I finally got a proof of my new little book of drawings in the mail. Everything looked decent, but I needed to make a few edits, specifically the centerfold pages. It’s one single drawing across two pages that weren’t lining up correctly. I figured I musta did something wrong there, so I started from the beginning and made them line up. I just won’t know if it worked until I get another proof.

Another thing that isn’t great is that I printed it all on #80 coated paper. When I started embellishing the pages with colored pencils, the colors smeared all over the place, so the next proof that’s coming will be on #60 uncoated paper. I’m hoping that will be less smeary, but I really won’t know until it comes and I try it out. I really wanted to get these done in time to add as a reward for the Kickstarter.

If it’s still smeary, I’m just going to leave it that way. It definitely shows proof of original embellishments. I guess it gives a little charm, too. We’ll see. It’s just a long time to wait between receiving these, and it’s starting to get costly. The last one I ordered, I chose to send it quicker, but it’s still not here. I mean, it will get done sooner or later. I’m still trying to figure out what to charge for them.

They are limited to 30 each, have original embellishments and a couple of unique drawings, the binding will be hand-sewn, and they are all signed and numbered. They have to be worth something. I mean, yes, but how much?

My books, Today’s Quandary. sell for $100, but the covers are letterpress. There are original colored-pencil drawings on the first page, and it’s an edition of 50. Maybe these need to be about half that price since there will be more colored-pencil marks inside. I wish I could have letterpressed the covers, but I just couldn’t afford it, nor do I have the same inexpensive resource for letterpressing anymore. In fact, there aren’t any fine art printing spaces anywhere near here. Not to use an etching press or a letterpress. It sucks. I’d have to have it done professionally at a boutique press like Aardvark in LA.

I had Aardvark do my original business cards and the covers for Horsebucket many moons ago. The rest of the images in those books were commercial printed, except for the words, which I typed individually on an old portable Corona typewriter. That took some time, but I worked on it nonstop for two months! The bindings are also hand-sewn on those.

So, the Kickstarter—I have to keep talking about the Kickstarter, at least until fully funded—is just $475 away from its goal. There was one person who planned to pledge $350 for one of the little original paintings, but wasn’t able to create a Kickstarter account. This situation has been an issue for many. You have to create a Kickstarter account to pledge. Here is the page to do that. You enter your name and email, then create a NEW password. It’s not a password you would already have. You’re creating one. I’m not sure why it doesn’t seem clear, but it hasn’t been for many people.

A $350 pledge would have put me into the probability of succeeding, but until something like that happens, I’m not going to count on it. I want to go back and tell that person to try again with better instructions, but I don’t want to come off as annoying. I have already tried to give her instructions on what to do. Maybe I wasn’t clear enough, or she’s just not all that determined.