Hello, hello! I hope you’re all well.

This is just a quick update for everyone on what’s been going on (or not) with me and "Shadow King" since my April update.

There is not a lot to report. I’m still in the queue with Inkshares waiting for an editor to be available. HOWEVER, I saw in an update from another author it looks like her book has started to move forward in the process. I’ve asked the wonderful Angela at Inkshares what that might mean for my book, and I know she’s looking into that. So, with luck, I’ll have a little more info to share on that front in the not-too-distant future.

Sales have flattened temporarily and I’m trying to figure out ways to make my numbers start to tick up again.

In the meantime, I’m happy to let you all know that I have entered a new manuscript in the 2017 Launchpad Manuscript Competition. The competition is still open for entries and later this summer/fall they will start to announce their finalists list. I’m really excited to be part of Launchpad again and am looking forward to sharing details of the new story with all of you in the upcoming weeks.

With that, I will sign off for now -- have a wonderful weekend!

Best,
Susan

This update is for all the wonderful people who supported me and Mission 51 with a pre-order in 2016. Those pre-orders are gone!

It has been a minute hasn’t it!

I’ve been keeping the updates that hit your inbox sparse for a reason: I want everyone reading the book instead of updates. Don’t worry, I’ll hit you up for REVIEWS more in the future. I’m up to 30 now, and I’ll need to claw up to 100. So every person who feels like clicking on that and leaving one helps!

In other news. I’ll be at ACEN this weekend! If you are attending one of the largest Anime Cons in the nation, FIND ME! I’ll be buried in the bowels of Artist Alley selling souls and books. (souls are in limited quantity). 

And in my final Seventh Age news... I’ve been at work writing. Both writing for the Sequel, other projects, and 7th Age short stories that will come out at the end of the year. 

For now... here is a tease..

We did it. 750 copies sold. This. Is. Amazing.

Thank you, a million times over. The past few months have been challenging, invigorating, frustrating, and inspiring. I have made several new friends and reconnected with old ones. Nothing quite like the raw experience of putting yourself and your work out there.

I am excited to embark on the production journey and to give you sneak peeks behind the scenes along the way. So, what goes into the production of a book with a full-scale publishing house, before it makes its way to a bookstore near you? Glad you asked! I made the following to break it down, and will also add it to my revamped book page for future reference:

As I make my way through these phases, I will aim to send you updates every month or so, or when something particularly exciting happens, so as to not drive all of you up the wall. Also, since I know it will be a long wait, I have decided that once the edits are complete, I will send all of you (my original backers) an electronic uncorrected proof. This means that you will have the ability to read the book months before it is released while waiting for your official copy.

Several, if not most, of you, found the book through my Twitter account @WritesAsheville - I have created a separate handle specifically for book-related news - @TWACI2090 Feel free to follow!

And last, but not least, the winner of the $250 Airbnb gift card (chosen by random number generator) is ......

Nicolette Carter Yates

Just in time for summer! Enjoy!

Cheers! -Jacqui

Machiners!

Can you believe we flew past the one month mark since publication? Crazy times! This will be a quick update with some goodies to report.

First, The Last Machine AUDIOBOOK is coming! You read that correctly, this is going to be epic! And I don’t expect it to take very long to produce. After a highly competitive audition process - 60 narrators submitted recordings to read Jonathan’s story - I’ve selected the voice to read our story! Look for an update in the next month or so about a release date. Shooting for around July 1.

Super important: Have you read the story? Have you not left a review on Amazon? 

Then I need your help. It doesn’t have to be anything elaborate. I liked the Last Machine for x and y reason, etc. One or two sentences will do the trick. Want to write a longer response to the story? Please do - Reviews come in all shapes and sizes! We need to get to 100 on Amazon, and at the moment, we have 16. Many thanks in advance!

Amazon page for reviews: https://www.amazon.com/Last-Machine-Solar-System-ebook/dp/B06XRSS26Y/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_bdcrb_top?ie=UTF8

Goodreads page for reviews: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30221887-the-last-machine-in-the-solar-system

Lastly, pics! From the book launch at Book Passage in the San Francisco Ferry Building. Oh, and the book in Huntington, NY at Book Revue next to some guy named George R.R. Martin.... I told you these were crazy times :-)

Hey everyone! Whew, long time no talk, how’s life? I’ve got some fun updates about the project I thought I’d share today, if that’s all right with you!

I’m just a couple short days away from turning in my final manuscript to Inkshares after going through another round of developmental edits and beta-readers. Seeing the finish line is a beautiful thing! After that, the book goes on to copy/edit and I let the smart people at Inkshares do their thing. I also received some beautiful original sketches for the cover artwork yesterday! They’re so gorgeous and creative and as soon as I’m allowed to share something, I will! 

Last thing: it’s a bit of a favor to ask, from all of you! I’m gathering reviews from readers as we build a website/social media/etc and want to know a) If I can publish a review you previously posted on the book’s page or b) if you have NOT left a review, but either read excerpts or were a full-on beta reader, if you can leave one here on the book’s page that we can publish elsewhere! Or you can email/message me a little snippet. Whatever you’d prefer. I’d especially love kind words from other awesome authors on the site!

The ball is officially rolling, folks! Can’t wait to share more news in the coming months. It’s such a rush to finally see it all coming together. :)  Thanks again for everything!

This is the final countdown!

Only 26 orders to go. The champagne is in the fridge beckoning me to open it. If you have not ordered yet and would like to be a backer for The Walls are Closing In, now would be a fabulous time to jump in. If you would like your name in the back of the book, this is your final chance to buy a "Super Reader" package before that ship sails.

Once The Walls are Closing In hits 750, a few exciting things will happen:

1) The book will officially switch from "Funding" to "In Production," and I’ll await word from Inkshares on when to turn in my manuscript for the first round of developmental editing.

2) I will announce the winner of the $250 Airbnb gift card.

3) I will send out the limited edition bookmarks. Please send me your address if you would like one. Either DM through Inkshares, or to jacquicastle@gmail.com

Stay tuned! -Jacqui