Stefan Gagne's Fiction Factory

25+ years of novels, games, and other creative fiascos.

Archives for September 2013

coa//013 is too hung over to think of a clever blog post title

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These scenes have been brutal as hell to write, thanks to various bits of RL drama I’m going through… death of a family friend, dayjob slogs, general depression. Fortunately //013 is a story all about your life falling apart around you, so hey, I guess it syncs up nicely.

With that glum bit out of the way, here’s more scenes in which our hero has to face up to what he’s done or rather failed to accomplish.

I’m going to be re-starting my banner ad campaign to draw more readers to the site soon. That was part of the Kickstarter, to gather up a war chest of advertising funds… right now the #1 problem City of Angles is facing is growing an audience. At best estimate there’s maybe 60 readers, many of which are not regulars, few of which leave feedback. Not a horrible failure and I am amazingly appreciative of the readers I have — you guys are the core which keeps the beating heart of this project going.

But still, I’d love to get more eyes on the work, regardless of whether they buy books or not. Money’s a nice side bonus but the goal is readership in general. Art doesn’t exist in a vacuum, it has to be experienced to become art. Advertising’s one way to do that. Another way is viral spread across the Internet, and that’s where you come in.

For instance, recently someone posted a link to CoA on a forum thread. We’ve got a dozen new folks taking a look at the stories as a result. Five minutes of effort, yielding tasty literature fruit. (Mmm. Literature fruit.) All it takes to get the word out is to speak up and be heard. So, chat it up with your friends, post on your blogs, talk in your communities. Anywhere you think you might find someone who’d enjoy a story like this, hey, go for it.

This is absolutely voluntary; all you get in return is my undying thanks (immune to Turn Undead) and a rosy glow to carry you through the day. If you do link to the story, let me know so I can add your name to my Shrine of Readers, upon which I perform blood sacrifices daily. Ha ha! Kidding! Maybe! *hides curvy knife*

coa//013 goes where everybody knows your name

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It’s funny how Cliff and Norm could chug beer all day, every day, and never actually get drunk. I’m afraid Gregory Yates isn’t going to have the same luck, in these new City of Angles //013 scenes.

Writing this story’s been incredibly difficult. I’m dealing with the most “adult” story I’ve done in some time… not in terms of BOOBIES BOOBIES BOOBIES which would actually be more immature than mature, but in terms of a man on the verge of a midlife crisis collapse. Something I’m starting to have some experience with, so… there’s that.

We’ve got New Technology ’round these parts, so if you’d like to comment on the story, you can do it right on the story itself! The reply form’s at the bottom. Have at it. I’d love to hear from you.

Another thing you can do to really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really help me is to write a review of City of Angles over on Amazon. You don’t have to buy the book or have read the bonus stories to be qualified to write one! The more reviews I have, the better the book will do in searches, the more likely someone will buy it, the more money I get, the more time I can devote to writing things for you to read. It’s the Circle of Indie Publishing and it lives or dies on your goodwill.

Thanks for your time. If you’re reading these words right now, you’ve come quite a ways to support me already, and if I could give you a handshake I would. You may have to settle for an e-Handshake(tm).

coa//013 goes home to be a family man

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So, I accidentally leaked this a few minutes past midnight. Well, it’s Saturday, right? That’s update day. Let’s just call this update time, too. Time to run down the news…

coa//013 Begins!

Introducing my portrait of Gregory Yates as a middle aged father. He’s about to face some very unpleasant truths about himself. Not quite yet, this is really just a short intro, but Act I starts in earnest in a week’s time.

Story Feedback on Story Pages!

This also introduces a new commenting style. Rather than leaving feedback here on the blog, you can now post your feedback directly on the story page, right at the bottom. Whee! Advanced technology! This’ll let me sort through an entire story’s pile of feedback in one go, rather than looking through multiple blogposts. As always, you can post anonymously.

(So, if comments about the story go ON the story from now on… what goes here on the blog? You can discuss anything else here, like the rest of the stuff I’m announcing in this post.)

New Artwork in the Gallery!

