Hello guys, gals, robots,

I figured I might as well keep you guys a little updated as thanks for following this project.

I’m a little behind schedule getting the Draft version of the campaign ready. Mostly because it entails having images and a video and a bunch of things ready to launch and I want to get this right.

On the bright side, the first draft worthy of being sent to beta readers is almost ready and I’m very excited about it. I had a blast writing it so I’m tentatively optimistic you’ll enjoy reading it.

As a ’treat’ for you who are early into this project, here are some sketches of the main characters’ heads in Arch Android.

I’m mostly trying to be a better feel of how I want them to look so I can make a temporary cover. I’m still planning on getting the amazing Eric Belisle to do his interpretation of whatever I come up with for the final cover. Hopefully I can convince him to do that.

Thanks for your support. Let’s get more people on board so that when this project launches it gets funded so fast I won’t even have time to get an ulcer (this time).

Cheers,

JF

I’ve been writing since 6 a.m. I’m looking forward to delivering the manuscript to my five beta readers in just a few days. It feels good to be moving with some real momentum.

I know you get a lot of email, Inkshares-related and otherwise, and it’s probably difficult to keep track of the myriad projects you’ve followed, especially one like mine where the updates are seldom but ... if you can muster some of that attention for which there are a million different stimuli vying, and give some of it here ... it would be an immense help for you to spread the word that Disintegration is ... ahem ... coming together ( :P ) nicely and that it’s worth ordering.

We’ve been hovering just over 400 orders for a while. It’d be really welcome to break that mark and start making progress again. If you’ve ordered already, please take your belief in my book and encourage at least one other person to order a copy for themselves.

If you haven’t ordered, send me a Direct Message and let me know what else you need to be enticed.

All right, now it’s time for a nice, big, second breakfast (ham, eggs and cheese on tortillas with arugula and hot sauce, a cup of tea, some yogurt ... I wish I had some toast and cherry preserves, but I don’t) and then ... more writing!

Whew. Everyday life is still taking up most of my time. Mainly it’s my job and the weird schedule, which leaves me scrambling to catch up on my days off. Well, another thing is also just me having too many projects going at once, so that part of it is my own fault. ;)

I’ll hopefully have the next chapter of Uncharted Territory finished soon(ish). I managed to get a few other things accomplished in the meantime.

One is another video in my Mass Effect Writing Discussion series on YouTube. Another is Chapter 30 of Freelancers, titled "Winds of Change." It’s posted on Fanfiction.net, Archive of our Own, and FanStory.

The last bit of business for tonight is actually related to Uncharted Territory, and is also just really, really cool. A bit of inspiration hit while I was having my morning coffee and trying to finish waking up. I’ve been using Big Stock Photo for the images I use for my book covers. Didn’t cost anything to sign up, and when I joined they were running an offer that lets me download one free image per month. I keep getting sidetracked and forgetting to sign back in and grab a free image, but occasionally I remember. :P

I generally look for starscapes or alien planets or cities/landscapes, etc., that I can place text over for the book titles and whatnot. Suddenly remembered the site existed this morning, planned to download one of the alien-planet pictures I’d saved to my shopping list, when I stumbled onto this image.

I took one look at it and an idea for a whole new character popped into my head. I’ll be adding her to Uncharted Territory and sometime later on making her the central character in another book (and the above image will be one of the elements in the cover art, laid over a background image). Which is pretty much how Kolya Mason started off and ended up in Uncharted Territory. Sometimes all it takes is a single image to enter my line of sight and bam! -- a whole new character comes together in my head in a matter of minutes. I love it when that happens.

I decided to name her Vacendak. Heh ... Freejack wasn’t the best movie I’ve ever seen, but it had a lot of fun moments, and for some reason that name stuck in my head for all these years. It just seemed to fit this picture and the ideas I had for this new character.

You’ll be seeing more of her soon, starting with an upcoming chapter of Uncharted Territory .... 

Greetings fellow Pirates!!

Its been a while, I know. I’ve been working in overdrive at night to make sure I can get my manuscript into Inkshares’ hands by my self-imposed deadline of next month. They are so chill though, they really don’t give deadlines, just support. This is a wonderful platform, and I’m grateful to be member of it.

BUT I have something so amazing to show you. Last month I decided I wanted a change, and thought a new cover would be a good idea.  I enlisted a talented artist, Elizabeth Rupp, to design the book’s new cover. What do you think?

I think it looks amazing! Thank you Elizabeth!

So you ask, what does a dragon have to do with dinosaur paleontology? Pre-order The Pirates of Montana to find out!

No need for a fun dinosaur meme on this update. The Dragon Lizard will rise again!

Excelsior,

Erin

Hey everyone.  I just want to say THANK YOU again for pushing us past the 100 mark last weekend.  It’s so humbling to have this much support, and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it. As promised, I’m handing out the first three chapters of BLUE WATER.  But I thought instead of just sending them along in an email that you have to print out and read, I’d do something else to make it a little easier.  (Hopefully.)

