Thanks to the support of toy fans and readers of BattleGrip, since 2012 I have written and published nine different books about toys. These range from general interest books focused on action figure marketing and carrying cases to specialized titles dedicated to a single subject (third-party Transformers and Star Wars). Now, after many months of research and work, I am pleased to present my tenth book to the world.
Modern Army Action Figures is an 80-page, 9-inch wide by 6-inch tall full-color hardcover book that collects and comments on G.I. Joe newspaper ads of the eighties. This is similar in style to two of my other books -- Collect These Figures and Accessories and A Galaxy of Action Figure Savings -- in that the B&W ads are joined by toy photos, color catalog images, and appropriate comic panels and commercial screenshots, all in an attempt to spark memories of when A Real American Hero was new in stores.
Project Status
As of this writing, there are two pages and the cover design left to complete. All of the rest of the book is ready to go, and I have timed things so that the last pieces of the book will be wrapped up by the time that this Kickstarter project closes.
I am once again going to Taylor Printing for the book's printing and binding. Taylor has handled the printing of my other hardcovers, and I am always happy with their work. If successfully funded, Modern Army Action Figures will be professionally printed and bound and will be as attractive as all of the other books about toys that I have created so far.
Project Timing
I have arranged the schedule so that the project closes right before I set out for a business trip in mid-August, with funds reaching me late in the month. Then, the files head off to the printer with finished books arriving by the time I return from another trip in late October. If all goes as planned, finished books will mail out in early November.
Risks and challenges
As I have found in the past, the largest risk when producing one of these books is timing. I travel quite often for work, and there are times when that travel can get in the way of packing and shipping books. I have tried to time things so that I have a clear weekend to process books once they arrive, but surprises sometimes happen.
I have also discovered the best way to compete on schedule is for the book to be ready for print as soon as the Kickstarter funds reach my account. For that reason, I try to hold off on even launching a new project until the book is close to finished.
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Funding period
- (25 days)