Hi all! This note is just going out to those who follow The Seclusion on Inkshares. If you follow my most recent project then you may have received a similar note already(if so, I apologize and you can ignore the rest of this message).
For everyone else-hi! I know it has been awhile. I will send out a full newsletter soon for those who are subscribed with an update regarding production for The Seclusion Part 2(still aiming for summer or early fall) and a rundown on what I have been up to lately. I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy and enjoying the beginning of the holiday season. I am looking forward to connecting with all of you when this insane year is behind us.
Now, for my news:
I’ve entered the novel IT STARTED BENEATH A SEPIA SKY into the Inkshares 2020 All Genre Manuscript Contest.
Unlike my other two novels which relied on preorders to secure a publishing contract, preorders are not necessary this time around, but are appreciated. Winners of this contest will be selected based on reader engagement. So, on that note, if you are up for checking out my posted chapters and leaving a comment or review, I would appreciate it!
This story is one that I’m incredibly excited to share with all of you. A pilot version of this story, that I have been editing alongside the novel, has already garnered a few accolades including:
I hope you enjoy it!
_____________________________________
In 2045, the forests are burning, the oceans are rising, corruption is growing, and a group of scientists take matters into their own hands.
This is their confession. Read first chapters here.
Greetings Supporters of Crow’s Gambit,
The Nerdist Contest is only a few hours away from ending. I’m sorry to say we will not be finishing in the top 3. With 123 unique orders we are securely in 5th place. However, don’t feel bad. This is still a great accomplishment. There are some strong books in the top ten and according to Inkshares there were over 180 submissions.
I cannot express my gratitude for all the support the story has received. Orders were placed by strangers, co-workers, high school friends, local supporters, and even several of the top ten authors in the contest. I thank you all.
The journey is not done for Crow’s Gambit. While winning the contest would have been GREAT there is another option. I can still try to sell enough Pre-Orders to secure publishing. A full publishing deal would require 750 Pre-Orders…that is a bunch and probably outside my time available at this point. So I have decided to try for the Quill level that requires 250 Pre-Orders. This deal would not get the book onto physical store shelves and would only involve light editing…but the story would get published and that’s a start.
This means we now shift to Plan B and spend the next couple months trying to sell more copies. With 136 copies already sold we only need 114 to get to the Quill level. There are two things to remember in this:
So stay with me. Keep spreading the word to your friends. Updates will come a little less frequently but hopefully will include more interesting tidbits.
PT
It’s Alive!!!! The Walls are Closing In pre-order campaign is here! You can now read chapter two and three and pre-order your copy today!
I am overwhelmed by the reception that I have received for this book so far. I guess that many of us, myself included, are feeling the drive to support artistic reactions to the political turbulence that is spreading the globe. I began this book over a year ago (when the reality we are currently experiencing didn’t yet seem probable), and it started as a clearly fictional story exploring an alternative history. As the election cycle wore on, the plot continued to shift. Now, it’s poignancy becomes more apparent each day, and it is with bitter sweetness that I fine tune the words. This book simply represents my imagination’s answer to some of the many "what ifs."
Only about ten percent of my followers so far are people that I know out in the real world, and the rest are strangers who have not hesitated to provide support with open arms. This, in itself, has solidified my decision to use the reader-driven publisher, Inkshares, to get this book off the ground. The sense of community is unrivaled in the publishing world and the ability to garner feedback by those who resonate with the story is priceless. In the coming weeks, the book will be highlighted on various YouTube shows and blogs. I will be sharing those links as they become live.
The goal is to presell 750 copies before April 13th, which will get The Walls are Closing In full publishing and marketing rights, ensuring that it will appear in bookstores, receive full developmental and line editing, undergo professional book cover design, and be represented for television and movie rights. Ebooks are $10, and print copies are $20. Keep in mind that this is a campaign for a publishing contract, and the book will still need to go through the full publishing process, which you can read more about here.
I will be offering a few milestone perks as the campaign wears on! Below are the first three:
100 - Be one of the first 100 unique readers to order The Walls are Closing In, and you will be entered for the chance to have a minor character named after you! Or, alternately you can select the name of the character. Two winners will be chosen!
200- I will upload Chapter 3.
300 - I will share a new novel trailer, complete with mild teasers.
Thank you again for your incredible support. It is appreciated more than you know.
If, by chance, you want to do more to help, read on...
For those that are willing, there are numerous ways to help me reach my pre-order goal. Every little bit helps a great deal!
1) The greatest way to help, the method that has been shown to produce the best results, would be to select five to ten people that you know who would like this book (I think we all know those who would, and would not, like this book), and personally tell them about the book via email. Invite them to read the material that is up, and personally invite them to offer their support if they like what they read.
2) Share the information for my novel on any of your social networks (there are share buttons on my book’s page), tagging those who you think would be interested. Share updates, reviews the book has received, the link to my novel trailer, and/or share interviews and youtube links as they become available.
3) Become a backer for the book (pre-order 3 or more print copies, and receive your name in the back of the book).
4) Leave a recommendation on Inkshares if you notice that the novel has slipped off the front page of the site. Providing a recommendation places The Walls are Closing In under the "Recommended by Inkshares Readers" section on the front page of the website, thereby increasing exposure.
5) Nominate The Walls are Closing In if you happen to be a member of an Inkshares Syndicate. Syndicates members all pool together to support one book a month.
6)Send me any and all ideas that you have for getting this book 750 preorders!