So my little vacation from writing in a serious capacity has extended from the release of King of the Water Roads until a few days ago. I dug up a dusty old project and have determined it’s time to give it a try from an adult perspective (I finished the first “draft” at seventeen, with the expected results). I know more in terms of how to write, mythology, fantasy and just plain life experience, and I still have faith in the core subject matter, so I think it could work. 

Only in reverse order. 

The usual is, of course, that I would love for you all to tell people to buy my book. And yes, I know that I’ve linked it before, but my hands now have an impulse reaction to wrap the phrase “my book” in the link the first time it’s said in a given conversation. In any case, while I’m not an impartial judge I think people will enjoy it. 

The second, and this is related, is a confession. I really don’t give a damn about the Wii U. I like Nintendo. I grew up on Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars is my favorite game from before the era of behind-the-back cameras and 3D motion. Ocarina of Time is my favorite game of my childhood period, and I still love to play it and all main console Zelda games when I get the chance. But do you notice a pattern? The only game that I consider among the gaming greats on a Nintendo console that isn’t a Nintendo IP is Tales of Symphonia for the GameCube. And beyond that, I’ve played the Mario game already. The only game I’m looking forward to on the Wii U is the only Nintendo franchise that really interests me anymore, the inevitable eventual Zelda game. 

The note is, really, related to both of the above. One of the many, many reasons I want the book to sell is to justify getting a Wii U. Because I want to play whatever new Zelda games come, but my days of buying consoles based on interest in a single game are on hold until I make another digit or more a year. I mean, I bought the xbox based on KotOR and I found many other serieses, like the Elder Scrolls, that I like better, and bought a 360 for The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and have found many games but no serieses I like better, but I’m older and more cautious now. Too cautious to try that trick a third time. 

And here’s the tech, related to all. Libboo’s system is there to gamify selling my book, and the books of others on their site. Members (and joining is free) get points for every time someone clicks a “buzzer” link, which can be got from the book’s page. The buzzers with the most points at the end of the week get free copy codes to use or distribute as they see fit. The best buzzers on the site get a free nook with all the books published via Libboo on them. And the week’s counter just reset, so now is the perfect time to join.

Well, this upcoming week is looking pretty busy, on account of we’re still recovering from the aftereffects of Sandy hitting New York, where our parent company is based, so I won’t be on very much. Hell, I might not even be able to star at the countdown timer for the RvB season 10 finale because I’ll still be out. You guys can help with that by convincing people to get enough copies of my book that I can write full time. 

Because after all, “it’s good to have ambition.”

I have a book out!

King of the Water Roads is for sale on Libboo for $1.99 a pop. But here’s the trick, Libboo offers prizes for registered buzzers who plug books a lot. Since I am a registered user, that means I am eligible for prizes on my own book. 

So, who wants to compete with me? Who wants to beat me at my own game and sell more copies of that book than the writer himself? If you do, just try me. Even if you don’t, it’s a super cheap fantasy novel and it’s pretty short, to boot, so you can get a nice little chunk of story to fill a weekend. Make sure to tell all your friends!

If you’re into the whole facebook scene, I made a page for the book itself and an event page for the book’s release via Libboo, an affiliate of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 

Give me a hand, guys. Due to expenses accrued during production I need to sell five hundred copies to break even. Some of you may recognize that number as the ballpark estimate of a successful first novel. That is the case, so I have some work to do and I would appreciate your help. Even if you can’t buy it for lack of money or lack of e-readers, any time you can spare to spread those links (and starting November 1st, the links to the book itself on kindle and nook) is time I need. 

I know a whole chunk of you have way more followers than I do. The more people I can get this book to, the more time I can write more books (and faff about on video games), so even thirty seconds to mention it in a journal or a tweet is a big help. 

So, let’s get to the metaphorical ass-kicking, shall we?

I’ll be there! I have a mustache and a black cowboy hat, so say “hi” if you see me. I’ll be plugging King of the Water Roads there and chilling with Libboo. 

Come check it out!

My book, King of the Water Roads: The Violet Scar, arrives on ebook November 1st! 

Any and all readers and lovers of fantasy, check out the link and tell all your friends! This will have to suffice for my Friday blog, because I am beat after my celebration workout. Speaking of celebrations, everyone is invited to the pre-release party, going on from a few days ago until the release itself on the facebook page!

In November, Americans and truly all citizens of the civilized world will have to make a vital, life-changing decision. 

They will have to decide whether to buy my book on Nook or Kindle. BOOSH!

King of the Water Roads: The Violet Scar is coming November 1st via Libboo, the first novel by me, Joseph Mazzola. 

In the kingdom of Markasia, guardsman Garth Gerisson is branded a traitor. He escapes among the very fugitives he once herded towards execution and must find a life worth living in a land with no resources and no law outside the word of a near-absentee king and the cold law of steel.

Hey everybody, the Libboo Pilot is a thing now! 

Enough reblogging for the moment, let me tell all of you that Libboo’s pilot is finally happening. I don’t know exactly when my book will be out, but you can sate your appetite for good books until then with the e-book of The Heart and the Fist. 

I am also using this blog to demonstrate the new “buzzing” idea. The more people click that link, the higher I go on a scale of one to Fernando measuring how good a buzzer I am. It will help to build my brand so more people are aware of me when King of the Water Roads: The Violet Scar drops. So definitely give that book a peek as you wait, I hope with bated breath, for mine.

Hey guys! 

While we wait for my book to come out on Libboo (here’s hoping it’s for the October 11th book drop) I’ve been looking over their current collection. One of the books I found on Libboo is called The Heart and the Fist, by Eric Greitens. I’ve only seen the first two stories but have ordered myself a physical copy of the whole book based on the Libboo sample alone. Definitely check it out. 

WHOOHOO I’m a buzzer.

libboo:

We’ve finally launched!

Sign up at www.libboo.com so you can get buzzing!

What’s this Libboo thing?

Libboo connects buzzers (readers who love to share and talk about books) with books they’ll enjoy, to create the next digital bestseller and help authors get discovered. Buzzers get rewards such as free ebooks, and increase their influence by sharing great writing with their friends and followers via social media, email, and other online channels.

Also, we just partnered with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, and together we’re pretty much an unbeatable force of awesome.

WOO! Can’t wait for my own book to come out!