REVEAL: Hardcover Endsheet Design
6 months ago
– Fri, Jun 07, 2024 at 10:21:39 AM
Those of you getting issues #3&4 in hardcover will see the marvelous upgrade that is our new, original endsheet design!
If you're seeing this update but haven't backed us, don't worry! The hardcovers of issue 3&4 are still available for pre-order:
https://newedge2024.backerkit.com/hosted_preorders#storeNow, here's a fun preview graphic made by the designer,
Babe & Oak:
This toss surface pattern utilizes a mix of visual motifs that we felt evoked Sword & Sorcery while riffing on our battle-axe logo in a recognizable way.
You'll notice certain motifs in the design are white and others are red. This is because red & white are the two main design colors for issue three:
This means that in the endsheet design for issue four, those motifs will be yellow & purple because....
You get the idea! In future issues we'll keep tweaking the colors slightly to match the cover designs in just the same way, making every issue's endsheet design unique.
Meanwhile NESS production proceeds apace, and we'd love for folk to check out & share our first ever book, BEATING HEARTS & BATTLE-AXES:
https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/brackenbooks/beating-hearts-battle-axes
Progress Report, and Our First Ever Book!
6 months ago
– Tue, May 21, 2024 at 07:09:16 AM
Hey everybody!
IN SHORT
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Production of issues #3 and #4 is thundering along nicely. So far there have been no big delays, and we will keep you appraised of the situation if this changes.
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We are publishing our first book, and you can now sign up to be alerted when the crowdfund launches. The sign-up, or "landing", page will tell you more about this exciting anthology!
https://www.backerkit.com/call_to_action/5532acc9-ad76-4409-921b-5aa4d4443aa1/landing
IN DETAIL
Progress on issues three and four continues apace. We are miles ahead of where we were with last year's issues at this time! Below is a screencap of our Excel spreadsheet progress bars, pushing across from left to right. The names of authors (above) and artists (below) have been cropped so as not to shame anybody.
We continue to do our best to make our goal of "Summer 2024", and will keep you all updated if there is a delay in shipping out the finished issues.
We had to navigate some challenges recently, such as one author dropping out unexpectedly, however we took the opportunity there to do our first open submissions call. This was for seven pieces of 850 word flash fiction - one to go in the sticker story at the back of issue three, the other six to be printed within the issue as one, scrolling set of six stories.
The author's and their stories are as follows:
STICKER STORY:
The Barber of Rem Um, by Andrew Whelan
And, in no particular order..
THE SIX:
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Against the Witch-Prince of Emdal, by W.O. Balmer
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The War-God's Hound, by Samantha Rich
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Of Cabbages and Stone, by Timaeus Bloom
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The Ferryman's Price, by Melissa Burlock
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Sister Soldier, by R.L. Summerling
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High Water, by James A. Estes
This submission process was very enjoyable, in no small part thanks to our valiant volunteer slush readers, and has left our editor considering opening up a slot or two (or more?) in our 2025 issues for open submissions. We'll let know what's happening there as soon as we know!
Meanwhile we are proud to announce...
198% Funded!! (What Comes Next?)
8 months ago
– Mon, Mar 18, 2024 at 06:19:35 PM
IN SHORT
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WE FUNDED! THANK YOU SO MUCH!
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We hit every single goal we set, then an extra artist pay raise we added at the last minute. Wow!
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Right now backers are being charged for their pledges.
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Backers will be charged for shipping approx. four weeks before fulfillment. This is also likely when surveys will be sent out to collect necessary information such as mailing addresses, though the surveys may come sooner.
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Our current goal for fulfillment is "Summer 2024", so expect to be charged for shipping in June at the earliest. Backers in Canada will have a $5 USD shipping discount, all other backers living outside the United States will have a $10 USD shipping discount.
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Enjoyed the Black God's Kiss game we played in Friday's livestream? You can learn more, and pre-order it, here: https://blackgodskiss.backerkit.com/hosted_preorders
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Enjoyed Fen Walker's live dungeon synth set in Friday's livestream? You can find more of his music here: https://fenwalker.bandcamp.com
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All backers are cordially invited to join our New Edge Sword & Sorcery Discord server through this link: https://discord.gg/qSrsxqVhwZ
- Though we'll be much quieter for a little while, if you'd like more regular updates and other fun info, we can be followed on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
IN DETAIL
It's been a little over 48 hours and I'm still processing this turn of events!
Nat Web's gonna get the New Edge battle axe logo tattoo!
We raised enough for FIVE author raises and FIVE artist raises!
Hardcovers will have beautiful endsheets!
Both bonus stories were unlocked, to say nothing of Double Art and the International Shipping Discount!
If I keep writing in this manner I may single-handedly make exclamation marks! Lose! All! Meaning!
But dang, that's just how I feel right now. Well, that and
tired. This thing was a lot of work, though clearly worth it. And it's awoken new desires in me as a publisher - I've already got my eye on someone to play live music in next year's crowdfund...
Folks, I had so much FUN doing this, and it seems like you did too! This makes me glad because as seriously as we take the quality of what we make, it's important that NESS be a wonderful time for all concerned.
If there's two links from "IN SHORT" I'd like to repeat here it's:
The great people behind BGK were instrumental in us being able to publish the first new Jirel story in 85 years, and were great pals when it come to helping get the word out about the new issues.
Part of what I love about doing the publishing thing is the opportunities it creates to connect with really cool people, and the Black God's Kiss crew are just the coolest!
Speaking of making connections, the other link I'm extra keen on is an invite to:
- The New Edge Sword & Sorcery Discord, a great online hang-out that I'd love to see your digital faces in, a fun spot to chat about the magazine, Sword & Sorcery in general, and otherwise connect with your fellow readers, writers, artists, and more.
It's also a breeding ground for goofs like, as you may have heard Nat and I relate in our crowdfund finale livestream, how Meatball Subs Are The Only Real Sandwich, and I only time I get to eat one is when we've finished funding another publication.
Reader, you better believe this sucker tasted good when I picked it up on Saturday:
Can we make meatball subs the official sandwich of Sword & Sorcery? Perhaps with enough sword emojis...
Alright, that's all from me for now. Please make sure to read through IN SHORT for the practical details of what's happening with charging backers for pledges, charging for shipping, our rough schedule and more.
As stated in a recent update, we have made fantastic progress on the writing for these issues, and the very first interior illustration sketches have started to show up in my inbox. Barring catastrophe, our post-crowdfund turnaround will be several
months shorter than last year's!
In fact, we'll probably be crowdfunding our
FIRST EVER BOOK a little before we get copies of the magazine from our printer. Feels wild, so wild, to begin expanding New Edge Sword & Sorcery into a modest publishing company and it would never happen without
BACKERS LIKE YOU.Keep your swords sharp, and your sorcery numinous!
Sincerely,
