The Aftermath
As you all may have guessed from my radio silence these past two weeks, things have been beyond hectic here at True Believer Headquarters, but now, at long last, I have a few moments to sit down and let you all know how things are going. Be warned, a lot has happened, so this is a pretty beefy update. (Unfortunately my beloved video update fell by the wayside last week as I struggled to mail as many rewards as possible before leaving for Canada to table at VanCAF, so it's back to good old words and pictures in this installment.)
So, let's travel back in time to May 14th, when my parents arrived from California to watch the final countdown on the campaign and my graduation from college. From the Department of Visual Proof, here's me showering the President with confetti made from carefully dissected pages of my thesis.
"But Lucy," I hear you cry. "How can you have time for graduating when there are COMICS TO BE MAILED?!" You're right. Of course. Immediately following the celebrations, we got down to business. My crack team of assistants (See: both parents and the inimitable Ryan Dirks) joined me in an epic journey to Gann Brothers Printing, the Pearl District's oldest print shop, where Mike Gann was kind enough to help us out binding the special edition comics.
With so many pairs of hands on the job, the work flew by. You can see Mike scoring the covers, The Team folding them, and yours truly operating the mechanical staple machineydinger (I'm great with terminology). Mike did a final press on the comics so they stopped ballooning all over the place, and there we rested for the day.
The next step? Addressing 333 envelopes to backers all over the world. To put that in perspective, here's a picture of about 25.
My living room is basically a war zone.
I also spent a few hours knocking out all the drawn-on postcards for lower level backers. Here's a smattering of those:
After a couple days of grueling addressing, signing, sketching, and stamping, we ran the first 100 envelopes off to the Post Office.
And then, because everyone needs a break now and again, I went to CANADA!
To put it mildly, VanCAF was AMAZING.
Not only did I get to hang out with some incredible fellow cartoonists (check out Tony Cliff, Katie & Shaggy Shanahan, Sam Alden, and Rebecca Dart!), I also got to meet over 2,000 Canadian comics fans. I sold every single copy of True Believer, Baggywrinkles 1 & 2, and Tales from the Fragment, handed out hundreds of business cards, and got to explore beautiful Vancouver to boot!
I arrived back at 2am Tuesday morning and I'm already drumming my fingers in anticipation for next year's show.
So where does that leave us now? I'm diving right back into the great Order Fulfillment Marathon and reprinting True Believer! I know my estimated delivery date for most people's rewards was the end of May, but of course I didn't realize how successful this thing was going to be and, therefore, how many orders I'd have to ship.
If you ordered a regular copy of the comic, I'm afraid there's going to be slight delay while the reprint goes through. Probably looking at two weeks. I really appreciate everyone's patience and want you all to know that I'm hustling as fast as I can to get this thing into your hands.
Those of you who ordered limited edition comics will be receiving those soon. Sketched-in versions are slowly trickling out the door, so keep your eyes peeled.
To put things in perspective, here's a visualization of where I'm at with all the rewards:
This graph will keep updating over the next few weeks. You can check out the live figures here on Google Docs and cheer me on as I continue to slog through this mess. We've cleared the two week mark, so Amazon has released the funds from the campaign to my account, which means I actually have money to pay for all this shipping now! Hooray!
If you've already received your comic, I'd love to see a picture of you with it! You can email me, share them on Twitter or Tumblr, or post them to the Facebook Fan Page.
On that note, I wanted to mention something about the production process: My original goal was to color the comic with a range of tones, creating something that looked closer to the normal conception of "full color." Due to deadlines back during the first printing process, I decided to limit myself to working with Indigo watercolor, which led to the monochromatic look you see on the preview pages from the campaign. When the campaign was so insanely successful, I had to stop and wonder whether to put time and energy into re-coloring the story with a full spectrum approach. Ultimately, I decided to leave the story as-was and devote my efforts to making newer, better comics. This has been nagging at me for a while, since I worry that some of you will be distressed to find only one color of the spectrum represented in your print copies, but I want you all to know that you've enabled the creation of new stories that will take full advantage of the color spectrum.
