Quick Addendum
8 months ago
– Tue, Apr 02, 2024 at 08:44:29 PM
Good evening! I just realized that I meant to include a shout-out to my friend's campaign in my update earlier today, and I totally spaced on it. Normally I would just wait until my next update, but his campaign is ending in less than two days. He's always been a big supporter of my work, so I wanted to do another update to talk about it.
Beastlands #1-9
One of the coolest series on Kickstarter, Beastlands is a fantasy adventure book about a boy and his "keeper," a companion beast that stands by his side through his adventures. It has some elements of epic fantasy, as well as a Pokemon influence. It's cool and dark and intense.
Here's the link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/curtisclow/beastlands-1-9-a-heartful-fantasy-adventure?ref=1yvut1
If you like stories about the bond between a creature and a rider (which you might if you like Dragon Grit), then you'll probably dig Beastlands.
Here's that link again: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/curtisclow/beastlands-1-9-a-heartful-fantasy-adventure?ref=1yvut1
Thanks for your patience with the extra update.
-Caleb
Stretch goal met! Only a few days left.
8 months ago
– Tue, Apr 02, 2024 at 01:00:35 PM
Hello! I have great news to share.
First, of course we hit our 12k stretch goal, so every physical backer will be getting a trading card! Kay is working on the art for that now, and I will reveal it when it is ready.
We have one more stretch goal to hit at 16k. Not sure if we will make that one, but stranger things have happened! I think it's possible.
Second, issue 1 of Dragon Grit is now 100% finished. Dave Lentz just wrapped lettering, which means the book is done. As soon as the Kickstarter money comes in I will send everyone the digital copy through Backerkit, and I'll order the printed copies. It feels great to have the book done early - and Kay is starting on issue 2 this month!
Third, we decided on the cover for issue 2! If you're on my mailing list, I sent out an update about this on Sunday, but after a close vote, we chose a cover design. Over 180 people voted, which is awesome. Here are the inks for the cover we chose:
Looks great, right? I can't wait to see the final version.
Thanks for your support, everyone. Onwards and upwards!
-Caleb
Vote on the cover for Issue 2!
8 months ago
– Fri, Mar 22, 2024 at 08:08:40 AM
That's right! We are wrapping production on issue 1, well ahead of schedule, and we are gearing up to start on issue 2.
Normally when I have cover options, I send them to my mailing list for a vote, and everyone who votes gets what I call a "secret menu" reward if they pledge to the associated Kickstarter. Those secret menu rewards have been stickers, trading cards, bookmarks, and so on, but they are always exclusive items not available anywhere else.
Some of you are already on my mailing list, but for those who are not, I also wanted to give you the chance to vote (and get a secret menu reward).
More info below, but if you wanna jump straight into voting, here's the link: https://forms.gle/kpG7Y4NrrAH2nejKA
Below are the two options for the main cover of issue 2. Some context: the next issue will involve a flashback to when Vera and Blaze first met. These cover options depict both dragon and rider about 20 years younger than they are in the “modern” storyline, making Blaze a juvenile dragon and Vera about 20ish years old.
If you'd like to vote on which cover you like best, here is the link: https://forms.gle/kpG7Y4NrrAH2nejKA
If you'd like to join my newsletter to get updates about my books and get access to more secret menu stuff, here's the link for that: https://www.enkidustudio.com/newsletter
Before I go for the day, I wanted to share a campaign a friend of mine is running that I think is really great:
MARY SHELLEY'S SCHOOL FOR MONSTERS
I was first introduced to this story through the graphic novel La Llorona in the Machine, and I was totally hooked. Now Jessica Maison Judd is giving us more of the story with the Origins prequel series, and right now she's on Kickstarter with issue 2 of the series.
Here's the link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/wickedtreepress/mary-shelleys-school-for-monsters-origins-2-comic
From the campaign page:
"MARY SHELLEY'S SCHOOL FOR MONSTERS: ORIGINS #2 is a Kickstarter and Comic Con Exclusive comic that reveals more of Shel and Frank’s past with the occult mad scientist, Dr. M, well before they founded the School for Monsters. This time, Shel and Frank are trying to rid the world of Dr. M forever and not all monsters they encounter want to form alliances."
