Happy New Year, backers! I hope everyone's 2016 is off to a great start...

I'll be in Denver this Thursday to give a reading of UMDC at The Tattered Cover Bookstore on Colfax Avenue. The event begins at 7pm. If you know anybody in the area who might be interested, please let them know! Thanks :)

The novel was mentioned (briefly) on The Sinica Podcast, a popular show among expats in China. Over the course of this episode, the host and his guests talked about when and if we will ever see an expat novel in the tradition of "The Sun Also Rises" come out of China. The sad news was that no one on the show had read UMDC, but at least they've heard of it! The host said that it's on his "To Read" list. Skip ahead to 26:30 if you don't want to listen to the entire episode.

Also, if one of your resolutions for 2016 is to read more, join me in signing up for the 2016 Goodreads Reading Challenge! It's a great way to keep yourself accountable throughout the year.

And finally, if you've finished reading UMDC, please consider leaving a review of the novel on Goodreads and Amazon. Even if it's not a glowing, 5-star review, this will help me out A TON. Thank you so much to everyone who's already done so. Here are the links:

UMDC on Goodreads (Under "My Review," click "Add a review.")

UMDC on Amazon (Under "Customer Reviews," click "Write a customer review.")

You're the best backers a writer could ask for. THANK YOU!

Quincy

Weekly update.

Greetings Journey Supporters! (especially the pre-publication founding members - you guys and gals are the best!)

For those of you who got on this ride early, your support and enthusiasm has brought us to where we are today (along with all you fine folks who are new to the project!)

This may be the relative calm before the storm and you can all feel the thrill of being an insider before this became a phenomenon (if it does reach the lofty heights for which it was designed.)

The latest reason for me to dare start believing that my book will become successful is that my national talk-radio show tour is picking up some serious steam. There are no shortcuts for a new writer (like myself) who is completely unknown, has no large social-media following or famous backers.

A small start-up publisher is not going to be able to get you on the Charlie Rose show. Once your book is out, it's mostly up to you to get attention and build a readership. To succeed (as an author) in talk radio, things usually need to happen in a certain sequence:

#1 - You need to have a topic of genuine interest and you need to have a unique take on the topic.

#2. If you pass that first test, One program manager (somewhere) needs to believe that your presentation is worthy of being put before that radio station's audience even though you have Zero experience on radio. (That person for me was Glenn Klein!) Getting that very first gig is a Big deal and the odds are long. Most program managers will throw your pitch in the trash if they see you have no experience and have not done Any radio or TV interviews.

#3. You most likely will start out at 1,000 watt stations, getting your feet wet and gaining experience in this unique media format. Your second appearance is almost as hard to get as the first, but at least you have something on your talk-radio resume.

#4 If you make it through those first three steps, and you have a few shows on your resume, then other program managers will give your pitch a brief 15 second glance - if they like that, they might listen to a few minutes of one of your previous interviews. You'd better hope they like what they hear.

#5 If you are still in the game at this point, you have a chance to move up to 5,000 watt stations, then 10,000 and 25,000. At each level, the stakes are higher and the scrutiny is increased.

#6 The ultimate place to land is on syndicated programs where your interview goes out to numerous stations around the country.

I did that first 1,000 watt  interview with Glenn Klein on December 8 @ WRJN-AM 1400 in Milwaukee, WI. In the short space of one month, I moved through the ranks up to the 25,000 watt level and just this past week landed my first syndicated show appearance.

On Monday, I will do my second syndicated interview, this time with a show that is broadcast to [gulp] 196 radio stations across the country. (That's not a typo, it is 196 and I'm flabbergasted)

I would like to claim credit for the incredibly fast pace that this is happening, but if I did, it would be a lie.

The reason I've been able to do this is because of the intense media interest surrounding Donald Trump and my connection to him which is in my book. Without Trump, I'm just another chump hawking a book. 

And I'll take that!

If you want to listen to any of my previous interviews, I have links o some of them at the bottom of the http://secretagentman.org/ homepage. Feel free to share this link, along with a comment or two on your social media pages.

If you haven't already, consider friending me on Facebook or following on Twitter.

https://www.facebook.com/RichFSaunders

https://twitter.com/RFSaunders or @RFSaunders

What follows is Very Important!

This is the broken-record section that I will include at the end of every weekly update, because it is soooo important to the success of a newly launched novel.

Only a fraction of people who hear me on a radio talk show will visit my book's page on Amazon. If they see only a few reviews, most will go no further - they will wait to see if the book becomes popular. It is like getting your first job or landing that first radio interview - it's hard because almost everyone wants to see proof that others like you or your work before they will hire you or buy your book.

So once again, I plead for you all to go to the Amazon page and Goodreads and leave a short review or even just click on some Stars - even if you haven't finished reading it yet, if you like it so far - or just want to help me out - try and find some time to do this! It is one of the most important keys in this process. I would love to see a bunch of new reviews or Star ratings before I do the nationally syndicated show on Monday:-)

Click Here for the Amazon page.


Click Here for the Goodreads page.

Thank you all for your continued support! Wish me luck on Monday!

Rich Saunders

Going to need to be speedy about this because I woke up with some killer pain in my right shoulder, which means computer work is rough right now.  But we got our 80th reader this morning, which means I get to giveaway another copy of Shadow of the Owl!  

Scan this QR code with your phone... No seriously try it... I'm serious! I promise you wont be disappointed... 

You could also click this link: Storm Chaser Contest Page

My apologies before we begin tonight’s update. It will be a bit long. Here’s a handy Table of Contents. Skip ahead as you see fit, though you’ll miss out on some good stuff. Start at the start and see....


