Dear friends,
In this newsletter, I'd like to talk about what we've accomplished in 2019. Yes, I'm also talking about you-the reader. You see, The Alien Skill Series wouldn't be where it is without you. And, as you can tell from the image above, we're a growing community on a worldwide level.
I want to thank those who participated in this beautiful "2019 TAS1 Photo Quilt"!
I have to say, some pictures made my heart beat faster because they are so personal and powerful. A special shout-out to Chris from Australia for sending an image of the raging bushfires. Millions of animals have perished in this ongoing tragedy, amongst them, up to 8 000 koalas. And to Jane, my wonderful ARC-reader, who has to wear a hard collar to treat a cervical spine injury.
2019 has had its share of hardships.
So here's wishing you a happy, healthy, prosperous and positive 2020! Let's make it a good year!
The Alien Skill Series in 2019
Here's an overlook of last year's accomplishments.
- Paperback sales: 1,860 units
- Free ebooks: 1,993 units
- Ebook sales: 389 units
- KU pge reads: 128,537 page reads
- Total for 2019: 4,609 units
- TAS1* is an Author Academy Awards finalist.
- TAS3* is published on February 1, 2019 and becomes a bestseller
- The boxed set of TAS1-3* is published on June 1, 2019
- Best ranking in free categories: #1583 overall ranking, #1 in Science Fiction, #2 in Children's Books
- Best ranking in paperback categories: #10,894 overall ranking, #10 in Teen & Young Adult Alien Science Fiction and:
- Ranking Top 100 in 5 categories at once
- TAS4* is 80% written. TAS5* is 50% written. The layout for TAS6 is complete.
The Alien Skill Series in 2020
What I hope to accomplish this year.
- Publish TAS4*, TAS5* and TAS6*
- Make the series wide (meaning it will be available in bookstores, schools and libraries, instead of only on Amazon)
- Do a book release party
- Attend at least one book conference
- Apply for more book awards
- Discuss a possible animation series contract (yes, you read that right!).
- Plan a new series for 2021
Bookmark winners
- Amy
- Chris
- D'artagnan
- Mystee
- Giselle
- Bill
- Diego
- Nicole
Congratulations! I will e-mail you so you can receive your bookmark. I still have two bookmarks left. E-mail me at raeknightly@gmail.com if you want one (the first two emails win).
What's up in the neighbourhood?
December didn't turn out too bad, after all. We thought my husband was going to start chemotherapy, but the doctors have given him a break, which meant we were able to have end-of-year dinners and decorate the house accordingly.
2020 is going to be rough, mind you, what with 3 surgeries and 6 months of chemo ahead of us. But we're ready for it all, and plan on ending the year in a positive way!
January reading list
Dragon's Future (Dragon Courage Book 1) by Kandi J. Wyat
What would you give to soar with dragons?
Every child of Woolpren dreams of being a dragon rider, but few are chosen. Twins Ruskya & Duskya are selected as children to join this elite group, leaving their home and all that is familiar to train for their new lives.
Fast forward fifteen years--dragons are becoming extinct and riders are rare. When Ruskya learns of a plot that could destroy the remaining dragon population, he and his friends must fight for their dragons' future.
Join Ruskya on his quest of courage and friendship in this young YA series being hailed as a thrilling ride.
The Lost Signal (Slaves of Zisaida Book 1) by J.S. Fernandez Morales
The signal shouldn't exist, but its disappearance brings forward a harbinger of doom. Humans can't fight this war. Not without help.
For years, Dr. Ethan Fawkes has been communicating with a mysterious scientist using an encoded signal. Together, they designed the first space-faring warship. But when the government orders Ethan to dismantle it, his collaborator has no choice but to reveal a terrible secret. An army of powerful aliens is about to invade Earth, and humans must rush to prepare a defense or risk losing their freedom forever.
The future looks bleak, and it's about to get worse.
Fiona has no memories of her origins, but somehow, she shares half her DNA with the invaders. For this, she lives a life of scorn and shame amongst humans. When the enemy arrives to enslave her village, will she help the humans who hate her or join the aliens who welcome her? The key to victory lies in the depths of her obscure past. Can she remember her true heritage before it's too late?
