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#1
10-03-2018, 12:45 PM
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Presenting my third novel, sci-fi thriller "Spindown"
So I just published my third novel, and I'd like to tell the Dope about it. I posted about my first two here in Cafe Society, so I'm assuming that it's still okay to do so. It's available as an ebook right now; if it somehow becomes a hit, I'll make a paperback version.
It's called "Spindown", and it's a murder-mystery/thriller in space. Here's the back cover blurb (ebooks don't have back covers, but you get the idea): Quote:
I'm selling it in two forms -- the entire book on various online retailers (Amazon, Kobo, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, and possibly a few others), and serially, broken up into Parts One through Five, with Part One free to download (at Smashwords, B&N, Kobo, and a few others, but sadly Amazon does not allow me to upload a free ebook). Smashwords offers both in multiple formats. Neither of my previous books sold particularly well, but it was still fun to write them and get feedback on them. I'm confident this is my best book by far. For one thing, it's not derivative in any way -- my first two were either inspired by or satirizing George R. R. Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire". This one is an entirely original setting and story. This is also my first sci-fi novel -- the other two are fantasy. And finally, this was the most extensively edited, and the only book on which I worked with a professional editor. I did submit to publishers and literary agents for over a year, with a lot of nibbles, a bit of serious interest, but ultimately no takers, unfortunately, so I decided to self publish again. I hope folks will give the links above a look -- and I'll encourage sci-fi fans who don't want to shell out money to give the free Part One a try. If you'd like to read it but can't obtain it at any of the links above for whatever reason, please let me know and I'll find some way to get the book to you. Thanks for reading! |
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#2
10-03-2018, 12:56 PM
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Heh. Funny to see this right under the "Are "Free E-Books" sites just portals for self-published drivel?" thread.
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#3
10-03-2018, 01:25 PM
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Congratulations!
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#4
10-03-2018, 01:52 PM
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Congrats! You're on my list of books to read but I'm waaaaay behind on that. |
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#5
10-03-2018, 03:26 PM
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Quote:
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#6
10-03-2018, 03:42 PM
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I did the thing! It's on my Kindle.
 I'm glad you got the cover and the professional copy editor. It makes a huge difference. I'll be checking out a few of guanolad's books too. (Books that he covered, I mean.) Those are some spiffy covers! |
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#7
10-03-2018, 04:54 PM
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Sold.
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#8
10-03-2018, 06:59 PM
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[Moderating]
Since this is basically selling something of yours, it doesn't belong anywhere outside of the Marketplace forum. But since you're a paying member, and so could have started it there, and because I'm in a good mood, I'll just move it over there instead of closing it. |
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#9
10-03-2018, 08:51 PM
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Quote:
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As an aside, I'm sad that my thread got moved to Marketplace. 
Last edited by iiandyiiii; 10-03-2018 at 08:52 PM. |
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#10
10-06-2018, 10:23 AM
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I also posted Part One on Medium: https://medium.com/@iiandyiiii/spind...e-eb17d05dac12
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#11
10-06-2018, 10:32 AM
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#12
10-06-2018, 03:23 PM
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Sounds good so I took a look but sadly not available on Amazon UK
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#13
10-06-2018, 03:33 PM
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https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/898019 https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/895991 If this still doesn't work for you, PM me what format you'd like and your email address and I'll email you a copy of Part One. EDIT: Here is the Amazon UK link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07HVWCFFJ Last edited by iiandyiiii; 10-06-2018 at 03:34 PM. |
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#14
10-14-2018, 07:03 PM
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Andy, wow! That was a really good book, it hooked me fast and I couldn’t put it down.
And I’m not just saying that. There’s a reason I didn’t post about buying it before I read it. Because I’ve had friends that self-published books that I couldn’t get through. Frequently. In which case I would’ve just not posted anything. I decided to try it because I do like sci-fi books set on colony/generation spaceships, but a lot of those lose me especially when they go military. I certainly didn’t expect to be up until 3AM because I couldn’t put it down. I’d love to read a sequel, maybe one set on on Samwise. ( hint hint ) Now I’m not much of a book reviewer but I wrote one which should show up on Amazon soon. Here’s what I wrote: ************************************************ “I’m usually skeptical of books by lesser known authors, especially science fiction novels. So many of them sound good but quickly break down due to unwieldy story lines and one dimensional characters. Happily, this one was different - once I got started I was quickly hooked and couldn’t put it down. This book was captivating, with a suspenseful story line and compelling characters. The physical and social structure of the spaceship was beautifully imagined and easily visualized and the political intrigue added dimension to the action/adventure. It somewhat reminded me of Kim Stanley Robinson’s “Aurora” and I highly recommend it. I hope there is a sequel in the works.” ********************************************** Nice work and thanks! Last edited by Ann Hedonia; 10-14-2018 at 07:05 PM. |
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#15
10-14-2018, 07:26 PM
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#16
10-21-2018, 07:34 PM
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If you'd like to try and win a free copy of the ebook (and you live in the US), you can enter the giveaway contest at this link: https://www.amazon.com/ga/p/af976f56466974c7
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#17
10-28-2018, 12:36 PM
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Available now in paperback! US and UK links below:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0463237862 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0463237862 Also, got my third 5 star review! Kind of short, but still nice: "Takes place a couple hundred years in the future on the spaceship "Aotea" en route to the moon Samwise. The ship is elaborately imagined. I like the sparks between the characters Konami and Madani. Eventually this takes a violent turn." https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HVWCFFJ#customerReviews |
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#18
10-31-2018, 07:58 AM
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I just started your book, Andy, and I really like it. Engrossing!
