The final stage of proofing is a set of the new issues which are otherwise identical to the end product, but unbound. Seeing this picture, you can really appreciate how much the binding process compresses the contents!
Left - A finished copy of issue 7. Right - An unbound copy of issue 8.
Speaking of the contents, below is a direct comparison between our white paper & font so far (top) and our new font and more textured, lightly golden paper (below).
This year the final, unbound proofs included a copy of the double-sided poster all physical tier backers are receiving, so I was able to put both sides BEside each other:
A proper frame will eventually happen but for now, scotch tape.
Only at this stage do the covers have a gloss applied, and boy do we love how they make the colors pop!
This lightning bolt through our logo on the cover of issue 10 is quite pleasing.
Blessedly everything looks okay! I say "blessedly" because by this point the printing process has BEGUN and so asking for any changes is very disruptive and costly.
This update is being kept brief because, well, I GOT MARRIED THIS WEEK and am leaving for our honeymoon on Sunday night. AHHHH, so much to do before we leave...
So updates might be slow for a bit, but honestly we're at the point now where I've signed off on everything and can only pray the shipping gods smile down on us. I'll provide an update if there are any significant delays, however for now it looks like we should be able to begin fulfillment some in late November.
Yes! Our issues are at the printer and we have begun the process of working with them to make sure you get the highest quality hardcopy reproductions of the excellent work by our coterie of creators.
As soon as we have something physical in our hands to show, we'll share pictures with you!
Meanwhile NEW EDGE SWORD & SORCERY NOVELLAS 2026 is having weekly cover reveals until the crowdfund launches on Sept 3rd. Here's the two shown so far...
Cover by Goran Gligovic
Cover by Brian LeBlanc
You can learn more and get your first preview of NESS 2026 interior art, a Daniel Vega illustration of Lathra, by going here:
Those who backed both this crowdfund and our collaborators, Swords Against!, will be receiving a fun double-zine featuring a unique short story on each side from an author being published in each respective magazine this year.
Paul over at Swords Against! just recorded this fun little video of a proof copy and we wanted to share it with you. Physical format backers of both campaigns will get one, and all backers of both campaigns will receive the digital edition.
...that BLUE FIRE will ship at the same time as NESS 2026, so if you back both we'll just slip your copy of Blue Fire in the same package with your NESS issues?
So instead of paying full shipping for it, BLUE FIRE will only add a couple of bucks to your NESS shipping. And you may wish to consider grabbing a copy of this historic, first ever Jirel novella since...
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