Yes that’s right, we’re almost through the first quarter of 2025 already… How on earth did that happen? However this must mean we’re getting closer to more of Curious King’s books! Very exciting.
It’s been an absolutely mental month for me and I’m surprised I’m still standing to be quite honest. After 10 months of nonsense, I finally managed to move into the new house with my family. This has been a huge drain on my time and energy as it wasn’t straight forward in the slightest. Currently my life and business is inside of many cardboard boxes and I’m desperately trying to get the home office ready so I have one spot to run this press from.
One of the good things that came out of the house move is having one of CK’s collectors and local builder Trevor Williams do the hard work on getting our attic space gutted for the new office. So, thanks Trev! He also helped me move too, what a gent.
That aside I’ve managed to keep a hold of all the plates currently spinning and have some exciting updates for you all!
Prints
We have received the signed prints from John Anthony di Giovanni of his dustjacket art for our edition of N.K. Jemisin’s The Fifth Season! This is an awesome image depicting Castrima-under, the huge geode where a comm lives. It was a serious undertaking for John as multiple crystal surfaces cause issues when getting the lighting right. But of course, John smashed it and who doesn’t love purple right?
There are 75 signed and numbered prints sized at 16inches x 20inches (I used an American printer…) in total and have been giclee printed on 310gsm Hahnemuhle Cotton Rag. The paper is incredible and so strong and will last the test of time.
We will be releasing these on Tuesday April 1st at 20:00BST – there will be a link sent out via newsletter and on the socials. I’ll also put a banner on the front page for when it goes live so people can find it.
Price is same as TBI cover at £110 plus postage!
Before They are Hanged
Well that’s a wrap on BTAH shipping! There were a lot more moving parts in this one than previous releases, and now the dust has settled I can say that it turned out pretty well. As some people know we took the decision to use the same distributor that TBB use to try and reduce our shipping costs.
The brief was different to standard TBB releases in several ways. We employed an extended QC process before they went out, to try and head off any dings or defects before they landed with collectors. We also used a different set of packing materials to try and ensure the books stayed safe. This included a bubble bag and as much honeycomb as possible to fill the box.
I was well aware that the US subscribers of TBB have experienced issues with their boxes, which I believe is a courier issue as the UK subs have very few issues.
Overall there was only one book and slipcase that needed replacing due to postal damage, and I believe around 10 dustjackets with small dings which we are going to sort. Whilst I understand there are collectors who really don’t want to use this distributor I have enabled two shipping methods – Ludlow and the other distributor.
Not only that, I am looking into improving the interior packaging and possibly the box itself on the new distributors copies to try and strengthen further. I realise that Royal Mail shipping to the US takes quite some time, which means more movement potentially inside the box. Though it’s worth mentioning that using different boxes to the TBB ones increase the cost as I don’t get to use their bulk buying power. I will of course test out the options and price them up and see what looks best!
It’s been a real goal to try and reduce the cost of shipping these books overseas as I know these books are already expensive.
Legend
We’re about a week or so from finishing the letterpress printing of Legend! Which is really exciting as if there are no issues with the pages it can then move to the bindery to bring it all together.
The limitation pages are currently being winged across the pacific for signing to be hand tipped in by Ludlow Bookbinders.
We were also able to release the dustjacket art by the immensely talented Justin Sweet, which went down very well it seems. After sharing the image there were some comments from eagle-eyed Gemmell fans regarding the shield on Druss’ arm (Justin mused he may have picked it up while on the walls after trying to capture the pose), but it’s quite clear it’s just not something Druss did in Legend. I’m always one to listen to the community on these things (wherever feasible) so I’ve spoken to Justin and he’s agreed to remove it for the final image.
One more thing I want to say for a very small minority of collectors which most of you can ignore. I categorically would not have anyone illustrate one of our titles without reading the books first. I have rejected artists before who wouldn’t commit to it, and it’s non-negotiable. Just don’t expect them to know the books as well as you after a couple of reads whilst creating wonderful finished art. I needn’t say this either, but I might as well have it on record… Of course I have read each title, I thought that was clear. I read each one multiple times during the publishing process, no matter how many times I’ve read them before.
Once the bindery have the printed sheets then first up is the laborious process of folding the sections ready for gathering. Then the blocks get made up, cases etc and so on and so forth.
Hard to give a completely accurate shipping estimate still. The binding process usually takes 2-3 months depending on their schedules and if there are no big issues that need resolving.