-=ONE=- A quick Animal in Man update

-=TWO=- Some damn fine inkshares books worth your attention & funding

-=THREE=-  A link to my 300-reader raffle

So, part ONE: 

The Sword and Laser campaign has been my singular life focus for the last several weeks, but that doesn’t mean I have not been writing bits and pieces of “The Animal in Man.” I assure you I have! Mostly scrawled scenes on scraps of paper. Some are ideas to make existing scenes more gloriously violent, more meaningful. Others are Eureka! moments in which I finally realize exactly how to tie off a loose end, snip it, and seamlessly fold it into the rest of the narrative. The bottom line is, dear readers, that I’ve never been more excited to write “The Animal in Man.” I know all of you are watching me. I will deliver a one-of-a-kind experience. This story is unlike any story I’ve ever experienced, and I’ve experienced a lot. You're going to like it.

Part TWO: 

Thomas J. Arnold and I share a lot of the same inkshares followers. He’s one of the most talented writers I’ve read. The world he’s building for his Exile series is one of the most unique I’ve visited. The campaign for book one “Exile, Magus” is less than two weeks from its conclusion, and Mr. Arnold needs your help. He deserves your help. I’ve already purchased a SET of copies, and I want you to fill in the rest. I know there are some credits unclaimed in your emails, or stuck to the wall of your inkshares account (upper right corner, to be exact). Claim or unstick accordingly and CLICK HERE to go help fund Thomas J. Arnold’s “Exile, Magus”.

Even though he’s in less immediate need of your help compared with the previous author, Kevin Bragg’s work is just as deserving of your time. It’s been really hard to get out of this campaign chair, stretch my legs, and stroll around the inkshares books lately. But I went for a walk today and ran into Kevin’s book “Transilience”. It is amazing. It is futuristic noir. I know! Even just saying that is thrilling! The atmosphere, the writing… they all just hit the right buttons for me. CLICK HERE and check out this great story.

Yesterday morning I was late to work because I literally could not stop reading Kelsey Rae Barthel’s “Beyond the Code”. Hot damn this story is full of action! At least the first chapter is, and I trust there's more. The whole thing is just one continuous fight between two badasses. I’ve told Ms. Barthel that the setting, the setup, the sword-swings all remind me of some of the darkest, most sinister places I’ve visited in my long career as a video gamer. The pace is just as riveting and intense as what I'd gladly call a GOTY (uh, that's Game of the Year). I know you’ll enjoy it. CLICK HERE to see for yourself how right I am about that.

And THREE:

Why was there a lot less fanfare about my fourth reader-raffle giveaway? Why no facebook post or update the day-of? Well, because as you’ll see in the video (by CLICKING HERE), I am simply not satisfied. You can hear it in my voice (uh, I literally say it, yeah, but I mean, like, the tone too). I want to take this campaign through the roof, through the clouds. The sky’s not the limit, it turns out. I’m not in it for the money, never was, never will be. I’m in it to prove that there are folks who think my work’s worth a damn.

Being a writer… as many of you know… you can hit several periods of agonizingly painful, crippling self-doubt. I’ve been to the dark side. I’ve had those low periods when it seemed whatever I produced was worthless, and I had those abysmal stretches of time that followed soon afterward when what I produced was simply nothing at all.

But I’m coming around. The glimmer of light has me. All of you who follow me, who follow “The Animal in Man,” some who’ve known me forever, some who I’ve just met, you guys know I’m good. Your gravity is pulling me in. What can I say? I’m ADDICTED to this feeling of validation that seeing you give of yourselves brings me. ...so 300’s not enough. 

Although in the video you’ll see I set a limit for our next raffle, I plan to thoroughly leave that milestone in the dust too.

Thank you, Animals. Sincerely,

From your Animal in Chief,

Joseph Asphahani

Wow!  It's only been a week since I first put up the draft of The Two Stegosauruses, and the response has been amazing!  As I am writing this, the project is one of the top trending books on Inkshares.  My phone wouldn't stop buzzing with notifications yesterday!  Thank you so much to everyone who has followed me and my book. I'm glad that there is something in The Two Stegosauruses that is resonating with you.   And a HUGE thank you to those who have recommended the book to their followers or friends and have sent me such nice comments and reviews.  As an artist it's easy to get lost in the vacuum of your own concerned opinions during the creative process, and to hear all of your kind words really helps me to remember that this is a project worth pursuing.

I am currently redrawing some lines on a few pages that I felt weren't clean enough for the finished product.  I'm not ready to start selling preorders just yet, but please keep your eye out for that announcement soon.  I don't know if it's possible, but it would be great if we could get The Two Stegosauruses fully funded and ready to be published before Valentine's Day, as I think it's a pretty great gift to give to a significant other.

Again, if you have any questions or concerns about the current state of the book, just let me know on the project page.  And if you know anyone else, on Inkshares or otherwise, that might enjoy a book like The Two Stegosauruses  please let them know too!  Every follower helps towards getting this book published.

Thank you,

Daniel 

Hey guys. Thought you might get a kick out of this...

Many of the ships from our story are available as 3D printed collectables. Here's one i've hand painted.

...

Check out our online store and grab yourself one. :)

https://www.shapeways.com/shops/byteshop

WOW!!! 150 COPIES ORDERED!
Thank all of you who have gotten me to this point! I'm humbled, grateful.. and inspired to keep pushing on. That previously unreachable goal now doesn't seem QUITE so unreachable.

Keep a lookout for some exciting new stuff forthcoming!