The Secret Society of Black Stars

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The Secret Society of Black Stars
Do you have what it takes to be a Black Star and take over Black Star
Canyon?
The Black Stars Program
Earn stars = Win stuff
It’s really that easy.
And you will be helping me out while you do it.
I want to thank the amazing steampunk author, Michael Coorlim, who inspired
me to bring the SSBS to life.
Find out more about him and his work at www.mcoorlim.com
All artwork by Zoe Humphries
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How to Play
You earn stars by completing assignments. With those stars, you unlock
achievements and prizes.
The more assignments you do, the more stars you get. It also means that you are
are getting a step closer, each time, to taking over Black Star Canyon!
The Assignments
Beta-read: 25 stars
If you would like to be the first to read a new book, I will give you an unedited
book and you tell me what’s wrong with it.
When the book is finished and published, you will also get a free copy of the
ebook.
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Books Reviews: 1-26 stars
This one is easy. You just have to go to any site that my books are on, and leave
a review. Even if you didn’t like it.
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5 stars for an Amazon review.
2 stars for a Goodreads review.
2 stars for Apple/itunes/ibooks review.
2 stars for a Kobo review.
2 stars for a Barnes and Noble review.
1 star for a review in your blog.
Double the stars if you do it on launch day!
As other platforms arise, stars will be added there as well. Sites like Scribid,
Page Foundry, Wattpad, etc, will also receive 2 stars per review. So, if you
frequent those sites, and you see that Black Star Canyon is on those, please leave
a review and let me know about it.
Social Services: 1-13 stars
When I need a specific tweet, Facebook post or Google Plus post, like, shared,
+1’d or commented on, I will let you all know through the networks, email or
website.
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Favorite a tweet: 1 star
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+1 a post: 1 star
Like a Facebook post: 1 star
Retweet a tweet: 2 stars
Share a Facebook post: 2 stars
Comment on Google+ posts: 3 stars
Comment on Facebook posts: 3 stars
Your comments do not need to be insightful, they just need to make sense.
You can stack these stars per post. So if you liked, commented and shared, one
status update on Facebook, you would receive 6 stars, do all the things on all
three sites on one post, and get 13 stars. But you can only do it once on each
post, on each network.
Podcasts or Google Hangouts: 5-25 stars
Every week, Zoe and I host the creative writing and self publishing podcast,
Podcast 451. That is where all the behind the scenes and updates on Black Star
Canyon are discussed. We also occasionally have live, Google Hangouts, for
certain episodes, launch parties and Q&A’s that we would love you to participate
in.
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Email comments or questions to 451: 5 stars
Leave an iTunes review for 451: 25 stars
Participate during a live Hangout on Google+, Facebook or Youtube: 5
stars
You get 25 points for the iTunes review because leaving reviews for podcasts on
there is such a pain in the keester!
Selfie: 5 stars
All you have to do here is take a picture, with or without yourself, with Black
Star Canyon books or merch. and post it to any of your social networks or blog.
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Posting your pic on your blog or social media sites with Back Star Canyon
books or merch: 5 stars per site
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In Person Events: 50 stars
A few times a year, I attend book signings, speaking engagements, concerts, film
screenings, festivals and conventions.
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Just show up: 50 stars
Travel Agent: 20 stars
This is what I call someone who introduces someone into Black Star Canyon.
You could lend them a book. You could send them a book as a gift via Amazon
(even the free one!).
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Introducing someone to Black Star Canyon: 20 stars
Realtor: 10 stars
If a person that you introduced into Black Star Canyon, becomes a Black Star.
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Bringing someone into the game: 10 stars
Escrow: 20 stars
As soon as the person that you brought into the game, gets an apartment in the
Black Stars program.
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The person you brought in, makes it to level three: 20 stars
Interview: 20 stars
Do you have a blog, podcast or video show? Then have C.C. On for an
interview!
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Have C.C. Wall on your blog, podcast or video show: 20 stars
Visit the REAL Black Star Canyon: 30 stars
The actual Black Star Canyon is a spot that a lot of hikers and ghost hunters
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frequent. It is located in Orange County, California.
