Month: June 2024

Normally when someone orders a print, a T-shirt, a back issue or two, or whatever, it’s generally out the door and on its way in less than 24 hours. If the timing is right, I’ve been known to have the package ready and at the Post Office in under 12.

At the moment, as I’ve been responding to everyone who’s ordered within the past 24 hours, I’m currently filling purchases in the order they’ve been received. Ever since the shipment of THE LARA-SU CHRONICLES: BEGINNINGS arrived, I’ve been filling orders at a steady clip and have gotten over 80 out the door since yesterday and currently working to get more out today.

At the present rate, I estimate it’s going to take me at least a week to get all the remaining pre-ordered copies packaged and on their way.

However, ever since people started receiving their pre-ordered copies yesterday, I’ve been receiving nothing but accolades for the book. And they must be telling their friends, as I sure haven’t been doing any heavy sell since I started shipping the books this past Friday.

As a result, sales of BEGINNINGS are going absolute gangbusters. I’ve received more orders in less than 24 hours than I have in some months during the pre-sale. Which brings me to the point of this message.

For the first time since I opened my website store, it’ll be awhile before I’m able to ship anything out the door in under 24 hours. As the latest orders are coming in, the people who ordered yesterday may not see their copies ship until late next week, but the orders following them could spill into the following week.

As anyone who follows me knows, I like to be completely transparent and upfront with my audience. At the moment, I’m primarily a one-person operation that’s currently experiencing some growing pains, and I suspect that’s only going to get compounded as word of mouth spreads and more projects are in preparation for future release.

The reaction I’m receiving for BEGINNINGS has been most gratifying for which I’m truly and humbly appreciative. My only response is that I’m just getting started. Thanks for your patience and understanding in the meantime.

What everyone is seeing in the pic above are the contents of one package that someone who pre-ordered a copy of THE LARA-SU CHRONICLES: BEGINNINGS will be receiving by next Wednesday. The next package will contain an issue from the KNUCKLES series with the pattern repeating in a similar manner. (Not pictured is the stiff piece of foam core inserted in every package or the mylar bag everything is packaged in to ensure nothing arrives damaged.)

Since I don’t have 200 copies or so of any one issue in particular from either the SONIC or KNUCKLES series, I decided the fairest way to insert that random SONIC or KNUCKLES issue as promised was to start with the earliest issues on hand sent to the people who have waited the longest for their copy, and work my way up from there. For the record, I played no favorites.

Also keep in mind some of the books do show a little wear, particularly some of the early ones, but they’re still in collectible shape.

Now that I’ve gotten that out of the way, I can now report at least 25 orders have been completely processed and shipped. 24 will be arriving by Monday or Tuesday at the latest. A couple may arrive to their buyers possible sooner due to their proximity from me. The odd one out is the first being shipped to Canada, which may take 6 to 10 days before it arrives.

I plan on spending a few hours after this packaging more books for their buyers tonight. If I get back from an appointment in time tomorrow afternoon, I hope to have enough time to make it to the Post Office. If not, Monday will be a REALLY BIG batch shipping out.

In all honesty, I estimate it’ll take me 8 to 10 days before all the orders are filled, and that’s not counting any orders being placed in the meantime until then. So I ask for patience and understanding in the meantime. It’s only me behind the curtain and I have no munchkins available to help with this part of the operation.

To end on a high note, the women of Bernie’s book club have gathered at our home tonight as it was Bernie’s turn to host. Bernie brought up my new book as a topic of conversation, and the women expressed unanimous interest. The result? After checking it out, they all wanted to buy a copy. Who knew the characters and story had that much universal appeal?

In the meantime, it’s back to work. And if anyone has a question, just ask. Take care.

After all the time, effort, blood, sweat & tears, the complete shipment of THE LARA-SU CHRONICLES: BEGINNINGS has arrived. The complete order arrived at the company owned by my next door neighbor, who graciously offered to store 200 cartons of books while I prepare for shipping the pre-ordered copies and take my show on the road to comic conventions.

Upon confirming the order was delivered full and complete, I loaded up the car with 30 boxes worth, most of which the copies are already spoken for, but mainly to gauge what kind of space I’d have available for everything else I’m bringing to Comic-Con in addition to the 30 cartons of books.

As you can see, more than enough room left for the original art, prints, suitcases and everything else I’m bringing to the show. (And yes, we own a Hyundai Ioniq 5, which gets great mileage when fully charged.)

The books are now on our dining room table where I am preparing to fill everyone’s order as specified by their choices and requests. Because we’re on the cusp of the weekend, I’ve decided to take my time and check everything thoroughly so no mistakes are made. Whatever I get packaged between now and Monday morning will be taken to the Post Office nearby first thing Monday morning. I will then rinse and repeat on a daily basis until all the orders are filled.

While the initial promotional offer has officially ended, I will include the Lara-Su Print I had made as part of the promotional offer with any new order as long as supply lists. (So don’t delay as I estimate I over-printed by about 30.)

If anyone has any questions, they are welcome to email me. While I can’t promise an immediate response, I will respond ASAP within 24 hours.

