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PROJECT UPDATE
Lola | JohnsonOfair
CREATOR
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about 1 month ago

Project Update: July - August News

Apologies, I got locked out of my account for a bit but back now!

We're at a stage where I am largely hands off on the project, other than answering questions and reviewing work when it comes in. The game is in layout and because someone (definitely not not me) wrote a lot and then added more after some feedback to include some game play guidance, taking it from what was initially supposed to be a 60 page zine, we're looking at 104-8 pages before any art is added. This does mean that it's going to take a while to make all the magic happen in making all the spreads look good and unfortunately this does mean that there are some more delays to our timeline. I'm hoping that we will still meet the campaign timeline of October, but I shall keep you all updated as to where we are.

All the artwork is finished for the supplementary items, and The Events task supplement is finished (unless I get any more ideas and keep adding), this supplement will be digital only for the moment so that's less of an issue. The add on/extra items have been purchased, but printing is on hold until September for space reasons, these will go to print before the main book so that everything will be ready to send together.

With all this in mind, I've delayed on charging cards for extras/ add-ons and will do so as we go to print, once I have the proof copy in my hands I'll be able to better calculate shipping and will be able to update the shipping tables on the pledge manager then, so you'll be able to see the price for shipping before shipping is charged.

Shipping will then be charged once the books have arrived to me and are ready to be shipped onwards, there are of course recent changes with tariffs in the US and new regulations for the EU. The EU I will be working to find out what our options are as more information is provided. With the US, we're still going to be shipping as one box and fulfilling separately in the US, we just need to work out if new tariffs will make any changes to how we do so.

In other news I've been deliberating on cover texture. One of the things I really wanted was to echo in this special print run for the game was textured artist's paper, a book that is gently tactile, so it is nice to keep picking up and really sets Joshua's art off beautifully. So I've spent a fair amount of time talking with the printer about the options until I finally narrowed it down to a light stucco paper texture, or an old ripple paper texture.  After some back and forth with Nala, myself and the Printer, I've settled on the old ripple texture, it's quite subtle to touch, but looks very pleasing. I've added some close up pictures of the texture below. 

I shall keep you updated as we continue on and hopefully next update will be able to share some of the internal art with you.
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PROJECT UPDATE
Lola | JohnsonOfair
CREATOR
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3 months ago

Project Update: Next Steps

Hi Everyone,

Apologies for the delay on this update, it was mostly written mid last month and various other things took over. Editing on the main game is complete, outside of proofreading and such which comes later down the line. Unfortunately this took a little longer than planned, so there is a bit of timeline shift. However I've double checked with our artists, printers (got new quotes for a bigger book and all that jazz), and fulfilment, who are all good to work with this timeline shift. Layout will begin this month, with a view to it being complete by the end of July. 

Orders have locked, and all the extras have been ordered with the artwork to be confirmed once votes are in and the title for the Curator's Notebook is decided on. 

For me, now that the editing is done I have refocused my energy to working on mysteries for Bookshop Patrons, and getting the events supplement written.  This will be a digital supplement sent via Backerkit and itch.io for all backers, containing new event related bookshop "tasks" that you'll be able to add to the main game.


Includes Backer-Exclusive Content
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PROJECT UPDATE
Lola | JohnsonOfair
CREATOR
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5 months ago

Project Update: We're diving in!

Hellooo Everyone!

We're deep in the editing weeds because someone (definitely couldn't be me) managed to make The Wanderer's Bookshop a fair bit bigger than planned... It's not totally ridiculous, but we still want to make sure it's right, we're going to continue working on the edits until we're happy with it, so we've slightly extended that part of the timeline. Then we can go into layout magic.

Survey's have been out since the begining of the month, along with the pre-order being open. 92% of you have filled out your surveys which is fantastic!

If you have yet to fill out your survey, especially if you are a Bookshop Patron, please do so as soon as possible. Your quotes are being put in to the game whilst we're going through the editing process. If you can't fill out your survey for any reason please drop me an email with your literary quote (Johnsonofair(at)outlook.com).

Otherwise work proceeds on! 

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PROJECT UPDATE
Lola | JohnsonOfair
CREATOR
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6 months ago

Project Update: Surveys Coming Soon & Voting Time!

