Greetings Backers,

One of the things I like to do when giving updates on a project is to provide a TL;DR (Too Long; Didn't Read) section at the top of the update. If you're wanting only the most relevant information delivered quickly, you can just read the TL;DR and move on with your day. If you like more detail, you can read the whole update. So with that intro, our first

And now we dig in to details!

SLSC Print book: Currently in the hands of a developmental editor. I've identified 7 more chapters that need to be added to the book, which might increase the word count by 20k or more. I'm hoping to get 1-2 chapters drafted before my Gen Con departure, but there are a lot of claims on my attention this week.
SLSC ebook: This will be produced and released within about a week of when I send the physical book to the printer.
SLSC Audiobook: I will begin production on this as soon as the physical book is off to the printer and the ebook has been delivered.
Custom Designed Notebook: I will be working on this in tandem with revising and editing SLSC. I already have ideas for how to arrange some of the activities on the pages.
Notebook (for creativity bundle): I've ordered samples for this blank notebook. Once they arrive I can decide whether this will be a spiral bound notebook or stitched.  I do plan to let people with creativity bundles choose to upgrade their blank notebook to Custom Designed if they wish.
Bookmarks: Design work on these will begin after Gen Con and after I get the new book chapters drafted.
Notecards: Design work on these will begin after Gen Con and after I get the new book chapters drafted.
Sticker sheets: I need to get samples from a vendor. I have an idea I'm excited about, so I'll be exploring the feasibility of it during August.
Thank you Postcard: Design work will begin in October.
Giveaway books: Once I have received my shipment of books I will set up a process where people can get these books for free.
Lecture bundle: After I return from Gen Con, I will get these lectures recorded, edited, and uploaded. I want to have them available to you by the end of September.
Consultations: I will be reaching out this week to begin scheduling.
Group Mentoring: I will be reaching out this week to begin scheduling.
Individual Mentoring: I will be reaching out this week to begin scheduling. 

This is the current plan. I will keep you updated and informed about any changes, delays, or exciting news. 

July 22-26: I’ll be reaching out to those at the mentoring levels to start setting up appointments and groups.

July 28-August 7: I'll be on the road to Gen Con.

August 9 - September 15: Drafting chapters, getting them beta read, firming up the core text of the book so it is ready for line editing and proofreading. Design work on the sticker sheets, bookmarks, and other items in the creativity bundle.   The survey to collect your address and order information will also go out during this stage. I'll start work on recording lectures with the plan to have all of them available by the end of September.

September 16- October 15: Line editing and proofreading. It is possible that both of these can happen in one pass, but it is more likely that they’ll have to happen sequentially. Work will begin on the Custom Designed Notebook, bookmarks, notecards, thank you card, and other ancillary items.

October 16-31:  Layout and design for the print book and ebook. Send the book off to the printer. Once files are in the printer's hands they will give me a specific timeline for delivery. Same with the items ordered from other vendors.

November 1-5: I hope to have the ebook ready and distribute it to everyone who has an ebook in their pledge. 

March 2025: Shipping books to you! (Hopefully sooner than this, but I’ll keep you posted.)

The pre-order store is now open! If you know someone who wants this book, but missed the funding window, they can place a pre-order here. Feel free to spread that link far and wide. The store is currently rudimentary. I will be adding more items and sprucing everything up over the coming weeks. As a backer, you will be able to add on more items via your survey which will go out in early September. 

It is the week before Gen Con. We road trip cross country to get to this event and then run a booth for four days. I want to get started on drafting some chapters for SLSC this week, but realistically I'm probably going to spend my writing time finishing up the three presentations that I'm giving while at Gen Con (tickets still available!) Since several of these presentations are also going to be what I record for the Lecture Bundle, I'm still doing work that moves this project forward.   

I'd like to believe that I'll work on things while I'm on the road, but the reality is likely to be that the creative challenges of finding food I can eat (I have a medically restricted diet), helping Howard navigate his chronic fatigue, and connecting with friends and fellow writers will all prove too distracting. 

I usually experience a creative surge once I recover from convention exhaustion, so I have high hopes for productivity in the second half of August. I'll need to take full advantage of that if I'm going to keep on track for my production schedule. 

I'm very excited to bring this project to you and I'm looking forward to keeping you all posted about the journey to get there. 
Thank you for being here!
Sandra