Good morning everyone! 

 This isn’t so much an update as it is offering an article I wrote to help authors better market themselves and their book. I know that there are a lot more authors on Inkshares who sponsored The Living God than there are readers. These are insider tips from a publication designer with seven years of experience but really pertain to people who are self-publishing. While Inkshares isn’t necessarily self-publishing, these tips can help you with marketing your book during the campaign.

 Check out the article below. 

http://kaytalinplatt.com/how-to-get-people-to-take-your-book-seriously/

Day three in the Nerdist Science Fiction contest, and Proteus is still climbing the ranks, sitting solidly in the top ten. The support you’ve been showing has been amazing, and I cannot thank you enough for it. As promised here comes a story-focused update. Introducing the city-sized marvel of deep space travel, The Somnambule:

The Somnambule is a home to thousands, many of which will live their entire lives on its vast decks. It is an ark. A refuge. A prison. A tomb.

Thousands of lightyears away from the home they left and the home that awaits them, the inhabitants of The Somnambule are well and truly on their own. When conflict erupts in the chambers of this colossal monolith, more than 50,000 lives hang in the balance. One man will take it upon himself to save them from destruction. But the question must be asked...who will save them from him?

Order Proteus, and find out!

p.s.: It’s pronounced "SAHM-nam-BYOOL" I know someone’s gonna ask. ;)

Just a quick update on the status of Mission 51. The novel continues to be #1 in the Nerdist Sci-Fi Contest on Inkshares! There are now over 150 contestants! I am thrilled!

But the contest has 18 days yet to go and the competition is really heating up. As I’m sure you know, contestants are ranked by the number of people who pre-order the book. Your pre-order would be a HUGE help and I would GREATLY appreciate it! The top three contestants win a full publication deal and you know how awesome that is!!!

If you can, please click on the green pre-order button below and help me get Mission 51 published!

Happy Wednesday afternoon! 

The Nerdist Contest continues to roll on and we’re doing alright but (there’s always a but)…we’re closing in on the final two weeks when ANYTHING can happen. Now more than ever I need your support with Recommendations, Pre-Orders, and spreading the word about Crow’s Gambit.

For your entertainment today I thought I would explain how the original concept for Crow’s Gambit started. In 2001 I was living in New Jersey. If you have ever lived in that region you realize it is saturated with airports. Philadelphia, La Guardia, Newark, JFK, DC and Boston aren’t that far, regional airports, air strips in fields, and a few military bases. The point is there are ALWAYS several planes and contrails in the air. 

Then on September 11th the World Trade Center was attacked and the FAA grounded all flights. And the skies were empty. It’s kind of a like a noise you don’t notice until it’s gone. I wouldn’t say it was eerie exactly, more unsettling. That was when I started to wonder, what would happen if the planes never flew again?  

For several years I thought about it (I do that, I’m an engineer, I think about things for fun). How would society adapt? What new or old technologies would be called into play to fill the gaps? I started writing the resulting story for NanoWriMo in 2015 and here we are. 

Thank you for following along and supporting the next phase of this story’s journey. Please let your friends know about the story and if you’d like to contribute a Recommendation it would mean a lot. More to come… 

PT 

Hello backers and followers!

Sometimes when I am sitting at my computer in the early morning, finishing up the first draft of Fae Child, I still can’t quite believe that you all believed in me enough to back my book and secure me a publication deal with Inkshares under their Quill imprint. I am working hard to finish up the book and prepare it for editing. THANK YOU all, so very much, for your support and encouragement.

As you probably already know, I have a second book which I entered into Inkshares’ newest contest, a science fiction novel competition sponsored by Nerdist. While work continues on Fae Child, this contest is a fantastic opportunity for me to line up another book series for publication. The top three books will win full publishing contracts with Inkshares, and at least one will be chosen by Nerdist to join their own imprint, with all the publicity and support that entails.

Mutants: Uprising is currently in the top 3, and I would dearly appreciate your preorder to help me remain in the running to win. There are just 18 days left in the contest, and the rest of the contenders are beginning to up their game and creep up on the leaders. You supported me once, please consider doing it again!

If the contest ends and I do not place, I will not be extending the campaign to try to get to 250 orders and publication that way. I did that for Fae Child, but I don’t have the time to do another long crowdfunding campaign. Mutants: Uprising will return to the backburner and refunds will go out, while I finish up the edits on Fae Child and get the manuscript polished. (Even if I do win, Fae Child will be completed first, so do not worry on that front.)

