Wow, only 12 days since Showtime’s campaign ended? It seems like longer. Maybe that’s just because I’m enjoying the lack of nail-biting stress from trying to think of new people to get to buy. Or maybe because it’s summer and I’ve lost all concept of time.

Anyway, I just wanted to share a couple updates.

NEXT STEPS

Inkshares now has my full manuscript and their aim is to have their editorial notes back to me by mid-August. Books typically go through two (if not more) rounds of professional editing—developmental (story, character, pacing) and line (sentence structure, spelling, etc.)—so how many rounds Showtime will go through depends on their initial impression of the manuscript. Either way, that’ll be the next step in the production process. Exciting, right? And scary. That too.

BOOK AVAILABILITY

Now that the pre-order phase of things is over (whew!), the official order page is now up and running. It’s the same link I’ve bugged you all with for the past six months, so if you missed out on buying another or if you wanted to still share with someone else, feel free.

A note about pricing: you’ll notice that the pricing is a bit different than during the pre-order phase, with eBooks now selling at $8.99 and print copies at $14.99. You might be thinking, “What in tarnation?! Didn’t I pay $10.00 for my eBook and $20.00 for my print copy?” Do not adjust your TV sets. Yes, you did. And no, it’s not a trick. The reasoning for the adjustment is that Inkshares bumps up the pre-order pricing to account for production overhead costs (the monies from pre-orders go straight to production). Now that pre-orders are over, the book is available, and Inkshares knows from the submitted manuscript roughly how many pages it will be to print, the retail prices have been set. There we go. Angry mob defused.  

PROPERTIES

I’m working on Showtime’s "Properties" page for Inkshares (which gives agents and people in the entertainment business access to buy film, TV, and audiobook rights), and need a couple books and movies to compare it to. Kind of like “If you liked ________ and ________, you’ll enjoy Showtime.” It doesn’t have to be exactly the same plot. It could be similarities in terms of story, character, tone, voice, whatever. I’ve got a couple, but need 1 more book and 2 more movies. If you’re one of my beta readers who has read the whole thing (or anyone who has read my sample chapters), feel free to let me know if anything comes to mind.

NOTE OF APPRECIATION

Thanks again to everyone who helped this happen. I feel like it’s going to go well (knock on wood) and it’s no hyperbole to say that it couldn’t have happened without your enthusiasm, kindness, and support. Everyone receiving this update played some part in helping get Showtime to publication. So no matter if you bought copies, read and reviewed my chapters, asked friends and family to order, or simply clicked the FOLLOW button, thank you. Money’s not everything (especially since someone who bought 1 book might mean for them what it means for someone else to buy 10), so thank you for doing what YOU were able to do.

That’s all for now. I’ll send out another update when I have more news to share.

Thanks again,

Ricky

5 months. 392 books ordered. Syndicate Pick. #1 reviewed Funding project. All characteristics that I’m sure had a part in me receiving this e-mail at 4:23pm today from the CEO of Inkshares:

“Ricky,

Great campaign.  We will push your book into production.  Tell your backers.  

Adam.”

Translation, Showtime is going to be published! More thank yous, screams (and tears) of joy, and info. when I have it—and when I’ve fully comprehended what this means on so many different levels.

Thanks everyone for being part of making this happen. You all rock.

Ricky

This is it, everyone!

The last time I’ll ask you to order this book.

The last time I’ll post humorous memes in an attempt to win you over.

The last time I reference donuts and Doritos to send the subliminal message, “Hey! That Ricky sure is a swell fellow! Maybe I should order his book!”

This is officially the last full day for pre-orders. After that, things are out of my hands. It’s been a long, long winter (literally—I started this on January 16th!), and now as we finish up spring, it feels appropriate that the official end date for Showtime’s pre-orders is the first day of summer.

So, with that said, please, please consider ordering just one more copy for yourself or a friend. eBooks are only $10 and able to be sent as a gift as well. If just 21 of the 290+ individual readers do this, it will be enough to get us to finish at a mind-boggling 400 copies.

Some people will toss $20 or $50 at a charity as a donation and not bat an eye but feel differently when ordering multiple copies of the same book, thinking, “Why do I need another copy?” If it helps, consider it as a donation. A donation where you’re both getting a product in return as well as helping someone you know fulfill a dream that has been years—and literally thousands of work hours—in the making.

