# Presenting my third novel, sci-fi thriller "Spindown" **URL:** \ **Category:** Marketplace\ **Created:** [October 3, 2018, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presenting-my-third-novel-sci-fi-thriller-spindown/822377 "2018-10-03T16:45:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2018, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presenting-my-third-novel-sci-fi-thriller-spindown/822377/1 "2018-10-03T16:45:16Z")
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): > [@](#): > > Cyrus Konami is the Chief Inspector on the first colony vessel, Aotea, to leave Earth’s solar system. Deep within the machinery of the ship, a suspicious death upends the routine on board. Mysterious signals from deep space add to the confusion, along with a series of debilitating malfunctions. > > Cy and Lieutenant Beatriz Mattoso dig into the deceased crewman’s background. The first signs point to a tragic accident. Ship scuttlebutt points to the deep-space signals – is a mysterious force trying to prevent humanity from spreading into deep space? Or are the radical pacifists and cultural separatists who funded the journey somehow involved? > > With an increasingly uncooperative populace, a shocking assassination attempt, and a spaceship falling apart around them, Cy and Bea must unravel secrets that threaten the lives of thousands before it’s too late! The wonderful cover art is by Doper **GuanoLad** – book covers are a regular gig for him, and [here is his website](http://bookcoverwhisperer.net). I’m selling it in two forms – the entire book on various online retailers ([Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HVWCFFJ), [Kobo](https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/spindown-2), [Barnes and Noble](https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/spindown-andy-crawford/1129582552?ean=2940155815686), [Smashwords](https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/895991), and possibly a few others), and serially, broken up into Parts One through Five, with Part One free to download (at [Smashwords](https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/898019), [B&N](https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/spindown-andy-crawford/1129632203?ean=2940155826538), [Kobo](https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/spindown-part-one), 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! ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2018, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presenting-my-third-novel-sci-fi-thriller-spindown/822377/2 "2018-10-03T16:56:24Z")
Heh. Funny to see this right under the “ **Are “Free E-Books” sites just portals for self-published drivel?** ” thread. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2018, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presenting-my-third-novel-sci-fi-thriller-spindown/822377/3 "2018-10-03T17:25:35Z")
Congratulations! ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2018, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presenting-my-third-novel-sci-fi-thriller-spindown/822377/4 "2018-10-03T17:52:02Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Heh. Funny to see this right under the “ **Are “Free E-Books” sites just portals for self-published drivel?** ” thread. Heh. Yeah, I came her to point that out, glad you did it first! Congrats! You’re on my list of books to read but I’m waaaaay behind on that. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2018, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presenting-my-third-novel-sci-fi-thriller-spindown/822377/5 "2018-10-03T19:26:27Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > Congratulations! Thanks! 😉 > [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Heh. Yeah, I came her to point that out, glad you did it first! > > Congrats! You’re on my list of books to read but I’m waaaaay behind on that. Thanks to you as well. Hope you get to it soon! ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2018, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presenting-my-third-novel-sci-fi-thriller-spindown/822377/6 "2018-10-03T19:42:40Z")
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! ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2018, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presenting-my-third-novel-sci-fi-thriller-spindown/822377/7 "2018-10-03T20:54:29Z")
Sold. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2018, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presenting-my-third-novel-sci-fi-thriller-spindown/822377/8 "2018-10-03T22:59:41Z")
[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. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2018, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presenting-my-third-novel-sci-fi-thriller-spindown/822377/9 "2018-10-04T00:51:44Z")
> [@Sunny\_Daze](#): > > 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! Great! I hope you enjoy it. > [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > Sold. 🙂 I hope you enjoy it as well! As an aside, I’m sad that my thread got moved to Marketplace. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2018, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presenting-my-third-novel-sci-fi-thriller-spindown/822377/10 "2018-10-06T14:23:36Z")
I also posted Part One on Medium: [Spindown: Part One. 2240, Earth Calendar | by Andy Crawford | Medium](https://medium.com/@iiandyiiii/spindown-part-one-eb17d05dac12) ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2018, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presenting-my-third-novel-sci-fi-thriller-spindown/822377/11 "2018-10-06T14:32:28Z")
> [@Sunny\_Daze](#): > > I’ll be checking out a few of **guanolad** ’s books too. (Books that he covered, I mean.) Those are some spiffy covers! Hurrah! I really need to update it, there are three or four new books I need to add to the list. Including Andy’s of course! ---