Thank you so much for your continued support,
Jane-Holly

What people are saying about Mutants: Uprising -
"Such a cool concept with unique execution, in 2nd person. Meissner is an engaging, creative author and I’ve no doubt that Mutants: Uprising will be a brilliant read." - J. Graham-Jones, author of 1000 Faces and Witherfist

"A brilliant concept promising inventive action, compelling characters and an exciting new world, with a unique 2nd-person narrative style. An automatic buy, for me." - Evan Graham, author of Proteus and Tantalus Depths

"X-Men is the obvious link, but the story also kind of strikes me as bring like a mutant version of True Blood. 2nd person POV is a novelty, and in this case well-written. Bought my copy, look forward to reading the finished piece." - Chris Picone, author of Kanimbla

"X-Men and Lovecraft. Two of my fave things in one book, also with a rather unique writing style, makind it stand out from other books I’ve read trying to do the same. Interesting and looking forward to seeing where this ends up!" - Anniken Haga, author of Artificial Generation

18 days to go!

We are still tied for third place in the Nerdist contest, which is GOOD.

One preorder will put us into third by ourselves. This is BETTER.

Five preorders will place Mutants: Uprising into second place. This is BEST.

If you have already preordered: Thank you! I have an additional favor to ask you. Spread the word about Mutants: Uprising to your friends and get them to preorder as well! Anyone who likes the X-Men movies, or superheroes in general, will enjoy this book. 

As the contest draws closer to the end, the competition is heating up. I don’t need 750 preorders to get a full publishing contract from Inkshares and put this book in your hands, I only need to remain in the top 3 of the contest, and you can make this happen!

Thank you!
~~ Jane-Holly

What people are saying about Mutants: Uprising -

"Such a cool concept with unique execution, in 2nd person. Meissner is an engaging, creative author and I’ve no doubt that Mutants: Uprising will be a brilliant read." - J. Graham-Jones, author of 1000 Faces and Witherfist

"A brilliant concept promising inventive action, compelling characters and an exciting new world, with a unique 2nd-person narrative style. An automatic buy, for me." - Evan Graham, author of Proteus and Tantalus Depths

"X-Men is the obvious link, but the story also kind of strikes me as bring like a mutant version of True Blood. 2nd person POV is a novelty, and in this case well-written. Bought my copy, look forward to reading the finished piece." - Chris Picone, author of Kanimbla

"X-Men and Lovecraft. Two of my fave things in one book, also with a rather unique writing style, makind it stand out from other books I’ve read trying to do the same. Interesting and looking forward to seeing where this ends up!" - Anniken Haga, author of Artificial Generation

Good morning, Readers and Followers! 

Two days into our campaign for Proteus, and we’ve already worked our way to tenth place in the contest, out of 150 entrants. The support we’ve seen already is phenomenal, and it personally warms my heart to see how much faith so many of you have in me that you’d be willing to rally for me a second time even though the first book is still in production. I promise you, I won’t let you down.

We’ve made it to the top ten in record time, but now we have to climb through them. At the time of writing, 17 pre-orders stand between Proteus and the coveted third place position, and I fully expect those numbers to rise significantly by the end of the contest. We mustn’t lose momentum!

Only 18 days remain in this contest, and after that, we’ve either won or we’re done. There will be no long pre-order campaign this time; it’s total victory or defeat. We’ll be getting Tantalus Depths no matter what, but with this contest won, we’ll have the beginning of a franchise rather than a single novel. If you can spare as little as ten dollars, please lend Proteus your support, and tell all your family and friends about it. I’m passionate about this story, and I am so eager to share it with you.

Expect to see some new story content updates in the next coming days. We’re exploring a completely different side of the galaxy that we were introduced to in Tantalus Depths so expect to see some brand new story elements with a familiar feel to them. For now, I leave you with this new promotional video for Proteus. Please feel free to share it with anyone, anywhere!

Six orders stand between 1000 Faces and the top 3 of the Nerdist contest

https://www.inkshares.com/books/1000-faces

If you’re following this project because you enjoy the concept, because you enjoy my writing, please consider preordering today. If you haven’t checked out the sample content from 1000 Faces yet, you can find them under the ’Read’ tab on the project page - or at the links below!

https://www.inkshares.com/books/1000-faces/book_segments/excerpt-1-

 https://www.inkshares.com/books/1000-faces/book_segments/excerpt-2-

~ Jenny

 Well sirs, 

I passed the 80,000 word mark, a major milestone. That was my goal for the total word count in the book, and I just squeaked past it. I’m working to wrap things up as quickly as possibly, without making the ending too abrupt. I figure I have maybe another 10,000 words or so to write, then I’m done.

The process hasn’t been harder than I anticipated, but it sure as hell has taken a lot longer. For that, I apologize. As I mentioned in my last update, I ended up tossing some 45,000 words, and though the story is much better for it, I can’t help feeling a little bad to keep everyone waiting so long. On the plus side, these newer ideas add excitement, fun characters, and a few WTF twists.

I’m going to finish this draft in the next 2 weeks (approximately), then spend a few more months smoothing out sections and tying it all together. As I complete sections, I will post them for you to finally start reading and (hopefully) enjoying. 

Thanks for the patience!