September 25, 2018

One week left! Only seven days between now and the official "Shadow King" launch date.

At this point, everyone who supported this adventure during the funding period should have received their book in the mail or via download. If you have not, please let Inkshares know so they can sort that out for you (hello@inkshares.com). 

So, now what?

Post a review online!
Now that you have your copy, I truly hope you enjoy the story. Once you’re done, please leave a review on Amazon or Goodreads. It only takes a minute or two, and it doesn’t have to be long (one or two sentences is fine), but it is hugely important for the book.

Many people take reviews very seriously when considering what books to buy. Plus, the more Amazon reviews I have, the more likely, Shadow King will get recommended via Amazon’s algorithms to potential new readers.

As an FYI: Amazon will not let you review until the official launch day.

Join me at a launch month event!
I’ll be doing author events (readings/Q&A/book signings--plus there will be snacks) at two different locations in October, and hoping to find a third venue in November. Would love to see you there. 

• October 7 at Tatnuck Booksellers in Westborough, MA (2 pm to 4 pm)
  
• October 24 at Belmont Books in Belmont, MA (7 pm to 8 pm)
  

Beyond launch month...
Plans are not set yet, but I’m planning on being at the Arisia convention in Boston (Jan. 18 - 21), and am looking into attending Boskone (Feb. 15-17) and Readercon (date tbd). More info to come on this in the upcoming months.

I also have a short story that will be included in the "Escape" Anthology, which will have stories from a number of outstanding writers. I’ll keep you posted on when that will be available.

Thank you.
That’s it for this update. Thank you all again for being part of bringing Shadow King from idea to reality.

Best,
Susan

Hello, all. I know that I haven’t posted any updates in a very, very long time. 

The reason for the update is that I have made some alterations to the story. I decided to remove chapter one, which kind of hurt because I liked it but nothing was really happening for a long time. So now chapter two has become one and three is now two. I’ve also cropped the top couple of paragraphs from the latter chapter and placed them at the end of the former. This helps with the flow of the narrative. So instead things reading like a prologue that runs into the next chapter, everything kind of hits the ground running and, in my opinion, makes for a more interesting opening. The reader is kind of thrust into this world of techno-sorcery and then things take on a normal pace as chapter two introduces the crew of the Furnier.

However, I’m not completely trashing the chapter with the prince and grandfather. I’ll use it somehow, someway, just somewhere else. I’ve had an idea for a tie-in short story involving two characters whom I haven’t written about yet, Garm and Grimsinger. The tie-in would detail how the two came to be in the presence of our heroes later in the book and it is by no coincidence. I’ve also created a new character, Lady Luck. She, like Garm and Grimsinger, is an avatar and an infinite immortal. She isn’t actually lucky, however, luck (both good and bad) follow her wherever she goes. Her role will be minor but significant, especially when reading the tie-in idea. If more ideas like this come to mind during the writing of The Sovereign Queen, then perhaps I’ll make a collection of short stories to accompany the book.

For those wondering why this update took so long, I took a break once the contest ended. I had been in a bit of a writing frenzy during the contest trying to put out as much content as possible to generate interest and it was exhausting. Then, after taking a break (which probably lasted longer than it should’ve), my wife gave birth to our first son. I say first because we had a second boy a few months ago so I’ve been pretty busy with work and babies. But in all honesty that’s more of an excuse than a reason. I’m definitely going to continue writing this story though I’m not sure how often I’ll post updates. I won’t let two years go by before the next one, that’s for sure.  

Thanks for reading and thank you all for showing an interest in my book. I hope you haven’t forgotten about it and I hope you’re all still interested in reading it.

Until next time.

"Today, I did a crazy thing,” I said to Joan. She’s a Dev Editor, and one of my cohorts in the Black Hats Writers Group. She got me mixed up in this Inkshares meshugas in the first place. God bless her for that.

Last year when the Inkshares Horror Contest was heating up, Michael Welch and I had a friendly rivalry going. Some even called it a bromance. (That might have been me.) Mostly, he was kicking my ass. He floated the idea of collaborating on a project. We even discussed plot ideas, characterization, and what-not in some detail.

“Hell no,” I said back then. "Maybe later when this contest is over."

When it was over, I needed to write, and so did he, and now I’m re-writing and yes, I have high hopes that book might drop in 2019. I’m talking about MINE, of course, which started out as Murder Happens. I’m still not settled on the title, but MINE works for me right now.

Today, Mike floats the idea of putting the collaboration together again because Inkshares has a new contest going. The first of this year. Might be the only one of this year. And, it’s a Mystery Contest.

“I can’t ask my supporters to fork over for another book when the one I promised isn’t done yet,” I said. 

