from the bottom of my heart, I mean we; have almost reached 1000 copies. This is a huge milestone for any first time author. On Inkshares, it also has a special significance. 1000 copies before meant your book qualified for full publishing on it’s own outside of a contest. I think it’s a pretty important statement to make if we can prove that The Seventh Age could make it all the way there before publication on 11/1. 

    I haven’t issued a direct call-to-action for a while and now that the book is actually coming out in a few months I think this milestone is worth it. If you know anyone who would enjoy an unrelenting, action packed urban fantasy tale: Send them here. The #1 way people buy books is by recommendations. 

    Until next week!

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      Jamison Stone commented on The Life Interstellar
      @Amanda Orneck happy to discuss meta issue further on the forum, however, am still very interested in (and expectant of) @Zack Jordan ’s response to my pending questions about not only his book, but also his personal statement of departure--which why I asked said questions here on his page and not elsewhere.

      So, sure, take political discuss to forums, however, that should, in my opinion, not be a foil, or a reason, to not discuss things pertinent to this specific book, here, on this specific project page. 
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        Jamison Stone commented on The Life Interstellar
        @Zack Jordan Thanks for greater clarity, I think it will help your cause. I still have a few questions though: 

        You said "A number of traditional publishers have expressed interest in The Life Interstellar, completely unrelated to its campaign on Inkshares." Was this done before you began your Inkshares campaign? If it was after, how could it possibly be independent? (Agents/Publishing houses have Google, too.)

        Was this interest expressed in an unfinished manuscript? If you, an unpublished author who is not "famous" (no offence) received an offer of an advance (large enough to take off work) for an uncompleted manuscript (key here uncompleted) I’d be DEEPLY impressed. Buuuut without a direct conformation on this by you, I’m actually just deeply unconvinced. But if you got an actual offer with a large advance for an unfinished manuscript, tell me, and you get all the kudos--yes all of them. 

        My guess, and please correct me if I am wrong, is that agents/publishers have "expressed interest" in you finishing and then sending them a completed manuscript via a query you have sent them possibly before, and possibly after your campaign. I’m leaning towards after, though, because then why would you have started the contest in the first place if you had this potential advance. Although, it could have been before if the agent/trad house said they only wanted completed MS, and that’s why you entered the Nerdist contest with an unfinished MS--something which is not a deal breaker for Inkshares, but is for trad houses. 

        Either way, key here is on if the trad house wanting a completed MS though, because it is not industry standard to sign an actual book deal (let alone get advances) with a trad house for an unfinished manuscript unless you are at least internet famous, but most usually famous, famous--I’m talking Lady Gaga famous, here. Remember, Gary Witta had difficulty placing his novel and he is internet famous, and working on famous, famous. 

        So I’m reading this all as, (and again please correct me if I am wrong):

        "I am leaving Inkshares for the *potential* of greener pastures, pastures which I sought out on my own, and not actual pastures which I have been promised, but pastures even though only potential, are much more desirable (greener) to me than the current ones I have built my platform on because I did not win the Nerdist contest." 

        Again, if I’m wrong, tell me I’m wrong (I have no problem being wrong here) I just am trying to understand your choice making because if the chips are falling the way I think they are, my gut tells me you will be the first of many potential authors leaving after a near miss on a contest. You can call it "contest mining" if you you like, but I feel people will come for the hope of working with Nerdist/Geek&Sundry, but leave if they don’t hit that goal.

        Additionally, I’m also super confused when you said that you have an offer because I am deeply skeptical that any trad house would offer you an advance (worthy of taking off work) for an unfinished manuscript...

        Again, I’m not trying to be "judgy" here, I was deeply impressed with all of your updates and very excited for your book and am now just trying to make sense of what you are telling me despite the fact that is does not coincide with my understanding of the trad publishing industry. I’m also tracking a new and potentially damaging tread here on Inkshares, too, making this situation bigger than just you and your book.

        Ultimately, as @Brian Guthrie you should manage your project you see fit and just because I gave you $20 in credits (which Inkshares has not gotten back to me about as far as a refund goes) does not, as GRRM says, "make you my bitch" however, what you are saying does confuse and worry me.

        At the end of the day, I think this is larger than just your book and am sorry if you are catching flack for that greater looming situation (threat.) I also can only assume this whole situation is profoundly stressful for you. If you want to answer my questions, that’d be cool and would help us other authors understand what is going on. If not, well, "dems da breaks" I guess. Either way, your book looks great and I wish you the best of luck. Truly.
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          Jamison Stone commented on The Life Interstellar
          @Zack Jordan  I think giving a more thorough explanation would help prevent people from feeling badly about your departure. I think it might *seem* fun to be mysterious and cheeky, but I, for one, was very (very!) excited about The Life Interstellar but now just have a bad taste in my proverbial mouth. I can only imagine how @Jeremy Thomas  and the rest of the Inkshares team feels. 

          From how you frame your departure in your update, it sounds like you received (and accepted) a different publication offer. If that is the case, I feel we, as your Inkshares backers, deserve a bit more information than a notice that you have mined our email addresses.  

          I really felt for you losing the contest by such a close margin, and was really impressed by your campaign.  I’m not sure if you know this, but I lost the Nerdist (which was painful) but then went on to hit 1k+. I’m not judging your choice to leave, only am sad that you are doing so without giving any real reason for doing so.  

