I've got some exciting news! I've just received copies of our third book, Tea Tale, so I'll be sending out backer rewards soon! Isn't it pretty?
Secondly, I got the preliminary sketches for the new Dissolution Cycle covers, funded by our second stretch goal, and I have to say, they look amazing! There's two options, though and I need your help!
First, here are both concepts for the trilogy, with notes from Spoon on composition. I thought it would be fun to share, and shows the development process. The top covers are leaning more to the fantasy side, with more dramatic lighting and character focus. The bottom set leans more to the science fiction side, showing off the architecture of the main city in the book, as well as some of the plot events, but with less emphasis on the characters.
I really love both of these, and I'm having trouble figuring out what would be the best fit for the book. That's where you come in! Hurry to the poll below and let me know what you think! Which set of covers would you make grabby hands for? What really sparks your interest to know more about the story?
Remember, you all get eBook copies of the full trilogy with the new covers for passing our second stretch goal, so pick the ones you want in your library!
Let me know what you think, comment with any additional thoughts, and I'll see you soon with another update on the progress!
Here they are, without notes, so you can see better:
Fantasy, character focus
We're heading into the second half of Space Wizard Year 4 quickly! If you backed them, you should have recieved eBooks for our first two releases, The Dragonscale Comb and Corruption already. I'll be sending out the eBooks for Tea Tale, our third release, in just a couple days!
I've also shipped out the first round of physical rewards, for those books that have been released. I'll send out another few packages when I get copies of Tea Tale in, but most physical rewards will be going out in May and June when the rest of the books are released!
I've only got five people who haven't answered their surveys for physical rewards, so once you get those in, I can schedule mailing them out!
I also have some exciting news from Space Wizard! Do you listen to audiobooks? Do you like Lesbians in Space? Space Wizard is bringing Lesbians in Space: Where No Man Has Gone Before and Lesbians in Space: The Sapphics Strike Back to audiobook! We have some very exciting news on a potential narrator as well, but I can't say anything yet...you'll have to keep an eye on the sign up page!
That's all for now. I'll be back later with more news!
Thanks to all for finalizing your surveys. Almost everyone has completed theirs. I've locked orders, charged cards, and sent out the first round of eBooks. I'm planning to pack up the orders that can be shipped out now (charms and already released books) right after the New Year.
I also just sent out the reward for hitting stretch goal #1 in the campaign! This is a new short story I've written, "Big Box Romance" and everyone should receive a copy via BookFunnel download. This is the second in a sequence of short stories in a science fiction / cyberpunk universe with rival syndicates and secret agents. You don't have to read the first short story to get this one, but if you want to, you can get "The Star of the Show" for free on Itch.io.
I've also started work on stretch goal #2, which is to commission new covers for my Dissolution Trilogy. I've been wanting to do this for a while, as the original covers are not the usual quality for Space Wizard books. I've teamed up with Spoon at Spoonwood Visuals to create the new covers. We had a great concepting discussion last week, and came up with some exciting cover ideas. Spoon is working on some sketches for me, and I'll share them with you as soon as I have them. Once the covers are complete, everyone will receive a eBook copy of the trilogy with the new covers!
I hope everyone has a very happy New Year. I'll see you all in 2026!
Just a quick note that I'm going to press the button to lock your orders, so if you want to make any changes, now's the time! After the orders are locked, I'll charge the credit cards, which will enable me to send out all the eBooks for those books that are released!
There's only about 19 surveys outstanding, so great work, everyone! Get those last ones in, as I need to get totals for our first two books releasing. I've already made an order for The Dragonscale Comb, by J.S. Fields, which released today, and I hope to receive those books very soon so I can ship them out! Corruption, by Alexander Verbeek-van den Toren, is releasing January 13th, so I'm going to make an order for those soon to get the books to you as quick as I can.
Meanwhile, it's award season! Voting for the Indie Ink Awards just opened up, and these Space Wizard books are eligible in the following categories:
Tavern Tale: Best book cover and cover artist Best light read Best use of tropes Gay or Lesbian Representation This Book Made Me Hungry/Thirsty Only a Chapter Best book cover and cover artist Best light read Bisexual or Biromantic Representation LGBTQ+ Representation Isaac Best friendship Best light read Asexual or Aromantic Representation LGBTQ+ Representation Waves Take Your Bones Best book cover and cover artist Asexual or Aromantic Representation Gay or Lesbian Representation LGBTQ+ Representation Trans or Nonbinary Representation It's You, Isn't it? Best morally gray character Trans or Nonbinary Representation Crying Out For Magic Best book cover and cover artist Best light read Gay or Lesbian Representation LGBTQ+ Representation Of Mycelium and Men LGBTQ+ Representation
If you think any of these are worthy, please make an account at Indie Ink and vote for one or more!
I'll be back soon with another update, but I hope everyone has a very happy end of the year and associated holidays!
I just pushed the button on the Smoke Test for Space Wizard Science Fantasy Year 4 Part 2. This will test 5% of backers to make sure there aren't any issues with the surveys. If all goes well today, I'll likely send out the rest tomorrow, so look for yours!
The faster these get filled in, the faster I can start ordering books for our first two releases: The Dragonscale Comb, by J.S. Fields, releasing December 16th Corruption, by Alexander Verbeek-van den Toren, releasing January 13th
They're coming up soon!
That's all for now, so again, look for your survey in another day or two.
