The Presses Are Rolling
22 days ago
– Tue, Jul 28, 2026 at 12:14:53 PM
Hey friends,
Today marks one of those milestones that felt impossibly far away when we launched this campaign.
The presses have begun printing Aardehn: Awakening.
Eric's last update ended with us sending the files to the printer and waiting for the proofs to arrive.
Well... They came back last week.
The printer sends us two sets of proofs. First are the individual printed pages, which let us inspect every illustration and every production detail. The second is a fully bound copy, allowing us to experience the book exactly as you will: turning pages, reading the story, and making sure the whole thing feels right.
Looks like this:
Those proofs then went through one final review at Raid.
Ramon (our amazing book designer and publisher) gave every piece of artwork a meticulous pass -- making sure the colours and reproduction matched our expectations. Darcy (our editor) reviewed the book as a reader would, checking the text, layout, pacing, and overall experience.
We made a few small production adjustments to accommodate the gatefold and sprayed edges, tweaked the end papers, and picked an appropriate finish (the print examples above were a bit too glossy)... but that's what this stage is for.
No major issues were found. No unexpected snags.
(Said another way, the complete opposite of what happens to Celeste in the book!)
And so...
Raid gave the printer our revisions along with the green light.
Which means that somewhere, right now, giant presses are laying ink onto paper. Signatures are coming off the press. Sheets are drying. Before long they'll be folded, sewn, bound, and transformed into the cinematic novella that will eventually arrive on your doorstep.
It's a strange feeling.
For years this project existed as a dream, sketches, documents, conversations, and late nights. Then it became a Kickstarter campaign. Then thousands of digital files.
Now it's becoming something we can hold.
Thanks again for believing in this project, for backing it, for sharing it, and for coming along on this journey with us.
We'll have more updates as the books move through production, but today we just wanted to share this milestone with everyone.
The presses are rolling.
— SM
Aardehn is AarDONE!
about 2 months ago
– Fri, Jul 03, 2026 at 09:23:17 AM
Yes, you read that right. This book is finished and off to the printers as we speak! Next step will be getting the proofs back – we will post pics!
I can’t express how great this feels to write and to share this exciting update with you all. It has been a massive journey and also a long time coming. We know how understanding you all have been but also the much warranted frustration as well and we share the exact same feelings. There were big highs and deep lows but your patience and encouraging words have kept us going strong right up until the end.
Sheldon and I couldn’t be more proud of what we have put together for you all. It took more time, but we felt it worth it as we added more than double the amount of art originally planned for this book. We feel the combination of art and prose is a unique approach to delivering our story and world to you all.
We promised a cinematic novella and we both feel we have achieved this experience so I really look forward to seeing all of your comments and hopefully speaking to many of you in person while attending comic cons across the country.
This is not your typical book or story or art even, so I really hope you enjoy your first steps into Aardehn and enjoy Celeste’s journey while she navigates this blood fueled adventure.
Speaking of blood fueled, check out this guy -
Cheers!!!
- Eric
June Update
2 months ago
– Mon, Jun 08, 2026 at 07:08:40 AM
This post is for backers only. Please visit Kickstarter.com and log in to read.
Aardehn Progress Update
5 months ago
– Wed, Mar 25, 2026 at 10:31:20 AM
Hello Aardehn backers,
We’re excited to share another major milestone for Aardehn: Awakening.
Following our final editorial and layout review, we, along with the creators, decided to curate additional artwork for the book. With this stage now complete, we are wrapping up book design with the new assets in hand and preparing to submit all files to the printer, where they will enter the review queue as we coordinate print timing and move into full production.
We had hoped to be at this stage a little sooner, as we expressed in our previous update, but we felt that adding more art to the book and giving Eric the time to do so would elevate the project to its best self.
This marks a significant step forward and brings us firmly into the final phase of the journey. Once the printer completes their review and confirms scheduling (with any final adjustments, if required), we’ll have a clearer timeline for production and delivery — and we’ll share those details with you as soon as they’re available. That said, cursory discussion with the printer estimates the books coming off the press and being packaged by end-of-May.
Thank you, as always, for your patience and continued support as this project has extended beyond the original timeline. Eric and Sheldon are incredibly proud of the book they’ve built, and we’re excited to get it into your hands.
All the best,
The RAID Team.
Aardehn: Production Update.
6 months ago
– Thu, Feb 12, 2026 at 02:52:05 PM
Dear Aardehn backers,
First and foremost, thank you for your patience and ongoing support.
At RAID, our goal is always to give creators the space needed to realize the strongest possible version of a book. While we set milestones and keep production moving wherever and whenever we can, life tends to happen, and sometimes distractingly so. At the end of the day, each of our books is a creator-driven project built around said creators, their vision, and their time — and that care and attention is what elevates the final work.
After a challenging year on personal fronts, we’re thrilled to share a clear step forward for Aardehn: Awakening. We have now received the majority of final artwork from Eric Vedder and have begun our final comprehensive editorial pass before moving into pre-press production.
This next phase will carry us through to the end of the month, at which point we’ll submit pre-press files to the printer and receive a full production schedule. As soon as that schedule is confirmed, we’ll share it with you.
Thank you again for staying with us on this journey as we bring Aardehn across the finish line.
All the best,
The RAID Team.
