Unexpected delay for digital content
over 1 year ago – Tue, Dec 13, 2022 at 05:55:49 AM

This is not an update I wanted to make, and right after I made my last one. 

There will be a small delay on all digital content except for the Valkyrie Legacy Bonus (which went out over the weekend). Just as I was finalizing digital files, my computer died. Just died. I don't know why, because it's a fairly new computer I had built (only a year old), but it decided "no" was going to a be a fun response to what I was doing. 

I've been testing my computer all weekend, trying to find what broke and how to get my computer up and running. While the exact nature of the issue is still alluding me, I've confirmed in the very least, the files are safe.

I can extract them from the hard drive before the computer is fixed, I just have to wait for parts to ship to me in order to do that. They should be in by the middle of the week. I am so so sorry this happened. I didn't mean to get your hopes up and mess with expectations.

My hope is to have my computer up and running within the next week so I can continue working on the physical book layouts and they won't be too badly delayed, but depending on what we discover is the cause of the issue, it might take a little longer. 

Again, my deepest apologies, and once I extract those files that are finished from my hard drive, you'll get an email from Backerkit how to download them.

~Shannon

Digital rewards coming soon!
over 1 year ago – Thu, Dec 08, 2022 at 11:08:03 AM

This is not a drill

Everything is falling into place. Almost everyone has filled out their surveys, and most digital content is in their final stage of development. For those who have completed their surveys, in the next few days, you'll be getting email notifications from backerkit and bookfunnel about digital rewards. If you haven't completed yours, please do. I need them completed in order to send your items.

Digital content that will be sent based on pledge tiers:

• Digital phone wallpapers: Valkyrie Lost Standard, Valkyrie Lost Special
• Digital art prints: Astrid portrait, Tyr portrait, Astrid & Tyr rain portrait, Astrid pinup
• Valkyrie Lost e-book
• Weekly pledge bonus (based on when pledges were made): Valkyrie Renewed preview, Valkyrie Legacy omnibus

Art update

Astrid's pinup piece has been completed. I love it so much. Look! (censored in this post per KS requirements)

This only leaves Tyr's pinup (almost done) and all art for art prints and interior art that's been unlocked will be complete.

There is still time to unlock more through Backerkit (if you've already completed your survey and it's not locked, you can still go in and add items. If it is locked, you can use the pre-order site to create a new order). These not only will unlock art prints, but more interior art for the special editions and limited editions of Valkyrie Lost. (You will not be charged for the extra art unless it's been unlocked).

Unfortunately, due to a tight budget, sketches of these potential unlocks before they're unlocked aren't on the table. I've provided a description for each art option of roughly what it will be (the final piece always changes a bit, so it's not extremely detailed), except for one pieces which would be a spoiler if described (once you read the e-book, that scene will make more sense). This is the best I can do at this time.

Pin update

I've been a little quite about the pins. And that's because I've been busy working with my new manufacture. I had a manufacture in mind, and then found out they didn't do a few things I wanted, so I looked around to see if I could get what I wanted. And boy did I get more than I bargained for!

Thanks to a friend, I found myself with a new manufacture who could not only do what I needed, but even more, and the cost is about the same as with the previous planned manufacture, so... win!

Not only were they great to work with, they've provided me with digital mock-ups of the finished pieces, and I'm going to share them with you!

Excited? Because I am! These are expected to arrive at my door mid-January.

If your pledge didn't come with any of these (or you want more than one for yourself or someone else), you can add it through the survey if yours isn't locked (if it is, you can use the pre-order site to create a new order).

There is also still time to unlock the other metal pins of the insignias to match Valkyrie Rising one that was unlocked during the campaign. The sooner they're unlocked, the quicker I can order them up and they'll arrive within a similar time as the others. They'll only be made once, so you'll want to get the whole set to match the Valkyrie Rising insignia.

Pre-order page

As a reminder, don't forget to share the pre-order page with those you think will enjoy the products I'm offering. It's the last chance to get many items that won't be printed/offered a second time.

~Shannon

Check your email!
over 1 year ago – Thu, Dec 01, 2022 at 08:45:35 AM

Surveys have been sent

Over 70% of you have already filled them out so far, and I thank you for your promptness! If you haven't, please check your email. It'll have gone to the email you use for Kickstarter, and come from Backerkit. If you don't see it, check you spam/junk folder, sometimes they can be accidentally sent there by your email provider.

