5 days until Hilda and Richie's Wizard

 Today is the very last day of 2021.

It is also 5 days until the Kickstarter for our second picture book, Hilda & Richie's Wizard, launches!

Much still needs to be done.  Contacts are still be notified, I'm reaching out to past backers and preparing the promotion strategy for the campaign.

This blog will be used of course.  YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Instagram and Pinterest will be used very aggressively.  There'll be all kinds of fun rewards too for backers; I've discussed them previously.

We launch on January 5.  Please follow our pre-launch page!

6 days until Hilda and Richie's Wizard

 We have only 6 days until Hilda & Richie's Wizard launches on Kickstarter!

There's another neat reward available!  Did you miss the first Hilda & Richie book?

Well, you have another chance.  For a pledge of US$27, you can get a copy of BOTH Hilda & Richie plus Hilda & Richie's Wizard!  On top of that, you also get a digital copy of the Wizard book and a behind-the-scenes look!

Follow our pre-launch page to be notified of our launch on January 5!

7 days until Hilda and Richie's Wizard

 ONLY 7 DAYS TO GO - just a week - BEFORE THE LAUNCH OF HILDA & RICHIE'S WIZARD ON KICKSTARTER!

Don't forget about our awesome rewards.  Just US$17 gets you a copy of Hilda & Richie's Wizard, a digital copy and a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the book!

That's all it costs.  Do you want in on this wonderful children's book?

Then follow our pre-launch page now!

8 days until Hilda and Richie's Wizard

 We have 8 days to go until the launch of Hilda & Richie's Wizard on Kickstarter!

As we all know, the plot of the book has our foxes meeting a mysterious wizard.  That's right - a real wizard who uses magic.

Magic has been a staple of children's books for years from fairy tales to more modern stories like the Wizard of Oz and Harry Potter.

Follow our pre-launch page now; we launch on Jan. 5!

9 days until Hilda and Richie's Wizard

 We have 9 days to go until the launch of Hilda & Richie's Wizard on Kickstarter!

As this post goes live, I'm working on various rewards to give to backers during the campaign.  If you want in on this, all you have to do is back when we launch on January 5, 2022.

There'll be an extra reward to all backers since we hit 11 followers on the pre-launch page, there'll be milestone bonuses when we hit certain funding milestones (25%, 50%, etc) and even more.

So how do you get in on all this?

Just back us when we launch.  Make sure you follow the pre-launch page on Kickstarter!

10 days until Hilda and Richie's Wizard

 We are counting down the days until the launch of Hilda & Richie's Wizard on Kickstarter.

We now have just 10 days until launch!

So far we have 12 people following the page to be notified of launch.

Make sure you follow our pre-launch page today!

Hilda and Richie's Wizard Approved

 I have good news!  The Kickstarter for Hilda & Richie's Wizard has been approved!

The pre-launch page is now up!  I ask people follow the page to be notified of the launch...also, as a reminder, if we get at least 11 people to follow the Kickstarter before launching, ALL BACKERS GET AN EXTRA REWARD!

Click here to go to the Hilda and Richie's Wizard Pre-Launch Kickstarter page!

The Kickstarter has been submitted for approval!

 I have good news, everyone!

The Kickstarter for Hilda & Richie's Wizard has been submitted to Kickstarter for approval!!

It should take no longer than December 23 to approve the project and we are on schedule to launch on Wednesday morning January 5!

Stay tuned for more news as I'll be blogging here and on YouTube about rewards, the battle plan and so on!

Hilda and Richie's Wizard Funding Goal Increases

 We have 22 days until the launch of Hilda & Richie's Wizard on Kickstarter! I have some important news covered in the video below - I'll explain it here too. Knight Printing of Fargo (our book printer) says that our original quote has gone up to current events regarding inflation and raw materials. As a result, the funding goal of Hilda & Richie's Wizard will be US$2400 and the rewards will be more - the core reward is now US$17 and the cameo reward is now US$399.

https://youtu.be/hD1WyqyO89Y

How to get extra stuff for Hilda and Richie's Wizard!

 We have 28 days to go until the launch of Hilda & Richie's Wizard, the long-awaited sequel to Hilda & Richie.  We are set to kick off on the morning of Wednesday January 5, 2022 around 7AM Central Time.

In addition to all kinds of rewards (including cameos in the next Hilda & Richie book), you can have a chance to get something extra on top of everything else.  Want to know how?  Read on.

One of the extra rewards for Hilda & Richie's Wizard is simple:  if you backed any of my previous Kickstarter campaigns (including the first Hilda & Richie book), you have a chance for something extra.  To get this returning backer bonus, you must pledge to Hilda & Richie's Wizard AND comment that you have backed my previous campaigns.  Doing both of these will you get an EXTR reward; the size of your pledge doesn't matter.

The other extra reward is a special incentive.  If we can get the funding level of the Kickstarter to 10% or higher by 10PM Central on Friday night 1/7,  ALL BACKERS will get another extra reward on top of the existing Kickstarter rewards.

