Books have arrived!
about 4 years ago
– Sat, Jan 29, 2022 at 03:03:01 PM
They're heeeeere!
Well, technically they arrived a couple of days ago, but I've been waiting for people to fill out their surveys before I started shipping.
I spent the last couple of days getting everything together and signing everything. Now, all that's left is the shipping.
I know I usually do this in one day, but I just underwent radiation last week for a thyroid condition and I don't have the energy I once did.
Don't worry, the books are not radioactive, but I did have to sleep in another room for my wife for days to make sure I didn't get her exposed.
That said, I'm going to fulfill these as quick as my body allows, given that it is dealing with severe migraines and a thyroid issue.
My goal is to get these all in the mail by Friday, but barring that by Monday.
That said, if you did not have extras on your campaign and you paid the right price, then I marked your survey fulfilled, which means all you have to do to get your rewards is to go back to your BACKERKIT email, click the link, and you will get your rewards.
You should have additionally gotten an email saying your digital rewards were ready. If not, then you can go to this link and get it sent to your KICKSTARTER email address.
https://dragonstrifetrilogy.backerkit.com/
Cthulhu is coming...
I've included information about my Cthulhu is Hard to Spell: Battle Royale campaign that's coming in a couple of weeks for the past couple of updates, but I wanted to just show you one of the stories.
The "signature" story
Notification link
One of the complaints about the series in the past was that the covers did not relate to any single story. Well, I'm happy to say that this has been rectified this book, because I wrote a 12 page wrestling story where the gods of mythology get into a tag team wrestling match with the Lovecraftian gods.
The story has been split between three different pieces throughout the story, which take you through the series and hopefully really tie the book together.
In case you were worried that there would not be any wrestling to go along with the cover, rest assured there is, and you might even recognize some of the costumes. While this story was not drawn by cover artist Aaron Alexovich, it WAS drawn by my long-term collaborator Erik Lervold, which is equally amazing.
Notification link
If you liked that, you can get a preview of the first 17 stories in my email blast from this week. If you're not on the list, you can find it here.
Hope to see you once again behind the backer wall on February 22nd when we launch.
-Russell
Books from the printer have SHIPPED
about 4 years ago
– Sat, Jan 22, 2022 at 08:17:23 AM
Hi!
I know I only sent the surveys out a couple days ago, but the books have shipped from the warehouse and are OUT FOR DELIVERY!
What!!!!
I have only had books shipped this fast one time. I'm planning on shipping them sooooon as you get your surveys done, so please please please please please get your survey filled out ASAP.
If you haven't received your survey to your KICKSTARTER email, not your personal if it's different, then you can go https://dragonstrifetrilogy.backerkit.com and request it sent to you.
This is not a drill. Book delivery to my house is imminent.
My next campaign is coming on February 22nd
Notification link
Cthulhu is back, and this time heroes of legends will team up to send him and the old gods back into the void of oblivion where they belong...but these immortal deities of chaos and disorder will not go easy.
The third and final volume, Cthulhu is Hard to Spell: Battle Royale features stories by Trina Robbins (the first woman to draw Wonder Woman) David Pepose (Scout's Honor), Christian Gossett (The Red Star), and a fantastic cover by Aaron Alexovich (Invader Zim), among many fabulous writers and artists.
We're launching this campaign on February 22nd.
Plus, we have a theme song, a brand new pin, and just so much awesomeness.
You can download a 40-page sample of the third volume by clicking here.
In total, over 75+ creators contributed 34 incredible stories to this third 180-page hardcover collection, and the results are pretty mind-blowing.
Stories range from cute to scary and funny to poignant, and feature creators who have worked on books from Marvel, DC, Image, Oni, Dark Horse and more, along with brands from Invader Zim to My Little Pony, and everything in between.
Plus, the second volume featured over 70+ creators contributing 38 incredible stories across 160 full-color comic pages including ones from Paul Jenkins (Spider-Man) and Tony Donley (Grimm's Fairy Tales), Ray-Anthony Height (Wakandaverse).
