A bit of a dream come true to publish some kick ass sword-and-sorcery fiction, and you've got us one step closer to that reality. Such a great response. $11k+.
Over the next month, I'm going to be fairly quiet. We have 50,000+ words to run through, produce final edited pieces and lay them out. We have art to direct and printing to get set up.
My goal is to have this magazine in your hands (or at least on its way to you) by the beginning of June. That goal is somewhat personal: That's the start of my convention season, so I want them in hand as much as you do.
As of the closing of the project, we're very far along in the process. Here's a look behind the curtain:
Fiction -- We have all words in house. Editing has commenced. Art -- We have the cover (obviously) and about 60% of the art in hand. The rest is commissioned and in progress.
I'm hoping to have editing completed by the end of next week, get final approval on all the fiction and start the layout process by the first week of April.
We're moving fast.
I want to thank you again for your support. Maybe it's just another crowdfunding that you're going to get updates from, but it means to world to us. I'm really looking forward to what's next after this issue. More exciting announcements on that later.
Swords bloodied, the campaign isn't over until it's over. And you guys decide when it's over. We're approaching the end of the regular campaign and then we'll move into overtime. Any pledges made within the last 10 minutes of the campaign push it to 10 more minutes!
So, help us keep the train going by sharing our campaign to your contacts that would love another sword & sorcery magazine out there supporting authors, artists, and other creators. And packed with great stories.
And thanks again for all your support. I'm already transitioning from "trumpet mode" to "let's get this damned magazine out the door" mode. More news after the campaign.
Evolgi Says: Keep the Fight Going! (art by Jason Sholtis)
I'm really really wanting to hit this audio stretch goal and bring this project home in style. And I guess Jason Sholtis really wants it too, because he offered to do a "preview" of a reading. I chose my story, not because I'm a narcissistic weirdo, but because I'm still working on right-related paperwork on the other authors' works.
Anyway, bureaucratic stuff aside, here's the first few paragraphs of Let the Heart Beat Silent Still. Note that this is *just* a rough cut with some open source sound effects thrown in, but it really gets me excited for the possibilities if we can get to this next stretch goal.
Here's some more Jason Sholtis and Trey Causey comic preview, as well.
Jason Sholtis!
I hope it gets you motivated, too! Share the project if you haven't. Shake down your friends! Extort your enemies! Let's get an audio version of this magazine.
A little late, but I want to send out a hearty thank you to everyone as we crossed the $9500 threshold. Our creators/staff thank you, as well.
My personal goal on this whole venture (after just basic funding) was to have a sword & sorcery audio magazine. That's the next stretch goal, but it's a real stretch at $14k. How close can we get? Don't you want to listen to some heart-pumping sword & sorcery action while you pump iron at the gym or on you long boring drive to work?
Let's go! And thank you again for getting us this far.
Here's an inked preview panel from Jason's and Trey's comic and a story header illustration by David Fisher for Can These Bones Live? (story by David Carter).
We're soooo close to creator/staff raises at $9500. Great job! Let's push a little further. My ultimate goal is that 14K mark so we can do an audio-book version of the magazine. Let's get some momentum for that final push.
And the creative team of Jason Sholtis and Trey Causey surprised me with a comic update over on Trey's Bluesky profile... check it out! I'm bursting... so friggin' cool.
