Not as catchy as It's Gonna be May (cue Justin Timberlake), but we make it work around here.
Howdy!
As per my last update back in January, we did indeed enter the Dead Zone of project updates, but I am now here to pop that bubble of silence.
First and foremost, I have received Monitored Activity's final edits this past Friday. You know, the whole point of the campaign? The part of this book you all so graciously helped fund? It is — officially — done. Shout-out to subvertebra over on BlueSky who has been an absolute thrill to work with. I genuinely could not have asked for a better editor.
This means we now get to enter the final formatting and the proof-ordering phase.
I cannot believe we're here, and way ahead of schedule, too. That late summer release date might just become early summer, but let's hold off on any major announcements for a bit longer.
The sticker sheets and bookmarks have long since arrived and are currently hanging out on my desk, eagerly waiting to be sent out to their new homes!
In the coming weeks, orders will be locked in and cards charged for any post-campaign add-on purchases as well as shipping.
Keep an eye on your inbox! Emails will go out a few days beforehand so you're not caught by surprise.
Also — please make sure you've completed your survey! I'm still waiting on a few. If you've somehow lost it in your sea of emails (I don't blame you; my main inbox has 6,400 unread emails...), do not hesitate reaching out to me. I can very easily resend it.
And that's about it, for now. I hope you are all as excited as I am! Monitored Activity is close enough to taste.
Until next time. Happy (almost) April, and stay hydrated.
Two weeks into 2026 and I hope everyone is recovering smoothly from the holiday season. I know I was still not ready to part ways with my coquito by the time I got back to my desk, but switching over to water has restored my health bar during these painfully dry times.
As someone who hates getting emails, I am going to spare you all from updates for every step between here and the fulfillment stage. I promise I won't vanish off the face of the Earth and leave you all in limbo, though. For example, this update is to let you know that the acrylic bookmark proofs have been approved and are off to manufacturing! I will likely send out a monthly update that aggregates all the small things inching us closer to sweet, sweet fulfillment.
Monitored Activity itself just passed the halfway point on this round of revisions. Once that's done, it's off to my beta reader, back to me, then off to the editor you guys helped fund! That's why I'm calling the next few months The Dead Zone, because I'll be nose to my screen and fingers to my keyboard until this book is polished, and that usually means a lack of exciting news to share.
However, if you'd like to stay in the know, catch the occasional snippet, or just say hi, you can follow me on Bluesky since that's the only online platform I actively haunt.
Alrighty then. That's it for now.
I am wishing you a kinder and more restful year than 2025.
It's been a week since The Book Bazaar wrapped. A whole seven days since Monitored Activity wrapped its campaign and slapped a slimy little festive bow on it. But this is only the beginning.
Thank you all for an absolutely killer campaign! I am still speechless by what was achieved here, and stoked over what's still to come.
Surveys go out this coming Monday (December 15), so keep your eyes on your inbox.
The acrylic bookmarks unlocked late in the game, and this is your chance to grab one (or two, or three) if you'd like. Same goes for every add-on you may have missed: books, keychains, sticker sheets, a one-of-kind dust jacket, so on. Once I get all those survey answers in, it's manufacturin' time.
Once the holidays head out the door, it's time to clock in.
Final draft edits are officially scheduled for January, art files are fully formatted, I'm caffeinated, you're awesome, and now — we all chill until the new year*. And then we get this party started.
*"Chill" as in I get to keep working on this draft without worrying about the campaign.
Until next time. Have a great week, and stay warm.
We're officially down to the wire with only 48 hours left!
I won't take up too much of your time since Backerkit has no doubt slammed everyone with a kajillion "Final 48" emails (myself included), but real quick:
Monitored Activity reached its second stretch goal! That means fancy-schmancy acrylic bookmarks!
Final design will be slightly different, but I wanted to go with a fun shape that matches the book's vibe.
And speaking of matching vibes:
GULAis incredibly close to its funding goal. If you enjoy epic poems that not only push the boundaries of "traditional" epic poetry, but also dive deep into a darkness that's all too prevalent in these modern times, this piece of transgressive art is right up your alley.
And speaking of alleys...
Tales From The Alley is offering a sick discount if you grab both, which is an absolute steal! Go. Continue to support queer, indie art!
There's still two days left, so now is a great time to spread the word if you haven't!
That's it for now. Have a great Monday. Stay hydrated, warm, and don't forget to give yourself a lil' treat.
We are a week and some change away from wrapping up this campaign, and I continue to be blown away by all the amazing support. Keep rockin'! 🤘🏽
A quick update before I vanish for American Turkey Day: that new tier I've been teasing? It is officially live. I mean it when I say that The Curators' Bundle is not for the faint of heart. There is only one of them though, so if you're interested, you might want to act fast.
The Necronomicon wishes it had a vanity hole.
(Due to weight restrictions, this bundle is limited to the US & Canada.)
In this house, we love horror movies (and books!) made with practical effects.
The (evil) mastermind behind that fancy dust jacket is the same artist behind the Prime Plaza keychains. This past weekend I made a Bluesky thread showing off their process, so check it out if you're at all interested in leather work!
Before I bounce, don't forget to check out what other projects The Book Bazaar has to offer! If horror is your thing — which I hope it is since you're here — I highly recommend checking out Fairy Seasons! And while not horror per-se, GULA shares a lot of themes with Monitored Activity. Go give 'em a look if you haven't!
That's it for now. If you're American, have a safe holiday (especially if you're working retail; may you have some delicious food and a damn break). If you're not American, I am wishing you an easy week and delicious food anyway.
Until next time, don't forget to hydrate, and stay gnarly.
