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some updates for the following year

with fine print book 2 almost completed i find myself  facing a strange dilemma. in 2024 i intended on putting both fine print and sunstone on pause and focusing on finishing death vigil 2 and achilles shieldmaidens. problem is death vigil is still not a book that stands on its own legs. it has an audience for sure but the numbers are unfortunately unsustainable  at the moment.

don't panic death vigil fans, the book is coming in 2024, i promised it a long time ago and will deliver, however i gotta face the fact that my audience are predominantly mature romance fans. and like with fans of any genres , just assuming that they would follow you to a different genre is naïve at best. my point being, i can't put both of my bestsellers on pause while risking on 2 unproven books at the same time. i got bills to pay after all so my new plan is, sunstone goes on its planned break as i do need to organize my notes anyways. it will be replaced by death vigil for most of next year.

at the same time, the work continues on fine print. the book has found a large passionate audience that keeps the word of mouth going consistently, and i have to award that.

this means that unfortunately shieldmaidens won't be  starting anytime soon. i can't risk a new ip  while at the same time working on a poorly performing one. it is what it is. not saying it won't happen at all just not yet.

so yeah that's the plan. next year early on releasing fine print 2 and sunstone 8 in print, then pushing on with fine print 3 and death vigil 2 (with some queen and the woodborn sprinkled inbetween as that's my personal relaxation book XD)okay, now back to work, gotta finish the sunstone update today :)just to answer future questions, this doesn't affect crimson. crimson is a fun shorter  monthly thing that will continue as is :)

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Comments

Kevin

Just my opinion, but I wouldn't mind some Bernie spice being added to Death Vigil if you think that'll bring in more of your fan base. Just sayin'...

Liz Denocte

came for sunstone, found death vigil - stayed for everything. Good thing many of us will read pretty much everything you give us ;) but I totally understand your priorities - you do what's best for you!

Gantzie

Honestly, I’m excited for anything you put out. To 2024 and beyond!

Brian Byrnes

This sounds like the best plan to me. I really want more Fine Print or Sunstone but would also try new series too

Lindsey Love

I love this plan & I love Fine Print! 🩷 Thank you, Stjepan!

Shannon

As another comment says - I came for sunstone and stayed for everything. Glad we might still get sprinkles of Queen and the Woodborn though along with the others as I do really love that one!

Vazul

Well, I came for Sunstone, I’m staying for everything! I didn’t read Death Vigil yet, but it’s on my shelf already 😁

Erica Zinn

Hell yeah more Queen and the Woodbourn, love everything you do man

Soledat

While I totally understand your reasoning, I can't help it, I'm really sad and disappointed. I have been waiting for Shieldmaidens for so long and I was so excited, I honestly thought that was the most exciting project of yours yet... So far, it looks like for next year, my two least favourite projects are staying and the most favourite are on hold. But I get that it's important to do projects that most people are interested it. Just please, don't discard Shieldmaidens completely, even if it means to leave it for 2025.

LinB

Sounds good^^ I'm looking forward to Shieldmaidens but don't mind waiting for a bit more at all, and love the program for 2024!

Diffused Mind

Whatever you put out, I’ll read. I look forward to Sunstone, Fine Print and Death Vigil!!

Travis Kraemer

😪 I was really looking forward to Shieldmadiens, I think it has the potential to expand your fan base on here. To bring in more of your fans from your work on comicbooks.

NoiramBear

I came with Death Vigil, discovered Harleen, stayed because of Fine Print, find out about Achilles Shieldmaiden, adopted your work for all eternity because of The Queen and the Woodborn. And if you are on Paris for the Comic con or something, it will be so difficult to chose what can I bring with me for signing if possible of course ! I love your work ! 2d and 3d and all !!!!

Chris

I'm happy to hear there is more Death Vigil coming! I came for Sunstone and Death Vigil but have found I am enjoying Fine Print too, so your plan to focus on those two for 2024 sounds great to me. I may also be one of the odd ones here who is still holding out hope for Ravine too, since I really enjoyed that story (and didn't notice any flaws that you describe in it); maybe one day... :)

valetnt

I was looking forward to achilles shieldmaidens but I absolutely understand your position (and frankly idk if I would have survived a year long fine print hiatus!) also can't wait for more queen and the woodborn! I came for Sunstone as many others but stayed for your incredible storytelling and art. no matter what story you are telling I'm reading it!

Paul Howard

Shame to see a delay on Shieldmaidens (who doesn't love giant mecha!), but I totally understand the reasoning. It's important to keep a "core" item that'll pay the bills to be able to fund the other things.

