The voters have spoken!
almost 4 years ago
– Fri, Jun 10, 2022 at 07:47:07 PM
Two days ago, many of you voted for the order of the stretch goals we should be working to achieve.I guess I could go Full Sith and just pick and choose as I see fit. But I won't.
It does not hurt a bit that the general consensus alighs pretty closely with what I would hope to achieve first. So the order we are going to tackle Stretch Goals in is this:
$17,000
When we surpass our initial goal by $4,000 we will be able to afford to print more copies of Tart: Submerged. Which will absorb the cost of moving from 96 to 112 pages.
I'm very happy you chose this. I love looking through concept sketches, essays etc when reading other tpbs, so I hoped it would be the first choice. In all honesty, if it had been less expensive to pull off, I would have made it the first Stretch Goal anyway. But it felt unfair to choose to make the first stretch goal the most expensive one without your input.
$18,000
The next stretch goal is the cheapest for us to add to the book, so stretch goal #2 will only need one extra bump on the thousandth digit (I think I said that right.Been quite a while since 2nd grade math, so I'm not certain). When we pass the $18,000 mark we'll be able to build a ribbon bookmark into the actual book.
$20,000
Dust Jacket Foil Enhancement. Foil in printing gives areas of the book a metallic reflection. So the printer will look at Ludo's artwork and choose areas to add foil to it to bring out the uniqueness of his imagery.
$22,000
Extra thick Spot UV. I'm going to be completely honest. I only have the vaguest understanding of what this does (let's hit this goal and find out together). It adds design elements to the dust jacket that make it more attractive, but, I mean... look I'm a writer, not a printer. The people at the Printer say it will be pretty cool, and I trust them.
$25,000
3D Spot UV. This one will actually raise certain spots on the dust jacket so you feel them on the cover as much as you see them. I can envision Tart floating there in the water with this element.
I also got some votes on what we might start to do with my long ass hippie hair if (when!) we break $25,000.
There were a couple "other" ideas that I thought were pretty interesting, and some were non-starters.
Interesting: sending the hair that is cut to Locks of Love. If cutting my hair short is chosen in any way, the hair cut off will be sent to that organization. It's a lovely idea that I never thought my hair would be long enough to participate in. It is long enough. If we do anything silly that cuts it short, the hair that is cut will be sent there.
Nonstarter. The Mullet. I'm a white dude. In his late forties. From Florida. A mullet is too on the nose to even be noteworthy.
Interesting: Tart Tattoo. I do want to get the Toxic Tattoo on the inside of my wrist some day, some way. The one issue is that Ludo tattooed at one point as a profession. If I get this on my body, I'd prefer him to do it. This isn't a "I'll never do it without Ludo doing it" decree. But man, I'd rather.
Interesting Vegeta hairstyle. I had to look this one up. I think I could do this one now. I just don't know if enough hair gel exists in the world to keep it in the air.
Crazy idea: Mohawk with Viking Braids. I just googled this. It's a hilarious idea. I could not pull that off. I just couldn't. Bravo to the backer who brought it up, but I don't think it is doable. Fine, for 100K. You chance my life, and I'll get insane for you : )
EXPLAIN YOURSELF TONIGHT AT 11 PM EST
If you want to join us tonight to talk about all things crowdfunding, Will Allred and I will be talking to some amazing creators about their projects. Please join us on my Youtube channel with any thoughts or questions and we'll delve into it.
Explain Yourself
Last week I went through each campaign that would be on the show, but this week I'm going to highlight to Kicksarter campaigns that I wouldn't have a chance to mention if I waited until the next update as they both close in the next few days.
PART-TIME COMICS: MINI COMIX DOUBLE FEATURE
My buddy Jon Westoff is always doing something unique and interesting with his comics, and this campaign is par for that course.
They are funding production of two zines. The one that really sings to me is that they are envisioning what the comic books that Bart and Milhouse would be reading from The Comic Book Man's Shop. I can't wait to see what their take on the titles we've all seen in the background at The Android's Comic Book and Baseball Card Shop is.