Get ready - we launch in 28 days from now on Wed. 1/5/2022!

Hilda and Richie at Sweets N Stories

 A reminder that you can get copies of Hilda & Richie at Sweets N Stories of 509 Main Avenue in Oakes, ND!

https://youtu.be/mw9Vcbey1p8

Hilda and Richie for sale at Comic Junction

 Another store has added Hilda & Richie to their inventory.

Comic Junction (located at 1621 University Drive South in Fargo, North Dakota) has some copies of Hilda & Richie for sale.  Make sure you stop there today.  And while you're there, check out the rest of the amazing wares.  

They have superhero comics, both current and back issues, books, toys, collectibles and other neat things!

Hilda and Richie's Wizard Official Trailer

 The official trailer for the next book, Hilda & Richie's Wizard, is now up on YouTube!

Get ready for their Kickstarter on January 5, 2022!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOEFrEnwNZk

Hilda and Richie's Wizard Update 9/16/2021

 BIG UPDATE TODAY!

First, you might notice the banner got an update.  The Kickstarter for Hilda & Richie's Wizard will kick off on Wednesday morning January 5, 2022 and runs until late night on Friday February 4, 2022.

Second, the book doctor has finished work on both the script and color thumbnails.  Now that the editing has been done, I will start work on the final art starting tonight!!

There will be more regular updates here as I aim to share more pages of the first draft; that is radically different from the finished product.  

I also will share photographs of the art getting drawn, perhaps a little finished art and even YouTube videos of myself working on the Hilda & Richie book art.

Stay tuned for more news!

Wizard News Update 8/24/2021

 I have some more news on Hilda & Richie's Wizard, the next book starring my foxes that are coming to Kickstarter in January.  

The quote came back from the printers and it is higher than the last book.  That makes sense as this will be a 40 page book.  I will have to plan well for this campaign and also invest more of my own funds into this.

Also, I got back the second script draft from my book doctor.  I will be making one more pass to make a third draft of the script along with color thumbnails.  If all goes according to plan, the book's art will start getting drawn around Labor Day weekend.

Stay tuned here for more news - more thumbnails of the first draft will be shared in the coming weeks as well as other developments.

Wizard First Draft Page 8

 

And now we come to the plot point!

Uh-oh...Richie's pendant broke.

Wizard First Draft Page 7

 

Richie behaves as any normal little boy does; he goes off to play, jumping over rocks, climbing trees, swinging from branches and so on.

He is meant to be someone the young readers can identify with.  He is a fox but he is still a child.

Wizard First Draft Page 6

 

Picking up from where we left off, Richie heads off to play.  

This is a rough concept.  When it comes time to do the final color artwork, I really want to make a beautiful page that's full of colors, wilderness and energy.

Hilda and Richie's Wizard News Update 8/19/2021

 I am sorry that once more I fell behind on updates.  I aim to remedy that by posting up at least one whole week's worth of updates with the thumbnails of the first draft starting tomorrow.  But that is not what I'm here to talk about.

I have IMPORTANT NEWS regarding Hilda & Richie's Wizard.

First, the second draft has been sent off to the book doctor to review.  This person is the same who turned the first Hilda & Richie book into something readable.  Once that is sent back to me, a third draft will be produced along with color thumbnails to use for the final art.  Then after one more check by that same book doctor, I will start on the final draft as well as the interior artwork.

The goal is to start on the inside art by Labor Day weekend.

Second, I got a quote back from the printers here in town.  The cost this time is higher; that is to be expected as this book will have an interior page count of 40.  This means I will have to up my game and devise a potent plan to get the book funded.

Don't forget that the Kickstarter for Hilda & Richie's Wizard starts on Wednesday morning January 5, 2022!

Wizard First Draft Page 5

 

Richie eagerly runs out to play.  See those two figures above?

Those were two backers from the first Hilda & Richie Kickstarter; they pledged to get a cameo in the upcoming book as a background character.  I am still hammering out their designs so you'll have to wait to see those.

Wizard First Draft Page 4

 

This is why the pendant is important.  Hilda makes it clear to Richie that he is not to lose it.

While the two have a casual relationship, Hilda does make it clear that she is the one in charge as she is an adult.  She makes rules that Richie has to follow, which should be obvious if you've read the first book.  (If you haven't, go buy it!)

Watch for more pages soon!

Wizard First Draft Page 3

 

First, some news before we get started on the commentary: I got back the first draft of Hilda & Richie's Wizard from my book doctor.  It will be getting a MAJOR rewrite so the final version of the book that will show up on Kickstarter in January will be very different!

In the meantime, I hope this draft about what could have been whets your appetite.

That said, we have the item that is considered this book's MacGuffin; that is, an object that drives the plot.  Hilda has a pendant to give to Richie.  That will figure into the plot that is about to unfold.

