I will be receiving the first shipment of books today, Tuesday 11 June.

Yesterday afternoon, the printing manager at Calverts*, Oz, telephoned to confirm that the books were ready. Hearing how impatient I was to see a book, she really kindly hopped on her bike and cycled across London where I was waiting for her with a couple of pints of beer and some chilli puffs. What service! Nervously I unwrapped it and leafed through the crisp new pages relieved to find that it looks great! I am excited about shipping the several hundred pre-ordered books at the weekend.

Photographs of the first copy are below.  Backers will be receiving theirs next week, providing they have answered a survey or emailed their address. Those anticipating prints and original drawings, please be aware that these will be available in just a few more weeks.

If you have a moment, please 'like' the facebook page to help me publicise the book and sell the limited number of extra copies.

There is also a website through which you can follow Will and Dot news or order further books and prints if you so desire. willanddot.com

Thank you!

Adam

*Calverts is one of the few REAL printers left in London. Our printing industry is in decline due to internet domination and cheaper prices overseas.  TERRIFIC TREEHOUSE is deliberately made in Britain because I think it leads to better quality and is more sustainable to manufacture locally. Visit Calverts website: they print beautiful things.

Dear Backer 

 **** IMPORTANT– So that I can fulfill your rewards, please respond to any Kickstarter emails that you have already received or, if you are expecting prints, an email that you will receive shortly. This is to provide me with your postal address and other information. Thank you to those who have already done this. ****** 

I am extremely pleased to report that the writing, illustrating, editing and proofing is complete. This week I will watch as the printing press whirs into action. After all of the printing is complete, the spreads will be folded, bound and chopped. Because of the amazing level of funding available, the book will be hardback: the best result I could have hoped for. I can't wait for you to receive the final article.

Those who selected rewards involving signed, numbered prints can now choose from the selection below. These are coded A to E so take note of which one(s) you would like. Then, please watch out for emails arriving from Kickstarter shortly, and respond before 7th June 2013 to ensure you get the one(s) you want. If you did not order a print and would like one, or know somebody who wanted to pre-order a book but missed the opportunity, the website now links to an online shop: willanddot.com. Please note that only a modest quantity of extra copies will be available. 

 Thank you for your ongoing support. 

 Adam

I was AMAZED to see the £8000 target met yesterday with a surge of last minute support. The total continues to rise beyond all expectation.  Target 4 is unlikely to be hit, but it was very ambitious. The funding available for the project is far greater than I originally imagined and more than adequate so I am really happy and excited!  Thank you everyone

At midnight the campaign ends and no more pledges can be made.  The final sum will be celebrated over a glass of champagne in a pub in West London and tomorrow morning I will wake with a thumping headache and the excitement of being able to move fully into the production phase of the project.

IMPORTANT NOTE - Shortly after the campaign ends, backers will receive a questionnaire by email asking for any details needed to fulfil rewards such as delivery addresses and any personalised information for those who have requested names or messages. Please rely on this method rather than individual messages or emails otherwise information could be mislaid through sheer volume. If you have already emailed with such information, thank you, but if you could respond to the questionnaire also I would be very grateful.

Over the course of the campaign I have continued the writing and illustration. I released Draft 1 to my editor, who responded with really helpful guidance about story structure and character development.  She will be receiving Draft 2 in the next couple of days. Draft 3 will be handled by a reading agency who are experts at providing guidance to children's authors. Hopefully their suggestions will lead to refinements rather than complete re-drafting! In parallel with the next two edits my print designer and I will enter detailed discussions with printers. With funding in place they will not only take us more seriously, but we can decide accurately the quantity we will be printing and the materials and quality the project can afford.

The aim is to go to print in March and distribute in April. My girlfriend is looking forward to being restored to normal levels of attention from then onwards... There will be a small surplus of books which will be for sale or promotional usage. Next, I'll turn my attention to story number two - Will and Dot's Incredible Igloo -- hopefully available for Christmas 2013.

Happy New Year all!

Adam

Great news!  

Will and Dot's Tree House has now met it's first stretch goal!  Thrilled - THANK YOU ALL. The next useful milestone is £8000... so let's just see.  As I am sure may be the case for you, my day job has been manic over the last few weeks so I'm really looking forward to the Christmas break to get on with more drawings and editing for Will and Dot.

Some curious statistics for you:

1,137

The number of times the launch video has been watched

1st

The book was the first children's book in the world to exceed minimum funding in pounds sterling. Cool huh?

53

The number of inkjet cartridges my mother has expended in home printing THIS Christmas Treehouse decoration kit to scatter around local shops, homes and art classes.  She is Worcestershire's most prolific fly-poster. What a legend.

9

The number of confirmed, Will and Dot Treehouses in the world. One was made by a young chap called Marcus at 7am(!) last Sunday morning. His mum must really like me... The remaining eight that I know of were made by flatmate and I and are now installed in our Christmas tree - see photo above.  My father is still debating whether or not superglue is good enough or whether epoxy resin might be needed (glue stick is fine by the way). Please do make at least one for your tree and send me your photographs when you do!  A gallery will be posted online.

Thanks again, keep spreading the word and have a safe advent. x