Paperback proofs are in!
6 months ago – Fri, Jan 26, 2024 at 01:25:37 PM

IMPORTANT INFO FOR PAPERBACK TIER BACKERS.

The paperback proofs came in! I set up an extra special exclusive edition just for my Kickstarter backers. This edition won't be available at retailers. You will be getting the paperback with duplex printed covers featuring some beautiful artwork. This is a special surprise as a thank you for your support. 

I've just placed a large order to fulfill paperback tier backers. If you pledged for paper collectibles, an unsigned paperback, or a signed paperback, please make certain that all of your shipping information is up to date in your Backerkit survey as soon as possible. I'll start shipping the unsigned paperbacks on Monday and the signed ones as soon as they arrive to me. If you want to add or adjust your add ons or survey, now is the time to do that for paperback backers. I'll be locking those surveys and charging cards for any additional add ons selected in Backerkit after the Kickstarter campaign closed.

I'm still waiting on the pictures and video of the special edition hardcover from the specialty printer. They told me they printed it on Wednesday and I've been on pins and needles ever since, waiting to see the first printed copy. Hopefully I'll be back soon with an update including those pictures! They are in progress and I know you are all excited to see them too!

Photo dump incoming:

Progress and Reverse Dust Jacket Art
7 months ago – Mon, Jan 08, 2024 at 06:03:28 AM

I'm back with a bunch of updates! 

I've been working quietly behind the scenes to get everything together. The holidays slowed down my progress a bit with getting a few of the missing pieces I needed (art work, covers, etc.) but everything is coming together now.

Last month, after a bit of a delay from one of my artists, I got four new art pieces and a map. I was a bit anxious about communication with one of the artists, so I hired my favorite artist to do a backup reverse dust jacket piece for us in case things fell through. Luckily, I did get all of the commissioned pieces from the other artist and the most beautiful piece from my favorite artist that will be used as the reversible dust jacket art. Want to see? 

And here's our beautiful map from Paige Annabentleah!

The other three images will be printed in the book (greyscale for paperbacks and full color for special edition hard covers). They will also be included in the Kickstarter ebook edition. 

Ebooks and Digital Rewards Coming This Week

Speaking of ebooks and digital rewards...you'll be getting those early! Delivery was estimated for February, but I'm happy to report that my formatter finished the files and they look beautiful! I had a few friends testing the ebook over the weekend to check the quality and make sure there's no issues with it.  Once they give me the green light I'll be sending Bookfunnel ebook links and digital rewards to all backers. I'm expecting you'll have those tomorrow!

Paperback and Special Edition Updates

As far as physical rewards go, all of the swag, art prints, etc. have been ordered and arrived. The only thing missing is the books. 

My intention was to order the special editions by the end of December, but my cover designer needed an extra week for the foiled dust jacket spread due to the holidays. That is the last piece I'm waiting on to be able to place the order with my printer. We are just over a week behind schedule there, but I should be getting the finalized dust jacket in the next couple of days--hopefully today. 

The paperback cover spread was delivered to me on Friday. Everything is processing with my printer and I should be able to order copies within the next three days. Ingramspark's printing and shipping times have been pretty slow since the holidays, so there may be a delay receiving the paperbacks. I want to be able to look over a physical copy to check its quality before I place the larger order to fulfill your rewards. It can take 2-4 weeks to receive the proof and another 2-4 weeks to receive the order. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it will be on low end of that expected range, but I wanted to be transparent and let you know that it may take a bit longer. I hope you understand my effort to make sure the quality looks good before I place the order to fulfill your rewards. 

That was a lot of info so here's a snapshot of where we're at, what has been accomplished, and what needs to be done! I should have videos and images of the special edition hardcover from my printer in the next update. Can't wait to share!

End Sheet Design and Survey Deadline
8 months ago – Tue, Dec 05, 2023 at 06:03:34 AM

The Timeless Trials is through editing and proofreading and is now off to formatting! 

Just a quick reminder that survey responses are due by December 8th so I can get your names into the acknowledgements. The survey gives you the chance to opt out or write in your desired name. If I don't hear back from you by the deadline, I'll use your Kickstarter name. So far, 77/98 have completed the survey...thank you so much! If you haven't done this yet, your survey is in your email, or you can find it here:  Survey Retrieval 

Waiting on a few more art pieces before I can order the special editions, but should be placing that order by the end of the month. 

