Fantasy Novel: Age of Empyre by Michael J. Sullivan

Short Story and Screensaver images posted
over 4 years ago – Sat, Mar 21, 2020 at 11:51:52 PM

Hey all, we just distributed more of the digital downloads.  In particular:

• Screen savers of Marc Simonetti's Artwork
• 11 of the 12 short stories -- the 12th short story (The Ashmore Affair), you already have as it can be found in the Heroes' Wanted Anthology that was previously distributed, so go to that ebook to read that tale.

Still busy with copyedits on the main novel. We'll keep you posted when we have new news on that one.

Last Name List and AoD and AoL digital files posted
over 4 years ago – Wed, Mar 18, 2020 at 03:17:36 AM

Okay, so we have what I think is the final set of names for the acknowledgments (the cutoff date was 3/15 to make it into the print version of the book). If you find an error, please report it to [email protected] while we will attempt to get any changes in the print book, I cannot guarantee it at this point since the book is already in the layout stage and changes at this time can be (a) very time consuming and (b) may introduce an error. The data WILL, however, be updated in the ebook.

I also posted the ebooks for people who ordered . . .

• Age of Legend
• Age of Death

So if you are not yet up to date with the series,  you can get those files now.  More updates soon!

Entering the next phase
over 4 years ago – Wed, Mar 18, 2020 at 02:44:54 AM

I feel as though I should start out today's update with some statement about the extraordinary times in which we are finding ourselves in the post-Corona Virus Outbreak. But I'm not sure what I can say other than (a) I hope everyone is healthy (b) people are following the guidelines of health professionals to keep our most-at-risk people safe, (c) people are able to deal well with childcare situations and (d) that you won't be affected too adversely financially.

Michael and I are very fortunate in that our kids are fully grown and don't live with us, and we don't have to go anywhere for "day jobs." As such, we are essentially in self-isolation, but that means no real change to the way we've been living for a number of years now. We live in a rural area where our only outside contact is with the grocery store (which is still well-stocked) and never crowded, the post office (which never has a line),  and our warehouse (which only has a few employees). Yes, we have to cancel a few trips (one to New York at the end of this month, and one to Paris for the month of May), but that is so minor as to what most are going through. Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone else who has true hardships they are going through.

At this point, we have experienced only minor disruption, the most important of which, is that Tim Gerard Reynolds can't come into New York to do the recording of the book. (He has severe immune issues and really can't expose himself to public transportation, hotels, or the streets of New York).  The good news is he has a studio in his house and recording will start on schedule.  It will take a bit longer than normal because we can't be there to "listen in" and we'll have to review the "dailies" after the fact. But at this time we don't expect a delay in the release of the audiobook.

As for the ebook.  Our hope was to release it today, but I'm still going through edits -- and we still need one of the editors to go through the 2nd half of the book.  My new plan is to have this posted to you all on the 23rd, a delay of less than one week.  To be safe, I've pushed back the press run for a two weeks, and once we are "on the press" you'll hear more about that.

In the meantime, I have posted the Heroes Wanted Anthology. Yes, we did end up pasting our last stretch goal so this is a bonus for all of you.  You can read it down by accessing your digital download area of BackerKit. If you don't know how to do that, instructions can be found at this link. 

In order to release any rewards, we had to enter the "lockdown" phase of the project. This means we can get final counts and start manufacturing the bags and ordering hardcovers for those people who are also receiving copies of Age of Myth and Age of War.  This also means I'm compiling the last name list - which I should be posting shortly -- another update on that soon.  

For people who are getting physical rewards, your address IS NOT locked down yet, and they won't be until we are ready to ship books, again, we'll keep you updated.

Well, that's where we stand for now. As always thank you for your support - and our thoughts, prayers, and well-wishes go out to everyone during this difficult time.  Try to hang in there. Panic won't help matters. Maybe you should pickup the anthology and get lost in a few good stories.  

Approaching last stretch goal & new acknowlegement list posted
over 4 years ago – Sat, Mar 07, 2020 at 02:01:48 AM

So, the last stretch goal (which will unlock the Heroes Wanted Anthology was set for $155,367 and we came in at $136,387 which was great but it put us short by $18,980. So how can we be close to hitting that stretch goal? Well, over the last several weeks we've had . . .

• 232 new backers through the "manual add" process - which gives those people who missed the Kickstarter a way to join in on the fun. 
• We've also had a bunch of people adding to their pledges through the "add-on" aspect of their BackerKit survey. These people have added additional funds to their pledge through adding tips, or ordering tote bags,  bookmarks, additional hardcovers, and additional ebooks. We've even had people upgrading their orders -- like going from HARDCORE to DOUBLE TROUBLE. All these actions have resulted in additional funds coming into the project.

So between those manual adds and people adding onto their Kickstarter pledges we've received another $17,573 in pledges, which puts us just $1,407 away from hitting that last stretch goal!  