Sarazarus

Hey, I enjoy all of those IPs, so, nice. Any updates on Switch though? i loved it, and if I ever knew what's it's status, I forgot xD

Benjamin Allred

Do what you've gotta do. I'm gonna buy it all. 😆 I have loved everything you've put out, so I'm never disappointed.

Art of HiSS

Hardest decisions require the strongest of wills... I'm sad to hear I need to wait for Shieldmaidens a little longer, but I'll be patient, and I'll be enjoying Death Vigil regardless!

Alizarin Crimson

Came in with the Death Vigil and Sunstone crowd, stayed for them all as well. (I really really do need to catch up on sunstone. Ya girl is so behind). I’m glad one of your choices was to do death vigil as I’ve been a fan since the beginning and can’t wait to get off those pesky cliffhangers! Looking forward to another year of your wonderful creations 💕. Thank you for all your hard work making these stories come to life.

Varken Vale

I love everything you make but I am SO HYPED for more Death Vigil!!

Claudia Silva

You being able to eat and pay your bills is more important than my gratification. I will wait eagerly for Achilles Handmaidens like a grown up without a complaint.

SporkMaster5000

shame to hear about the shieldmaidens getting benched, but an entirely reasonable decision. I did want to chime in that you definitely do have overlap in fanbase across genres. After introducing some friends of mine to sunstone they bought fine print all on their own, but they also liked death vigil well enough to buy fridge magnets of Bernie, so I hope your underperformer can find its footing. Your art style and character writing are a bigger draw than any genre conventions.

LunaAlight

I can totally understand this desicion. Was looking forward to Achilles Shieldmaiden, as i love the design and generally badass mechas. Will wait for it as long as it takes.

Hal Bowman

Solid reasoning, Man! You’re blazing your own trail here. You have to make the best calls that you can, and it’s difficult to pick which projects to work on when they’re all your “kids”

Zmann966

All good dude! I'll follow you to anything you make, but I understand that I can't keep you chained in my basement churning out what *I* want 24/7! ... (Or can I? 🤔) If anything I agree with your schedule, push the new IP back until you've got the bandwidth and move through Death Vigil since it's already established.

Zoltanina

Aw. Fine Print never really grew on me so personally, I'd prefer pretty much anything else and I am a little sad. That said: Do what feels best and works for you. You need to keep your lights on and yum stuff on your table so we get more of what you do 😊

Mera

Totally understandable. Personally I love Death Vigil and am not much of a mecha fan. So next year I'll be extra happy, and then after that when you do shieldmaidens someone else will be extra happy. As long as there is at least one thing I like I'll keep following you (and I like most of your stuff, next to Sunstone/Fine Print/Crimson, also your less popular stuff like Death Vigil, Witchblade, Ravine, etc :)).

Ben Boyle

I am really looking forward to Shieldmaidens when the time comes :) But the other stories (and art) are amazing too so it's all good! No, great! :)

Maybe, maybe not

I am happy to hear this. I am very happy that you have two ongoing series that are successful (and I own hard copies of all of them and will get all the future volumes as well). But without trying to come across as too much of an a-hole I joined the Patreon back when you started it on the understanding that this would enable you create comics that *aren't* traditionally commercially viable and, yes, the promise of more DV was a big part of that. I have to admit that the fact that you have put DV on the back burner recently was annoying me a little bit.

Don Walsh

I look forward to Shieldmaidens and I really want to see Queen and the Woodborn (which I feel could be a new Stardust). But you need to make a living, and your stuff is great so... whatever you need to do! Thankfully, I will follow you from genre to genre ;)

Ryli Tonkin

i am happy with whatever you put out all of your work is amazing and all of it is something to look forward to. am looking forward to everything that is to come keep up the amazing work.

Evening

Take your time and work on stuff when you can - if all you can do it 1 breadwinner series and 1 sideproject per year, that's great. I'll be ready to preorder when they're ready for print (and subscribed here until then ^_^)

Артем Кирнев

I love both Sunstone and Fine Print, extremely hooked on Death Vigil and kinda intrigued by ShieldMaidens Ngl, that introduction gave me a mini-hearth attack. It’s sucks about ShieldMaidens… (and that no matter how strongly we may want DV+AS+FP+SS+QatWB+Switch+Ravine all at once, yesterday… Reality disagrees…) But I’m sooooooo glad that you’re still gonna be making Death Vigil for the few fans who care. Aesthetic of Death Vigil + found family dynamic = chef’s kiss 👌 Love your work ❤️

Daniel Peterson

This makes total sense as a plan. I'm glad that you've worked out a plan that is economically viable and still gets us more Death Vigil next year. And I'm excited to see where Fine Print goes next! If only there were infinite time!