I think I agree with this semi-political tidbit as well: Quote:
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#19
10-31-2018, 09:08 AM
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And (forgive me!) I'll encourage you to go to the CS thread (https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb...d.php?t=863462) for further discussion when you finish the book, if you're keen, since CS gets a lot more eyeballs. Last edited by iiandyiiii; 10-31-2018 at 09:09 AM. |
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#20
10-31-2018, 07:53 PM
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I downloaded the book onto my Kindle earlier tonight and am up to chapter 5. Very good read.
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#21
10-31-2018, 08:10 PM
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Quote:
__________________
My new novel Spindown |
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#22
11-01-2018, 11:42 AM
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Congrats! I will download and read it.
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#23
11-01-2018, 11:55 AM
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#24
11-24-2018, 06:37 PM
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New review -- very thoughtful and positive from book blogger "Tome Tender": http://tometender.blogspot.com/2018/...-crawford.html
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#25
12-29-2018, 11:28 AM
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I just finished the free Part I and enjoyed it very much. But I don't understand something on the Kobo site. They have Spindown part 1 (free) and parts 2,3,4,5, all at CAD 1.29 which is cheap enough although I would prefer having the book in one piece. But they also have a single book called Spindown at C$0.99. All of them have the same synopsis and the same cover. Had that last been 5.99 or something I would have assumed it was the whole book but at 99 that seems less likely. Can you explain?
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#26
12-29-2018, 03:22 PM
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Quote:
__________________
My new novel Spindown Last edited by iiandyiiii; 12-29-2018 at 03:22 PM. |
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#27
12-29-2018, 03:23 PM
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Quote:
__________________
My new novel Spindown Last edited by iiandyiiii; 12-29-2018 at 03:25 PM. |
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#28
12-29-2018, 05:00 PM
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Okay, I got it for .99 (+.15 tax) and I will leave a positive review. There is a misprint somewhere in part 1, the word "sigh" came out as "sign".
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#29
12-29-2018, 09:51 PM
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I am now up to Chapter 50 and came across the line, "Truth doesn't have an ideology." Really? It does now.
I recommend the book unreservedly. Well written and a page turner. And pure SF. Most of what passes as SF these days is fantasy. Actually, probably always was. FTL drives, telepathy, instant communications are not any science we know. |
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#30
12-29-2018, 11:14 PM
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#31
01-04-2019, 12:45 PM
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It showed up in my morning Bookbub email, so now is the time to get it. Does it make any difference to you (Andy, the author) where we purchase the book from? That is, does Smashwords, say, give you a bigger cut than Amazon or Kobo? (I've got accounts at all three, so I'll purchase it from whichever gives you the best cut.)
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#32
01-04-2019, 01:59 PM
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Smashwords gives me the best cut. Though if you write reviews, I think Amazon's user reviews (and maybe Goodreads too) are the most influential, so that would be my preference since I'm still trying to build buzz. Thanks so much for giving it a chance, and I hope you enjoy it! Last edited by iiandyiiii; 01-04-2019 at 02:00 PM. |
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#33
01-04-2019, 02:08 PM
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Wow, this promotion is quite a hit for me in Canada. Right now Spindown is the #1 sci-fi Kindle book in Amazon Canada, and the #58 Kindle book of any genre: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07HVWCFFJ
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#34
01-05-2019, 07:53 PM
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I read it and enjoyed it a lot. It hit all the right hard sci-fi buttons for me.
Something I have a hard time articulating: I've read (or started to read) a number of self-published books, as well as some written by basically unknown authors. And there is a certain vibe that comes from them with respect to the writing and characterization. I can't put my finger on what's wrong except to say that it's amateurish. Your book did not trigger that vibe for me at all. No author is perfect but there is a certain threshold of professionalism that many authors never cross, but you have. Minor quibbles: - I don't remember exactly where (near the end), but there is a "here" instead of a "hear". - At one point you describe a hatch as weighing 50 kg on Earth, but in the low gravity of the Aotea it weighs 15 kg. This is not exactly right--kilograms are a unit of mass and a 50 kg object masses 50 kg everywhere. This isn't an academic distinction either, since inertia is affected by mass, and even if a person can lift a massive object, they will still have to be careful with slinging it around. Not a big deal, and people (on Earth) miss this distinction all the time, but on Aotea people would have to make allowance for the difference between inertial mass and weight. - I would have done without the various cultural references (Helm's Deep, etc.). They're infrequent enough that they sorta stand out awkwardly. I don't mind references if the whole book is going for that feel, as with The Martian or Ready Player One, but it felt that your overall tone was more serious, and against that I don't think they fit well. Less minor, but understandable: SPOILER:
At any rate, I look forward to your future books, and would love to see a sequel or at least something set in the same universe. |
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#35
01-05-2019, 08:35 PM
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If possible, I'd greatly appreciate a review on Goodreads, Amazon, or whatever other ebook sites with which you have an account. Reader reviews are by far the best way to convince other skeptical readers to give my book a try. |
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#36
01-05-2019, 09:07 PM
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#37
01-05-2019, 09:44 PM
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#38
01-16-2019, 10:09 PM
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I grabbed it for my Kindle app, you have an interesting premise and the reviews look good so why not. I’ll leave a review on Amazon after I’m done.
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#39
01-17-2019, 05:34 AM
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__________________
My new novel Spindown |
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#40
Yesterday, 12:45 PM
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Aussie book review site Dark Hints Reviews loved my book! https://darkhintsreviews.com/spindown-andy-crawford
Nice surprise yesterday. And most of my sales lately have been in Australia, for some reason. No idea why. |
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