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Update #18: Hold Fast, Mateys!
Update #17: Ship-ment #1 - The book (English version), cards, & prints &c
If a shipment is, etymologically, the act of shipping, then we've shipped what was meant.
Below is a report of the building and shipping of the books.
The following will not concern you if you're French, if you've not ordered something physical, if you have never heard of 7Fables, or if you have died since this project began.
DOWNLOAD A PDF!
First, for the unedited and linear version of the first edition of this book, hie thee to: http://markmeadows.com/books/100facts/7fables_screen.pdf
This is the PDF of the book that was shipped last week. 55 copies were made and that's all that will ever be made (I have 4 left). The interactive version will have different characters, stories, names, and some difference in places. Download it if you like, and didn't ordered a printed copy. And if you want a print-resolution version, let me know. Oh, and there were 100 editions of the print made, and I have some 20 or so of those.
SI VOUS ETE FRANCAIS !
Votre édition des 7Fables sera traduite et envoyée cet été ... aprés j'avais fais toutes les erreurs possible en francais. . Merci pour votre patience. C'est un tirage spécial.
OK, WE NOW RETURN TO . . .
If you want something glossy and manufactured go to Barnes & Nobles. You can find other books I've published there. 7Fables, however, was a family scene.. (that's mom, below).

Ok, Hello from offshore Nicaragua, and the navigation table of my sailboat, Blue Goose. Last week I was back in Colorado, and I'm proud to say that we shipped our physical goods, or at least the English edition. There was mayhem and much coffee poured down my throat, but thanks to the hardened help of my hold-fast family, this project got sent off.
You should, this week, get all postcards and books and posters and whatnot and I hope you like them. Please let me know how I did. I am sure I made at least three mistakes, and one of them is estimating only three. So let me know.
This started with the concept of the 7F Brand.

A branding exercise of the most western degree, Bob Shanks, who grew up on a ranch and was branding cattle as a kid got us rolling on this and even finished the job without me as I was trying to hold conference calls on Artificial Intelligence development with co-workers in Florence, London, and Geneva (yes, we now have a company toddling along, but that is to come in another update). Bob's a great brander (he's the guy with the bluejean jacket and hair):



The covers got finished and despite what appeared to be a fatal warping we put them under anvils for a few days and kept them flat. That worked well. Meanwhile, Mom,

aka Sally Meadows-Shanks, helped me pick and then cut the muslin we used in the books and went with me as we had the poster, postcards, and pages printed out.

Alison "GG" Moore soon joined the bailout and lent a patient and important hand with the assembly...


Each book was a hand-made build of laying the thing out, inserting the cloth and pages, and signing it. Bob inserted the leather straps in the binding, then we flattened them again. Even the Estimable Mr Heim got in on the action, putting his back to out in the garage behind the house.

Finally, after a signing or two, it started to look like a real book.


Then we stuck it all in envelopes and while I was on a plane bound for San Francisco (for yet more conversations on artificial intelligence development that have sprung from this project), Sally and GG heroically got these things in the mail and off to you.