Plus, the first anthology is a 176-page hardcover collection featuring 35 amazing stories from 70 more creators, featuring stories by Lea Hernandez (Teen Titans Go) and Megan Hutchinson (Will o' the Wisp).
There is a total of 107 full-color comic stories in this anthology series, comprising over 500 pages of Lovecraftian goodness!
If you love Lovecraft or comics, then you're going to love this series. I already built the page and you can sign up to get notified at launch by clicking here.
Thank you so much for joining me behind the backer wall. I hope you love the books :)
Russell
Backerkit surveys are out!
about 4 years ago
– Thu, Jan 20, 2022 at 06:29:55 PM
I know, I know I said I was going to wait until next week, but why do tomorrow what you can do today, right?
I was waiting to get the last people who had their cards errored, but now they have more choices because they can pay in Backerkit.
With this, all digital backers have been fulfilled, and physical backers will be able to get their digital rewards starting today.
I will send more updates when books are shipped to me and then out, but otherwise, this campaign is fulfilled for most of you.
If you don't receive your survey to your KICKSTARTER email, not your personal if it's different, then you can go https://dragonstrifetrilogy.backerkit.com. and request it sent to you.
Remember, this email will not come from me. It will come from Backerkit, and the subject will look something like this.
Response Needed -- Get your reward for MAKE 100: Dragon Strife - the complete epic fantasy trilogy
Below, I'm going to tell you how to download your digital rewards,
STEP 1: Log into your email and find your survey confirmation. If you type in survey confirmation Backerkit Russell or survey confirmation Cthulhu, you should be able to find it.
STEP 2: Scroll down.
STEP 3: At the bottom, there is a unique link to get back to your survey. Click it.
STEP 4: That link will take you to your survey. Once you finish your survey you will be taken to your survey confirmation page.
If you have ALREADY filled out the survey, then you can use the same link to get to your digital rewards.
(FYI: If you need to change your address, you can do it here.)
Once you get to that page, then click the link for digital rewards.
STEP 5: BOOM! There they are.
My next campaign is coming
Notification link
Cthulhu is back, and this time heroes of legends will team up to send him and the old gods back into the void of oblivion where they belong...but these immortal deities of chaos and disorder will not go easy.
The third and final volume, Cthulhu is Hard to Spell: Battle Royale features stories by Trina Robbins (the first woman to draw Wonder Woman) David Pepose (Scout's Honor), Christian Gossett (The Red Star), and a fantastic cover by Aaron Alexovich (Invader Zim), among many fabulous writers and artists.
Plus, we have a theme song, a brand new pin, and just so much awesomeness.
You can download a 40-page sample of the third volume by clicking here.
In total, over 75+ creators contributed 34 incredible stories to this third 180-page hardcover collection, and the results are pretty mind-blowing.
Stories range from cute to scary and funny to poignant, and feature creators who have worked on books from Marvel, DC, Image, Oni, Dark Horse and more, along with brands from Invader Zim to My Little Pony, and everything in between.
Plus, the second volume featured over 70+ creators contributing 38 incredible stories across 160 full-color comic pages including ones from Paul Jenkins (Spider-Man) and Tony Donley (Grimm's Fairy Tales), Ray-Anthony Height (Wakandaverse).
Plus, the first anthology is a 176-page hardcover collection featuring 35 amazing stories from 70 more creators, featuring stories by Lea Hernandez (Teen Titans Go) and Megan Hutchinson (Will o' the Wisp).
There is a total of 107 full-color comic stories in this anthology series, comprising over 500 pages of Lovecraftian goodness!
If you love Lovecraft or comics, then you're going to love this series. I already built the page and you can sign up to get notified at launch by clicking here.
Thank you so much for joining me behind the backer wall. I hope you love the books :)
Russell
Books have been ordered!
about 4 years ago
– Thu, Jan 20, 2022 at 01:55:23 PM
Hi!
