Dear Backers,

Just a quick note to remind you that, as of yesterday, all of you should have have received your survey. Please fill out the survey in a timely manner so that we can get your books to you without delay!

The other big new this week is that the preorder shop is now open. If you know anyone who might want a book, but who missed out on the campaign, please direct them to:

https://the-awful-alphabet.backerkit.com/hosted_preorders.

All our best,

Ari, Sara, and Mike

Dear Backers,

Thank you, again, for making this campaign such a huge success. By now, your credit card should have been charged, and you should be awaiting your survey (more on that below). Most of the payments went through, but if your was one of the few that didn't, there's still time to update your information.

I've started the process of sending the surveys. I sent the "smoke test" this morning, which means 5 percent of you will have already received your survey by the time you read this. The purpose of the smoke test is to test the surveys before they go out to the majority of backers, so that any issues can be identified and resolved before the rest of them go out. The 5 percent is chosen by Backerkit, so I don't know who they (you?) are, but if if you've already received the survey, fill it out, and, if you see any issues, please let me know.

The rest of you will receive your surveys on Monday (assuming there are no major issues with the smoke test). It is important for you to fill out the survey, to confirm your order and shipping, and to add on any items you wish.

In the meantime, we are entering final edits on the book. Mike and Sara are working through the scan to make sure the colors are perfect, and, once they're done, I'll be doing my final proofread of the book. After that, it's off to the printer, and then to you.

Thank you, again, for supporting out campaign. We can't wait to get The Awful Alphabet into your hands.

Sicnerely,

Ari (for Sara and Mike)

Backers,

We did it! The campaign is over, and not only did we fund, we reached two stretch goals. That means, in addition to your pledge reward, you will receive both a digital poster and an audiobook edition of The Awful Alphabet narrated by Carol Beth Anderson.

Here's what to expect going forward:

Thank you so much for making this project a success. We appreciate every single one of you.

With gratitude,

A. A. Rubin, Sara McCall Ephron, and Mike Ponce.

Dear Backers,

Thank you so much for making this campaign a huge success. We’ve not only funded, but reached two of our stretch goals because of your support.

With about a day left in the campaign, more or less, we need your help to finish strong. Please share the campaign by word of mouth and on your social media channels. There’s a graphic at the bottom of this email which you can post to make things easy.

Look for more information about fulfillment and next steps after the campaign ends.

We can’t wait to get you this book.

https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/a-a-rubin/the-awful-alphabet

Best,

Sara, Ari, and Mike

Dear Backer,

We are entering the final week of the campaign. Thank you for making it a huge success. It's because of you that we will not only be able to make the book as we envisioned it, but produce the poster and audiobook as well.

We could also really use your help spreading the word, either by posting on your social or by word of mouth, to help us finish strong. We still have one amazing stretch goal left, a reading-rainbow style animation of the book, and right now, it looks like it's going to be a stretch to get there, but with your help and support, it's still possible.

To thank you for your ongoing support, we will have two more raffles this week, one for a copy Holly Knightly's new book, and one for a package of goodies from The 6 Degrees of Edgar Allan Poe.

So, help us spread the word. Tell your friends abut the campaign. Tell your family. Tell your acquaintances and your enemies. Together, we can help make your life a little less awful.

https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/a-a-rubin/the-awful-alphabet

All our best,

Sara, Mike, and Ari

Dear Backer,

You never know how what you’re doing now will affect you in the future. Even things that seem to have nothing to do with your creative endeavors could end up inspiring you in the future. 

This past week, my son was sick and had to stay home from school. While we were home together, he wanted to do the types of construction paper letter projects we did while I was taking care of him during the pandemic. 

These projects (example in first photo) eventually led to the idea for The Awful Alphabet, when Sara, one of my daughter’s former preschool teachers, commented on one of my Facebook posts. 

When I was working with my son on these projects, I never figured the idea would grow into a book. So, even when life prevents you from working on your art, you may actually be germinating your next big idea.
 

Pictured here is the project my son led me through last week, along with the first page of The Awful Alphabet. Notice any similarities?

Thank you for backing our project. As we enter the final weeks of the campaign, it would really help if you could share your support. Word of mouth goes a long way. And, if this email finds you and you have not yet pledged, please consider doing so before time runs out.

https://www.backerkit.com/.../a-a-rubin/the-awful-alphabet

Sincerely,

A. A. Rubin

Backers,

There are only 20 days left in The Awful Alphabet campaign. We're more than halfway through.  Your support so far has been overwhelming, and we are deeply moved by your enthusiasm for the project.