I personally know nothing about Magic: The Gathering, but maybe I'll learn with the other mini comic.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/parttimecomix/part-time-comix-minicomics-double-feature
THE UNWANTED
I love comics that start off with an incredible mystery, which is why I'm intrigued by The Unwanted. I haven't been able to read any of it, but the premise on the Kickstarter Page was right up my alley:
<<A group of teens are abducted and brought to a secluded, tropical island with no explanation, no supplies and no way off. Left to their own devices and forced to find a way to survive, they soon discover they aren’t alone – and their fellow inhabitants are hostile!>>
Not only does this scratch many of my comic itches, it's also done by the people at Dren Productions, who have always entertained me with the other books I've backed from them.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/drenproductions/the-unwanted-1-0
If you need anything contact me here, on Explain Yourself tonight, or out there on social media. Let's get to work on those stretch goals : )
Kevin
We're going to love this book, but we can make it lovelier
almost 4 years ago
– Wed, Jun 08, 2022 at 06:46:34 PM
This post is for backers only. Please visit Kickstarter.com and log in to read.
You did it!!!
almost 4 years ago
– Wed, Jun 08, 2022 at 08:13:38 AM
A little later this evening I am going to open one of these and celebrate moving past the highest funding goal we've ever tried for. It could be the Kombucha, it likely won't be the pasta sauce. I wish I could promise it would not be the syrup hiding there in the back, but I'm not here to lie to you. Symbolically; it will probably be the Sparkling Wine (from France in Ludo's honor).
If you have something you like to enjoy to celebrate (a cookie, a nice piece of fruit, a drink, or some other ingest-able ingredient that of course would be legal for you in your locality) please do so at an opportune time this week. When you do, please say, "I'm making Tart Submerged happen. I'm part of a band of people that are building something. And I'm pretty darn cool."
For me. I'm going to turn in. I knew intellectually that we were going to get here after our first day. You don't have a day like that and miss on your funding. But I will admit that a stress has been lifted today. I plan to sleep a lot tonight.
Tomorrow we stop working to make this book. And we start working to make it the best book we can.
Kevin
The first week is in the books!
almost 4 years ago
– Sat, Jun 04, 2022 at 04:39:47 PM
We're about 8 and a half days into the Submerged campaign and we're chugging away toward not just our funding goal, but our real goal for the campaign.
My buddy Tyler James has taught me to craft what he calls a "Minimum Lovable Project." That is the thing that, even if you only get a dollar more than your goal, you can make, and you will love. For instance, we could have probably had a lower goal if we had decided to offer this campaign without a dust jacket.
It would have looked pretty. Like the original Adrift without its dust jacket on.
Well, if we would have done it without the dust jacket we would have also done it without the metallic foil logo, but you get the point.
The thing is. I wouldn't love getting that to you. Not when the first volume really looks like this:
So we are within $1,000 of funding and delivering a book that I will love. And that I will love for you to have. And, I type with all the hope in the world, you will love showing off for years to come.
But there are some neat additions, we'd like to add to the book. Little additions that will increase the value you derive from the book without you having to pay any more to enjoy. Things like an attached bookmark, foil and/or UV enhancements to the dust jacket, and possibly even about 16 pages of backmatter to the book to give behind the scenes access into how the story came to be.
So first we get to the funding goal. Then we get to those other neat additions. I'll love what we're making no matter what it ends up being. But it never hurts to like something you love that little bit more.
Any funding over and above these enhancements will go to the costs to create the art for Tart 15 (and 16, and 17 and my half of the Crossover Division/Tart meet up, and...), which Ludo is working out thumbnail sketches for as we work on this campaign.
As gripping as his visuals are, I don't hold the screen like that. Just hiding a spoiler for who Tart is teamed up with in this tale. Since we write a time travel series it could really be any character you've met before, but I didn't want to spoil which one it is.
But how cool does Tart look in that suit?!?
As for my weekend plans, they are to stay inside and stay dry. A Tropical Depression (possibly Tropical Storm at some point) is going to dump an unseemly amount of water on us this weekend. But it doesn't change my plans much. I'll still be hosting Explain Yourself with Will Allred tonight (as long as I have power, which knock on wood, should not be effected by a rain event storm).
If you're at home at 11 PM EST, we'd love for you to join us
https://www.youtube.com/user/beanokj
We'd love to have you with us live, but if you can't make it the following projects will get a spotlight:
We'll be talking with Frankee White about his cool fantasy anthology comic The Amber Door. Frankee writes each installment of the issue, with a different art team. Frankee's work defies expectation or norms, so I'm always excited to see what he is up to. The fact that one of the pieces is illustrated by my buddy way up in Canada Fell Hound was icing on the cake.
The Amber Door can be found here:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/frankeewhite/the-amber-door-1
We'll also be joined by Christopher Elston & Chassity Lassiter, who shepherded Rabbit's Badass Song into existence. I'm new to Rabbit's story, so I'm going to steal from their Kickstarter page to introduce it.
