Help Spread the Revolution!

Do you know the #1 method for spreading the hype of a book?  The answer is--word of mouth.  Readers are absolutely crucial to the popularity of a book.  Not just because they buy the book (which us authors are forever grateful for) but because they talk to other readers and recommend it to them (something we're also grateful for).  So if you believe in The Atlantis Revolution, then help spread the Revolution by completing one, or a few, or all of the tasks below. 

1.  Tell a friend (or a few).  Tell them that a new YA fantasy is hitting the market.  Tell them it looks/is_______(insert adjective).  Tell them the reviews are fantastic!  Tell them to visit www.tomtancin.com and www.theatlantisrevolution.com for more info.  And if you've read the book, then tell them what you thought about it and convince them to read it too!


2.  Spread the Revolution on Social Networks.  Add Tom Tancin on Twitter/Facebook/Goodreads--See the Social Profiles' box on the right.  Then tweet, post on Facebook, add the cover image on Pinterest, put Hippocampus on your Goodreads' shelf, etc.  Or go to the Facebook profile for Tom Tancin (see the side box for social profiles) and share some of the things from the Facebook profile.  Use the cover, the ads, the characters, the trailer, etc to spread the word.

Change your profile pics, backgrounds, cover images, etc to the Hippocampus cover or images that promote The Atlantis Revolution.

 

This is the perfect size for the cover image on the new Facebook timeline.

3.  Buy, Read, Review.  The last part is very important.  Add a review (it can be short) to Goodreads, a blog, link it on twitter, and/or put it on the site where you bought the book (B&N, Amazon, Lulu).  Reviews are important so please make sure to explain what you liked (or didn't like) about the book.

4.  Add the sequels to your Goodreads list.  All of the sequels are already available on Goodreads.  And also vote for them in the "YA Novels of (Insert year 2013, 2014, 2015)" lists.  This a great way to increase the fan base of the entire series.


5.  Tell a student/librarian/teacher.  Hippocampus is very popular with the middle school students that read it so tell someone that is directly in contact with students. 

6.  And of course, send your thoughts/questions to Tom at tomtancin@gmail.com or on Facebook, or via twitter @tomtancin.  And keep checking this site for updates on The Atlantis Revolution.

Read More

Hippocampus Release Week! (UPDATED)

After months of waiting, Hippocampus Release Week is finally here!  And there are some special events happening that you might want to check out.  Here's the schedule:

Monday 4/2--Hippocampus Book Trailer is the featured trailer on www.wovenmyst.com starting at 12 PM EST.

Tuesday 4/3--Hippocampus is officially on sale as an eBook at B&N and Amazon and as a paperback at Lulu.

Wednesday 4/4--Visit www.yabookscentral.com to see the Hippocampus trailer as the featured video.  Trailer will remain the featured video for most of April.  You should also check out wovenmyst.com where an advertisement for Hippocampus will be running on the first article each day for 2 weeks.

Thursday 4/5--Spread the Revolution Day!  Visit www.tomtancin.com and/or www.theatlantisrevolution.com to learn how you can help spread the Atlantis Revolution.

Friday 4/6--
Check out the interview Tom did with thebookshelfreview.blogspot.com. 

Read More

The Origins of Revolution: Part III (2010)

I was searching through my old book files looking for a specific file but I came across some interesting items and I was reminded of how long I've been developing the concepts that we now call The Atlantis Revolution.  I figured it would be interesting to share the development of the series with everyone so I'm going to chronicle the growth of the series in multiple blog posts.  Here's some idea of how the series that will see it's first book reach the market on April 3, 2012 came to be. 


2010-  By the end of 2009, I posted the early draft of the manuscript on textnovel.com.  At the start of 2010, the was an editor's choice.  It would go on to become very popular on the site and ended up a semi-finalist in the 2010 Textnovel Contest.  Here's a promo image I used to promote the story on Textnovel:

As the book became more successful and I further developed the series, I reached out to Veronica Jones (an illustrator) to do some interior B&W images for the book (which will actually be in the paperback and .pdf versions of the book).  Thoroughly impressed, I asked her to do a character sketch for Trey Atlas.  Here's an image using that illustration to celebrate the success of the book on Textnovel:

At the same time, I started promoting the book on Inkpop.com.  The book also found great success on that site, making it into the top 150 books at one point.

With the success of the book on those sites increasing throughout 2010, I had a lot to think about.  And it just so happens that 2011 would bring even greater success.



Stay tuned for more on the Origins of the Revolution...
 

Read More

The Origins of the Revolution: Part II (2009)

I was searching through my old book files looking for a specific file but I came across some interesting items and I was reminded of how long I've been developing the concepts that we now call The Atlantis Revolution.  I figured it would be interesting to share the development of the series with everyone so I'm going to chronicle the growth of the series in multiple blog posts.  Here's some idea of how the series that will see it's first book reach the market on April 3, 2012 came to be.

