Hello friends!

The air is getting chillier, the leaves show a hint of change, and I just lit my first blackberry cider candle. Could it be... fall?

TIME FOR FALLCON!! Er, I mean, MSP Fall Comicon, October 8th at the MN State Fairgrounds!!


(last year, when I had no idea what I was doing)

I have secured a table for the second year in a row, and though I don’t have a physical copy of my book to offer for sale (like I’d hope I would by now) I might have my manuscript in to Inkshares by then! So we’re going to take that as a win.

I’ll be selling various art prints, handing out more of the free coloring book pages we created during the first Nerdist Inkshares contest, and perhaps even selling print copies of other Inkshares books. Stop by and say hi if you’re in the area!

ALSO:

There’s a new indie bookstore coming to Minneapolis called Milkweed Books, and they’re crowdfunding their opening on Kickstarter. They will be stocking their shelves and super-cool gallery entirely with independently published books... which could be a match made in heaven for Inkshares authors, no?

So here’s what I’m proposing: if you’re an Inkshares author, go back this project and leave a comment saying you’re an Inkshares author who loves indie bookstores. If you’re not an author, go back it anyway and let them know you’d like to see Inkshares books on their shelves. We crowdfunded people have to stick together, so let’s show support!

They reached their goal while I was typing this message, so there’s no doubt about the project being successful. We all know opening a new business can be precarious, and the more backer funds the better. The project closes in 9 days, so go check it out now!

:)

Hi everyone! I have things to tell you about!



First, Kris Calvin’s One Murder More is currently 99cents for Kindle. This was the first Inkshares book I read and I enjoyed it! I love murder mysteries, and I bet some of you do, too.

Amazon allows ebooks to be gifted via the wonders of the internet... so the first FIVE of my readers who like this update will receive the ebook of One Murder More as a gift! (Just readers who have purchased my book, not followers; this is a thank-you gift! And if you don’t have a Kindle, apparently Amazon has a free app so you can read it on your computer. I’ve never tried it, though.)

We all want to relax and chow down on a political thriller while we lounge on the beach (or something), right?!



Also, there’s a new syndicate in town, and it’s a book club!

For those who don’t know, syndicates are a sort of book-of-the-month thing where you pledge $10 (ebook) or $20 (print) to purchase a book agreed upon by the syndicate each month. If the price is different from the pledge, you are refunded the difference.

Elan Samuel’s Inkshares Book Club Syndicate will select and read a currently available Inkshares book every other month and discuss it together! Syndicates have mainly aimed to support currently funding books to help them get published, so one that selects available books is a new angle to take. Since it has to be monthly at this point, the syndicate will support funding books on the off months.

Consider checking it out!

FINALLY, a She Is the End update:

I have untangled the disaster that was Episode VIII, and Alex is currently doing developmental edits on Episode VII. I solved a problem in the final climax that was leaving the ending too weak, and in general we’re tightening things up, cutting like mad, and I AM SO. EXCITED. TO SEND THIS BOOK TO BETA READERS SOON.

And when I do, I will be taking a little break from writing. It will be... Art Time. I’m going to be sketching out the illustrations for my
book!!!

Hey friends!

I may or may not have been a little bit tipsy last night (sources can neither confirm nor deny) when I wrote that update, but the crux of it was true: I don't really care that we didn't get to 100 on my birthday. I am STILL 30 TODAY. I will be for a while, yet. So... the contest is still on. When we reach 100 readers I'll raffle off two illustrations, one for the first 70 readers and another for the newest 30.

HOWEVER...

What if you're all, "Meh. I don't actually care about some illustration that doesn't exist yet. I just wanted to support my friend Cara..."?

That's okay! No big deal! However, my art for this book is actually a really big deal to me, and I don't want to send it to people who aren't going to see value in it. So I have a request:

If you actually do really want to be in the running to win the art, LIKE THIS UPDATE.

If you don't so much really care to receive any art, DON'T LIKE IT.

If you work for Inkshares... man, I don't know? Do you have rules for if you can win your potential authors' contests?

If you were raised in Minnesota and can't imagine how I could possibly not be silently offended if you don't like this update, it's okay. I grew up in Colorado. I'm not offended.

Thanks!

Now, go read about these books and consider pre-ordering them:

Witches Undercover by Rochelle German:

“Hold the torch a little lower, I can’t tell if that’s a newt or a candy bar wrapper.” Cheryl wiped her hair out of her face with the back of her hand. “And why did it have to be a torch? Don’t you think people will notice?”

“Like I said in the car, anything like a flashlight will emit EM radiation that could taint our specimens. It throws off the magic.” Kimberley lowered the torch closer to Cheryl’s back, careful not to singe her hoodie.

How can you not already want to buy this book?? I love love LOVE the fantastical blended so wittily with the mundane. So fun. I want to read it.

Drift by Danielle Mohr:

Jax flinches at the word "chip." Having his wrist chip changed out will end his military career and completely redefine his rank. The blue star insignia spinning slowly next to his bio in my retina screen will be stripped from him, replaced with the plain green half moon marking him as a civilian.

People will talk, certainly. Failing training is rare, particularly for someone of his genetic rank. Even without reading his signature, I'd known from his build, and his endurance and strength in prelims, that he was exceptionally well-designed. His parents will be distraught about his dismissal. They probably paid a fortune for his blueprint, and another hefty sum for his incubation and birth.

Such a careful, thoroughly designed world. John Robin's blog is going to love this lady. And the characters! They're already making me feel things!

Okay, back to the nighmarish mess that is Episode III...

Later, everyone!