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)
Tea’s on, confetti’s settled—what should we conjure next? Bedazzled hardbacks, bonus art by Leigh & Suzie, or bunny oracle cards? Tap your pick and set the next surprise free. ✨📚
Hello - would it be possible to get an update, please?
It's understandable for production timelines to change, but the lack of communication is disheartening.
Any information would be greatly appreciated. 😊
Crystals, Carrots & Cosmic Clues went to my editor today (8/18! 🎉
It is out of my hands and in someone else's, which is exactly where it belongs and also a bit like handing over your car keys and watching them drive away.
Here's what got handed over: 67,239 words. 52 chapters. One burned-out therapist, one shop that made its own decision about who should own it, one ghost-fish familiar, and a rabbit with a pocket watch and a deadline who has been the most demanding coworker I've ever had.
The last few months were the unglamorous part — the pass where you fix the week that happens out of order, and the scene that referenced a conversation that hadn't happened yet, and the four separate places where a mug was in two rooms at once. Nobody will ever notice that work, which is the point of it.
Bunzila signed off. He returned the manuscript with no notes, which from him is a standing ovation.
What happens next
My editor has it until roughly mid-September. Then I do the revision pass, it goes to the proofreader, and after that comes formatting and final files. My current estimate for rewards reaching you is November-December.
What you need to do right now: nothing. No survey yet, no address needed, no action. When the BackerKit survey goes out, I'll send a separate update so it doesn't get lost. That's the one where I'll ask for your shipping address and personalization.
Thank you for being patient with a pace that is ridiculous and personal in roughly equal measure. You backed a book that didn't exist yet, and it exists now, and someone qualified is currently telling me what's wrong with it. That's a good day.
Hey Travis,
We were supposed to get our surveys before August 1st and then the books were supposed to come out then. Has the time line changed? What should we expect to see? I would really love an update on what is happening, I am sure I am not the only one confused and concerned by the lack of an update. Hope you are doing well!
Thank you so much for your wait on the graphic novel. The script needed massive revisions again, as it became too much about a side character and had to bring it back to BB & Bunny. Learning so much about storytelling and creating authentically through creating in all this while juggling layoffs and personal setbacks in the last year.
I’ll be updating later this month with a new timeline. Aiming for a completion by Winter 2026.
Again, thank you thank you for your understanding and patience. Your initial support and this comics project means so soooo much to me!
This will be a bit of a quick update since I did send an update last week regarding POD keys, BUT I wanted to still keep up with the regular monthly update schedule!
Last week, I distributed the POD keys for The Big Book of Dragons, The Big Book Friends, and the coloring books with The Big Book of Heroes still on hold due to needing another proof revision. I'm predicting the Big Book of Heroes will arrive in mid August, and I should be able to distribute the keys shortly after!
I'm also working on getting all the small books uploaded and set up on DTRPG, so once I have a full set uploaded, I'll distribute the POD keys to folks that got individual trilogies. Those will go out starting in July to August, probably leaning towards August as soon as I get back from GenCon.
I'll be sending a big update next week for our regularly scheduled monthly dev log, but... I wanted to give a heads up that today, I'm sending the first round of at-cost print-on-demand keys out to folks!
If you ordered the following titles through the StoryGuider campaign, you'll be getting an email with the key today from Drive Thru RPG:
Big Book of Dragons
Big Book of Friends
Coloring book
Ranger Mech Squad
Critter Mech Squad
Solar Mech Squad
Making a TTRPG for YOUR Particular Kid
Bakers, Charge!
A Construct's Nature
Unfortunately, there was another issue with the Big Book of Heroes proof, so I will need to delay distribution on that to make sure the book is in good condition before sending it to backers. For the small books/trilogies, I will be uploading them and sending you keys over the next few weeks (it takes some time to set up each page, but I wanted to get what I could out now).
I'll send more info next week, and I hope you enjoy the books!