**Author:** ![Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Springtime_for_Spacers)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2018, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presenting-my-third-novel-sci-fi-thriller-spindown/822377/12 "2018-10-06T19:23:49Z")
Sounds good so I took a look but sadly not available on Amazon UK ☹ ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2018, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presenting-my-third-novel-sci-fi-thriller-spindown/822377/13 "2018-10-06T19:33:06Z")
> [@Springtime\_for\_Spacers](#): > > Sounds good so I took a look but sadly not available on Amazon UK ☹ It should be, but if you’re having trouble finding it there, you can still get it on Smashwords (first link is the free Part One, second link is the entire book for sale): > **[Spindown: Part One](https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/898019)** > > Murder on a spaceship! Chief Inspector Cy Konami, and Lieutenant Bea Mattoso, must solve a murder and unravel a conspiracy threatening thousands of lives before it's too late... Part 1 of 5 > **[Spindown](https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/895991)** > > \*\*\* A B.R.A.G. Medallion Honoree \*\*\* > > Murder on a spaceship! Chief Inspector Cy Konami, and Lieutenant Bea Mattoso, must solve a murder and unravel a conspiracy threatening thousands of lives before it's too late... 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](https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07HVWCFFJ) ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2018, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presenting-my-third-novel-sci-fi-thriller-spindown/822377/14 "2018-10-14T23:03:00Z")
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! ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2018, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presenting-my-third-novel-sci-fi-thriller-spindown/822377/15 "2018-10-14T23:26:33Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > 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! Wow, this made my weekend! I’m so glad you enjoyed it! There really is nothing more satisfying to an author than hearing that their work was enjoyed. And I’m so grateful you posted the review on Amazon – positive user reviews are probably the most helpful thing for getting books sold. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2018, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presenting-my-third-novel-sci-fi-thriller-spindown/822377/16 "2018-10-21T23:34:39Z")
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](https://www.amazon.com/ga/p/af976f56466974c7) ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2018, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presenting-my-third-novel-sci-fi-thriller-spindown/822377/17 "2018-10-28T16:36:13Z")
Available now in paperback! US and UK links below: > **[Spindown: Crawford, Andy: 9780463237861: Amazon.com: Books](https://www.amazon.com/Spindown-Andy-Crawford/dp/0463237862)** > > Spindown \[Crawford, Andy\] on Amazon.com. \*FREE\* shipping on qualifying offers. Spindown > **[Spindown: Amazon.co.uk: Crawford, Andy: 9780463237861: Books](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Spindown-Andy-Crawford/dp/0463237862)** > > Buy Spindown by Crawford, Andy from Amazon's Fiction Books Store. Everyday low prices on a huge range of new releases and classic fiction. 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.” > **[Amazon.com: Spindown eBook : Crawford, Andy: Kindle Store](https://www.amazon.com/Spindown-Andy-Crawford-ebook/dp/B07HVWCFFJ)** > > Spindown - Kindle edition by Crawford, Andy. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading Spindown. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2018, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presenting-my-third-novel-sci-fi-thriller-spindown/822377/18 "2018-10-31T11:58:10Z")
I just started your book, **Andy** , and I really like it. Engrossing! I think I agree with this semi-political tidbit as well: 🙂 > [@](#): > > Maybe the SNH guys really were onto something, getting rid of Earth media. Decades before the expedition left the lazy orbit around a medium sized asteroid in the belt, the Society for a New Humanity had laid down specifications for the media that was allowed onboard, even if they couldn’t actually enforce those rules until they left the system. Chief among those restricted were those vids and texts believed to glorify aggression or dishonesty. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2018, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presenting-my-third-novel-sci-fi-thriller-spindown/822377/19 "2018-10-31T13:08:20Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > I just started your book, **Andy** , and I really like it. Engrossing! > > I think I agree with this semi-political tidbit as well: 🙂 Thanks so much for giving it a try, and I’m very glad you’re enjoying it! And (forgive me!) I’ll encourage you to go to the CS thread ([https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=863462](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=863462)) for further discussion when you finish the book, if you’re keen, since CS gets a lot more eyeballs. ---
**Author:** ![legion60](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/53a042/32.png) [@legion60](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/legion60)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2018, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presenting-my-third-novel-sci-fi-thriller-spindown/822377/20 "2018-10-31T23:53:50Z")
I downloaded the book onto my Kindle earlier tonight and am up to chapter 5. Very good read. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presenting-my-third-novel-sci-fi-thriller-spindown/822377.md?page=2)