Wizard First Draft Page 2

 

I'm using Richie in the extreme foreground here to show that he is closer to the readers than Hilda.

Anyway, one of the other changes here as opposed to the first book is that Hilda doesn't get as much screentime here as she did in the original book.  I do plan to change that in future Hilda & Richie books; scripts and story treatments already exist for that.  But that's a whole other story for another day.

Wizard First Draft Page 1

 And now...without further ado, it is time to start sharing the first draft of my next picture book and my foxes' next adventure Hilda and Richie's Wizard.  

This is probably going to change - either the text or the art as Richie isn't exactly jumping for joy.

Like the first book, we open up with Richie.  Unlike the first book though, he will be more of the focus here.

Watch for the next page soon!  And get ready for their next Kickstarter launching on Wed. 1/6/2022!

Hilda and Richie's Wizard First Draft Starts Tomorrow!

 Starting tomorrow on July 27 and running until I finish, I will be posting up the 36 pencil drawings that make up the first draft of my next book Hilda and Richie's Wizard.

The final book will probably be very different from this first draft.  That was the case with Hilda and Richie's first book.

This book will also be going in a different direction.  Where as the first book was more fun and cute, this one goes into the realm of the supernatural as a wizard is involved.

I don't want to spoil it but stay tuned!

It is my goal to post up pages every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday until the book's first draft is posted.  At the time of this writing, my book doctor is still working on the first draft and there will be notable changes.  

Anyway, stay tuned!

Hilda and Richie Reviewed in Midwest Book Review!

 Good news, everyone!  My debut picture book, Hilda & Richie, has been reviewed by the Midwest Book Review and Donovan's Literary Services.

The review appears in the July 2021 edition.  And so here it is!

HILDA & RICHIE

REVIEWED BY DIANE DONOVAN

Hilda & Richie is a fun picture book story about Hilda's discovery of bubble gum. It's a primer about chewing gum and blowing bubbles that captures both the sweetness of the gum and a child's first experiences with using it.

Richie is a newcomer to both bubble-blowing and gum.

As the fox pup and older woman explore the zany effort and challenge of blowing the biggest bubble, kids receive a whimsical tale that contrasts the wisdom and elegance of an older mentor with an impulsive child's determination to not just learn a new skill, but improve upon it.

Hilda & Richie presents the specter of an elegant-looking aged female who teaches her young charge an unexpected skill. It's especially unexpected because this pearl-wearing, fan-carrying fox elder seems an unlikely fan of bubble gum messes.

Kids ages 4-8 will relish not just the bubble-blowing lesson, but the contrast between two different age groups who enjoy the same pursuit - even if the pastime does bring with it somewhat of a mess!

Hilda and Richie Library Tour Part 2 Day 2

 After leaving Jamestown, I set off for Bismarck, the state capital of North Dakota.  I made good time and made it to the Bismarck Library.

The Bismarck Library is just as impressive as the ones in Fargo and Grand Forks.  I left Hilda & Richie's book information with the staff who would give it to the library directors.

I visited a few other places in Bismarck including Ferguson Books, where copies of Hilda & Richie are being sold.

Make sure you stop inside and get a copy today!

The last library I visited was the Morton Mandan Library in neighboring Mandan.

I did my usual routine, leaving Hilda & Richie's book information with the librarians.  Then I took it easy the rest of the day.

Before heading home to Fargo, I stopped off in Jamestown.  While visiting the National Buffalo Museum and the Frontier Village, I learned they had a Little Free Library.

I dropped off a copy of Hilda & Richie at the Little Free Library.

I'm still planning the next moves for Hilda & Richie so stay tuned!

Hilda and Richie Library Tour Part 2 Day 1

 Last week on Friday June 4, I set off on the next part of my tour to promote Hilda & Richie.  I headed south to Wahpeton to Leach Public Library.

I met with Rachel, the children's librarian at Leach Public Library.  We talked for a bit and I left Hilda & Richie's book information with her.  Then I hit the road again.

After much travelling, I arrived in the small town of Oakes, North Dakota.

The Oakes Public Library is actually part of the local school; classes are even held in there.

I chatted with the librarian and left her the papers containing Hilda & Richie's book information.

I also stopped over at Sweets N Stories in town where I sold them a few copies of the book; make sure you visit them to buy a copy and try their fudge too!

I stopped for the night in Jamestown.  From there on, I'd head to Bismarck but that is for tomorrow's post.

Hilda and Richie at Sweets N Stories

 I just got back from the next phase of my library tour.  I will have a report on that later.  What I want to let everyone know is that a bookstore, coffee house and sweet shop over in Oakes, North Dakota has copies of Hilda & Richie for sale.

Located at 509 Main Ave in Oakes, North Dakota, Sweets N Stories has coffee, sweets like fudge and books, including ones by local authors like me!

Make sure you swing by there today and get a copy!

