Acknowledging some amazing people

One of the rewards for the backers of the Death of Dulgath Kickstarter is seeing their name in print as I publicly recognize them in the acknowledgements. Of the 1,845 people that pledged, 1,393 chose to be added. A large number of people (more than 200) contributed at levels that I never dreamed possible so I wanted to give them a little special attention.  I'm repeating the two lists here for two reasons.  First, to give these people extra recognition, and second, so the contributors can check the spelling of their names to ensure I have them right before we put them into print. So if you are a contributor. Please check for your name below. If it is missing, or there is a typographic error that needs correction, please contact me right away.  Also, keep in mind there are two lists - so please check both of them.

Gold Level Contributors

Alastair • Pen Astridge • Jon Auerbach • Joshua Axelson • Keri & Patrick Bailey • Heather Barcomb • Jose J. Barrera • Tyke Beard • Brian Becker • Mark Becker • Cheryl Beebe-Skynar • Caleb Billman • Richard P. Bissmire • Airon Black • Dietmar Bloech • Kris Boultbee • Chad & Anna Britt • Kristi Rae Britt • Davonne Burns • Emily Burns • Jennifer Burns • Christopher Buzzard • Guy Byars • Jeffrey Carr • David Lars Chamberlain • Jaime Chan • Martin Forbes & Julia Charlow • Cpl Chris • Christy, Abby, & Jollin • Greg Clinton • Christine A. Cooney • Michelle Cooper • Macy Coward • Leland Crawford • Jackie Cuda • Elizabeth Daly • Ruth Angela Davies • Alexander Davis • Marcel de Jong • The Delicious One • William Demas • Paul Mervyn Dennison • Machikas Dimitrios • Randy, Marla, & Colin Doan • Andrew Doherty • Alexi Dollar • Sean Dornan-Fish • Christy L. Downey • Linda du Toit • Lee Dunning • Britney N. Duston • Mike Dysput • Steven Ede • Shirley Ednave • Angela Bradley & Kevin Enax • Derek Ferguson • Don, Beth & Meghan Ferris • Holly Flumerfelt • Cathy Fox • Emily Fuller • Chris Garrett • John J. Gerber • Andrew Gilbert • Chad & Morgan Gill • Steve Gordon • Cara Gorman • Dion Graybeal • Samantha Greenland • Rita Grensing • Therese Guerette • Allen & Marce Guthier • Jason K. Hackworth • Travis Hammons • Nicholas Hart • Tammy Hayne • Leah Henry • Douglas Hoffman • Sabrina Hofmann • Sir Jamie Howe • Santiago Hoyos • Christopher A. Huddleston • Ed Hunkin • Peter Hutchinson • John Idlor • Neil Illing • Martin Jackson • Erik Jarvi • Jiazheng • Morten Johansson • Erik T. Johnson • Rebecca and Shawn Jones • Jonna in Aurora • Michelle Jordan • Frank Juranich • Gustavo Tomas Lopez Justo • John Kane • Kevin Kastelic • John M. Kelly • Michael Kelly • Jordan Kemp • Adam Kice • Laura Kimble-Buschelmann • Kim Kline • Krendal • Kristina • Kimberly Kunker • Jeff & Ari Kupferberg • Llorente Lacap • S.K. Lamont • Shawn Larsen • Shirley Lawson • Andreas Leathley • Harry Lee • Keir Lee • Lennhoff Family • J. Leone • Viky Lercher • T. Lewis • Sebastian Linusson • Ariel Yining Loh • J. Lee Lokere • Patrick J. Loller • Andrea Luhman • Mark Lusher • Rissa Lyn • Renan Machado • Maile • Tracey Maknis • Brandon Makowecki • Brenda Marshall • Richard Martin • Paul Matchen • Randy & Chris Mathis • Zachary A. Matzo • Shelly McCann • Kevin McCormick • Michael & Susan McCrum • Bobby McDaniel • Hunter McDole • Amy McKenna • Jack & Kayleigh McKinley • Laura McNaughton • Steven Mentzel • Joby Metcalfe • Stefanie R. Midlock • Corinne Milardo • Annarose Mitchell • Christina Moe • Amanda Moore • Charles Moorhead • G. Moos • Calvin Moy • Francis Muhawij • Dianne Munro • H. Murray • NDC • John Neal • Neecy • Heike Nicks • Dino Nowak • Janet L. Oblinger • Jasmine Olsen • Katherine Owen • Gina Palmer • Paul M. Parra • Allison Pauli • Tina Persch • Joleen K. Peterson • Karina Pfleider • Jennifer L. Pierce • Andrew Preece • Heather Quigg • Jay Quigley • Cindy Radvany • David Ramirez • Tricia Reid • Amber Rendmeister • Grant "WereTiger" Rietze • Charles Roque • Abhilash Sarhadi • Eric Schwartz • Ryan Seaman • Gopakumar Sethuraman • Tina Marie Sharp • Shiro • Brian Sieglaff • Cassidy Singleton • Heber Sorenson • Margaret M. St. John • Erik W. Stegman • Theresa Stephen • Sean Stockton • Thom Stratton • StreamCyper • Carole Strohm • Jenn Strohschein • Shawn F. Sullivan • Ashli T. • Louise Tarbit • Stephanie Tettamanti • thesfshark • Chadzilla B. Thompson • David J. Thompson • Ben Trehet • Karilyn Turner • Waszer • Charles G. Weller III • Sam White • Lara Whitehead • Philip J. Whyte • Dick Wilkin • Scott M. Williams • Leilani Wills • John Gregory Wynn • Brandon Zarzyczny • Géraldine Zenhäusern • Perrin Zideos

