Brandy-New SPACE PEW PEW Cover Reveal! 👀🥂
A look at the expenses to get this project re-launched, plans for the series, a promise, and a request for some help!
It is now UP AND AVAILABLE on Amazon!
Folks, it has been a long, WILD road to get here, but I'm thrilled to announce that SPACE PEW PEW 2nd Edition, an official February 2025 re-release, with a brand-spankin'-new cover and interior re-format is now out and available!
How Did I End Up Here?
As you may have known, SPP was originally under contract with an indy publisher. I re-acquired the rights to the SPP IP (which my publisher was very understanding about, so no bridges burned which was my first priority as they are wonderful people!), and it is now 100% a self-publishing project, owned fully and exclusively by yours truly, the humble author, ready to pour all of my creativity (er ... insanity) into this thing moving forward!
I am always eager to learn new skills, and I've developed considerable ones being in the independent space over the last few years as an author, marketer, and brick-and-mortar business owner. What this meant was "putting on the white belt" again, and diving into Bowker, Ingram Spark, Vellum, and the large time investment to get a handle on it all, as well as re-vamping the cover (in all it's 80s sci-fi tribute glory) for the updated trim dimensions after the reformat knocked the sizes out of whack.
How Much Does a Re-Launch Cost?
The book was launched last Black Friday, and was pulled from all marketplaces in early January. Since then, I've spent $300+ on ISBNs and Barcodes (for this project and future projects), $250 on a full version of Vellum for all of my formatting needs for this and future projects, licensing fees for acquiring fonts and images for the cover re-design, etc. etc. A significant investment on a book that already had a launch, as no doubt new numbers on a re-launch will naturally not be as strong.
Where Am I Taking This Thing?
This also represents the beginning of a much broader picture, as this book is now officially labeled and organized as Book #1 in the "TALES FROM THE PEWNIVERSE" series, and I'm happy to announce that two related titles are in the plotting stage, covers are already designed, and I'll have the ISBNs and knowledge of how to make this all work to crank new material to 11!
Will SPACE PEW PEW ever recoup all of this expense? Possibly. Such is the life of a self-pub title existing solely on the self-belief that I wrote something very special. Will it be worth it no matter what? Absolutely. This book is how I wrote myself out of a depression and re-discovered my love of unfettered creativity. The few readers that have given it a shot have LOVED the characters and the world, and there's much more story to be told!
Now To Ask You For Help ...
Unfortunately, Amazon support is unable to transfer the Amazon reviews from the old out-of-print ISBNs under the original publisher to the new work. This is what it's like trying to re-organize and re-launch a project after an ISBN change. Challenging.
While I didn't have a pile of reviews (10 to be exact), it still sucks mightily that they can only be attached to the now out-of-print version. Goodreads has (for now at least) magically linked the two books and reviews appropriately, though new covers have not propagated there yet. All part of the process.
So I humbly beseech you ...
If you have read SPACE PEW PEW, reviewed it previously, or intend to, please pretty please throw a text review up on the new version. J.L. Engel (appreciate you, brother!) left me one of the most epic reviews I've ever received, a portion of which is included on the back cover of this 2nd Edition, and I have no doubt more will come as the book gets out on a re-launch. A copy-paste of a prior review you've already left will take but a moment and would be hugely helpful!
Beyond that, a quote re-post of this grand and glorious announcement would be much appreciated, and if you're one of my fellow YouTubers looking to book an entertaining weirdo, hit me up, and let's collab on a stream and help each other build audiences!
If You Learn Anything From This Post ...
... let it be this: Have faith in yourself, and your ability as a creative to always learn, grow, and do what is right to take the greatest care of your epic words, epic worlds, and epic creations!
My sweet, sweet fellow writing friends, you have chosen a creative pursuit that is often difficult and most times thankless and lonely. It is too easy to fall into a trap of self-doubt, negativity, and self-punishment. Give yourself some grace, because the world needs to hear your words, and your biggest fans are out there right now waiting for your stories.
In Closing, My Promise To You ...
If ever you need some advice, guidance, or someone to kick you in Uranus because imposter syndrome has you being a jerk to yourself, DM me. I've been there, doubt doesn't scare me anymore, and I'll be happy to set your ass straight. Dad Mode Activated. 💪
And if you're willing to give SPACE PEW PEW a chance, I promise you'll get my full effort in those pages, with a cast and story I crafted with all of my love, creativity, and a considerable amount of madness.
Alex, Toshiro, Andromeda, Leopold and Boom Boom all thank you. Bobnog Cognog, my friends. Buckle yourself up in the Sotally Tober, put on your favorite Jacques Starblazer jacket, throw on some Dr. Dre, have some Yarg's Milk cheese, don't feed the Psymoloids. For goodness sake, try not to grow a 2nd rectum and watch out for defecating foliage up in the Razorbark trees! There is much more PEWNIVERSE adventuring to be had, and I'd be thrilled to have you join the crew for the ride!
Oh, and don't forget to toggle on non-lethal mode ... we can't go having awkward family reunions on account of previous acts of accidental carnage ...
Until next time!
🙏💪🔥
You got this bro! Take no prisoners, hoist the Jolly Roger, and be the best of the worst!
Wait...that came out wrong...
Seriously man, super excited for this new completely Indy approach and rest assured I will be hitting you up in DMs for advice when and if I take the same plunge!