More Little Free Library Action

Yesterday on Sunday, I visited some of the Little Free Libraries in town that I had previously put books in.  Much to my delight, the copies I had placed in there were gone; I presume these books are now in the hands of some lucky children.

Of course, it was not my intention to simply stop there.  I put new copies of Hilda & Richie in those Little Free Library boxes!

Locations I put copies in were at the United Church of Christ at 901 Broadway N; the Pontoppidan Lutheran Church; and Hawthorne Elementary School.  One of those boxes though really caught my attention.

This Little Free Library was by the aforementioned Lutheran church.  I was surprised to see it was only about half full.  I put a copy of Hilda & Richie in there.  I want to see about going back this week and perhaps putting some additional copies of my book plus a few Dominic & Claire comics.

Stay tuned as I have my next planned part of my North Dakota library tour coming up!

Hilda and Richie For Sale At Ferguson Books!

 I have more good news.  Yesterday, after wrapping up my business at the Grand Forks Library, I had one more stop to make - Ferguson Books!

Ferguson Books at 1720 S. Washington Street in Grand Forks took copies of Hilda & Richie to sell at their shop; copies will also be for sale (by the end of this week) at their shop in Bismarck at 413 E Broadway Avenue.

But wait - there's more!

Ferguson Books at 300 Sheyenne Street in West Fargo also has copies of Hilda & Richie for sale.

Let's get these copies sold so the stores will ask for more copies.  Make sure you stop by these shops today!

Hilda and Richie Library Tour Part 1

 Today, my master plan commenced to get libraries in North Dakota to start carrying Hilda & Richie.  The first places on my list were the libraries in Mayville, Larimore and Grand Forks.

My first destination today was the Mayville Public Library of Mayville, North Dakota.

This beautiful building housed the town's library.  The librarian inside was named Margaret; I talked with her for a bit, introducing myself, explaining my book and giving her copies of my cover letter with the book's information in the hopes they'd be willing to get it for their collection.

After thanking Margaret, I went on my way.  I drove around rural North Dakota for awhile and had to consult Google Maps to get to my next destination - the Edna Ralston Library of Larimore, North Dakota.

This simple building was very fitting for a small town library.  The librarian inside, a lady named Melissa, saw me enter and greeted me.

I introduced myself, told her about Hilda & Richie and gave her the papers with the book's information.  After thanking her, I left Larimore and got to Grand Forks...after driving around more rural farmlands.  I had some lunch and was able to track down my last stop - the Grand Forks Public Library!

The Grand Forks Library contrasted from the other two I visited today.  Mayville and Larimore were small towns but Grand Forks is the third biggest city in North Dakota after Fargo and Bismarck.

I talked to one of the librarians at the desk you see in this photo and he took Hilda & Richie's book information to give to the children's librarian.

I had one more stop to make in Grand Forks...that was to a bookstore.  But that I will save for tomorrow.

If you know a library interested in carrying Hilda & Richie (ISBN 9780989069632), it is available from me or from Brodard Company.

Oh, one more thing...

Grand Forks Library has an aquarium!  I never knew any public library to have one!

The Plan After the Kickstarter

 On Sunday 5/9/2021, I officially declared the Hilda & Richie Kickstarter to be over.  All the Kickstarter rewards have been sent out so that's behind me now.

So what is next?  Well, it is important to keep selling the book.  It is not going to do me any good to have hundred of copies simply sitting around gathering dust.  I want to see about arranging for some local bookstores to carry Hilda & Richie.  One of them is Ferguson Books, a small bookstore with locations in West Fargo, Bismarck and Grand Forks.  I'm also noting more small bookstores within North Dakota that I want to visit in the future.  

Besides bookstores, libraries are another customer I want to sell to.  I plan to visit local libraries in the coming months to promote Hilda & Richie for their collection.  To that extent, my ties with national library wholesaler Brodart Company has been re-established.  Along with North Dakota libraries (I am local), I want to pitch to the big libraries as well.  A list is being made of the biggest libraries with big collections and potent budgets such as New York, Cincinnati, Los Angeles, Boston, Hawaii and so on.  I'll probably be sending sales letters to them soon enough.

Work on the second Hilda & Richie book Hilda & Richie's Wizard has begun.  Later on, I will be revising the script as well as starting on thumbnail drawings for the book.  Like with the early drafts of Hilda & Richie's first book, I will share those here.

Stay tuned for more news!

Hilda and Richie Available For Libraries

 I have some good news to share.  Hilda & Richie is now listed in the OCLC Worldcat website and is in the collection of the North Dakota State Library!

I do not aim to stop there.  I am planning from May 15th to early September to hit the road to visit various libraries in the state of North Dakota to promote the book to them for their collections.

At the time of this writing, a deal is being hammered out with Brodart Company, a distributor of books to libraries.  They distributed my paperback comic book collections some years ago but I need to let them know what is going on now.

