Queen of Shadows Illustrated Deluxe Hardback

Choose Your Fae Destiny (and Other Survey Shenanigans!) Do not skip this email.
14 days ago – Wed, Dec 04, 2024 at 09:41:03 AM

Hi Friends,

I hope all my American backers had a delightful Thanksgiving full of food, family, friends, and fun. For everyone else, I hope you had an equally splendid week doing whatever makes you happy. And now we're moving on to the holiday gift-giving season. Exactly how many presents have I bought? Zero. Yeah, four kids and you'd think I'd have it down by now, but no. 😎

Now, onto the important stuff! The survey is coming this week, like a dragon quietly flapping in the distance, bringing treasure (or questions, in this case). I'm waiting for a few payment plan responses and the BackerKit team to give everything a final once-over. The faster we all tackle this together, the sooner your rewards will start winging their way to you. 🦄

Here's what you need to know about the survey:

• It's hosted through BackerKit, and no, you don't have to make an account (though it can make life a smidge easier).
• BackerKit will also help field your questions. If they're stumped, they'll pass them along to me.

The survey lets you confirm your shipping address and answer these burning questions:

1) What email address would you like me to deliver your eBook to via Bookfunnel?

Do you have a favorite email for digital goodies? Let me know where to send your eBook in February. No psychic powers are required.

2) What Hardback Edition do you want?

Pick your flavour: Light Fae, Dark Fae, or Morally Grey Fae. Don't worry! I'll include pictures to help you decide.

The interiors? The Light Fae will have standard black ink on premium white paper with the character art spreads and all the upgrades. Dark Fae and Morally Grey Fae will have black-with-white-text chapter spreads.

I plan on ordering a prototype to see what this will look like and share it with you.

(Yes, I know decision-making is harrrrrd. Coffee first, then surveys.)

3) Which Deluxe Paperback Edition do you want?

You'll choose between a discreet cover or one with models. There are no wrong answers here, just preferences.

4) Beyond The Veil Backers Only! You'll be asked: What would you like to name your character?

If you've got a character to name, now is your last chance. Or if you're here for the loot and don't care about names, N/A works too.

5) Acknowledgments Section Name

One of the stretch rewards includes having your name listed in the acknowledgements section at the back of the book. By default, we'll use your first name and last initial. If you'd prefer NOT to include your name, that's fine too!

6) Surprise Perk!

Something fun will pop up during the survey. I won't spoil it, but I think you'll like it. Shhhh...

7) Bonus Content and Updates

Want to hear from me about new releases, discounts, and fun things? Just say yes! If not, no hard feelings.

8) Campaign Feedback

If there was one thing you could change about this campaign, what would it be? Seriously, I want to know! Constructive critiques help me make future campaigns even better.

9) Have You Read My Books Before?

Are you a returning reader or a newcomer? Either way, welcome to the dark side. We have cookies.

Now, Payment Plan Backers!

You will receive a message during the survey confirming which book box you chose. If you didn't tell me, the payment plan defaults to the Queen Book Box. Want the King instead? Shoot me an email before attempting to fill out the survey. I'll get it sorted, update your survey and balance accordingly, and give you the heads-up that your survey is ready to go. Details?
 
Here's the short version:

• The remaining balances are due by March 1st, 2025.
• Surveys can be submitted even with an outstanding balance due on the payment plan, add-ons, or shipping, but orders won't be complete until everything is paid in full.
• Automated reminders will be sent if payment details are missing. (Sorry, mate. That's BackerKit, not me!)

For full payment plan details, visit the Kickstarter story here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/acjames/land-of-shadows-series-illustrated-omnibus/

Once you've answered the survey questions, you can modify your order with add-ons.

When you get to the end, you'll pay shipping charges, any add-ons, and the other half of what is owed on the payment plan, if applicable. You have until 3/1/2025 to square up, so in the words of Douglas Adams, don't panic!

Timeline & Updates

Here's where we're at now:

• Editing: Final edits on Queen of Shadows are underway, with proofing and polishing happening over the holidays.
• Artwork: Ron is putting the finishing touches on some truly stunning art.
• Production: Physical proofs will be ordered as soon as the layout is done.
• Shipping: Digital rewards are expected by late February, and physical goodies should start shipping on March 31st.

Please know that I'm using my online store, which is hosted by Shopify, to manage orders and BackerKit to process the survey.

I'll keep you posted every step of the way because I like my backers to know exactly what's going on (and because I talk a lot).

Thank you so much for making this campaign happen. Every single one of you is amazing, and I couldn't do this without your support.

Now, go enjoy the rest of your week! Pet a cat (or a dog or a dragon), drink something warm, and remember you're wonderful.