The signal must be sent once again.
The Lost Signal is the first book on the Slaves of Zisaida trilogy: a Sci-Fi fantasy story about our galaxy's war for survival against an intergalactic threat.
The Nibiru Effect: A Time Travel Adventure by G. Sauve
A cryptic dream. A strange symbol. A magical ring.
Will’s life will never be the same.
Lured away from his life at the orphanage by the promise of a family reunion, fifteen-year-old Will Save unwittingly embarks on an adventure through time and space.
Catapulted into the distant past. Struggling to survive a dinosaur-infested land. Plagued by a mysterious shapeshifting ability. These are only some of the challenges Will faces as he battles mythical creatures in a desperate attempt to save a race of prehistoric humanoids from a deadly plague.
Avalon is obsessed with altering the course of history. If she succeeds, Will’s entire life will come crumbling down around him. Desperate to protect those he loves and reunite with his long-lost mother, he must accept his destiny and become the saviour everyone believes him to be.
Can he live up to his name and save the world?
Find out in this action-packed, pulse-pounding first installment in a brand-new YA series about courage, love, and destiny.
Disciples of Trikaal by Varun Sayal
Aru must choose...
...use his powers to protect his family...
...or give up his life to save millions of strangers.
Aru and Nemi together summoned Trikaal, an ancient time traveler, who agreed to be their Guru. Nemi chose to master time travel, and Aru to read the future.
But their lives took a sharp turn when paranoid Nemi imprisoned Aru and his pregnant wife. Aru, who considered Nemi his brother, never saw it coming and now languishes in a tiny jail cell. While Nemi travels back and forth in time, wreaking death and destruction.
Traveling to the distant future, Nemi aims to decimate the last survivors of humanity. Aru reads this future and has a plan to end it all. But the price of doing the right thing is too high.
Will Aru escape and save his family or stay and save the world?
Deep State by Dwayne Trapper
Being pulled back from an investigation of alien-possessed cows by his boss seemed par for the course these days. Until he turned in his incident reports and biological samples and apparently kicked over a hornet's nest because now his agency is spying on him. When the aliens are trying to infiltrate your own goverment, what's a special agent to do but accept help wherever it can be found. Even if it quacks.
Discovered by M G Knight
Imagine: It's late, you hear a sound. Sitting up in bed, you remember that your parents aren't home. Creeping down the hall, you come face-to-face with a nightmare. The monster that lives in the wallpaper has come for you at last. So, do you run or try and protect your sister?
One night in 1970s Glasgow, young Arthur MacGregor is woken by the strangest intruders anyone could imagine. Trapped in the house with his sister, he misunderstands their good intentions as events take a shocking turn. Will the kids be safe, or is the real danger about to arrive home from the pub? Could the discovery Arthur, makes on that terrible night change his life for the better or set him on the path to becoming a monster himself?
Many years later, Arthur MacGregor leads a rag-tag band of misfits on a mission to destroy the mysterious Order of Saint Nicholas. All that stands in his way is nine-year-old Oliver Winter and his enigmatic new friend Enzo. The battle to protect the ancient secrets of a saint and prevent a cruel twisting of technology will put many lives in jeopardy; risking a revelation that the world may not be ready to face.
Discovered is a prequel to The Science of Santa Claus, the first book in the incredible saga of the Winter family, designed for older children who love all things sci-fi and anyone who seeks the truth behind a fairy tale!
Wishing you all the best,
Rae Knightly
*
TAS1 : Ben Archer and the Cosmic Fall (The Alien Skill Series, Book 1)
TAS2 : Ben Archer and the Alien Skill (The Alien Skill Series, Book 2)
TAS3 : Ben Archer and the Moon Paradox (The Alien Skill Series, Book 3)
TAS1-3: The Alien Skill Series, Books 1-3
TAS4 : Ben Archer and the World Beyond (The Alien Skill Series, Book 4)
TAS5 : Ben Archer and the Star Rider (The Alien Skill Series, Book 5)
TAS6 : Ben Archer and the Toreq Son (The Alien Skill Series, Book 6)