In the meantime, copies of Hilda & Richie are available directly from me; my terms are sixty percent off the cover price.  Please contact me at maxwestart(at)gmail(dot)com if you represent any libraries interested in carrying the book.

HILDA AND RICHIE

ISBN: 9780989069632

Hilda and Richie at the Little Free Library

 As I reported on my Kickstarter, copies of my book are now going out to backers.  But that's not what I'm talking about here today.

As I mentioned yesterday, I've made it a point to put some copies of Hilda & Richie in Little Free Libraries.  The Little Free Library is a non-profit organization based in the United States; they make books available to people who may not have access to public libraries or books otherwise.  The books are stored in custom built wooden boxes (you'll see those in a minute) by people called stewards and can be found in many places.  While some will be in residential neighborhood by schools, churches, apartments and houses, you may find them elsewhere such as inside museums and such.  It is basically an honor system.  You are free to take a book to read and encourage to leave a book in the box.  There are both children's books in there as well as general adult reading material such as fiction and non-fiction.

It turns out that there are a number of Little Free Library boxes throughout the Fargo metropolitan area.

This is one of the four boxes I put a paperback copy of Hilda & Richie in.  I put two copies in the Little Free Library of a pair of churches in downtown Fargo.

This is an example of a box housing a Little Free Library.  Some get creative as some of the box designs get really amazing!  If I come across those, I'll share photos here.

This one was in front of the Vocational Training Center in the Hawthorne neighborhood.

This box was in front of Hawthorne Elementary School.

Tomorrow, I plan to get up bright and early to put more copies of Hilda & Richie in Little Free Libraries.  Watch for more news!

Hilda and Richie books are READY!!

 I have good news!  On Wednesday, I picked up my entire 1,000 copy print run of Hilda & Richie from the printers!!

The first copies to my Kickstarter backers will start going out tomorrow but what I really want to talk about are my other plans to sell this book.

Press coverage is one thing; I'm going to produce some YouTube videos about the book.  I will also be sending out review copies to some trade publications like the Midwest Book Review and the School Library Journal.

About twenty-five free copies will be given away.  I will start with the Little Free Library.  The Little Free Library is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving literacy by offering free books in public bookcases that people can take to read as well as leave another book in them.  The above link has more details.  There are a couple of Little Free Libraries here in Fargo so I plan to start with those.

I have more plans but those will have to wait.  Stay tuned here for more news!

New YouTube Channel is up!

 Just a short announcement - I have a new YouTube channel up!

The purpose of this channel of mine is meant for two primary purposes.

The first will be to help promote my work such as Hilda & Richie (naturally!), Sunnyville Stories and my other creations.

The second will be to provide demonstrations and tips to people who want to try, namely beginners and even total novices.  I honestly believe anyone can draw.  It is a skill that anyone can learn.  Drawing is not an inborn talent that you either have or don't have.  Anyone can draw!

I now sit at 17 subscribers and am working towards 25.  Then I aim to get to 50, 75 and 100 subscribers...and so on until I keep growing higher and higher!

Please subscribe to my YouTube channel today!

Hilda and Richie Electronic Editions AVAILABLE NOW!

 There were some delays in assembling the final digital files.  There were also challenges in getting both chosen sales platforms to work right.

They are late but are finally up!

Hilda & Richie is now available for sale; there's a sales page added here on this blog under "Buy Hilda and Richie Books".

You can buy the electronic edition on Payhip.

You can also buy it on Amazon.

Print editions should be available next month or April.  Stay tuned for more news!

Hilda and Richie Electronic Edition Coming February 19

 It will take some time to get the physical print copies of Hilda & Richie done.  The funds for my Kickstarter won't clear for at least two weeks so it won't be until at least March that the actual books are finished by the printer.

However, I do want to announce that digital versions of Hilda & Richie are coming soon!

Digital copies will be made available by Friday February 19.  

Copies will be available via Amazon plus Payhip.

I will make an official announcement here when they are available and will also share links.

Stay tuned here for more news and I will make Kickstarter updates too about the progress of the book's printing.

The next Hilda and Richie Kickstarter

Now that the Hilda & Richie picture book Kickstarter is over with our goal successfully funded, I have an announcement to make.

There is a second book planned with Hilda & Richie.  I've already finished a script (which will be reviewed) and it will even get shared in a sneak peek with certain Kickstarter backers!

This book is titled Hilda & Richie's Wizard and it is planned for its own Kickstarter to launch on Wednesday morning January 5, 2022.

This image is all I have now.  To be honest, I am struggling to come up with a design for the wizard.  That however is a whole other discussion for another day.

Watch here for more news on Hilda & Richie, their first book and their second book!!

Hilda and Richie Kickstarter Closing Ceremonies

Tonight is the Kickstarter's end.  The Hilda & Richie Kickstarter launched back on Wednesday morning January 6, 2021.  Our goal was US$3,000.

WE SUCCEEDED BY MEETING AND EXCEEDING THAT GOAL!!!