Yep, we’ve also got brand new artwork — and a ton of it, too! New poses for Vivi Wei, Cass, Dave Smith, and Kelsey Jones. This was only possible thanks to the tremendous support you’ve shown me through the Kickstarter. This artwork was one of our stretch goals, one we smashed through early on, and now you reap the benefit. Whee! If you’d like any particular piece on a piece of merch, let me know.

The Book is On Sale!

Seriously, guys, books! Books! City of Angles books! Most of you got your copies already through Kickstarter (or they’re in the mail as we speak) but anybody who didn’t kick it can now grab a copy in my new and improved bookstore.

Last, but absolutely not least…

The Great Amazon Review Rampage Begins!

The City Tourism Board has selected YOU, yes, YOU, to help promote the City of Angles as the hottest destination for vacationing families, couples, singles, and disembodied dream entities. With your support, we can bring people to the City of Angles beyond the core fanbase already built up on the blog.

How, you may ask? It’s simple. Amazon’s search and recommendation engine is powered in large part by reviews. The more reviews a book has, positive or otherwise, the more credibility that books carries.

Now, if you’re reading this, odds are you’ve read the book (or the majority of it for free on the website). That makes you uniquely qualified to write a review over on Amazon! It’ll help me out TREMENDOUSLY, and yes, you as l’il ‘ol you can make a huge difference.

Be honest in your review, of course! I’m not begging for five stars here. I’d love them, yes, but it’s important that this is your own take on City of Angles.

In thanks for your help, I’ll be arranging some manner of reviewer-only online hangout with me in two weeks time on Twitch.tv. Details to follow next week. Grab my ear for an hour and ask me any questions you want! I’ll force myself to be totally honest and open, even if horrible, horrible truths emerge! Won’t that be fun?

SO, to recap: coa//013, new comment system, new artwork, new book, your reviews welcome. Thanks so much for your support, gang. Amazing times ahead!

vip club discontinued

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So, a little over a year ago I tried an experiment. I was already selling retail-only bonus stories through published books. But would people also enjoy having a subscription-based way to read those stories online, as an alternative? Some might prefer books, some might prefer services, I could provide for both!

The issue is that the VIP Club is a competing format against the books, rather than augmenting them. It complicates the situation considerably. You have to do price comparisons, figure which suits your life better, etc. In the end I did not get much uptake on the VIP Club, not enough to justify the amount of money it’d cost to support it moving forward onto the new website tech.

In the end, I’ve chosen to discontinue the VIP Club. The bonus stories will still be available in books, much as they were in the anachronauts project. Each one has stories relevant to that book’s timeline, so it groups up nicely.

Also, for current members of the VIP Club and any who joined during the Kickstarter — I will honor my obligation to you. I’ll be emailing copies of the stories so you can keep one forever on your own computer, and will also email any remaining bonus stories as they are written. I’m not taking new subscribers, but those who already joined will get full value.

Now, let’s drop some 100% good news on you.

Amazon is introducing a new initiative — buy a paper book, get a discount on the ebook version. I figure… why double dip at all? So, once the feature goes live, you’ll get a FREE ebook copy of any book I offer that you buy in paper form. Read whichever version suits you!

This initiative (adorably called “Matchstick” because KINDLE GET IT) isn’t live yet, but once it is, I’ll be posting further details. In the end… I want to keep things simple, but still give you the content in a way that works for you.

City of Angles vol//001 is now available!

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oh boy oh boy oh boy oh boy oh

It’s here! It’s here! City of Angles vol//001 – Bedlam is now available in both print and ebook formats.

Kickstarter Backers: You’ve already gotten your ebook copies email’d, and your print book copies are in the snail mail. So if you backed dat kick up, no need to go buy another copy, patience will be its own reward.

But, if you didn’t hit up the Kickstarter, well…

Browse my shiny, new and improved bookstore and get your copy today!

This is super duper exciting for me, and hopefully at least slightly exciting for you.

Next week: coa//013 begins, and more great stuff! Unless something went wrong in the publishing process and I’m shipping a bunch of busted books, in which case I will suffer a massive heart attack and die and that could delay the next chapter a bit.