Just wanted to let you know that the books have been ordered. There's so many of them this time. I'm super excited to sign and get these to you.
I have also finished the Backerkit and gotten it approved. I will be sending a smoke test soon, and then to everyone soon after.
Ingram said the normal wait right now is 10 days, so I expect to have these shipped by the 2nd of February, and be able to get them out by the 11th, so they'll be in your hands right before we launch the Cthulhu is Hard to Spell: Battle Royale campaign.
Have you signed up to get notified when that one launches? It's easily my most popular series, and we're completing the trilogy next month.
Notification link
Cthulhu is back, and this time heroes of legends will team up to send him and the old gods back into the void of oblivion where they belong...but these immortal deities of chaos and disorder will not go easy.
The third and final volume, Cthulhu is Hard to Spell: Battle Royale. features stories by Trina Robbins (the first woman to draw Wonder Woman) David Pepose (Scout's Honor), Christian Gossett (The Red Star), and a fantastic cover by Aaron Alexovich (Invader Zim), among many fabulous writers and artists.
Plus, we have a theme song, a brand new pin, and just so much awesomeness.
You can download a 40-page sample of the third volume by clicking here.
In total, over 75+ creators contributed 34 incredible stories to this third 180-page hardcover collection, and the results are pretty mind-blowing.
Stories range from cute to scary and funny to poignant, and feature creators who have worked on books from Marvel, DC, Image, Oni, Dark Horse and more, along with brands from Invader Zim to My Little Pony, and everything in between.
Notification link
Hope to see you again behind the backer wall as we bit farewell to this series.
-Russell
Yay! Week 2 perks + stretch goals
about 4 years ago
– Tue, Jan 18, 2022 at 02:54:33 PM
Hi!
I'm so excited! Thank you so much for backing Dragon Strife. I was really worried about this launch because it's a brand new series and a little different from what I've done in the past, so thank you again for taking the leap with me.
As my way of saying thank you, I'm unlocking a new set of perks for everyone. You will receive these for backing the campaign along with any other rewards that you have pledged for/unlocked.
Additionally, some of you have asked about stetch goals, and while I don't do them for most of my novel campaigns, I've decided to unveil a couple special here. These are a STRETCH, but if we get there, I'm more than happy to produce them.
$12,500 - Audio commentary of all three books will be included in every pledge $15 and over.
$17,500 - Audiobook for all three books will be unlocked for all pledges over $5.
These are going to be very, very stretchy, but they are the two things people always ask for, so I wanted to let you know what it would take for us to unlock them.
Thank you so much once again. I can't wait to get these books into you hands. I think you're going to love them.
Other campaigns to check out
I've been mentoring a bunch of amazing authors about how to run Kickstarters and some of them have already launched. They look great, and I've included some of the brave ones below that chose to launch the earliest. These are baby creators (with one exception) at the beginning of their Kickstarter journey, so they mostly small campaigns, but awesome.
Hope you dig them. I can honestly say I would have backed all these if I saw them on Kickstarter.
My Pocket of Fears
Kickstarter link
My Pocket of Fears is my very first collection of short stories and poems. Brought together, bound, and printed for the first time ever! I'm extremely excited to share these with all of you. I've subtitled my book "On Love, Depression, and Other Disorders" because many of my topics range from love to mental illness to short stories about characters with Borderline Personality Disorder.
If you know me at all, you know I've had depression most of my adult life, and so this speaks to me.
Legends of the Realm #1: The Floated Dream
Kickstarter link
The king has tasked his new mage with a quest. To venture through the realm of Dannisfire, and present him with a new miracle. For Camriddeon, it is a test of his abilities, and a chance to view the wonders of the land.
Camriddeon's adventure starts in the floating city of Providentia. A new city that defies logic, reason, and perhaps even reality. Is this a new paradise, the model for the kingdom? Or is not everything as it seems?
Technically this is a comic, but I've been working with Jack for a long time, even before the last couple of months, so I'm including it.
