I’ve been a little quiet for the last month or so, and wanted to post an update on Ready Player One and Curious King in general – so here it is!
Ready Player One
It’s still moving in the right direction and progress is good, but it’s not as far along as it should be and that’s on me. I should have produced and sent out limitation pages earlier in the process, as 5 artists across 2 continents takes some organisation!
All the art is now in hand. All of it. Mark Duffin was last on the list and despite ill health, has turned in his recreation of the Tempest Cover and it’s absolutely blown me away. It’s been painted on wood and I can’t wait to get the original framed for my office.
Peter Andrew Jones has finished his homage to Black Tiger completed in coloured pencils which again, looks immaculate. And HIro Kimura has agreed to do Joust remarque’s in the deluxe editions which I am extremely excited about as Joust was the only game not referenced in this production (but now it is!).
There are going to be a few little changes to the final book, one being the pacman from the cover is being replaced by an extra life coin and some variation in foil stamp colours on the cover, but nothing major.
The limitation pages are in the US at the moment and as soon as they are back production on the books/portfolio’s can start. Production time shouldn’t take too long as there are only 26 of these, so I am hoping for completion by the end of August.
Curious King
I keep getting asked about what is in future for CK, and it’s lovely to hear people are excited about the move to publishing. My main focus has (obviously) been RPO and ensuring that everything comes together and is up to the standard it should be, but I have been pursuing several fantasy and sci-fi titles for publishing.
Whilst I haven’t quite signed the contract yet, there is a title I am in advanced discussions with one that I’ve been wanting to get my hands on since I had the idea to start CK. These things do take time though, so it may be a little while before I am able to announce anything, but rest assured the next project will be a fine press fantasy novel.
For avoidance of confusion, the lettered owners of Ready Player One will have rights to the lettered edition of our next title.
Other bits
I was recently contacted by someone who also thought it was a good idea to do a small run of signed giclee prints of the Battle of Anorak by Francesco Lorenzetti. I’m not quite sure how many people would be receptive to that, so if it sounds of interest please drop me a note at anthony@anthonyk19.sg-host.com
And that’s all from me for now. I will of course be posting another Artist Spotlight in the next couple of weeks, with the legendary Peter Andrew Jones up next!
