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Hi Everyone,

A quick note today because it is going to be a crazy week. More on that in a bit.

But I thought I'd share that I received proofs for The Dark Thorn. The printer is a bit behind on this but I received them, I approved them, and now the project can move forward at the printer. Below, there are two pictures so you can see what proofs look like. I'm especially excited about the Map of Annwn being folded and placed into upper tier books in a unique way. More on that when I receive copies.

Some of you have been buying my tarot card series. The first tarot card came about because I was at lunch with author Robin Hobb and her daughter Kat, and they asked the title of the book I was writing. I told him "The King-Killing Queen," and Kat immediately said, "Wow, that's a tarot card right there." I thought it such a good idea, I've done 8 of them so far! The last three on this Backerkit, actually.

Well, tarot card IX -- Master Librarian -- will be part of the Unbroken anthology Kickstarter which launches tomorrow at 8AM PT! If you pledge to a physical tier in the first 48 hours, you get the tarot card for free. So definitely keep that mind. The Master Librarian tarot card is based on my Sir Bevalor short story series and it features a man who may or may not be Mr. Terry Brooks. Ha.

Author line-up for Unbroken is below as well. The book is finished and we just need quantities from the Kickstarter to put it into production. I'm not ashamed to say it will be the SF&F anthology of the year.

If you have questions about any of this, do let me know! Have a great week, everyone!

With Magic,
Shawn Speakman

Hey Everyone,

A quick update on this beautiful Seattle Monday!

About two weeks ago, the printer responsible for the trade hardcover of The Dark Thorn said they needed the signature pages for the book. I hadn't signed them, so I went right to work. Even with Robin Hobb signing in The Signed Page warehouse, I sat nearby in the office signing the sheets. Took me two days but I completed all signature pages. And the artists finished signing already. So whew.

So those pages went to the trade hardcover printer. The limited/rare signature pages went to the bindery. And so that's done.

I've been informed that trade hardcover books will be finished at the end of April. The bindery will be a bit behind though because their main machine went down for three weeks -- resulting in a backup for their projects. I'm not sure if this will affect The Dark Thorn's limited and rare editions yet. Will update you once I know.

As I've said before, all other merchandise is finished and at the warehouse.

In other news, Ingram Book Distributors twisted my arm and asked for hardcovers of the book for books in the US and Canada. I decided to only give them trade paperbacks. That cover is below. Thought you might like to see it.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask. I'm always around!

With Magic,
Shawn Speakman

Hi Everyone,

I hope you all have a wonderful last day of 2025. Here's to a more magical 2026!

Just a quick update here as it is an important one. This last week, my book designer and I managed to complete our print estimates with the printer. This is an important part. The printer completes all book blocks, full-color interiors, endpapers, and dust jackets. The printer also binds the trade hardcover as it has fewer binding requirements and they are capable of doing it.

All elements not with the trade hardcover -- like the full-color interiors that will be tipped into the book, printed endpapers, etc. -- get shipped to the bindery for their two month queue. The special editions of the book get completed there. When the printer finishes the trade hardcover and book blocks/print elements, they will ship me the trade hardcovers on three pallets. The book blocks/print elements will be shipped to the bindery where they get put into the bindery's queue. That queue is usually two months.

What does this mean for timing?

I think the trade hardcover will arrive in my warehouse in March. I will ship out backer orders with the trade hardcover in them because it's been so long and getting some orders out the door is better than not, in my opinion.

The special editions will arrive in my warehouse likely sometime in May, all things going to plan. They require the speciality bindery to make them as beautiful as possible and that takes time sadly. I'll do what I can to speed that up though. Maybe it won't be two months.

All merch (the two bookmarks, the tarot cards, the coin, etc.) has already been created and is in my warehouse. And I sent out the EPUB a few weeks ago. 

So at least those things are done.

My book designer did say last week when we were finalizing things and looking at the art that this is going to be one of my best looking books. I couldn't agree more. I hate it's taken this long but I think the end result will be worth it.

More news when I know it! Happy New Year!

Shawn

Hi Everyone,

A few moments ago, I uploaded three different zip files to BackerKit:

I'm pretty sure everyone gets The Dark Thorn files and The Digital Art Package files. Those who signed up early to be notified when the BackerKit launched receive the first chapter of The Witch-Wiled Wizard.

I'm hoping these files made their way to you in a single email that explains how best to enjoy the files. The Dark Thorn is about as good as I can possibly make it. But if you encounter any ebook errors/issues while you read, do let me know. I can always fix the issue(s) for future readers. The magic of digital files.

And finally, thank you for your patience. This has been a long journey. I'm not happy with how long it took me to get these to you, but I'm hoping the wait will be worth it. And next week, estimates will be requested for the physical editions of The Dark Thorn. Should receive trade hardcovers sometime in March, and the limited editions maybe two months after that due to the special binding that's required.

AGAIN, THANKFUL FOR ALL OF YOU! For those of you in the United States, have a wonderful holiday tomorrow and through the weekend. Oh, and don't forget to check out Black Friday deals on The Signed Page and Grim Oak Press.

With Magic,
Shawn Speakman

Hi Everyone,

Yesterday, I finished writing Chapter 1 of The Witch-Wiled Wizard, the sequel to The King-Killing Queen. It is a first draft, so still pretty messy. And at 3,700 words, it's longer than I'd like. For a frame of reference, the first chapter of The King-Killing Queen is 2,200 words long. I believe once I spend time with it this week again for the second draft, I'll likely get the chapter down to around 3,200 words or so. It just needs to be tightened up a bit.

I'm truly happy with it. I think it does a great job of setting up the main villains for this trilogy. Other than the kings, of course. And I hope the reader feels gut-punched in the chapter's final paragraphs. The end of the chapter is also the origin for the main conflict in The Splintered King, the sequel (threequel?) to The Dark Thorn and The Everwinter Wraith. Yes, I'm thinking that far ahead.

In other news, I'm still waiting for my book designer to get me the final InDesign file for The Preferred Dark Thorn. I didn't know this, but she was kind of backlogged with Grim Oak Press work, having to get beta-reader files ready for The King's Buccaneer by Raymond E. Feist and The Wounded Land by Stephen R. Donaldson. I hope to have the file I need by the end of this week, but it all depends on her. In the meantime, I'll get that second draft done of the chapter as well as gather up the materials for the Digital Art Package.

Then I'll be delivering some things. Finally! Yay! And getting the files off to the printer. Another Yay!

Okay, back to work for me. I'm going to get an update out about Unavowed. And tomorrow, I'll be at The Signed Page warehouse to remove shrink-wrap and slipcases from 1100 copies of Red Rising Deluxe Edition that will be signed by Pierce Brown in a few weeks. 

The work never ends... thanks for sticking by me!

Shawn