Phew!
I think that brings you all up to speed on what's been going on around here. Once again, I am so grateful to every single one of you for making this thing happen. Even in the depths of postal despair, when my hand aches from the 80th signature of the day and my eyes cross from trying to keep track of all my spreadsheets, I'm inspired and invigorated by the knowledge that you're all behind me every step of the way.
Onward and upward!
Love,
Lucy
333
Backers
$11,658
pledged of $1,500 goal
0
seconds to go
Funding period
Apr 23, 2012 -
May 14, 2012
(21 days)
- First created · 21 backed
- Lucy Bellwood 714 friends
- Website: lucybellwood.com
Pledge $1 or more
2 backers
My eternal gratitude and a shout-out on my site, lucybellwood.com!
Estimated delivery: May 2012Pledge $3 or more
14 backers
A hand-written True Believer postcard delivered to you via the magic of the postal system! Want to hear about life as a cartoonist? Perhaps enjoy some spontaneous haiku? Maybe even receive a mystery doodle? This one's for you.
Estimated delivery: May 2012Pledge $5 or more
0 backers
Access to the Backers-Only Process Blog that I'll be updating as I plan, draw, and print Baggywrinkles #3 and Wherefore. Go behind the scenes through the whole process, from scripting to publication design. It promises to be a wild ride.
Estimated delivery: Jun 2012Pledge $8 or more
34 backers
A digital version of the comic, including a behind-the-scenes, backer-exclusive section featuring process sketches, excerpts from the script, and a brief essay on True Believer's creation.
Estimated delivery: May 2012Pledge $12 or more
3 backers Limited (47 of 50 left)
The Baggywrinkles Experience: All three issues of Baggywrinkles plus three shiny nautical buttons! Please note: ships as soon as BW #3 is completed, no later than August 2012. (Domestic shipping included. International orders please add $10.)
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012Pledge $15 or more
99 backers Limited (1 of 100 left)
A signed print copy of True Believer shipped to your doorstep! Also includes the digital download + bonus features. (Domestic shipping included. International Orders please add $10.)
Estimated delivery: May 2012Pledge $20 or more
50 backers All gone!
Limited edition of True Believer with two-color screen printed French flap covers by Dueltone Printing + Eberhardt Press! Shipping included. Also includes digital download + bonus features. (Domestic shipping included. International Orders please add $10.)
Estimated delivery: May 2012Pledge $25 or more
3 backers Limited (22 of 25 left)
Sketch That Ship! An ink and watercolor illustration of a sailing vessel of your choice. Barques and Brigs, Schooners and Sloops, whatever you fancy. (Domestic shipping included. International orders please add $10.)
Estimated delivery: Jun 2012Pledge $25 or more
29 backers Limited (21 of 50 left)
A small, personalized thank you sketch inside your copy of the standard print comic. Includes digital download, and bonus features. (Domestic shipping included. International Orders please add $10.)
Estimated delivery: May 2012Pledge $30 or more
2 backers
A snazzy, black "Fight for your Art" t-shirt + digital download material. Note: if you'd like a physical copy of the comic with your shirt, pledge $45 for the regular edition or $50 for the limited edition. (Includes domestic shipping. International orders please add $10.)
Estimated delivery: Jun 2012Pledge $35 or more
31 backers Limited (19 of 50 left)
A small, personalized thank you sketch inside your copy of the limited edition comic. Includes digital download, and bonus features. (Domestic shipping included. International Orders please add $10.)
Estimated delivery: May 2012Pledge $45 or more
8 backers Limited (12 of 20 left)
A limited edition copy of the comic and a 13x19" archival-quality print of a page of your choosing. Includes digital download, and bonus features. (Domestic shipping included. International Orders please add $10.)
Estimated delivery: May 2012Pledge $50 or more
25 backers All gone!
