Oliver
CREATOR
27 days ago

Project Update: Progress Report, and Our First Ever Book!

Hey everybody!

IN SHORT

  • Production of issues #3 and #4 is thundering along nicely. So far there have been no big delays, and we will keep you appraised of the situation if this changes.

  • We are publishing our first book, and you can now sign up to be alerted when the crowdfund launches. The sign-up, or "landing", page will tell you more about this exciting anthology!
    https://www.backerkit.com/call_to_action/5532acc9-ad76-4409-921b-5aa4d4443aa1/landing

IN DETAIL

Progress on issues three and four continues apace. We are miles ahead of where we were with last year's issues at this time! Below is a screencap of our Excel spreadsheet progress bars, pushing across from left to right. The names of authors (above) and artists (below) have been cropped so as not to shame anybody.
 Excel spreadsheet screenshot showing green lines extending from left to right, showing an average of 75% completion progress for NESS authors and artists.

We continue to do our best to make our goal of "Summer 2024", and will keep you all updated if there is a delay in shipping out the finished issues.

We had to navigate some challenges recently, such as one author dropping out unexpectedly, however we took the opportunity there to do our first open submissions call. This was for seven pieces of 850 word flash fiction - one to go in the sticker story at the back of issue three, the other six to be printed within the issue as one, scrolling set of six stories.

The author's and their stories are as follows:

STICKER STORY: The Barber of Rem Um, by Andrew Whelan 

And, in no particular order.. 

THE SIX: 
  • Against the Witch-Prince of Emdal, by W.O. Balmer
  • The War-God's Hound, by Samantha Rich 
  • Of Cabbages and Stone, by Timaeus Bloom
  • The Ferryman's Price, by Melissa Burlock
  • Sister Soldier, by R.L. Summerling
  • High Water, by James A. Estes

This submission process was very enjoyable, in no small part thanks to our valiant volunteer slush readers, and has left our editor considering opening up a slot or two (or more?) in our 2025 issues for open submissions. We'll let know what's happening there as soon as we know!

Meanwhile we are proud to announce...

A big, bold logo that reads "Beating Hearts and Battle-Axes", sitting in the air above an attractive pair of warriors - a red haired, Caucasian warrior woman and a BIPOC trans man barbarian wielding a massive axe - back-to-back, ready to fight together, making eyes at each other.

This anthology of six spicy Sword & Sorcery tales with a romantic relationship at their heart will be the first book put out by the people behind New Edge Sword & Sorcery magazine!

Our editor has been sitting on this idea since April 2023, let it slip a little in an interview or two earlier this year while promoting NESS, and is happy to finally, officially announce it now.

Publishing moves slowly, but you should move quickly to check out the landing page for full cover art, who's our interior illustrator, what formats it's available in, and more!
Includes Backer-Exclusive Content
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