Here's a quick update about how close we are to fulfillment!
First, the voice actor I've hired to narrate the audiobook has already started her preliminary work! She doesn't play around when it comes to voicework, and is developing a spreadsheet with notes about each character and how she wants to present each voice. She's got some other commitments to finish before she can actually start recording, but says she hopes to have her schedule cleared by the end of 2026. That means the audiobook might be done in the first half of 2027!
I was hoping to have the hardback and paperback proof copies in hand by now, but B&N estimates that they won't be delivered until Oct. 5. I had to go with B&N for the hardbacks since other services didn't offer hardbacks in 5x8 format.
What I might do is get the paperbacks printed through Amazon, since I already have a proof copy and it looks okay (not as good as I'd like, for various reasons). I need to check with my cover designer to see if he can update the back cover copy, since I have rewritten it approximately 20 times. He's moving this week and is probably completely sick of needing to make updates to the cover, but we'll see.
The ebook is ready to go, but I want to wait until Small Mysteries is ready too so that I can fulfill all the digital rewards at once. That's going to take at least another week. I have to make a bunch of illustrations for it too!
We're still well on target to get the digital rewards out by early October and the paperback copies out by the official publication date of Oct. 20, 2026. I always expected the hardbacks to take a little longer. It does actually look like larger orders of 20+ copies take a lot less time to be printed than just one, so we might all be pleasantly surprised.
This turned out to be a longer update than I expected.
We still have about ten folks who haven't yet answered their surveys. Don't forget to get that done soon! Once I have the proof copies, and can therefore figure the shipping costs, we'll be very close to locking down everyone's orders!
I was at Dragon Con this past weekend, running around with friends and 80,000 other nerds in Atlanta. Now I'm home and mostly recovered (not really true: I just yawned for the 50th time this morning), and I'm ready to get the last details done for The Moonhound!
The very final revision is finished, with all the new character names in place. All I lack before the book can be submitted for printing is to finish the acknowledgements page. That's where I thank everyone who backed the project!
Most backers have already filled out the survey I sent out last week. Thanks! For the 13 or 14 folks who still haven't filled it out, please do so soon!
If you don't fill out the survey, you won't get your rewards--even if it's just a digital download. That's just how Backerkit is set up. Plus, one of the survey questions asks how you'd like to be thanked on the acknowledgements page (you can also check a box to opt out).
I need to get those last replies so I can finish the acknowledgements page and get proof copies printed! I need copies in hand so I can determine shipping costs, then order all the book copies I need to fulfill pledges!
If you didn't get your survey or can't find it, let me know and I can send you the link!
For anyone who hasn't yet filled out the survey by Sept. 15, I'll just use your Backerkit username to thank you in the credits.
Thanks again! I'm really excited to get this book out to everyone!
The surveys are just about ready to go--in fact, a few of you will have received an early "smoke test" survey to make sure everything is working okay.
Please return your survey as soon as you can! The sooner I get everyone's response, the sooner I can finish those last changes and get the book finalized and ready to go!
The book edits are finished, the cover designer has worked his magic for the paperback/hardback covers, the book interior is formatted, and all that remains at this point is to add the "thank you" page at the end, and update a few character names. We're getting close!
We have a cover for the Small Mysteries add-on ebook! But first, a few quick reminders.
If you backed at the "name a character" level, please check your email! I sent an email to you asking about names, and while I've heard back from almost everyone, there's still one person who hasn't responded. I can't finalize the book until I have all the new names in place, so please get back to me soon!
Similarly, we've had a few backers whose charges haven't gone through. That's fine, but remember to update your payment method soon so you get your rewards!
Surveys should go out in about a week! If your rewards include a physical item, I need your mailing address in the survey. I won't lock orders for a while, so if you're moving soon don't stress. There will be time to update your address later.
I also just found out that even if you missed the campaign, I can actually add you to the survey manually! Just email me at [email protected] with the subject line Add Me to the Survey, and let me know which pledge level you want and any add-ons you'd like.
Oh, and I've decided to add ten more hardback copies as add-ons, so if you wanted one but they sold out, you will have the opportunity to add one to your survey.
That was more updates than I expected. But here it is, the cover reveal for the Small Mysteries book! This is an add-on ebook (together with its sister book Beyond Bigfoot and Nessie: Lesser-Known Mystery Animals from Around the World). The official title is Small Mysteries: Mini Mystery Animals from Around the World. The frog is from photographer Alejandro Orozco and the cover design is by Tempe O'Kun, who is also cover designer for The Moonhound.
Whew, it's all done and the campaign did great! Thanks so much!
So what's next?
Over the next few days, you'll be charged for your pledge (minus any shipping costs, which will be charged later once I have books in hand and can calculate shipping exactly). If you have a problem with your card, you'll have time to update your payment method.
I'll be finishing the edits soon, and once the final draft is finished, many things get kicked into high gear. I'll provide the voice actor with the manuscript so she can (hopefully) get started recording the audiobook soon. I'll format the paperback and hardback versions, then let the cover designer know how many pages both are--this determines spine width, so he can't finish the covers until he has that information.
After the cover designer finishes his work, I'll be submitting the finished book to IngramSpark, and ordering enough paperback and hardback copies so that everyone who pledged has a copy.
I don't anticipate sending out surveys until some time in September. I'll keep everyone updated, don't worry!
I really can't thank you all enough. The response for my novella has been amazing!