-A gory, gritty, southern tale of revenge served like a hot plate of fried chicken.
After Jimmy fights back against one of the town's controlling oppressors and a member of the Good Boys, the Boys get together to murder Jimmy and his mother. Jimmy is left to die, hanging from a tree, when he's rescued by a man that will change his life. For ten years, he and Irene train and wait.
Our friend Clay Adams was on with Christopher and told us we had to hear about this campaign. And I'm jazzed to learn more.
Rabbit's Badass Song can be found here:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/flashdelirium/rabbits-badass-song-1-2-and-popsinger-one-shot
Finally we'll be joined by Krysta Crawford who writes and illustrates the YA targeted comic Wolf and I. Like Rabbit's Badass Song, I haven't yet dived into the narrative, so I'm stealing Krysta's words:
A Fae, a Medium and Meowl fall down a rabbit hole...
Violet was just your average college student, until one day strange and unexplainable occurrences started happening. Mysterious creatures of all sorts started showing up wherever she went. Together with her best friend Sophia, who has the power to communicate with spirits, they embark on a journey to discover the truth of these mysterious events.
I'm incredibly excited to speak to her about how her time as a Pediatric Nurse informed the creation process of this series. It can be found here:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/fleurdevillainy/wolf-and-i-waves-of-dissonance
Happy Friday. Stay safe (and dry if you're near me).
Kevin
time sensitive sneak peak at extras you can get during your surveys, or now for less $ (thus the time sensitivity)
almost 4 years ago
– Tue, May 31, 2022 at 12:59:48 PM
You might know that Tart is one of the comics that is created on Kickstarter, and then months or years later released in Comic Shops by our Publisher Scout Comics.
Scout Comics is not yet ready to offer hardcovers, so we are releasing this version (and all hardcovers in this set moving forward) ourselves. Scout is happy for us to do so, as long as we make it clear that we are responsible for getting these rewards you are bringing into existence, and not them.
Which we are happy to do.
But we usually (and are planning to do so again), offer some of our stock of Scout Comics editions of Tart to be added onto your orders through Backerkit. It is a great way to get you the books, and maximize the shipping costs you've already paid through the Kickstarter.
But I can't in good conscience do that without telling you Scout just offered a site wide 50% off sale on all of their comics (which includes Tart and the variants and CGC graded comics they have) today and today only.
For full disclosure, 50% off is what I pay to get Tart stock to sell at cnventions and through Kickstarter. So I can't do better than this for people who want variants, or back issues, or, I know one of you wants the Perfect 10 Tart #1 CGC'd variant cover illustrated by Piper Rudich for $300 off.
Okay. I don't know that. But if you DO want it, I'd get it NOW.
Please. Feel no pressure to take part in this sale. I'm incredibly excited where we are at in this Kickstarter. But if you think you'd be the type to add on some Scout Books during your survey, it would be a disservice to you if I didn't let you know this was happening. This link will take you straight to the Tart portion of the site:
scoutcomics.com/collections/tart
The biggest savings for Tart books are the Webstore variants that go for $25 (prices before discount) The ungraded Piper Rudich variant Tart #1:
And variants for Soul Searchers. Piper Rudich $15:
White Ash Co-Creator Conor Hughes' Subscription box variant $10:
Since Soul Searcher cver price is $5.99, the Conor Variant is actually cheaper than the regular versions cover price during this sale.
The webstore exclusive for Tart: Toxic Origins by Piper Rudich $15:
and the Webstore variant for Devils and Demagogues by Commander Rao creator Fellhound $15:
Just be sure to use the code MEM2022 when you check out to get the savings.
Books that feel like Tart from Scout that I think you'd really enjoy are (in no particular order) Canopus, Stake, Impossible Jones, Cult of Icarus, White Ash, Grit, Atlantis wasn't Built for Tourists, Commander Rao, The Shepherd, and By the Horns.
That isn't mentioning the horror or comedy stuff. Hit me up in messenger if you want to know about the comedy stuff (I know a little of the horror, but I dive into some of the weirdest humor stuff they do).
As I said. No pressure. You've backed this campaign, which is INCREDIBLE to us. But if you prefer to get some stuff cheaper than I can sell it to you... I want you to get it cheaper than I can sell it to you.
As for the campaign. We had a nice calm holiday weekend, and we're hitting the ground running tomorrow morning to tell more people about this book!
Kevin