Additional Contributors

A Fan of Words • M.C. Abajian • Zuraida AbbasiRietze • Benjamin Abbott • Zuhur Abdo • David Abraham • Dumont Abraham • Thérèse Abrams • Jennifer Acunto • Michael Adams • Adina • Jeremy Agnew • Kawika Aguilar • Matthew B. Aguirre • Robert Aitken • Baldomero Castelan Alarcon • Lee Albanese • Alfonso Albarran • Cameron Albert • Albert Shafsky House B&B • Robert S. Aldrich II • Alissa • Jeremy Allen • Kate Allen • Shawn Allen • Jacob T. Allenstein • James Alleyn • Almudena • Kenneth & Melissa Alo-ad • Heather J. Alston • Stanley Altfeld • Andrea Alvarez • Trine Lise Alvestad • Ben Ames • AmethystOrator • Rob Amunds • Gary Anastasio • Svend Andersen • Amanda Anderson • Chris Anderson • Dennis E. Anderson • Eric Anderson • Sean Anderson • David Andre • Ron Andrea • Dennis Andrews • Sue Armitage • Pam Arnold • Ash • Matthew Ashley • John Fredrik Asphaug • Chad Atchison • Isabella Phoenix & Xavier Atlas • RJ Ayres • Ariane B. • Joel DL Baass • Kerri Babbitt • Justin Bader • Shannon Badnell • Matt Baguley • Wes Baker • Edea Pitre Baldwin • Tayla Balkovic • Meghan Ball • Dan Banks • Preston Bannard • Joshua Barber • Dave Barfoot • William Paul Barnes • Paul Barrientos • Michael Basaldella • Basenji Studios, LLC • Sam Baskin • Michelle Beahm • David Bean • Craig Beaumont • Andrew Beckman • Anne Beckmann • Danielle Bednar • RJ Beem • Nathan Beittenmiller • Dana Belden • Derek Bell • Kate Bella • Jim Bellmore • Férial Benaïssa • Cody Benke • Michael C. Bennett • Steven A. Bennett • Larry Berger • Evy Bernier • Dustin & Nicole Berry • Blake Berryhill • Taylor Besenski • Nathan Best • Oliver Beuchat • Rich Billeaud Jr. • Mick Biondi • Justin Blaske • Richard E. Blenis • Billie Bock • A.J. Bohne • Mircea Boistean • Jeremy Bokus • István Boldog-Bernád • Brian Boles • Amy Bolla • Nancy Bonanno • Seth Bonney • Bookstooge • Mark Booth • Katharina Bordet • Matt Borkowski • Carey Bostwick • Marilyn Bourdeau • Marius Bovet • Chad Bowden • Joe Bradley • Barry Bragg • Melissa J. Brandau • Tiago Bras • Gregory E. Bray • John Anthony Brennan • Zachary Brennan • Chandler Brett • Brick Letter Law • Hannah Bridge • Brijwhiz • Phil Brillant • Alexandra Rose Brilz • Jason Brinkerhoff • Becky Brock • Joe Brodecki • Rachel Broome • Christina & Terry Brown • Matthew Brown • Nick Brown • Rose Broyles • Jana Broz • Meleah Bryan • Ian Buckley • Travis Bughi • Rick Bundren • Tomas Burgos-Caez • Robert E. Burke • Koen Burms • Jenny Busby • Matt & Karla Bush • Kristin Butler • Kyle Butler • Nicholas Buttram • P. Byhmer • Beverly C. • Brian C. • Dustin C. • Bethany Cahours • Sara Calabrese • Daniel Callaway • Amber L. Campbell • Robert Campbell • Clinton Canady • Alicia Cardillo • Jodi Lee Carpenter • Lucinda Caughey • MJ Cavallo • Damion M. Cavicchio • Saadet Cetin • Matthew A. Chambers • Michael Chambliss • Christopher D. Chapman • Josh Chappell • Susie chappelle • Jordan Charlton • Max & Treana Chartier • Brannigan Cheney • Reagan Chesnut • Andi Chilkie • Caroline Chiou • Andrew Chizhik • Gordon Chow • Mikaela Christiansson • Derek Christman • Olivia Christopher • Yvonne Chung • Elizabeth Chvirko • Melinda Citro • Daniel Claggett • Asa Clapp • Gary Clarke • Daniel Clasen • Claudia • Elizabeth A. Clawson • Jayce Clawson • Ben Clear • Linda Patricia Cleary • Matthew Cleveland • Vanessa R. Cobb • Alison Coggins • Larry Coker • Wanda Colar • Jason S. Colby • Jenny Colby • Ann Cole • Andrew L. Collie • Marissa Collins • Mike Collins • Lee Collis • Emmanuel Colvin • Elise Cook • Fisher Cook • John D. Cook • Cool_Dude_53 • Sarah Corbeil • Sarah Cosco • Brad Costa • Larry Couch • Stephen Couch • Chris Couper • Ariel Cowger • Anya Crane • Mick Crawford • Ben Crew • Taylor Crews • Dan Cristelli • Joshua Crompton • Michelle D. Crosby • Patti Cross • Nicholas Crow • Trevor & Justina Crow • Michael Cummings • Tyler Cummins • Jeff Cunningham • Chris Curry • Glenn Curry • Emily C.E. Curtis • Diane Cutter • Gabriella Cuzzola • Cypher21 • Dayvd D. • Helene D. • Nikolaus D. • Petter D. • Sylvia Dacus • Keith Dale • Carrie Ann Daly • Nimrod Daniel • Katie Lynn Daniels • Patricio Danos • Isaac "Will It Work" Dansicker • DanyMess • Brian P. Dassero • Jennifer Dath • Chas Daugherty • David • Yaron Davidson • Alicia Marie Davis • Josh Davis • Michael Davis • DavK • Joseph Davy • Karl Dawson • Julia de la Chevallerie • Elodie de Peretti • Joseph Dean • Elizabeth Rose Deaux • Ben DeJesus • Paul Delahunty • Scott Dell'Osso • Anna Demchy • Andrea Dengler • Danielle Denhardt • Rhonda Deniston • Ollie Denning • Chris Dent • Simon Dick • The Diefendorf Family • Crystal Dinh • Lewis Dix • Alexander Doganov • Zoe Dollar • Becky Dornoff • Jeremy Dorsey • Anthony Dosado • Rick Dotson • Ken Doyle • Mary Kate Doyle • D-Rock • Steph Duda • Mhorag Duff • Nathan Duke • Adam & Michelle Dunaway • Magnus Duncan • K.A. Dunk • Benjamin J. Dunn • David Dunn • Herman Duyker • Sebastian Dzierzek • Allison Bistline East • Brian Eckfeld • Erin Edenfield • Paul T. Edmunds • Eftichia • JLKM Eggleston • Todd V. Ehrenfels • Gary L. Ehret • Ashleah Elias • Bryan Elliott • Bryan Elstad • James Elwood • Matt Enberg • Daniel Ericsson • Joel Espina • Peter Evenson • Eric Evilsizor • Richard Eyres • Drake F. • fabfelis • Magdalena Fabrykowska-Mlotek • Victoria Fair • Shawn R. Fairweather • Anderson Family • Jason Fann • Lauren Faris • Nifer Fasman • Christopher M. Fay • Michael Fazio • Michael Fedrowitz • Carol Feeney • Alex Fell • Conner Ferguson • Joel Ferrando • Edward Ferry • Michael Ferslev • Guillaume Fillière • Richie Finn • Tony Fiorentino • Brian Fisher • John Fisher • Brooke Fishman • Margot Elizabeth Fivash • Ailsa Floyd • Kris & Dave Fly • Kenneth Kiffer Fong • Matt Forbeck • Gordon & Liza Forbes • Raymond W. Ford • Katherine Forrest • Monica Elida Forssell • Scott D. Forsyth • Jerome Foster • Scott Foster • Jessica Fox • Elizabeth Francois • Karen Francois • Mary Francois • David Frank • Scott Frederick • Brandon Frere • Phil & Sarah Freund • Frode • Eric Frost • Michael Frost • Fsd333 • Megan E. Funk • Danielle Furr • Yurii "Saodhar" Furtat • Victoriano Fuster • G & Y • Janina G. • Patrick G. • Denis Gagnon • Jerry Gaiser • Debra Gakeler • Eric Gallant • Brian Gaudet • Cody Gaudet • Ruben Gavilan • Kristen Nicole Gaydos • GCK • Bryan Geddes • Cara Milne Gee • Ivy Arshalouis Geer • Travis Gehling • Wilson Geiger • Courtney Getty • Chand Svare Ghei (chasvag.com) • Alexander Gifford • Jordi Gil • Cris Gilbert • Cullen "Towelman" Gilchrist • Greg Giles • Stephen Giordano • Adam Girardo • John Glen • Ray Leonard L. Go • Kriti Godey • Carman Godfrey • Kyle Goehner • Jozeph Goldenberg • Gonzo • Sonia Goursat • Carmen Brenner & Alex Graf • Robin Graf • David "Dai" Green • Gail Green • Nate Greenwood • Joshua Grey • Christopher Griffin • Lars Grimm • Brian A. Grismore • Nick Groenke • Gronk • Donald Guerette • Yolanda Gülcemal • Joshua Gulke • Andreas Gustafsson • Alex Guyot • Michael Guzzo • Jessie H. • Phillip H. • Evan Hage • Matthew Hageman • Justin Hagler • Matt Hahn • Daniel Haight • Halcyon • Jace Hall • Keith Hall • Nicole Hall • Teresa Hall • Hamdiggity • Karen Eich Hammer • Megh Hannon • Michael Hannon • Allycia Hansen • Clay Hanson • Jordan Harding • Steve Hardy • Ann J.M.S. Harlan • Danyel Harnden • Malcolm Harper • Philip Harris • Victoria R. Harris • Chad Harrison • Kyle William Harrison • Tim Harron • Anita Harsjoeen • Jacquie Hart • John G. Hartness • Justin Hase • Martin Hassett • David A. Hastings • Chris Haught • Jennifer & Brett Hawton • Melissa L. Hayden • Kenneth Hayes • The Haymakers • Greg Hays • Dan Heffron • Quad Heinicken • Sara Hemenway • Dean Henderson • Kevin Henderson • Yvonne E. Henderson • Meike Herpers • Nathan Hertz • Chadrick Hess • LJ Heydorn • Jordan Hibbits • Catherine Hickey • Sebastian Hidalgo • Sakari Hietanen • David Highsmith • John Hilde • Nick Hiltwein • V. Ho • Stephen Hobbs • Sally Hodges • Adam Hoffman • Carlissa Hoffman • Rob Holland • C. Holmes • Cheryl Holsonbake • Donnie Holsworth • Kara Holtzman • Brendan Hong • Jonathan Hopkins • Hopkins • Alysa Hornick • Thomas Houseman • Mary Anne Howard • Daphne Howell • Mathew Howell • Dawei Huang • Leo Huang • Michael Hudson • Jon Hughes • C. Marry Hultman • Matt Hurlburt • Mandy Huston • Joshua Huth • Ray Huth • Adrian Huzum • Dave Hyam • Jason Hymas • Ryan Igarashi • Benjamin Ihms • Nelson Embrey III • Marcus Ilgner • Mike Ingram • Askur Ingvaldsson • Jens Inhetpanhuis • Mandy Ioerger • Iris • Ciro Izarra • Melissa J. • Shanna J. • Gary Jacobson • Chris Janes • Sally Novak Janin • Chad Jarvis • JayFK • Browncoat Jayson • Andrew Jeffree • Daryl Jenkins • Jason Jennings • JMO • Kyle Jodrey • Tim Johns • Fred W. Johnson • H. Lynnea Johnson • Holden Johnson • Holly Johnson • Justin J. Johnson • Lynn Johnson • Rob Johnson • Adam Johnston • Emily Johnston • David Jones • Alfred Jonsson • Loretta Joslin • Simon Julian • Lizzie Jutila • Adrijan K. • Cyrus & Mira K. • Keith Kahan • Keith Kahla • Kaitlin • Greg Kajko • Tracy Kaplan • Kolby Kappes • Evan & Lily Karalash • Eli Karasik • Aviv Karni • Rob Karp • Kasmiur • Missy katano • Jeremy Kear • Laura Kehoe • Alan M. Kelleher • Nathan Kellen • Melissa Kelley • Stephen Kellie • Tabatha Kelliher • Matt Kelly • Hobie Kelting • Wade Kemper • Kent • Bill Kerney • Keys • Liz Kiewiet • Jason Kikola • Daren T. Killam • Luke Killam • Hannah Kim • Geoffrey King • Jay King • Shawn T. King • Sky King • Doug Kirkland • Rini Kirkpatrick • Cory Kitchens • James R. Kitney • Annika Kleine • Christian Klemm • Lisa Knipe • Matthew Koenen • Heiko Koenig • Jesse James Kofi • Andrew Konicki • Rob & Morgan Kostelnik • Filip "Denadareth" Koza • Emilia Kozłowska • Heather Kreft • Ray Krenek • Jeff Kriehn • Tanja Krone • Katrin Kropf • Caroline Kruger • Erik Krumholz • Ethan Kruse • KT • Tony Kuehn • Nick Kuhn • Ahmet "sweetmartin" Kurt • Ania Kwiecien • Mélanie LaBarre • Pat Lahar • Joann H. Lam • Max Lampinen • David Lamulle • Brad Landress • Jeremy Lange • Jenny Langley • Emily LaPlante • Nick LaPolla • Bjarte Larsen • Steve Larsen • Nicolas F. Laszkiewicz • T.G. Lawrence • Heather K. Leasor • Ben Leathley • Ryan Leduc • Nathan Lee • Björn Lefevre • Erynn Lehtonen • Michael Lenzo • Paul Leonard • Andrew Leong • Doug Less • Jay Leung • Henri LEVANTAL • Alex Lewis • Miranda Li • Melissa Liedtke • Bob Lienemann • Richard H. Lindhorst • Ken Lipinski • Adam Lipper • Darin & Dana Liston • Nate Little • Liz • Llamaentity • Brent Locey • Kim Long • Marc D. Long • Brent Longstaff • Julia Looney • Garrison Loope • Henry Lopez • Lordgoldneyes00 • Sean Louvel • Anthony Lowe • Kayla Lowes • Fred Lucci • Eric Luczaj • Zach & Tiera Lueth • Suzanne Lundeen • John Lupo • Duncan Lynch • Paul Lynch • Celia Lyons • Alain M. • Karen M. • D.W.S. MacKenzie • Jacob Magnusson • Mike Mahaffey • Lauren Maillet • Malnati • Travis Malone • Jamie Manley • Kenneth Mann • Joost Mans • Carrie Mansfield • Felix Maranzino • Jonathan Margulies • Neil Marr • Epper Marshall • Ivan Martens • Tobias Martens • Brett Martin • Dan Martin • Gail Z. Martin • John Martin • Isaac Martinez • Alan Mask • James G. Massa • Marcus Massiah • Rob Matheny • Marc T. Matoba • Chris Matosky • James Matson • Jeff Matsuya • Megan "M5" Matta • Tyson J. Mauermann • Elisabeth Maurer • Carolyn Maxey • Rick & Stephanie Maxwell-Terkeurst • Glenn May • David F. McCloskey • Michael McCunney • Allison McDonald • Linda McDonald • Mike McDonald • Kristen McDowell • Chris & Janel McGrath • Dominic McIntire • Ewan McIntyre • Kevin McKenzie • Pat McKernan • Scott D. McKinnie • Laurie J. McLean • Matthew McNally • Chris Meadows • Rob Meagher • Jed Mecham • Lisa Meehan • Ludwig Meert • Erika Meghan • Stephanie Meier • Erik Meissner • Melanie • Kate Mergener • Brandon Merrick • Adam Meservey • Charles R. Messenger • Darryl Miao • Miriam Michalak • Erin Midtsem • Kristy Mika • John Miles • Felicia M. Militti • Debbie Miller • Eric Miller • J. Lance Miller • Michael D. Miller • Sean Miller • Elizabeth Milne • Ian Milne • Christopher Miranda • William Miskovetz • Lisa Mitchell • Aleem Mohamed • M. Mohanna • M. Mohanna • Cassie Mohney • Russell Moll • Joe Molnar • Jess Monica • Mirko Montalbano • Kyndra Monterastelli • Keshnee Moodley • moonspender • R. L. Moreau • Victor Morgan • Valerie Morley • Vladimir Morozov • Patrick Morrison • Dawn McQueen Mortimer • Alysia Murphy • Ken Murrah • Louise Murray • Stephen Musselman • Rhel ná DecVandé • Emilie Nangle • Kartik Narayanan • Gerard Narendran • Stephen Nash • Kapi Neely • Kelvin Neely • Patrick Neff • Rachel Neff • John Nellis • Kate Nelson • Sharon Netherton • Sandy Nickell • Steven Nicoll • Peter J. Nierenberger • Tyler Nixon • Patrick Noffke • Jerry Nowell • Mark O'Brien • Mandy O'Flanagan • Devin T. O'Hara • Dan Oliveira • Kyle O'Mara • Tim O'Neill • Linda Opella • Troy Osgood • Kirsten Otting • Aymeric P. • Kaitlyn P. • Joshua Palmatier • David T. Palmer • Dawson Panter • Daryl Parat • Gareth Park • Lynn & Jason Parker • Adam Parkinson • Dino Paskvan • Dr Chirag A Patel • Russell Patrick • Roman Pauer • PaulCToF • Robert Pavel • Katie Pawlik • Micah Payson-Lewis • Joel Pearson • James Elliott Peeler • Pendalath • Amanda Pender • S. Pendleton • Patrick Perault • Scott Perry • Joseph Pestuglicci • Evan Petersen • Holger Petersenn • Max Pfeffer • Wolfram Pfeifer • Bonnie Phlieger • Kristina Pick • Dwight Pickering • Chris Pickle • Donna Pierson • Roddy Pimentel • Joseph Pisano • Pierson Pollock • Andrew L. Polvino • James Poppe • Al Porter • Bryce Potter • R.E. Powell • Paul & Evie Powers • Hattie Prenger • Chad Price • Jo Price • Michele Price • Marissa Priest • Angie Pugh • Mike Pugliese • Kristian Puskas • Luis Quinones • David Quist • Jana R. • Becca Rabin • Michael Rabin • Adrian Race • Christomir Rackov • Jessica Radrigan • Aengus Rae • Ragnarok Publications • Or Raifman • Brian Ralph • Hilde S. Ramberg • Michael Ramm • Evaristo Ramos Jr. • Chris Randall • Joe Rapier • Craig Rapp • Daniel Alec Ratica • DB Rattan • Dominic Ray • Chad Ream • Kelly Record • John Redepenning • Whitney & Adam Redmon • John Charles Rehn • Cody Reichenau • Don Reiter • Renée Relin • Mathew Reuther • Crystal Rhinehart • Gray Rhymer • Michael P. Riccoboni • Morgen Rich • Richard • RichardZ • Priyadarshi Rishiraj • Wes Rist • Joel Roath • Geoffrey Roberts • Gary Robertson • Scott Robertson • Rodeo • Lorenzo J. Rodriguez • Jeff Rogers • Eduardo Rojas • Dave Romero • Allison Rosa • Andrew Rose • Esther Rose • Joel Rosen • Zach Rosenberg • Todd L. Ross • Jason Rossiter • Andrew Rowe • Adrian Rudloff • JP Russell • William Russell • Adriane Hughes Ruzak • Christine Ryan • Joe Ryan • Casey S. • Gloria S. • Amelia Sainz • Betule Sairafi! • Stephen J. Salerno • Rebecca Salisbury • Shayne Sampson • Samson • Jason Sandau • Jon & Maureen Sandbom • Joseph J. Santelio • Amy Sarfinchan • Sasha • Courtney Schafer • Robert Schiemann • Joshua P. Schier • Marc Schifer • James Schmidt (mightythorjrs blog) • Jery Schober • Gertjan Scholten • Wil Schrader • Chris Schroeder • David R. Schur • Jeremy Scofield • Chris Scott • SDMaxwell • Sam Seah • Andrew Seal • Dan Secor • Keith Sell • Amy Sept • Seraphium • Warren Shackleton • Tory Shade • Sanaa Shaikh • Shane • Shanna • Shard73 • Mike & Emily Sharr • Denny Shea • Oliver R. Shead • Chase Shelby • Catherine Shenoy • Paul Sheppard • David Sherman Jr. • Stephenie Sheung • Shawn Shoemaker • Rachel Shook • Patti Short • Melissa Shumake • Bill Sides • Dave Siemback • Barbara Silcox • Silence in the Library Publishing • Daniel Simmons • Randy Simmons • Lainie Simpson • Sue Sims • David Simser • Max Singh • Sarah Sjoberg • Michael Skolnik • Anne Slama • Eric Slaney • Mykie Slattery • Sky Sloderbeck • Jake Small • Donnie Smith • Doug Smith • Emily Smith • Jeff Smith • Jordon Smith • Justin P. Smith • Mark Aaron Smith • Sarah Anne Smith • Scott Smith • Alicia Smyth • Amit Snand • Bruce Snell • Jenni Snow • Daniel Soler • Miroslav Sommer • Joshua Paul Sommers • Mathew Sonier • Jen Spangrud • Wes Spence • Paul Spicer • Thoma W. Spinrad • Matthew Spooner • Andrew Sprow • John Squire • Dorothée Stadler • Shannon Staff • Megan Stamates • Nolan Stamm • Deanna Stanley • Garren Stanley • StantheMighty • Sarah Stein • Tom Steinberger • LIz Steinworth • Byron Stephan • James B. Stepp Jr. • Natalie A. Sterling • Douglas Stetson • Walter M. Steverson • Dan Stewart • Debra Stewart • Joshua Stingl • Melicent Stossel • Tim Stotter • Dan & Denise Stratton • Noah Kent Sturdevant • Sreevidya Subramanian • Kevin Sullivan • Nicholas Jared Sullivan • Scott Sullivan • Ben Summers • Sara Sunderland • Samantha Suvak • Magnar Sveen • Rebecca Swanger • Kyle Swank • Richard Swann • Jay Swanson • Laurie Swensen • Jenny Swerbensky • Saad Syed • Richard Symonds • Matt Sywenky • Carol Szpara • Mike Szucs • Giancarlo T. • Raghu T. • Sara T. • Ann-Karin T. L. • Alex Tabor • Kristin Taggart • R. Patrick Taggesell • Tahseen • Katarina Takahashi • Thomas J. Talamini • Riki Tanone • Marc Tassin • Andrea Tatjana • Andromeda Taylor • Houston Taylor • Ayman Teaman • Craig Tenhoff • Ann-Kjersti Tennes • terpkristin • Eric Terrell • Danielle Terry • Quinn Thacker • Allison M. Thaemlitz • thedave • Chris Theibault • Thile • Justin Thomas • Tyler Thomas • Thomas the Bear • Aiken Thompson • Brian Thompson • Max Thompson • Tony A. Thompson • Vicky Thompson • Eric Thorn • Kaitlin Thorsen • Jason Tilling • Karen Tinnesand • Gina Tisell • Toby • Will Todd • Aser Tolentino • Susie Toman • Annamarie Tontz • Rebecca Tordoff • Matt Tornetta • Faith Townsend • Jeffrey Trainer • Patti Trant • Shawna J. Traver • Erica Trevino • Wayne Tripp • Lori Trisler • Daniel Troska • Uli Troyo • Christo Tsilifis • Paul Turkstra • Alex Turner • Nathan Turner • tycens • Mitchell Tyler • Mikko Tyrväinen • ub3r_n3rd • Sam Ukudni • Vamsi • Miguel Van de Casteele • Wendy van Ipkens • John Van Vliet • Gary Vandegrift • Vanity • Jeffrey Vanneste • Vbroskas • Velvetrose • Ve'R • Philip Vernersson • James R. Vernon • Simon Viccars • Noah Vick • Vikingstad • Alma Vilić • Bruce Villas • vinced57 • Rosie Vincent • Bryce Vollmer • Rhea Votipka • Bjorn Vrancken • Kayla Wagner • Randal Wagner • Holly L. Walsh • David Wannemueller • Phil Ward • Alan Warenski • Simon Warshal • Andrew Warwick • Kenta Washington • Michael Wasserman • Nick Watkins • Angie Watson • William T. Watson • Wayne • Cindi Weatherington • Brian Webb • Kevyn Weiner • Seth Weissman • Jason Vortex Wells • Sharon Kazren Wells • Keith West • Z. Scott West • Robert Westgate • Bryan White • Leah White • Noah J. whitley • Adam E. Whitmore • Penny Wildman • Karen Wilkins • Poul Williams • Michael Allen Williamson • Rachel Kaleonani Williamson • Jack Willis • Keith W. Willis • Stuart Wilson • The Witzels • Wognum • Wesley Womack • Tiffany R. Woo • WooPigFoodie • Michael Workman • wraith808 • Joel Wright • Wyldedoggue • Stacey Wyman • CW Yantis • V.A. Yeung • Benjamin Charles York • Tony Zahler • Rob Zak • Leonardo Zaraya • Zareepa • Alex Ziebart • Paul Timotheus Zimmert • Toby Zitsman • Anete Zoo • Joseph Zurat

Authors Helping Publishers...Fiction Vortex

Yeah, I know I usually use the weekends for my Authors Helping Authors segments, but I came across a  publishing company that is helping to expand serialized fiction and maybe by helping them, I'll be helping authors. After all, the more venues to get work out there, the better. I'm talking about:

It's a storytelling platform that is evolving how writers deliver content to readers. They create and distribute stories as serials with episodes created in collaborative story worlds called "serial boxes" Each box will contain several serials from different authors (about 10 each). Readers will receive new stories weekly.

They are focusing on stories of science fiction and fantasy.  Right now Fiction Vortex is running a Kickstarter. I just backed it and if you think it might be interesting to you, give it a look see.

Release date set for Age of Myth (Book #1 of The First Empire)

I have news from my editor at Del Rey and I wanted to share it all with you.

First, a release date has been selected. The book will be coming out June 28th 2016!  If you are excited (and I know you are), and you have a goodreads account, please consider voting for it on the various lists it's been added to:

• Hurry Up and Release It!!! (currently 52 of 561 books)
• 2016 Highly Anticipated Fantasy  (currently 2 of 26 books)
• Can't Wait Sci-Fi/Fantasy of 2016 (currently 11 of 44 books)
• Forthcoming Books (currently 80 of 487 books)
• New Series (2016) (currently 4 of 28 books)
• Best Fantasy Books Under the Radar  (currently 149 of 1,198 books)
• Prequels (8 of 71 books)
• Hugo 2016 Eligible Works (91 of 130 books)
• Best Picks: Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Novels of 2016 (11 of 38)

Also, if you know of any other lists that it would be eligible for, then please let me know.

Second, movement is progressing on the covers. Tricia (my editor) and the Art Director (David Stevenson) have had several meetings regarding the cover of the book. I'm pleased to say Del Rey has been very receptive to feedback from Robin and myself and we are "on the same page" as to look and feel.

