The Dark Thorn by Shawn Speakman

Hey Everyone,

Another month passes and it's time to write an update. Let's get to it.

I can share that we are one step closer to the signature pages being done. An author had them for about four weeks but finally signed them, getting them sent to the next author. The author receiving them: Dyrk Ashton. He's currently working on the pages and, when he's done, they will travel to the next. Knowing Dyrk, he will find the time to finish them off pretty quickly. After Dyrk, there are FOUR more authors to sign. So we are getting close.

I also started getting the design wrapped up for the Michael J. Sullivan pendant. It's a simple enough design, as it is featured in his story, and the fine folks at Wraithmarked are helping with the production. That will be the final piece needed... other than the books arriving, of course.

When it comes to files, I received one of the two late stories that hadn't been edited yet. So just one story left! Come on, author. Come on. Once I get that final story's edits back, the story can be plugged into our already-designed file and the ebook can be created and sent out. I plan on that happening no later than November 1st. You deserve the ability to read these amazing stories. The physical books will then take several months to work their way through the printing and binding queues.

There you have it. Closer. Still not close enough. Many apologies about this taking so long. I can tell you it will be worth the money you spent, as the stories are absolutely top-notch and exciting reads!

If you have any questions, let me know!

Shawn

Hey Everyone,

It's been two months since I updated you. Sorry about that. When people started asking where an update would happen, I realized I'd been updating my Patreon and social media and NOT to the people here. As a bald man, I wear many hats and sometimes those hats get lost in the shuffle. MANY apologies about that!

Here's how things are going. I received Advance Reader Copies (ARCs) of The Dark Thorn, not just the trade paperback copies but the white-cover hardcover copies. The trade paperbacks were perfect; they were shipped with care. But the hardcovers were shipped with barely any care. And not only that, the printer placed the dust jackets on the books slightly off and then their shrink-wrap machine damaged 122/125 dust jackets on the hardcover books. After going round and round with their customer service team, I finally convinced them that this was their fault. You can see photos below.

Obviously, this set back some things. But this last Friday, I received new flat dust jackets. Now I sadly have to carve out time to wrap-by-hand these dust jackets onto the hardcovers so I can fulfill these to those people who have purchased them. I hope to do that next week once my kids are back in school after the holiday.

Right now, I'm editing stories for Grimoire: Dragonsteel Nexus 2025, the anthology that Grim Oak Press will be selling online and at Brandon Sanderon's December convention in Salt Lake City. But between stories coming in, I've been proofing the final pages for The Dark Thorn. I'm 6 chapters through and I've already changed some words for a cleaner read. I will then offer this book as a giveaway, just for fun. More news on that when done!

I'd imagine I should be done with proofing by September 10th. At which point my book designer will send me a final file of The Dark Thorn, and I'll create the ebook. I'll be sure to send that ebook out s SOON as it is done. 

On the signing front, artist Magali Villeneuve has also just returned signature pages. So now they are going to Don Maitz who I am sure will sign them quite quickly. He always does.

So things are moving. Just not as quickly as I'd like. But I do plan on being fully done with The Dark Thorn in September and all files at printer/bindery.

Let me know if I missed something here. I'm always around. And THANK YOU AGAIN!

Shawn

Hi Everyone,

It's time for an update about The Dark Thorn. I believe in one of my last updates, I shared that beta readers had finished their work and their recommendations came back to me. I had also edited those changes to make a stronger book. Since then, the copyeditor did another quick pass over it -- and found some extra edits. I completed those yesterday and turned the entire book back over to my book designer.

What does this mean? It means this morning I woke up and worked on getting estimates done for The Dark Thorn Advance Reader Copies (ARCs), both for the hardcover and the trade paperback. In short, I designed both of the editions. Now I'm waiting on the dust jacket and cover templates for those editions from the printer, I'll send those templates to my book designer, and she will complete the files for the ARCs.

I expect on Monday or Tuesday, files will go to the printer. And since it is a quick printer, I expect to have those books within two weeks. I'll ship those books out once I receive them and sign them. One major step done. For those people who ordered extra merch with the ARCs, I'll likely ship those merch too since I have it.

I'll then read the physical copy of the ARC ONE LAST TIME, to catch anything I missed. A page proof time. Should take me about a week. And then any final changes will go to my book designer and FINAL FINAL files will be done for the trade hardcover and the special editions. I'll also create the new EPUB/Ebook of The Dark Thorn at this time and get that sent out to all of you.

In other news, Magali Villeneuve has the signature pages in France and is slowly signing them. I'll have her then send them to artist Don Maitz for his signing. Then they will come back to me!

Really excited about getting all of this completed. Thank you SO MUCH for your patience. It means a lot!

In care,
Shawn Speakman

PS: The ARC cover for The Dark Thorn. I do love white ARCs!

Hi Everyone,

Just a quick update here to share that I have received all Tarot Cards. And I have received the signature pages for all editions. I'll be mailing the signature pages to artist Magali Villeneuve in France for her to sign first. Then the pages will come back to me. I'll sign them. Then they will head to artist Don Maitz in Flordia where he'll sign. Map cartographer Jared Blando will sign the Rare edition sheets. Then they will travel onward to the bindery!

When it comes to printing, that hasn't started yet. I've almost completed my re-read to fix those geographic travel timeline issues. I'm around page 350 out of 550 pages. It has required a bit of rewriting but should make for a better read. Where Richard, Deirdre and Snedeker travel will be clearer when compared against the map. I will be done with this by Monday.

If any of you want to do a beta-read on the final manuscript with all new art included in it, let me know. I request only those people who can read the book in two weeks apply. Because I want to get this thing wrapped and off to printing/binding!

All of the other merch I have in stock already. Just waiting on the books.

Thank you ALL for your patience. I think this will be a gorgeous edition to add to your collection, and it will be a much better read for it!

Onward with magic,
Shawn Speakman