Update & Antiquity Grey Published Today
over 2 years ago
– Tue, Jan 25, 2022 at 11:48:52 PM
Hi Mech Backers,
A quick update. Quick because it is the same as the last one really. The Limited and Lettered and Rare editions of Antiquity Grey and Jak Dreadth are at the bindery. They are supposed to ship the first week of February. Then last week, the bindery got wiped out by COVID. A lot of people are home sick. I have no idea if this will change that early February date, but I'm betting it will. When I hear more news about that, I'll certainly update you here.
In other news, The Tempered Steel of Antiquity Grey published today. Officially. In real bookstores. Finally. I wrote a blog about it. You can read that blog HERE.
WHY READ THE BLOG? Because I am offering some fun things:
- First, Terry Brooks and I will be conducting a virtual event tonight with University Book Store in support of Antiquity Grey. It is free to attend but you must register with them. Details on the blog.
- Second, if you order a copy of Antiquity Grey from University Book Store, I will give you a 25% discount on a book from The Signed Page. I like to support my local bookstore and I think that's a great way to do it, as they do wonderful work with virtual events.
- Thirdly, there is a giveaway on the blog! Details there.
- Lastly, if you have reviewed Antiquity Grey on Amazon, B&N, Audible, etc., send me an email with a link to the review and I'll send you a free SF short story. And if you haven't reviewed it but you've read it, write a review, send me an email, and I'll send you a free SF short story. See how that works? :)
And finally, thank you for all of your support and patience. We are getting close to the end of the Kickstarter stuff being shipped and I can't wait to make you all happy. Finally. After so long. Nothing but love for all of you!
With Mech Magic,
Shawn
Jak Dreadth Special Trade Hardcover Has Arrived
over 2 years ago
– Fri, Dec 17, 2021 at 01:39:38 AM
Together at last! We will begin shipping these out next week after I spend the next few days signing. And boy, am I so happy to finally be able to sign and get these to you. More news soon. Stay tuned!
With Holiday Mech Magic,
Shawn
Shipping Has Started: Sort of
over 2 years ago
– Sat, Dec 11, 2021 at 05:13:40 AM
Hi Mech Drivers,
A short update here. We've begun shipping some of the pledge tiers out. Some backers have even received their book/items already. Here are the items we have in right now:
- Coins are in stock
- Prints are signed and in stock
- Bookmark and metal bookmark are in stock
- Signed HC: The Tempered Steel of Antiquity Grey is in stock
That has allowed Sydney and I to ship out the orders that only have the Signed HC: Antiquity Grey and any of those other items. But if an order has those items and Signed HC: The Undone Life of Jak Dreadth, for instance, that order hasn't shipped because I don't have Signed HC: Jak Dreadth in stock yet.
Here is a timeline for the remaining items:
- Signed HC: The Undone Life of Jak Dreadth (arriving December 16, 2021)
- S&N, S&L: The Undone Life of Jak Dreadth (arriving January 5, 2022)
- S&N, S&L: The Tempered Steel of Antiquity Grey (arriving late January 2022)
- Rare: The Tempered Steel of Antiquity Grey (arriving late January 2022)
- Slipcases & Clamshells (arriving March 2022)
I don't think I will let the lateness of the slipcases and clamshells prevent me from shipping out the S&N and S&L books once I get them in. You've waited long enough. I'll take a hit on shipping but you guys deserve these books for having waited so long. IF I can figure out how to split orders and not muck it all up, of course.
More news next week when I receive Jak Dreadth into the warehouse!
With Mech Magic,
Shawn
Some Pictures & An Update
over 2 years ago
– Sat, Nov 13, 2021 at 04:52:26 AM
Hey Mech Backers,
I figure an update is in order.
Finally, after months of waiting, the trade hardcover of The Tempered Steel of Antiquity Grey was printed, bound, and shipped. Ingram received 2000 copies. I received 1000 copies for Kickstarter backers. And with next month bringing in the limited/lettered/rare editions, I felt like we were finally on the right path.
Not so fast, grasshopper. How dare you think all is well. Here is a picture. Can you spot what is wrong with it:
If you spotted the shrinkwrap, you wouldn't be wrong. They weren't supposed to have that on there. The printer did that for unknown reasons. Removing the shrinkwrap is one extra step to getting the Kickstarter copies signed. And when it is 1000 copies, that's quite painful.
But no, that is not the issue. The printer did not put the barcode on the book's dust jacket! See that blank space there? I'm still angry about it! Ingram received their copies and refused to ship them out to Amazon, B&N, and other bookstores. They've just been sitting at the Ingram Tennessee warehouse, waiting for a worker to have enough time to sticker them correctly with a barcode and ship them out. In short, these books will not hit bookstores on the November 23rd release date. It will be pushed into December somewhere. IF Ingram can get them stickered. More on that when I know it. Grrr.
For my 1000 copies here, my new Signed Page employee Sydney has been removing that shrinkwrap. It's almost done. I'll be signing those copies early next week and about 325 Kickstarter orders that feature the trade hardcover of The Tempered Steel of Antiquity Grey and non-book add-ons will ship. Finally, finally, finally! I'll finally feel like I'm getting somewhere with what is promised and owed.
Anyway, onward. Deep breath. Let's hope there are no further problems.
With Mech Magic,
Shawn
Shipping Soon: $35 Pledge Tier - Hardcover of The Tempered Steel of Antiquity Grey
over 2 years ago
– Fri, Oct 08, 2021 at 06:46:12 PM
Hi Everyone,
Finally, some positive news!
I was emailed today that trade hardcover copies of The Tempered Steel of Antiquity Grey have been completed. On Monday, they will ship out on freight trucks -- 2000 copies to Ingram Book Distributors for the November 9th wide release of the book in stores, and 1000 copies coming to me. Me. Me. Me.
That means I can fulfill about 228 of the Kickstarter orders. I'll receive the books, sign them, get the coins and bookmarks ready, and start shipping those orders.
With one caveat, of course.
What about The Undone Life of Jak Dreadth? Some of those 228 orders had Jak Dreadth added on. Well, if you remember, two pallets went missing with the book blocks. Those blocks were found at a different location for the bindery just this last week finally. They are in the process of moving the book blocks to the correct bindery so the books can be bound and ultimately shipped to me. No idea when those will be ready but I hope within the next month. But if your order has that book, I'll have to wait on those copies to arrive before I can ship.
The S&N, S&L, and Rare copies are still on schedule for late December, as far as I know. Fingers crossed all goes okay on that front!
When I start shipping out the 228 orders, I'll let you know.
In the meantime, hope you are reading something great!
Shawn
PS: Terry Brooks and I are hosting a Facebook Live today in just over an hour, at 11 AM PT. The Facebook Live will be on Terry's page here: https://www.facebook.com/authorterrybrooks