Hilda & Richie will be a real picture book.

With the help of backers, my fans and my many connections, we made Hilda & Richie very real.

But I have no intention of stopping there.  This is not the end of the two foxes.

This is just the beginning.

This blog will have an official announcement later on but a second book is planned for next year on Kickstarter.  The script to it has been finished and I need to work on some more concept sketches.  This second book will be titled Hilda & Richie's Wizard.  

It is really amazing to see how some foxes that started in my sketchbook years ago now becoming characters in a children's book.  When I created these two characters, I had no idea what to do with them.  I tried doing some comics with them  but it was just wasn't working.  

Since my style is cartoon-like and humorous, it was recommended I try doing a children's book.  It wasn't until late 2016 that I started thinking about that.  And the rest is history.

One more time I want to say this...this is meant to each and every one of you out there who supported me, backed the Kickstarter, shared with others and stood with me.

Thank you very much.

Remember that this is just the beginning of both Hilda & Richie's story as well as my own as a picture book creator.

Stay tuned to this blog for more.

And make sure you go back Hilda & Richie before it ends!

Kickstarter ending tomorrow and closing ceremonies!

 Just a reminder - the Hilda & Richie Kickstarter is ending TOMORROW NIGHT at 11:56PM Central Time.  

We hit both stretch goals!

Also, be sure you come back here to the blog tomorrow night at 7PM Central Time.

I will be doing closing ceremonies for this winning Kickstarter.

Go back Hilda & Richie now while you can!

Three days left for Hilda and Richie

 We are approaching the last days of Hilda & Richie's first picture book Kickstarter.  We currently sit at $3,035 and our first stretch goal is $3,100.  If we can hit this number, ALL BACKERS get an extra reward in the form of a digital sketchbook with Hilda & Richie wearing various outfits.

On the editorial front, I've contacted the printers for the book to let them know the good news that we funded and that the necessary paperwork will be done.

Also before this week ends, I will be contacting the US Library of Congress to secure a Library of Congress Control Number.  This means that Hilda & Richie will be part of their collection AND many libraries order for their collections based on the Library of Congress catalog.  

Make sure you back Hilda & Richie; my main priority is finishing that Kickstarter and then I will discuss what happens next!

Go back Hilda & Richie now on Kickstarter!

Five days left for Hilda and Richie

 Five days remain for the Hilda & Richie Kickstarter.  As of this writing, we are at $3030 and sitting $70 away from our first stretch goal of $3100.  When we hit that stretch goal, all backers get a digital sketchbook of Hilda & Richie wearing various outfits so make sure you go back it now.  We are ending on late night Friday 2/5/2021.

Anyway, I have many things to do now that the Kickstarter has funded.  Besides the script for Hilda & Richie's next book (one of the rewards), I also have to assemble the final copy of the book for the printers. That will also be used for the electronic format which I plan to sell via Amazon and Payhip.

My printer needs to be contacted about the Kickstarter's success and I have to fill out papers too.  This is my first experience working with an offset printer.  I'll have more news on that soon as this will require more involvement on my part than the quick printers I've used in the past.

Don't forget to back Hilda & Richie on Kickstarter!

Hilda and Richie funded!

 Earlier today at about 2:13PM Central, the Hilda & Richie Kickstarter hit its funding goal!

I am excited.  All my hard work and planning has paid off!  

Hilda & Richie will become a real book!

We have six days left and I don't want to rest here.  If we hit $3100 and $3250, there will be even more!

Check out this update for more details!

Hilda and Richie in its FINAL WEEK!

 NOW HEAR THIS!  NOW HEAR THIS!

The Kickstarter for the first Hilda & Richie picture book is in its final week.  It will be ending officially at 11:56PM Central Time next week on Friday night, Feb. 5, 2021!

So where do we stand?

We sit $100 away from the goal of $3000 with just 7 days to go.  It is almost guaranteed that my first picture book will be funded.

But I have no intention to rest on my laurels.  I am going to continue to fight to get this Kickstarter fully funded and then some.  There will be updates here from now until the end of the Kickstarter.  I'll be discussing more of my plans for printing the book, selling it and what's in store for my foxes.

Make sure you go pledge to Hilda & Richie now!

Nine days left for Hilda and Richie!

 Nine days remain in the Hilda & Richie Kickstarter with us sitting $150 away from the goal.

Currently on the agenda for today (in addition to promoting the Kickstarter - DUH!) is to prep my social media and advertising images for the last Kickstarter days, contact a few more people and reach out to the printers.

I've been using Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to promote the Kickstarter.  The next images I need to make will run during the final 72 hours (3 days) of the campaign to remind people that it's ending; you can't back a Kickstarter once time runs out, whether or not it funds.

Also on my agenda is to contact the printer for the Hilda & Richie book.  The printer is not an entity overseas like China, Spain, Taiwan, etc.  It's one based right here in my hometown - Knight Printing of Fargo, North Dakota!  I still have paperwork to fill out and they will want to know the good news that the Kickstarter is almost funded!

