The Final Stretch!
over 4 years ago – Wed, Oct 27, 2021 at 09:44:55 PM

I Hope you're all starting to get excited for Halloween 🎃 I am!

I keep saying this, but what an amazing effort! In 3 weeks, we hit the funding goal and we're now counting down to the last day. It's now time for me to start organising the backer surveys you'll receive once the campaign ends. This will be the final step where you enter details for where the rewards will be sent, you'll confirm your add-ons and shipping will be processed. 

There are just under 6 days left of the campaign and we still have some stretch goals to move towards, however...

What happens to the extra money if the stretch goals aren't reached?

Any funding reached under the first stretch goal will go towards a larger print run of books. The initial goal was 500, but now that we've raised more money, the total has been bumped up to 750.  This means more copies to send out into the world for people to learn Skullboy's wisdom! 

So please, keep on sharing this campaign with the people you know and across your socials. More funding means more Skullboy!

Thank you, I look forward to giving you another update soon.

Stay Skullbrained,

Scott 🖤💀🧠📚

WE DID IT!
over 4 years ago – Tue, Oct 26, 2021 at 02:57:12 AM

Skullboy and the Leap Of Faith is 100% funded and happening! You've probably all been receiving the notifications in your inbox. Thank you so much, everyone, I can't express the gratitude I'm feeling right now. After having this story be a part of me for so long, I can't believe it's about to see its fulfillment. Thanks for believing in it as much as I do.  In other news...

McLaren Vale Primary Reading

Today I visited the primary school that I attended as a child and did the first in-person reading of the book. The kids were great! Really attentive and asked some great questions. The kids really were switched on. Thanks to the staff and teachers for being so accomodating. It was such a surreal experience to be back here to tell my story and journey to a new generation. I had such a great time!

Book #2 Title Revealed!

After writing the Leap Of Faith, and while I was living the life that I'd created after taking my own, I realised that were so many more factors that played into what I had achieved.  One day, when out hiking with some new friends in Vancouver, the title for the next Skullboy book popped into my mind. "Skullboy and the Valley Of The Blind". This book continues Skullboy's journey after taking a leap of faith and deals with the repercussions of getting lost in distractions and ignoring the world around us.  He meets new friends, faces new foes, and gets swept up on a path that will eventually lead to answering the questions that have often been asked.  "Does Skullboy ever go home?" "Does Skullboy ever become human?"

There's still plenty more to achieve and stretch goals to aim at unlocking, so please keep spreading the word! We still have just over a week to raise the roof even more!

I very much look forward to the next update! And once again, thank you! 

Stay Skullbrained,

Scott 🖤💀🧠📚

"Why does it say shipping is $0?" More Q&A and school visits!
over 4 years ago – Sun, Oct 24, 2021 at 08:46:14 AM

Happy Sunday, everyone! We're not too far from entering the final week and only have 6% until the project is fully funded! So so close, and the feedback has still been great! 

School Visits

Friday afternoon I was invited to do a Zoom call and read the book with an aftercare class at a school in NSW. The age range was 5-9 and the kids loved it! When I ask "Who likes spooky things?" I almost had to turn my speakers down with the response I got! Tomorrow morning, I'll be visiting my old stomping grounds, McLaren Vale Primary School where I spent the majority of my primary school years. It's going to be very surreal stepping foot onto the grounds again after so long. I can't wait!

Now for some more Q&A!

Why does it say shipping is $0 but there's a shipping table?

Some people may have missed this in the campaign, and I apologise for any miscommunication and if I hadn't made it clearer.  Some have noticed shipping comes up as $0 but I've included a shipping costs table under the rewards.  Shipping is going to be handled by Backerkit, a campaign managing platform. There will be a survey sent out at the end of the campaign where you'll enter in your information and pay for the shipping.  I highly encourage you to check out this quick 5-minute video to get more information on campaign fulfillment through Backertkit. Of course, any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out!

Did Skullboy ever get a proper human body?

This question comes from a student in New Zealand...such a good question, and again, one that would spoil so much if I gave it an answer. Patience... you'll find out eventually!

How long did it take to write Skullboy?

Writing Skullboy and the Leap Of Faith didn't take that long to do, from what I can remember. It was 11 years ago when the first draft was created now!  There was a lot of refinement, however. Especially when it comes to rhyming and making sure it flows. There were several adjustments over the years when it came to certain words or phrases, but the story remained the same.  It was actually based on another story I had written called "The Sad Story Of Skullboy" but I was told it was too dark, needed a happy ending, and more characters. So my mentor and I spent half a day workshopping some ideas, creating new characters Skullboy could meet and a new ending. That's when "Skullboy and the Leap Of Faith" was born! 

