Busy April for Band of Bards
April is here, and with it new life. Being in Buffalo means a harsh winter, but the hardest part can be waiting for spring to warm up and usher in a fresh canvas of nature. We get eager for new possibilities, a jolt of vitality, and the excitement of things to come.
That’s certainly been the case already for us at BoB. Last Saturday we attended our first in person event, the Rochester Indie Comics Expo. As we collect our thoughts and do administrative wrap ups on RICE we are also fast approaching our next crowdfunding campaign. SENTIENCE goes live on Zoop on Monday the 11th. We’re catching our breath from the weekend and rolling up our sleeves to polish off the campaign prep.
RICE was fun! It was also a learning experience for us and a validating experience. We had to choose carefully what we would bring with us to table. We also had to think through every little thing we would need to make the day successful. Planning all the details out are what separates someone from looking professional, or like an amature. We aren’t seasoned pros, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t want to look as good as you can. A big part of the con experience is networking and meeting other creators. Giving off a good impression of our small press was just as important to us as selling books. I think we pulled it off.
SENTIENCE is something we’ve been excited about for months. To think that it’s nearly go time is a bit intimidating. It’s also another benchmark on our path to be proud of. Every single work you put out is one more important step towards a long term vision. For us, SENTIENCE is a big deal because the team of Elyse Russell and Dany Rivera is a team that we believe in with all our hearts. This all woman team, which includes Damon Barret Roe and Nicole D’Andria as co-editors, has immense talent. SENTIENCE is only the first of many stories BoB plans to publish from this team.
If you haven’t seen the press release for SENTIENCE you can read it here along with the full Prologue and some concept art. This American light novel dives into the dark fantasy & steampunk genres. With a twisted tale about a necromancer sorceress named Tessienne who desperately wants to bring her daughter Kyra back to life, we delve into a world of dark delights. Tessienne deals in human Soul Energy. In fact she has a jealously guarded monopoly on the stuff. Employing an army of assassins to enforce her rule, Tessienne is looking for the perfect assassin. Her experiments in automatons pays off and she ruthlessly unleashes her clockwork android assassins on her enemies and allies alike.
Elyse Russell has conjured up a fantastical world and a story that takes us on a journey of gaining sentience, discovering free will, and having to grapple with the dilemmas of what to do with that freedom. It’s a savage existence, but that doesn’t mean we won’t encounter love, we’ll just have to spill a lot of guts to get to the heart.
American light novel, what is that? It’s our take on the traditional Japanese format that is popular among young adults. Roughly 150 pages, but with a supersized helping of art. We’re doubling the standard number of illustrations to around 20, and including some sequential art. Standing uniquely on its own, SENTIENCE is a bold move for a wider audience.
I hope you’ll back SENTIENCE when it goes live on April 11. We have some really great digital and physical offerings planned, as well as some wonderful add-on items. Don’t miss out on SENTIENCE, sign up to be notified on launch here!
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