There will be daily updates here, on YouTube and the Sunnyville Stories blog until the very end of the Hilda & Richie Kickstarter.  Also don't forget that on Friday Feb. 5 at 7PM Central, closing ceremonies for the Kickstarter will be held here.

Make sure you go back Hilda & Richie on Kickstarter today!

Ten days to go for Hilda and Richie

 This is it!  The home stretch!

We are now in the FINAL TEN DAYS of the Hilda & Richie Kickstarter!  As a reminder, we are nearly funded.  At the time of this writing, the Kickstarter is sitting $250 away from its $3000 goal.

That is phenomenal.  Yet I do not intend to rest here.  It is imperative to get the project fully funded or this will be all for nothing.

From now until the end of the Kickstarter, there will be daily updates both here and on the Sunnyville blog, as Hilda & Richie are part of the Sunnyville canon.  YouTube videos from now until the campaign's end are also on the agenda.

Here on this blog, on Friday night at 7PM Central on February 5, 2021, I will hold closing ceremonies for the Hilda & Richie Kickstarter.  So mark that down on your calendar.

Remember that we still need to get to the goal and we have lots of rewards left.

Please back the Hilda & Richie Kickstarter today!

Hilda and Richie nearly funded!

 I have good news tonight!  

Earlier today, we got a HUGE boost and are almost to the goal!

With just over 10 days to go in the Kickstarter, we sit $250 away from the goal.

However, I don't aim to rest.  I will stick to my battle plan and get the Kickstarter funded.

Make sure you go pledge today as we have lots of rewards left!

Thirteen days to go for Hilda and Richie!

 We are past the halfway point in the Hilda & Richie Kickstarter.  About 13 days remain for us to hit our US$3,000 funding goal.

We are 58% funded.  At this stage of the Kickstarter, this is a VERY STRONG position to be in.  

My chances of success (fully funding) is 89% and on hitting the 61% funding milestone, my chances go up to 97%!

However, I can't rest on my laurels.  It is imperative to do everything I can to get to 100% and higher funding.  I've assembled a plan for the final 10 days of the campaign and I still have an ace in the hole to play.

In yesterday's Kickstarter update, I outlined my plans to sell the Hilda & Richie books so go check that out.  

Make sure you go back and share the Hilda & Richie Kickstarter campaign!

Another Cool Kickstarter: Fight-Bunny!

 While Hilda & Richie is doing a super job of funding on Kickstarter, (go back it) - today, I want to feature another cool Kickstarter and this is an all ages title as well!

This one is called The Effervescent Adventures of Fight-Bunny!

This work is the combined efforts of Jennifer L. Meyer, Nate Crosby and Ariana Maher.  Like my own Hilda & Richie, this is an all-ages title.  Unlike my own work though, this isn't a picture book - it's a graphic novel.

But don't hold that against Fight-Bunny.  It is good to have more comic books and graphic novels for children.  If the North American comics industry is to grow and survive, we need to pull in readers when they are young so they will remain readers when they grow up.

It's not unlike my desire to make children's books as I miss the ones I grew up with years ago.

Anyway, what are you waiting for?  

Go back Fight-Bunny on Kickstarter and tell them Hilda & Richie sent you!

Now at forty percent and let's get to fifty!

 I have a special announcement regarding my Kickstarter!  As you know, I have one running right now for my first picture book, Hilda and Richie.  

We have made phenomenal progress as we sit around 40% funding and are just a stone's throw from being halfway funded.  You also may know that I'm giving away to my backers extra rewards in the form of milestone bonuses; they've been given at $500, $600, 25% funded and 40% funded.  Another one is planned for the 50% funded milestone and this is where it gets good.

If we can hit 50% funded or higher by 8PM Central Time tomorrow on Sunday, two extra rewards will be given to all backers instead of the usual one.

Can we do it?  Yes!  Please go to back & share the Hilda and Richie Kickstarter today!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/504828384/hilda-and-richie-a-messy-and-funny-fox-book

ALMOST ONE-THIRD FUNDED!!

 EVERYONE!  I HAVE GREAT NEWS!!

Hilda and Richie is nearly one-third funded!  As of this time - 8:39PM Central on January 15, 2021 - we are at $955!  We sit just $45 away from hitting $1000 and being one-third of the way funded!

But there's more - someone took the $499 reward.  As a reminder, one of the items included in that is a...CAMEO IN THE NEXT HILDA AND RICHIE BOOK!!!

You want in on that?  There's still one more $499 slot left so if you want cool rewards, including original framed art AND a cameo in Hilda & Richie's next book, go pledge now.

And still many more rewards exist such as original art for $159!

Go pledge now to Hilda & Richie!

Kickstarter now at 500 dollars!

 Today, the Hilda & Richie Kickstarter is now 1/6th of the way funded; we have hit the $500 mark and I'm working the way up to $600 and to the 25% mark!

