FIRST! Good news, both editions are actually, physically, PRINTING! 🔥

Which is spectacular! 🎊  I also want to apologize- it's been almost a month since my last update- I was just waiting for something to happen, because:

SECOND! The printing is taking FOREVER. 💀 ⌛️ 🌷

I am so sorry. As you have seen on the Discord, these Cookbooks, which were finalized by me in December, have been taking a hundred goddess-darn years to print. 🕰

It has been driving me up a wall; I'm sure it's even worse waiting as a backer. ⏱  When I submitted the print run, the estimate was 8 weeks to get to me! As of now, mid-February, the estimate is still 8 weeks. 😔 Every week, something happened to delay, though we are, apparently, on track now! (I'll include details about the delays at the end of this update). Add 2 more weeks for me to turn over, sign them, and ship them to you, and that's 10 weeks total from now, which is:

By the END of APRIL, the Cookbooks should be in YOUR HANDS!

⏰ Right now, I've done everything I can do, and it's just time to wait! But- I am so sorry about taking so long before to finish the bonus pages and finalize everything. 💜 I'll get them to you as soon as I possibly can.

THIRD! At least, THESE ARE GOING TO BE AMAZING! 👑

🔥 Both print companies, for Standard and Master, love the designs, are incredibly excited about the finished product, and have really done their due diligence to make sure everything was perfect before going to print. 🏆 It was so gratifying to have a printing team thrilled with the final cover designs! 😂

I'm so thankful that they have been so serious about the whole printing process- these cookbooks are not simple, and while the journey has been frustrating, the end result will be the center piece of your bookshelf- though, I hope it's more often found open on your countertop. ♥️

FOURTH!  The actual printing is going well! 🖨

This project is ACTUALLY HAPPENING! 📚 Whenever you back a Kickstarter, there's always the risk that something horrible happens and the project doesn't come to anything- but it's succeeding! I've budgeted correctly! The cookbooks are happening! 🥳 The print companies and shipping costs have been fully paid, and all of my earlier calculations are working out! 📈

I have more than enough left to finish everything and ship, and some extra margin has been used to upgrade your paper to a higher quality, order some extra books, and a few little add ons here and there I couldn't resist 🎁 (you deserve it. Thank you for being so patient, I know this timeline isn't what you signed up for, and I just want to thank you for trusting me and sticking with it.)

FIFTH! Mini Updates! 🎈

I just have a bunch of little mini-update/progress/exciting things you might have missed from the Discord that I don't know where to put, so here they are!

⭐️  The Master Editions will take up 6 pallets! (Each 40 x 48 x 42"!) In addition to the Standard Editions (Estimate is 3 to 4 additional pallets!), this will fill up my garage/woodwork shop! 📦

📜 I just filed this work with the Library of Congress! It's going to be legitimately published! 😮

🔖  The leather bookmarks for the Master Edition bundles are coming along! I bought a strap cutter, which is a magic tool, and it has already made my life better! 🔪

🎀  I picked out the sewn-in ribbon bookmarks for the Masters! I decided on a garnet red, emerald green, and sapphire blue, like the spiritual stones! ❤️💚💙

📖 The Master Editions have a completely different and new design, completely redone from the Standard Edition. I've combined the silver and gold gilding and embossing against the deep blue faux leather in a way that I really hope you'll love, very reminiscent of an old world tome! I've not yet shown anyone the designs except the print companies and my partner! I'm not sure yet if I should show you, or if I should keep it totally secret until you open it! Please vote in the comments! 💌 (Would you like to see it early, or be surprised??) 🎉

❄️ Okay, so, I was taking a walk... and it was snowing, had already snowed a few inches, but I like to walk around the neighborhood during weather, so I was having a great time- but there was a young man outside too! He was shoveling his driveway and looked- perplexed? Having a moment? I said hello, and turns out, he had just moved from Florida and this was his first ever snow!! I invited him and his wife over for board games, so we exchanged phone numbers, and later that night, he suddenly texted, "WAIT. Are you the Zelda cookbook person?!" 😮 😮 😮 😮 😮 😮 😮 😮 😮 😮 😮 😮 😮 😮 😮 😮 😮 😮 😮 😮 😮 😮

This is a small world, I can't believe I can meet you all just wandering around in the wild. During a BLIZZARD.Congratulations on the move!!

Oh! And for anyone else who has moved recently- 🚚  you can update your shipping address here on Kickstarter! Just go into your account, click on this project, and then you can update your survey (and address). I will also send out a notification 3 days before I actually ship, so this is not your final warning, don't worry! ❤️

- Delay Details - ☀️ The Last 4 Weeks of my Existence 🌙

A) Master Edition (Re) Designs. - To make sure that my (admittedly complicated) cover design could be accepted and printed, it had to be redone over a dozen times. Since these are the first books of their kind (no other book printed by this company has this amount or combination of extras. Multi-foil stamping, embossing/debossing, faux leather covers, gilded edges, ribbons, rounded spines, raised spine bands, etc), each of these had to be redesigned to fit together.  A lot of back and forth with the print company, pushing the edge of what could be done with the unique combination of add ons. Rounded spine wasn't playing nicely with the debossing, along with a medley of other headaches. I had to have a separate corresponding file for each particular cover upgrade (gold foil, silver foil, emboss/deboss, raised spine bands). Then, after everything was confirmed, the printing timeline was extended, as it's more complicated than the usual books they print (sigh!) Eventually, the design was perfected for production... but...

B) Coronavirus. - China began shutting down factories and quarantining for the Coronavirus. This is only effecting the Master Editions, as the Standards are being printed in the US. From the printing company:

The Coronavirus issue in China is causing delays in our production partners' facilities. Our typical turnarounds will see added time as the Chinese government works to contain the virus and prevent it's spread in the country.  On behalf of our Chinese co-workers and partners, we thank you for your understanding and patience.

Now, everything seems to be good and moving forward, so I believe the 8 week (+2 weeks for me fulfilling) estimate is an accurate one! By the End of April this quest shall be conquered~!

♥️ Wishing you the best from Colorado!!! Please take care of yourself and your friends! ♥️

Whenever you want an update- please do feel free to ping me on Discord or here on Kickstarter- I often get lost in my work or feel like I don't have enough new information to email all of you at once, but your messages help me stay accountable to all of you too! We're all working hard all over the world- please eat healthy and take care of yourselves- I promise to do the same! 💪 🥦  I've been going to the gym regularly!! :D Join me!!!

With the cookbook designs out of my hands, finally, I've been in a much better place mentally and physically. 😁 It truly feels like the end is in sight, and I'm so glad for it. 💡 A weight has been lifted! I can't wait to see you all start cooking, start making these recipes your own! I cry about it. 😭  I'll update again when I get tracking shipment information! 🎁

Aimee ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