As we head into the backstretch, it's important to keep sharing the campaign, both on social media and by word of mouth. Our top stretch goal ($3000) is a Reading Rainbow style animation of the book, and we'd really like to share that with you, so keep sharing that link.

Congratulations to Jack McCall for winning the first raffle. Look out for a couple of more over the course of the campaign.

Thank you, again for your support. 

Best,

Ari

Dear Backer,

Did you know that posting in the discussion section (and engaging with other people's responses will help us climb the Backerkit algorithm and get us featured on their main site? It's a free and easy way to help the campaign!

Respond to our poll about what our next raffle will be.

Or, since many of you will be commuting as you read this, vent about your case of the Mondays here.

Of course, it always helps to share the campaign (and pledge if you haven't already) here:

https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/a-a-rubin/the-awful-alphabet.

Adulting is hard, let's get through the week together.

Best,

Ari

Dear Backers,

We did it! Last night we passed our second stretch goal, so all backers will receive an audiobook of The Awful Alphabet, narrated by Carol Beth Anderson, along with their pledge reward, as well as the digital poster which was the first stretch goal. 

Keep sharing the campaign to your friends, both online and by word of mouth. It’s really important to spread the word during this middle part of the campaign, which for most, are the slower parts. 

We appreciate all of your support and enthusiasm for this project. More goodies are coming soon. 

Best,

Ari

Hello Backers:

We are in week three of the campaign, and we are still going strong. As of this writing, we've reached our first stretch goal--The Awful Alphabet Digital Poster--and we are approaching our second stretch goal, an audiobook of The Awful Alphabet, narrated by Carol Beth Anderson.

Those of you who backed during the first week will be entered into a raffle for three award-nominated Edgar Allan Poe audio CDs, narrated by Jason Markeiwitz. That raffle will be run later this week.

Our second raffle will be for Holly Knightly's new book, Eye of Athena: A Supernatural Suspense Novel. The book has been getting rave reviews on Amazon, and Holly has donated one hardcover copy, which I will raffle off when we reach our next stretch goal at $1500.

If you've backed this campaign, I assume you like books, and, if there's one thing that's true about book lovers, it's that we can never have enough books. Share out the campaign to your friends so that you'll have a chance to add another book to your collection.

Thank you for your support so far. We can't wait to get The Awful Alphabet into your hands.

Thank you for helping us fund and reach our first stretch goal in the first week and a half. You are all awesome.

We are nearing our second stretch goal. At $1500, everyone will receive a audiobook, narrated by the incredible Carol Beth Anderson. Beth did an amazing job narrating the book. You can hear a clip of Beth’s narration here. We are so excited for you to hear the whole thing.

After the initial excitement of a launch, campaigns often go through a lull. Please help us keep our momentum going by sharing the campaign across your channels. There is so much excitement ahead. We can’t wait to share it with you.

Have a great week.

Sincerely,
Ari, Sara, and Mike

Dear Backers,

We have funded! Woohoo! Thank you to everyone who has supported the campaign. Sara, Mike, and I appreciate you all so much. 

Please continue to share, as we have some exciting stretch goals coming up:

At 1000 dollars (less than 200 away) everyone receives a digital poster of the entire awful alphabet poem. 

At 1500, you receive an audiobook narrated by the incredible Carol Beth Anderson. 

Thank you, again, so much. This alphabet is awful, but you are awesome!

—Ari

Thank you early backers! We had a great opening weekend, reaching 72 percent of our funding goal in the first two days. Let's try to keep the momentum going. Share the campaign. Encourage your friends and family to support, and remember, as an early backer you get a brand new Mr. Stupendous digital one-page story added to your pledge.

As a first week backer, you will also be entered into a raffle to win a set of 3 Edgar Allan Poe audiobook CDs, narrated--and autographed--by Jason Markiewitz. Jason's narrations were nominate for the 2023 Visiter Award by the Edgar Allan Poe House and Museum in Baltimore. I only have one set of these to give away, so I want to encourage as many people as possible to pledge week one for a chance at this special reward.

Thank you, again, for your support. We are so glad you are taking this journey with us!

All our best,

A. A. Rubin