Pending Orders are Being Accepted

Volume Two prototype prior to hand-stitching the spine. This Volume consists of Books Two, Three and Four. For now, only individual books are being produced. Volumes will come into play after a demand arises.

As I've discussed numerous times before, Book Publication is under way. It's more complex than you might think, because completion of the artwork effects the ability to release the books into the public eye. If there is a positive reaction to the first book, a person may want the next book after they finish reading that book. Likewise, there may be a circumstance where a person may want to buy the entire collection of seven books at the same time, because they happen to be into that at the moment. If the books are unavailable, that might well result in a negative effect, either by attitude or by loosing the buyer entirely. Such a circumstance, if it translated into the entire marketplace would be disasterous. So I must delay release of the books until we have completed the artwork. We are moving ahead with that.

However, in the meanwhile, I am building inventory of the finished books. Basically Books One, Two and Three are completely finished. Book Four, Six and Seven are almost finished and have been filled out with black & white sketches. While Book Five now has a number of sketches. None of the sketches will be refined and colored until all the missing art is first sketched out.

The fact that I am building inventory means that I will accept pending orders for any of the collection. Issuing a pending order does not require a deposit, unless the buyer wants a guarantee that they will receive that order. Pending Orders only give me an idea of quantity and allow me to set aside those book for a buyer, but without a 50% deposit, the books are first come, first served to the buyer who pays for the books. All books must be prepaid before they are shipped, in all cases, no exceptions, regardless of the quantity purchased. There are no returns, except in the case of faulty product, which will be replace after it is returned for inspection.

I will provide samples to buyers after I finish the necessary registrations, but those sample must be purchased at MSRP, unless we are talking orders of 5k or more.

As it stands now, IMS Publishing is producing the Hand-stitched Limited Edition Books. Larger scale runs may take place in another manufacturing scenario, in particular the Perfect Bind books, but that is yet to be seen. 

I am looking into puchasing Perfect Bind equipment for limited in-house binding  of on-demand Machine-bound versions of the books as well. This will allow for smaller production runs 

 The ISBN's will not be registered until the entire collection is able to be released at the same time, as doing so makes the books available worldwide via Bowker's catalogues and fulfillment under that circumstance may be best handled by a large Distributor.

Distribution via outside agencies may occur, but that will not take place until after the ISBN registration and the terms of sale in that regard are up to the Distributor.

So, all in all, IMS Publishing will be accepting Pending and Prepaid Orders while we are building inventory, with the Official Release remaining still in the future, after the artwork for the illustrations is completed.

ORDERS can be taken by way of email

image.of.the.mind.studios@gmail.com

Spring has arrived! Update

Well, as I've spoken about before, we have moved into filling out the missing artwork for the remaining illustrations. We art doing sketches, guided by the description panels. My work of steering up the files to accommodate insertion of New art had paid off and inserting the sketches is quite easy. Of course, I am modifying the sketches as needed to adjust the position, size and sometimes the shape of the components. 

The current approach is to move into the illustration panels one small step at a time. I am attempting to advance all the illustrations required to complete the collection simultaneously. I have described the status of the books (in regard to illustrations) below, so I won't do it again.

I am preparing to print the entire collection and right now I am constructing and inventorying the book covers for the Hand-stitched version of the books. I am striving to (ultimately) inventory 500-1k books, since constructing the Hand-stitched books is laborious enough as to cause delays in shipping.

I am uncertain as to whether or not the entire collection, meaning those books being sold by retailers, will need to be Hand-stitched or Machine- bound. Theoretically, the market will absorb both versions, but I personally feel the Hand-stitched is a superior presentation. That version simple has a more excellent feel to it. It is more costly, so that may be a factor, but also the limitations because hand-stiching books is more time-consuming. For now, I am Hand-stiching. When a distributor place a large order for Machine-bound books, well, then they will be mass produced in that fashion. All the technical layouts are finished for both Hand-stitched and Machine-bound books in both Gnome-sized and Big People books.

So I am moving forward to publish the book for the purpose of inventory. When the illustrations are complete, the books will be released to the public.

AG