At the bottom of this document is a link to our website.  There, you’ll find a link to three different versions of the beginning of BLUE WATER, so that you can read it on your screen of choice, be it a computer, an iPad or iPhone, or a Kindle.

The PDF will be the simplest.  If you want, you could just download that and print it, or read if from your screen.  PDF is pretty versatile, and can usually be read anywhere.

The ePub and MOBI file are your expert (cooler) mode ways to read.  I’ve tested both out, and they both work fine.

THE DIRECT LINK TO DOWNLOAD THE FIRST THREE CHAPTERS IS HERE: 
http://www.bluewaternovel.com/#!read-it/ekdqn  

To download the PDF from a PC/Mac:
1.) Click the link below.
2.) Right click on "PDF"
3.) Click "Save Link As..." and save the file where ever you like.

 To read on Kindle:
1.) From the Kindle, click the link below, (or open Silk and go to bluewaternovel.com and click the link "Read the FIRST THREE CHAPTERS")  
2.) Click "KINDLE (.mobi). The file should download immediately.
3,) After the download is finished, click "Open."

To read on iPad/iPhone:
1.) From the iPad, click the link below, (or go to bluewaternovel.com and click the link "Read the FIRST THREE CHAPTERS")
2.) Click "eReader(.ePub)"
3.) Click "Download" in the bottom right
4.) After the file completes downloading, the "download" button changes to "OPEN IN..."  Click that.
5.) Choose "Copy to iBooks"

If anyone has any trouble, please do not hesitate to let me know, either by private message on Facebook, or emailing me at bluewaternovel@gmail.com

Thank you again for all your belief in this book.  With any crowdfunding campaign, the worst fear ever is no one else shows up.  You guys have answered the call in droves.

If you haven’t preordered Blue Water yet, maybe these three chapters will be enough to sway your opinion.  There’s 32 more where this came from.  If you want to know what happens next, we have to get to at the very least 250 to achieve a light publication goal.  The good news is, three weeks in, we’re just shy of halfway there.  So PREORDER TODAY, and TELL YOUR FRIENDS.  Spread the word, share the chapters link with anyone you think might be into the book, and let them get a taste.  The only way anyone reads more is if we cross the finish line.  Together, we can finish this campaign, and finish this story.

Thank you all again.  Keep up the good work,
Joseph Parcell

TO: Avalon Council Members 

RE: “Welcome-bot” implementation 

Why Welcome-bots? Because the Proxies are terrifying. Allow me to elaborate.

When the human race was spared and brought to Avalon they were greeted by the silver-skinned, glowing blue androids that represented the Aetherians. The Aetherians had designed Avalon, but rather than meet humanity in person, they used these strikingly beautiful machines as their proxies. The Proxies are nice enough, they are certainly programmed to be cordial, but there are also quite terrifying in a way. They come and go as they please, disappearing into the shadows of God-knows-where only to reemerge when help is needed, like synthetic nightmare genies. 

Alright, perhaps that was a bit over the top, but my point still stands. The Welcome-bots are designed by humans with the compassion born naturally out of human beings. The Proxies (and I’m guessing, I didn’t make the bloody things) seem to be made to be as compassionate as some other race thinks will be acceptable to humans. We already have enough people disturbed by Avalon’s entire setup that they are leaving to live on other planets, we can’t welcome new arrivals with the strangely polite wraiths that first welcomed us.

But, I know what you’re saying. Welcome-bots are still going to be machines and if you are so concerned about showing off human compassion then why not meet the new arrivals with actual human beings and not a glorified calculator with manners. Worry not, because that is exactly what we are going to do. After the initial meeting with customs officials, the Welcome-bots will be able to completely brief new arrivals and answer the myriad of questions they will undoubtedly have. They’ll get them up to speed on our customs, regulations and laws. We’ll call it “orientation”. 

There’s no avoiding the Proxies, to be sure, but I’d rather they not be the face of Avalon. All who end leaving Avalon inevitably complain about the Proxies and the Aetherians and whatever dark motivations they must have for the human race. Whatever your feelings on the matter, you must agree that it is in our best interest first and foremost to present a different, friendlier, more human face. A human face on a flying monitor, yes, but a little whimsy never hurt, did it? 

Which brings us to Jeb Nolan’s design for the Welcome-bots and the concerns about that design. Yes Jeb is an eccentric, yes he writes poetry about cats and yes, he is a “one shower a week” type of person. But, there is no denying that his design work on the prototype Welcome-bots has been sound. I think the "flying television" set design has a certain nostalgic sensibility to it. After we’ve used this particular model for a extended trial run, we can revisit other proposed designs, although I must veto the “Hug-o-matic” droids that we proposed last week. I’ve been told that some alien species may take a sudden embrace as an act of aggression.

If we are all in agreement, we can begin rolling out the Welcome-bot prototypes to all major government processing centers, including the Avalon Intelligence Service headquarters. Let us propose a trial run of no more than a year? 

I look forward to getting your feedback on the matter. 

