Azazel the Zombie Slayer: Illustrated Storybook + Tarot Deck
Created by D.L. Martone
Make 100 short-story collections about a sassy, zombie-killing cat. Plus a limited run of the ZOMBIE CATS OF NEW ORLEANS tarot deck.
Latest Updates from Our Project:
ALL SURVEYS ARE ON THEIR WAY!
about 1 year ago
– Mon, Feb 20, 2023 at 12:01:11 PM
Happy Monday, y’all!
Whether you’re celebrating Lundi Gras, Presidents’ Day, or another event entirely, I hope you’re having a marvelous day (or night).
Happy Lundi Gras from me and Dan!
As for our Azazel campaign, we’ve now received responses from 75% of the smoke-test surveys that were sent out on Friday. Thanks so much for filling out your surveys so promptly – Dan and I really do appreciate it.
Although we’re still missing a few responses, we don’t want to delay the rest of our wonderful backers, so we’ve decided to distribute the remaining surveys today. Please check your email inbox (or spam folder) for this bit of BackerKit correspondence, and pretty please (with king cake on top) send back your responses (including any add-on purchases) as soon as possible.
In order to arrange our tarot readings and upload our February rewards (such as the digital image, the French Quarter map, some add-on ebooks, and the 20 free ebooks promised to all $5-and-up backers), we’ll need to lock all orders on Monday, February 27 – one week from today. But, naturally, if you need more time, have any questions or comments, or simply don’t receive your survey, please let me know right away. I will happily (and promptly) address any concerns you might have and, if necessary, resend your survey link.
Also, if you know anyone who might be interested in our storybooks, tarot deck, or other collectibles, please feel free to send them the link to our BackerKit store (https://azazelzombieslayer.backerkit.com/hosted_preorders).
And as always, thanks for your help, interest, and support!
Sincerely,
Laura Martone
SMOKE TESTS HAVE BEEN SENT!
about 1 year ago
– Fri, Feb 17, 2023 at 04:34:44 PM
Happy Friday, y’all!
I hope February is treating you well so far, and I sincerely apologize for my three-week radio silence.
Since our trip to New Orleans (and back to northern Michigan), Dan and I have been battling two nasty colds that stubbornly refuse to go away. (Naturally, our cat, Ruby Azazel, is just fine.) I guess that’s the downside of living in peaceful isolation much of the time: We’re way more susceptible to other people’s germs!
Anyway, now that we’re finally on the mend, we’re dutifully trying to get back into the swing of work. For our Azazel Kickstarter project, that means sending out the post-campaign surveys. And I’m happy to report that, earlier today, I initiated the BackerKit smoke test, which entails sending out a sampling of surveys – just to make sure everything is clear and accurate for you, our beloved backers.
sending the smoke test :-)
So far, seven of the sixteen backers who received the smoke-test surveys have already responded – which I very much appreciate. After all, the sooner I receive the remaining nine, the sooner I can distribute the rest of the surveys and get the fulfillment process rolling.
That said, please check your email inbox (or spam folder), just in case you received one of the smoke-test surveys – and if you did, please send back your responses as soon as possible.
Thanks in advance for your help – and, again, for your interest.
If you have any questions or concerns about the surveys (or anything else), please let me know – and of course, I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Sincerely,
Laura Martone
MERCI BEAUCOUP, BELOVED BACKERS!
over 1 year ago
– Fri, Jan 27, 2023 at 02:52:27 PM
Happy Friday, y’all!
As always, I hope you’re having a wonderful day (or night) – wherever you happen to be in the world.
Our Kickstarter campaign ended yesterday, and I just want to take a moment to thank all of you for supporting our Azazel project – and helping us reach well beyond our funding goal. Dan, Ruby, and I are so grateful for your interest and encouragement – and we look forward to sending you all the promised rewards.
a grateful Martone trio
Currently, the three of us are in New Orleans, but as soon as we return to our workshop and writing studio in northern Michigan, we will send out the post-campaign surveys via BackerKit and dive into the fulfillment process.
In the meantime, have a wonderful weekend – and let us know if you have any questions or concerns.
Thanks again!
Sincerely,
Laura Martone
20 FREE BOOKS TO SUPPORTERS
over 1 year ago
– Mon, Jan 23, 2023 at 11:54:48 AM
I know Laura sent everyone an update yesterday, but I thought I'd shoot out a quick notice about the 20 Free Books Giveaway.
Everyone who has supported us at the $5 Pledge level or higher will be able to download all 20 books mentioned at the top of the campaign. We are excited to be working with all of these authors and honestly, they are offering amazing books. This should keep you all busy well into the spring.
Thank you so much for supporting our campaign!
Dan
NEW REWARD TIERS AVAILABLE!
over 1 year ago
– Sun, Jan 22, 2023 at 05:40:02 PM
Howdy, beloved backers!
I hope you’re having a wonderful day (or night) – wherever you happen to be in the world.