When you're filling out your survey, you do have the chance to add more to your pledge through an internal add-on system. So if there's something you didn't add to your pledge through Kickstarter and really wanted to, you'll be able to do it this way. As I mentioned in a previous update, some items are set up as a second chance unlock. There are a number of art pieces that can be unlocked (which also unlock special edition and limited edition book upgrades), pins, and the human narration audiobook. You can add them to your cart and won't be charged for them unless we reach their minimum goals by a certain time.

You can also share the Backerkit pre-order page!

Share it with any and all you think would love to get their hands on any of the items offered in this last chance opportunity so they don't miss out either.

https://valkyrie-lost.backerkit.com/hosted_preorders

And speaking of art pieces, I've got an update! 

The artwork for Scene #1 (now named Astrid & Tyr in the rain) is complete. I love it so much. It's sweet interpretation of what happens in the book.

This art will be an insert in the Limited Edition hardback, and is available as an 8x10 and 11x17 art print/poster (and a 4x6 digital download for those who pledge to any tier above ebook only).

There's a lot more still in the works with artists, and I'll be keeping you all looped in as they finish and products are ordered up around those completions.

Transparency

I ran into my first little snag while formatting that gave me a mini heart attack. In my researching of the setting for Valkyrie Lost I chose to use some more traditional spellings of words in certain instances. These worked fine in my word processor, but as I've began working in my formatting program I quickly found out, not all programs supported certain characters.

I tried to figure out how to work around that, but the more I looked into it, the more I realized it was going to continue to be an issue for e-books, as not all e-readers/phones would support the characters. So as not to delay anything further, I was forced to choose to change the problematic spellings. A little disappointing, but that's okay. I'd rather you all be able to read the book rather than be distracted by technical issues.

~Shannon

Surveys are coming! Plus bonus chapter and product updates
over 1 year ago – Fri, Nov 18, 2022 at 08:17:33 AM

Kickstarter has deposited the funds raised from the campaign meaning I can get ordering the pins and other items that are ready to be ordered immediately. I've also gotten things all figured out for the surveys! I'm doing final checks to make sure I didn't miss anything and then I'll do what Backerkit calls a Smoke Test. This test sends out surveys to 5% of backers to fill out and make sure everything goes smoothly. Once we clear that stage, then everyone will receive their surveys to fill out. You'll get an email from Backerkit when this happens. Please fill this out. I can't send your rewards without it being complete.

Along with the survey, you'll pay for any shipping fees that come with physical rewards, and you can even grab last minute items. This includes unlocking some items through a second chance system with Backerkit. If we hit the minim orders by a certain date, I'll be able to provide them. You'll only be charged for these items if we unlock them.

Backer perk stickers arrived! Look how neat these are!

These stickers are a special gift to those who back by week 3 at tiers with "bundle", "print", "all in" in their name. They will go out with your order when it ships.

I also have art updates! The Polar Engine team has been hard at work getting pieces done, and they surprised me not only with a B&W sketch of the 2 pinup pieces, but while I was writing up this update, Astrid's pinup got another update with color progress. Take a look! (Bar censoring display only to meet KS's guidelines. Final pieces won't have these).

I'm so looking forward to their finished versions and getting them printed. And as I mentioned above, there will be chances to unlock some second chance items, which does include art/art prints we didn't reach.

The bonus chapter that was unlocked for everyone is also now written and gone through a first round of edits. It's with my proof reader now. I'm so happy with the way it turned out. It's got all kinds of fun and angsty bits with some foreshadowing ;)

Once the proofread is done, Valkyrie Lost will go into the formatting stage for the ebook and standard editions. (Special Editions and Limited Editions will be started later, once artwork is complete.)

That's it for now. Keep an eye out for those surveys, and I'll keep you posted as things progress with the book and swag.

~Shannon

Close to sending out Surveys + merch update
over 1 year ago – Wed, Nov 09, 2022 at 03:29:56 PM

I'm finalizing surveys through Backerkit. I'm having some slight issues with shipping profiles for the unsigned book teirs and some other minor matchings between the campaign items and Backerkit's setup, but I'm working through the hangups little by little. In the mean time, there are a few people who's pledges did fail and haven't been fixed. This is a manual process on your side, so make sure you get that taken care of or I can't get you the items you were hoping for.

Stickers are here! The main batch of stickers are in. Take a look!

The only sticker left to arrive are the special backer bonus. It's still in transit and I'm looking forward to seeing them in person.

I also have a sketch progress update for scene #1 (Astrid and Tyr caught in the rain). It's coming out so great. I can't wait to see this in print/poster form and inside the limited edition book.

That's all I've got for you right now. I'll have another update soon when surveys are ready for the "smoke test" and then ready to go out to everyone.

~Shannon