If you love re-inventions of classic characters and supernatural adventure, this is one to check out for sure. Here's that link again:https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/wickedtreepress/mary-shelleys-school-for-monsters-origins-2-comic
Thanks for your support, for voting on the cover for #2, and for reading this long update!
Talk soon,
Caleb
10,000! + Some Projects You Might Like
8 months ago
– Tue, Mar 19, 2024 at 06:35:25 PM
Wow! We are almost halfway through our funding period, and we just crossed 10k! That's huge. We continue to break backer count records, and I'm thrilled at the positive feedback we've been getting. Thank you, thank you, thank you. We are getting close to our 12k stretch goal, which will get everyone a Vera trading card!
In the meantime, I have a few projects I wanted to plug that could use an extra push. Each of them is by a friend of mine, and I'm excited for each one for different reasons.
George Smith: Paranormal Investigator of the PNW
Project link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cosmicchibi/george-smith-paranormal-investigator-of-the-pnw
This is a comic book by Cammry Lapka, who is the illustrator behind that adorable Blaze sticker we have available on the Dragon Grit campaign. Cammry also illustrates the Dragon Kettle webcomic (exclusively available for Dragon Kettle members).
George Smith is about a paranormal investigator in the Pacific Northwest. It very specifically takes place in Port Angeles, which just so happens to be where Lorelei and I had our honeymoon last year! This book looks hilarious and awesome, and I really hope Cammry reaches their goal.
Here's the link again: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cosmicchibi/george-smith-paranormal-investigator-of-the-pnw
Our Hero, Phenom!
Project link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/frankthewriter/phenom
This is a one-shot comic written by Frank Martin. Frank is one of the most prolific creators on Facebook (I believe he's had more successful launches than I have), and he loves to do one-shot or two-part short stories. He's created some pretty wild worlds, and Phenom is his crack at the super hero genre. He's doing some interesting things here that I haven't seen done before, so this is definitely a book to check out.
Here's the link again: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/frankthewriter/phenom
The Spellslinger: Volume 1
Project link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/houseofblood/the-spellslinger-volume-1
Woah! Honestly before I launched Dragon Grit, I didn't realize how many cool fantasy westerns people were cooking up. Spellslinger is about a world in which spells can be cast using guns, so gunslingers are... spellslingers. The idea is super cool, and I love the horror elements of this book as well. Gotta have some crazy monsters to shoot your spells at.
Zach Chapman and Ben Terdik are doing great work with this book. It is very pretty. I would recommend checking out the campaign so you can peep those preview pages.
Here's the link again: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/houseofblood/the-spellslinger-volume-1
That's it for right now, but I'll be back with another update as soon as we hit that 12k stretch goal. Thanks for your support everyone!
-Caleb
First Stretch Goal Reached!
9 months ago
– Tue, Mar 12, 2024 at 10:00:32 AM
We did it! Last night we cruised past 8k, which means all backers will recieve a 30 minute audio commentary by myself and Lorelei Jonason. We will talk about how we came up with the idea, how we worked together, and our plans for the future of the series!
Thank you so much! Our next stretch goal is set at 12k. If we reach it, all physical backers will get a Vera trading card! Digital backers will also receive a high-res file of the trading card. Hopefully this first trading card will be the first of many as the series continues!
Another Project You Might Like
Before I go today, I wanted to point you toward a fantasy comic I've been a big fan of for a while now: Snow Paw by Rob Multari. He's back on Kickstarter with the third issue, and it looks great.
From the campaign page:
"Cirilla (Cirray) MacKinlay is a strong-willed farm girl, born and raised in the Scottish Highlands during the 19th century, who dreams about a life of adventure. Upon discovering her Pureblood Monoki werewolf lineage, Cirray’s eyes are opened for the first time to the existence of Supernatural beings and creatures of Fantasy. With the aid of Silver Mane, a fellow Pureblood Monoki, Cirray must find her place in the world while training to master her lycanthropy in order to battle the Dark Covenant of the European region, led by the malevolent Mongrel Monoki, Grim Fang.
Cirray MacKinlay is Snow Paw!"
Here's the link to the campaign: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/multari/snow-paw-1-3-19th-century-scottish-female-werewolf-fantasy
Thanks for your support! I'll be back soon with more updates.
-Caleb