Cheers,

AC James

"Let's think the unthinkable, let's do the undoable. Let us prepare to grapple with the ineffable itself, and see if we may not eff it after all." -Douglas Adams

Oh, while we're on it, here are some other cool campaigns on my radar. I like sharing fellow writers, so here goes:

Now, back to the editing cave! If I seem quiet online, it’s because I’m buried in words and coffee. But don’t worry, you can always reach me by email ;)

BIG UPDATE: Timeline, Exclusive Upgrades, and Time-Sensitive Options Await! Don't skip this email!
about 1 month ago – Sun, Nov 03, 2024 at 07:27:24 PM

Hi, Fabulous Queen of Shadows Backers,

I can't say it enough. "Thank you!" to all of YOU!

Your support makes the extra special touches like foiled paperbacks, deluxe hardbacks with illustrated character artwork, and collector book boxes possible. Thanks to you, I can bring Irish folklore, fierce protagonists, dark fae princes, and creatures into this world. You make it possible for me to do what I love full-time. Amazing. You're truly the best! 😍

A Quick Recap

We hit our funding goal in just 11 hours (seriously, that was fast!😂) and got the "Projects We Love" badge from Kickstarter. We also blew past all our stretch rewards. We hit the $10k stretch goal thanks to some book box payment plans I'm collecting before we ship, so here's what that unlocked:

Every backer gets the Lost Lore Printable PDF, and the Lost Lore and Glossary are now printed in all hardbacks. Collector book boxes will also come with surprise stretch rewards I've packed in just for you. Check out the visual below to see everything that's unlocked.

You all are amazing! Now, some important details...

Next, there are a few important things to check on to keep everything running smoothly. If you haven't already, log into Kickstarter and make sure your email and payment info are correct. Kickstarter is processing payments through 11/6, and if your email isn't updated, you might miss important notifications. If you used an Apple ID to back the campaign, please update your email address since Kickstarter doesn't allow me to communicate through Apple ID emails.

If Kickstarter has any trouble with a payment, you'll have until seven days after the campaign closed on 10/31 to update your card and keep your spot in the campaign.

Here's the help page for checking your pledge status:

https://help.kickstarter.com/hc/en-us/articles/115005126774-Where-can-I-keep-track-of-my-pledges-

You can keep track of your pledges through your Backed Projects page. 

What Happens Next

Here's what the schedule looks like now that we're fully funded. Kickstarter will release the funds to me 14-21 days after the campaign wraps, which means I'll start production soon. I got Queen of Shadows back from my beta readers and editor on 11/1, and I'm working through the final edits now. I will return the manuscript to my editor by 12/9 for a final proofread and get it back from her by 12/24. I'll give it one last read over the holidays to make sure it's perfect.

While this happens, Ron will finish the final artwork that goes into the book. Once the art is finalized, everything will be sent to the formatter for layout. After that, I'll order swag and physical proofs of the hardbacks from the printer, which should take about three weeks to reach me from overseas (barring any holiday delays).

I'm aiming to get the digital ebook and all digital rewards to you by the end of February. Physical books and book boxes should start shipping in March. I'm doing everything I can to get these to you on time, but printers tend to be backed up over the holidays, so I'll keep you posted on any shifts in the timeline.

Please know that I'm using my online store, which is hosted by Shopify, to process your survey and manage orders.

For shipping, collector book boxes will go out from me here in the US, while single books will be drop-shipped from the UK printer. You will receive a notification once I add you to my online store, plus the survey and a separate email with a tracking number when your order ships.

FAQ

Q - Can I upgrade my tier level?

A - Yes! I've left late pledges open. If you need help upgrading or adding items and Kickstarter won't let you, just reach out, and we'll figure it out together. You'll only pay for shipping once I send out the survey.

Q - Kickstarter dropped me from the campaign, but I want to add a new credit card and get my stuff.

A - Yes, absolutely! Dropped backers can join through late pledges.

Q - I missed the campaign! Can I pledge now?

A - Yes, you're in luck! I'll keep late pledges open for a little while.

Q - I'm on a payment plan, but I haven't received the first invoice or more info.

A - Don't worry. I've got you. I will be in touch with you after we get through late pledges and surveys.

I love the energy of the Kickstarter community. I hope you'll sign-up for updates so we can stay in touch. Consider signing up for my newsletter if you want to be notified of future Kickstarter campaigns and receive a free erotica short story called Breathe: https://acjames.com/pages/subscribe

I also post updates in my Facebook reader group here:https://www.facebook.com/groups/acjamesbookclub

Check out more of my work or subscribe to AC James' Resilient Hearts Bookclub: https://acjames.com/pages/resilient-hearts

Thanks again for being a part of this campaign and making Queen of Shadows possible. You all mean everything to me!

AC James

🎃 Halloween Special: A Lost Tome Just for You!
about 2 months ago – Thu, Oct 31, 2024 at 10:25:38 AM

Hi Friends!

Happy Halloween, and welcome to the last day of the campaign! 🎃 I can hardly believe we're here. It's been incredible, and I couldn't have done it without all of you amazing backers. Today is your absolute last chance to grab a higher tier or adjust your reward on this campaign before it closes, so if you've been lurking in the shadows, now's the time to make your move. Make sure to check your credit card details on your account and choose your add-ons before time runs out!

