Dear Readers:
I hope you all are staying healthy and managing well in these trying times.
I realize this message is coming to you sort of out of the blue, because I haven’t emailed you in a couple of years. In case you need a reminder, you’re on this list because you ordered my memoir - Nowhere Else I Want to Be, published in 2017 - or followed me in Inkshares.
The reasons you’re getting it: (1) I want you to know about my publication coming out this summer, and
(2) I’m going to migrate this email list to a different platform soon.
ABOUT #1: My prose chapbook, "Border/Between: A Symphony in Essays," will publish on June 30, 2022, from Bamboo Dart Press. A prose chapbook is a short piece--typically 8,000-15,000 words (for comparison, a book’s word count is typically 45,000-100,000 words)--printed and bound as a small paperback.
I’ll tell you more about the chapbook in the first email from the new platform.
ABOUT #2: I don’t intend to publish with Inkshares again, so it no longer makes sense that my current list is housed here.
I’ll say this in the next email, and I’m saying it now: I’ll make it clear how you can unsubscribe from the new email list. You won’t have to stay on my list by default.
Thank you for your support of my memoir and my writing. I’ll connect with you soon.
Peace, Carol D. Marsh
Dear Readers and Supporters of "Nowhere Else I Want to Be: A Memoir:
Dear Sweethearts,
I hope that you all are doing well and that you’re staying warm, and that you’re having a lovely evening! I am writing to share some exciting news, a video that Health Magazine did based on "How to Get Run Over By a Truck" recently went up online! You can take a look here :)
Amazingly, after it was posted by Health - People Magazine, Hello Giggles and Real Simple all also shared it, and just this week it reached over 1 million views! I wanted to share this with you, because none of this would have been possible without you and your support of me and this story!
I have said this before, but I REALLY mean it this time, thank you x 1 MILLION!
Heart,
Katie
Progress on The Seclusion is happening on all ends!
At some point in the next week or so, my editor will submit the first three beautifully-polished chapters of the book to Ingram - a book distribution company that major retailers, and most indie bookstores, use to stock their shelves.
In other exciting news, the book is starting to pop up on major online retail sites for preorder!
The goal, as of now, is to shift from developmental-edit to copy-edit by April 1st. I’ll be hard at work every day until then to make sure we stay on schedule for a fall release, so that we can get this book in your hands!
I’ve been spending any and all free time over the last couple of weeks combing through the manuscript with two primary goals in mind - 1) Add to the inner voice of the protagonist, Patch 2) Flesh out additional world-building details. I regularly have at least one reference book open next to me as I work to sneak up on each scene from a new angle. My favorite as of late is The Emotional Craft of Fiction: How to Write the Story Beneath the Surface, by Donald Maass.
Last week, in an effort to soak up new world building inspiration, I used random photos found online and my favorite quick-marketing toy (Canva) to throw together a few concept images. Lately, I have these open as I hammer out my descriptive imagery for any given scene. Below are a few if you would like to take a look:
CHILDREN’S CLASSROOM
CITY CENTER
COMPLIANCE OFFICERS (COMPOS) AND PACIFIER (DIRECTED ENERGY WEAPON)
I am guessing that over the next month I will hear from the Inkshares marketing team, and that cover design will kick off soon.
Back to edits! Until next time.
-Jacqui
Hey. Hi there.
I have news. A couple of bits actually. I shall save the best for last though.
New book title
Ghosts of War is now.....Ghosts of War: Retribution. The change was made by me to help the title stand out a little more, and it gels better with what the story is actually about (and with the titles of the series going forward). I’m quite pleased with the change.
With that change though, means something else...
A new cover
Production Status
Very good news on this front. This last Monday, Ghosts of War: Retribution winged it’s way across the interwebs into the hands of it’s copy editor. That means it is getting a thorough going over as it moves ever closer to release later in the year. Typically the time frame is 6 months from kickoff to publication, so it should land somewhere around the middle of the year.
I should be hearing back from Inkshares soon with some more solid dates related to the production schedule and release, and I’ll keep you guys updated where I can.
Praise for the book
I’ve been getting the first lots of feedback on Ghosts of War: Retribution in the last few weeks, here’s a few blurbs that’ll be showing up in various promo materials going forward.
"Imagine that bastard you hate. Got it? Now imagine yourself gut punching them then throwing them down the stairs, and stealing their last donut. Robinson’s debut novel takes arch-rivalvary up a notch while giving that oh-so-satisfying desire to chew bubblegum and kick ass." - Rick Heinz, Author of The Seventh Age: Dawn
"Sci-Fi action-adventure at its very, very best. Paul Robinson gives us complex characters facing complex conflict in a futuristic world that, although dystopian, always carries the ring of truth. There’s revenge, retribution, heroism and, sprinkled throughout, satisfying bits of wry humor. A winning combination, and a debut author worth watching." - Jason Pomerance, Author of Women Like Us
“Ghosts of War: Retribution is an adrenaline-fueled adventure perfect for fans of fast-paced action sci-fi.” - Robert Batten, Author of Blood Capital
"Paul Robinson thrills his readers in the style of James Rollins and John Grisham, and then brings them to another world in the style of Robert Heinlein. You should pick up Ghosts of War: Retribution, though be warned: it’s hard to put down. ★★★★★" - Jonathan Maas, Author of Flare
What now?
As production finally ramps up on Ghosts of War: Retribution, I’ll be working hard with Inkshares to get it into your hands and I’ll also be continuing to work on the sequels which are now called Ghosts of War: Reprisal and Ghosts of War: Reckoning.
As always, stay tuned for updates.
Dear readers and friends of Nowhere Else I Want to Be: A Memoir -
Today is a great day, thanks to you, and Inkshares.
I can honestly say I wouldn’t be where I am without the experience I had working with Inkshares on Sunshine is Forever. I have had both negative and positive experiences with the company, but I know their editorial process really improved my writing and taught me a ton. I want to thank Inkshares and all of you for supporting me with this book. You helped elevate me to the next level.
I’ve been querying to get a writing agent for 7 years. Well, I can finally announce that I have officially accepted representation with Jennifer Soloway at Andrea Brown Lit. I am thrilled! Here’s to a long and prosperous writing career!
http://www.andreabrownlit.com/
I appreciate all of you! Don’t forget to review Sunshine is Forever on AMAZON!
Kyle T. Cowan
I’m sitting at my desk this lovely morning, watching the snow fall out the window of my mountainside home and feeling very grateful for all of you. This update is coming a little later than usual, and for that, I apologize. I was waiting to hear back on a few points so that this update could be a bit more substantial than the last few. And, it will be!
I have multiple exciting updates to share with you!
1) Developmental Edit Progress
Since my update at the end of October, I have concluded another round of developmental edit rewrites. The book is now back in the hands of my editor. He is going through one more time (he estimates this will take about two weeks), and then he plans to send the book to a beta-reader to get some third-party, objective feedback. We will then use that feedback to do one more pass before forwarding the book to a copy-editor.
2) Title change
While I like The Walls are Closing In (and we may still use it as a tagline for the book), we have decided that a different title is more marketable, provides a bit of mystery, and is catchier for the future selling of property rights (fingers crossed).
So, without further ado, the new title is:
The Seclusion
3) Genre Change
We are making a few changes to the plot and market the book as YA(Young Adult). This will only marginally change the story but will double the audience. It allows us to not only market the book to fans of books such as 1984, Fahrenheit 541, and The Handmaid’s Tale, but also to fans of books such as The Hunger Games and Divergent.
3) Release Date!
The book has been assigned a tentative release date and an ISBN number (this second part is probably not exciting to anyone but me).
The Seclusion is currently set to publish on:
October 2, 2018!
This is a bit later than I had hoped, but I am beyond thrilled that there is an official trajectory. Between now and then I will be doing everything in my power to ensure that the launch is a success.
One last note - the first two chapters on the book’s page have been updated to reflect the changes that we have been making. Feel free to check them out!
Until next time,
-Jacqui