Progress Update
almost 3 years ago
– Wed, Jun 16, 2021 at 03:01:07 PM
I just spooled out what is intended to be a publishable file for the main Delvers to Grow core book. I even got a pleasant surprise in there. (No...it's a surprise.)
Crypt of Krysuvik is coming along nicely. I've got art rolling in, and more on the way. It's all been commissioned. I should have it all in hand on or before the end of the month.
The example books are still in process; I got the first set of Strong Delvers yesterday (I think; things blur together a bit) and I'll be getting those into final form over the next few days. The covers are underway as well.
Real Life is taking its toll on a few artists and writers (and publisher, for that matter) and things aren't as smooth as I'd like...there is strong momentum for a finish.
As noted yesterday, I'm waiting for Backerkit to turn on whole-order shipping for me, then I'll re-assess what that looks like and hopefully get the project approved and then the smoke test sent out.
My goal is to have everything in hand in the next two weeks or less, and start rolling out PDFs via DriveThru. I will probably do things in waves, when it comes for release: Backerkit's "Distribution Rules" have the advantage of being able to roll with folks as the surveys are completed; the Comp Copy distribution tool in DriveThru has convenience on its side, and good version control, but it's more "all at once" than Backerkit's offering.
In any case things are moving.
Backerkit still being difficult
almost 3 years ago
– Mon, Jun 14, 2021 at 10:51:04 PM
The mix of books and stuff once again is causing me shipping headaches. I'm resorting to "whole order" shipping which will undo all of my work to date, but I can't see a better way to ensure that adding a $10 copy of (whatever) doesn't add an extra $7 in shipping cost. Unless of course it's your first item as a pre-order, in which case it SHOULD cost $7 or so...gah. I hate this.
I'm in contact (seemingly constantly) with Backerkit still trying to reinforce the point that the way they are making me do shipping isn't even how I buy shipping inside Backerkit's own fulfillment section.
Whatever. It's likely to be a few more days and then surveys shall go out. If there's an add-on you want and you don't see it in your survey, ping me and I can add it.
Perfect bound or stapled?
almost 3 years ago
– Fri, Jun 11, 2021 at 07:27:48 AM
The Delvers to Grow main book and the Crypt of Krysuvik adventure are both pointed at 40 pages each.
This means I have a choice.
I can do perfect-bound, which is a nicer spine (but certainly not wide enough to have a legible title), or saddle-stitched (stapled), which lays flat better. In fact, it lays flat so well that it's hard to make it sit nicely on a shelf.
The cost is not that different, really...about $0.60 per book.
So...give me your opinions! Let me know what your preference is for these books.
Backerkit - so painful, so necessary
almost 3 years ago
– Fri, Jun 11, 2021 at 07:01:17 AM
I've made progress in getting Backerkit survey ready today. It's so unbelievably painful, every time. Even the "advanced tools" don't make it easy, and I have a lot of deleting to do.
Last time (Character Collections) there was a weird glitch where if you added a cheap add-on it dinged you for a huge shipping fee. I'm going to try and avoid that this time around.
The fees for Canada shipping are going to look oddly high. Last project I did some shipping from the USA using UPS and my backers got dinged TWICE, once by me (which flowed out again), and then again as a "brokerage fee" from UPS. Hell with that. The postage fees are what Shipstation is telling me for USPS, which allows these books to hopefully move through duty-free. So while you're looking at higher fees than other places because it's the USPS, well, hopefully those are the ONLY fees you pay.
I'm working to get the backerkit set up ASAP, but I'm not sure if I can get it out this week. Maybe next week, but this is so very easy to screw up.
Index!
almost 3 years ago
– Tue, Jun 08, 2021 at 03:18:23 PM
Thought I’d share the newly completed Index.
