Free Sci-Fi Short Story: We Don’t Plummet Out of the Sky Anymore - Page 2

cbarnett · 04-15-2010, 10:28 PM

I just downloaded and read this. Very nice! I'll keep an eye out for your work now, for sure (and go review it on Smashwords).

ImogenRose · 04-15-2010, 11:33 PM

Will take a look, thanks!

Vintage Season · 04-16-2010, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbarnett

I just downloaded and read this. Very nice! I'll keep an eye out for your work now, for sure (and go review it on Smashwords).

Craig, I just saw the review a few minutes ago. Many, many thanks!

Quote:

Originally Posted by ImogenRose

Will take a look, thanks!

Hope you enjoy it!

- M.

Vintage Season · 04-17-2010, 10:43 AM

Just got confirmation that "We Don't Plummet Out of the Sky Anymore" has actually shipped to both Barnes & Noble and Apple now!

Not sure how long it will be before each store shows the ebook as available, but if anyone notices it on the iPad or nook before I do, please feel free to post an update.

More thanks are extended to all those who have been reading the story, sharing it with friends, and becoming Facebook "fans" (a.k.a. "friends who have enjoyed reading something I wrote"). Once there are five more "fans," we can get a nice, short, memorable URL... instead of something with a string of fifteen numbers at the end.

- M.

Jack Tingle · 04-18-2010, 10:55 AM

I read and enjoyed your tale. Keep writing. It's like the decimation of lawyers joke, "...a good start".

Regards,
Jack Tingle

Vintage Season · 04-18-2010, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack Tingle

I read and enjoyed your tale. Keep writing. It's like the decimation of lawyers joke, "...a good start".

Thanks!

If you enjoyed this introduction to my work, also keep an eye out for "Olive Drab." The new story has a decidedly darker spin to its thread, and should be published soon.

- M.

Vintage Season · 04-21-2010, 09:56 PM

A few moments ago I learned that although "We Don't Plummet..." was indeed shipped to Apple last week, a Smashwords-related glitch caused all of the books in that shipment to default to a $9.99 sales price. (Should be fixed soon, if it isn't already.)

Although I would frankly love it if every person who encountered my writing would willingly pay that much per story (!), it doesn't look as though anyone has done so yet. Nor should they, since this is a short story. Realistically anyone can buy a whole digest-sized magazine of modern sci-fi short stories for a few dollars; the most I would charge for a one-off ebook short via Smashwords or Apple or anyone else is 99¢.

So... if you happily went off to the iBookstore on your brand-spankin' new iPad, searched for "We Don't Plummet Out of the Sky Anymore" by M. David Blake, and had a conniption fit when you saw the dollar signs, never fear! You can still download the story from Smashwords at the original (non-)price. Simply click on the image to be taken to the Smashwords page and select the Epub version, then drop it in iTunes to add the file to iBooks:

That said, I am considering charging for the next story. I am seeing lots of downloads, so my hope is that at least some of those people are reading it (and if the folks who downloaded had each paid $9.99, I would be happily sipping pina coladas off the coast of Kauaʻi as my secretary pounded the keys of an antique Royal...).

If you read and/or enjoyed "We Don't Plummet Out of the Sky Anymore," and would still like a gratis copy of whatever I offer next at Smashwords, just leave a review. You don't have to like the story... just be honest. If I decide to charge money for the next one, anyone who has left a review * will get a coupon code for a complimentary download.

- M.

* Really? Anyone? Well, yes. You see, if they like the first story and leave a glowing review it will be a small way of saying "thank you." And if they hate the story, and thoroughly slag my writing, it will be a small way of saying "please give my words another chance." (Or giving them an opportunity to fire another salvo if the writer is particularly vicious. It's still a chance I am willing to take, because I believe in what I am doing.)

Vintage Season · 04-25-2010, 12:35 PM

If you enjoyed the first story, my manuscript for "Olive Drab" will debut in the Folk Tales of the Final Frontier contest at The Friday Challenge.