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Visit the REAL Black Star Canyon and take some pictures of yourself
there, then post them on your blog or social networking sites: 30 stars
How to Start:
All you have to do is…
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Message me via the contact form and say that you would like to be a
Black Star!
Log the assignments you complete and send them to me.
I will enter your stars, ranks and badges.
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Ranks
As you play, you will unlock levels, achievements and badges that will be
displayed next to your name (or codename if you wish) on the site.
Tourist: The tourist is the newbie in town. Seeing if they would like to move
into Black Star Canyon, When anyone starts, the first place they go, is the Black
Star Motel.
1. Black Star Motel: 1 star - A real dump. People who stay here, don’t stay
long. If they do, they usually are never heard from again.
2. Black Star Inn: 3 stars - The Inn is extremely upper class. There you are
treated like royalty. The only problem is, you can’t afford to stay there very long
or else you’ll go broke. But hey, it’s safer than the motel!
Resident: Once you have decided that you would like to live in Black Star
Canyon, you become a Resident. residents are just renters that are looking to
buy a home but need one to open up first.
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3. Lukas’s Studio Apartment: 5 stars - The smallest apartment in Black Star
Canyon. It has a bed and a bathroom. That’s about it. The closet at the motel is
comparable to this place. But, it’s a start.
4. Jack’s One Bedroom Apartment: 10 stars - It’s not a bad place at all. It’s
in the dingier part of town, but the apartment itself is nice.
5. Sue’s Two Bedroom Apartment: 15 stars - A two bedroom with a nice
street view. Oh, what’s behind this red door?
Home Owner: You did it! You finally have enough scratch to get a place that
you can call your own.
6. Dakota’s shack: 20 stars - It’s yours, but it’s a dump. It might not last the
night. Better put this puppy back up on the market fast!
7. Chaney’s Modest Home: 25 stars - This is the perfect small house for
anyone starting their life out. Great neighborhood. But if you want to spread
your wings out, you’ll need a bigger place.
8. Moe’s Log Cabin: 35 stars - Now this place is beautiful. It’s much bigger
than your last house, but how the heck do I get back to the road?
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9. Reagan’s Ranch House: 45 stars - This place is bigger, and close to a main
road. It’s gorgeous, but it’s a ways out of town. Oh! Hondo is on!
10. The Kensington House: 55 stars - This is a beautiful, two story home.
Rustic, yet, in town. Wait. What’s that perched over that large rock?
11. Wellington Manor: 65 stars - This is the greatest home you can get in
Black Star. Who cares if it’s up on the hill? It huge and comes with maids and
butlers!
Business Owner: Once you have the home of your dreams, you can start
thinking about owning your own business. This is great here because, people
keep dying, so their businesses are for sale, dirt cheap!
12. Burger Shack: 75 stars - This little piece of heaven doesn’t look like
much, but it brings in the dough.
13. Boss Liquor: 100 stars - Everyone needs a drink now and then. Having
Lukas live across the street is also an amazing business model.
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14. Cemetery: 125 stars - You know what they say, cemeteries have gates
around them because people are dying to get in!
15. Henry’s Handy Shop: 150 stars - This place just went on the market!
What a steal. Don’t go in that back room, they are still cleaning it up.
16. Zoe Woods General Store: 175 stars - The only place in town for
anyone to do their grocery shopping. Plus, the gossip is good, too. If you haven’t
taken your picture with Black Star Bear, hurry up!
17. Black Star Cafe: 200 stars - This is the place in town for everyone to
grab a cup of joe, and eat some doughnuts or bacon. Good food, good company.
18. The Black Star Canyon Register: 250 stars - The only real newspaper in
town. What else are they going to read?
19. Cook’s Bar: 300 stars - The only bit of nightlife in Black Star Canyon.
Catch a band, have a drink, play some pool.
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20. Black Star Canyon General Hospital: 400 stars - Are you kidding?
Have you seen the mortality rate in this town? You’ll be busy for years here.
Civil Servant: Now that you own half the town, you might as well be a more
productive member of society and give back a little, or take. It’s completely up to
you.
