The Books are getting closer to Release
I am finalizing the remaining Illustration Panels
there is still much to do, but relatively speaking,
we are almost done.
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| The Cover of the e-Storybook |
UPDATE (6/14/25) :
I have the prototypes of books one through four printed and bound. We have nearly completed all the watercolors for the entire series, with only a dozen of so needing to be painted. There are Illustration Panels that still need to be assembled from numerous paintings and there are two three inch binders of art that is ready to be installed into the layout. When we do complete the painting for the Illustrations, we will shift over to painting drops for the "Little Theatre" stage show.
Little Theatre; Definition - in this context, this refers to the size of the Green Screen/Sound Stage that is being set-up in the studio. That is 20" wide by 18" deep by 14' high. This will serve a number of theatres available for the try-out run. The size is expandable (within IMS space) to 30" wide by 25' deep if necessary, but my opinion is the smaller version will be suitable for workshopping this show, since there must be smaller productions available, within the context of the entire scope of possible venues. Certainly a larger production could be produced, but that is outside of my immediate scope at this time.
My mission has now become printing Book Five, which is the longest of the books, because that book contains "The Gnomic Tales". These are not the full version of the tales, but only summaries of the stories that are used to serve the storyline of "Zach and Zebby's Grand Adventure". Publishing of the prototype books continues; Five, then Six and finally Seven, with only a small amount of work remaining to be completed.
So now, I have enough of the book series finished that I can talk turkey with another publisher and or distributor. But since I am finishing up the final layout. I will not be soliciting that dialogue, but I will be open to discuss the project if I receive inquiries.
Even after I finish the books, the only publication I will be doing is in-house, which amounts to limited quantities. My efforts will shift over to Theatre Production, Animation, Literary Representation and Cinema. The larger Publication and Distribution activities will take place within the context of an organized production structure that is external from the development environment of Image of the Mind Studios. That means that the rights to all markets will need to be negotiated with my literary Representative, if and when I secure that agreement. Until the entire series is fully published in it's completed form that agreement will not be implemented.
If you are an Industry Professional, I am certainly willing to discuss the possibility of licensing any market, and I will be able to accept an Option of First Refusal, contingent upon the proper contract structure being put in place for Union Operations if that Option is implemented into a Production Contract. I have to say that, contrary to the Writer's & Dramatist's Guild Contracts, I will not permit any other writers or any producer to modify what I have written. I will remain open to enhancing what has already been written, in fact I created opportunities for that to happen within the material, but I retain sole authority over the Core Creative Material ad infimum, in all markets.
"The Gnomic Tales", five at this point, can be constructed by a writing team, but I will supervise and direct that if it occurs.
I will add more to this discussion as necessary, as time allows. AG
Notes regarding Distribution
I have a number of versions of the books. Above you see a cover for the e-Storybook. The e-Storybook, which will be a subscription, includes not only the Audio Book, but the watercolor illustrations contained within it will (gradually) become animations, meaning most of the page illustration panels will be converted to GIFs. Eventually, this will lead to an Animated feature film or television series. The books were in fact, designed to serve as Storyboards for a film.
There are the Gnome-sized books; a small version that is about 3.5" square. There are the Big People's books that are about 9"x10". There is the "Hand-stitched" version and a "machine bound version". Both of these editions will be presented in boxed set editions.
I will be keeping the "Hand-Stitched" and Boxed set versions as in-house production, at least for the time being, because they will become the signed and numbered editions and I have yet to have found a production house willing to make Hand-Stitched Editions who is willing to adhere to my design specifications and do so at a price that works. As it stands now, the MSRP is $34.95 per book. There are seven books in the collection.
I may release the Hand-Stitched (as well as all other ancillary markets) at some point, to another publisher/producer if the design elements are maintained and the down payment is sufficient. Contact me to discuss terms. Basically my terms are; a deposit against a guarantee, plus 10% of the gross on all markets. That applies to every market. That's firm.
For now, I am looking to find partners for publishing and distributing these books. I am publishing in-house but those quantities are very limited. This is because I need to focus on the details of producing the stage musical and not assembling and selling books. After all, the whole point is the stage musical and I can't focus on that - if I have to be making books.
I will be making Hand-Stitched books on a regular basis and they can be ordered directly by contacting me via email. I will be setting up a Shopping Cart and selling the books direct using PayPal.
I will not be concerned with mass production, unless I receive bulk orders exceeding for 25K books. If that occurs, it will be contingent upon available personnel and/or publishing partners.
Just some recent thoughts.
Contact me via email if this business opportunity interests you.
AG