For that matter, there is still time for you to submit your own story, if you would like to join the fun! There is no fee to enter. You aren't signing away any rights by submitting a story. You might even win a small prize, from whatever is stashed behind Door #3, and you'll get excellent feedback from a troika of qualified judges, as well as from your fellow participants.

For complete details, please see my "So you think you can write a story? Prove it!" thread in the Writer's Corner:

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=81223

- M.

sunnysmiles · 04-25-2010, 02:27 PM

Thanks a lot I will read it ;I dont read too much science fiction these days

dreams · 04-30-2010, 10:43 PM

I just finished your short story and left a review. I enjoyed reading the story and found that I didn't want it to end. I wanted to continue to read about the characters and their lives.

I'll look forward to reading more of your stories / books.

Thank you for a very enjoyable read.

Vintage Season · 05-01-2010, 01:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dreams

I'll look forward to reading more of your stories / books.

Thank you for a very enjoyable read.

And thank you for brightening my evening! I'll look forward to offering more stories for your enjoyment.

Sincerely,

- M.

Vintage Season · 05-07-2010, 02:19 PM

I just made a very pleasant discovery: "We Don't Plummet Out of the Sky Anymore" is currently the 24th highest rated free ebook on Smashwords, in any genre... and the second highest rated free ebook in the entire Sci-Fi and Fantasy category. Not bad at all, since it's only been available for a single month!

My sincere thanks to everyone who has downloaded, read and reviewed the story, and I am gratified that so many are able to enjoy it.

- M.

DixieGal · 05-09-2010, 11:23 PM

It's next on my TBR list. Thanks for the freebie, and good luck with your other books!

DixieGal · 05-10-2010, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DixieGal

It's next on my TBR list. Thanks for the freebie, and good luck with your other books!

Read it, loved it, reviewed it.

Vintage Season · 05-10-2010, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DixieGal

Read it, loved it, reviewed it.

Many sincere thanks!

Apparently on the strength of your recommendation, "We Don't Plummet" has now jumped to the 15th highest rated free ebook on Smashwords, in any genre (and still in second place for Sci-Fi and Fantasy).

Hmm... I wonder if anyone could propel a story all the way to number one strictly by word of mouth?

- M.

04-21-2010, 09:56 PM	#22
Vintage Season Pulps and dime novels... Posts: 343 Karma: 1952003 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: Kobo Aura/Kobo Aura One LE/iPad Air	A few moments ago I learned that although "We Don't Plummet..." was indeed shipped to Apple last week, a Smashwords-related glitch caused all of the books in that shipment to default to a $9.99 sales price. (Should be fixed soon, if it isn't already.) Although I would frankly love it if every person who encountered my writing would willingly pay that much per story (!), it doesn't look as though anyone has done so yet. Nor should they, since this is a short story. Realistically anyone can buy a whole digest-sized magazine of modern sci-fi short stories for a few dollars; the most I would charge for a one-off ebook short via Smashwords or Apple or anyone else is 99¢. So... if you happily went off to the iBookstore on your brand-spankin' new iPad, searched for "We Don't Plummet Out of the Sky Anymore" by M. David Blake, and had a conniption fit when you saw the dollar signs, never fear! You can still download the story from Smashwords at the original (non-)price. Simply click on the image to be taken to the Smashwords page and select the Epub version, then drop it in iTunes to add the file to iBooks: That said, I am considering charging for the next story. I am seeing lots of downloads, so my hope is that at least some of those people are reading it (and if the folks who downloaded had each paid $9.99, I would be happily sipping pina coladas off the coast of Kauaʻi as my secretary pounded the keys of an antique Royal...). If you read and/or enjoyed "We Don't Plummet Out of the Sky Anymore," and would still like a gratis copy of whatever I offer next at Smashwords, just leave a review. You don't have to like the story... just be honest. If I decide to charge money for the next one, anyone who has left a review * will get a coupon code for a complimentary download. - M. * Really? Anyone? Well, yes. You see, if they like the first story and leave a glowing review it will be a small way of saying "thank you." And if they hate the story, and thoroughly slag my writing, it will be a small way of saying "please give my words another chance." (Or giving them an opportunity to fire another salvo if the writer is particularly vicious. It's still a chance I am willing to take, because I believe in what I am doing.) Attached Thumbnails