I do know that Ludlow have had some staffing issues over the last month due to illness spreading around the unit, so there’s a chance they have some catching up to do. Once the pages have landed at the bindery I’ll hopefully be given a rough idea of when they will be shipped out.
Based upon the above it looks realistically like June for all editions out the door. They may go out in tiers potentially too, so some may be earlier, but again I’m guessing at this stage. It’ll be worth the wait I promise!
The Fall of Hyperion
Making good progress on this wonderful title! Jaime Jones handed in over 40 beautiful B&W interior illustrations and these were set within the text by yours truly. This is with the platemaker now and will be going over to Pat and Ellen at Nomad Letterpress for letterpress printing! We’ve booked our slot with Nomad so should be able to update soon.
This is a big one at 540 pages and over 45 second colours going on to chapter heads and title pages! In fact it’s eye wateringly expensive to print for an edition with just the Lettered and Deluxe tier, but there’s no way I’m reducing the production values on books in a series. Not only that I reduced the price of both tiers due to the cost of living crisis, so margins are rather slim! Get your violins out!
Jaime as always is on time with the artwork and I should have the remaining colour paintings in the next few weeks. So all the bits we need to bind will be in place ready for printing to finish!
It’s looking like Q4 2025 for shipping on this I think, most likely this year. But I have been wrong numerous times when estimating!
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Also progressing at pace! Gary Gianni and Marcelo have finished the interiors and the paintings have been professionally scanned now and placed in the final layout. I’ve said before and I’ll say it again, it might be CK’s best release yet!
Regarding the art, Gary is now working on one last painting for the release which I will use for either the dustjacket or endpaper, it would really work for both. It does pain me somewhat to cover up those marble boards and labels if it goes as the dustjacket.
Either way as soon as it’s done we’ll share the art across our socials for you to see! It’s a really cool design by Gary and fits so well.
We’re just getting an afterword written by one of the original radio and TV cast of THGttG I can confirm, so it’s nearly ready for platemaking and printing by Gomer Press (colour illustrations) and Hand & Eye (2x colour letterpress text printing).
Likely to ship Q4 this year if all goes to plan.
Last Argument of Kings
The pre-order came and went in a flash! There weren’t many copies up for the public sale, and the Standard and Deluxe sold very quickly (still 1 Lettered left!).
We’re really pleased of the reception to the final book in our first published trilogy! It’s going to be a watershed moment when collectors can finally admire all three together on their shelves.
It’s a real dream to work with Greg Manchess and Joe Abercrombie on this title, and judging by his work on the dustjacket we’re going to have another set of incredible paintings included!
We’re quite advanced on this book already and depending on a few moving pieces we should finish the printing in the next couple of months. Binding will depend on the schedule at Ludlow Bookbinders, but should be summer/fall I think for shipping.
If there are any big movements in schedule, I will of course let you all know! And yes for the 20th time, we are going to carry on with Joe’s books in the First Law world. Best Served Cold is next!
The Martian
Next up for release is our upcoming release of Andy Weir’s “The Martian”, illustrated by Yuxing Zhang! It’s quite refreshing working on a standalone title for me, in amongst the series we’re working on. Yes, yes, I know Andy has done some other great books, and if this goes well then we’ll be open to doing more. BUT, they aren’t a series and I didn’t have to design it with that in mind. Phew.
We’ve nearly finished all the prototypes for this release and the artwork is all handed in (10 colour illustrations in total)! As with our other titles, this set of books definitely has it’s own style and vibe, which draws from the book in different ways.
The dustjacket is phenomenal and I’m looking forward to sharing this when the time is right! Our Standard Edition also has another look entirely without the dustjacket which some might find cool.
Interiors are ready and are being proofed before we move to the printing on this, and as mentioned previously we’re including “The lost sols” from the 10-year anniversary edition! One of our collectors suggested this and I thought it was a cool idea and was able to agree with Mr Weir!
Could be end of the year for shipping. Again, depends on the printing/binding slots going to plan.
Assassin's Apprentice
It was AA’s 30-year anniversary last week, which honestly blows me away! Honoured to work on this masterpiece by Robin Hobb, and it’s up for pre-order later this year. Our incredible artist Lixin Yin has already handed in all of the art for the book, which includes 12 colour illustrations and 3 B&W’s!
The first interior illustration in the book was shared on our socials recently and went down very well with collectors and fans of Hobb’s work. For the newsletter only customers, here it is!
