Aloha All,

The publication of Lost in the Fog is so close I can smell it.  For me, the scent is a cool, ocean breeze mingled with trees and dirt and the dampness of fog drifting across Lands End Trail at the westernmost point of San Francisco.  Maybe there’s some whiskey notes in there as well. 

Lost in the Fog is a mystery, a comedy, a wild adventure, and a neo noir.  It’s also taken a helluva long time to get into print for people to read.  With the pandemic, it’s unfortunately made the wait even longer.

And now there’s a new calamity to add to the Shit Show of 2020 to further delay Lost in the Fog. 

The fires in California and Oregon, with their extremely dangerous air quality, have been a horrific ordeal that’s affected so many people.  Because of this, it’s produced a slight setback for the printed books to be shipped to everyone who pre-ordered one.  Of course my novel’s delay means absolutely nothing in the larger picture of what’s going on, and my heart goes out to everyone affected.

But there is some good news with Lost in the Fog . . . the e-version will be ready to go on September 21st as promised! 

Anyone who bought a paperback will also automatically receive an e-copy.  You will be emailed my book in both mobi (for Kindle) and Epub (Apple books) files, as well as in Adobe PDF which can be read on any computer or device.  I just received my advanced e-copy, and it looks super cool!  While I’m still a paper and ink kind of guy, I’ve read plenty of books on Kindle and I’m a fan. 

Inkshares has said that the paperbacks of Lost in the Fog will be shipped in October.  I don’t have an exact date, but when I do, you will be the first to know.  I’m incredibly sorry for this delay.

That being said, I’m also incredibly excited that on September 21st e-copies will be sent to everyone who pre-ordered Lost in the Fog!  Thank you, thank you, thank you, and mahalo!  I’m so grateful for your support, and I hope you enjoy the story of Camden, Veronica, and their quest to find the stolen Matisse sculptures in San Francisco.

-Michael  

Aloha All,

Just a quick update here on Lost in the Fog’s official publication date as well as a sneak peek at the front and back of the cover!

While we all wanted August, the good folks at Inkshares are still not yet back in the office due to the pandemic.  Avalon, the extremely hardworking and amazing Director of Marketing & Publishing Operations, selected a new date to ensure there is enough time to properly handle everything on their end.  

Lost in the Fog will be released September 21, 2020!

It’s been a long journey, and I thank you all once again for your tremendous support.  I’ll be back in touch as the date gets closer, but in the meantime here’s an exclusive, first look at the cover.  I am so happy with the work from the talented artists Xavier and Rafael from CoverKitchen!  I hope you enjoy it too.  Mahalo! 

-Michael

Aloha All,

I hope this Lost in the Fog update finds you all safe and well.  While our world has been upended by a dangerous and awful virus, I’m choosing to focus on whatever positive news I can get.  Thankfully, there is plenty if you seek it out. 

First off, the healthcare workers all over the world are such amazing heroes, and I cannot say enough thanks to all of those amazing humans. I think of that great quote from Mr. Rogers, who was told by his Mom when he saw scary things as a kid to “look for the helpers”.  There are so many incredible helpers right now saving lives and we need to salute them every day.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I also love that there are millions of people around the globe protesting and taking a stand against racism.  I wish the despicable things that propelled this movement never happened, and I pray for the family and friends of all of the victims.  But so wonderful that the world is changing because of this moment.   

After pondering all of this important stuff, I’m tempted to end this post here. 

But as this is an update for all the terrific people who pre-ordered my novel, I’ll quickly share some good news.   I just heard back from the amazing people at Inkshares (my publisher), and while they are not yet reopened because of the pandemic, they hope to do so soon.  

And I was informed Lost in the Fog will be released in August.

I’m so happy that the book you all graciously ordered long ago will finally be in your hands and e-reader devices very soon.  I hope you’ll find it fun, mysterious, entertaining, suspenseful, and well-written.  When I get a specific August release date, I’ll share it with you as soon as I know.   But for now, lets celebrate this positive news!  

Aloha All,

I wish everyone and their families & friends safety and good health during these bizarre and uncertain times.  Hopefully you all are sheltering from the microscopic storm and are not going stir-crazy.  This too shall pass. 

Health and safety are the top priorities now, and other than essential services everything else in the world is pretty much hitting the pause button.  That of course includes my publisher Inkshares, and Lost in the Fog, like most other books scheduled for release, is now on hold.  It’s a huge bummer since my long awaited new novel is so close to the finish line, but there are more important things for people to focus on now.