Charles Hixon

Oh boy, no Sunstone updates in 2024 is going to be rough, guess fine print will have to fill the void. Are you planning to do Crimson updates sporadically? Also is it possible that Crimson could go to print later on down the line?

BrandX

Death Vigil. Seeming to share the fate of my other favorite titles/heroes (slash there to signify I don't always care for story paths they take)...and sometimes not even sure if it's lack of audience or just the creators quitting.

Alex White

As a fan of both Death Vigil and Shieldmaidens, that sounds like a reasonable compromise. The most important thing is not to wreck your arm again! Better to wait until the end of 2024 or 2025 for Shieldmaidens than for it to get shelved because you overworked yourself trying to do too much!

Mahasu

I love all the stuff you've written but I agree I think your romance works will def be what pays the bills, LOVING Fine Print soo much!!

Blake's Adventures

I love all your work no matter what one is next etc! and getting so many different genre's that i like all

Joseph

I can get what you're saying, but the whole point of this Patreon was to help make it possible for things like DV and Ravine and Shield Maidens to get made. Seeing this just be a grounds for Sunstone and Fine Print, both of which are being healthy series that can carry themselves has been a huge disappointment. I enjoy both, no doubt, but it was not what I had thought I understood the Patreon to be for. I would happily just have a tier for DV/Ravine/SM and stuff. If the Patreon is not really going to be for that, could you possibly look into doing a KS to find those titles instead? As is, I am just gonna step back from here... :(

Empo

This is why I love your writing. The world you make feels lived. People are people, and they talk as if they are people. Not just 'an actor' and the side cast.

Ross Kirkland

as a death vigil fan I am glad to hear this news! And while I would like to see shieldmaidens I can be patent. besides this just means that I can finaly marathon all the sunstone updates that I have not read yet (yay)!

Nicole

I love Death Vigil and am super pumped that it will be a focus for 2024. It is such a fun story with amazing art and awesome creature designs that it is sad it hasn't found a large audience yet. My Christmas wish is for Death Vigil to grow a healthy audience so it could stand on its own.

Foxity Fox

Totally understandable on a business side, heartbreaking on a personal side - I joined from the start to wait patiently for Shieldmaidens((

Ian

It's understandable. I am also doing some of my work on writing, but I'm struggling since I'm a beginner. It doesn't mean that I'm giving up on my dream of being a writer and bringing my creations alive to the world. Also, I'm a patient man who'll still support you, your wife, and your creations. I'm looking forward to this series from the beginning to the end. Keep up the excellent work, Stjepan Sejic and Linda Sejic!!!

Terry Edwards

The Queen and the Woodborn is an absolute gem making the Patreon thus far worth the price of admission, but with some dread I have to ask: is Ravine dead…?

Maddy Clapsaddle

Really happy that you shared this, and with this level of transparency. It’s a big shame, I do love all your work, but I support you! Do what’s best for you.

Benoit Legare

Do you plan to continue Crimson after Hours?

Katherine von der Bücherweide

I Love this level of transparency, thank you so much for sharing. Although my heart is really beating for Death vigil, shield maidens (and woodborn) I nevertheless do also enjoy your other projects like sunstone and fineprint. This kind of information really helps keeping the enthusiasm for some projects, that you may have to put on hold.

Shadow

Love all your series, smut or none. Just happy to read the stories you put out!

Jamie

Nooooo shieldmaidens! 😭

Bowman

Dude, I choose the highest tier to support all your work that includes Queen of the Woodborn [love it and I have been waiting to see more] Shield Maidens [who doesn't love giant robots?] Death Vigil [So good... The perfection of weird creepy cool spanning "good" and "evil"], Fine Print [An artistic dichotomy between love and sex], Sunstone [Classic], Crimson [Kinky with a lighter side], Ravine [go for it, pick up where you left off]. If you want honesty poll your audience, and give us a chance to support your broader range of work ........................................................................................................................... eg [Kink crowd $8] [Nerd Crowd ~$6] [Everything $X ..~$20-$50] ................................................................................................................ Regardless, I am in the fortunate position to support your art because it matters and I will definitely sign up for a higher tier if it becomes available.

EAdH

I have yet to find a work of yours I do not enjoy and buy everything you print just to support you. Hopefully the other titles gain traction so you can give everything a chance. (Ravine eventually. 😁🤞🏻)

Darth Bayes

Personally, Death Vigil is definitely my favorite of your works. I wonder if there's a systematic bias in wherever you're looking to see these sales numbers. The amount of Death Vigil fans on Patreon might indicate that it's really an advertising issue....

