Michael J. Sullivan's Blog, page 47

Today at 7:00 PM (EDT) AMA on reddit /r/books

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Today is an AMA day!  Don't know what that is? Well it stands for Ask Me Anything and today's AMA will be held on reddit's /r/books sub.  I'll start answering questions at 7:00 PM, but you can post questions now and check back later for the answer.

Because I'm a hybrid authors, my AMA often get questions on publishing, the industry in general, or the various "business type" questions - and I love answering them.  Heck, I love answering all kind of questions. What I don't like is sitting there listening to crickets ;-). So if you have a question and haven't taken advantage of all the other ways to ask it (email, Goodreads, Twitter, etc). Please head on over and post one there. I'd love to hear from you.

Age of Myth a Featured Pre-order!

Hey all, thanks to everyone for enthusiastically pre-ordering Age of Myth. As I've mentioned in the past, seeing some early traction really helps to get some extra "loving" from the publishers and retailers.  In fact, it's currently featured on the homepage of Audible.com!!


This is a pretty big deal, right along side Stephen King, Brad Meltzer and Clive Cussler.  I almost look like a "real author"!
So what else is being featured right now?  Here's the list:
A Hero of France by Alan FurstThe Pursuit by Janet Evaanovich & Lee GoldbergThe City of Mirrors by Justin CroninBay of Sighs by Nora RobertsAge of Myth by Michael J. SullivanThe Emperor's Revenge by Clive Cussler and Boyd MorrisonEnd of Watch by Stephen KingThe Hose of Secrets by Brad Meltzer and Tod GoldbergI Almost Forgot About You by Tery McMillianThe Last Star by Rick YanceyForeign Agent by Brad ThorThe Defenders of Shannara by Terry BrooksHome World by B.V. LarsonDuty and Honor by Tom ClancyHow to Fight a Dragon's Fury: How to Train Your Dragon #12 by Cressida CowellStar Wars Aftermath Life Debt by Chuck WendiI know looking at this list I used a couple of credits ;-)  And, remember if you have pre-ordered your copy of Age of Myth don't forget to fill out this form so you can receive the pre-order bonus materials!
Don't know what they are?  Well, heres a list:
Character profiles with photographs.The first five chapters of the book to read right now!A package of free short stories.Access to a high-resolution map.A signed bookplate (free to residents of the US)A signed bookmark (free to residents of the US)Wallpaper for your computer, iPhone, and tablet featuring the amazing artwork of Marc Simonetti.

A quick note for Audible listeners in Germany

Hey all, I've been getting some emails from my readers in Germany who want to take advantage of the pre-order promotion that we have going.  When they go to Audible to do the pre-order, they don't find Age of Myth.  I talked to the publisher and apparently there is a technical issue that prevents US audiobooks from showing up until release day.  So, rest assured the book WILL be available, and we'll extend the pre-order promotion to you even though you can't pre-order.  Just make a note when you fill out the survey that says "I'm going to be be getting the German Audiobook" and that's good enough for us to get the bonus material now.  We trust you ;-)
People seem to really be enjoying the pre-order promotion. Robin will provide me with an update on numbers soon.

Want to share Tim Gerard Reynolds and Riyria with your friends for free? Here's how!

Hey all,

Audible has announced their new program that gives you the ability to send an audio book to a friend ,and it's absolutely free for both you and your loved one. This is a great way to introduce the Riyria audio books to someone you care about.   Full details can be found here.


For those that don't want to read all the FAQ's here's the nutshell version.You send recommendations of audio books you have loved  to your friends and family.If they haven't already redeemed a free audio book from someone else, they get it for free.The person you send it to doesn't have to be a current Audible Member.After receiving the book, your loved ones can pay it forward and pass it on to others as well!Recommended books can be redeemed at any time - they never expire.The book you send doesn't leave your library so you both can still enjoy it.Books that are shared and redeemed stay in the person's library indefinitely.I LOVE this new feature. What a great way to introduce others to audio books you love? I hope you'll include any of my audio books when sending recommendations to your favorite people.