But if we end at 380, I’m cool with that, too. It’s much, much farther than I thought I would get. And, again, if couldn’t have happened without all of your help. Literally. 100%. I can write all I want, but the words stay on my computer screen unless there are people willing to read them. So thanks again to everyone who has come along (and stayed!) for the ride, for your selflessness and generosity, for your enthusiasm, support, and a dozen other things I’m sure I’m forgetting.

Whatever decision comes from Inkshares on Friday, I’m content knowing that I absolutely did the best I could with my efforts at crowdfunded publishing—something which was entirely new to me just five months ago.

So thanks again, and keep your fingers crossed for some good news,

Ricky

2 days left remain in Showtime’s pre-order campaign! TWO! After that, I will thank you for your support once more, retreat back to the shadows with a slab of coconut cake (either for celebration or sadness--but either way I get cake), and never bother you again to buy another copy of this book for as long as you live. (Actually, I can’t promise that at all...but I have good intentions!)

So, for the almost, almost final time: if you’re feeling generous, have some extra change you found in the couch while you were eating Doritos, or in the mood to support books and writing, please consider ordering another copy--either for yourself or someone else. Unlike coconut cake, they won’t go bad. In fact, I’ve heard book’s age like a fine wine the longer they sit on your shelf. (Actually, I’ve never heard that. But it sounds good, right?)

As always, reviewing, following, or reading my sample pages is always a help.

Since I’m not asking for another extension, we’re so close to the end. We’ve been a Syndicate Pick, crossed multiple 100s thresholds, met and surpassed the halfway point, been the #1 reviewed Funding project, and have bounced around the Top 3 for trending books...all of these cool achievements since January when getting to this point seemed so far off and nearly impossible.

Thanks for sticking with me this long and reading my updates. And even if you see them in your inbox, roll your eyes while exasperatedly grunting, "Ugh. Another one?" well, at least you haven’t done it to my face! :)

Ricky

5 days left and so close to the end!

We’re nearly to the halfway point (which I’m hoping will be enough to show that there’s enough reader interest to publish) and since I’m not asking for another extension, this really is the final countdown. If you’ve been thinking about ordering another copy, reading, reviewing, or referring a friend, there’s only a few more days left to do so. After that, everything is in the hands of the people at Inkshares, so we’ll see what happens. Fingers crossed!

Tomorrow is also my birthday so if you wanted to order another copy, that would be a great present…just saying (wink, wink; nudge, nudge). Or you can buy me a slice of chocolate cake. Or a donut. All options are good options.

Thanks again to everyone who has already supported me in buying a book without having it in your hands yet, and to everyone who has expressed excitement to read Showtime in full. It means a lot, so I’m hopeful that you’ll be able to!

Hoping we can get a couple more by Friday!

Ricky 

P.S. Here’s some updated stats:

Copies ordered: 373 | Followers: 299 | Unique readers: 292 | Days left: 5 | People bothered: 7,577 | Number of copies sold since last extension: 73

Happy Friday Eve, everyone!

Only 22 days left before "Showtime"’s pre-order campaign is over and my fate is sealed (for better or worse), so it’s time to p-push it REAL GOOD! Please continue to read, review, and, if you’re feeling generous and your financial adviser gives you the OK, order another copy. And if you haven’t pulled the trigger yet, there’s only one explanation. To paraphrase Salt-N-Pepa, "this [book] ain’t for everybody, only the sexy people."

I also wanted to take a moment and thank (thank, thank) everyone who has been so generous with both their time and funds: sharing my posts on Facebook, taking the time to tell friends and family about my book, read my sample chapters, and, of course, order additional copies. THANK YOU! There’s been many people that I thought would support me who haven’t, but for every one who hasn’t there’s been many, many more (yes, you!) who have. So thank you for your support and believing in a book that you haven’t seen in person yet! (I’m a bit behind on my thank-you e-mails, so if you haven’t received one yet, I haven’t forgotten you!)

There have been 34 additional copies pre-ordered since the last extension and, in the extension before that, 37 copies pre-ordered. So things are still moving along! With that said, only 41 more copies to be pre-ordered until the halfway mark of 375, so everyone keep your fingers crossed we can at least get there (I’d be pretty darn happy with halfway) in the next 22 days.