          Lack of information makes the imagination run rampant, and with John Robin’s questionable departure I know that there are many like @Richard Saunders who are a bit wary of these "mysterious" exoduses, myself included.

          So, can you share some more information about your book’s future? I’d very much like to wash this very icky taste out of my mouth... Thanks. 
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            Jamison Stone liked an update for Journey, A Short Story -  Volume 1

            Greetings fellow Inksharians!

            Something extraordinary happened this week that relates to my book!

             Way back in 1994, I targeted the very popular Governor of Massachusetts (William Weld) in one of my "method-writing" sting operations. That story is prominently featured in my book. 

            Mr. Weld has been largely out of the public spotlight for two decades, until a few days ago, when seemingly out of nowhere, he generated national headlines and is sure to continue to be in the news at least until November.  

            It is an INCREDIBLE coincidence that TWO of the major targets I conducted "method-writing" sting operations against (and featured in my book, SecretAgentMan) are now running for the Top Two political offices in the United States of America!

            http://nyti.ms/1OQbKBA

            Read all about it on www.sam2.org

            Here is a letter I sent to the big-wigs at Inkshares on Thursday.

            Greetings Inkshares Team!

            Re: Trump & Weld

            Today the Libertarian Party will announce that former Massachusetts Governor William Weld has accepted the Vice President slot on Gary Johnson’s ticket. Their nominating convention will be held on Memorial Day.

            It is an INCREDIBLE coincidence that TWO of the major targets I conducted "method-writing" sting operations against (and featured in my book, SecretAgentMan) are now running for the Top Two political offices in the United States of America!

            http://nyti.ms/1OQbKBA Read all about it on www.sam2.org

            Here is a letter I sent to the big-wigs at Inkshares on Thursday.

            Greetings Inkshares Team!

            Re: Trump & Weld

            Today the Libertarian Party will announce that former Massachusetts Governor William Weld has accepted the Vice President slot on Gary Johnson’s ticket. Their nominating convention will be held on Memorial Day.

            It is an incredible coincidence that TWO of my prominent "method-writing" targets are running for the highest offices in the nation at the same time, and that this happened shortly after the release of my book!

            I have engaged in Real-Life epic battles (sting operations) with BOTH of these high profile individuals (Donald Trump & Bill Weld). Those stories are contained in my Inkshares novel. Other than changing the names to Daniel Trask and William Wilde, these stories are 100% true and I have proof to back up the claims.

            Given that the presumptive nominees of both major parties have very high negative ratings, a third party challenge will receive more press than usual this year.Many GOP big wigs have been talking about finding a third party candidate themselves, but the fact is that ONLY the Libertarian Party is set up and qualified to be on the ballot in all fifty states.

            There is not enough time for any other prominent  third party challenge to materialize.  

            A large portion of the electorate finds both Clinton and Trump to be unacceptable, so it is natural that the Libertarians will get more attention this time than they normally do. Add this to all of the other documented real-life connections (Dan Brown, Columbine Memorial etc.) in my book and it is easy to see that Journey / SecretAgentMan has lots of potential to break out if given the right publicity pitch and push.

            Book buyers don’t want to hear an author hype his book - (and most authors, including myself, don’t want to). Credibility only comes from others (real influencers) recognizing the potential and publicizing it, creating word of mouth viral exposure.I was counting on Inkshares to be the conduit for this. It could still happen.

            Kind regards,

            Richard Saunders

            Supporter call to action! Please help me get this story OUT THERE! Tweet it, FB it, instagram it, email it or whatever you can do it! MANY THANKS!

            And If you haven’t already, please read the book and leave and a review on Amazon!!!!!
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              Jamison Stone liked the forum thread, Trying to drive buyers
              The direct, one-on-one approach seems to be key above all else. If you say "I need you to buy my book!" to a room full of 100 people, they’ll each think to themselves "Eh. Probably everyone else will. I can sit this one out." If you say "I need you to buy my book!" standing nose to nose with someone, they’re going to have a much greater difficulty deflecting it.
              I’ve gathered the vast majority of my readers from facebook. When I posted "Hey, I need you to buy my book!" statuses, I’d get about three new buys. When I started directly sending personal messages to literally everyone on my friends list, I started raking in as many as 20 supporters a day.
              That seems to be "a" important thing to remember when driving buyers. I’ve officially messaged everyone I personally know at least twice now, and I’ve pulled in about a quarter of them as supporters so far. I’m starting to stall out too, though. I’ve earned about 20 referrals from friends as well, but there comes a point where you’ve mined your personal contacts for about all you’re going to get.
              Definitely talk to people who have successfully been funded and take their advice seriously, even if it goes out of your comfort zone. I wouldn’t have gotten this far without that.
              Beyond that, I can’t really say what it takes. I’m hoping a snowball effect will hit Tantalus Depths (shameless plug) from the inkshares community when it gets closer to Quill goal. Even though I don’t plan to stop at Quill, I’ll be able to use it as a measurable goal to promote a sense of urgency, much like I was able to do with the Geek and Sundry competition. Telling people your book is in a contest that ends in three days is more likely to pull in their support than telling them you’re trying to get 500 pre-orders in the next 2 months. You kind of have to take it in little chunks.
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                Jamison Stone liked the forum thread, Trying to drive buyers
                Hey guys, as an avid reader of drafts on the site, I think people respond more to individualized messages, instead of what is obviously copied and pasted into the DM. That is how I learned about @Christopher Johnson ’s book in the first place.
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