July 8, 2021
The launch of Depth Charge could not have been more rewarding and successful. It exceeded my wildest dreams and expectations. Since the end of April, I’ve gone through multiple print runs for signed copies, which have shipped out across the planet, from Bali to the Philippines, to Uzbekistan and Sri Lanka. The launch event on Instagram Live was a lot of fun and you can still watch it on my Instagram saved Stories. I also was a guest on the Worn & Wound Podcast an The OT Podcast, and of course, The Grey NATO. We devoted an entire episode to Depth Charge. I was interviewed for the blog of Smartpress (my local printer), and sat in on a discussion with the Scuba Book Club.
Meanwhile, the book has been steadily selling on Amazon and picking up over 150 reviews and an average rating from readers of 4.8/5, which is incredible. The Hodinkee Shop added Depth Charge to its Library section and published a flattering review of the book. They offer free shipping on the book, which makes it an attractive alternative to Amazon. And I’m thrilled to report that three local Twin Cities bookstores now stock Depth Charge on their shelves: Magers & Quinn in Uptown Minneapolis, Lake Country Booksellers in White Bear Lake, and Valley Bookseller in Stillwater. Though local bookstores don’t match the volume of sales of online sellers, it’s such a dream come true to see my own book on a shelf next to other authors’ works. If you can, shop local and support small bookstores.
If you prefer to read your books on a device, an eBook version of Depth Charge is available on Kindle, Apple Books, and Scribd. I’ll soon be sitting down to record an audiobook version, once the dust settles from launch marketing, and keep an eye on the Shop, because the long awaited Henchman and Deep Blue T-shirts will be for sale later this month.
Looking further ahead, the groundwork is being laid for a sequel of sorts, the second in the “Tusker Series” of adventure thrillers, with new villains, sidekicks, and love interests, all set in a new, exotic location. Stay tuned!
Thanks to everyone who’s bought a book and offered feedback and support. A book is not a story until it’s read by others. —JH
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April 21, 2021
Well, the day is finally approaching. Your patience is about to be rewarded and you can stop holding your breath…. Depth Charge will be available very soon! In fact, on Thursday, 22 April, pre-ordering will open for signed copies of the book. Look for the Shop link at the top of this site, or follow the link on the home page. These editions will be printed locally in Minneapolis, signed by me, and shipped via FedEx worldwide within a week.
Please note that, although I’ve negotiated rates with FedEx, international shipping is expensive. As in more-than-the-book-itself expensive. But don’t despair. If you want alternatives, Depth Charge will also be published on Amazon, worldwide, in both paperback and Kindle versions—unsigned, obviously—also on the 29th. It will also be available on Google Books, and Barnes & Noble in the near future. Apple Books and audiobook formats are also in the works.
Please tune in to my Instagram Live (@jasonheaton) launch event on 29 April at 4pm Central Time (2100 GMT) for a special launch discussion.
Thank you as always for your interest in my first novel. I hope it meets expectations and you enjoy it! —JH
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Feb 10, 2021
I’m happy to report that the manuscript is in the capable hands of an excellent editor whom I trust and, from what I’ve seen, he’s making great progress and some significant improvements to my story. I’ve also been working with a talented graphic designer who has finished the cover design, as well as some fantastic marketing imagery and animations. As if that wasn’t enough, another friend who is a talented composer, has written an original theme song for Depth Charge. Yes, my first novel has a musical score!
While all this may sound like I’m putting the marketing cart before the writing horse, I assure you, the book is in a great place and I’m excited to get it in front of you all very soon. On the more mundane side, I’ve secured an ISBN number and barcode for the book and found a reputable printer here in Minneapolis to print and bind it. I’m also exploring shipping options for both domestic (USA) and international fulfillment that will balance expediency and cost.
So what’s the plan from here on out? Well, my editor tells me he’ll have his draft back to me by late February, after which I’m allowing myself a month to finalize it. Then it’s on to typesetting, a full proof, and then on to the printer by early April. This is, of course, assuming all goes smoothly between now and then. I don’t see why it won’t.
I’m still working out my plan for actual publication and sales. As some of you know, I maintain a subscription newsletter on the Substack platform. While some of the content there is free to anyone who signs up, there is also a paid option for additional articles. I’ve promised those who’ve opted to pay to subscribe not only an exclusive preview excerpt of Depth Charge (coming in March), but also early ordering access to the novel. If that’s something that interests you, feel free to check out swimpruf.substack.com. I’m not here to drum up subscriptions though, but thought I’d mention it.
Some people have written to me about getting a signed edition of the book. I’m incredibly flattered that there’s interest in this, and since I am doing all fulfillment myself (may God have mercy), I am happy to sign copies of the book before I ship it out.
Others have asked about a Kindle version of Depth Charge. This is also going to happen. I’m not sure if I will publish an e-book simultaneously with the printed paperback. Admittedly, hard copies are my top priority, but I fully understand that a lot of people consume their books electronically, and it is considerably cheaper and saves on shipping as well. So it will happen for sure. As for an audiobook version? I’d love to do this but it is also a big undertaking, so I’ll pursue that after things settle down after the first run of publishing.
Finally, I’m working on some fun swag that ties in with elements of Depth Charge. I don’t have specific plans yet for rolling this out, but trust me, it’s going to be good.
If you want to keep up with news and some teasers about Depth Charge, be sure to follow the book’s Instagram feed, @depthcharge_novel . I’ve also been updating the Depth Charge website, where you can now find some cover imagery, a synopsis of the story, an About the Author page, and the full theme song! The website is also where the book will go on sale in April, so be sure to bookmark it.