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...

Hey Campers! 

It’s Sunday Funday, which means that today might be the perfect day to preorder Sunshine is Forever if you haven’t already. Dive into the first few chapters of the book, and get lost for a bit. 

Also, if you like TV, you will be able to see me again in tonight’s episode of Preacher on AMC. I promise it’s a great episode. 

Anyway, thank you again for the support! Please keep spreading the word about my book to your friends so that I make it to the publishing goal.

You are all the best!

Kyle T. Cowan

Dear friends and followers,

The summer heat leaches the energy from you and leaves you panting after all the things you thought you’d be able to do now that the days are longer and you have the free time. It will be better, I think, to accept that everyone needs a break, and step away from the campaign for a bit. Well, step further away, at any rate: I’ve already taken a step away for the summer. (And yet here I am, still updating....)

For the next week, I will be focussing on writing this second Peterkin text adventure. So, here’s the deal:

The first six people to pre-order between now and next Monday will get the option to have a character in the game named after them.

(This includes the victim, the murderer, an innocent suspect, and the police detective to whom the player must voice their suspicions.)

Meanwhile, what’s happening on the shelves of Inkshares?

1) "Terminus", by Jaye Milius. Imagine if you could call up the dead with a simple scientific procedure. Milius explores some of the ... interesting developments that could arise from the existence of such a procedure. Frankly, they look intriguing as all hell.

2) "Proxy", by Rebekka S. Leber. A different take on the cycle of life and death: what if the total number of souls were finite? The writing looks crisp and confident, and the heroine full of character. This adds up to an engaging story, no matter what.

Just a short update this time. Everyone involved with "Too Many Controllers" is watching for news from the Nerdist panel with bated breath, and I have nerves I need to defray. Until next week (and that update may be a couple of days late) keep reading, and have fun.

Hey everyone, just a quick note to let you know that if you have preordered BLUE WATER already, and we hit our goal of breaking preorder #100 by midnight tonight, I’ll be sending along a link for you to download the first three chapters.  If you haven’t preordered yet, and you are one of the ones that put us over 100, you get the first three chapters as well!  So if you want to help out, let all your friends and family and neighbors and co-workers and pets know that we need only 12 more preorders to get there.  But we need them TODAY!

Send everyone to http://www.inkshares.com/books/blue-water and help us break a milestone.  

Thank you all,

Joseph

BIG EVENT TOMORROW:

Hello Everyone,

Tomorrow @6pm I am holding a PostAthon event on Facebook. Basically, there is an event I invite ALL of you to join.

At 6PM PDT Sharp tomorrow I will post a specific post in the Event & on my Facebook wall. 

I am asking EVERYONE Copy & Paste the post on their own wall and Tag 10+ friends of their own to do the same.

I only need 65 more orders till reading the Quill Goal and guaranteeing publication. Please Join the event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/300290283693874

Participate. If this gets enough posts I will reach my goal from sheer mass of people seeing the post.

If you have not ordered I Am Waltz yet, please do so. As you know the book dies without your help. 

WHAT YOU GET IF YOU PRE-ORDER…

1. A copy of the book
2. Entry into a contest to win 2 Tickets to the sports team of your choice!
3. Help the victims of the Pulse Night Club shooting. (Matthew is giving all his proceeds to the victim’s families)
4. Help someone achieve their dreams
5. Tell people you helped publish a book
6. Something great to read.
7. Early access to books 2 & 3. (Beta read chapters and early drafts. Author’s notes)
8. My affection and gratitude
9. Matthews affection & gratitude

Thank you all. I will update tomorrow a few times as the 6PM posting gets closer.