Lemme tell you about Christopher Irvin… This guy is the author of WRESTLETOWN, a book with a title so intense it can only be written in caps, g*****it! A book with a premise so creative, it can only be truly expressed by its amazing cover art and in-book illustrations. ...and Chris’ Inkshares page for it also does an excellent job explaining it, of course. See for yourself!

Chris is also the author of “Burn Cards,” “Federales,” and more dark, gritty crime fiction. I’ve always been a huge fan of noir stories, but sometimes I need to get away from the mid-20th Los Angeles of Raymond Chandler and see some unexplored, modern locales, to read some stories with modern themes and meaning. I think “Federales” is going to do that for me, taking place in Mexico, deep in the cartel wars. More horrible people doing horrible things to each other…

Were you thinking that would lead to something about “The Animal in Man”? Well, Chris was gracious enough to feature my book as a guest blog on his website, so if you want to know a little more about my story’s exploration of violence, you can get your AiM Reader Update fix over there. Thanks again (to Chris Irvin, to everyone!) for your continued support of The Animal in Man.  

I know I said that my previous update was going to be the last one until the contest came to a close but I just received a note from fellow Inkshares author Christopher Irvin that a guest blog post all about SQUIDS IN that we put together a while back has finally gone live. You can read it here - http://christopherirvin.net/2016/07/13/inkshares-interview-matthew-poat-squids-in/

Christopher is currently funding his illustrated novel WRESTLETOWN and it both sounds and looks absolutely awesome. I certainly have my physical copy ordered and I would encourage you to go and order a copy too - https://www.inkshares.com/books/wrestletown?referral_code=9df46898

With regards to the contest, it looks like 5th place is out of reach now after a surge of support for "Mothering : The Game" but I don’t begrudge that. The book is wonderful and I myself have ordered a few physical copies.

Now I just need to try and secure 6th place which may prove tough since both "SideScroller" and "A Soldier’s Crest : Imperium" are currently nipping at my heels. If only I could get Hendrix the octopus to help out, but he’s gone AWOL.

Matthew

This is not a drill...only one day left to get your preordered, first edition copy of the gaming anthology Too Many Controllers.  I will be contributing a cyberpunk short story to this future masterpiece, and if you are a fan of Deus Hex Machina, you are gonna want to read this story because it’s canon.  Tomorrow the funding period ends on TMC, so now is your last chance to get your copy.

I am in the planning stages of my short story, but will have it completed by the end of the month. Here’s the premise: Amiina Kym is a brilliant research scientist, the sort who graduate from med school at 18 and complete grad school in a year. Being in the 28th century, she attended university virtually, she spent her entire grad school career working to create a cure for the horrible disease that killed her mother. But she’s at an impasse. 

First there’s the fact that she’s living out on a floating algae farm off the coast of Orange County. It’s not exactly like you can get research supplies easily when you’re on a former oil rig in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Second is that although she’s narrowed down the last component she needs for the serum, that component no longer exists; it was killed off centuries ago by the Los Angeles Plague.

So Amiina is stuck in her research, stuck in a dead end job playing nurse to a bunch of crotchety algae farmers, stuck without a degree to justify the time and expense she’s poured into this serum. The only thing that saves her from going completely insane is Dyad Online, the VRMMO she spends every spare moment playing, and her dashing battle partner known only as Harrow.  When fighting the last boss of the game becomes much more than just getting the world first kill, Amiina learns that digital decisions have real world consequences.

Right now I’m running with the working title of "Final Boss," and I’m excited to delve into a world of high stakes gaming, digital adventure, and virtual romance. Want to know more about Amiina?  Then preorder your copy of Too Many Controllers today and find out which DHM character makes a cameo!

Hi Everyone!

Hi friends! This contest is coming to its finale very soon! This is my CALL TO ARMS – it’s time to act! Pre-order Too Many Contollers right now, no more dawdling!

It’s much more than an e-book or a copy for your shelves; this is an opportunity to support the little guys, the people who work hard to reach for their dreams. The people who have real talent and need a break. This could be it and YOU should be part of it.

For the price of a few gourmet coffees you can help this campaign succeed, while being a part of something unprecedented (The first anthology from this publisher).

I need you. We need you!

I love you guys, thanks for the continued support. You truly are the best people I know!

Nerdist has officially announced their schedule for #Conival, their weekend long event in San Diego alongside San Diego Comic Con! This time next week I’ll be in San Diego, attending several of the events as well as prepping to participate in a panel on Sunday, July 24th, with Inkshares CEO Jeremy Thomas, and fellow Inkshares/Nerdist author Dave Barrett! The panel is at 11:30am on the main stage, and it is free to attend! So if you’re going to be in the area, make sure to stop by and hang out!

If you are unable to attend, but live in Orlando, Florida, or are able to travel to Orlando, a Barnes & Noble will be hosting a launch party for Welcome to Deadland on Saturday, August 6th, at 7:00pm! The address is 7900 W Sand Lake Rd, Orlando, FL 32819. I’ll be signing copies and celebrating with some of the wonderful people that believed in my book, supported my dream, and helped it come to fruition. 

I hope to see many of you in the very near future!

Zac

Author Spotlight

Taking a break from self-promotion with today’s update to talk about a fellow author. I would like to highlight this incredible book by fellow Dragons, Dread, and Droids member, Landon Trine: First On Mars.

First On Mars is an extremely interesting sci-fi book that from the first chapter seems like a rush of tension. The book explores the first manned crew to venture off to Mars. Though sabotage and distrust plague their journey. Will they be able to band together in order to survive or will they tear each other apart?

Please support this independent science fiction author in pursuing his craft. Go give his content a gander that is free on his page, and if you dig it snag a copy.

Thank you.