My hubby, Dan, and I are busy preparing for an upcoming road trip (with our cat, Ruby Azazel, in tow), which will take us from the snowy, remote woods of northern Michigan to the balmier and much livelier streets of New Orleans. Naturally, we’re excited for lots of reasons, not the least of which is the fact that we’ll soon be visiting my family, munching on yummy delectables (like oyster po-boys!), and seeing our favorite Mardi Gras parade, the Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus – which, as the name suggests, is the perfect celebration for two sci-fi/fantasy nerds like us!
Dan and Laura heading to NOLA (with Ruby Azazel snug in the back seat)
But before I dive into my last-minute packing duties, I want to let y’all know that, in response to a few questions from potential backers, we’ve recently added four more pledge levels to our Azazel campaign. Here are the descriptions for each new reward tier (all of which have an expected delivery date of May 2023 and include the option of being mentioned in a special acknowledgments section in all storybooks):
$8 – ILLUST’D AZAZEL COLLECTION(NO BOOKMARK) – With sincere thanks, we will send you the illustrated, digital version of Azazel the Zombie Slayer:A Zombie Chaos Storybook Collection (containing four short stories), the related audio commentary, and all DIGITAL AZAZEL IMAGE rewards.
$13 – AZAZEL AUDIOBOOK(W/O BOOKMARK) – With sincere thanks, we will send you the unabridged audiobook of Azazel the Zombie Slayer:A Zombie Chaos Storybook Collection, plus a digital copy of Escape from the Big Easy: Zombie Chaos Book 1 and all ILLUST’D AZAZEL COLLECTION (NO BOOKMARK) rewards.
$160 – A TRIO OF TAROT READINGS – With sincere thanks, we will send you digital copies of Zombie Chaos Books 1-3 and all AZAZEL AUDIOBOOK rewards, plus you’ll be treated to three separate, one-hour tarot readings with Laura Martone via Zoom (all of which will be scheduled at a mutually convenient time).
$300 – EXCLUSIVE, PERSONALIZED SHORT STORY – Following a one-hour, online chat with us (Daniel and Laura Martone) via Zoom, you will receive an exclusive, personalized Azazel tale starring you (or someone you know) as a feline character, plus digital copies of Zombie Chaos Books 1-3 and all AZAZEL AUDIOBOOK rewards. [Note: Only 5 of these packages are available.]
In addition, we’ve lowered the cost for our two “tuckerization” packages – that is, the tiers that offer backers the chance to inspire a minor or major character in one of Azazel’s brand-new short stories. The MINOR TUCKERIZATION level, originally priced at $250, is now $200, while the MAJOR TUCKERIZATION level has dropped from $500 to $400.
So, if any of the above tiers appeal to you (or someone you know), please don’t hesitate to spread the word before our campaign ends this Thursday, January 26th, at 9 p.m. EST.
And if you have time, please check out these other Kickstarter campaigns from some of our fellow writers and artists:
I’m routinely in awe of the gorgeous creations that emerge from the magical mind of award-winning photographer, artist, and author Therena Carlin, and her latest Kickstarter campaign is no exception. She’s offering a slew of vibrant, hand-illustrated dragons, from the whimsical to the sinister, in a variety of formats – including postcards, Oracle decks, art prints, enamel pins, and an ever-growing art zine. So, if you’re as enamored with her artwork as I am, visit her KS page before her campaign ends at 10 p.m. EST on Saturday, January 28th.
As a lifelong traveler and “recovering” guidebook author, I’m a huge fan of travel memoirs. So, naturally, I’m thrilled to share my friend Joanna Penn’s first-ever Kickstarter campaign – and I was delighted to back it as soon as it launched earlier today. If you’re a fellow travel lover, you should definitely check out her project (which offers the memoir in ebook, audio, paperback, and hardback) before it wraps up at 10:15 p.m. EST on Sunday, February 5th. Jo is a fantastic novelist and nonfiction writer – and this is sure to be one of her most meaningful works yet!
Fans of YA fantasy should explore author Katie Cherry’s current project, which focuses on a half-dragon teenager named Crystal who “must rise to the throne and uncover her suppressed powers before all seven realms are destroyed by the coming darkness.” You’ll find ebooks, (signed and unsigned) paperbacks and hardcover versions, bookmarks, postcards, a series guidebook, and other goodies – but only if you visit Katie’s KS page by 10:45 a.m. EST on Sunday, February 5th.
If you’re fond of zany, colorful artwork inspired by animals, then look no farther than Patty Jansen’s latest Kickstarter project. An award-winning sci-fi/fantasy writer and artist, Patty has created a wonderful collection of 1920s-style artwork featuring the secret lives of greyhounds. Offerings include digital posters, postcards, and a hardbound art book. Check it out by 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, February 8th.
YA fantasy author Day Leitao has just launched her first Kickstarter, which features a stunning, collector’s-edition omnibus of her complete Kingdom of Curses and Shadows series – a quirky, fast-paced series filled with magic, mystery, adventure, snarky banter, girl power, royal intrigue, and enemies-to-lovers romance. Back the campaign by 8 p.m. EST on Saturday, February 11th, for an assortment of rewards, from short stories and digital art to bookmarks and illustrated, hardcover novels.
Well, folks, that’s it for now. As always, thank you so much for your generous support and enthusiastic interest! (Ruby Azazel thanks you, too!)
