Raven: Book Two in the Shadows Series

Raven: Book Two In The Shadows Series

Project 2018-01-18 12:13:58 +1300

Hey there!  I'm Sam.


WHAT'S THE SHADOWS SERIES? 

Shadows is a five-book series of fantasy novels aimed at teenage readers- but enjoyed by plenty of ages above and below that.  I’ve been writing the Shadows series since I was nine years old.  When I was a little kid I used to feel what I called ‘the lonely feeling’, a sense that evolved and was still very much there through high school too.  I also loved stories, so I wrote the story I wanted to read.  A story about discovering a magical creature living in a parallel world, the best friend and counterpart that I’d always been missing.  My 'Shadow'.

After drafting the first novel, Shadows, countless times, I published it through Amazon in 2015.  I was inspired to do this by the self-publishing revolution which was on the rise at the time, and because I was intrigued by the challenge of running my own business. 

SHADOWS AS A MOVEMENT

Since then I’ve had emails from young readers who’ve been just as affected and empowered by the idea of meeting their own Shadow as I was when I was a teenager.  I’ve gone into schools around New Zealand talking about how Shadows came to be, and asking kids: ‘What does your Shadow look like, this other half of yourself?  What would your Shadow say to you if you met it- and what would you want to say to it?’  I’ve also been helping them write their own books, passing on all the tricks of the author trade that I wish I’d known when I started writing the first book.

I’m so excited and humbled that Shadows is achieving just what I hoped it would when I was still writing it at the back of the class in high school.  To give an idea of the impact it’s having, here’s a letter I received from a reader last week:

‘Dear Sam, I'm writing to tell you how much I loved your book "Shadows”… and how being reunited with your Shadow is a literal symbolism of “finding yourself.”  I and many other teenagers have felt like this: alone, broken, like we’re not whole… like part of us is missing.  I have always wished to have a best friend who understood me, who was always with me so I was never alone.

I wished I had a Shadow. In fact, it makes me heartbroken that it’s all just fiction. I wish it was true not just because I’d like to have a Shadow- someone to fill the hole in my heart- but because of the promise of a brighter future through everyone being reunited with their Shadows.’ -  Nur Peach, Year 12

I hope the release of the next book in the series will reach new readers and allow me to continue this meaningful and exciting work.

But now I need your help to make the launch of the second book something REALLY epic, and to make it reach and transform more readers than ever before.

                                         

ENTER RAVEN: BOOK TWO

‘Raven’ is the prequel to Shadows- book two in a series of five.  Excitingly, it takes place in Auckland City where I grew up- in real life locations.  We see the story through the eyes of a unique heroine- a teenage hacker called Phoebe, who’s living rough on the streets of Auckland, dealing with mental anxiety.

It’s different from the first book- I like to think of it as a murder mystery.  Here’s the summary:

'Phoebe is a gifted hacker, living rough on the streets of Auckland. She’s given a chance at another life when her idol, billionaire tech entrepeneur Melissa Cameron, hires her to track down a dangerous killer named Raven. 

Raven wants revenge on Melissa’s team. He’s mutating stranded Shadows into mindless monsters as part of his sinister agenda. Phoebe will have to look into the darkest corners of her city and confront her deepest fears if she is to save her new oddball family.

Griffin’s story is only just beginning. But before then, an evil called Raven was born. Before then, Phoebe worked with the Camerons to acheive the impossible.  This is their story.'

WHY PLEDGEME, A CROWDFUNDING PLATFORM?

I wanted a way I could fund a printing of the second book where the readers can buy directly from me and I can print the initial copies in a single run.  Think of it as a virtual book launch, where everyone’s invited.

I want to use this campaign as a chance to bring new readers to the Shadows series who will be just as affected as others have been.

You can choose the level you want to pledge and what reward you’d want the most.  There are copies of Book One and Two available, the option to donate copies to NZ libraries and also the chance for hangouts with the author himself- that’s me.  We can get like… a milkshake or something. 

THE STRETCH GOALS

There are also stretch goals- so the more books we sell, the more cool stuff I’ll add to the book:

$3000     Sam will record a Thank You Video celebrating a victorious campaign!  He shall also do a silly happy dance.

$4000     Sam records a ‘behind the scenes’ video, talking about the creation of Raven seventeen years ago. 

$5000     Sam will make an audio recording of the first two chapters of Raven for your listening pleasure. 

$6000     Sam will email all pledgers a pdf containing a list of different Shadow types.

$7000     Sam will film himself reading a preview of the first chapter of Book Three.

Thanks for being part of this journey with me, and getting out the story of Shadows to the rest of the world- a story that I hope can entertain, comfort and inspire.

Are YOU ready to meet your Shadow?


Join the Movement:


Website:  http://www.samblood.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SamBloodAuthor

YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/SamBloodTV

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