Have you pre-ordered Age of Myth? Get your free bonus material!

Hey everyone, today I'm pleased to officially open the Age of Myth pre-order bonus program!  Some of you might already be familiar with it, but in case you aren't here's the deal.

Pre-ordering a book shows your early support and provides a host of benefits for authors such as:

* Pre-order sales count as first-week sales, and it's this all important debut week that gives a book the best chance of hitting a major best-selling list like the New York Times or USA Today.
* Books with a high number of pre-orders will get more traction with booksellers such that the books will be carried in more stores and in higher quantities.
* Books with a high number of pre-orders will receive increased marketing support from the publisher.
* Books with a high number of pre-orders will generate a larger print run.

Now, that's what I get...but I want a win-win for both readers and writers, so I (and Del Rey) have put together a nice package to reward you for pre-ordering the book.  It's like getting Kickstarter perks without a Kickstarter!

So, what do you get?

* Character profiles with photographs.
* The first five chapters of the book to read right now!
* A package of free short stories.
* Access to a high-resolution map.
* A signed bookplate (free to residents of the US)
* A signed bookmark (free to residents of the US)
* Wallpaper for your computer, iPhone, and tablet featuring the amazing artwork of Marc Simonetti.

If you are outside the US, and still want the bookplate and bookmark, I'll gladly send them to you if you cover $3 for the postage and handling. Here is a link to order them.

Here is what the bookmark and bookplates look like:



Okay, so how do you participate?

1. Pre-order any version of Age of Myth: ebook, audio book, or hardcover from your favorite store.

2. Take a picture of your receipt.

3. Fill out this form so we know where to send your stuff.

4. Be sure to upload your proof of purchase (there is a field on the form).

5. If you are overseas and want the bookmark and bookplate, order it from this link.

That's it. We'll take care of the rest.  Oh, and if you have ordered a signed copy directly from my website, you don't to do anything. Your book will be signed and personalized based on the instructions you provided, and you'll have a spare bookplate to do with as you will.

I hope you are as excited as I am about the new release.  Just 1 month and 25 days away!! And thank you for pre-ordering, it means a great deal that you have such faith in my upcoming series.

Riyria Quiz to win a signed hardcover of Age of Myth

Do you know your Riyria Trivia? Do you want a signed copy of my upcoming book Age of Myth? Well put your skills to the test and you might just be a winner.
Here's how it works.I've created a quiz on goodreads with ten Riyria questions. Hop on over and answer as many as you can.Goodreads only shows 30 people who have answered the survey, so you need to let me know you took the quiz. You can do this by (a)  making a comment on the quiz or (b) go to this survey and copy/paste the URL of your goodreads profile page.For each right answer you'l have an additional entry into a drawing I'm doing for a signed copy of the book.Note: This contest is open to people no matter what country you are in so no worries about locale.
Even if you haven't read my previous books, you should be able to answer the questions with just a little bit of online research -- or ask your friend who has read them.  I'm going to list the questions here so you can do your research before you take the quiz.What does "Riyria" stand for?Who said, "Sometimes the price of dreams is achieving them?"What does Royce call a Gilarabrywn in Heir of Novron?In Riyria magic is sometimes referred to as....What was the name of the girl that Hadrian had a crush on as a young boy when living in Hintindar?Who was Royce's best friend while in the Black Diamond Thieves Guild?What nickname did people call Hadrian when he fought in the arenas of Calais?What is the name of the lost city that was once the capital of the First Empire?What is the name of Arista's body guard through most of the Riyria novels?In what way is Esrahaddon disabled? There you go.  And good luck!