Robin put together a massive undertaking, over 30 pages talking about our covers past, present, and future. It even mentioned the names of a few artists we would like to work with. It's my understanding that an artist has been picked, and it was one of our top choices. I don't want to reveal the name just yet...waiting for confirmation from the art director before I make an "official" announcement, but as soon as I can say, I will.

For those who might not be familiar with this new project, it's a five-book series that is already written. Del Rey has signed the first three books in this series (and a yet to be named book in the world of Elan). Audiobook rights are also sold, and will be released simultaneously with the hardcover and ebook.

Here's the current "back of the book blurb."

---

What does it mean if the gods can be killed?

In the land of the Rhune, trees can tell the future; raow can’t sleep before adding more human bones to their beds; crimbals steal children through secret doors in the forest, and the gods are beyond reproach. But Raithe does the unthinkable when his father is slain…he fights back. From this act of aggression rises the legend of the God Killer, the seeds of rebellion, and the question of whether the Fhrey are truly gods, after all.

Before the Dark Ages, there was the age of Myth and Legend. Before kings and castles, there were mystics and heroes. Before Riyria, mankind lived in the shadow of the Fhrey, but that is about to change. Discover a new world by Michael J. Sullivan, the best-selling author of The Riyria Revelations and The Riyria Chronicles.

The First Empire is a standalone series, and all five books were written before the first one was published. While set in the same world as the Riyria books, it takes place thousands of years in the past. As such, no prior knowledge is required to enjoy the books to their fullest. For those who have read Riyria, you’ll discover certain details about Elan’s past weren't entirely accurate—the difference between myth and reality. Now you can learn the true story of how Novron saved mankind from extinction and founded the First Empire alongside Persephone, the love of his life.

Books in the First Empire include: Age of Myth | Age of  Swords | Age of War | Age of Legends | Age of Empire

The 51 Best Fantasy Series Ever Written

A reader of mine pointed me to this list compiled on BuzzFeed. I think it's a pretty good representation of the genre, and I even found some series that I didn't know about that I want to check out. Of course it goes without saying I'm honored to be included on the list. Thanks to Esther Rose for letting me know about it.

1. The Kingkiller Chronicles by Patrick Rothfuss
2. The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson
3. A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin
4. The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
5. The Lightbringer series by Brent Weeks
6. 6. His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman
7. Discworld by Terry Pratchet
8. The First Law by Joe Abercrombie 
9. The Sword of Shannara Trilogy by Terry Brooks 
10. Demon Cycle by Peter V. Brett 
11. The Riddle-Master Trilogy by Patricia A. McKillip 
12. Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson 
13. Gentlemen Bastard Sequence by Scott Lynch
14. The Inheritance Trilogy by N.K. Jemisin
15. Liveship Traders Trilogy by Robin Hobb 
16. The Harry Potter books by J.K. Rowling 
17. The Sword of Truth by Terry Goodkind 
18. The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis 
19. The Earthsea Cycle by Ursula K. LeGuin 
20. The Fionavar Tapestry by Guy Gavriel Kay 
21. Raven’s Shadow by Anthony Ryan 
22. The Broken Empire series by Mark Lawrence 
23. A Land Fit For Heroes by Richard K. Morgan 
24. Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon 
25. The Wheel Of Time by Robert Jordan 
26. Malazan Book Of The Fallen by Steven Erikson 
27. The Black Company by Glen Cook 
28. Elemental Logic by Laurie J. Marks 
29. The Chronicles Of Amber by Roger Zelazny 
30. The Avalon Series by Marion Zimmer Bradley 
31. The Merlin Quintet by Mary Stewart 
32. The Dark Elf Trilogy by R.A. Salvatore 
33. The Elric Saga by Michael Moorcock 
34. Redwall by Brian Jacques 
35. Temeraire by Naomi Novik 
36. Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini 
37. The Riyria Revelations by Michael J. Sullivan 
38. Prince Of Nothing by R. Scott Bakker 
39. Dragonlance by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman 
40. The Chronicles Of Thomas Covenant by Stephen R. Donaldson 
41. The Powder Mage Trilogy by Brian McClellan 
42. The Once And Future King by T.H. White 
43. The Bartimaeus Sequence by Jonathan Stroud 
44. The Gormenghast Series by Mervyn Peake 
45. The Abhorsen Trilogy by Garth Nix 
46. The Dark Is Rising Sequence by Susan Cooper 
47. The Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb 
48. The Traitor Son Cycle by Miles Cameron 
49. Dreamblood by N.K. Jemisin 
50. The Riftwar Cycle by Raymond E. Feist 
51. The Magicians Trilogy by Lev Grossman

A reminder about today's online seminar about Goodreads...

Just wanted to remind everyone that I'll be doing an online Seminar on how to use Goodreads to further your writing career at 1:00 pm today (EDT). If you can't make it at 1:00 and think you might benefit from the class, sign up anyway. You'll get full access to it. The only thing you'll miss out on is the ability to answer questions, but if you email them to me afterward, I'll be more than willing to answer them privately.

Here are the particulars:

• What: Goodreads: The Venue That Can Make Your Writing Career
• When: Tuesday, August 18, 2015 from 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m EDT
• Where: Online - sign up here
• Who: Presented by Michael and Robin Sullivan
• Cost: $79.99

I should note that while the stop time is 2:30, I'll remain available until all questions are answered so there will be plenty of time for Q&A.

Full details can be found at the link, but here are some highlights:

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:

• How to build your Goodreads author page for maximum effectiveness
• How to utilize Goodreads pre-release to generate “book buzz”
• How to maximize the Goodreads' feeds to get your books noticed
• Avoid pitfalls when interacting in groups that can get you banned (or worse)
• How to build a Goodreads giveaway that stands out from the crowd
• How to build “rabid” fans that spread the news of your book far and wide
• How to utilize “fringe features” of the site to get even more exposure
• How to adjust your strategies as your audience grows

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

• Writers who want to foster word-of-mouth viral marketing
• Writers who have finished books or will be launching a title in the future
• Writers who aren't currently utilizing Goodreads
• Writers who have tried to use Goodreads but became confused or overwhelmed
• Writers who want to maximize results while minimizing time spent online
• Writers at all levels of their career who want to build a rapid fan base
• Writers who want to avoid pitfalls that have given some authors bad reputations with readers

I hope you'll check it out. I really think this is an amazing opportunity. I hope to see you there.

Mile Marker Nine

The oddly empty corridor outside the exhibition hall at GenCon 2015

Long time readers of this blog will know that I keep a note of various indicators that would let me know when I’ve “made it,” or when I can consider myself a “real author.” Those relatively new here, those who foolishly think I am An Author, might find this silly, but trust me, this is a thing. 