Sincerely,

Professor Philip Thorne 

Avalon Council

Earth Historical Preservation Society

(There’s only 12 DAYS LEFT to pre-order and make this book a reality, please consider pre-ordering TODAY and see the world of Avalon and its influence on the entire system come to life!

The second draft is finished and I’m rounding up beta readers NOW!)

Hello my Knightmares!

Thank you to everyone who pre-ordered a copy in the last week! And again, a continued thanks to everyone who has pitched in along the way.

This is officially CRUNCH TIME. We need 60 pre-orders to hit our publishing goal, and we have to do it in a little over 60 days. 

I know in my heart this novel deserves to get published. It’s a fun read that I have been dying to show to the world. Are you a fan of Ghostbusters (original)? Monster Squad? Big Trouble in Little China? Phantasm? Army of Darkness? Buffy the Vampire Slayer? Supernatural? Sleepy Hollow? Frighteners? Stranger Things?  If any of these ring a bell, this book is right up your alley of weirdness.

If Leelu can’t get you motivated, I am not sure what will.

If you’ve already bought a copy and you want to help out in another way, get two friends to buy a book and receive this t-shirt, FREE!

In two weeks I will be attending a local horror convention called Monster Mania, and I will be handing out postcards to promote The Knightmares, so if you’re in the area and see me walking around the convention, say hello!

Terminus - by Jaye Milius - In a future where technology lets the living speak with the dead, the afterlife is big business. Families can be reunited, lost loves can be together again, aging rock stars can even play reunion shows with long dead bandmates... all for a price.

This book deserves to get published. I have been a fan since I first signed up on Inkshares. If you’re looking to back another book, go for it and do not waste time. Time is ticking away. 

Blue Water - by Joseph Parcell -  A little girl with a stuffed rabbit.  The inescapable nightmares, whether awake or asleep.  The words she keeps hearing like a song stuck in her head.  For Emily Hunter, the time to discover the key to her madness has finally come.

I came across this book the other night, and it looks like another really solid book that deserved to be published. Time is also ticking away here, so please, take a look and give it the publication it deserves.

Please help these authors out!

Dear friends

I come to you as the bearer of good news. Very good news!

Blurbs and reviews for The Catcher’s Trap are trickling in, and I can’t be more thankful and proud. I share with you three blurbs that put a smile on my face:

"Ricardo Henriquez’s impressive use of description and storytelling weaves a most captivating introduction of macabre and beauty in his new series. Readers should clear their schedules the day they open The Catcher’s Trap. As soon as they finish chapter one... there is no stopping until the final page has been reached." Alicia Smock, Chicago Books Examiner

“With his debut novel, “The Catchers Trap,” Ricardo Henriquez sucks the reader into a vortex of suspense, sarcasm and stunning detail that is both captivating and thrilling. The novel is engaging to both horror and non-horror fans, with a read that is more than meets the eye.” Christine Bucci-Caprilozzi, Senior Editor for Horror News Network

“The Catcher’s Trap is a riveting story that kept me up reading far too late more than once.  Equal parts terrifying and heroic, Andres’ descent into a nightmare existence and back is going stay with me for a long time.  I hope Mr. Henriquez has a sequel in the works, because I need to know what happens next, and there’s so much more about the Catcher’s world to explore.” Dave Barret, Author of It’s All Fun and Games, and Nerdist contest winner.

As an author I want nothing more than people to enjoy my work. The fact that those who have read The Catcher’s Trap like it, encourages me to continue writing and sharing the stories I carry inside of me.

In other great news, Nerdist and Inkshares announced yesterday at Comic-Con that our anthology Too Many Controllers was picked to be part of the Nerdist collection. What does this mean? It means that Nerdist will put their marketing power behind our project to make sure it is a successful one. This is a great honor that I share with other 14 talented writers.

Finally, just a reminder that in about a month, on August 27th, I’ll be at the Connecticut Horror Fest, at The Matrix Conference Center in Danbury. If you are in the area, come and say hello. I’ll have free advance readers copies of The Catcher’s Trap and other chachkies to share.

Have a Fantastic Week.

Ricardo

Thank you to everyone who has placed a repeat order for SQUIDS IN following my last update. As a result the book is that little bit closer to publication. 

Hendrix the Octopus is continuing in his promotion of the book, though personally I suspect he’s just playing Pokemon Go!

Special thanks to Nick Holden who ordered 10 BOOKS!!! Nick races in the Britcar series over here in the UK in a Renaultsport RS-01 and uses one of my Race-Keeper HDX2 onboard video-data logging systems. Now tell me that this isn’t a gorgeous looking race car...

110 orders in 46 days. LET’S DO THIS!!!

Matthew

Only 3 Hours till the Postathon. 

At 6PM PDT. I will send out an update. PLEASE copy & post that update on your Facebook wall and Tag 10 Friends you Challenge to Copy & paste themselves. 

Also, we have gained 1 pre-order this weekend. The slowest weekend in funding history. IF you have EVERY thought about ordering, do it now. Time is of the essence.

THANK YOU ALL...