Thank you for your patience with the delays for HARD MAGIC. I thought I'd post a quick update on where HARD MAGIC is at in the printing process.
I originally sent over the files and some requests to the printer a while back to get some realistic estimates on what it is going to cost per book to print. The printer also needs these estimates so they can order in the correct material. The physical materials used for these books are significantly higher quality that what you normally get in books, and I generally try to have our books a little higher quality still. In this process, one of my reps left the company, and another one passed away. However, they still got me a quote that I felt was satisfactory.
And then, of all things, I received news of a paper shortage. The type of paper I use (and most other specialty printers use), was on indefinite back order. They couldn't even say WHEN it would be available again. My understanding is paper mills are holding less and less of this really high quality paper on-hand due to the increasing overhead costs. It makes sense, but it doesn't help. And then you put that on top of Vault being a new company, well, we get put at the back of the line. These factors, it turns out, also caused major delays in the book we just finished shipping, LITTLE DEAD RED by Mercedes Yardley. It seems the printers are keeping this news fairly close to the vest in hopes it get resolved.
I originally sent over the files and some requests to the printer a while back to get some realistic estimates on what it is going to cost per book to print. The printer also needs these estimates so they can order in the correct material. The physical materials used for these books are significantly higher quality that what you normally get in books, and I generally try to have our books a little higher quality still. In this process, one of my reps left the company, and another one passed away. However, they still got me a quote that I felt was satisfactory.
And then, of all things, I received news of a paper shortage. The type of paper I use (and most other specialty printers use), was on indefinite back order. They couldn't even say WHEN it would be available again. My understanding is paper mills are holding less and less of this really high quality paper on-hand due to the increasing overhead costs. It makes sense, but it doesn't help. And then you put that on top of Vault being a new company, well, we get put at the back of the line. These factors, it turns out, also caused major delays in the book we just finished shipping, LITTLE DEAD RED by Mercedes Yardley. It seems the printers are keeping this news fairly close to the vest in hopes it get resolved.
So, I could either wait an indeterminate time for the right paper, get lower quality paper (not a real option), or completely change the type of paper (still maintaining the quality) and hope we could get it in. The printer went off to find me rough equivalents. Most of them were in the same boat - delayed for months at least, or were double the cost - neither acceptable. However we did finally find some that didn't cost me too much more, and were only slightly delayed.
My contract with the printer was updated yesterday with the new paper. Money has changed hands. We've settled on the final print-run. The files are all fully squared away. Actual words printing on paper should begin shortly.
If you paid attention in the very beginnings of the campaign, you may have seen some design art floating around. As a bonus (and apology) for the delay, I've paid extra to have it stamped onto the leather of the front boards of the book, and similar pieces have been designed for the other 2 books in the collection. There was a TON of back-and-forth with the printer and designer on these designs to make sure they would be legible, but we got all of that squared-away, too.
Lastly, thank you. When Vault started, we were, honestly, too ambitious for our own good. It's just printing some books, how hard could it be? How much time could it possible take? It turns out it's harder than we thought, and takes up ALL the time. Larry's Grimnoir Chronicles are some of my favorite books, and its been a dream to work on them, and to commission art for them. Thank you for your patience, and for the kind words and excitement you have sent my way. I'm learning a lot of this process as I go along, but I'm only able to do so because of your generosity. Thank you, and I can't wait for you to see the final product of HARD MAGIC, and then the other 2 novels after that.
--Steve
My contract with the printer was updated yesterday with the new paper. Money has changed hands. We've settled on the final print-run. The files are all fully squared away. Actual words printing on paper should begin shortly.
If you paid attention in the very beginnings of the campaign, you may have seen some design art floating around. As a bonus (and apology) for the delay, I've paid extra to have it stamped onto the leather of the front boards of the book, and similar pieces have been designed for the other 2 books in the collection. There was a TON of back-and-forth with the printer and designer on these designs to make sure they would be legible, but we got all of that squared-away, too.
Lastly, thank you. When Vault started, we were, honestly, too ambitious for our own good. It's just printing some books, how hard could it be? How much time could it possible take? It turns out it's harder than we thought, and takes up ALL the time. Larry's Grimnoir Chronicles are some of my favorite books, and its been a dream to work on them, and to commission art for them. Thank you for your patience, and for the kind words and excitement you have sent my way. I'm learning a lot of this process as I go along, but I'm only able to do so because of your generosity. Thank you, and I can't wait for you to see the final product of HARD MAGIC, and then the other 2 novels after that.
--Steve
