Hi, all! I know it’s been a while - I do try not to overwhelm you! I do have a couple of announcements, though!

First, I’ve been publishing lots of short stories and novelette-length stories (so, around 15-20,000 words) over at JMS Books - including my first-ever lesbian paranormal story, "The Ninepenny Element"! It’s got a witch and her lawyer and a cursed earring and a meet-cute over coffee, and I’d be excited if you’d come check it out - also, it’s on sale for only $1.50 right now because of the JMS Books end-of-summer sale! I’ve also got a few more things on the way - including the M/M/M superhero polyamory established-relationship domestic fluff, which contains one supersoldier, one former sidekick, one redeemed supervillain, lasagna, use of powers for home renovation, and comfort sex...available September 11!

Second, speaking of that end-of-summer sale at JMS Books, all ebooks are 50% off! Come support a fabulous small queer press! (And me, and all my fellow lovely authors published with JMS!)

This includes pre-orders, so if you’ve been eyeing something of mine - the re-release of the second Kitten & Witch shapeshifter story (in which they finally say I love you!) or the aforementioned M/M/M superhero polyamory established-relationship fluff with comfort sex…well, now’s a good time! Here’s my author page…

Third, recommendations for the 2019 Tiptree Awards are now open, and a couple of my stories are in the nomination list - but there could be more! Anyone can nominate a work - the criteria is "a work of science fiction or fantasy that explores or expands our notions of gender," which includes genres like paranormal romance, and so on. So if there’s anything of mine or anyone else’s that you think should be on the nominations list, here’s the form - nominations close December 1.

I hope you’re all having a lovely end of August, and I’ll talk to you soon!

Hi there! Just a quick update to my fans who have been following progress with the great RIDDLE contest taking place over the summer within BRUGES BLOOD.  

With the chance to win a prize of $50 by unravelling the mystery and being entered into the prize draw, I was expecting a deluge of sleuths...but no...I may have overestimated your sleuthyness...or the heat of the summer worldwide.  

So I am axing the cut off date which was previously the end of August and leaving it running until I have a collection of super sleuths clamouring for a result.  I’m also seriously thinking about making this a "thing" in each book. I am progressing with VENICE BLOOD, BRUGES BLOOD II, and a new venture BOOM! 

BOOM! Is set in the world of 80s television and follows a technician in the Sound Department, a sort of Robin Hood figure who corrects the misuse of power and exacts revenge on those who abuse it. 

It’s a darkly comic look at a time when #metoo
was just a glimmer on the horizon.

Good luck with the riddle and enjoy your heatwave!

I am overjoyed to announce that Young Donald reached the target of 750 preorders 25 days before the 90 day deadline! Thank you so much for your amazing support and generosity in making the publication of my debut novel possible!

Young Donald will now enter the process of being edited, designed and otherwise made ready for publication (which will surely take many months of hard work). During that time, the book is still available for preorder (now at the discount price for the paperback of only $13.99 and an almost free $5.99 for the e-book!). 

The BIG AMAZON GIFT CARD DRAWINGS are still set for September 7! As a reminder, if you are responsible for 3 or more preorders you are eligible for the drawing for a $100 gift card, and if you are responsible for 6 or more preorders you are additionally eligible for the $150 gift card drawing. So, if you have ordered 2 or 5 books, why not order just one more by September 7 (at the new discount prices) and make yourself eligible for these drawings? Although I am not an economist, that would surely make good economic sense.

Please keep your eyes out for announcement of another Young Donald thank you party, and, again, heartfelt thanks for your support.

Michael

Howdy, one and all. Four months have already passed since the Inkshares crowdfund campaign for Bane of All Things ended in success so it’s time for an update.

(BTW, this is still the placeholder cover -- you will definitely be the first to know when concepts for the true cover arrive, but that is still a long way’s off.)

Things move slowly in the publishing business and that’s just par for the course. As much as I can’t wait to have the finished product in my hands (and in yours), it takes time and plenty of sober second thought to polish a novel from a debut author, and develop its marketing plan, to ensure it has the best chance of standing out from the crowd and doing well.

My editor at Inkshares continues to work on my Editorial Letter. This comprehensive assessment of BoAT’s strengths and weaknesses will give me a handle on what edits and revisions I must make to ensure this story is the best version of itself that it can be. The plan a couple of months ago called for me to have my Letter by now, but it’s taking a little longer than first expected.

In the meantime, Inkshares has already set up my Properties page. Properties is the side of the Inkshares platform reserved for talent agents, other publishers and movie and TV producers. This is where they come to scout out interesting books they may want to licence in some way, or even opt for the Hollywood treatment. So who knows what could happen there!

Also, I vowed as part of the crowdfunding campaign that I would donate one dollar from each copy pre-ordered to non-profit Autism Ontario on behalf of my autistic son and nephews. That donation has been made, rounded up to a nice even $500.

Thanks again to each and every one of you for making all this possible. Stay tuned for further updates as the production process for BoAT moves ahead!

Cheers

Leo

** Breaking News**

Hello to all of our backers,

Another exciting update for supporters of The Wildlife Confessional - this afternoon we received the “pour” (dropping the text into layout) of the manuscript on its way to the proofreader. Production is ramping up! 

Again, thank you *all* for your patience and support seeing this project through to fruition. We will continue to update you as we pass milestones, and look forward to putting a book in your hands this fall.

Regards,

The Editors
The Wildlife Confessional