Epic Blade - a Fantasy LitRPG / Gamelit Adventure - Make 100
Kickstarter link
Epic Blade is a Virtual Reality game that's so real, you might wind up in another world!
Tobias Martin is one of the best gamers in the world, playing the most advanced game ever created. When a mysterious portal in the game appears, he enters a new world of magic that's more real than he ever could have imagined. Forced to start from scratch, he must build himself back up to a top level adventurer if he ever wants to get home again. Along the way, he will explore a world full of wonder and danger, meet new friends, slay terrifying monsters, and level up like his life depends on it. Because it does. Can Tobias survive the most epic adventure he has ever encountered?
The Epic Blade series follows the adventures of a professional gamer who gets transported to a new world full of magic . . . and RPG gaming elements.
David has made awesome books for a long time and I'm psyched to check this out.
Graceless: Gift of Grace Urban Fantasy Adventure Novel #4
Kickstarter link
Meet Andrea, one of the main characters in Graceless:
For a thousand years, I was a demon’s slave.
Two people saved me. Only one lived.
Robert sacrificed irreplaceable alliances to bring me to this world.
But the illegal magic that freed me triggered a huge outcry.
Now the demon has followed me here—and he's fueling a massive war between mundane and magic that threatens to engulf the whole globe.
Does my life really balance all the death that's followed?
Can I find the strength to grow into a strong protector instead of prey? Will I be able to fight the demon and win? How can Robert and I save a world driven to hate everything we are?
I have been working with Esther on another project and can't wait to check this out.
Badlands Born Special Edition
Kickstarter link
She tried to take the easy way out. But life after death is killer…
Jasmine Shaw believed being dead would solve all her problems. But instead of reconnecting with her deceased twin brother, she wakes up in a grim desert afterlife where the dead want to munch on her flesh. And no sooner does she escape that fate than she’s pursued by an indestructible psycho samurai.
Harried and terrified, Jasmine teams up with an Eighties glam-rocker wannabe and a shotgun-toting party girl to navigate the unforgiving landscape. But with a horde of flesh-eaters and the katana-wielding nutjob hot on their heels, all roads seem to lead to ruin.
Will Jasmine find her sibling at the passage to Heaven, or will she be skewered by a warrior’s blade?
I don't know this series, but I love the art (he used one of my favorites) and if you like Katrina, I think you'll dig this one.
MAKE100: Sundered Throne: Epic Fantasy With a Sense of Humor
Kickstarter link
Saramyn has a problem. Namely, that the demigod who is supposed to be in a crystal vial around her neck, is in her mind, instead. Also, it turns out the demigod was supposed to be the vanguard of a second Sundering, a repeat of the demigod invasion that nearly wiped out humanity centuries ago.
Neither of them is happy about how this is going.
She has seen the demigods’ true plan: a strike at the heart of her empire. But the other magi do not believe her visions, and Saramyn is imprisoned, her powers leashed as the invasion inches closer. To avert it, she will have to use the magic granted to her by the demigod she has bound…and that will open her up to a battle for her very mind, itself.
If she doesn’t try, her homeland will be the first casualty of the invasion. If she tries and fails…she will be the portal through which the next Sundering emerges - and the one to doom everyone she has ever loved.
I only know the author through their non-fiction work, but I can't wait to check this out. Look at that cover!
My Dawg Koa: Duke the Deaf Dog ASL Series (MAKE 100)
Kickstarter link
- If you want your young child to learn American Sign Language while reading a fun storybook, . . .
- If you're an educator or special education professional looking for diversity resources for your classroom, . . .
- If you know a child who is deaf or hard of hearing, . . .
. . . you'll love the Duke the Deaf Dog ASL Series!
This project will fund special edition HARDCOVER copies of MY DAWG KOA. Deaf and hard of hearing children--and really any child with a disability--want to see characters like themselves in books. Learning ASL is fun for any age child and starts them down the path of bilingualism.
My neice couldn't speak for the first few years of her life, so this series has a special place in my heart. I found the author at 20books and I absolutely love everything she is doing.