WIN Advanced Reading Copies of Age of Myth

We are just 2 months and 2 days away from the release of Age of Myth, are you excited?  I know I am. I think Del Rey is as well, and they are giving away 200 copies of the Advanced Reading Copy of the book over at Goodreads.
As you can imagine, mailing 200 copies could get really expensive if that included foreign countries (which can cost $20 or more per book).  So Del Rey has limited the giveaway to people within the US.  But I want to give people everywhere a chance to read the book two months before its release, so I'm running a   parallel giveaway which is open to people everywhere. Not sure what the book is about? Well, here's part of the copy from the back of the book.
  What does it mean if a god can be killed?Since time immemorial, humans have worshipped the gods they call Fhrey, truly a race apart: invincible in battle, masters of magic, and seemingly immortal. But when a god falls to a human blade, the balance of power between men and those they thought were gods changes forever. Now, only a few stand between humankind and annihilation: Raithe, reluctant to embrace his destiny as the God Killer, Suri, a young seer burdened by signs of impending doom, and Persephone, who must overcome personal tragedy to lead her people.

The Age of Myth is over; the time of rebellion has begun.
I hope you'll sign up for one (or both of the giveaways) and if you do, I wish you good luck in the drawings. But do so soon, they're only lasting a bit over a week.

Escape Your Taxes Sale

It’s tax time here in the U.S., a time usually associated with heartache and pain. To make things easier, myself and a fine group of authors got together and steeply discounted our books between April 12th – 16th, some of which are free!

For me, I've put The Death of Dulgath on sale: 30% off print copies bought from my site and I've reduced the ebook in the major retailers from $9.99 to $2.99.

  Three times they tried to kill her. Then a professional was hired. So was Riyria.
When the last member of the oldest noble family in Avryn is targeted for assassination, Riyria's Royce and Hadrian are hired to foil the plot. Three years have passed since Hadrian, the war-weary mercenary, and Royce, the cynical ex-assassin, joined forces to become rogues-for-hire. All has gone well until they're asked to help prevent a murder. Now they must venture into an ancient corner of the world to save a mysterious woman who knows more about Royce than is safe and cares less about herself than is sane.

LIMITED EDITION $50.00 now $35 save $15.00HARDCOVER: $25.00 now $17.50 save $7.50PAPERBACK: $15.00 now $10.50 save $4.50EBOOK: $9.99 now $2.99 save $7.00


So that's what I have for sale, but what about the other authors? Here’s a rundown of what they have:Bradley P. Beaulieu To the Towers of Tulandan , a Lays of Anuskaya novella – FREE! The Winds of Khalakovo  (ebook) – $1.99 The Straits of Galahesh  (ebook) – $2.99 The Flames of Shadam Khoreh  (ebook) – $2.99Also offering 25% off of the trade paperback and limited edition versionsGwenda Bond The Woken Gods  (ebook) – $2.99Jeff Carlson Plague Year  (ebook) – $1.99 Plague War  (ebook) – $1.99 Plague Zone  (ebook) – $1.99 Long Eyes  (ebook) – $1.99Matt Forbeck Brave New World: Revolution  (ebook) – $2.99 Hard Times in Dragon City  (ebook) – $2.99 Dangerous Games: How to Play  (ebook) – $2.99Brian McClellan Murder at the Kinnen Hotel , a Powder Mage novella (ebook) – FREE! Ghosts of the Tristan Basin , a Powder Mage novella (ebook) – $1.99 Forsworn , a Powder Mage novella (ebook) – $1.99 Servant of the Crown , a Powder Mage Novella (ebook) – $1.99 The Powder Mage Novella Collection #1  (ebook) – $5.99Martha Wells Wheel of the Infinite  (ebook) – $1.99 City of Bones  (ebook) – $1.99Chuck Wendig Blue Blazes  (ebook) – $2.99 Hellsblood Bride  (ebook) – $2.99That’s a killer set of books, y’all. Surely you’ll find something you like, yes? Be sure to nab them quick, because in only a few days they’ll be gone.And if you know anyone who might like to take advantage of these great deals before they’re gone, please pass along the word. A quick mention on Twitter or Facebook wouldn’t hurt either.

Writers Helping Writers: Brian Rathbone's Kickstarter

Readers of my blog know how much I love Kickstarters and helping fellow authors, so today's post allows me to combine both of these things.  I want to introduce you to the New Voices in Fantasy Fiction - Books with Magic and Dragons project launched by the amazing Brian Rathbone.


