Mythic Quest on Apple is Epically Funny
Saturday April 17, 2021 | By Hieronymus Hawkes | TV and Movie Review | Leave Comments
Just watched the first episode of Mythic Quest on Apple TV. I expected it to be a run of the mill attempt to do millennial angst in the workplace type of show. I've been a gamer most of my life and have played a lot of video games of about every sort. The video game industry is bigger than Hollywood in terms of revenue now, but it is still a patchwork of companies that rise and fall, and that generally don't treat their employees very well. My son actually has a degree in game design, so he has a different perspective on the industry than most of us.
But the show is only using the industry as a setting. The head designer is a complete narcissist. All of the characters want something. And they got F. Murray Abraham. The writing is excellent, every character unique and at odds with someone else in the show, providing natural conflict. It is outrageous, but it is very funny. I laughed out loud more than once. I only hope it can sustain that quality going forward.

It’s Discovery day!
Friday April 16, 2021 | By Hieronymus Hawkes | Novel Publicity | Leave Comments
Effacement is live on Reedsy Discover! The most upvoted books will be considered for their weekly newsletter. So I would really appreciate it if you could take a few moments and upvote Effacement. Their newsletter goes out to thousands of readers.

BookBub Featured Deal Results at the Halfway point
Wednesday April 14, 2021 | By Hieronymus Hawkes | Novel Publicity | Leave Comments
This was my first experience with BookBub. I peaked at #144 in the Kindle Store. Made #1 in two categories, Hard Science Fiction and Medical Thrillers. #2 in Technothrillers and Contemporary American Fiction.
I sold more books than I ever have before, saw a Best Seller tag for a little more than a day and finally got some visibility. I'm about halfway through and very close to paying for the cost of the Featured Deal. It will run through Sunday and hopefully I will get a little bit on the back side as well, which is common. As I write this I am here:
Best Sellers Rank: #1,773 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #6 in Medical Thrillers (Kindle Store)
- #14 in Hard Science Fiction (Kindle Store)
- #23 in Technothrillers (Kindle Store)
Was it worth it? Definitely! I am seeing my Amazon ads pay off now as well. I tried once before to get a featured deal and was turned down. Not certain what the difference was, but having solid numbers on Goodreads probably helped. I also let them pick the date.
I will definitely sign up again in the future.
Have you had any experience with BookBub or any other marketing sites that boosted your sales?
Read MoreThe Kirkus Review is back!
Sunday April 11, 2021 | By Hieronymus Hawkes | Novel Publicity | Leave Comments
The Kirkus Review just came out, and it's a good one. You can read it here!
"Hawkes superbly extrapolates what our technology-dependent and pandemic-stricken world might be like a dozen years from now." — Kirkus Reviews
Also, the book is discounted for the next week and will be a Featured Deal on BookBub.
In a future marked by widespread surveillance, Dr. Cole Westbay has made a name for himself with the creation of a neurochip that records everything about a person. But after he’s framed for murder, Cole has no choice if he wants to survive: He’ll have to go off the grid.
Read MoreAn Action-packed, genre-bending thriller
Tuesday March 23, 2021 | By Hieronymus Hawkes | book review | Leave Comments
I sent Effacement out for reviews with the major review sites. Got the first two back yesterday. The Clarion Review is up now! They gave the book 4/5 Stars.
Effacement is an action-packed, genre-bending thriller that introduces a white-collar superhero whose braininess and ethical behavior save the day.
Some of the highlights:
In Hieronymus Hawkes’s intense, chilling psychological thriller Effacement, technology invades personal privacy in a twenty-four-seven connected world where Big Brother is watching.
[The MCs] contrasting viewpoints play against each other well, heightening the story’s sense of conflict and increasing its psychological tension. The focused narrative also makes use of crisp, to-the-point writing.
The narrative is clever at integrating real-world events, including the 2020 elections, the Covid-19 pandemic, and racial strife, into its own origin story, using them as believable justifications for lifelogging and the eventual dystopian environment.
You can buy your own copy online pretty much everywhere now.
Read MoreEffacement $0.99 Sale starts at 11:00 EST March 3rd through March 10th
Wednesday March 3, 2021 | By Hieronymus Hawkes | Novel Publicity | Leave Comments
KDP Promo price of $0.99 on sale now until 10 March. Get it while you can!
Read More