A grateful hello to my backers.

Now that the school year is ended and my Craftsy.com class launched (www.craftsy.com/ext/StevenReddy_5004_F) I can begin the video and campaign design for the reprint of Now Where Was I? and the sequel, This Is Then, That Was Now. As I mentioned in the last update, I've been working hard and I'm proud to be able to release a new 8.5" x 11" 250+ page volume of all new work created in just the last two years. 

 

I learned a lot designing, writing, editing and self-publishing the first book, and I'm putting it all to use in the new one. As you you may have gathered from the text of NWWI?, I like to do things independently, so when a publisher offered to print the book with changes, including reducing the book's dimensions to cut costs, I passed. I'm trying to create the kind of books I would like to read. I'm drawn to books that expose the author, foibles and insecurities included, as well as celebrate successes. There are many excellent how-to books on sketching and sketchbook journaling (I especially admire the books of Danny Gregory, Gabriel Campanario and Cathy Johnson) but I wanted to see what I'd come up with if left to my own impulses and idiosyncrasies. A little rough around the edges, but from the heart. That said, the new book will include a detailed "how-to" chapter for my friends who have requested to see the steps I use to make my drawings. 

 

I'm just a guy who loves to draw and teach-- not a bean counter. This is not a money-making venture for me. Every penny (and then some) of the last campaign went into printing and shipping the books. Unless one prints many thousands of copies, the cost of each full-color book is about the same as what I charge for them on my Etsy site. Selling them through Amazon is not an option since they take over half the cover cost right off the top. Therefore all sales are strictly by word-of-mouth. The first edition sold-out within months, so I can only thank you and my on-line friends for getting the word out. I hope you'll like the next book as well and will continue to spread the word and I can continue to keep making books between teaching duties. 

 

Since I'm hoping to raise funds to print two books this time, and a few more copies of each so they don't sell out so fast, I'll be asking for twice as much funding, which makes me nervous, naturally. It'll be embarrassing if I don't make the goal. But that's the beauty of Kickstarter: if I don't reach the goal, the only harm is to my pride. But I feel optimistic. The new book is good.

Thanks again and see you in July.

 

Steve