The Volume 8: Tread Softly ebook is live in the online store!

Backers who got ebooks, look out for an email from BackerKit with your discount coupons for 100% off.

If you got multiple ebooks, the coupon links will all be in the same email. If it doesn't show up, you can also find the download info in your backer survey.

Any trouble using the links? Drop a comment, and I'll double-check that I didn't make a typo somewhere.

If you have a shipping/add-on payment to make, you're getting a "time to charge your card" email first.

Once the payment goes through, the ebook coupons will show up...some time after that. (This isn't all automated, I have to poke some things manually, so don't worry if it doesn't happen right away.)

If you spot any typos, duplicate/missing strips, or other issues in Volume 8, please let me know! The high-resolution files have not been exported yet -- there's still time to fix issues before I send anything to the printer. 

- Erin Ptah

Quick updates:

1) Backer-exclusive wallpapers are out!

Scroll to the end of this post for the link.

2) The notice has gone out that I'm locking the surveys.

Other than the wallpapers, all your rewards are distributed based on the survey answers. (The big thank-you post on the Leif & Thorn site comes next.)

If you spent more money (say, if you got extra add-ons), your card will be charged for that some time after the surveys are locked.

The only answer you'll still be able to edit is your shipping address. I don't lock addresses until I'm ready to start physically putting the books in the mail.

3) Early Bird sketches are all finished.

Early backers, check the notes on the confirmation page of your survey. The link to your art will be there. (If it's missing, comment here and I'll get it fixed.)

One of the 3 people who still haven't answered their survey is an early backer. If you get to it while I still have space in the book to fill, I'll draw your prompt and put it in! If you miss that window, I'm afraid you're out of luck.

"Drawing the rest of the bonus art" is the next step in the Working On The Book process. Followed by "come up with the Previously On... character profiles" and "fill in the Table of Contents with the page numbers."

- Erin Ptah

Samples of all three Chibi Bottle Magnets are in, and looking good!

I just put in the order for a full set. (...Don't even ask how miserable the tariffs are. The company is compensating as well as they can.)

New mini-prints for this year are also in. Hard to get a photo that does justice to the weird colors in the first one -- they're all nice and vivid in person:

90% of you have filled these out already! Well done.

Wallpapers and the big thank-you post can go out once I get a few more of them. (I won't hold out for 100%, because there's usually 1-2 backers who just...vanish into the wind.)

Remember, shipping addresses won't be locked until the Volume 8 paperbacks are actually ready to ship. If you might be moving in the next few months, fill out the survey now! You'll have plenty of time to update the address.

In between, I'll start fulfilling the Early Bird sketch prompts. Next update will probably have a status report on those, and I'll be able to finalize the Volume 8 ebook after they're all done.

One more note: Leif & Thorn hit its 10th anniversary this past Saturday! That's been a long-time goal of mine -- and it's a personal webcomics record. Hat tip to all the readers who've helped me keep it going.

- Erin Ptah

We're funded! Here's what happens now:

Making new add-ons: I already had samples of the Thorn and Leif magnets, so I've ordered a Kale sample to go with them. Once I have good-looking versions of all three, I'll put in a bulk order for the set.

The mini-print poll is now closed. Magical Team took an early lead, but in the end, Golden Ribbon Chains is the winner! Keep an eye out for the order update about that too.



Collecting the funds: Happens over the 2 weeks after the campaign ends (until October 14).

Keep an eye on your email for a notification about your pledge. If the payment bounced, BackerKit will send you instructions on how to fix it.

Early Bird sketch rewards: If you scored one of these, you'll get the "what am I drawing for you?" question as part of your backer survey.

Backer surveys: Will go out some time after October 14.

Since every Printopia campaign ended at the same time, I suspect BK staff will be working overtime to help all of us creators with survey design and support questions. So don't be surprised if this part takes a little longer than usual. But we'll get there.

The surveys are where you fill in your shipping address (if you got a book), pick your add-on options (if you got add-ons with options), and get one more chance to scoop up any extra rewards you missed.

Printopia cross-collab rewards: For everyone who got books from this project and Guardian Angel Academy, your bonus mini-prints are being ordered along with the regular Volume 8 ones.

For the Crowd Quest digital zines...I'm not actually sure when those are being delivered. But we did unlock them! Look out for a BK update on that at some point.

Leif & Thorn 10th Anniversary: This is coming up fast -- it happens on October 25!

I've been taking submissions for a Guest Art Showcase to celebrate the occasion. The form is open until October 18...so if you're thinking about sending something in, don't wait too much longer.

- Erin

Just blew past the second stretch goal, so the Kale magnet is now unlocked!

If you got the "Magnets - Pick 1" add-on, your post-campaign survey will ask if you want Leif, Thorn, or Kale.

If you want all 3, pick the new "Magnets - Set of 3" add-on to get them at a discount!

(As of now, 6 backers have picked the "Set of 2" add-on. I'll be curious to see how many of you switch over, now that the Set of 3 is available.)

If we had more time left in the campaign, I'd insert more magnet-related stretch goals. Maybe next year. Commenting prompt: If you could get magnets for any of the other bottled chibi characters, who would you pick first?