There might have been more swearing involved. Or maybe that’s a conversation that occurred in my head. Still, the excitement of the contest worked its way into my evil little brain. Next thing I know, Mike’s putting us up as a team. He even gave me first billing in the author profile. It should be him. The concept is his. But, I’m going to grab a hunk for myself. That’s how I roll. The creative tension between us will be epic. Definitely worth the price of admission, right? 

Oh, wait. I need to give you a link so you can go follow the book. I’m not going to ask, beg, extort or otherwise pressure anyone to pre-order. (But, shit happens.) I’ll throw this link out there, and let you decide what to do. The URL has 666 in it. That’s righteous. 

https://www.inkshares.com/books/ruining-boise-060666

There’s some serious talent running away with this contest already, and I’m sure I’ll support those projects, but hey, just call me crazy.

Dear friends and followers,

It is with great pleasure that I announce to you that THE "CAT’S PAW" CAMPAIGN IS LIVE!

So do please go and tell ’em that yes, you really would pay to read this. Most of you have been through the funding campaign for "A Gentleman’s Murder", and all of you know how it works. Every pre-order represents a vote to see the book published.

More importantly, this will show that "A Gentleman’s Murder" was not just a flash in the pan: that this really could be my life ... tell me you love me.

But you must be wondering, what is "Cat’s Paw" about?

It’s the story of one Roger Linwood as he returns home for his adoptive father’s funeral, only to find that the old man’s death was murder, and that a clause in his will leaves the entirety of the Linwood estate, in the case of an unnatural death, to whichever one of the three Linwood children -- Roger, Alan, or Caroline -- first identifies his killer. But the case seems fairly clear: the only person with access to the scene was Lady Linwood, their adoptive mother, a woman so frail and emotionally devastated that her guilt seems quite unthinkable. Of course, nothing is quite what it seems ... not even the world of Roger Linwood’s idyllic childhood.

While the story is set in the same period as "A Gentleman’s Murder", and while it does involve a murder investigation, this isn’t a Peterkin sequel. It’s quite a bit darker, with an edge of Gothic horror. My plan had been, in fact, to work on the next Peterkin mystery, but this story cut in line and insisted on being told.

The muse will not be denied.

The Inkshares Mystery/Thriller contest goes live tomorrow!

And so does "Cat’s Paw".

Watch this space, or follow the project. Remember, it’s the pre-orders that convinces Inkshares of the viability of a book project. In the case of a contest, it’s the number of individual people placing orders that counts, not the number of orders; so the more of you there are, the better.

Also maybe check out the other books going into the contest. Right now, I’d like to draw your attention to "Gumshoe Rules", by Z. Z. Traver. It’s classic hardboiled, but I suspect there’ll be a slight postmodern spin to it as well. It apparently revolves around something called the Z-Machine ... which a handful of you might recognise as an interactive fiction reference. I’ve already put money on it, and you should too.

Author Events! Signings! Beer! Anaheim Indie Author Day!

Hi, all! So I’ve got a couple of events coming up, and I wanted to make sure to invite you - I’d love to see you!

FIRST. on October 6, I’ll be over at our favorite local craft brewery doing a signing! Here are the details: Date & Time: Saturday October 6, 4pm until 8pm or whenever we’re all tired! Place: No Clue Craft Brewery in Rancho Cucamonga in Southern California! (Support your local craft brewery! And your local author!) (They also have non-alcoholic beverages, if beer’s not your thing, and they are family and dog friendly!) Things: there will be, er, me! And my books! I will happily sign things, bring some spare paperback copies of Demon and Prophecy if people would like to buy them at some sort of discount (and maybe one or two of my other stories or academic books if I can get copies), and generally hang out with people and probably give you all hugs! (I can even attempt to do a reading if requested? Maybe? Is that a thing people would like, me reading my work? I mean, I do it with academic conference papers, so…) Also I hear there might be a food truck. I will update you on this.

SECOND, on October 13, I’ll be participating in Anaheim Indie Author Day at the Anaheim Public Library! Date & Time: October 13, 1pm-4:30pm. Place: Anaheim Public Library (500 W Broadway
Anaheim, CA 92805) Things: here’s the event description: "Anaheim Public Library participates in the annual Indie Author Day celebration by hosting an event every October that is free and open to the public. This is an opportunity for the indie community to come together and help self-published and independent authors get discovered and for readers to find new books written by fellow community members. Each of the authors will have books available for purchase, and guests will have the opportunity to spend time with the writers and have their books signed." So of course you can come and chat with me and get things signed - and you can support and discover other independent, small press, and local (SoCal) writers as well! It’s an awesome event, and great for the writing community.

I hope to see you at one or both of these, and thanks again for all your support!