Every aspiring writer looks for signs that they’ve made it. Everyone likes to believe in the fairytale that there is a definitive point. As Neil Gaiman once put it: that night when he and Stephen King and J.K. Rowling show up at your door in hooded cloaks and hand you the scroll that reads: You are now an author, and give you the key to the secret author’s club. As much as I’d love for this to be true, it isn’t. There’s no finish-line, no diploma, no standard to look for. You’d think there was but the problem stems from a moving viewpoint. When you’re eight, your sixteen-year-old brother, who can drive, is a grown-up. But when you get your license you don’t feel grown up. You look at your older sister and realize she’s a grown-up by virtue of being able to drink and vote. She however doesn’t feel grown up. She’s still living at home, still going to college, hasn’t traveled, hasn’t married, doesn’t have children, and…you see my point? The reality is often that the “real” is that which is one level ahead of you. The same is true for being an author. Just writing a book doesn’t cut it. Publishing that book doesn’t either. Even selling it to a major publisher doesn’t; there are a lot of authors published through big houses whose first book fails to sell and their career pretty much stops. One failed book does not make a body feel like an author.

Granted I’ve finally reached the point where I do find the “real author” label no longer feels too big for me to wear. Mostly this is because I pay my bills with my books. Still this is as personal as growing pubic hair. I know I passed a milestone, but no one else does. Given that so much of identity is perceived through the mirror of other’s eyes, it is this reflection that individuals seek—that they require—before they can affirm what they suspect, what they believe, what they hope is true. 

My dream goal is seeing someone reading my book in the wild. Given very few of the big names have even had this pleasure, I’m not holding out hope. The closest I got was a friend of mine seeing someone and taking a picture to prove it. I still search for indicators of outside acceptance beyond that of sales to give me a sense of how readers perceive my work. For the final assessment of all things comes down to them. 

As the odds of meeting a reader in the wild are slim, I don’t see many (any) blips on that radar. The sheer saturation levels at conventions improve the odds, but traditionally these have been exercises in humility. In the early part of my career, I went to several and the experiences were not positive. Even after publishing through Orbit I would sit for signings—just me and my placard, clicking my lonely pen. No one asked for my signature. This experience is about as much fun as reading the one-star reviews of my books, only more public. 

Then in 2012, at Balticon, I had a reader pick me out the crowd and ask to shake my hand. His was quivering. Assuming he didn’t suffer cerebral palsy, this marked the first time I had encountered a fan—a fan who clearly thought far too much of me. 

In 2013 at ConnetiCon where I was a guest of honor (alongside Brandon Sanderson), I had a “handler” to keep the crowds away. They were concerned I might be trampled, or that the throngs of fanatics would tear at my clothes or fight over my discarded plastic cup. Clearly they had no idea. Still, they set me up with a solo event for me to speak about my books. A surprisingly large crowd of ten people came. Eight knew who I was. Six had read me. This was astounding—a massive achievement that left me grinning. (I’m not being sarcastic—I’m very serious. This was great.) 

Half a dozen readers remained the record for the most in one place at the same time. 

GenCon 2015 changed that. 

The odyssey began with a drive through windmill farms to Indianapolis. Despite having been born and raised in Detroit, I’d never set foot, or wheel, in Indiana. Aside from the windmills—giant white waving monoliths that extended like the front line of a giant army all the way to the horizon—the only other thing of note I spotted on the freeway were cars with rear windows painted with the slogan: “GenCon or Bust.”  This, I made an educated guess, would be bigger than Balticon.

The Road to Con

For those who don’t know (all six of you) conventions are the inventions of fans of things. Cons are places where likeminded individuals gather to share their love of whatever that thing might be. There are conventions for comics, genre movies and films, speculative fiction. Some are as specific as fans of the Twilight book series,  and as broad as all things “awesome.” 

GenCon is a gaming convention. It is in fact the largest table-top convention in North America. Established in 1968 by Gary Gygax the creator of Dungeons and Dragons, it could be considered “the” gaming convention. The name is a bit odd though. Is it short for Generic Con? Generation Con? Genetics Con?  Actually the name is short for Geneva Convention. Yeah, I know, odd right? Why not GamerCon? Apparently it started at Lake Geneva in Wisconsin. Go figure. 

Billed as the best four days in gaming, it is indeed game-centric, and huge. The exhibition halls are massive airplane hanger types of spaces filled wall to wall with gaming paraphernalia. I was there because GenCon also sports a quality writer’s symposium. This is something they can manage handily as a large number of American authors live in the monetarily-friendly midwest that allow them the dream of going full time. Either that or there’s just something in the corn.

World Building Panel featuring: Howard Andrew Jones, (to my left) and Scott Lynch (to his)

The usual faces were there. Wesley Chu, Brad Beaulieu, Brian McCellen, Sam Sykes, Scott Lynch, Elizabeth Bear, and Django Wexler. I was on a few generic panels where I tried to appear knowledgeable and charismatic. At the end of one about Branding Yourself, two people approached me. I assumed they had questions as people often do, asking things such as, “What was that website you mentioned?” Only these two were smiling too much. 

The first guy stumbled over his words. “I’m a—I’m a huge fan.” He struggled to pull a book out of his backpack. Theft of Swords. I fought the urge to kiss him. 

There was a woman at his side. I assumed she was the doting wife or girl friend patiently letting him do his nerd thing with the nerd author, which she would later parley into a romantic dinner where he would need to wear a tie. He gushed, and I worked hard at acting cool as I signed the book to Evan. When there was a lull I smiled at the woman thinking Evan would take that moment to introduce her. He didn’t. 

An awkward silence.

Evan? Dude? 

“I’m a big fan too,” the woman blurted out. 

They aren’t together? 

I couldn’t imagine that two readers of mine could be in the same place independent of each other. 

They didn’t come to this panel to learn about branding—they came to see me?

Whoa.

I talked to them for ten minutes like I was on a speed date with a supermodel who seemed in to me. 

“Thanks so much for taking the time to talk to us,” Evan said. 

This one sentence stayed with me all weekend. Thanks for taking the time to talk with us, as if I had better things to do. Maybe they thought I was this close to finding a cure for cancer. More likely they suspected I had another panel to be at, or more important folks to chat-up. I wanted to explain that if all the heads of state, the world’s greatest minds, and most famous people were gathering in that hall, I wouldn’t notice anyone else but them. These two were the equivalent of a pair of unicorns and I had found them.

