We Have Physical Copies!
10 months ago
– Tue, Apr 30, 2024 at 02:41:11 PM
Hello, backers, we finally have physical books! Here's a picture of me with the softcover:
And here's the hardcover!
The books are beautiful (and a little less orange in person: sorry for the weird lighting in both photos,) and a huge motivation for me to finally finish up this BackerKit. I have been unfortunately swamped at my day job, and foolishly succumbed to peer pressure to join two more performance groups as a cellist, tho my last scheduled performance for now is May 17th, phew. After that, I'm hoping to be able to get the BackerKit completely set up and the surveys out by June.
Thank you SO MUCH for your patience and support throughout this process. I'm in that stressful period where I have to keep reminding myself that incremental gains are better than none at all, and it has meant so much to know that you're all gently encouraging me towards this finish line even as I'm dealing with greater pressures in the rest of my life. I deeply appreciate all of you.
xo, Doreen.
March Updates! We're Printing!
12 months ago
– Wed, Mar 13, 2024 at 07:48:09 PM
Thank you so much for your patience, backers! This has been a weirdly emotional process for me but I've finally finished up the ISBNs and back covers and spine art and sent the files to Mixam for printing! I expect the physical books to be in my hands by mid April at the latest (they SAY early April but I always prefer to budget extra time,) and will post photos for you once the books arrive.
I am, unfortunately, still struggling with BackerKit, so much so that I went eff it and decided to just get the printing done first. This was actually helped by Mixam's really cool new PrintLink option, which allows for printing on demand of any of my books! I'll be looking into setting that up once I've mailed out all the Kickstarter orders, but budgeting for late orders is one less consideration to think about while I set up shipping costs for the orders that I already have.
I just want to say that Mixam keeps getting better and better as a printing service, and I really encourage you to look into using them if you have any aims of publishing books and games yourself. Speaking of Books And Games, I have a weekly newsletter of the same name dedicated to those very topics: it's free to subscribe! I read a lot of books and talk about them there. I play and write fewer games, but the ones I do manage get talked about there, too, and I'm hoping you find some cool recommendations through my newsletter.
Next update here will be in April, with pictures of the physical books (yay!) and hopefully good news about BackerKit. And again and again, thank you so much for your unwavering support. This campaign has been a really hard one for me, and it's meant so much to have y'all in my corner.
xo, Doreen.
December Update! Digital Editions Are Live!
about 1 year ago
– Fri, Dec 01, 2023 at 04:16:35 PM
Hello again, backers! By now you should have received an email from me via itch with information regarding how to download your digital copy of Camp Elementa. Yes, I have finally actually finished it! I kept finding new and exciting things to correct right up until I uploaded the final versions (pdf and txt) just a short while ago. Please let me know if you have any problems with the downloads and we'll get that all sorted out, too.
My next step will be to spend December prepping the BackerKit for distributing physical copies to those of you who've pledged for them, as well as to collect any late pledges. I expect publication and distribution to occur in early 2024, with my apologies again for the delay. This has been a year, y'all. Thanks so much for standing by me with your unwavering support: it has genuinely meant so much.
Right now, I am tired and proud and anxious and happy, and in desperate need of sleep. I very much hope you enjoy reading and playing Camp Elementa as much as I have. My next post here will be in the New Year with links to the BackerKit pledge manager (tho I do provide weekly updates on this and my other adventures in Books And Games at my newsletter, if you're inclined to take a look and subscribe. It's free!)
In the meantime, have a wonderful, magical holiday season. Thank you so, so much for helping to bring Camp Elementa to life. The game has brought me so much delight and inspiration, and I hope it does the same for you.
xo Doreen.
October + November Update
over 1 year ago
– Thu, Nov 02, 2023 at 08:00:11 PM
Hello, backers! I have finally finished writing Camp Elementa! I actually wound up adding rules regarding concentration, as well as clarification regarding human vs elemental attributes, once I was able to bring myself to look at the files without being overwhelmed with emotion (which took much longer than I initially expected!) I also added all the page numbers, and am working on having the correct ones referenced in the Table Of Contents and throughout the text. I did totally forget that I need to layout the three different back covers with separate ISBNs, which is a finicky digital render. Fortunately, that should only take me a few more business days, and then I'll be able to release the digital files before finalizing the proofs with the printer.
Life continues to be chaotic. I'm still heartbroken over my best friend's betrayal: I have literally never cried so much in my life, and as I'm generally philosophical when it comes to emotional stuff, this entire experience has really thrown me. My husband is also currently in Japan for work, so I've been shepherding my kids and extended family through the pre- and post-Halloween season solo while keeping up with the day job. It is A Lot, but I will hopefully have plenty of time to finalize the page number cross-references and pdf back cover starting next week, after my husband gets home and I'm no longer single mom-ing it.
My next update will be to announce the release of the digital files, which will definitely happen this month, barring some new catastrophe. Thank you for continuing to send me your positivity and support while I strugglebug this project to the finish line! I appreciate you all so, so much.
September Update
over 1 year ago
– Sat, Sep 30, 2023 at 07:04:18 PM
Well, my worst year ever continues. Just this past week, my best friend -- the person I wrote most of Camp Elementa on -- decided to explode our decade-long friendship. I'm still reeling.
I have been in the process of finishing the book. I am absolutely going to finish the book. Perhaps ironically, I now want the book to be perfect, because it captures so much of what was good about our relationship. I feel that that joy deserves a fitting legacy, even if half of the reason for it has now gone away.
Plus, I have a lot more free time now and in the immediate future. I am going to have the finished digital book ready for you by the end of October. Hold me to that, even if I do need a few days more right now to process my loss and heartbreak.
Thanks, as always, for your continuing patience and support. I have desperately needed your kindness throughout this process and you have always come through. Thank you.
