Hellooo Everyone!

We're deep in the editing weeds because someone (definitely couldn't be me) managed to make The Wanderer's Bookshop a fair bit bigger than planned... It's not totally ridiculous, but we still want to make sure it's right, we're going to continue working on the edits until we're happy with it, so we've slightly extended that part of the timeline. Then we can go into layout magic.

Survey's have been out since the begining of the month, along with the pre-order being open. 92% of you have filled out your surveys which is fantastic!

If you have yet to fill out your survey, especially if you are a Bookshop Patron, please do so as soon as possible. Your quotes are being put in to the game whilst we're going through the editing process. If you can't fill out your survey for any reason please drop me an email with your literary quote (Johnsonofair(at)outlook.com).

Otherwise work proceeds on! 

Hi Everyone, 

It's been a busy few weeks, I've been finishing writing behind the scenes so that all the extra sections can go into editing. There have been a couple of planning meetings and we've got a good structure going forward. 

• The notebook cover has been commissioned from Ramona and I've communicated with both Joshua and Alex. 

• The Wandering Tome Pin is finalised (who knew I could be so picky about a key).

•  I've designed a few versions of the Book List sheets so it's time to get your votes in on the Backer Only Poll to let me know your preference for what gets printed.  All the designs will be included as digital printables for anyone getting the physical notepad, so you can continue to use them long after your notepad is finished. The two most popular designs will be available in the pledge manager as a printable add on for everyone else.

I've also completed an ashcan version Charm The Ferryman, so everyone that backed the small games bundle during the campaign will get a playtest copy of it along with your games bundle (emailed after you've completed your survey). I took it with me to Groundhog Play this past weekend for playtesting, and it's had a bit of an overhaul since then, so I'm interested to hear what you think. Then after any further revisions post more playtesting, it will be laid out by Grace Gittel Lewis, whose style is perfect for the silly underworld romp the game is. 

Surveys will go out at the start of April once the poll is over, though smoke tests will be incoming this Friday. When surveys go out to everyone, the Pre-Order store will also open, so if you know anyone that missed out, they'll be able to pick up a copy.

That's pretty much it for now, I've got some mysteries to plan and guest writers to commission, so get voting and i'll catch you in April!

Hi Everyone!

We've funded and over the next 14 days or so BackerKit will be charging and processing the funds for the Campaign. There are some failed charges, which BackerKit will email you about if this has occured with your pledge, you will have, I think, until next week to double check and correct this.

Now continues/begins the next steps to fulfillment. I've put together a rough timeline. open image in new tab to enlarge.

Things are subjects to change in that they might be completed earlier or later, but this is the current plan which builds in a bit of buffer either way. As you know a first draft is already with Brent (Our Fabulous Editor) and some playtesting copies containing the core game are out too. There will be some revisions based on incoming feedback this week and a more complete playtesting copy will go out to Bookshop Patrons later in the month along with their special survey.  Designs are being done and finalised for the extras and I've reached out to get started on the art for The Curators Notebook. The next time you'll hear from me is when funds are received and surveys are ready to go out towards the middle/ end of this month.

We didn't quite meet all of our community goals. However I will collate a plain text book list of the recommendations given with the cards and prompts for them, so if you want to still add your recommendations to the resource, please do. This is likely something I will do in May. We were super close to the Independent Bookshop goal, so i'll also include a plain text list of those and if I have spare time I will pick a few to create map fragments from.

So much appreciation for you all!

Lola

p.s. If you are in the UK and feel like travelling to Glasgow later this month for the Inaugural Groundhog Play, sign ups are open for another week for this free Playtesting Convention.
Groundhog Play Info

Hi Everyone!

We're in the last seven hours of the campaign, and I can't say enough how much I appreciate and am grateful for your support. Getting to create something that speaks from my heart to yours and to work with others to create something truly beautiful is everything to me. I hope that you get as much joy from playing it as I do from writing it, collaborating and reading books.

Join the discussions to help us unlock more things, we're over halfway to shouting out 30 Independent Bookshops and I have to add some shout outs for the shops that were willing to chat to me and inspired and supported my research.  The Book Nook and Category Is in Glasgow, Common Press and New Beacon books in London, Books & Books in Florida and a tiny little secondhand bookshop in France whose name I don't remember (it was half my lifetime ago) but the magical paved path that wended it's way through the bookshelves will stick with me forever.

I've drawn three new cards for book prompts, so share a book from your collection you feel aligns with the prompts and help us build a community resource of extra prompts and recommendations.

A book that fears the unknown, A book that obliterates the darkness and a book that confronts fear

Speaking of which if you're interested in hearing me ramble about books and also to check out the rest of the Weird Place stream (apologies that it didn't seem to be set up properly to view from here). See my chat here and watch the full stream here.

The Weird Place are funding Residue a Solo Survival Sci-Fi Horror TTRPG on Kickstarter about wandering endless landscapes, searching ruins, and trying to stay alive long enough to find meaning. It looks like a fantastic game and I ran to support it. Watch the stream to let Gabriel and Le tell you more about their game themselves. As well as games from so many other fantastic creators!

For an entirely different ramble on the inspirations behind The Wanderer's Bookshop check out the interview I did with Dan from The Fandomentals

For now share away and lets see if we can unlock the last Stretch Goals. We've got a little sun in Scotland (it's a bright day), that and you carry me through the rest of the day, I hope some of my joy can help carry you through yours.

Lola