Backerkit Surveys Coming Soon!
about 1 year 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
about 1 year 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
A Campaign You Might Like:
WE DID IT!
about 1 year ago
– Sat, Nov 04, 2023 at 06:43:34 PM
We did it!
I am jumping up and down in celebration over here :D
With the help of 98 backers, we raised $5,612 for The Timeless Trials campaign. WOW!
This means I get to create the project of my dreams and deliver it to you over the next few months. We unlocked ALL of the stretch goals. All of them, thanks to you! I am thrilled, and I hope you will see how much I appreciate your support in the love and detail that goes into the final products.
What's next? (Scroll Down for Details)
Kickstarter has collected your pledges and is processing the funding. We did have a few errored pledges, which usually means there is an issue with the card on file (expired, billing details need updating, etc) or your bank simply requires you to verify that this is a legitimate charge. If your pledge did not process, please be sure to check that your billing details are up to date and accurate before Thursday so I can still get you your rewards!
In about two weeks, I'll be sending out surveys to collect all of the information I need to fulfill the campaign (details like shipping address, what name to use in acknowledgements, etc.)
Above you will see the projected timeline for the fulfillment process. I'll continue to keep you in the loop as we make our way toward those dates.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support throughout the project. I am so grateful to everyone who believed in this campaign and overwhelmed by your support and willingness to take a chance on a debut author. (I'm not crying. Okay, maybe a little.)
If you'd like to follow my journey beyond this Kickstarter as I move into production and fulfillment, or want updates on future releases and future Kickstarter campaigns (expect Book 2 to hit Kickstarter next year), please join me on my socials or sign up for my newsletter!
@acguesswrites (tiktok and instagram)
Suggested Campaign Highlight:
Please considering giving my talented friend, C.A. Varian, a follow for her soon-to-launch Kickstarter campaign. Hazel Watson Mystery Series Special Editions and Book Boxes - A New Orleans-based paranormal mystery series with a splash of romance!
The Home Stretch!
about 1 year ago
– Wed, Nov 01, 2023 at 05:00:40 AM
The past couple of weeks have been a whirlwind and it's hard to believe we are already nearing the end of the campaign. The final 48 hours are just around the corner and I have some exciting updates to share!
Our sprayed edge design is finished! Etheric Designs did a gorgeous job creating something in line with my vision that tied in some of the symbols you'll see in the book. I love how it turned out! Here's a (sideways) closeup of the design and a mockup of how it will look on the special edition hardbacks of The Timeless Trials.
Stretch Goals Update:
We have tentatively unlocked the map and illustration at $4,000 as long as we remain steady with funding fluctuations that can occur! I already got the ball rolling for the map and should have an update and finished product in one to two weeks. Our additional illustration will be included in the hardcover special edition and shared digitally with all backers. For the illustration, we have a few options:
- The last trial (I don't want to give any spoilers away, but I'll say that my beta readers suggested this as a possible illustration)
- Portrait of Rae at the ball in the horrible hair piece she describes as "a festive bird colliding with the sun." Little excerpt:
The golden plumes she had affixed to the hair above my ears rose straight up to the Fates, forming the great wings of a phoenix. A tribute to my surname, she had said. A golden crown sat between the wings, with ornate spokes that rose from the crest of my head like the sun's rays. Blood-red roses lined the bottom of the crown for additional glamor. My protests had garnered no sympathy from the woman. Instead, Elowynne had resorted to securing the disaster to my head with magic to ensure its permanence. And so we stood, scrutinizing my reflection in the mirror, one of us victorious and the other disgruntled by defeat.
- Healing a dragon
- Rae and Alia (her friend)
- Dragon perched over the clock tower in the main square of Nox (Rae's home district)
I'm leaving it up to you guys to help me pick!
I've also started discussions with @celiaber about the reversible dust jacket artwork. I think she is just as excited to illustrate the scene I described as I am to see a final product. I think that one will be magical. The reversible dust jacket art (like a poster on the back of your dust jacket) unlocks at $4500, and it is going to be beautiful.
Thank you for being a part of this journey. Creating this special edition would never have been possible without your support, and it's truly my dream come true. I cannot wait to send the final products to you.
A.C. Guess
Other campaigns to check out!
Sprayed Edge Design!
about 1 year ago
– Sat, Oct 28, 2023 at 11:51:06 AM
A Big Update for Special Editions
I've crunched some numbers and discussed with my designer and wanted to share some big news. I've decided to unlock the sprayed edges early and green light the design process for the edge artwork! As long as our funding remains steady, all of the special edition hardback books will now come with a gorgeous sprayed edge design!
I want you to know that I'm fully committed to creating something uniquely beautiful and at this point, every dollar pledged to this project has been reinvested to make the special edition as gorgeous as possible. I hope you love it as much as I do.
Below is the concept art I shared with Etheric Designs, so please note this is not the finalized art. They will be taking my color palette and ideas and turning it into something truly customized and magical. They're scheduled to deliver the design on 11/1, so you should be able to see it before the end of the campaign! I cannot wait to share that with you.
Stretch Goals Update
We still have so much to look forward to! A custom map, additional illustrations, and the thing I'm most looking forward to--reversible dust jacket art! I can vividly imagine the scene I'd like to commission for that...for now let's just say it has to do with steamy hot springs and snow-covered mountains. Our next goal unlocks at $4,000!
Illustration Progress
I received an update from the artist working on the Rydar and Rae shadowvein oath illustration and it is really coming along! She's put down the base colors and is working on details, shadows, and lighting at this point. Before I fully reveal the image, I want to give the artist a chance to finish all the details, so I'm partially hiding the progress update behind a frosted glass effect just to give you a little glimpse of the idea. I cannot wait to share the final artwork with you!
Last Call Collector and Ultimate Boxes
I'm bringing back some flash deals in the Last Call Collector/Ultimate Boxes for the remaining days of the campaign! These boxes are full of goodies and swag and now include an additional vellum insert: Rydar and Rae's Deadly Dance. This illustration is already commissioned but it won't be ready until mid November due to the artist's schedule. I'm sure she will create a gorgeous illustration for us! Important Note: If you got an early bird collector's/ultimate box or a collector's/ultimate box during the campaign, don't worry...you'll also be getting the extra vellum insert automatically added to your goodies! I've got you.
Check the specials out below! If you'd like to upgrade and need help managing your pledge, just shoot me a message and I'll help you walk through the process.
The finish line
I can't believe we are already chugging along toward the final days of our campaign. I'm so thrilled with what we've accomplished and cannot wait to see what we can do in the last week. Please continue to spread the word if you are able to! Every share and dollar pledged gets us a little closer to unlocking the next stretch goal.
Your support means so much to me. I am just blown away by how far we've already gotten and feel very excited to be on this journey with you. Let's go smash the rest of the campaign!
Lastly, here's my recent Kickstarter finds!
