Status Update for Rewards
about 3 years ago
– Fri, Feb 17, 2023 at 08:49:34 AM
Thank you all so much for your support and patience!
It means the world to all of us as we work through getting all of these rewards fulfilled.
This update is meant to give you the status of the various projects so you have the greatest transparency about where things stand.
I intended for this to go out last night, but it took more time than I expected to compose.
Again, I can't apologize enough for the delays. This was a huge learning curve for me, but I will not give up, and I'll do everything possible to not let you down. I've set better systems in place so that Volume 2 will have EVERYTHING but the art (and possibly the audiobook) ready when the campaign ends Fall 2023.
Status Legend:
- 🟢 The reward is completed and in your Backerkit, ready for you to claim
- 🟡 The reward is in progress
- 🟠 The reward is stalled or awaiting another step
Rewards Ready and Waiting for You
- 🟢 Cryptid Club Invite: Sent - check the updates here on Kickstarter, and I've also distributed the link to your Backerkit
- 🟢 DoD Anthology Spotify Playlist: check the updates here on Kickstarter, and I've also distributed the link to your Backerkit
- 🟢 Darkest of Dreams eBook: Ready and waiting inside your Backerkit account 🥳
- 🟢 Darkest of Dreams Digital Wallpaper Bundle: Ready and waiting inside your Backerkit account
- 🟢 The Complete Sundown Series ebook Boxset by Courtney Konstantin: Ready and waiting in Backerkit for eligible pledge levels
- 🟢 Stretch Goal 2 - Fence Rail Dog story by Russell Nohelty: Already completed and included in the anthology
- 🟢 Stretch Goal 3 - Audio Commentary: Ready and waiting for you in Backerkit
- 🟢 Stretch Goal 4 - Custom Wendigo Sticker and REJECTS ebook by Alyanna Poe: The eBook is ready and waiting for you in Backerkit; the sticker will be distributed after book proofs are ordered.
- 🟢 Week 2 Bonuses - CLOWN audiobook by Rod A. Galindo and Hunting the Undead eBook by Tina Glasneck: Ready and waiting for you in Backerkit
- 🟢 Week 3 Bonuses - Alone eBook with new cover by Courtney Konstantin and Burning Bright eBook by Nan Sampson: Ready and waiting for you in Backerkit
- 🟢 Week 4 Bonuses - When I Wake From Dream eBook by M.T. Decker and Insanity eBook by Andre Gonzalez: Ready and waiting for you in Backerkit
Rewards in Progress
- 🟡 Darkest of Dreams paperback: In formatting. I had to change the program I used for book formatting because the final files were coming out wacky, and I wasn't going to waste proofs when I knew it wasn't right.
- 🟡 Darkest of Dreams hardcover: In formatting, see above
- 🟡 Darkest of Dreams full-color PDF: Formatting
- 🟡 Backer Credit: Part of the formatting process
- 🟡 Wendigo Pin: In production
- 🟡 Cryptid Party Crashers Guide PDF: In formatting by a new graphic designer. I'm meeting with her this afternoon to review and approve the final version
- 🟡 Individual Cryptid Wallpaper Bundles: Designing with the received art after I get proofs ordered
Rewards in Queue
As soon as I've finished formatting the paperback and hardcover editions in the new program and ordered the proofs, I will finish the following rewards and complete fulfillment and distribution. I'll keep you updated as these things ship out.
- 🟠 Bookmarks - Most were completed before the end of the campaign, so this part will not take long once I'm back on it.
- 🟠 Creepy Cryptid Sticker Set - ordering and fulfillment should be quick and easy on this part.
- 🟠 DoD T-shirts for Master Summoners - awaiting custom art
- 🟠 Stretch Goal 1 - Individual Cryptid Wallpaper Bundles: Designing with the received art after I get proofs ordered
- 🟠 Stretch Goal 5 - Author Chat Logs: In formatting
- 🟠 Stretch Goal 6 - Cryptid Hunter's Creature Files: In formatting
- 🟠 Stretch Goal 7 - Additional Art Prints: Digital are awaiting upload and distribution to Backerkit; physical need sizing then ordering
- 🟠 Week 1 Bonus A - Disappearance at Sleepy Creek audio edition by AK Hughey: In production
- 🟠 Week 1 Bonus B - Immortal Blade eBook by MT Decker: In editing
- 🟠 Bonus 'Thank You for Your Patience' Surprise Gift: In production
What's Next
Aside from reviewing and approving the Cryptid Party Crasher's Guide today 🤞, my top priority is finishing the (re)formatting of the hardcover and paperback editions so I can order the proofs. Proofs don't come as quickly as an Amazon Prime shipment (sometimes) does, and we aren't using Amazon to print these. I'll keep you updated on this as things happen.
I apologize for the length between updates, but when you're neck-deep in the work, it's tough to come up for air and report. Your comments and messages are great reminders though, so thank you for taking time to come over and say that you're still excited to receive your goods. I can't wait until you have everything in hand.
In the meantime, check out the awesome graphic designer helping me with formatting the Cryptid Party Crasher's Guide!
Nydia Pastoriza is a graphic designer with experience as a creative director and marketing manager for international brands. She is also an author, and she'll even design book covers when she's not writing or editing her own novels.
Another Volume?
Yes, I will be preparing another volume. Don't worry! I will NOT allow it to interfere with my work on fulfillment.
How will the next campaign be better? Frankly, I'm going to hire more specialists. Many of the anthology's authors contributed their time, skills, and talent to this endeavor, but not everyone could commit to helping put things together, and that's okay. My focus was on making a kickass fiction anthology on cryptids ✅ and on paying the participating authors as much as I could -- which meant I took on way more work for myself. I assure you, I've learned my lesson. It's a massive thing to organize, nonetheless try to do most of the pieces to excellence on your own. I will continue to organize, manage, and curate the best stories, but I will hire out formatting for all of the editions and extra goodies next time.
Everything WILL be delivered on schedule this fall, and not be months behind. That hurts, and I hate how it feels, on top of exacerbated health issues. <-- but I'm not here to give excuses. Only to say that I've learned important lessons about how to do this better, and I absolutely will now that I know the extent of the work.
That being said, if you or someone you know is a horror author and you would like to have a story considered for Volume 2 of the anthology, head HERE to read the submission requirements. The deadline is May 31st (because volume 2 will be formatted in all 3 editions by the end of July).
Back to Work
Alright, I'm going to get back to work on this. My birthday is this weekend, so I'm probably going to have a day just to refill my creative well by playing Skyrim (with the new Anniversary update) or RDO and hang out with my family. Aside from a few annual events and appointments to deal with my medical issues, the vast majority of my time will be dedicated to finishing this formatting and getting the remaining goods (both physical and digital) out to you so you can hold them and squeeze them and love them in all their terrifying awesomeness. 🤣 I think I need more sleep
Again, thank you so much for your support and patience.
You rock!
~ Audrey
