Artcade.

[zapiy]

Yeah, its not going to be a simple fix, someone may offer to help now the update has gone out.

[Greyfox]

Its been months now, any updates on this as the book was to ship December 2013 and we are now 4 months into 2014. As this was a project I was keen to keep an eye on, so if any of you are backers on the project, please if you can put me out of my misery

[Shadowrunner]

The last update about the book was for backers only on March 31st.
Hopefully it's okay to post it here 

[zapiy]

I bet Tim doe's not want to do anything like that again.

[Greyfox]

Thanks ever so much Shadow for the great update, It looks like poor Tim bit off more than he can chew regards all these pitfalls he's fallen into d not by his own accord, but I'm beginning to see the serious logistics involved in such a project and the obligation he has to his backers.

This was why and fully understandable why I did not go down the crowd funding route for this exact reason, be rather attempting to self publish has its own hell regardless of financial input, but it looks like Tim has braved his way to success , can't wait for book 2 now lol.

[TrekMD]

Ah, sorry. I forgot to add that update from the 31st. 

[Shadowrunner]

Received another update today, and looks like more problems unfortunately  Hopefully it all works out!



"Apologies for the delay in getting this update posted – I really was hoping that the print company might just come through with a response at the last moment. Sadly, they didn't.

This project hasn't gone the way I expected at all. When I started on it (and remember, I started with the restoration of the artwork 11 months before I launched the campaign on Kickstarter) I imagined that the most complex parts would be researching the legal implications and garnering enough support to make it happen. Later on, I realized that the task of packaging and shipping 500+ copies to predominantly international backers would be no small task either!

A little further into the process, the issue of print quality came up and the print company I'd chosen seemed to be responding to the challenge in a very professional manner. At no point did I imagine that the biggest hurdle I was going to face would be a number of slipped delivery dates, followed by a sudden and complete lack of communication from the printers.

That's where I am right now.

I've paid a significant deposit to them and haven't been able to get any kind of response by email, phone or Special Delivery mail (two letters remain unsigned for) in the last 5 weeks. I've had a contact who lives near the print factory itself drive over to take a look and he reported that there seems to be plenty of activity there, but the name on the sign is different to the company I've been dealing with. They seem to be a contract printer for small publishers. I'll be taking a trip into London to the sales office address I have on Thursday, in the hope that I can find out what the hell is going on.

Right now, 600 custom-made book shipping cartons, 250 printed t-shirts, 50+ framed marquee prints, 75 custom-made art shipping cartons, a bunch of canvasses, a framed Star Wars storyboard and a 5 rolls of printed address labels are all sitting in my dining room (some of you have seen it and know how happy my wife is about that!), with friends and family on standby ready for packing and shipping. The only things I don't have are the books.

I've already spoken to a couple of alternative printers, one in Ireland and one here in England. They're willing and able to help, but the cost is significantly higher than 'the other guys'. I'll take the financial hit in order to get these books printed and shipped out to all of you.

One thing I've tried extremely hard not to do is let this project drag me down and become something that I just have to get done. I can't lie: there are days when it just feels like a huge burden that I wish I'd never started, but I know there'll come a day when I have the physical copy in my hands and it'll have all been worth it.

At this point, I don't have a date to share with you: I just don't know yet. I'll be spending Thursday speaking to the two new print companies (while trying to track down the old one) and as soon as I know what's happening, I'll share that with you all. One of the complications I have to work around is that the time I'd set aside, away from my consulting work to get the book out has come and gone. I'm now contracted to the BBC for 5 days every week and balancing that while keeping up with everything else is no easy task. I haven't even had time to tweet lately (so you know it's serious!) If I'm slow to respond; that's why. I also really don't like posting about problems unless I have an idea of a solution too.

None of this is ideal. None of it was expected, but none of it is going to stop the project. One way or another, this project will deliver. As always, anyone who would prefer to receive a refund just needs to let me know and I'll process it immediately. I'll understand completely.

A few people have mentioned that they'd like the digital copy or to see some of the content prior to the book being delivered. I've thought about this and while I'm tempted to share some of it as 'compensation' for the delay, I really want the first version people see to be the real thing. So...no spoilers! (although I will post some interesting stuff that I'm bursting to share!)

I'm truly sorry that this hasn't gone as planned. It's not something I take lightly and whatever it takes to get the book into your hands; I'll do.

Kindest regards,

Tim"

[TrekMD]

Yes, I got this today as well.  I was disappointed to see all the difficulties this is going through.  Hopefully, things work out well in the end. 

[Cryptic33]

Yes, I got this today as well.  I was disappointed to see all the difficulties this is going through.  Hopefully, things work out well in the end.  :-

[zapiy]

What a decent and genuine guy though. When they explain things
like that it somehow makes things easier to swallow.

[Cryptic33]

What a decent and genuine guy though. When they explain things
like that it somehow makes things easier to swallow.

Absolutely, I simply refer to the length of time and too many disappointments which, giving him the benefit of the doubt, is too much for what would seem a fairly simply project to complete considering he did all the hard work before hand getting the art, the rights, the contacts etc. It is just going on too long now. I don't mind waiting if I had been told from the beginning how long it would likely take.

We can only wait now.

[zapiy]

Agree, I doubt he would take something like this on again.

[Cryptic33]

Quite. from his perspective, this project must have been a nightmare. The trouble is just how much trust can you place in a scheme like kickstarter when we only have the word of the entrepreneur. I wonder how many projects fail and what then happens to the investors money

[AmigaJay]

Quite. from his perspective, this project must have been a nightmare. The trouble is just how much trust can you place in a scheme like kickstarter when we only have the word of the entrepreneur. I wonder how many projects fail and what then happens to the investors money

I think its good that we do have trust in people to deliver, the risk isn't great, if you pay with paypal and don't receive the goods then open a case there.
I did have a look at putting my book on there when its ready, simply because amazon createspace doesnt do hardbacks and lulus cost would put it over £40 before any profit, so to make a affordable hardback these fundraisers are needed, and welcomed by me for one.
The only problem i can see is todo with the amount needed for funding includes postage for international deliveries making it hard to work out margins, its all a bit blind in that respect.

[Cryptic33]

Quite. from his perspective, this project must have been a nightmare. The trouble is just how much trust can you place in a scheme like kickstarter when we only have the word of the entrepreneur. I wonder how many projects fail and what then happens to the investors money

I think its good that we do have trust in people to deliver, the risk isn't great, if you pay with paypal and don't receive the goods then open a case there.
I did have a look at putting my book on there when its ready, simply because amazon createspace doesnt do hardbacks and lulus cost would put it over £40 before any profit, so to make a affordable hardback these fundraisers are needed, and welcomed by me for one.
The only problem i can see is todo with the amount needed for funding includes postage for international deliveries making it hard to work out margins, its all a bit blind in that respect.

Oh I have no problem whatsoever with the concept of kickstarter, in fact, I believe it to be a great idea. All I get annoyed with is the time-scale. As for the risk, that is very subjective, though I accept any money invested is just that, invested.
I fully agree with the agro over postage. Here in the UK they have started charging a customs fee plus VAT, the amount varies depending on the total value of the goods inbound. Now that is just robbery by highway men called government ministers.
Well, I hope he gets it all sorted and that the book is good and he makes a decent profit from it.