2009-  Between 2005 and 2009, I took time away from Triton and wrote three other books (Perfection, The Man in the Moon, and Watched).  In the summer of 2009, I returned to the concept of Atlantis and I also created the character that would drive The Atlantis Revolution.  Trey Atlas was born.  He was cocky and arrogant and not that likeable but the base of his character still remains in the story today.  I also wrote the first version of the manuscript that would become Hippocampus that summer.  The first version was entitled Trey Atlas and the Key to the Kingdom.  Here's an early look at a sketch of Trey Atlas by CJ Howlett:

And here's the beginning of the earliest manuscript featuring Trey Atlas I could find.  Please note that this is not the version that will be released (Trey's character is not as cocky as he was in this early version).

So I bet you think you're going to read about another poor sap that has nothing going for him. You probably think I'm just another nobody turned hero with a story to tell. Think about it, so many stories these days are about kids with the worst luck in the world. They are orphaned, have only a few friends, the subject of ridicule by the popular crowd, and they can't manage to please anyone.

Then all of a sudden, they magically find themselves thrust into a huge dilemma of epic proportions. They manage to find a hidden power, or powers, deep down in themselves and use it to save the day. Suddenly they are heroes. And their lives are never the same. In fact, they probably go on numerous other quests to save the world from disaster. Aren't you sick of that?

Well, I'm going to tell you flat out, that's not me. I'm Trey Atlas and I'm the complete opposite of those poor saps turned heroes. I actually have a really nice life going for me. I'm a good-looking guy; ask any of the girls in my classes.

I have a smooth, model-worthy face, ocean blue eyes, and layered blond hair that I always style to look like I didn't spend anytime on it. In other words, I make it look messy.

 

It takes a lot of work to be me. I spend most of my life in the pool, the next majority working out at the gym, and the rest sleeping, showering, and picking out the newest fashion trends.

Did I mention that I'm a champion swimmer for our school? Well I am and our school worships swimming like most other schools worship football. That's probably because I'm the best swimmer in the state for three years running. I joined the varsity swim team in eighth grade. And I carry top grades to match. 

 

Before you ask, cause I know you're thinking it, yes my parents are rich. Dad's an influential lawyer on his way to political office and Mom's a leading archaeologist. They buy me all of the latest technology and must haves. Now that doesn't come without a price. My mom and dad are rarely around. But I don't really care because Maria, our housekeeper, is the best cook in the world. Plus, like I said before, I spend most of my time either in the pool or at the gym.

I'm very popular too. I have lots of friends from every clique imaginable. I don't have time for a girlfriend but if you were to observe me at school, you would always find me with a number of girls hanging around me. Who needs a girlfriend when you have a bunch of girl friends? 

 

So let me sell you myself in one sentence. I'm Trey Atlas and I have model looks, athletic talent, intelligence, a wealthy family, and a great personality. Hopefully, based on that, you can believe me when I say that I had everything going for me. Then suddenly, out of nowhere, it all changed. But before I start whining, which I can't stand, let me start at the beginning. 

 

This is the story of how my awesome life changed into a nightmare and how I got wrapped up in a fight to save a world that shouldn't have existed and forced to become a hero I didn't want to be. 

I know that if I didn't have that early version, I wouldn't have Hippocampus as it is today but I'm so glad that I developed it over the years.  

Stay tuned for more on the Origins of the Revolution... 

Read More

The Origins of the Revolution: Part I (2005)

I was searching through my old book files looking for a specific file but I came across some interesting items and I was reminded of how long I've been developing the concepts that we now call The Atlantis Revolution.  I figured it would be interesting to share the development of the series with everyone so I'm going to chronicle the growth of the series in multiple blog posts.  Here's some idea of how the series that will see it's first book reach the market on April 3, 2012 came to be. 

2005-  I started working on a spinoff from the Time Warriors Legacy featuring the Atlantean character "Triton".  The book was entitled Triton and was to document his life and follow his quest to save the island.  Here's some early artwork I did back then for that book:

Notice the early version of the logo that now represents The Atlantis Revolution.  I'm amazed that I had that idea all the way back in 2005.


Stay tuned for more on the Origins of the Revolution...

Read More

Website is live

The redesign of Tom Tancin.com is now live. While some improvements will be made over the next few weeks, this is the basic design of the new site. This site puts Tom's blog posts front and center, let's you "tweet" and "like" the various posts/pages, makes it easy to connect Tom's books to your Goodreads shelves, and gives you the opportunity to connect and socialize with other vistors and readers.

Have an idea of how the site can be improved? Want to see a feature added? Leave us a comment in this post.

Read More