Indie Author Documentary Premier

 Yesterday was the premier of Indie Author: A documentary for all those who dare to dream.

This is a project that started several years a go when filmmaker Adam Grady approached myself and Robin because he wanted to do a documentary about us and our lives. We laughed and told him he was nuts. Then we explained that no one would be interested in such a thing.  After our initial phone call, I thought we had adequately dissuaded him. But like a bad penny he kept coming back.  We were impressed my his persistence, but still questioned his sanity. His passion for making a documentary was unmistakable, and we have a soft spot for creative people trying to live their dream.

So finally, Robin came up with a compromise: "While I don't think anyone will be interested in a movie about us, they might be interested in one about the "Indie Author" movement.  I can reach out to some friends of mine, and maybe something with that expanded reach "might" be worth doing.

So back in October of 2023 a Kickstarter was launched - and fully funded!  So Adam and his director of photography, Dustin Wood started filming. Much of it was done at our house in Virginia (and "the shop" - a converted church which serves as our warehouse), but he also traveled to Ontario Canada, Orlando Florida, Chicago Illinois, and a few other locations.

Yesterday the 90-minute film was premiered right here in Luray VA.  People flew from all over North America: Alberta, Philadelphia, Portland Oregon, New Hampshire, Texas, Boston, Orlando, too many people and places for me to remember. 

To be honest, I didn't know what to expect. More than 70 hours of "ramblings" was somehow cut down to 90 minutes of independent authors explaining their trials, tribulations, just how hard the business of writing is, and ultimately how they succeeded. It's an inspirational tale great for anyone who dares to dream and a must-watch for those seeking to tell their own tales through the written word.

Here is a list of some of the authors who were featured:

• Andy Wier, author of The Martian and Hail Mary
• Travis Baldree - audiobook narrator and author of Legends and Lattes 
• Will Wight - author of the Cradle Series 
• Michael J. Sullivan - some nobody whose written a fair number of fantasy books
• Bryce O' Conner - founder of Wraithmarked Creative and author of The Mark of Kings
• A.C. Cobble - author of Benjamin Ashwood, Cartographer, King’s Ranger, Wahrheit and founder of Merrick Books
• M.L. Wang - author of Moon over Bright Haven and The Sword of Kaigen
• Emilie "delemhach" Nikota - author of cozy fantasy including the House Witch and the Burning Witch
• Lorian Ellis - Michael's protege and author of the soon to be released Out of the Ashes
• Lidia Sherrer, author of Love, Lies, and Hocus Pocus

Right now, the movie has been submitted to a number of film festivals, and if it's accepted to any of them, then it might open the doors to wide distribution. But if you missed the Kickstarter, and now are "kicking yourself" you can late-back the digital version of the movie for just $25.

But wait, there's more.

As a bonus to the Kickstarter, Adam also filmed and produced Elan Unveiled: A behind the look interview with Robin and Michael Sullivan.  Since this isn't being "shopped" around in  the film festival market,  this 70-minute feature can be widely distributed. You can pick up a copy for $15 from here.

Even though this project was Kickstarted, costs were greater than expected, and Adam isn't yet, in the black. All the funds raised by the links above will go directly to him in the hope that we'll "make him whole" through "late backer support."  

But the best part of the premier was seeing Robin as the "bell of the ball." Fans fawned over her and expressed their appreciation for all she does. As we took pictures with each of the people who came, the running gag was that everyone wanted to be next to Robin.

The after party was a huge success. Rain thretened all day and a downpour happened just as we were driving form the theater to our place. But it let up and we had a gathering around the pool with drinks, food, and great conversations.  The last of the people cleared out around 11:00 pm, and as such I woke up very late today.  All in all, it will be a day to remember!

Nolyn is free as part of the Warriors Fantasy Book Fair

I've not been on facebook in years, but recently I started to get back into it because we have so much going on.  In one of the indie fantasy groups, there was a free book giveaway going on so I enrolled Nolyn in it.  So for the next 20 days or so, you can download Nolyn for free, and pick up some titles from other indie authors that you might want to check out.

To get the book(s) just click here.  Sale ends July 31st.

Age of Swords On Sale! - 15,865 ratings - 4.7 average

For those who are new to the Legends of the First Empire audiobooks, I hope you caught the Daily Deal for Book #1 (Age of Myth) last month.  If you did, then you are perfectly setup to get book #2 (Age of Swords) which is part of the July monthly deals on Audible.com.

It's just $7.99 which is 43% of the price of a credit, and 80% off it's list price.  I hope you nab a copy.Oh, and here's some information from the book's description:

The gods have been proven to be mortal
and new heroes will arise.

The gods have been proven mortal and new heroes will arise as the battle continues in the sequel to Age of Myth—a USA Today bestseller from the author of the Riyria Revelations and Riyria Chronicles series.

In Age of Myth, fantasy master Michael J. Sullivan launched audiences on an epic journey of magic and adventure, heroism and betrayal, love and loss. Now the thrilling saga continues as the human uprising is threatened by powerful enemies from without—and bitter rivalries within.

Raithe, the God Killer, may have started the rebellion by killing a Fhrey, but deep-rooted enmities dividing the Rhunes make it all but impossible to unite against the common foe. And even if the clans can join forces, how will they defeat an enemy whose magical prowess renders them indistinguishable from gods?

The answer lies across the sea in a faraway land populated by a reclusive and dour race who feel nothing but disdain for both Fhrey and mankind. With time running out, Persephone leads the gifted young seer Suri, the Fhrey sorceress Arion, and a small band of misfits in a desperate search for aid—a quest that will take them into the darkest depths of Elan. There, an ancient adversary waits, as fearsome as it is deadly.

Don't miss any of Michael J. Sullivan's Legends of the First Empire novels: Age of Myth, Age of Swords, Age of War, Age of Legend, Age of Death, Age of Empyre

At long last!

At long, long last the Regular and Deluxe hardcovers of Riyria Chronicles (#1 - #4)  have left the printer! They d are on their way to the shipyard.  The boat will be fully loaded and setting sail on July 6th, and is scheduled to arrive in Baltimore on August 14th.  It will take a few days to unload the ship, pass through customs, and then be shipped to us so I think we "might" have books as early as August 22nd.

Here is what's coming

• 18 pallets of books with 640 cartons
• 10,240 books & 1,728 slipcases
• 6,496 deluxe editions & 3,744 regular editions

One of the things that I love about this particular printer is just how well they package up the books.  Their cartons are extra thick, and inside is waterproof bags that the books sit in. The pallets are solid wood and strapped down tight such that nothing will shift during the journey an the whole pallet is wrapped in stretch wrap.  If this shipment is the same as the others we recieved, when we open this container up again, nothing will have shifted at all.

In other news, I have some a separate shipment of books coming to me via FedEx so we can determine weights and the size of boxes to order for shipping.  For those who aren't familiar with this project, here's the covers of the books:

And if you missed the Kickstarter, you can pre-order them from our online store.

It's all very exciting.