Hello Mechcrafters!

It’s been awhile since the last update and a lot has happened.  So let’s dive in!
Mechcraft launched officially on February 20, and we threw an incredible event.  I had a lot of local support so I invited them all.  We expected 60-70, but ended up with a total headcount of 126!  I am so humbled and grateful for such a turn out.  We had a delicious taco bar and a live band (featured in chapter 1).  Even though many people brought in books to sign, I ended up selling 54 more books!  And to top it off, our friend Crystal surprised me with a massive cake with the Mechcraft cover on the icing! It was magnificent!  I didn’t want to cut it.  This was one of the greatest nights of my life.

Then on March 7, I had my first ever book signing.  The iconic Book Soup in Hollywood hosted the event.  It was a Wednesday, so I wasn’t expecting a crowd, but we did end up with 6.  Fellow Inkshares author, Daniel Lee, came out to support.  Also had an appearance by rockstars Franke Nardiello from My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult, and Karl Learmont from electro industrial band, Angelspit.  And unbeknownst to me, the book reviewer for The Hollywood Reporter, Andy Lewis, stopped by as well- he tweeted "Great talk" to me the next day.

After the signing and photos, my wife and I and Karl took our discussion to a coffee house, and we talked for hours!  We didn’t get home until 2am, and it was totally worth it!

To date, Mechcraft is on the shelves of Book Soup, and DIESEL bookstore in Brentwood.  I’ve applied to Barnes & Noble, Target, Walmart, and several local stores.  Fingers crossed on these endeavors!
Now for some numbers!
Books Sold, Inkshares: 342 (includes my purchases for local events)
Amazon Reviews: 26
Twitter Followers (@TheWritingFitz): 3101
Facebook Page (facebook.com/Mechcraftbook) Likes: 385

The goal now is Amazon reviews.  Authors depend on these reviews for exposure and promotion from Amazon.  If you’ve read the book already, please drop a review on Amazon.  It would mean the world! Thanks

One last note- thank you for all the support over this journey.  Without your help, none of this would have happened, and I am eternally grateful!

Best regards,
Brian
brianfitzauthor@gmail.com
@thewritingfitz
facebook.com/Mechcraftbook

SHORT UPDATE!

I’m working on the next draft after some interesting feedback from my editor. I’m still buckling down, still pounding out the words, and still crafting this book to be the best it can be. Just thought I’d let you all know and thank you once again for your support and patience. 

I’ll let you know when I send in the next draft. Until then, feel free to reach out. 

Thanks again, and I love you all. 

-Michael

Exciting news, everyone! The Fairy Stepmother, Inc. has been submitted to Inkshares! As can be imagined, their production schedule is quite busy, so I don’t know when they’ll start work on it or how long it will take. I’ll keep you updated as soon as I know more, as well as share exciting things like cover design as they come along.

Not a single bit of this would be possible without your support, and I’m very, very grateful. I can’t wait to share my story with you. While you wait, of course, this is a good time to make sure Inkshares has your correct mailing address (if you ordered a print copy).

And if there’s anyone lurking out there who didn’t pre-order, this is a great time to go for it! 

Best,

Maggie

Hi, everybody!

Time for another update.

A couple of weeks ago, word came down from The Powers That Be that Matt Harry, the suave and debonair head of story development for Inkshares, would at last be turning his attention to the three books that won the Nerdist Sci-Fi Contest.

In a month or two I can expect to receive a document from Matt full of suggestions on how to make my story even better than it already is. In the meantime, I’ve swapped manuscripts with the other contest winners — Katherine Forrister, author of CURIO CITIZEN, and Ferd Crôtte, author of MISSION 51 — and over the next several months, these talented writers and I will be working with Matt to make sure our final manuscripts are the best they can possibly be.

Once developmental editing is done, whenever that may be, the book will presumably move on to copy editing, cover design, and production design.

I will, of course, keep you updated along the way.

As always, thank you so, so much for your continued patience and support. I can’t wait for you all to read AFTER DEATH. I promise the wait will be worth it!

Welcome to the final frontier, Space Crew. We’ve reached the edge of the galaxy, and there’s no turning back. 

News #1: Content is Complete

I’ve been through a couple rounds of edits with the Inkshares team since the last update, and this week I sent off the final doc for one last look-over before it hits the printers. The deal is sealed; I can no longer touch this book (which I have very good and very anxious feelings about). 

News #2: We Have a Cover

I’ve admittedly been holding onto this for awhile, but I wanted to do a BIG UPDATE with all the BIG THINGS. This was created by the good folks at Cover Kitchen, and they knocked it out of the park in my biased opinion:

News #4: Backer Goodies are Being Prepped As We Speak

The Companion Guide is getting its finishing touches before I send it off to print. Pendants have been shipped by the amazing Esanany, and they’re looking fantastic. Take a look:

No doodle today, because these images are worth more of your data. 

And in case you missed it, you’ll have your books by May 1! Don’t forget to make sure your address is up to date on Inkshares. 

Your somewhat sedulous Space Captain,
-AC