November Emerges; Onwards and Upwards!

[Also posted to Kickstarter!]

Dear Adventurers,

[First-- If you need to change your address; do not worry! I've had a few messages with address changes; but the book and print run are not yet ready for addresses or surveys, so there is nothing for you to do at this time. However, I appreciate you being on top of it!! Kickstarter and I will notify you directly when it is time.]

tl;dr-- I am moving to the UK imminently. While this does change a few things for the fulfillment of this project; it does not change the love and heart I continue to pour in to finish the cookbook, to get it to you as soon as I can. My husband and I have been working towards the UK for several years, and while it's not the most convenient timing, of course I'd prefer this project be done before we moved; I'd prefer a lot of things went differently, since Summer 2024!

If you've been following my updates; you know progress has been slow while I deal with flaring symptoms and settling into a new pace, my new, disabled 'normal'. This has been hard. Physically, mentally, emotionally. I feel sloth-like, when I'm used to pedal to the metal crunch time to finish a project. I am reliant on the care and support of my family. I am deeply ashamed at how delayed this project is. I am so grateful for your patience, I am trying so hard, and I care so much about it. </3

My health journey of the past year or so has overwhelmed me. Starting with this Project's Launch being delayed for a week because I suddenly had acute appendicitis and emergency surgery, then a horrible case of covid, a downward spiral, that first terrifying midnight ambulance ride almost a year ago now, the CSF Leak, the migraines, the POTS diagnosis, the EDS diagnosis, the ~4 months mindlessly and painfully bed bound waiting for the blood patch injection to my cervical spine, then recovery, the chronic rebound pressure headache, walking again, then the traumatic ectopic unviable pregnancy, emergency surgery to save my life yet again; ongoing unsolved autoimmune issues, and sickness after sickness.

Additional stress, regardless of the source, sets me back. When I say that dealing with Health Insurance has been the most stressful part of this; including suddenly losing it in August, the price hikes(x2. yikes.), and uncovered specialists I've been dealing with, I hope that conveys the magnitude. Financial health stress is no joke, worrying about whether or not I'm covered if something happens, when something is always happening, is so scary.

Once we move, my health will no longer be reliant on employment or the whims of health insurance companies, taking the pressure off of us both. My doctors also recommend higher humidity, less heat, and less extreme temperature fluctuations. My system is routinely shocked by the ~30 degree difference between the lows and highs here in Colorado. All my doctors are on board with a UK move improving my quality of life, energy, and ability. 🥲 I will miss all of my Colorado people, my friends and family here, and my Denver Fan Expo folks especially (I love ya'll.)

Now that my Visa has been approved; the move is real, and plans are suddenly in motion.

I will be taking the next ~four~ weeks to pack, prep and automate fulfillment for your books once they are here, and sell a lot of our things. Then, we will be moving, cats and all, to the UK in early December. Fulfillment prep within the next month will go a long way once the print run is here; so while the file formatting and draft finalization will be paused, work on this project continues!

I really hoped that the print run would be underway by this point, but it isn't, so my work will resume once I am safe and sound on the other side of the pond. I suspect I will have a much easier time working over there, away from so many sources of stress. That said, I am so sorry; it will not be ready for you in time for the holidays this year. :(

At the bottom, I answer a few questions you might have, but please let me know if there's anything else you would like me to answer. To be honest, I have always wanted to live in another country, and to finally have the opportunity in front of me-- I am happy and hopeful in a way I haven't been in a long time.

Thinking of you all daily, wishing you all the best, and channelling that Triforce energy as much as possible,
Aimee ♥︎

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ps-- some of you knew of our moving to the UK plans for many years; but I'm sure you have questions, so here are some answers:

• How did you get a visa??? My husband was born in London, and has dual citizenship, so I qualified for a spouse Visa.
• Where in the UK??? We'll be in South England; near enough to London to have access to specialist doctors, and his old haunts, friends, and family. Our dream, of course, was Scotland, but we'll see where the adventure takes us in the next few years.
• Will you fulfill the Kickstarter out of the UK? no! My business is still in the US, the majority of you live in the US, so the print run will be delivered to Colorado still, and fulfilled by an amazing local indie company. Only my location is changing.
• What about signing the cookbooks for select tiers? This I have not solved. My printer will not do Signature page "tip ins" that I sign in advance of the books being bound(ridiculous!), so I am trying to convince them to offer that. I feel that including a signed sticker for you to put in the book is just not the same as my signing the page directly. I may have to fly back to the US to do it, but travel is really hard for me. I'm open to suggestions.
• How are you moving? We are going over with a few suitcases and our cats, then pallet shipping our books and remaining important things.
• What are you selling? I will be auctioning my wooden life-size Traveller's Sword replica from Breath of the Wild, with sheathe, that I crafted for my Link cosplay ages ago-- keep an eye out on my website; I'll also be selling some very old, bad, Zelda fanart I made in college. If you sign up for "Art" emails, you'll be notified!
• ...any koroks this update? I had no energy for making new Korok guardian watercolors this month... hoping to do at least one more batch before we go!

Do you have any other questions? Let me know! Also... Happy Birthday! And my deepest gratitude to those patrons of my new, still in progress, website <3

To all of you still reading, I hope November sings your song, that you have good luck, good timing, and that unending courage we so admire in our Link. I've got this, you've got this, we've got this. As my parents say (they are hot air balloonists), "Onwards and upwards!"