Greetings Backers!

Thank you so much to everyone who backed this project. 

TL;DR: I've shipped out all the packages that are ready to ship. 204 packages are waiting on the completion of the Activities Notebook. (Details below) You can now order additional copies of the book directly from our online store. (Sandra Tayler Store). Audiobook is waiting for me to review files, which I plan to do this week. A detailed accounting of all deliverables is below. Your next update will be the week of January 5-9. 

ACTION ITEM: If you are among the 204 whose packages are waiting on the Activities Notebook and you would really like to have your other items by Christmas, please email me: [email protected]  I can split your order for an extra shipping charge. If you're content to wait, no action is needed!

I love this part. It is when I get to send packages to many people and then imagine people opening those packages. I'll go into detail about the joyful shipping process down below, but first some stats and specific updates on deliverables.

1357 total orders
498 Digital only (All of these have been marked as shipped, but you'll get automatic emails when the audiobook is ready or when I have an updated ebook file for you.)
638 packages mailed Pictures below! You should have gotten an email with your tracking number. (Unless you have a Custom Designed Activities Notebook in your order.)
204 waiting on Activities Notebook Details below
12 unanswered surveys Click here to fill out your survey if this is you!
4 declined cards 

SLSC Print book: Complete!
SLSC ebook: I still need to re-issue a version with the sentence corrected in Chapter 10.
SLSC Audiobook: Waiting on me to approve audio files. Details below.
Activities Notebook: In layout. This got sidelined because of holidays, helping my son move, and then shipping. It needs to come back front and center. Details below.
Journal (for creativity bundle): Complete!
Bookmarks: Complete!
Notecards: Complete!
Sticker sheets: Complete!
Thank you Postcard: Complete!
Giveaway books: I need to create a form for people to sign up to receive these. Once I have the process in place I'll advertise their availability. This is going to be my January push.
Lecture bundle: Complete!

I checked in with the audiobook engineer about progress and it turns out they need my final approval for the files. So I need to schedule time this week to listen to 10 hours of audiobook and make notes about any changes or corrections. Once I turn in those notes then Mary Robinette and the engineer can schedule a session to record the corrections.  So this is waiting on me to get it done. Sorry about the delay. 

My work on layout for the Activities Notebook got completely sidelined by helping my son move, Thanksgiving, some freelancing work, and then book shipping.  It is time for me to re-focus and get this done asap. Once layout is complete, then I hit a decision point where I can either optimize for time or for money. I can have the books printed over seas which will delay their delivery by three months but will be MUCH cheaper for me per copy so I could print extras to sell. Or I can print them inside the US for 4x as much per copy, have them in only a week or two from placing the order, but I'd only get as many as needed to deliver to backers.  I hate the long delay, but I think the overseas shipping makes the most sense. I'll continue thinking this through while I get the layout done. 

In order to deliver the give away books, I need to create an easy online form that people can fill out to claim one of the books. I'm going to focus on Audiobook and Activities Notebook first, then turn my attention to this. So you'll probably see more news on this in January. 

After all of the above is done, there are still some next steps for this project. The Crowdfunded edition will be available in my store while supplies last. (I have 1500 spare copies, so supplies should last quite a while).  I'll also use Ingram Spark create eBook and POD editions that will go live on Amazon and other large retailers. This will allow people who are not in the US to get physical copies without paying for international postage. The POD editions won't have the same quality of construction, but will still get all of the content. Publishing this second edition also means that (in theory) bookstores and libraries can order my book. It will likely be January before I get this done.

My last update showed you pictures from the day we built boxes. Let me take you through the process of prepping packages.
Books start here on the pallet out in the large warehouse space.

I carry a box of them into our workspace and unload them onto a table.

Then I can take stacks to refresh the piles at the packing station.  This is where a book, thank you card, and buffer paper are all placed together into a box and stacked to be sealed up.

Here you can see boxes waiting to be sealed.

I didn't get a close up view of the taping station. But the helper pulls out the postage, tapes the box closed and then sticks the mailing label to the outside.

We then load everything into the car to be dropped at the post office.

When we were all done, we'd gone through most of a pallet of books.

There was also a day when I signed 260 books.

And another helper carefully assembled bundles of notecards, stickers, and book marks.

It was a fun three days of work with cheerful company and it resulted in more than 600 packages mailed. Today I'm sending out the final orders with personalizations.  And the only orders left are those which also have the activities notebook. 

That's my update for now.

Your next update will be January 5-9 when I'll report on the Activities Notebook, Audiobook, and eBook re-issue.  I'd report earlier, but I'm giving myself a holiday break.

Thank you so much for backing my project!
Sandra Tayler