05-07-2010, 02:19 PM	#27
Vintage Season Pulps and dime novels... Posts: 343 Karma: 1952003 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: Kobo Aura/Kobo Aura One LE/iPad Air	I just made a very pleasant discovery: "We Don't Plummet Out of the Sky Anymore" is currently the 24th highest rated free ebook on Smashwords, in any genre... and the second highest rated free ebook in the entire Sci-Fi and Fantasy category. Not bad at all, since it's only been available for a single month! My sincere thanks to everyone who has downloaded, read and reviewed the story, and I am gratified that so many are able to enjoy it. - M. Last edited by Vintage Season; 05-07-2010 at 02:28 PM.

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04-15-2010, 10:28 PM	#16
cbarnett MR prodigal son Posts: 1,085 Karma: 1083739 Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Aura H2O	I just downloaded and read this. Very nice! I'll keep an eye out for your work now, for sure (and go review it on Smashwords).

04-15-2010, 11:33 PM	#17
ImogenRose PORTAL Posts: 7,204 Karma: 2884640 Join Date: Apr 2010 Device: Kindle 1, Kindle 3 (3G), iPhone	Will take a look, thanks!

04-17-2010, 10:43 AM	#19
Vintage Season Pulps and dime novels... Posts: 343 Karma: 1952003 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: Kobo Aura/Kobo Aura One LE/iPad Air	Just got confirmation that "We Don't Plummet Out of the Sky Anymore" has actually shipped to both Barnes & Noble and Apple now! Not sure how long it will be before each store shows the ebook as available, but if anyone notices it on the iPad or nook before I do, please feel free to post an update. More thanks are extended to all those who have been reading the story, sharing it with friends, and becoming Facebook "fans" (a.k.a. "friends who have enjoyed reading something I wrote"). Once there are five more "fans," we can get a nice, short, memorable URL... instead of something with a string of fifteen numbers at the end. - M.

04-18-2010, 10:55 AM	#20
Jack Tingle Punctuation Fetishist Posts: 557 Karma: 1070000 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: The Bluest Commonwealth In East America Device: Kindle PW, Nexus 7 (2013), Galaxy S5 phone, Galaxy Tab 4 8.0	I read and enjoyed your tale. Keep writing. It's like the decimation of lawyers joke, "...a good start". Regards, Jack Tingle

04-25-2010, 12:35 PM	#23
Vintage Season Pulps and dime novels... Posts: 343 Karma: 1952003 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: Kobo Aura/Kobo Aura One LE/iPad Air	If you enjoyed the first story, my manuscript for "Olive Drab" will debut in the Folk Tales of the Final Frontier contest at The Friday Challenge. For that matter, there is still time for you to submit your own story, if you would like to join the fun! There is no fee to enter. You aren't signing away any rights by submitting a story. You might even win a small prize, from whatever is stashed behind Door #3, and you'll get excellent feedback from a troika of qualified judges, as well as from your fellow participants. For complete details, please see my "So you think you can write a story? Prove it!" thread in the Writer's Corner: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=81223 - M.

04-25-2010, 02:27 PM	#24
sunnysmiles Addict Posts: 279 Karma: 1188010 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: London Device: I pad air, kindle pw2 and kindle touch , kindle had fire Nook pad nook	Thanks a lot I will read it ;I dont read too much science fiction these days

04-30-2010, 10:43 PM	#25
dreams It's about the umbrella Posts: 25,112 Karma: 56250158 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: Sony 505\| K Fire \| KK 3G+Wi-Fi \| iPhone 3Gs \|Vista 32-bit Hm Prem w/FF	I just finished your short story and left a review. I enjoyed reading the story and found that I didn't want it to end. I wanted to continue to read about the characters and their lives. I'll look forward to reading more of your stories / books. Thank you for a very enjoyable read.

05-09-2010, 11:23 PM	#28
DixieGal Hi There! Posts: 7,473 Karma: 2930523 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ft Lauderdale Device: iPad	It's next on my TBR list. Thanks for the freebie, and good luck with your other books!