Staff Syndicate
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members:11
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books supported:48
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monthly committments:$120.00
I'm part of the Inkshares team. This syndicate supports the underdogs that catch my eye.
Genres:
fantasy, science fiction, fiction, literary fiction, and historical fiction
Contribute $10 or more per month to the syndicate. Your contribution will be pooled with other members' and allocated by the syndicate lead to one Inkshares book each month. You'll get a copy of the book and be a recurring supporter of our authors! All funds are allocated to our authors - the syndicate will make no money off your contribution.
Books Supported
Jul. 2020
Raven’s Gate meets Kindred.
Members
Joined: Jun 15, 2017
Joined: Dec 16, 2015
Joined: Feb 4, 2019
Joined: Dec 4, 2015
Joined: Feb 15, 2016
Joined: Dec 15, 2015
Joined: Jun 4, 2016
Joined: Jul 15, 2016
Joined: Aug 14, 2018
Joined: Jun 1, 2019
Joined: Aug 8, 2019
Who knows, maybe our boost will lead to more.
with Quill off the menu, we might expect longer funding cycles and fewer successes...so might need to manage expectation around that
https://www.inkshares.com/books/arkham-akademy-the-horror-beneath
https://www.inkshares.com/books/how-to-remember
https://www.inkshares.com/books/the-devil-you-don-t
Thank you Staff Syndicate members for this honor. I love being part of a Syndicate, makes me feel like a made man. Inkshares has been good to me since I joined and I’m happy to be a part of this supportive community. You all have really made my day today. Earlier, I received a complimentary DM from a reader and it made me teary eyed. Then this message came over and my head got so fat the barber had to use a rotary mower to give me a flat top. Thanks again and don’t hesitate to reach out for any support I might offer in your endeavors.
Thanks Avalon
However, I came across CROW’S GAMBIT by Patrick Tebbe. It’s got 160 pre-orders, 95 days left, and it was backed by another Syndicate. It’s got a bit of momentum and it’s a cool idea for a story. I think this book could really benefit from our support. Thanks
I’m open to whatever direction the Syndicate wants to go.
I do think we can get the best of both worlds by giving June to Mutants and July to Gods & Housewives (I love that title so much!)
Here’s the logline... "X-Men meets Call of Cthulhu-It’s hard to be the ’good guy’ when you lead the local cell of the League, a terrorist organization. Gang warfare turns out to be the least of your worries when shadowy organizations start targeting your friends"
Have a great Memorial Day!
March is upon us and the selections are kind of strange- so many great stories funding, but have so few orders that our help would barely make a dent in getting them to Quill.
However, I am really liking @J.T.R. Russell’s Wake Up Call.
What novels do you want to promote?
All the suggestions are definitely worthy. For December and to close out 2016, I cast my vote for Sorcery For Beginners!
Happy holidays, everyone!!
To learn more about Tantalus Depths check out an awesome guest post Evan did on my blog HERE: http://apotheosisstudios.com/blog/2016/6/23/tantalus-depths-guest-post-by-evan-graham-inkshares-author
It’s got some really great info about his story. Evan has been amazing with his updates, and I’m really excited to read his hard sci-fi thriller!
http://apotheosisstudios.com/blog/2016/8/24/sunshine-is-forever-guest-post-by-kyle-t-cowan
Although you can read about it on the blog posting, in addition to being a writer he is also an actor and director, too. He is on several TV shows (read the blog post!) and wrote, directed, starred, produced, and edited the movie Camouflage in 2014. Its all pretty cool, but I’ll let you read the post for yourselves!
https://www.inkshares.com/books/overture
New Syndicate Member here. I have been purchasing, supporting, and reading some of the books on Inkshares for sometime now. I love the platform and am pretty enamored with the site and its mission.
One thing that I have noticed through my interaction here, is the overwhelming number of Sci-fi and Fantasy genre books (due to the competitions largely I understand). I think syndicates like this might help level the playing field.
As a writer in the literary field (with a nod to the commercial) I have sort of wondered if this platform will work as well for lit fic as successfully as it has for the genres. I am a student at Stanford’s two-year Novel Writing program, and have spent about as long writing the current novel I have up—Striver. It has been through multiple developmental edits one-on-one with former instructors and it is pretty close to ready to see the light of day.
I would like to get this groups opinion on it, and also see whether the group would consider it for inclusion as a pick in the future. As my campaign hasn’t started, I have plenty of time.
