It's time for an update about The Dark Thorn. I believe in one of my last updates, I shared that beta readers had finished their work and their recommendations came back to me. I had also edited those changes to make a stronger book. Since then, the copyeditor did another quick pass over it -- and found some extra edits. I completed those yesterday and turned the entire book back over to my book designer.
What does this mean? It means this morning I woke up and worked on getting estimates done for The Dark Thorn Advance Reader Copies (ARCs), both for the hardcover and the trade paperback. In short, I designed both of the editions. Now I'm waiting on the dust jacket and cover templates for those editions from the printer, I'll send those templates to my book designer, and she will complete the files for the ARCs.
I expect on Monday or Tuesday, files will go to the printer. And since it is a quick printer, I expect to have those books within two weeks. I'll ship those books out once I receive them and sign them. One major step done. For those people who ordered extra merch with the ARCs, I'll likely ship those merch too since I have it.
I'll then read the physical copy of the ARC ONE LAST TIME, to catch anything I missed. A page proof time. Should take me about a week. And then any final changes will go to my book designer and FINAL FINAL files will be done for the trade hardcover and the special editions. I'll also create the new EPUB/Ebook of The Dark Thorn at this time and get that sent out to all of you.
In other news, Magali Villeneuve has the signature pages in France and is slowly signing them. I'll have her then send them to artist Don Maitz for his signing. Then they will come back to me!
Really excited about getting all of this completed. Thank you SO MUCH for your patience. It means a lot!
In care, Shawn Speakman
PS: The ARC cover for The Dark Thorn. I do love white ARCs!