Hi Everyone, 


It's been a busy few weeks, I've been finishing writing behind the scenes so that all the extra sections can go into editing. There have been a couple of planning meetings and we've got a good structure going forward. 


  • The notebook cover has been commissioned from Ramona and I've communicated with both Joshua and Alex. 

  • The Wandering Tome Pin is finalised (who knew I could be so picky about a key).

  •  I've designed a few versions of the Book List sheets so it's time to get your votes in on the Backer Only Poll to let me know your preference for what gets printed.  All the designs will be included as digital printables for anyone getting the physical notepad, so you can continue to use them long after your notepad is finished. The two most popular designs will be available in the pledge manager as a printable add on for everyone else.

 an image with different designs of book list pages staggered across the screen, the left most has a pile of watercolour books in brown hues on one side and lines for title, author and date read. The second is mocked up to look like a library book card, with space for mood, title, author and rating. The third and fourth are two variations with a watercolour swash downthe left and an outline of a pile of books allowing for filling in the books vibe, then titel and author with the fourth having circles for checking off or rating the books. The third has numbers and a single column for the book title and author on the left, with the right side having some watercolour boxes for impressions, two of which are open for you to decide the heading, the latter two are titled Further reading and Notes. The rightmost and final page has watercolour vines hanging down and a tree coming up from the bottom right, it has sections for Title, Author and a box for Notes.


I've also completed an ashcan version Charm The Ferryman, so everyone that backed the small games bundle during the campaign will get a playtest copy of it along with your games bundle (emailed after you've completed your survey). I took it with me to Groundhog Play this past weekend for playtesting, and it's had a bit of an overhaul since then, so I'm interested to hear what you think. Then after any further revisions post more playtesting, it will be laid out by Grace Gittel Lewis, whose style is perfect for the silly underworld romp the game is. 

Surveys will go out at the start of April once the poll is over, though smoke tests will be incoming this Friday. When surveys go out to everyone, the Pre-Order store will also open, so if you know anyone that missed out, they'll be able to pick up a copy.

That's pretty much it for now, I've got some mysteries to plan and guest writers to commission, so get voting and i'll catch you in April!

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PROJECT UPDATE
Lola | JohnsonOfair
CREATOR
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7 months ago

Project Update: Thank You & What Next...

Hi Everyone!

We've funded and over the next 14 days or so BackerKit will be charging and processing the funds for the Campaign. There are some failed charges, which BackerKit will email you about if this has occured with your pledge, you will have, I think, until next week to double check and correct this.

Now continues/begins the next steps to fulfillment. I've put together a rough timeline. open image in new tab to enlarge.


 A graphic timeline showing plans for writing, editing, design and surveys out in march, mystery planning beggining, and editing complete in april, with surveys closing and extras ordered. In May the Game should be in the layout stage and the internal art coming in along with the extras. June, Layout will be ongoing whilst the ephemera is being organised. July, a completed layout will go for test printing with a final edit review. Any dixes and revisions will happen before dgitial delivery and going to print. August Shipping will be calculated and charged with shipping begining after copies arrive.



Things are subjects to change in that they might be completed earlier or later, but this is the current plan which builds in a bit of buffer either way. As you know a first draft is already with Brent (Our Fabulous Editor) and some playtesting copies containing the core game are out too. There will be some revisions based on incoming feedback this week and a more complete playtesting copy will go out to Bookshop Patrons later in the month along with their special survey.  Designs are being done and finalised for the extras and I've reached out to get started on the art for The Curators Notebook. The next time you'll hear from me is when funds are received and surveys are ready to go out towards the middle/ end of this month.

We didn't quite meet all of our community goals. However I will collate a plain text book list of the recommendations given with the cards and prompts for them, so if you want to still add your recommendations to the resource, please do. This is likely something I will do in May. We were super close to the Independent Bookshop goal, so i'll also include a plain text list of those and if I have spare time I will pick a few to create map fragments from.

So much appreciation for you all!

Lola

p.s. If you are in the UK and feel like travelling to Glasgow later this month for the Inaugural Groundhog Play, sign ups are open for another week for this free Playtesting Convention.
Groundhog Play Info

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