I have bonus rewards waiting for all my backers.

You want in on these rewards as well as the book?

Then go back Hilda & Richie today!

Three Kickstarter Videos Planned Today

 The Hilda & Richie Kickstarter continues!  As I promote the picture book campaign, reach out to backers and get press coverage, I'm turning to YouTube to help pull in traffic and backers!

Here is the first one!

Back Hilda & Richie now!

New Kickstarter Rewards!

Welcome back!  At the time of this writing, we are 11% funded and about $60 away from the $400 mark.  Today, two new rewards have dropped and they are for those of you who really like books!

Let's say you have a classroom such as in an elementary school or perhaps you have some kind of storefront, either on Main Street or online.

Or maybe you know a lot of children who like reading.

This pledge is for you!  For a pledge of $39, you'll get 10 copies of Hilda & Richie sent out to you.  You can sell these, put these in the bookshelves of your library or classroom, or just give these away to children!

But wait a minute...some of you are thinking that 10 copies of the Hilda & Richie picture book is good enough.  We have another pledge for you!

This is the $85 dollar pledge.  It is like the one mentioned before...but this time you get 30 copies of the Hilda & Richie book.  So if you have a bigger storefront, a bigger library or you know a whole lot of children that want to read, then this pledge is for you!

Make sure you go back Hilda & Richie on Kickstarter NOW!!!

Hilda and Richie on YouTube

 During the run of the Kickstarter, I will be sharing videos on YouTube.  Here's one of them.

Don't forget to back the Hilda & Richie Kickstarter!

Hilda and Richie Hit Ten Percent

 Hilda & Richie has hit 10% funding on Kickstarter late yesterday.  

We are doing good!

But there is no time to rest.  It is imperative that we keep the momentum going!

Make sure you go pledge today to the campaign and spread the word!

Hilda and Richie are now live!

 The Hilda and Richie Kickstarter is now live!

Be sure you go back it now!

Want to own original art?

 Tomorrow morning at 7AM Central, Hilda & Richie launches on Kickstarter!

I want to talk about one of the rewards.  There is a pledge set at US$159 that has some neat rewards.  One of them is an exclusive look at the next book under construction, Hilda & Richie's Wizard.  But there's more.

There are about 30 original pieces of interior art being used to create the book, Hilda & Richie.  If you pledge at the US$159 level, one of the items you'll get is a piece of original art rendered in pen, pencil and marker from Hilda & Richie!

As there are only 30 interior pieces of art, this tier is limited to only 30 backers!  This is also on a first come, first serve basis so should you bid on this tier, it's good to have some alternate choices.

We launch tomorrow morning so go check out the Kickstarter now!

Hilda and Richie go live tomorrow!

 In less than 24 hours from now, Hilda & Richie will go live on Kickstarter!

We aim to launch at about 7AM Central Time tomorrow on Wednesday January 6.  After months of planning, it is time to see if all my efforts will pay off.

Get ready and make sure you check out the Kickstarter page!

Hilda and Richie Kickstarter ready to go!

 Yesterday on Sunday, the final check was completed.  

The Hilda & Richie Kickstarter has been reviewed by me, the images are up, the links work right and all the details have been finalized.

We will launch in less than 48 hours.  

Get ready for our launch!

Hilda And Richie Kickstarter Press Release

For Immediate Release

For further information, contact maxwestart@gmail.com

CUNNING KICKSTARTER CUNNING LIKE A FOX!

Illustrator Produces First Picture Book With Foxes for Kickstarter

Hilda & Richie, the debut picture book of Max West, comes to Kickstarter on Wednesday January 6, 2021!

Remember when children’s books were a madcap romp? This text once more evokes the joyous, amusing books of yesteryear in the tradition of the Berenstain Bears, Little Critter and Richard Scarry’s Busytown!

This picturesque book for children features two red foxes: Hilda Breckendorf, an aristocratic lady wearing elegant dresses and possessing incredible wealth; and Richard “Richie” Sutter, a cuddly fox pup living with Hilda in her voluminous mansion. When Richie encounters Hilda blowing bubble gum bubbles, the intrepid fox pup joins in on the bubble fun. Soon, the remarkable duo decide to have a bubble blowing contest…with messy results!

The creator & illustrator of Hilda & Richie, Max West, is an exalted creator of comics, already having produced Sunnyville Stories and the Wild West webcomic Poison Ivy Gulch. Mr. West’s work has received superior reviews from Amazon and the Midwest Book Review, having received praise such as his work “destined become to a mainstream hit” and even being compared to the comic strip Pogo by Walt Kelly!

Hilda & Richie will run on Kickstarter from Wednesday morning January 6, 2021 through late Friday night February 5, 2021 with its funding goal set at US$3,000.

Visit the page at: bit.ly/HRbook1

More news and information about Hilda & Richie can be found at:  http://hildaandrichie.blogspot.com