For SOMETIME LOFTY TOWERS we still have 6 failed credit card charges, so you may wish to check if your pledge has gone through.
If it hasn't, you can comment beneath this update and we'll respond, or perhaps first you can check out this help page for ways you may be able to resolve the issue yourself: https://help.backerkit.com/category/616-payment
Meanwhile we just signed a contract with the calligrapher and are looking at pencil sketches for the full page illustration by Carlos but, as you can imagine, there isn't a lot we can show you so soon after the crowdfund has ended. The wheel turns!
With less than $1000 to go, we're making great progress on the calligraphy drop cap initials. Maybe in overtime we can get that and even push on for the International Shipping Discount?
You unlocked spray color edges and the poll ended with a 60% vote for the winning color - Crimson Red.
At the last possible minute, in crowdfund overtime, you unlocked calligraphy drop cap initials!
Between the spray color edges, map, frontispiece interior illustration, and those initials...this is going to be a very handsome book.
Right now backers are being charged for their pledges.
Backers will be charged for shipping approx. four weeks before fulfillment. This is also likely when surveys will be sent out to collect necessary information such as mailing addresses, though the surveys may come sooner.
Our current goal for fulfillment is "Q4 2025", so October, November, or December. Thus, you can expect to be charged for shipping in September at the earliest.
All backers are cordially invited to join our New Edge Sword & Sorcery Discord server through this link: https://discord.gg/HAjPqvxmDD
I'm writing this the day after and I'm still feeling a little stunned. Some of that is just recovery from harnessing every ounce of extrovert energy I had in the final 48 hours - which included a very enjoyable panel discussion of two of David's short stories - and some of that is being blown away by how well this went!
Heck, we raised more in crowdfund overtime than any previous project we've done, and it was wonderful to see how many people voted and shared their opinions on what color of spray edges we should use.
Fulfillment Schedule Having learned the hard way last year that it's better to predict a later fulfillment date and maybe surprise folk by getting stuff out early than to do it the other way around, we're playing it safe by saying that the book will be shipped out in "Q4" aka "October, November, or December".
When we're closer to shipping we will do our best to provide a more specific shipping date.
All that said, we have good reason to feel confident about getting this book out in...let's say early November? The spray edges and calligraphy will add a bit of production time, however our printer is located in the same state as our fulfillment center so that will help greatly with keeping things on schedule.
Production Progress The novel is written, edited, and work on layout has already begun! Carlos has begun the interior illustration, and right after this update I'll be emailing Ellis to let them know we'll be needing that calligraphy! So far we're feeling pretty good about meeting our goal of sending files to the printer by August 1st.
The style Ellis will be using.
Please do join The New Edge Sword & Sorcery Discord, a great online hang-out that I'd love to see your digital faces in, a fun spot to chat about the magazine, Sword & Sorcery in general, and otherwise connect with your fellow readers, writers, artists, and more.
It's also a breeding ground for goofs like how Meatball Subs Are The Only Real Sandwich, and the only time I get to eat one is when we've finished funding another publication.
Reader, you better believe this sucker tasted good when I picked it up on Saturday:
Sub-time Lofty Towers?
It was also the first of these I've had to attack with a knife and fork! Sacrilege, I know, but with the bread open all the way around and a hearty amount of delicious sauce it was that or accept my hands would soon look like I'd been performing open heart surgery on a giant tomato...
Meanwhile, we have one more exciting book project planned for 2025...
And there's still time to make this book even more striking by unlocking our next stretch goal:
If you haven't already, please consider backing and sharing the campaign so we're able to make the most beautiful book we can for you, and pay our marvelous author as much royalties as possible!
Meanwhile...
TONIGHT AT 6:30PM EST...TWO SHORT STORIES DISCUSSED FOR THE PRICE OF ONE (Free!)
Join us right here on the crowdfund page, up top where the trailer video sits, at 6:30pm EST to enjoy our discussion of two David C. Smith short stories! Participation from the chat is encouraged.
And don't forget our crowdfund exclusives like...
All backers get their book signed by the author!
A postcard and a bookmark featuring gorgeous cover art by Saša Đurđević.
Back issue of New Edge Sword & Sorcery are available at a discount as Add-Ons.
You can pledge to have David, a master of his craft who has just finished writing a book on writing Sword & Sorcery, do a a critique on a short story (yours or a friends).
Alright, let's take this thing all the way to Attluma!
With four days left and just a little over $300 to go before we unlock spray color edges...we're getting excited, too excited to hold back any longer! We've got to ask you...
WHAT COLOR DO YOU THINK THE SPRAY EDGES SHOULD BE?
THE FINAL CROWDFUND LIVESTREAM - THIS FRIDAY, JULY 18th, AT 7PM EST
We wanted to chat about David's writing craft in a livestream without spoiling anything in SOMETIME LOFTY TOWERS, so we'll instead discuss a pair of his short stories that were published in our magazine, NEW EDGE SWORD & SORCERY.
Join Oliver Brackenbury, Luana Saitta, Jeremy Pak Nelson, Steve Westenra, and Kirk Johnson to hear their thoughts on...
You'll be able to watch the livestream right here on the main page of the crowdfund, up top where the thumbnail is. Comments and questions in the chat are encouraged.
OKAY, THAT'S IT FOR NOW
Please don't forget to vote in the spray edge color poll, and to share the crowdfund with anybody who might dig a powerful Sword & Sorcery tale in a classic paperback format!
