Welcome to 2021! Here Is An Early Gift To Start The New Year Right!
over 3 years ago
– Sun, Jan 03, 2021 at 04:55:55 PM
Hi Cherished Backers,
Some places are celebrating 2021 already. And some of us remain stuck in 2020 for a few more hours.
Regardless, I just want to send out a gift to ring in the New Year on a positive note. I have just sent out a BackerKit digital download of Antiquity Grey's eARC. It means you should be able to download the zip file and upload the MOBI or EPUB ARC of The Tempered Steel of Antiquity Grey to your preferred eReader. The eBook doesn't have the interior art yet -- that will come in April once I have the last piece of art in place -- but this should tide you over until then.
In short, I hope you enjoy the book! And those of you who read the book in 2021, I am planning on an extra gift if you review the book on September 7th when it widely publishes. Stay tuned on that front.
In other news, I am wrapping up the Jak Dreadth novella in the coming days. I just ordered the metal and paper bookmarks along with the other five coins. And early next week I'll order the prints. We are on schedule still for that April delivery. Yay!
Be safe out there. And stay sane. Let's hope 2021 finds us all in a lot better shape.
Best New Year's Wishes,
Shawn Speakman
PS: The 1.5" Grey-Shamed Coin is below!
Cyber Monday, Jak Dreadth Novella, and Last Day of Add-Ons
over 3 years ago
– Tue, Dec 01, 2020 at 05:55:54 PM
To My Awesome Backers,
I hope this finds you safe and well!
It is Cyber Monday. That means discounts and deals everywhere! I'd be remiss not to mention the deals I have going on at Grim Oak Press (10% off limited and trade hardcover editions) and The Signed Page (20% off all in-stock SF&F books). Click the links to view details!
In writing news, The Undone Life of Jak Dreadth is a novella. It still isn't finished -- apparently I'm pulling a Brandon Sanderson on this one and it is getting longer -- but that's a good thing, right? I've written 17,225 words thus far. Probably need another 10,000 to finish it. I will be working on it in December obviously and I'm really enjoying the direction Jak's life has taken. Poor guy! I've been quite mean to him. Ha!
And in other news, the day has come. Add-ons in BackerKit will close today at Noon PT, in about three hours. If you haven't ordered your double-signed hardcover Advance Reader Copy (ARC) of The Tempered Steel of Antiquity Grey, the coin sets, or anything else you have had your eye on, now is the time. I will begin shipping the ARCs by December 10th. The rest of the items will ship in April 2021. For those of you curious when I will charge credit cards for BackerKit items/shipping, it will be tomorrow. So this really is your last chance!
And in closing, I figure I'll show you the interior painting that Allen Morris is working on for The Tempered Steel of Antiquity Grey. The gentleman below is named Vodard Ryce. He's a Celestial of the Imperium -- a conquering society from the stars that has returned and enslaved Erth. See how he is elongated? It's the effects of growing up in the unstable gravity found in space. He controls dragonfly mechs with a mere thought. A fun character to write.
Okay, back to work for me! Hope you are reading something great!
With Mech Magic,
Shawn
November Is Here! Update About Antiquity Grey & More
over 3 years ago
– Sat, Nov 14, 2020 at 11:41:12 PM
Hi Grey Backers,
The year keeps moving on and on. Sad to see our COVID cases spiking. But the silver lining for me? Since I've had cancer twice, I'm being very careful and that means staying home. Which means more writing is happening.
I've written just over 10,000 words in the Jak Dreadth novella. I would imagine on Tuesday or Wednesday I'll be at the halfway point. Then a push to the end of the month. That's my goal. The Undone Life of Jak Dreadth finished by December 1st. For those of you doing NaNoWriMo, you know what I mean.
In other news, I should receive hardcover ARCs of The Tempered Steel of Antiquity Grey sometime in the days before Thanksgiving. I'm excited to see them. I'll begin remarquing title pages immediately and see how fast I can ship them out to those of you who have ordered for a December delivery.
Still waiting on interior art to come in from my artists. But they are all hard at work. I expect to see art soon. Yay!
What else is going on? You have until the end of the month to order add-ons. Then I'll charge credit cards for BackerKit orders in early December. In short, we are on schedule for all parts of the Kickstarter!
Hope you all are well. Be safe. And read something great.
Best,
Shawn
BackerKit Is Live! Also I'm Hiring Patrick Rothfuss Artist NATE TAYLOR!
over 3 years ago
– Thu, Oct 08, 2020 at 07:50:43 PM
Hi Grey Backers,
I kind of like that "Grey Backer" title. May have to work that into a book somehow!
I will keep this short. I have created the BackerKit. BackerKit has reviewed and it is now live! Woo! I just sent a survey out to all of you via the email addresses you used. It should allow you to change your pledge (if not, I can do it on my end), look at and order the add-ons, add your mailing address, look at shipping costs, etc.
I believe you can use this link too, just in case! https://tempered-steel.backerkit.com/
5% of backers were tested yesterday to ensure it all works and I didn't get a complaint so hopefully I set everything up correctly.
Now, on to a bit of news. I designed the book and the coin set a while back. But let's face it, I'm a fair designer. I'm not a great designer. To create better graphics, I decided to hire long-time friend and Patrick Rothfuss artist Nate Taylor to design the coin set as well as some elements within the books.
He has begun work! Here is just a quick sketch he sent me this morning for the Angelus Coin:
Hope this pleases you! Meanwhile, Kaitlund Zupanic, Allen Morris, and Marc Simonetti work on interior art... see something wrong with that list... shhhhh... Ha!
If you have any questions, feel free to ask. I'm around all this week!
With Mech Magic,
Shawn
Kickstarter Ended! Wow! What a Ride!
over 3 years ago
– Mon, Oct 05, 2020 at 08:04:10 AM
Hi My Excellent Backers!
I can't even begin to tell you how much fun I had during this last month. If you were to ask my wife, she'd tell you I was really worried about doing this Kickstarter. It was a scary unknown, from the technical aspect of putting it together to the worry none of you would come by to back it.
Well, my fears were unfounded. And my wife has said, "I told ya so!" numerous times. And I deserve it. Because by looking at the money raised and the amount of backers who showed up, I shouldn't have been worried. You guys pushed this one to the limits. It had little to do with me. And now the work is on me to deliver and deliver in an awesome way.
What next? I'm working on the Backer Kit. In the Backer Kit, you'll be able to finalize your pledge order, look at the add-on list and choose extra items, pay for your shipping, and of course give me your all-important mailing address. I hope to have the Backer Kit finished this weekend. Then Backer Kit reviews it for two days. So I imagine you will receive a Backer Kit email sometime in the next five or six days!
There are two add-on items of note that I want to highlight here though:
- $100 ARC Hardcover: The Tempered Steel of Antiquity Grey
- $50 Ruling Houses 5 Coin Set
These two might make excellent additions to your order. The ARC will only be done once, in the white dust jacket that I favor for Grim Oak ARCs. It will be numbered. It will be signed by me. It will be signed by Todd Lockwood. And it will feature an original sketch/remarque by me on the title page.
The Coin Set is also something I think people will want. All physical tiers are already receiving the Grey Coin stretch goal. Well, that Grey Coin is part of a larger set of coins, all of which feature a different ruling house from the novel. So if you are excited about the Grey Coin, getting the full set might be awesome. And don't forget, those of you who ordered a Lettered Edition or Rare Edition--the clamshell your book will be housed in has a slot to display one coin! So you can switch in and out from the Coin Set!
More news soon. Most importantly, THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THIS KICKSTARTER!
Will be in touch soon!
Shawn
