December Check-in
4 months ago
– Tue, Dec 02, 2025 at 05:01:29 PM
Season's Greetings from Spectral Tempest Press
It's been a while since the start of this end-of-the-year hiatus, but I wanted to check in with you all for a brief update on the campaign and future projects.
Funds Received
Campaign funds have been collected and put aside for when books will be ordered. Thank you all again for your incredible support and I look forward to delivering this next mystery of Eliza and Dazon's story in the coming months.
Late Pledges Open Until December 30th
Just a reminder that the campaign is open to late pledges until the end of 2025, December 30th, 5:00 PM MST to be exact. If someone you know is eager to get their hands on this Fantasy, Mystery novel, tell them they still have time.
Off the Treacherous Track Progress
In the midst of Line-editing Session 1
Fell slightly behind on this front, but with the end of Nanowrimo, I will easily make up the time. The estimated completion time has not changed.
Sea Tome Pages Progress
Awaiting beta reader edits
These are expected to be started (and hopefully finished) around the end of December, so you may hear no word on this novella until January. The estimated completion time has not changed.
Duet Beneath Moonlight Progress
Completed 1st draft
Case 2 will not see any further development until the end of this campaign's fulfillment. But I will say, having the next book already written has been great for ironing out continuity in Off the Treacherous Track.
Bridge of Tillai Act II Progress (Nanowrimo Project)
~30% Completed 1st Draft
Thrilled to announce that National Writing Month has been a resounding success for this sequel of the fantasy, action tragedy. By the end of November 30th, the word count reached 50,929/50,000!
But despite this hefty amount of writing, I only reached the start of Act 2 (two interludes included). So this sequel still has a ways to go. The estimated completion time is WELL ahead of schedule, but will now be pushed fully to the back burner while Off the Treacherous Track is fine-tuned. I may still dabble on Act II from time to time during December, but that's just because I always need to be writing something. This planned writing time was originally allocated towards Duet Beneath Moonlight, anyway.
As you can probably tell, I like to keep up momentum.
Happy Holidays, Everyone!
That's all for now. I plan for the next update to come just before the new year. Keep an eye on your email around that last week of December.
And, as always, thank you for braving the Tempest.
We Did It!
5 months ago
– Wed, Nov 05, 2025 at 11:08:57 AM
Thank you, Everyone!
The campaign came down to the wire, but I'm thrilled to announce that Off the Treacherous Track has been funded. It will take a couple of weeks for Kickstarter to collect and process backer payments, but I will post another update when they come through. Until then, here is some information on the current state of the campaign.
Late Pledges Open
Late pledges for all tier levels, excluding signed editions, have been enabled. For those who missed out on the campaign and still wish to get special edition copies of Off the Treacherous Track or Bridge of Tillai, the late pledges will be available until December 30th, 2025 @ 5:00PM MST.
Immense Gratitude for All of Your Support
To you, the backers, this wouldn't have been possible without all of your help. Your faith in this up-and-coming publishing agency is laying the road to its introduction into the Fantasy community. As a thank you for seeing this campaign across its finish line, I would like to give special gifts to all backers. While we did not make it to any stretch goals, I have decided to still provide the first two: Bridge of Tillai Act II prologue and Dazon’s Shadejacktresy Notes. It was a decision I've reached when I saw how many backers picked up Bridge of Tillai as an add-on or through the Dual Tempest pledges. So I figured, why stop at a pre-release for Case 2 when Act II can also be shared early with you all. In addition, with the beta reader notes I’ve received for Case 1, I decided having the shadejacktresy appendix being standard in the Kickstarter launch editions for all ATiS books would be a nice touch. I would have loved for Eliza’s Phantasmal Gear Diagrams to be included in this, but that would require more funds than can be allocated by Spectral Tempest Press at this time.
Current Story Statuses
Off the Treacherous Track Progress
Case 1 has completed its beta reader story edits. Now it's time for line editing where dialogue and scene details will be tightened up. This usually happens in 2-3 read throughs. These are projected to run into December, as scheduled.
Sea Tome Pages Progress
This novella had finished beta reader review in late October and is now awaiting those edits. These story corrections were planned to be completed by the end of November. Luckily the corrections are minimal and, coming in currently at ~17,000 words (final product will probably be a bit more with beta reader suggestions), these edits will be relatively faster than my other stories. So instead, they will be started by late December with a strong expectation to still be ready when fulfillment comes around in March 2026.
First Draft of Case 2
Through an unprecedented amount of extra writing time, Duet Beneath Moonlight's first draft has been completed WELL ahead of schedule! As exciting as it is to have my fourth, intended-to-be published novel written, it will remain at this step until after the fulfillment of the Off the Treacherous Track campaign. Just so I'm not spread too thin with beta readers, edits, and writing. Speaking of....
Bridge of Tillai Sequel
While originally planned to be started June 2026, the early completion of ATiS Case 2 allowed me to begin work on Act II in this Fantasy, Action Tragedy in time for NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). So I will be writing this series sequel in addition to editing sessions for Off the Treacherous Track. This is not a total diversion from schedule, as I was planning to be writing Duet Beneath Moonlight while editing Off the Treacherous Track, anyway. I’m just now doing that with a different book, so it will have no impact on this campaign’s fulfillment timeline.
Brief Kickstarter Semi-Hiatus
As in the previous campaigns, there will be a period of limited updates from Spectral Tempest Press through Kickstarter for the rest of 2025. This is to both give the business side of my brain a rest and to divert that mental energy into editing and writing. I always felt this is the best use of the holiday season and this hiatus has been invaluable in making sure previous campaigns were completed on time (or close) for fulfillment.
But don't worry, once 2026 comes around, you can expect a minimum of one update a month. But if you need communication before then, please don't hesitate to reach out through Kickstarter messenger or by emailing [email protected] with your backer number.
That is all for now. Thank you everyone again for your support, and I look forward to sharing Eliza and Dazon's next adventure with you all.
Over 60% Funded in the First Week!
5 months ago
– Wed, Oct 22, 2025 at 05:22:31 AM
Hello story lovers to an incredible first week for the Off the Treacherous Track campaign. As of this update, we are 65% funded! I cannot thank you, the backers, enough for being a part of this indie publisher's aspiring growth. It is your support that will ferry more thrilling fantasy and mystery stories to fellow readers. And I am so proud to have you all along for the voyage.
We still have a ways to go, so please, spread the word about this campaign and stay tuned for more stories to come from Spectral Tempest Press. Not just in this crowdfunding campaign, but for years to come.
Thank you for braving the Tempest.
Sincerely,
Alister