As soon as I get an update on the new release date I will share the info.  I’m so incredibly excited to finally get Lost in the Fog into your hands and/or screens at some point in the near future.  

In the meantime, if you’d like to read some of my work, I invite you follow along in the 550 mile adventure across Spain on foot I undertook last September and October.  The Camino de Santiago was an incredible physical and spiritual journey, and I’ve been chronicling it with lots of photos on my blog.  

 You can check it out at www.getlostinthefog.com.  Thank you all and be well!!

-Michael

Aloha All,

I’m happy to share with you that Lost in the Fog is nearly ready to reach your hands and eyes as a published book!  Inkshares is currently doing the design pour, which is one of the final steps before it’s printed.  While I don’t have a hard date yet, publication will be either this April or May.

I also have the cover I can at long last reveal to you! 

Lost in the Fog shares a few strands of DNA with the Maltese Falcon, the Big Sleep, and a few other of my favorite classic mystery novels.  And the cover is a pulp fiction inspired throwback to those books, designed by the immensely talented team at Coverkitchen.  I present it to you below.

There was a ton of back and forth and revisions, and I’m thrilled with their final version.  Although I love the old pulp covers, I wasn’t sure if it would work for my book, and originally considered more modern designs.  But in the end Xavier and Rafa of Coverkitchen came up with the throwback concept, and nailed it.

So excited to be in the home stretch, and I’ll continue to keep everyone updated!

Greetings! Hope all is well with my faithful backers. I can’t tell you happy I am with the responses I’ve received for Under The Rug. I’m grateful for the kind words and feedback. If you would be so kind, if you haven’t already put up a review on amazon, could you please do so. It will be a big help in my promoting Under The Rug. Here’s the link to make it easy to get there.

https://www.amazon.com/Under-Rug-Todd-Wonkka/dp/1947848852

On another note, I realize that some of you received copies later than others. I wanted to check in to make sure everyone got their copies. If you have not received your copies yet please contact Avalon Radys at Avalon@inkshares.com

Once again, thank you so much for your support and patience. As far as my future plans, I am working hard on my second novel currently titled, "Counterpunch". It’s a story about friendship and sacrifice(with a twist of course)...among other things. You’ll all be the first to know when it’s ready. 

With regard to my plans for Under The Rug, I am shopping for film options. Under The Rug will become a movie! If anyone has any contacts in that realm, please, let me know. Aside from that I’m just trying to start 2020 off with a bang by promoting the book as much as I can. If you know me well, you know I tend to shoot for the stars. A N.Y. Times best seller is in my line of sight. You gotta dream big, right? 

Much love.

Hello, hello! I see that some of you/most of you have received your copies of Under The Rug. Brings a smile to my face, I tell ya. If you haven’t received it yet, you should be getting it soon. And thank you all again for your patience. I hope you enjoy reading the book as much as I enjoyed birthing it. Ouch! 

Anyway, as you all know, Amazon reviews are huge, especially for new authors trying to break the market. I’ve had a couple 5 STAR’s come in so far and they are MEGA! So, thank you to those readers for taking the time, and I’m so glad you enjoyed the book. 

For those of you who haven’t finished yet, or have not received your copies yet, I humbly ask that when you are finished reading Under The Rug, would you be so kind as to leave a review here: https://www.amazon.com/Under-Rug-Todd-Wonkka/dp/1947848852/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?keywords=under+the+rug%2C+a+novel+Todd+S.+Wonkka&qid=1573757458&sr=8-1-fkmr1

Thank you all so much for the love. And I look forward to your Amazon review of Under The Rug. 

What’s up everyone! Just a reminder that tomorrow, Under The Rug officially releases. After cataloging to sites like Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and GoodReads, ya’ll should be getting your copies by sometime toward the end of next week, depending on what zip code you’re in. Once again thanks for your support and I hope you enjoy Under The Rug as much as I enjoyed writing it. One other reminder—please make sure to update your address through your inkshares account so your copies don’t got to the wrong place. In case some of you have moved. 

Also, just a reminder—since its been such a long process—to update your mailing address through your inkshares account. Just in case you have moved since you’ve pre-ordered your copy of Under The Rug.

It’s official! Under The Rug releases October 22nd. I look forward to hearing what you all think. Thanks for the continued and patient support.