This is only the beginning. Besides getting ready for Comic-Con, once all the pre-ordered copies have shipped, my focus will be on getting the LARA-SU APP ready for release as well as working on the next chapter of SHATTERED TOMORROWS. I already have someone working on inserting the pages in the digital file for KEN PENDERS’ KNUCKLES OMNIBUS Vol. 1. All of these things will be discussed in greater detail later.

Right now, I simply want to focus on getting people their copy (or copies) of THE LARA-SU CHRONICLES they have so patiently waited for. Once copies go in the mail on Monday, June 24, those recipients living in the USA should start receiving their copies on Wednesday, June 26, most certainly by Thursday, June 27, dependent on one’s location and mail service in one’s area.

And whether one feels good, bad or indifferent after receiving the book, I really want to hear what people liked, disliked, felt could be improved on, whatever. Thanks for your support in the meantime and take care.

The above image is a snapshot of the Port of Los Angeles. While the cargo ship in the foreground isn’t the ship that brought the shipment of THE LARA-SU CHRONICLES: BEGINNINGS to America, it’s a visual stand-in in order to explain what the delay for receiving the copies is all about.

Up to this point, everyone involved in the production and transport of the book carried out their part without problem and on schedule. In the case of the printer, that company did outstanding work keeping everything on track and moving forward while I kept adding detail and revising material even beyond the date I was told to submit everything in order to have the books printed and shipped in time for Comic-Con.

As the books made their way across the Pacific Ocean, the Logistics company tracking my shipment – along with many other containers on that ship, I’m sure – kept me informed of the boat’s progress throughout the journey, arriving at the Port of Los Angeles on the date promised weeks ago.

As you’ll notice in the pic above, it isn’t just one boat arriving and waiting to be unloaded, there are at least 3 cargo ships in the immediate vicinity. If you look at the yard next to the harbor, you’ll notice a number of containers awaiting to be transported to their final destination. What you’re looking at is only a small fraction of the immense port and the amount of cargo being handled through the busiest port in the United States. On a global scale, the port is the 10th busiest.

THE LARA-SU CHRONICLES: BEGINNINGS sits on 4 pallets in one of those containers that has been offloaded from the ship to somewhere in the yard along with all the other containers transported on the same cargo ship. At this time, yard operations is sorting all the shipments in preparation for loading onto a truck or a train for transport elsewhere.

I received email a few hours ago that stated my order was being prepared for loading onto a truck sometime later today – Wednesday, June 19th, PST – for delivery sometime on Thursday, June 20th, at the earliest but no later than Friday, June 21st.

Once I receive word the books have reached their final destination, I’ll head over to the warehouse to transport enough copies to fill all the pre-orders received thus far.

This has been a learning experience from start to finish. In the process, I’ve set up a publishing company capable of taking a project from start to finish and selling it on a global basis. This wouldn’t have been possible without having established through the years enough of a following that was invested in seeing not only where I took the story next, but that I always delivered on what I promised, especially when conducting business through the years.

BEGINNINGS isn’t just the title of a book. It’s also a promise of more to come. And I never promise what I can’t deliver on. Thanks and take care.

There are now only 10 days left before my shipment of copies of THE LARA-SU CHRONICLES: BEGINNINGS arrives at the warehouse where they will be stored while I’m filling online orders thru my store page elsewhere on this website as well as selling copies at conventions.

Anyone ordering a copy of my book during the next 10 days will also receive a Limited Edition Lara-Su Print plus a randomly selected issue of SONIC or KNUCKLES I worked on, both signed by me. In addition, their name will be listed in the SPECIAL THANKS pages of the THE LARA-SU CHRONICLES: SHATTERED TOMORROWS graphic novel as well as the SPECIAL THANKS section of the LARA-SU APP.

At this time, the books are scheduled to arrive at the Port of Los Angeles on Tuesday, June 11. I will make an announcement once I have confirmation of arrival. After that, I will be contacted by US Customs whereupon I will have 24 hours to pay the import tax. Once that transaction is completed, a trucking company arranged by the printer will load my shipment and deliver the copies to their destination.

After June 15, the promotion ends, but I will still be taking orders as the ONLY way anyone can purchase a copy between June 15 and July 22 is by ordering thru my website store page. Between July 23 and July 30, I will be ensconced in San Diego selling copies from my table (II-24) located in Artists Alley during the San Diego Comic-Con, so any online orders during that timeframe won’t be in the mail until July 31.

My gameplan at this time is to sell my book either thru my website or at conventions held throughout the country. Any discussions with distributors such as Diamond, Amazon, Scholastic and others will occur during my time in San Diego and should the status quo change, I’ll announce that as well.

Once I announce the pre-orders have begun to ship, the bulk of my work will essentially be complete. Once people start telling their friends about the book, I’m very confident people will want to see for themselves and pick up their own copy. What I say after this point doesn’t matter, as the audience will determine what happens next.

Anyone with any questions can email me anytime.

Thanks for your time and consideration. In the meantime, the countdown is on.