If there was something you wanted that did not arrive, or something you expected which didn't appear, please tell me. I'll be doing another wave of shipping in a few months and can do any clean-up, improvements or guarantee fulfillment once this first ship is entirely bailed and dry.
And in other news, I will keep you posted as the app itself develops. . .
With thanks and appreciation to friends and family and all of you that have helped make this so far, and with more to come,
- MSM
Update #16: March - Still tacking, but the coast is in-sight!
Update #15: January 1st: Tacking upwind, gradually getting closer
Update #14: November 1st: 7 interactive interactive fables, 1 conversational character.
144
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$16,402
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Funding Successful
This project successfully raised its funding goal on July 2, 2011.
Pledge $5 or more Pledge $5 or more
For this amount you get a gift code for two (2) copies of the app when it's released and a PDF of the book (which you can print, copy, edit, share). A ceremonial drum shall be struck, once.
Pledge $10 or more Pledge $10 or more
Ten dollars wins you the PDF of the book, and a gift code for three (3) copies of the app. A moment of appreciative drumming will be done, but privately.
Pledge $15 or more Pledge $15 or more
Fifteen dollars wins you a gift code for three (3) copies of the app, the PDF of the book, and a chance to tell us how to improve it during a pre-release beta review. Two moments of appreciative drumming will be done, but still privately.
Pledge $20 or more Pledge $20 or more
With twenty dollars you receive a gift code for three (3) copies of the app, the PDF of the book, beta review membership, and an explanatory video of how the pencils, inks, watercolors, photos, and final animation process all fit together. Three moments of appreciative drumming are performed, with accompaniment by one swamp frog.
Pledge $25 or more Pledge $25 or more
Real-world goodies begin appearing in your mailbox! For this level of support you receive two blank postcards (illustrations from the book) to use as you see fit. But probably well before that appears, in your email, you'll get the PDF of the finished book and gift code for three (3) copies of the app so you can give it away as gifts to dear friends and total strangers. We will begin some singing and the drumming may last for several moments, and at sunset.
Pledge $35 or more Pledge $35 or more
WOOD MEDAL AWARD! More goodies in your mailbox! For this level of support you receive four blank postcards (all from the book), and a little surprise that will delight and horrify. But probably well before that appears, in your email, you'll get the PDF of the finished book and gift code for four (4) copies of the app when it's out. A pituitary dwarf and his mule will join in the singing and the drumming.
Pledge $45 or more Pledge $45 or more
COPPER MEDAL - Poster + Other Goodies: This solid pledge awards you a poster (a print of your choice of the illustrations from the book), sent to any terrestrial address in our high-class pre-industrial water-proof card-board tubes. With it comes the two postcards, also illustrations from the book, and in your email you shall find the PDF, and five (5) giftcodes of the app when it's released. Drumming is now accompanied with lively chanting, and it is done with other celebrants - mostly woodland creatures. Thank you!
Pledge $75 or more Pledge $75 or more
BRONZE MEDAL - A Signed Print + Other Goodies: This advanced level of admirable performance allows you to choose a signed print from the book, sent in a super-luxury cardboard tube via registered mail to your favorite address anywhere on planet earth. We'll also add into that box a few thank-you postcards just after we email you the PDF and ten (10) gift codes to reflect your generosity. Offerings and chants will be made to the gods in your name (of course with drumming), and we'll probably burn something that's nearby.
Pledge $150 or more Pledge $150 or more
MERCURY MEDAL - A Signed Book + Other Goodies: This admirable level of advanced performance brings you a signed copy of the book, all seven fables in bound edition. We'll also add into that box the little thank-you postcards, and we'll email you the PDF and ten (10) gift codes to share with your friends. Here we give up singing and beating of drums, for praises of your support shall be passed to the birds to sing themselves.
Pledge $250 or more Pledge $250 or more
SILVER MEDAL - A Signed Book + A Poster + Other Goodies: Such esteemed achievers earn themselves not only a signed edition of the leather-bound book but also a poster of their choosing from this book. Your patronage cultivates other fruit, such as the PDF and ten (10) gift codes of the app, but more than this it cultivates the advanced pace of drumming, singing, and chanting, by both birds and humans (and the dwarf), as we set larger things on fire.
Pledge $500 or more Pledge $500 or more
GOLD MEDAL #1 - A Signed Book + Sponsor Credit + a custom iPad case + Other Goodies. A backer of such strong abilities needs their name engraved in the hallowed halls! You receive a signed book, your name in the app as a supporting sponsor, and a custom-leather case for your iPad (let us know if we are to add your name to it!). You also receive several post-cards, the ten (10) gift codes, and the PDF you can share to show others of the work you helped produce. The insects and birds of the field pick up their tiny drums to accompany the singing and praises.
