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June 2023
I was looking for something super witty to say this month and frankly I failed. This month has been kind of rough for me. But I hope to turn things around this summer. Hope and opportunity is in the air and that is allowing me to start putting the bad stuff behind.
This months newsletter has some interesting stuff in it. An update about a book. Peek into a new book I'm writing. And some amazing FREE stuff - yes, you read that right, FREE! Two different free book promotions for more than 150 free books. Please check them out.
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Update
I was super excited to do some trade work for editing of Book 2 in the Afterverse series. Unfortunately, the person doing the editing... Well they didn't work out and it was a waste of my time. Lots of time.
Additionally, the bad economy and specifically it's hit on remote tech leadership, has hit me pretty hard and I cannot afford another editor right now. So I have to delay the release a bit longer. Or rethink my approach.
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New Project: SkyBorne
Skyborne is a fun new book I'm working on. It launches off from current events then moves into the future. This work will be a cross genre post-apocalypse with scifi and fantasy elements.
Here is just a little excerpt rough draft of the Prologue:
...
Another boy says, “Their plans were to use balloons. So cool. Oh, I’m Candidate Samuel Adams.”
“I don’t think the people killed by balloons thought it was cool. But yes, that was their plan. The balloons that the United States of America shot down were the final balloons in a series of tests to determine what obstacles they would have if using a balloon-based attack.”
I let that hang in the air for a few moments. “The United States of America thought their political pressure successfully stopped the balloon program. They were wrong. With the information collected, China planned and built an armada of different sized balloons that would operate at different altitudes with a variety of duties, payloads, and actions they would take. All of them leveraging newer hive-based guidance systems and lighter and more powerful solid-state batteries. Our best estimate is their armada numbered north of 60,000 balloons in all. Ranging in size from small vehicles to a large building.”
The boy with glasses, candidate Woods, says, “Wow, the sight that must have been...”
“I’m sure it was a magnificent display that drew wonder and inspiration right until the moment they killed you. The armada had balloons that jammed signals and others that dropped payloads of chemical agents, nuclear dumb bombs, biological agents, and worse. In 2025, they unleashed balloon hell on the United States of America. Initially, the military took out some balloons, but those were just the decoys designed to draw them out while some jammers maneuvered into place. And taking out even the decoy balloons were fatal to the Jets that attacked. Most balloons had massive countermeasure explosives that propelled shaped projectiles with targeting capabilities into jets that were anywhere near the balloon. Because of the quick losses of air support, after the first few kills, the United States of America was largely ineffective in stopping the attack.”
“That was the end of life as they knew it for the United States of America. But before the leadership structure totally collapsed, the military leaders launched a full out nuclear strike on China. Mutual destruction. Unfortunately, shortly after the major attacks, the nuclear, chemical, and biological fallout started causing issues for the entire world. Enough issues that several countries launched more nuclear strikes fighting over food and other resources. Ultimately leading to World War III that affected every country on the planet.”
...
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Books are cheaper on my website
I'm now selling eBooks cheaper on my Website. You can go to the book description page and if you choose to buy through GumRoad they are cheaper then any of the main stores (like Amazon, B&N, etc.)
Books are delivered through BookFunnel for all eReaders and platforms. Books are watermarked to discourage piracy.
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Free Books #2
35 free eBooks. These eBooks are Scifi Adventure by Indie Authors. Check it out. Even if you don't download any, which is crazy you should, following the link will help support me.
https://books.bookfunnel.com/space-adventure/jrjtllu3oh
Please share this free book event with friends and family.
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Beta and ARC readers wanted
I'm in the search for Beta and ARC readers. To make sure we are all talking about the same thing, here are some basic definitions.
Beta reader
A beta reader is a test reader of an unreleased work writing (similar to beta testing in software), who gives feedback from the point of view of an average reader to the author.
A beta reader provides advice and comments in the opinions of an average reader.
This feedback is used by the writer to fix remaining issues with plot, pacing, and consistency. The beta reader also serves as a sounding board to see if the book has had the intended intellectual and/or emotional impact on the target market.
Beta reading occurs before professional line editing. Beta readers' feedback has a chance to alter the book prior to releasing.
Very, very few people use the term alpha reader. This is more often referred to as a Critic Partner. These individuals do not play the same roles as Beta readers. I feel I need to state this because of some recent posts frequenting some writing sites and social media. I am not looking for a Critic Partner at this time.
ARC (Advance Reader Copy) readers
An ARC reader gets a copy of an unpublished book offered to them in exchange for an honest review. Thus, an ARC reader is the person who reads the book pre-publication and posts a review before or immediately after the publication date.
ARC readers get the book as it will be published. Generally, ARC readers do not give feedback that will change the book. Their role is to review as a reader.
Are you interested in becoming a Beta or ARC reader for me?
If you are interested in either role, please use this link to apply:
https://www.miketconley.com/beta-arc-readers
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"It's the questions we can't answer that teach us the most. They teach us how to think. If you give a man an answer, all he gains is a little fact. But give him a question and he'll look for his own answers."
- Patrick Rothfuss, The Wise Man's Fear
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Reviews and ratings are the lifeblood of Indie authors!
I ask that if you enjoyed the book, to please leave honest reviews. Please leave them at the store you bought the book from and if you use GoodRreads, leave one there as well. If you recieved a book free, you can still leave reviews on Amazon and Goodreads.
I cannot stress how important this is for me. It would go a long way to support me if you can take a few moments to create a review. Reviews power the algorithms of booksellers. More reviews helps the discoverability of books on those platforms. Discoverability leads to sales and ultimately allow me to write more books.
Thank you - Mike
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Do you have feedback or questions?
Connect with me on social media. I'm very approachable. Discord is a great place to chat if you would like to join. You can also email me or use another social platform. Lately I've been using TikTok a lot.
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Author Mike Conley
1913 Foxmoor ln, Lafayette
United States of America
TikTok Amazon Author Page
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