Great questions! If anyone has any more for me, you can email them through to [email protected]. 

Enjoy the rest of your weekend, everyone. Keep spreading the word about the story. Every last little bit helps in the final week! You're all the best. 

Stay Skullbrained,

Scott 🖤💀🧠📚

'Is this book religious?' and other questions!
over 4 years ago – Thu, Oct 21, 2021 at 04:18:38 PM

Hi everyone, I hope you're having an amazing week. Since my last update, we now have less than $1k to get this over the finish line...no more K's! An amazing effort by all of you 🥰 Thank you!

I've had some questions from school kids and other people come in, and while I was hoping to film the answers to these questions, I haven't been able to get in front of the camera just yet. So I'll answer a few of them here! 

Is this book religious?

I've had this question a couple of times now. I can understand how you might think that with the title including the word 'Faith', but it isn't religious (unless spooky is your religion 👻). The phrase 'Leap Of Faith' is defined as an act of believing in or attempting something whose existence or outcome cannot be proved or known.

It's something I had to do. I had no idea if I'd make it into animation, I didn't know how long it was going to take, or if I'd get to work on my dream projects. I just had to believe that it was possible. That's what having faith means. 

Are you going to make a part 2?

I really can't tell you that...but did you see that super-secret stretch goal if the campaign gets funded? Wonder what it could be? 😏

How does Skullboy eat?

With his mouth! Sorry, that's all I got for that one 😂

Did Skullboy ever end up going back home? 

Aw, another question I really can't answer. There's a thing in storytelling called the Hero's Journey. The hero gets a call to action to leave home and explore the wilderness beyond in search of truth and meaning. Check out the graphic below.  

Skullboy has heard the call and he has crossed the threshold...and I've already said too much. 

If anyone else has any questions about Skullboy and his adventure, the writing process, or anything else, I'd love to hear and answer them in another update! Email me on [email protected] 

12 days to go! Let's do this 🙌

Stay Skullbrained, 

Scott 🖤💀🧠📚

Halfway mark, new reward, and some very kind words!
over 4 years ago – Wed, Oct 20, 2021 at 08:17:34 PM

Hello!

Here we are at the halfway mark! Crazy how much time flies.  In just two weeks, the campaign has soared towards its funding goal. It currently stands at 83% funded. Ah-mazing! Thank you to everyone who has pledged and shared this campaign among your friends and family. 

Some of you may have noticed a message from me with a special backer graphic just for you. If you haven't received one yet, it will be coming. Feel free to post this on your social media accounts with a link to the campaign. It would really help with getting the word out there and smashing the funding goal. Also, I really want to reveal the big secret stretch goal when we are 100% funded! 😉😉

New Reward!

For the teachers, educators, and even parents out there, I've created a new reward. You'll receive 3 copies of the book, all of the other goodies from the previous reward tiers and also a teacher's kit. The teacher's kit comes with activities, colouring pages, and a learning guide to help discuss some of the topics presented in the book. Grab one for your school! If you have any further questions, please reach out to me. 

If you are a teacher or know a teacher that would like a live classroom reading of the story, please also reach out to me. Hopefully, we can arrange something! 

Incredible words!

Just this week I was contacted by a very special friend, who has been with Skullboy since his inception and has one of the very first printouts I did of the story when I was seeking feedback. He said some very kind words about the project that he's allowed me to share with you. 

I’ve read the first edition of Skullboy and the Leap of Faith more times than you could imagine over the last 5 years. There is a special kind of encouragement, like a permission to challenge the thoughts which give rise to the dark times, which you so eloquently express through the lens and experiences of your skull-headed mate.   It remains as powerful and as potent today, as it did the first day I had the honour and the privilege to read it.

This is such wonderful feedback, that nearly brought a tear to my eye. It's the very essence of what the story is about and why I decided I needed to get this book out into the world.  It can do as much for the adults reading it as it does for the children. Thank you, Toby, for confirming why this story is so important! 

As a treat, here's an image of one of the very first physical copies of Skullboy and the Leap Of Faith! Aren't my Photoshop skills awesome?

 So, that's it for the halfway point update! Keep an eye out for those special backer graphics and please, keep spreading the word of the campaign! More news to come...

Thank you! 

Stay Skullbrained,

Scott 🖤💀🧠📚