I look forward to seeing what the group comes up with next.
https://www.inkshares.com/books/striver-539885?recommended=true
p.s. Knightmares and Wings of the Pirate both caught my eye and I have preordered them.
As far as other books are concerned, I am pretty excited about The Knightmares by @G. A. Finocchiaro. He did an awesome write up on my blog about his book which folks can read here:
What are other people’s thoughts?
WRESTLETOWN looks cool, and I guess I’m excited to read it--actually I’m not yet because I know nothing about it or why it was chosen, or what is happening with this syndicates or syndicates in general...
If that’s how it’s going to be in the future, then I am happy to leave I guess. (It’s why I left Garry’s Syndicate--no community interaction from leaders = no community.)
For more info (written by the author) on TD go here:
http://apotheosisstudios.com/blog/2016/6/23/tantalus-depths-guest-post-by-evan-graham-inkshares-author
Cheers, Jeremy!
It’s actually not so easy to choose- so many great stories deserving to reach Quill!
Also, for what it’s worth, I really REALLY like Sleeping Man.
Two books submitted for consideration below, both of whom have posted on my blog (if you have not read these guy’s blog postings I HIGHLY suggest you do, each offers a really wonderful glimpse into their worlds, writing styles, and inspirations! And they are just great reads!)
Tantalus Depths by @Evan Graham
http://apotheosisstudios.com/blog/2016/6/23/tantalus-depths-guest-post-by-evan-graham-inkshares-author
The Sleeping Man by @Stephen Carignan
@Brian Fitzpatrick
Mechcraft by @Brian Fitzpatrick looks great, too, and I have already pre-ordered, but it seems to already be on everyone’s radar already.
Devil’s Call does not yet seem to have any real exposure and I’d love to see more people looking at it.
In keeping with my philosophy, I happily withdraw the nomination with prejudice for this month.
As evidence, notice that the books we’ve backed so far have not seen that much of a boost following their selection by The CEO Syndicate. Every one of them is still under 300 pre-orders.
It’s just idle speculation, but Quill appears to have created a stagnation point, due to the daunting and imposing gap between 250 and 750. I suspect that many authors resign themselves to being satisfied with Quill and take their feet off the gas after reaching Quill. Potential backers see this and it seems to create a self-fulfilling prophecy of sorts.
Perhaps some Interim. attractive Carrot for reaching 500 might alleviate that situation and give authors a reason to keep pushing hard after crossing the Quill line. Getting to 500 then gives motivation to go all out for 750, which at that point seems reachable.
In any event, I’m a loyal soldier and this isn’t a democratic selection process, so I’m good with whatever direction Jeremy wishes to take.
It is my opinion that books which have secured Quill, but are hundreds of units away from 750 are not good candidates for Syndicate picks at this point in time. Bringing someone to 280 or 300 doesn’t do much to help them achieve the next threshold goal.
I believe that will change as Syndicates become larger and there are two reasons for that. The first is that the sheer numbers alone will eventually be able to boost a title by a hundred or more pre-orders. The second is that once a Syndicate crosses some point of critical mass, it will also become more of an influencer, and will attract many more customers on top of the Syndicate purchase. But we are a long way from that right now.
Since we have so many other forums and outlets to promote and tout books we like, regardless of where they are in the funding stage, it would seem more efficient to keep this forum a little more focused on a smaller, more select group where the Syndicate purchase gives us the best bang for the buck.
I recognize that not everyone will agree with my conception of how Syndicates should operate at this small stage. The track record on my opinions being correct is 50/50 at best, so I’m always willing to listen to opposing views and be swayed by sound arguments.
Buuuuut I also would like to hear what other titles @Jeremy Thomas might have his eye on, too! Any books, Jeremy, that we should be talking about / looking at? I’d love to hear your suggestions because in the past you have brought up some really great books that at least I personally had not yet seen.
Lucky has two months remaining, so could still be a syndicate selection in June - it is a daunting 430 units away from 750 and the effect of Syndicate backing now is minimized.
Supporting BTC (only 12 days left) is a last chance effort that would guarantee Quill. We would still have the option for Lucky next month if it shows promise of demonstrating enough legs on its own to reach 750 with a little extra help from syndicates etc.
Twelve days left and 29 units short of Quill.
http://bit.ly/1NiGwTb
Almost all of the books the Syndicate has selected so far resulted in my placing an additional order and I’m OK with that. The additional download or hard copy will be gifted away.
The option to request a refund helps close the gap for those wise people who realize that they can help more authors by using that refund or credit on another project.
