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