Here's a look at the special end sheet design:

See you in the next update!

A.C. Guess

Backerkit Surveys Coming Soon!
8 months ago – Tue, Nov 28, 2023 at 11:31:08 AM

Soon, you’ll receive an email with a special link to your BackerKit survey. It’s important to respond to your survey as quickly as you can since I need this information to fulfill your rewards and update the acknowledgements before I send the book to formatting. I'll need your response by 12/8 if you'd like your name included in the acknowledgements. 

You don’t need to create a BackerKit account to fill out your survey. When you receive the email with the survey, click the survey link to respond. Answer the questions about your reward preferences, provide shipping information, and purchase add-on items if you like. You don’t have access to this survey link yet, but it will be available soon via email!

After you respond to your survey, you can go back later and change your responses at any time before we close the surveys and get our final counts.

If you need to review your information or pledge status, you can return to your survey by clicking the link in your survey email or requesting your survey link under "Lost your survey?" on our BackerKit project page at https://the-timeless-trials-a-special-edition-hardback.backerkit.com.

If you used your Facebook credentials to log in to your account, the BackerKit survey is sent to the email address you use for your Facebook account. If you have another email address that you prefer to use, please contact support at  https://the-timeless-trials-a-special-edition-hardback.backerkit.com/faq 

A.C. Guess

Art and Survey Updates
8 months ago – Tue, Nov 21, 2023 at 01:46:29 PM

A few little updates to share!

First, all of the pledges have been processed and Kickstarter has sent the funds to me. I have started placing orders for the swag and items are beginning to come in! It's so exciting to get to hold these items and know I'll be sending them off to you in just a couple of months. 

The developmental editing round is complete and the line edit is nearly done. My editor says I'll have line edits back today, so that means I'll be busy applying changes over the next few days to polish everything up. After that, it goes to proofreading, formatting, then to the printer! 

Art Commission Updates

The reverse side dust jacket art is still in the beginning sketch and base color stages. I've requested a few changes to the initial sketch to get the setting right and I'm having her submerge the couple a bit deeper in the water. I'll share once I get an update with those changes. 

Map is still a work in progress but I should have that ready to share soon.

BUT PLEASE, STOP YOUR SCROLL AND LOOK AT THESE COMPLETED BEAUTIES. Yes, I caps locked that. Worth it. 

The Deadly Dance illustration is, in my very biased opinion, amazing. I am in love. I hope you love it as much as I do. This illustration will be available as a vellum insert add-on (fits in paperback and hardcover). If you ordered one of the big boxes (Collector's Box/Ultimate Box - including Early Bird and Last Call versions), you will have this automatically added to your box.

The Shadowvein art piece will be included in full color inside the book. That artist is working on the reverse dust jacket as we speak and is working on a few more illustrations to include inside the book. She'll be able to do 2-4 more illustrations for us after the dust jacket art, depending on timing. I'm keeping her really busy. 

Everyone will receive the digital artwork and physical tier backers will be able to choose between the Shadowvein or the Deadly Dance print for their bonus flash reward. You will select your choice in the survey. 

Speaking of surveys, those are coming soon. I decided to work with a company called Backerkit to help me collect all of the data I need to fulfill the Kickstarter orders. It's a little more laborious than I had expected to set up, but those should get to you next week. 

I'll give you a heads-up before I send the survey so that you can watch for it. You don’t need to create a BackerKit account to answer your survey. The invitation email contains a link to your personal survey. It is important to submit your responses as quickly as you can since I'll need this information to process your rewards, get your name in the acknowledgements before I send the book to formatting, etc. 

If you need to change your survey responses, purchase add-on items, or update your shipping information, you can click the link in your survey email again or request your survey link under "Lost your survey?" on our BackerKit project page. (This page will only start working after I send the surveys out.)

Answering your survey will help me get your reward to you as soon as it is produced. BackerKit helps me save lots of time by streamlining the survey process, automating data organization, and providing me with pledge management software to make it easy to process your pledge reward shipments.

If you used your Facebook credentials to log in to Kickstarter, the BackerKit survey link is sent to the email address you use for your Facebook account. If you have another email address that you prefer to use, please contact me.

I'll be in touch again soon! Enjoy the holidays and please know I'm busy busy over here getting this put together for you! It's all very exciting :)

A.C. Guess

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