[Katla] If I'm known for one thing, it's probably my indecisiveness. Maybe that's why I have so many designs with multiple colors.
So let's collaborate together and choose a color scheme! Final colors may vary due to pantone color matching.
Today, you should have recieved the remaining print-on-demand key messages, and I can happily say that StoryGuider is a closed project!
The proofs for the last books came in a bit early and checked out, so I was able to finish distribution.
Thank you all for supporting StoryGuider and helping make this series what it is today with art by a whole group of talented artists and having it in print! It is a great feeling knowing these books are out there and already being enjoyed (a couple folks have shared how they've enjoyed them with their families already). I'm happy to share this project with you all, and I hope you enjoy these stories with your family, classroom, library, and/or friends!
COMPLETED:
Oct – campaign funds released from Backerkit
Oct – send contracts for funded art to artists
Oct – draft the Tome Traveller Trilogy (part of the Heroes series)
Oct → Nov – collect first round of art from early artist kick-offs (from itchio and ko-fi prefunds)
Nov – artists working on Heroes series
Nov/Dec – finish writing the new Dragon series adventures
Nov → Jan – reformat the Heroes series
Jan – Heroes series art due
Jan – order Heroes series proofs (round 1)
Jan – artists working on Friends series
Feb – Friends series art due
Feb – Heroes series proofs arrive, review, update (round 1)
Jan – Mar – reformat the Friends series
Jan – Apr – artists working on Dragon series
Mar – Dragon series art due
Mar – send backer surveys
Apr – update + order Friends series proofs (round 1)
Apr – update + order Heroes series proofs (round 1.5)
Apr – set up digial pages for Friends and Heroes series
Apr – fulfill digital print-and-play for Friends and Heroes series
May – Friends series proofs review, update, reorder (round 2)
May – Heroes series proofs review, update, reorder (round 2)
June – reformat the Dragon series and make coloring book
June – order Dragons series and coloring book proofs (round 1)
June – set up digial pages for Dragons series
June – fulfill digital print-and-play for Dragon series
July – Friends series proofs arrive, review, update (round 2)
July – Heroes series proofs arrive, review, update (round 2)
July – Dragon series proofs arrive, review, update (round 1)
July – start distribution of Friends and Dragons POD keys
July – order Heroes series proofs (round 3)
Aug – finish POD release of small books
Aug – Heroes series proofs arrive, review, update (round 3)
Congratulations, Leveling Up backers... you've unlocked Door 3, and have earned a bonus tassel bookmark! This free bonus item will be added automatically to every tier or add-on that includes a bookmark set. Now the only question is... what would you like on your bonus bookmark? We'll leave it to the fans! But please keep in mind, only backers get to vote, so if you'd like to participate, please back at any tier to make your selection.
Almost forgot I had to do one of these. I'll keep this one short and brief. Probably.
The Bright Spot Hardcover Cover reveal
Now if you are a bright spot super fan, you might be asking silly questions like "I thought you already did a hardcover" and "How come its taken this long" And the answer I have for you is "don' worry abbadit" The first hardcover edition had many issues. The biggest one was ISBN conflicts. When publishing the bright spot I tried using an ISBN for the amazon edition of the paperback version. I decided to not use amazon kdp and stuck with IngramSpark. The ISBN I used at amazon, never really went away. So when I published the hardcover with the same isbn that I tried using, Amazon found that very confusing so I had to take it down. Otherbook sellers like B&N and even Walmart had no issue with the hardcover version. I could get more technical but I don't really want to because I don't understand it fully myself. I also didn't like the cover I made for it. It had the iconic red space cover for a dust jacket and the inside binding was fully black with a sliver of red as a sillhouette of the planet. It looked fantastic on the computer, but in print, you could hardly even see it. So back to the drawing board. I really wanted to create an experience that incentivises readers to pick up both editions. I think the paperback space versions look amazing, so I needed a cover for the hardback to look equally great with a minimalist approach. So I present to you...... The Bright Spot Hardcover and Blight Eater Hardcover!!
Keep your ooing and aahing to a minimum please. These are still work in progress, so if theres something you notice that I should change or update, let me know!
Now these designs are for the dust jackets. I have the potential to make the inside covers different or special. So I could either keep this design, on the inside, or put the paperback design, or something entirely different. Maybe I'll make that a stretch goal... Thoughts?
Writing update
I kinda took a break for the last week so I could brainstorm a bit on how I'm going to edit the second half of Blight Eater. There are a lot of rules I need to create and keep consistent. There are also a lot of rules I've previously established that I'll need to break using newer rules. Its gonna be fun. I know I need to hurry it up, but I also have to do my best to make sure you don't hate it. Outlining has sort-of begun with the second half. Once I decide how badly I want to hurt my characters, I'll have a pretty good idea on what to do.
POLL
New poll btw. Not that anyone cares. No one even participates
All physical goodies — books, bookmarks, prints, stickers, key chains, etc — have been sent out and, as of me writing this, most have already arrived at their forever homes! Some of those international packages do not have active tracking but a good chunk of you have either shared pictures of your loot or told me that the package has arrived, and that is incredibly appreciated. On that front:
This project is getting ready to close.
There is currently 1 person with a failed charge, and 3 people who haven't completed their surveys. You have until August 7th to get it all squared away, because this project closes for good on August 15th!
I'll fire off one more reminder around the beginning of August, just in case.
And, that's it.
It's over. That's a wrap.
Thank you, everyone, for being such a killer audience.