Speaking of shadows, we've uncovered something special for these final hours... a lost tome! It's dusty and hard to decipher, but we've put our Seer on it. This Lore from a Lost Tome will be available as a special digital flash reward for new pledges, upped pledges, and current book boxes. Let's see if we can hit 100 backers before this Kickstarter turns into a pumpkin at the stroke of midnight on All Hallows' Eve when the veil between our world and the Land of Shadows is at its thinnest. 😈

Our $8k stretch reward has already been unlocked, and the votes are in! We're going with Character Art Spreads for each POV character! It's going to make each chapter feel even more special.

With this level, we've also upgraded the frontispiece to full color! I'm beyond excited to make these additions a reality, and it's all thanks to you. This story means so much to me, and I can't wait to share it with you in its most stunning form.

And if you want to help us unlock final rewards, please like and share the campaign on social media! Also, let me know what you're getting up to tonight and tell me in the comments! Commenting shows Kickstarter how much you enjoy the community and this campaign, which means they show it to others, and we could unlock even more cool stuff.

Thank you, from the bottom of my spooky little heart, for being a part of this Kickstarter. I truly love the spirit of this community. You've made this Halloween one to remember!

Cheers,

AC James

P.S. Here are some other wickedly awesome campaigns I think you'll love. Check them out before the magic ends!

We Hit the $8k Stretch Reward. Now It’s Time to Vote!
about 2 months ago – Tue, Oct 29, 2024 at 07:50:30 PM

Hey, amazing Queen of Shadows backers!

We're in the last two days of the campaign, and I want to say... You're all amazing! We've hit the $8k stretch reward, thanks to your incredible support! That means it's time to make another choice, and I'm excited to see what direction you all want to take.

Here's what I'm thinking. 

Originally, we were going to have six illustrations plus custom chapter headings, but what if we did something more dynamic? What if my partner created character art for each character with a POV in the book so that when you're flipping to a new chapter, you see a spread with that character's art? It could be a really cool way to highlight whose perspective you're about to step into.

Or, we could go with a full-color character illustration for the back endpage. Right now, the front endpage has the map in full color, and the back endpage has repeating symbols from the map. But we could swap the symbols for some full-color character art. Both options are awesome, and I'd love for you to help decide.

So, what will it be? Character Art Spreads for POV chapters or a Full-Color Illustration Endsheet? Vote in the comments!

Also, now that we've reached this level, we've unlocked a full-color decorative frontispiece. It was black and white before, but not anymore! Seriously, I can't thank you enough for backing this project and believing in Queen of Shadows. I'm beyond excited to get this story into your hands.

Cheers,

AC James

P.S. Here are a couple of other amazing campaigns I think you'll love:

👑 Ready for More? Queen of Shadows Perks Are Here!
about 2 months ago – Fri, Oct 25, 2024 at 01:14:33 PM

Hey, amazing Queen of Shadows backers!

We're down to the final six days of the Queen of Shadows campaign! It's been amazing seeing all the support you've thrown behind this project, and thanks to you, we've unlocked some pretty incredible rewards so far! Since you all wanted both the decorative frontispiece and names in the acknowledgments… well, why not? 

We're making both happen! 

Here's what we've unlocked so far:

The next reward is right around the corner at $8k, and trust me, you're going to love what we're voting on next. We're so close — let's make it happen!

Oh, and if you've been debating on grabbing a deluxe paperback, hardback, or going all in with a book box, now's the time. I've got a Flash Reward for the next 72 hours: A Verse for Witches, Bonded by Secrets, and Out of the Tower are up for grabs if you make a new pledge, upgrade, or hold steady with your book box pledge till the campaign turns into a pumpkin on 10/31. Just a little something extra to keep things fun. 😏

Now is your moment to ascend to the throne, kings and queens... ready to claim your royal Book Box? 👑 

Also, I've just added a metal bookmark with the Crimson Court's symbol. You might recognize it from the Land of Shadows map, so I thought it’d make an awesome Kickstarter Exclusive keepsake. I’m already brainstorming for each court to get their own down the line, because... who doesn’t need a collection of cool metal bookmarks, right? Collector Book Box folks, you’re already getting one, but if anyone else wants to snag one, it’s available as an add-on, too.

And hey, here's a quick update on upgrades. I've been listening to all your questions, comments, and requests. Originally, I had a few upgrade options in mind, but I got in touch with a new printer this week (thanks to a colleague's recommendation), and they might be bringing some of your top requests to life. They've got a setup that fits with our needs, and after checking out their work, let's just say I'm practically drooling. I'm pretty sure you'll feel the same once you see what's in store. I can't wait to share more!

What upgrade is at the top of your list? Drop your ideas in the comments!

As always, I'm grateful for each of you. Your support, enthusiasm, and all the excitement you bring to the campaign. Thanks for making this project one to remember. You're the best!

Cheers,

AC James

P.S. Here's a few other campaigns I've been eyeing up lately… no agenda. They're just cool: