INK MAGE ... so far.

We're well into the third installment of INK MAGE, my epic fantasy novel being serialized by Amazon Publishing's 47North imprint, and this seemed like a good time to check the box score and answer some frequently asked questions.

1. I don't like waiting for the next installment, will it be collected into a "normal" book that I can read all at once?

Gischler says -- Yep.  The serial installments come out every 2 weeks, but once that's all said and done, the book will "graduate" to a novel that comes all in one nice package.  But keep in mind, the price might go up a few bucks.  I suggest buying the serial, ignore it for now, and then when it's all collected on your kindle, start reading!

2. You new fangled kids and your "eReaders."  Bah.  Why can't it just be a regular old-fashioned paperback?

Gischler says -- We hear you, mighty Luddite.  Again, once the book graduates, it'll be available is a sturdy trade paperback made of actual paper.

3. INK MAGE is awesome and you are the new master of the genre and I want to give you a back rub, but are there going to be sequels?  Everyone knows these fantasy things come in trilogies.

Gischler says -- INK MAGE is written to be a satisfactory stand-alone read, but it also leaves a few doors wide open, encouraging us to revisit the Duchy of Klaar and the Kingdom of Helva again.  That's largely up to you fine people, how many good reviews the novel gets, how many copies sold, etc.  But it sure would be cool to give Rina a chance to collect some more interesting tattoos .

4. Hey, there is somebody in my life important enough to get a cheap gift, but not so important that I want to leave my house and go shopping.  What are my options?

Gischler says -- Go to the INK MAGE page on Amazon.com and look for the "Give as a Gift" button up in the corner.  You know what to do from there.


So far, there has been a smattering of discussion in the Amazon forum about Ink Mage, and it's all positive.  That means a lot to me.  And we're out of the gate with eleven 5-star reviews versus two 1-star reviews ... one for "foul language" (what the fuck?) and one from a guy who doesn't like the serial format.  So ... not bad so far.  As I've mentioned before, these Amazon pub books are big on feedback and reviews directly from readers.  Not a lot of attention in Booklist and Publisher's Weekly and the normal review places.  So anyone who leaves me some stars and some feedback ... well, you're tops in my book.  Thanks.

In the comments section, feel free to ask any questions I didn't cover above ... or make any comment you like.

PULP fans need to munch some POPCORN!

As I've already mentioned, my hardboiled pulp novella BIG STUPID is available on Kindle and Nook from the fine folks at La Case Books.  I wanted to pause and just talk for a few minutes about their new Popcorn imprint (they are the ones who published BIG STUPID.)  This imprint is committed to delivering slam-bang pulp fun in quick novella-sized reads.

FIND SKULD is written by the dynamic duo of Matteo Strukul and Marco Piva Dittrich.  These are already a couple of pretty great guys in my humble opinion.  For starters, Matteo is my editor in Italy, and a respected Italian author.  Marco translated my novel Shotgun Opera.  Now they show their pulp skills as a team, offering up a story about two-handpicked soldiers on a mission to ... you guessed it ... Find Skuld.  Full of NAZI KILL ACTION.

My main man, Anthony Neil Smith has penned a pulp masterpiece of macabre craziness with SIN-CRAZED PSYCHO KILLER! DIVE, DIVE, DIVE!  Neil has already proven himself as a hardboiled pulp guy, but I honestly think he was channeling one of those old 1940s dime novel authors with this one.  Each page was a new grotesque delight.

I haven't had a chance yet to read Hal Duncan's THE TAKING OF THE STAMP yet, but I'm looking forward to it.  If you're looking for high octane hold nothing back pulp fiction, then keep your eye on La Case's POPCORN imprint.

PULP COUNTDOWN!

Emerson LaSalle's THERE ARE ALIENS BEHIND URANUS, MR. PRESIDENT is on sale for 99 pennies for a limited time.  CLICK to get some!

Episode #2 of INK MAGE now Available!

(click image to embiggen.)

In celebration of episode two, above is a scene from the episode by artist Tazio Bettin.

Check out INK MAGE for your Kindle!

CLOWN FATALE ... coming soon.

'Sup?

BIG OCTOBER

So ... this month is kind of big for me.  Maybe that's why I've felt a jittery combination of excitement and nerves.  INK MAGE came out nearly a week ago, and I've been watching it bob up and down the Amazon rankings and biting my nails hoping people will like it.  It's my first novel since THE DEPUTY and I won't lie.  I really, really hope INK MAGE makes a splash.  Since I was a kid, I've wanted to write a fantasy trilogy (I mean, it's universal law these thing come in trilogies, right?) and so I really want the novel to do well so 47North will green light me for two more books.

And speaking of THE DEPUTY, the folks at Tyrus Books have seen fit to drop the price to 1.99 for October only!  So you still have a few days to jump on that.

And while I am pretty jazzed up about my new fantasy genre efforts, I haven't given up on fun pulpy crime stuff.  October also sees the debut of BIG STUPID a crime novella from La Case Books new Popcorn imprint.  Get some!

Finally, issue #2 of KISS ME, SATAN came out this month also.  This is my first ever creator-owned comic book, and I'm thrilled that Dark Horse Comics gave me a chance with this project.

So yeah.  October is big.  I have all fingers and toes crossed, and there's a TON of stuff in the works still that I can't quite talk about yet.  Frankly, I need a vacation.  But no rest for the weary.  Not yet.

Our story so far ...

So, my new obsession is my Amazon rank and how many stars I can get.

Okay, maybe not a new obsession.  I mean, that's what authors do, right?  They look at Amazon.com to see how they are doing.  I know some authors who've sworn off this time consuming and largely useless practice.  Kudos.  And I generally only check once in a while.

Until this past Tuesday when INK MAGE was published by 47North as a Kindle serial.  That means it's only available as an eBook.  On Amazon.  And while it will eventually be collected into a handsome paperback, the novel right now lives only as digital whatnot on a website.  That means you won't find it on shelves at your local book store.  To the best of my knowledge, the book won't be reviewed by the usual places like Booklist and Publisher's Weekly.  These are not complaints.  47North has been great to me.  I'm simply acknowledging the reality that if I want to have any idea at all how INK MAGE is doing, I have to go to Amazon.com.

So I sit at my computer.  Click.  Click.  Click.  I probably check about every 90 seconds.  Okay, that's an exaggeration.

But not by much.

Drink coffee.  Wring hands.  Try to write.  Click.

At the time of writing this blog post, my Amazon rank for INK MAGE is 3,346.  I've seen it as low as 2,200 and change.  I have no idea what these numbers mean, but I keep looking at them as if they will communicate something to me.

The first review was a nice, reasonably thoughtful 4-star review.  Okay.  Broke the ice.  Not bad.  The next review was 1-star.  Here is the review in it's entirety:

"The language was to foul for me...but I am a 70 year old woman who likes sci-fi. I only got to page 2 before I returned this book. This the first book I have ever returned or reviewed."

SHIT SNACKS!  I mean, is that a review or a tantrum?  What's a guy to do?

Nothing.  Just laugh.  I mean what can you do?

And yet all people know before purchasing the book  -- aside from the description -- is the stars.  The reviews.  The ranking.

So this is my stupid life now, staring at a computer screen, watching a number go up or down, hoping for stars.  Eventually, life will return to normal.  But not yet.  Click.  Click.  Click.