21. City Council: 500 stars - Somehow this is the lowest one on this list.
22. County Coroner: 750 stars - It’s pretty gross, but at least you’re not in
the city council. YUCK!
23. Deputy: 1000 stars - If you can even get this far, be prepared to help out
your fellow Black Stars by getting their kitties out of trees and walking old
ladies across the street.
24. Detective: 2000 stars - Holy mackerel! This is a lot of responsibility.
Time to catch some bad guys.
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25. Sheriff: 3000 stars - This is your town now. Don’t take no gruff from no
one!
26. ?????: 4000 stars
27. ???????: 5000 stars
28. ??????: 6000 stars
29. ??????: 7000 stars
30. ?????????????: 8000 stars
Additional Ranks:
These are given in addition to your other achievements.
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Serial Killer: Any Black Star who reads all of Black Star Canyon in the
weekly serial form and also reviews them. Become a serial killer each season!
There could be many serial killers running around at any given moment!
These additional ranks however, can be taken away!
Judge: The Black Star with the most reviews gets this prestigious title. But
be careful, anyone could snatch it from you at anytime!
Public Relations Director: The Black Star who has the most points from
social networking gets this popular title. But because of how quickly social
media changes, this could be the one that changes hands the most!
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Town Historian: This title goes to the Black Star that has beta read the most
books. They should know more about the town than anyone!
Finally, the most prestigious of all…
Mayor of Black Star Canyon: The mayor is the Black Star with highest
amount of stars in Black Star Canyon.
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Prizes
Here are some of the prizes you will receive, for free, as you accumulate
stars…
Bookmarks:
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20 stars: Season 1 Bookmark
40 stars: Season 2 Bookmark
60 stars: Season 3 Bookmark
80 stars: Season 4 Bookmark (available July 2015)
90 stars: Season 5 Bookmark (available Feb. 2016)
Black Stars Exclusive Episode Paperbacks:
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100 stars: S1E1 (March 2015)
200 stars: S1E2 (April 2015)
300 stars: S1E3 (May 2015)
400 stars: S1E4 (June 2015)
500 stars: S1E5 (July 2015)
600 stars: S2E1 (August 2015)
700 stars: S2E2 (Sept. 2015)
800 stars: S2E3 (Oct. 2015)
900 stars: S2E4 (Nov. 2015)
1000 stars: S2E5 (Dec. 2015)
1100 stars: S3E1 (Jan. 2016)
1200 stars: S3E2 (Feb. 2016)
1300 stars: S3E3 (March 2016)
1400 stars: S3E4 (April 2016)
1500 stars: S3E5 (May 2016)
1600 stars: S4E1 (June 2016)
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1700 stars: S4E2 (July 2016)
1800 stars: S4E3 (Aug 2016)
1900 stars: S4E4 (Sept. 2016)
2000 stars: S4E5 (Oct. 2016)
2100 stars: S5E1 (Nov. 2016)
2200 stars: S5E2 (Dec. 2016)
2300 stars: S5E3 (Jan. 2017)
2400 stars: S5E4 (Feb. 2017)
2500 stars: S5E5 (March 2017)
Mugs:
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2600 stars: Season 1 Mug
2700 stars: Season 2 Mug
2800 stars: Season 3 Mug
2900 stars: Season 4 Mug (July 2015)
3000 stars: Season 5 Mug (Jan. 2016)
Posters:
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3100 stars: Season 1 Poster
3200 stars: Season 2 Poster
3300 stars: Season 3 Poster
3400 stars: Season 4 Poster (July 2015)
3500 stars: Season 5 Poster (Jan. 2016)
As we get further along in the history of Black Star Canyon, more prizes at
different levels will turn up. For those of you that will exceed 80 stars before
July 2015, that’s okay, I will send them out to you as soon as they arrive. That
goes for every prize that has a date on them.
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I will let you know when you have earned a prize and get your address from you
at that time.
If you have any questions, please contact me at [email protected]
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Start your journey now…
Come on Black Stars! Go ahead and visit:
http://www.authorccwall.com/blackstars
Start playing now…
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