Simone & Ajax has gone to the printer!!!
over 2 years ago
– Thu, Jun 30, 2022 at 02:52:10 PM
Yesterday, finally, after 2 years of working on it, my first self-published book, "The Adventures of Simone & Ajax: Lemmings and Tigers and Bears! Oh, My!" went to the printer. It's been quite the journey, and struggle to get here, but it's actually happening. I'm so grateful to the partners, friends, collaborators, advisors, supporters, and all you backers who have made this possible. I love making comics, and there are no comics I like making more than Simone & Ajax. I've worked on some great comics in my career, but this is the one I'm most proud of. I've learned a lot of self-publishing lessons the hard way, but hopefully, lessons learned, this is just the first of many books to come!
Backers, watch your messages/email or for the backer-only update to get your download links for the complete PDF of the book.
For those of you who backed a physical book, that will follow as soon as I get it back from the printer. I'd like to say 3 months, but, with worldwide paper shortages and shipping issues, it's hard to say, but I'll keep you updated. Thanks for your continued support!
And don't forget to follow Simone & Ajax's new Instagram page @simoneandajax
Yours in adventure,
Andrew
Final Cover Art! S&A on Instagram! Keychains! And more!
over 2 years ago
– Thu, Jun 23, 2022 at 08:01:00 AM
This just in from the book designer! The final book cover... front, back, and spine!
Yes, despite Covid, despite another bug getting him right after that, the book designer has been hard at work, and I wanted you backers to be the first to see this before I post it online. The rest of the book is just about ready to go, so, fingers crossed, it will go to the printer next week.
More news! Simone & Ajax are now on Instagram, so please follow them at @simoneandajax.
And the keychains are made! 25 random physical backers who pledged before the keychain deadline during the Kickstarter campaign will get one of these Cowboy Ajax keychains with their book.
Lastly, don't forget to stop by and say hi at one of the upcoming cons Simone & Ajax and I will be at this year:
HeroesCon (Charlotte, NC) June 24-25, Table 1452
FanExpo Chicago (formerly Wizard World Chicago and Chicago Comic-Con) July 7-9
San Diego Comic-Con (aka Comic-Con International) July 20-24, table P-12
C2E2 (Chicago) August 5-7
I'll also be at the Cincinnati, New York, Baltimore, and Grand Rapids Comic-Cons later in the year.
I'll be back to let you know when it's truly off to the printer, along with your download link for the full PDF.
Thanks for holding on for this book!
Yours in adventure, Andrew
Simone & Ajax are on the road!
over 2 years ago
– Fri, Jun 10, 2022 at 05:50:43 AM
Hi, Everyone!
Everything for the Simone & Ajax book is now in the hands of the book designer. It took a little longer to get all the little bits, like barcodes, ISBN numbers, and little design files to him, but he has them. But he has Covid! Hopefully this week he'll be back to work on everything. I've been in touch with the printer and have her standing by as soon as the final book file is ready. Once that happens I'll also get you all the complete PDF of the book, including covers, extras, and everything, including Plague Doctor Ajax, and, once printed, the actual book.
I'll be starting on my next project, Phantastes, for Cave Pictures Publishing, but I'll also be getting to work on all the commissions, for those of you that ordered them, so they're ready to go once the books arrive. Once I have a good ETA on that I'll remind you all to update your shipping addresses, if need be, on BackerKit (with instructions on how to do so).
Simone & Ajax and I are on the road this summer. I held off on cons this year until the book was as set as it could be, but here's my summer schedule:
HeroesCon (Charlotte, NC) June 24-25
FanExpo Chicago (formerly Wizard World Chicago and Chicago Comic-Con) July 7-9
San Diego Comic-Con (aka Comic-Con International) July 20-24, table P-12
C2E2 (Chicago) August 5-7
I'll also be at the Cincinnati, New York, Baltimore, and Grand Rapids Comic-Cons later in the year.
I'll be back to let you know when it's truly off to the printer, along with your download link for the full PDF.
Thanks for holding on for this book!
Yours in adventure, Andrew
Simone & Ajax Cover Reveal! And more!
over 2 years ago
– Wed, May 11, 2022 at 10:16:48 PM
Hi, Everyone!
Well, here in Chicago we've gone from late winter straight into summer, bypassing spring. At least that's what my weather app tells me, because I've mostly been inside working on the Simone & Ajax book. Two big pieces of news this time:
1. Last night I sent off to colorist Jason Millet the last bits of new art I need to draw for the book, the prints and chapter title pages. I'll preview those as soon as they're colored and ready.
2. The front cover is now painted and has been sent to book designer Marshall Dillon. And here's the Cover Art!!!
Marshall will do his magic to add the logo and other text.
Marshall will also be working on designing the extras section as I finish getting him the various bonus Simone & Ajax art and such. So it's almost done! I'll be back soon with more news! Thanks for your support through this project!
Yours in Adventure, Andrew
New Simone & Ajax in your Inbox!
almost 3 years ago
– Tue, Apr 26, 2022 at 04:13:52 PM
Hi! I've had a couple requests for an update. I held off a few days until I had some great news for you all (and caught up after getting over Covid). What you see here is a big stack of over 100 pages of all 4 finished stories:
Yes! All the story pages are now done and colored, as well!
This means that you all should have received an email with a download link to get the 4th digital issue of Simone & Ajax. Now you can read the whole story! If you didn't see the email, please sign in on Kickstarter and check your messages, and you'll find it there, too.
I'm currently working on the cover painting, and here's a sneak-peek at the sketch for it:
I'll reveal the final cover in the next update. Still to do is the art for the prints, getting together the extras for the book, and a few final details, but it's finally almost there. I've gotten many notes of support and not one complaint, and I truly appreciate that. Thanks for sticking with me through Covid and other illnesses and a huge learning curve and all the bumps along the way to do my first self-published book. I'll be back soon with more news as this finally heads off to the printer!
Before I go, one of my Kickstarter idols, Gisele Lagace, has a new campaign up for The Art of Menage a 3. I hope you'll check it out and back the book. You can also add many of her past projects. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/pixietrixcomix/the-art-of-menage-a-3
Yours in nearly-done adventure, Andrew