For those that don't know, Brian is the best-selling author of the World of Godsend fantasy series. A fellow self-published author, he's done amazingly well with it and is now expanding his universe through a new Kickstarter with three new books in his world. But, the really cool thing about this Kickstarter is Brian one-upped my "Author Helping Author" aspect of The Death of Dulgath. I included a short story by an up-and-commer in that book, but Brian collaborated with two new authors to produce these novels!

Here's a bit about the authors involved:
Brian Rathbone - Born and raised on a horse farm in southern New Jersey, Brian Rathbone never did quite fit in--still doesn't. If you need someone to take you on an adventure or to tell terrible dragon jokes, Brian is your man. He lives in the mountains of North Carolina with his wife and some very spoiled cats. Morgen Rich - Morgen Rich grew up in the southwestern U.S., where the sky reminds humans just how small they really are. She lives mostly in Pennsylvania with her husband and two Great Pyrenees, Bianca and Tahoe. On occasion, she lives in Lincoln, England. Founder of Bookmite Press and a member of the Broad Universe board of directors, Morgen is an active member of the speculative fiction profession. In addition to Ascension, a YA fantasy novel set in co-writer Brian Rathbone's Godsland world, she's also the author of the adult epic science fantasy novels, Incorrigible (2013) and Discordant (2016), both set in her imaginative Shifting Worlds universe.Jack McCarthy - Jack McCarthy was born and raised in Salem, NJ and is a long-time resident of Cleveland, OH. His lifelong path to writing has included: dishwasher, video store clerk, taekwondo instructor, factory assembly worker, telemarketer, casual letter carrier, office temp, door-to-door vacuum cleaner salesman, phone psychic, cashier, gas station manager, flight attendant and software engineer. This combined skill set could belong only to one destined to write fantasy novels.The Kickstarter is very well thought out, it's goal is very reasonable, and he's got a lot of well-priced reward levels.  Not only that, but he's assembled an amazing team to ensure a high quality release.  Here's some of the people he's brought to the project.Andrea Howe - BlueFalconEditing.com (Editor and Chief Historian of Godsland)Nick Taylor - LightandSoundGraphics.com (Hardcover Layout and Design)Lawrence Mann - LawrenceMann.co.uk (Artists and Illustrators)Jamie Noble - The Noble Artist (Artists and Illustrators)T-Rex Studios - T-RexStudios.com (Artists and Illustrators)Chris Snelgrove - DarkFireProductions (Voice Artist)Priscilla Hernandez - PriscillaHernandez.com (Singer / Composer)Steve McCarthy - DMSArtGlass.com (Glass Artist)The Kickstarter has just launched and at present they are already 37% into the $4,000 goal.  So if you like great stories, want to help an author that is helping other authors, and want to make this project a reality, go to this page and pick a reward level you like. I know I'll be backing it.

Goodreads Giveaways: Cronin, Lawrence, Abercrombie, Myself, and several more

Here are some books currently with Goodreads Giveaways that caught my eye, and I thought others might be interested as well. Good luck on the drawings!



Title Series Author Ending # requesting The PassageThe Passage #1Justin CroninApr 085,862 Age of Myth Legends of the First Empire #1 Michael J. Sullivan  Apr 093,482 The Wheel of Osheim The Red Queen's War #3 Mark Lawrence May 252,874 A Crucible of Souls Sorcery Ascendant #1 Mitchell Hogan Apr 07 1,192 Sharp EndsN/A Joe Abercrombie Apr 25 577 Chains of the Heretic Bloodsounder's Arc #3 Jeff Salyards Apr 06 468 The Edge of WorldsThe Books of the Raksura #4 Martha Wells Apr 05 332 The Perdition Score Sandman Slim #8 Richard Kadrey Apr 05 250 Ice Forged Ascendant Kingdoms #1 Gail Z. Martin Apr 15 434 Reign of Ash Ascendant Kingdoms #2 Gail Z. Martin Mar 15 215 Shadow and Flame Ascendant Kingdoms, #4 Gail Z. Martin Apr 15 214 War of Shadows Ascendant Kingdoms, #3 Gail Z. Martin Mar 15 205