My wife came over laughing. “I was in the other room,” she told me with this expression of giddy disbelief, “And this woman looked at me and pointed at my shirt.” She was wearing a Riyria T-shirt. “And she said, ‘Oh! I love him. I’m so going to be stalking him this weekend.’ I was certain she had you mixed up with someone else. So I said to her, ‘Michael J. Sullivan?’ and she nodded.” My wife looked as shocked as I was. This doesn’t happen. Ever. 

I had lunch with Django Wexler, and after he left two more readers found and joined us. We chatted with them for more than an hour having a great time discussing all things Riyria and Hollow World (Which they loved despite the protagonist being fifty-eight year old man, and they being young women and not exactly the expected target audience.) 

Another reader wanted to take us to dinner after that. 

Then Robin and I were sitting in the lobby of the hotel next to the convention when a husband and wife approached and asked if they were intruding. We assumed they were asking if the other nearby seats were taken, but no—they were readers. They had recognized me and were excited to tell me how much they enjoyed my books. This was getting weird. Great, but weird. I asked them to sit down. They appeared shocked, but eagerly joined us so they could burden me with how much they loved my work. 

I’d like to say I was mobbed at GenCon. I’d like to report that people fished my discarded coffee cup out of the trash bin and gingerly sealed it in a ziplock bag, but that didn’t happen. What did happen was that I was approached by a new record high of nine unrelated fans. Nine.

Other things happened at the convention. 

I really don’t remember them.

But I remember: Evan, Quinn, Zoe, Alexi, Holly, Kate, Kris, Eric, and Beth. 

Thanks for making me feel like a real author.

Last chance to participate in the Death of Dulgath Kickstarter

Yes, the Kickstarter ended on July 16th, but that doesn't mean people aren't still joining the party. In fact, we've had 53 more people join the ranks since it's end on July 16th. But the window is closing, and I can't believe I hadn't blogged about it before, so let me take just a minute to explain.

I'm using Backer Kit to help with fulfillment, and one of the things it provides for is the ability to purchase add-on merchandise like posters, t-shirts and tote bags.  But in order to have these things created I have to "lockdown" Backer Kit so I have numbers to give to the various companies doing the printing.  So, this is how it works.

1. Using my special Death of Dulgath store, you can chose a reward level and use Paypal for it's purchase.
   
2. Robin (my wife and the logistics guru) sets you up an account in Backer Kit.
   
3. You go into Backer Kit and answer the survey that provides the "bonus" stuff that is available ONLY to Kickstarter members. Things like having your name in the acknowledgements, getting signed posters and bookmarks, and entering into a number of giveaways exclusive for those who backed the project.
   
4. If you want any of the "add-ons" you can add them to a cart in Backer Kit and pay for them from their store.

Once you are in BackerKit, it's as if you joined through Kickstarer, even better as I don't have to pay the Kickstarer fees ;-)

So what are some of the things available in as add-ons?  Well you can see them all, along with the prices for each from this link.

Here's a peak.

Online Seminar on Goodreads Through Writer's Digest Univesity

I've long said that one of the keys to my success regarding marketing my works was figuring out the best way to utilize Goodreads. A site dedicated to reading is an obvious place to get your work known, but most authors I've talked to find it difficult because there is so much to do there. It also doesn't help that there are pitfalls that many stumble into which can hurt rather than help interactions at that site.

To try and educate writers on this important venue, I and Robin have done a number of things:

• Written an article for Writer's Digest Magazine (Feb 2015)
• Presented a seminar at the 2015 Writer's Digest  Annual  Conference in New York City
• Presented at last week's GenCon in Indianapolis Indiana
• Presented at Arlington's Central Library in the Metro Washington DC area

These have gone over extremely well but there have been issues. The article, which while great, can only scratch the surface.  The seminars have required travel and event fees that has put the seminar out of reach of a lot of writers.

Well, I've teamed up with Writer's Digest to do an online course to help that and try to get the information out to a wider audience. While I suggest you join the seminar live (so you can answer questions), Writer's Digest does usually record the sessions and makes them available after the fact if timing doesn't work for you.  Also, when you attend live, you'll have access to re-watch the session as often as you like.

Here are the particulars:

• What: Goodreads: The Venue That Can Make Your Writing Career
• When: Tuesday, August 18, 2015 from 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m EDT
• Where: Online - sign up here
• Who: Presented by Michael and Robin Sullivan
• Cost: $79.99

I should note that while the stop time is 2:30, I'll remain available until all questions are answered so there will be plenty of time for Q&A.

Full details can be found at the link, but here are some highlights:

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:

• How to build your Goodreads author page for maximum effectiveness
• How to utilize Goodreads pre-release to generate “book buzz”
• How to maximize the Goodreads' feeds to get your books noticed
• Avoid pitfalls when interacting in groups that can get you banned (or worse)
• How to build a Goodreads giveaway that stands out from the crowd
• How to build “rabid” fans that spread the news of your book far and wide
• How to utilize “fringe features” of the site to get even more exposure
• How to adjust your strategies as your audience grows

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

• Writers who want to foster word-of-mouth viral marketing
• Writers who have finished books or will be launching a title in the future
• Writers who aren't currently utilizing Goodreads
• Writers who have tried to use Goodreads but became confused or overwhelmed
• Writers who want to maximize results while minimizing time spent online
• Writers at all levels of their career who want to build a rapid fan base
• Writers who want to avoid pitfalls that have given some authors bad reputations with readers

I hope you'll check it out. I really think this is an amazing opportunity. I hope to see you there.

Regarding the Death of Dulgath Beta

Hey all, Robin here, taking over Michael's blog again.  It's 3:26 AM and I've finally got the beta tester notifications completed.  

Competition for this beta was fierce. We had more than 970 people answer one of the two surveys, and after removing duplicates and accounting for people who had scheduling conflicts, I had to select from 890 applicants. It was hard turning people down, so I’m running my largest beta ever…55 participants!! Still, even with that large number, it means I could only accommodate 6% of all people who applied. 

Everyone who answered the survey (and who didn't bow out because of conflicts) has been notified. To process so many notifications I had to use Mail Chimp for some of them. Having used this tool in the past, I know it's not uncommon for the message to go to a spam folder, or for those that use gmail, the promotions folder.

So, the best thing to do is to check your email for a message with the following characteristics:

• From: riyria.beta@gmail.com
• Subject: Notification regarding The Death of Dulgath Beta

If you look around and can't find your notification, feel free to send an email to riyria.beta@gmail.com and I'll look you up to see which list you are on.

As for the delivery of the manuscript. I'm still on schedule for August 17th.

A little late on beta reader notifications

We (Robin an I) are on the road (traveling back from Gencon). This has put her behind on selecting (and notifying) beta readers. So, don't be freaked if you've not been notified yet...because no one has. She is hoping to be able to get them out later today, but if not...don't worry - I'll be posting when they are available.