Only 6 days left in the campaign, and only one more update after this one (not counting a post campaign update). So if you’ve been holding off on preordering don’t delay much longer or you’ll miss your chance. Thanks goes out to everyone who has supported me this far, and here’s hoping we can manage to get at least 187 more orders in 6 days.
I was going to continue sharing bits of background on my world and its peoples/creatures with this update, but a few days ago one of my fellow contributors to the Too Many Controllers anthology, Brian Guthrie brought up something more important. There has already been an update sent out from the TMC page, but in the off chance that any of you reading this Exile, Magus update don’t also follow TMC I want to share it here as well.
Just an update for you about an event some of the Inkvengers will participate in this Fall.
BLUF: Support the Inkvengers as we raise money for the hospital that saved the lives of people close to us. Go to Extra Life to find out more.
This weekend, gamers around the world will come together for 24 (25 with the time change) hours of gaming raising money for children. The event is Extra Life and all the money the gamers raise goes to support Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals across the US. The event has raised $22 million up to this point, over $8 million last year alone.
This event is particularly close to the Inkvengers’ hearts. We all know people who have been in a children’s hospital, many in our own family. Brian Guthrie’s niece was born into Providence of Alaska at 26 weeks. They helped keep her in the womb as long as possible, safely delivered her, and saved her life during her 72 day stay in the NICU. She’s now a happy, bubbling kid full of life thanks to that hospital. All of the funds he raises go to Providence of Alaska. To give you an idea of the need, the bed his niece lived in for those 72 days costs almost $10,000 to replace. In 5 years, Brian has only managed to raise $4300. The need is great.
Many, many more gamers have similar stories about the hospitals they support. In fact, the entire event was inspired by Victoria Enmon, a little girl diagnosed with cancer that wanted to do something for the other kids around her that were more sick. You can learn more about her story in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHSZ_82wiJg . Warning: tissues should be nearby.
So, what can you do? Well, you can join in and support a hospital. Learn more at Extra Life. But, if you’d rather just support a gamer, you can go to that site and find someone also doing this. Some of the Inkvengers will be participating during the main event this Saturday, others on another day. You can find Brian and Amanda Orneck by searching for their names on the event page or you can support their team. They are on a team called the Pixel Sharks, which is spread out across the world, mostly current or former military service-members wanting to help others. And don’t worry if you can’t donate right away. You have until the end of the month to help.
Friends, drag enthusiast and horror aficionados
We made it!!
(literally me at the end of the contest)
Bad Medicine: Slay it, Queen! Finished in the top 3 of the Crypt TV contest, and now it is on its way to becoming my second published novel. Just writing those words gives me chills.
Thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you.
I don’t take your support for granted. I know that there are many ways in which you could spend your money; the fact that you chose to support my dreams is reassuring and humbling.
What’s next?
Well, three chapters and a detailed outlined of Bad Medicine are already done, so today I started participating in National Novel Writing Month (Nanowrimo) with the hopes of finishing the first draft in 30 days. It sounds crazy, but I’m confident it will be done. Also, I love a challenge, and this is certainly one.
This morning I wrote the first six hundred words. My editor Penny Lane was there to support me. Too bad she’s not really a morning person (yes, she is a person).
Again, thank you, my friends. I will keep updating you through the production of this crazy and fun book.
Best
Ricardo