So, if you know someone who missed the Kickstarter and you think they would like to get in on the fun,  you can send them to this link.  Or, if you were thinking, maybe you want to add on something to your order, you can do that as well.  The easiest way to do that is to follow these steps.

• Go into BackerKit (and if you forget your BackerKit login you can a recovery link by specifying your email address). 
• In the top right click on "Edit Your Order" button
• Scroll down and find the Add-ons section at the bottom of page, and click on "Edit Add-ons" button.
• When presented with the online store - pick the times you want and hit the "Next" button. NOTE: if you don't hit NEXT then the changes to your cart won't be stored.
• You'll be presented with a payment screen where you can add a credit card for paying for you add-ons (or you can send the amount to [email protected] via Paypal and we'll credit your order.

Now, there are some people whose order are "locked down" -- that is because before we charge the credit cards for BackerKit add-ons (which will happen around the 15th) we have been checking for errors you may have made (like adding an ebook of Age of Empyre when your reward level already has one, or adding the "overseas" totebag when you are in the US (which would overcharge you on the shipping).  The best way for us to keep track of orders we've looked at and those we've not, is to "Lock the order." - but no worries, either contact us and we'll add the item(s) you want, or we can unlock the order for you to make the changes yourself.  How will you know if your order is locked?  Well, your order will say "Edit Address rather than" Edit Your Order" (and yes, it will say address even if your have no physical items to ship).  Once you hit that button you'll get to another page but you'll not have the ability to access the "Add-ons".  Again, if this happens to you, just let us know what you want to add to your order and we'll get you set up.

In any case, based on what I've been seeing over the past week or so, I think we'll easily get that extra $1,407 and if we do, everyone will get an added bonus anthology.

In other news, I've updated the acknowledgment list again (we've had another 323 people added and only 143 surveys left to be completed. Please go here to check your name. The extract was done around noon (EDT), so if you finished your survey or changed your name after that time it'll show up on the next extraction.

As for the ebook itself (which some people have been asking about.  We are waiting on copy edits to come in they are due in on 3/9 from one editor and 3/15 for the other. When the book will be sent out will depend on how many changes are needed and the version we send out at that time will be pre-gamma/proofreading. So while the story won't change, you might find a typo or two which we will be working on before the book goes to press. 

That's it for now.  Thanks for getting those surveys in.  We are up to 96% answered (143 to go) at this point and many of those are due to "manual adds" (we only have 102 from the Kickstarter itself) Remember, I already have your money -- so be sure you get what you paid for by doing your survey!

Updated Acknowledgment List, Missing Children, Sullivan Crest Design, and Book Status Update
over 4 years ago – Sun, Mar 01, 2020 at 02:17:21 AM

Hey all, Robin again.  Things are moving along well.  Here is where we are.

• I've updated the acknowledgments list and added over 650 names to it.  This requires extraction from BackerKit and so people who finished their surveys in the last 48 hours or so won't be on it. But don't worry, there will be another extraction when we get a good number of additional surveys.  If you want to check your name,you can do so from this link. 
• Thanks again for everyone who has completed their surveys. We have 94% of the people reporting in and have 208 stragglers. If you are one of the people who haven't completed your survey, please do. This is important to (a) make sure we have enough Age of Myth and Age of War books (for people who are doing add-ons for them (b) get your name in the acknowledgments (c) determine how many tote bags we need to order
• Speaking of people without surveys, if you are Aggie Mitchkoski, Matt Sullivan (no relation) or Travis (with an email that looks like ******[email protected]). Please reach out to me (direct message or email at [email protected]). Your email addresses are bouncing, and as such, you can't receive your surveys. You have already paid for your rewards but I cannot get them to you without valid email addresses.
• For people who need "manual adds" (more than 175 people), we only have a few of you "in" but we'll try to concentrate on this and get the backlog cleared up in the next few days. That's important so you can do your surveys and we can have your names, but the priority right now has been on last-minute edits, so bear with me for a bit.
• As for edits, the input is in from the beta readers, one copy editor has finished their first pass, and the second copyeditor is due to receive the book tomorrow.  We are supposed to have all the copy edits in by 3/15 and it'll take me a few days to make the book. But hopefully, you'll see an "early edition of the book around 3/17 (for people who can be locked down -- in other words those that have completed your survey.  This will be pre-gamma reading. But gamma readers are only picking up on typos and minor issues the story should be rock solid by them. For people who read that early edition, if you could report typos that would be great. The more eyes, the better. So even if you are not an official gamma reader, you can help make the book the best it can be by getting me any errors you find.
• Cory has been doing some additional work on the Sullifan Crest. We are still debating colors, but things are getting tightened up.  Here is what it is currently looking like.

I think that's all for now. We'll keep you updated.