Also, did anyone else get credits on the site saying they’re from the CEO Syndicate selection? Is this them refunding my money for this month because I’d already preordered this?
Also, did anyone else get credits on the site saying they’re from the CEO Syndicate selection? Is this them refunding my money for this month because I’d already preordered this?
Honestly, though, I like the idea that the list is curated by us as a group, or at least by @Jeremy Thomas because I feel like he truly has his finger on the Inkshares pulse. To be honest with you, that’s why I joined this Syndicate in the first place--to see each month some of the books he, personally, was excited about, aka that "caught his eye." I have also independently followed/purchased books based on his Syndicate suggestions even if they did not make the final "Syndicate" cut, too.
All in all, I see this group (and other Syndicates) as places where people can discuss potential books that we, as a group, are interested in backing as a group, not a place where I am pitched potential books by their authors who are obviously totally biased towards their own work. If you doubt that self-serving bias, then please go take a look at the best book ever written entitled RUNE OF THE APPRENTICE by Jamison Stone. (I don’t obviously believe that, but think it proves my point.)
Also, funding authors please take note, if you want to promote your book I strongly suggest you focus on doing so outside of the Inkshares community first and foremost. If you gain traction out in the "world" people here at inkshares will take notice VERY QUICKLY. I personally check Inkshares each and every day, and as a semi-strict rule only follow/buy books which are able to bring a large number of new independent Inkshares users into our fold. While I do this for a multitude of reasons, I know deeply in my heart that the most vial thing to Inkshares’ long term success is broadening our user base of new book buyers. Likewise, the most vital thing to your personal book’s success is book buyers, and the ones here have already bought books (some of us have bought many, many books, and are pretty tapped out!) So, I highly suggest you branch out and bring some new folks into our awesome Inkshares community, and you will then be very pleasantly surprised when Inkshares takes notices and supports you wholeheartedly!
If you have any questions/comments which are not directly pertinent to this specific Syndicate, please feel free to reach out to me directly via PM or on twitter.
I’m ok with it either way, but that’s my preference.
On the other hand The Traveller’s Cup ends in 20ish days and need support right now, this is an awesome book , already backed by the Nomad syndicate.
thank you for your consideration
once again thank you :)
Help an already successful project approach or cross the Quill or 750 pre-order level? Or highlight and gain increased exposure for a "hidden gem"?
As this syndicate grows in size, our ability to influence others will also grow.
I would think that at our current membership level - pushing projects to a place near or over the finish line carries the most bang. Later, with more members, we will stand a better chance to jump start those hidden gems.
At that point, we leverage not only the money we donate, but could also go on a promotion binge, with each of us recommending the selected title on Inkshares and within our own social-media networks.
::Talks in Arnold S. Voice::
But I’ll be back...
So who is the book that we are shooting for this month?
There were three deserving nominees, with a case to be made for each of them. I'm just a few miles from the store in Jamaica Plain right now.
One of these days, I will stop in and congratulate them on the win - and also ask if they plan on stocking Inkshares titles! (They never answered my email query with that same question several weeks ago) I think they should have an Inkshares section!
I would probably place Papercuts bookstore in Jamaica Plain in third place - but have to disqualify myself due to an unfair personal bias. I should let them know that their local competition (Harvard Bookstore and Porter Square Bookstore) are stocking my Inkshares title and they are not! lol, that's ok, maybe my genre doesn't fit their business model even though my book's setting is in their backyard.
I'd be happy if any of these three projects garners our support, but agree with Mr. Barrett that pushing a project toward a funding goal should be a top consideration. Helping to move something from Quill to full Inkshares treatment qualifies, imo.
I see this syndicate's endorsement as (hopefully) becoming much more than just an incremental bit of polish, especially if it grows to a substantial size.
In addition to the monetary value, I hope that that the value of the "honor" of being a monthly selection will exceed the dollar support and will result in increased visibility and credibility which might in turn generate more pre-orders than the syndicate purchase.
When selecting a winner, I tend to think that personalities and thanks for being an Inkshares supporter should be decidedly secondary considerations - with the pure merit of the work being, by far, the primary factor.
Also, I just watched A.C.'s video for the first time and HIGHLY suggest everyone check it out. HERE is the direct link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FmeKgI090s
Did someone mention anonymous numbers and code-names? It just so happens that . . .
If you are into that sort of thing; I have openings for "Secret Agents" where you get your own double 0 number (while they last) and can choose your own code name.
http://www.secretagentman.org/secretagents.html