Enjoy your night!

Ricky

Today Showtime hit another big milestone: 300 copies pre-ordered! I was hoping to reach 300 by this upcoming Friday, so a couple days earlier than hoped for is an unexpected (but welcome) surprise. Thanks to everyone who has ordered over the past couple weeks to get it there. I’m a little behind in my thank-yous so if you haven’t received a personal note, e-mail, or message from me, stay tuned! Your support and generosity has not gone unnoticed, I promise.

In other news, Inkshares has also agreed to another 30 day extension. The new end date is now June 21st. Depending on how the upcoming month goes in terms of sales, this may be the final time I ask for extra time. If pre-orders continue to come in, I could see the benefit of extending; however, if orders start to dry up, I’ll know it has come to its natural end date.

So now more than ever, would you consider ordering another copy—or persuading someone you know to order? Order one for your cousin Jimmy, your great-aunt Hilda, or the ghost in your attic. Maybe even the stray dog that’s been digging through your trash (they deserve books, too). Order one in honor of my squeaky clean, no-cavity dentist visit this morning. Or the series finale of The Big Bang Theory tomorrow night. Or maybe you’re prone to sleep-buying things. That’d be cool, too.

Like I said before, 750 orders is the goal but it’s not the requirement. Shout out to Leo Valiquette who, fifteen days ago, received a publication contact for his novel, Bane of All Things with 438 pre-orders. Leo’s campaign is proof that publication is possible with a sizeable amount of pre-orders, the support of enthusiastic readers, and a polished, ready-to-go manuscript. Looking back, Inkshares has also published books that hit: 277 orders, 183 orders, 251 orders, 278 orders, 339 orders, and others with less than 750. So for anyone seeing my progress bar half-full and thinking, What’s the point of ordering now?—it’s still possible!

Thanks again to everyone who has continued to support and order, read and share, and for sticking around just a liiiiiiitle while longer.

Ricky

P.S. For fun, here’s some Showtime stats (because when are stats not fun?):

Copies ordered: 300
Followers: 245
Ranking of reviewed "funding" books: #1
Days left: 37
People bothered: 7,004

12 days left!

Thank you to Jack Quaranta, Brian James Freeman, Brian Keith Jones, EvaMarie Davis, and Catherine Newman for their recent orders! We’re now at a solid 275! I plan on asking for one more extension post-May 17th (the newest end date), and getting Showtime’s order total to 300 by then, which is my mini-goal, would help make the case for Inkshares to approve one last push!

Remember, eBooks are only $10.00 and you CAN e-mail them as a gift. Two lattes at Starbucks will cost you roughly the same amount as an eBook, but a 400+ page book will give you more hours of entertainment and bang for your buck. It’s math, people. ;) So if you’d consider buying an extra copy for yourself or a friend (or maybe you drink too much on this Cinco de Mayo and order ten), I’d be super appreciative (and a special thank you to those who already have).

I’ve gotten a lot of comments from people who want to read the whole book and I can’t emphasize this enough: it can’t happen without you!

Thanks again to every single one of you who has pre-ordered so far, read, reviewed, shared, and showed enthusiasm for me and my book since January. We’re almost there, you guys. :)

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Ricky

If you haven’t seen my latest Facebook update, Inkshares has officially OK’ed an extension for Showtime’s pre-order campaign with the new end date being May 17th!

Over the next month, it’s more important than ever to show that Showtime was worthy of the extension. If you haven’t yet, now would be a great time to read my sample chapters (1-4 available now) and leave a review. And, as always, pre-ordering additional copies and sharing with friends and family would also be helpful.

Remember that 750 copies is only the ideal. Showtime still has a shot at publication based on our pre-order totals, reviews, followers, and time spent reading chapters. So if you’ve done one but not the other, would you consider checking it off your list? :)

Those of you who know me well enough know that I don’t as for things (favors, help, money, etc.)--must be the stubborn Italian in me--but this is the one time I am. So if you’re feeling extra-generous or extra-supportive or extra-really-wanting-to-help-someone-you-like-get-this-baby-published, I’d appreciate any additional help you’re willing to offer.

Thanks to everyone for sticking around with me a little longer. :)

Ricky

Exciting news!

Showtime has been chosen by Inkshares staff as their Syndicate’s pick for March!