Pledge $500 or more Pledge $500 or more
GOLD MEDAL #2 - A Signed Book + A Unique Print + Other Goodies: Those who have exhibited such outstanding achievements in this field receive both a signed edition of the leather-bound book as well as a signed and unique print. Astonish friends and relatives with the ten (10) gift codes, the PDF you can share, and several post-cards you can use at your rampant disposal. Your name shall be engraved in the next available rainbow and your praises sung from the ramparts by all the birds and insects of the field.
Pledge $550 or more Pledge $550 or more
GOLD MEDAL #3 - A Clay Doll + A Creepy Belt + Other Goodies: But perhaps you are not interested in such floppy paperwork as books and prints, but prefer more robust items like a figurine of one of the characters (hand-sculpted and painted by the author) plus a hand-carved leather belt with the characters dancing upon its shiny length. (*Belt buckle not included. *All clay models are under eighteen years of age.) We'll also add into that shipment the thank-you postcard and we'll promptly email you the PDF and ten (10) gift codes to share with your friends. Should you so desire, small animals will be sacrificed in your honor (but quietly, quickly, and painlessly). All sacrifices sanitized for your protection.
Pledge $750 or more Pledge $750 or more
PLATINUM MEDAL - A Sailing Adventure + A Customized Edition of the Book + Other Goodies: Extra-curricular excellence deserves extra-curricular activities! First, come sailing with us. Visit a jungle island (in Central America) for three days and we'll provide all food, drink, bed, adventure, and sunscreen. Second, the donor of this level receives a signed edition of the book with a new chapter in which you name a character making this book a unique one-of-a-kind object. You may suggest what to do with that character in the story and I may most likely follow that suggestion (please note that fables harbor not mundane voyages nor unimaginative vessels). The leather-bound book is then printed, signed and shipped, along with the unique and signed print, preceded, as you may expect, only by the email flock of the PDF and the ten (10) gift codes to share with your friends, strangers, and unsuspecting colleagues. Campfire dancing and singing, of course, immediately ensues, now with small animals, birds, and the bugs we have previously solicited. Some rainbows not included.
Pledge $1,500 or more Pledge $1,500 or more
RHODIUM-TITANIUM MEDAL WITH LITHIUM BATTERY - A Sailing Adventure + An iPad + An Original Watercolor, A Signed Book + Other Goodies: Clearly only for the super-human of supporters, you will be invited to sail with us to a Costa Rican, Panamanian, or Nicaraguan island for three days, conveniences, necessities and adventures included (Pirates limited only to participating shores). You will also receive an iPAD 2 (WiFi + 3G, 32g, black or white) in a leather-bound case made by the author. With it you will receive the leather-bound book, signed, and in it will find one of the original watercolors from the book enclosed. These things will be collected into a varnished wooden box which will make a handsome addition next to the other awards and trophies you surely have collected through your remarkable life. Shortly after you receive postcards, the PDF, and as many gift codes as you can use, you might find angels camping on the roof of your house and faieries camping on your lawn, cavorting with birds and toads of all sorts, because your patronage will be legendary and the hot topic of gossip through all the kingdom.
Project By
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I'm an author, illustrator, inventor, and sailor. I've published books, exhibited paintings, developed technologies, started companies, and though I'm able to leap buildings with a single bound it's only because my wallet is so empty it serves as a kind of super-powered levitation balloon. And ...
I'm conjoined to Sean Brunwin. Sean has over twenty years' experience in design and development of database, content management, internet presence, and knowledge engineering solutions for more industries than you can point a cursor at. He lives in a jungle laboratory with a roommate named Dr. Moreau.
Sean and myself are co-conjoined to Michelle Borok, Anne Horowitz, Maribeth Back, and Robyn Ewing.
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Je suis un auteur, un illustrateur, et un marin. J'ai publié des livres, exposé mes peintures, développé des technologies, lancé diverses entreprises et malgré le fait que je garde dans mon placard ma cape de superman me donnant le superpouvoir d'enjamber les immeubles en un saut, c'est seulement parce que mon portefeuille est vide qu'il me sert de ballon de lévitation. Et ...
J'ai été rejoint par Sean Brunwin. Sean a un peu plus de 20 ans d'expérience dans la conception et le développement de bases de données, et la gestion de contenu. IL connait les solutions d'ingénierie pour plus d'industries que vous pourriez pointer au curseur. Il habite dans la jungle des laboratoires avec un colocataire nommé le Dr Moreau.
Sean et moi avons à notre tour été rejoints par Michelle Borok, Anne Horowitz, Maribeth Back, et Robyn Ewing.
Wow! Everything looks amazing Mark! I'm so excited and can't wait to have the book! I know my niece will absolutely love it and treasure it! It will be passed down through the generations!! :-D
The books look absolutely gorgeous -- kudos to everyone who had a hand in creating them! I'll be watching my mail like a hawk!
I received mine and its beautiful. What a treasure!