The Lucy Bellwood MegaPack™! Get a signed copy of True Believer along with all my previously-published comics. Includes Baggywrinkles 1 & 2 (with spiffy nautical buttons!), Tales from The Fragment (an adventurous foldy comic), and the never-before-published first 12 pages of Wherefore, my forthcoming graphic novel about home, belonging, and cultural heritage. (Domestic shipping included. International Orders please add $10.)
Estimated delivery: May 2012Pledge $60 or more
1 backer Limited (19 of 20 left)
A custom portrait in ink and watercolor + digital download material! Send me a photo (or, even better, photos) of yourself and receive a beautiful illustration in return. Hint: Great for gifting to grandparents. (Domestic shipping included. International Orders please add $10.)
Estimated delivery: Jun 2012Pledge $60 or more
4 backers Limited (21 of 25 left)
A signed, limited edition 9x6 color miniposter ("We Want to Fight for Our Art"), sketched-in copy of the comic (add $10 for limited edition version), digital download, and bonus features. (Domestic shipping included. International Orders please add $10.)
Estimated delivery: May 2012Pledge $80 or more
3 backers Limited (22 of 25 left)
A 5x8 custom color sketch from me, as well as a postcard, copy of the comic (add $10 for limited edition version), digital download, and bonus features. (Domestic shipping included. International Orders please add $10.)
Estimated delivery: May 2012Pledge $100 or more
6 backers Limited (4 of 10 left)
A delicious home-cooked dinner (or a meal of your choosing) in Portland with yours truly, plus a tour of my studio! Will hand-present you with a sketched-in, limited edition copy of True Believer as we talk about comics* and other awesome stuff while geeking out about work spaces and consuming delicious food. Not in Portland? Let's have a Skype date! *Note: I can also hold forth on a variety of other topics including, but not limited to, mythology, literature, traditional sailing, early British radio comedies, dancing, and knitting.
Estimated delivery: May 2012Pledge $100 or more
0 backers Limited (25 of 25 left)
Cameo appearances in upcoming comics! Send me a few photos of yourself and become a supporting character in either Baggywrinkles #3 or Wherefore! You'll receive a copy of the comic once its published along with a sketch of your character inside the front cover. Baggywrinkles cameos are likely to appear this July, while Wherefore cameos will ship in early 2013. (Domestic shipping included. International Orders please add $10.)
Estimated delivery: Jan 2013Pledge $200 or more
6 backers All gone!
A personalized 3-6 panel comic strip starring YOU! We'll collaborate to create a short strip detailing your exploits in a setting of your choice. Also includes a copy of the comic, a limited edition poster, digital download, and bonus features. (Domestic shipping included. International Orders please add $10.)
Estimated delivery: May 2012Pledge $250 or more
3 backers Limited (28 of 31 left)
An original signed page of your choosing! Pick any page from the comic and have the original inks shipped to your door. Includes a limited edition copy of True Believer. (Domestic shipping included. International Orders please add $10.)
Estimated delivery: May 2012Pledge $400 or more
2 backers Limited (3 of 5 left)
The Holy Cow I Will Love You Forever Package. Digital Download + Bonus Features + Handwritten Postcard + Signed, sketched-in copy of the limited edition comic + Limited Edition Poster + 6x9" Custom Sketch + 13x19" Print of your choosing from the comic + Personalized comic strip starring YOU! + My eternal devotion and gratitude. (Domestic shipping included. International Orders please add $15.)
Estimated delivery: May 2012
Comments
Creator Petra van Berkum on June 3, 2012
I had a great time reading the digital version, it was really a good story and the visual part is great as well, you almost made me cry there... :) I want to thank you for that, you made me rethink my motivation for making art too and that made me happy!
Creator Kodi on May 31, 2012
Received our book, it looks great!
Superb packing job, arrived pristine
Congrats on a beautiful production
Creator charlie on May 31, 2012
Take your time, though i am eager to read the book I know you have lots going on. I was going to ask if we could do a real quick run through of sketch to ink to color demo in your studio but we can discuss.
Creator Kyle H. on May 30, 2012
Woop woop!
Creator Antonia on May 30, 2012
This is FANTASTIC. Congratulations on all your success, Lucy! I can't wait to see the final product.