Hello, everyone!

So, as you know, this campaign ends on August 19th. We need to hit 250 pre-orders by then if we want to make Quill.

We’re not going to do it.

This isn’t me giving up—in fact, it’s the opposite. This is me changing our battle plan, because this little skirmish of trying to see The Last Faoii in the hands of the fewest number of hands required to see any sort of publication at all is not nearly as big as the war we’re about to face. It was a worthy goal, and I would have been happy with it, feeling like I had brought The Last Faoii to a noteworthy and honorable end of reaching 250 readers.

Until your sudden influx of letters and support yesterday convinced me that that’s just not good enough.

Honestly, everyone—I thought that I’d had support before. I saw the 110 pre-orders and my heart swelled with honor and humility. I didn’t think I could feel more loved. Until suddenly all of you donned your battle gear and swore we were going to bring The Last Faoii further than even I dreamed possible. Until you told me to stop aiming my sights on this little hill I’ve been trying to surmount and instead to focus on the glorious mountain that’s in the distance. The Geek and Sundry Contest. Not a Quill Goal of 250 but a full publication goal of 750. You all said yesterday that you wanted to make it. So we’re going to.

That’s right. This little skirmish just turned into a war. And I’m granting every single one of you the title of Faoii (or Faoli) as of now.

In 17 days you’re all going to get e-mails that say we didn’t reach Quill. You’re going to get your money back and The Last Faoii will stop taking pre-orders. For a lot of people, that would be heart crushing. A huge disappointment.

But we’re not regular people, are we?

Because in 18 days, this Inkshares campaign going to start back up again, but this time every single pre-order is going to go not only to a Quill goal, but to the Geek and Sundry Contest. To full publication. Every pre-order is going to make The Last Faoii that much more noticeable to the hundreds of people who are following the contestants. And each pre-order is going to bring us one step closer to the top spot.

I’m not going to lie—we’re going to arrive late to the battle. The contest started yesterday and I can’t even enter until The Last Faoii has a clean slate. That’s 20 days late to a fight that dozens of books have already entered. But those dozens of other books haven’t been advertising and spreading the word for 90 days already. Those other books aren’t going to be able to start day one with (conceivably) 110 pre-orders. Those other books don’t have an entire army of honorary Faoii fighting for it.

Those other books don’t have all of you.

So, are you ready, Faoii? Because I’m drafting you into this fight right now.

You don’t have to take the title. I’m not forcing you. If you choose, in 17 days, you can take the investment you put towards this novel and you can choose to take it back. You can take your significant other out to dinner or buy that thing you’ve had your eye on. I wouldn’t begrudge you that. I’m just honored you stood by me the first time around.

But you can also choose to put that money right back into the place you already decided once it should belong—The Last Faoii’s future. You have the next 17 days to decide. I’m planning on using that time to make our battle plan. To figure out how we’re going to spread the word about The Last Faoii and create the army that will lead us to victory. And I need your help to do it. We’ve got 17 days before the REAL campaign begins.

Faoii, let’s go to war.

Hello, Everyone!

We’re still sitting pretty at 109 pre-orders. It’s amazing how far we’ve come in these last months. Still a couple weeks left to get that number up to 250!

Which also brings me to another topic, which might be uncomfortable, but I need all of your opinions/advice: What should we do if we don’t make it to the 250 pre-orders? I think we can do it, but there is the chance that we won’t, and it’s getting pretty close to the time period where we need to address that.

If I could go and do it all again, I would give myself more than 90 days to market The Last Faoii. And I would do it when there was a contest going on on Inkshares that The Last Faoii could be submitted for. I was so new to this when I started 90 days ago. I didn’t know what I do now. I didn’t give myself the chance I should have.

But, wait... I can do it again, can’t I? And there is a fantasy-based Geek and Sundry contest that will be going on when this first attempt fails. If we’re being honest, this doesn’t have to be a failure if we don’t get to the Quill goal (which, again, I think we can). This doesn’t have to be the end of the line for Faoii.

However, I don’t know if I can rightfully ask you all to support my endeavors again because they didn’t go as I’d hoped the first time around. If two weeks go by and we haven’t reached Quill, and if I did put The Last Faoii up for pre-order again, would you all be willing to give it another go? I already know I won’t have the money next time to market it like I did this time, and (if I’m going to be honest) I’m not sure I have the strength to keep pushing it like I have been. These last three months have almost run me into the ground, but the support I get from people like you has kept me going far and beyond what I could have ever done on my own. If I do have to start the campaign again, I know I won’t be able to do it without your support. Are you all willing to give it another shot? Do you truly want to see Faoii become a reality as much as I do?

I completely understand if your pre-order was a one-time deal. This was supposed to be my last try with this novel. The final proof that it’s just worthy of being published. If I failed, I was going to delete The Last Faoii from my computer and force myself to move on. But... this entire thing has given me hope that I can succeed if I keep trying. And I think I can--with your continued support.  Would you still back me even if you had to wait even longer for results? 

This is an honest question, and I would love to hear your response. You can DM on inkshares, contact me on Facebook (TahaniNelson), Twitter (@tahaninelson) or through e-mail (tahani.nelson@gmail.com). If we don’t make it this time around, do we all want to try for a second shot?

Thank you, friends. For everything.
Love always,

T

Hey, everyone!

Quick Update! I am at about 90k in words, and will be at about 120k by the 1st! So I am thinking it’s time to get excited! I’m going to finish this darn thing by hook or by crook! 

Then once it is done, it is time to think about this campaign? Have you told anyone about this project yet? Have you followed and perhaps not read? Well, either way, it is time to start reaching out to those in your networks. Together we have a chance to get this book published, but most of all I need you all! 

As for all the authors following this project, remember that I would love to reciprocate, reviews, recommendations, and could possibly use some beta readers if you are interested. Anyways back to the grind!

Cheers!

Hi, everyone! 

Another really quick sorta-update.

A really wonderful person has offered to buy 10 copies of The Last Faoii, but ONLY if those ten copies are donated to 10 different high school libraries in the US. How cool is that?? I’m really excited about it and happy to oblige-- we just need to find the 10 schools to send them to (assuming I get up to my Quill goal, that is). 

So-- if you or someone you know works in/makes decisions for school libraries, let them know that I’d LOVE to send them a free signed copy of The Last Faoii. They can e-mail me at tahani.nelson@gmail.com or find me on Facebook (TahaniNelson) so I can get their mailing address. We’ll send copies to the first 10 that reply.

Oh! Also, make sure the school knows that it is a fantasy novel, and is for ages 13+.  (Please do not respond if either of these things would be a problem in your school district).

Thanks again. Love always,

T