The Book of Life and the Book of Death are ready for print!
over 2 years ago – Thu, Aug 04, 2022 at 12:59:29 PM

Hi everyone, hope all is well.

Just wanted to let you know that I've finally finished the proofread and final checks of the Book of Life and the Book of Death! I'm just confirming a few things with the printer, at which point it's full steam ahead on getting these monsters into production.

And on a positive note, while I generally dislike revisiting my own stories, having spent a week pouring over the entire Afterlife Inc. saga... I'm actually really proud of it. These are going to be a wonderful couple of books and I can't wait to get them out to you.

While I've got you here, I'm also happy to report that production on the commemorative coins is well under way!

Going forward, the next step will be confirming shipping and fulfilment details, so that I can send out the BackerKit surveys and provide you with access to the pledge management system.

Thanks again for all the support.

Jon

One month in - progress so far!
over 2 years ago – Mon, Jul 18, 2022 at 01:29:18 PM

Hi everyone, how are things? I just wanted to share a quick update to let you know how things are going now that the dust has finally settled on the Kickstarter campaign.

After waiting a couple of weeks for Kickstarter to collect pledges, and then the better part of another week for the funds to be transferred to my bank account, the money has now safely arrived (thanks again, by the way). We only lost a few pledges along the way so we're still well above our funding goal.

Since then, I've confirmed the design and given the go-ahead to begin production on the Afterlife Inc. commemorative coin. I'm also in discussion with my book printer as we finalise paper stock/finish and prepare the cover artwork to fit the respective templates. Aside from the colours on a few pages in the Book of Death, which may need tweaking, and final proof-reads, both books are essentially ready to print. Exciting times!

In terms of stretch goals, I'm going start work on the promised behind-the-scenes podcast soon. I've actually just quit my day job (not to live it up on Kickstarter earnings, I assure you) to go full time with my writing - which means that I'm about to have a lot more time on my hands. I look forward to filling it with work on Afterlife Inc. and sitting in a darkened room recording the sound of my own voice.

Thank you again for all the support. Will have another update for you as soon as I have more to report!

Jon

We did it. Thank you!
over 2 years ago – Fri, Jun 17, 2022 at 06:36:24 AM

We did it!

Thank you so much, you wonderful people! Incredibly, we crossed the finish line at £12,540 - that's 156% funded thanks to the generosity of 220 backers. This has honestly gone so much better than I could possibly have hoped for. Thank you for giving me the most incredible month on Kickstarter and for taking a chance on Afterlife Inc.

As is always the way, the moment the project ended this morning I had to hop on a business call (which was fun, don't get me wrong) but it meant that I wasn't able to bask in the moment. Anyhow, it's all done now. I'm back. Sorry for not posting a thank you message in the heat of the moment!

So, what happens next?

Processing and admin and junk

Kickstarter now enters its mandatory two-week period in which it collects payments, and processes admin fees and taxes etc. Once this is over the funds will be transferred to me and production can start on the books.

Printing!

Already in discussion with the printers about paper finish and bindings and all the fun stuff that comes with manufacturing hardbacks.

BackerKit pre-order store and pledge manager

I'm currently setting up the BackerKit pledge manager, which will (as the name suggests) allow you to manage your rewards and add-ons. This will also allow anyone who missed the Kickstarter to add late pledges to the project between now and production being finalised.

Collapse

It's been a big month, even with your incredible support, so I may well just take a day or so to collapse and rest a bit before diving back into things. Conversations with the printer are still underway, however, so it won't be slacking off completely :)

Thank you

I've said it before but I'll say it again: thank you. It's been a big decade, both for Afterlife Inc. and me personally. For about as long as I've been out in the world, working and exerting some control over my life, I've been working on Afterlife Inc. The story of Jack Fortune and Co. is also the story of me, as a creator, trying to make sense of the world and my place in it. The two are inescapable intertwined.

Thank you for joining me on this journey. Thank you for your support of Afterlife Inc.

I can't wait to get some amazing rewards into your hands - and to find out what the next 10 years bring.

Jon

Last 40 hours - and 139% funded!
over 2 years ago – Tue, Jun 14, 2022 at 10:44:13 AM

Hey everyone, hope all is well!

Flipping heck, that's been an exciting couple of days, eh? A big hello to everyone who's joined the project of late, taking us to an incredible 139% funded at time of writing (and, of course, hello also to all existing backers - you too are amazing).

Even with only 40 hours left on the clock, we're perilously close to our next stretch goal (the behind-the-scenes podcast series) and the 200-backer mark. There's something in the air, I think... who knows what will happen.

While I've got you here, I just wanted to give another shout out to a project that Gav Mitchell (Afterlife Inc. artist extraordinaire) has running at present: The Final Curtain: A Spatchcock Mystery. This isn't an official promo or anything like that. I'm just a big fan of Gav's artwork and sense of humour (I'm a backer myself) and it's great to see how well the project is doing. Why not check out Spatchcock at the link below - particularly if you're a fan of good old-fashioned murder mysteries. Murder, She Wrote, anyone?

Check out Spatchcock on Kickstarter

Thanks again, folks, for the moist incredible month on Kickstarter. Here's to the final stretch!

Jon

132% funded - a super quick update!
over 2 years ago – Sat, Jun 11, 2022 at 09:23:51 PM

Hi everyone, hope all is well.

Just a quick update this time as I'm feeling sick as a dog with hay-fever and my brain isn't functioning especially well. You'd think that I'd be used to the British countryside, what with having lived here my entire life, but no - every year the same nightmare.

So while I hide inside and try to stop my face burning up, I just wanted to say thank you to you all (including our new arrivals) for taking us to 132% funded! It's been an amazing few days and I'm incredibly grateful for your support and generosity. This is the final stretch, so who knows what awaits...

Livestream

I'm looking into organising another livestream to mark the end of the campaign next week. I'll be sure to post details once confirmed and I hope you'll join us as we see off this month on Kickstarter in style.

Sonic the Comic the Podcast

A new podcast appearance! I'm a guest on the latest episode of Sonic the Comic the Podcast, which dives into the history of the UK's very own licensed Sonic the Hedgehog comic issue by issue. STC was incredibly influential on the UK comics scene - you'd be hard-pressed to find a (middle-aged) creator active today who didn't read it in some capacity - and it's the reason I wanted to write comics as a kid.

Heck, it's how I discovered that comics actually had writers!

If you'd like to check out the episode you can do so (for free) at the link below. Massive thanks to regular hosts Dave and Chris for letting me join the discussion about a pivotal part of my childhood - while also shouting about Afterlife Inc.

Listen to Sonic the Comic the Podcast

A Jack for all seasons

Please enjoy a Jack Fortune from every cover, story and bonus comic of the main Afterlife Inc. series (not including pin-ups, promotional materials or guest appearances in other books). It's weird to see a decade of your life flash before your eyes but I suppose the GIF is truly the ultimate medium of artistic expression. 

Thanks again, everyone. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go lie down for a bit.

Jon

TL;DR hay-fever is awful but you're all amazing. Thank you.