Michael A. Stackpole, original fantasy and Star Wars author, has issued a challenge to everyone who wants to give Michael A. Stackpolefull creative control over to authors. Traditionally, authors have been shackled by big New York publishers with restrictive contracts that dictated how an they could craft their novels. However, with the rise of digital self-publishing, authors can now cut out the middle-man and sell directly to the fans. Stackpole has championed this new method of publishing.

His fantasy novel, Talion: Revenant, was a huge hit when it was first published. In fact, he receives more requests for a sequel than any of his other works. Unfortunately, writing for big publishers and getting them on board is no easy task, so fans were forced to wait for a sequel that never materialized – until now.

He has recently re-released Talion: Revenant in ebook format and has issued a challenge along with it: if he can sell 10,000 copies of the digital format of the book, he will use the profits to write the much-anticipated sequel. Now that is a challenge I can get behind. If all authors seriously considered the opinions of their fans, novels would be so much better.

The idea behind this challenge is a huge step in the right direction. Publishers have no right determining the direction of authors. It should be solely between the author and the fans. We are the ones reading and supporting these artists, so it is only right that we be given the opportunity to connect with them and let them know what we want to read. And the best way to show our support is to buy directly from them via digital self-publishing.

The digital form of this book is indeed self-published by Stackpole, so you are buying directly from the man himself. Get out there and show your support!

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