Happy New Year!

Two weeks into 2026 and I hope everyone is recovering smoothly from the holiday season. I know I was still not ready to part ways with my coquito by the time I got back to my desk, but switching over to water has restored my health bar during these painfully dry times.

As someone who hates getting emails, I am going to spare you all from updates for every step between here and the fulfillment stage. I promise I won't vanish off the face of the Earth and leave you all in limbo, though. For example, this update is to let you know that the acrylic bookmark proofs have been approved and are off to manufacturing! I will likely send out a monthly update that aggregates all the small things inching us closer to sweet, sweet fulfillment.

Monitored Activity itself just passed the halfway point on this round of revisions. Once that's done, it's off to my beta reader, back to me, then off to the editor you guys helped fund! That's why I'm calling the next few months The Dead Zone, because I'll be nose to my screen and fingers to my keyboard until this book is polished, and that usually means a lack of exciting news to share.

However, if you'd like to stay in the know, catch the occasional snippet, or just say hi, you can follow me on Bluesky since that's the only online platform I actively haunt.

Alrighty then. That's it for now. 

I am wishing you a kinder and more restful year than 2025.

Until next time,
Mitch

It's been a week since The Book Bazaar wrapped. A whole seven days since Monitored Activity wrapped its campaign and slapped a slimy little festive bow on it. But this is only the beginning.

Thank you all for an absolutely killer campaign! I am still speechless by what was achieved here, and stoked over what's still to come.

The acrylic bookmarks unlocked late in the game, and this is your chance to grab one (or two, or three) if you'd like. Same goes for every add-on you may have missed: books, keychains, sticker sheets, a one-of-kind dust jacket, so on. Once I get all those survey answers in, it's manufacturin' time.

Once the holidays head out the door, it's time to clock in.

Final draft edits are officially scheduled for January, art files are fully formatted, I'm caffeinated, you're awesome, and now — we all chill until the new year*. And then we get this party started.

*"Chill" as in I get to keep working on this draft without worrying about the campaign.

Until next time. Have a great week, and stay warm.

 — Mitch

What an off-the-charts three weeks this has been.

I won't take up too much of your time since Backerkit has no doubt slammed everyone with a kajillion "Final 48" emails (myself included), but real quick: 

Final design will be slightly different, but I wanted to go with a fun shape that matches the book's vibe.

GULA is incredibly close to its funding goal. If you enjoy epic poems that not only push the boundaries of "traditional" epic poetry, but also dive deep into a darkness that's all too prevalent in these modern times, this piece of transgressive art is right up your alley.

And speaking of alleys...



Tales From The Alley is offering a sick discount if you grab both, which is an absolute steal! Go. Continue to support queer, indie art!

There's still two days left, so now is a great time to spread the word if you haven't!

That's it for now. Have a great Monday. Stay hydrated, warm, and don't forget to give yourself a lil' treat.

— Mitch

It's Monday. Hurray.

We are a week and some change away from wrapping up this campaign, and I continue to be blown away by all the amazing support. Keep rockin'! 🤘🏽

A quick update before I vanish for American Turkey Day: that new tier I've been teasing? It is officially live. I mean it when I say that The Curators' Bundle is not for the faint of heart. There is only one of them though, so if you're interested, you might want to act fast.



(Due to weight restrictions, this bundle is limited to the US & Canada.)

The (evil) mastermind behind that fancy dust jacket is the same artist behind the Prime Plaza keychains. This past weekend I made a Bluesky thread showing off their process, so check it out if you're at all interested in leather work!

Before I bounce, don't forget to check out what other projects The Book Bazaar has to offer! If horror is your thing — which I hope it is since you're here  — I highly recommend checking out Fairy Seasons! And while not horror per-se, GULA shares a lot of themes with Monitored Activity. Go give 'em a look if you haven't!

That's it for now. If you're American, have a safe holiday (especially if you're working retail; may you have some delicious food and a damn break). If you're not American, I am wishing you an easy week and delicious food anyway.

Until next time, don't forget to hydrate, and stay gnarly.

 — Mitch

A quick little update before all of you hop off to whatever it is you get up to on the weekends: the first stretch goal has been unlocked! STICKER SHEETS with goofy art by yours truly. Every backer gets a high-res digital image file they can print out, or they can add a physical sheet as an add-on.



We're now less than $400 away from unlocking VHS-style acrylic bookmarks! With 12 days left to the campaign, I think we can absolutely make that happen. I really, really want one for myself, okay. My bookmark collection is getting out of hand but I can always use more.

If you grabbed yourself a digital-only pledge because shipping was limited to the US and Canada, I've got some great news! Monitored Activity can now travel far, far away.

(*To most countries. Please be aware that shipping is charged when surveys go out after the campaign has ended.)

To wrap up this update, here's one more teaser for that super special tier I'll be revealing on Monday:



I promise it'll be to die for. :)

Until next time. Thank you for being awesome, and don't forget to hydrate!

—  Mitch