Mystic X

It’s a shame that “Death vigil” does so poorly, but i can’t blame you for focusing on the series that keep the lights on, so to speak, i’m looking forward to seeing whatever you come up with! :D

Sandy

There's only so many hours in the day that can (or should) be devoted to working, no matter how much you enjoy the work. Otherwise you risk burnout and all that entails. I was looking forward to Shieldmaidens and will keep looking forward to it.

Amber cartier-page

Not going to lie Fine print and woodborn are my favs and I greatly enjoy death vigil so next year looks amazing and I will be here when shield maiden

Rasmus Kaj

So looking forward to a great year of Death Vigil and Fine Print! Then we'll see if the year after may be a year of Sunstone and Achilles Shieldmaides ...

Zoltanina

If you don't mind: Where does Woodborn fit into this? Because my little folklore heart cares about that story a lot, too :)

Forge27

All good my man. Always a shame when something you make can't compete with other things, but I'm glad that this was your decision compared to trying to do it all.

Fergall

I love all the original content you have created, I started following you since an old FX magazine I found with illustrations of Ravine, still sad that ravine didn't continue, but really happy to see so much projects from you

Mysery

Was drawn in by Sunstone, but really am enjoying the variety of great storytelling in Death Vigil, Queen and the Woodborn, Achilles Shieldmaidens, and your novel! Totally understand your need to prioritize, but I am grateful for your different styles.

KeyD.

I have to admit, 2024 will be a tough year for me. Of all your stories, I love Sunstone the most and no other can replace this for me. I've been waiting for Anne and Alan's story since it was first mentioned. So this means for years and now... a whole year will come without any further development. I will survive, but it will be really, really hard. I wish we had three stjepans so you could realize all your stories at the same time. 😆

Craig Reynolds

Bummer. I was looking forward to seeing where Shield Maidens went, but it’s all good.

nbarnes

I strongly support your efforts to make doing this the sustainable, profitable, and comfortable career it /ought/ to be for you. Nice as it'd be to live in a world where you could serve all ends, that's not this world, and your fans and your bills both like Sunstone and Fine Print. And that, in turn, provides the best support available to your other projects. It was ever thus. From my own, narrower perspective, you'd have to work pretty hard to lose my support. Do what you gotta, I'll be here reading.

oreog

Death Vigil is so good! I've been dying to see where it's going since the cliffhangers of the first book!

Online Over

Became a fan of all your work through Sunstone and aching to see how Shield Maidens unfolds, but understand you gotta do whatcha gotta do to pay the bills. Plus give what your fans want. Do what you feel is the right move for yourself professionally and economically. In the end immensely enjoying all that you post here and your streams. Looking forward to your works in 2024🥳

Kat paape

Can't wait for more death vigil!

Éimí

Got hooked on your works through Sunstone and enjoying Fine Print. My mecha-loving heart was enjoying Shield Maidens (especially with trans/NB representation) I suppose it's time to start Death Vigil but it hasn't really captured me as much as your other works. That said, you need to do what will pay the bills, so looking forward to whatever comes in 2024

Elenca

*gives you the tiniest little Xenogears-buds fist bump* I’m having an absolute ball with the stories you share, and your art continues to be *so* freaking inspiring and amazing, but I know it must be a bummer to have to set something you’re excited about aside for the time being, so I just want you to know re: Shieldmaidens, when it does come back someday, I will be there with bells on.

Malinda Trapanese

I’ve been following ALL your work, actually. I first found Linda via Blood Stain & Punderworld which led me to you via Queen and the Woodborn & then Death Vigil. I was HOOKED from there & found your Patreon to see what other comics you were working on. That’s when I found Fine Print & Sunstone. I love anything with a supernatural twist so although I love everything you do, I prefer Fine Print. But I will continue to follow your work no matter what.

Thy Mian

Dude, I came for Sunstone and stayed for EVERYTHING, looking forward to EVERY story, because you're a damn amazing storyteller. Looking forward to the Shieldmaidens whenever they come, and, truth be told, am not sad that there won't be a Fine Print hiatus. All the best!

Allan Bednar

Hi, I appear to be the obverse of your main audience unfortunately! Just posting as you've a wide following - my fav picks are Woodborn and Sheildmaidens, top of the list, worth the 'patronage' just for them, absolutely.

Ellhann

I'm here for all your universes, to see all you want to create and offer to us. None of your IPs and stories have been borring to me, I'll keep the support no matter what. Your creativity itself is important, and Patreon is our way to help you following this incredible creativity. At least its how I see it. So keep creating, personnaly I'll keep supporting all your projects, as crazy they may be ! =)

Blazehoof

Shieldmaidens... T_T I get it, but I can't really be happy about it. Well, I do like all of your stuff, so it's not the end of the world, but it does make me sad...

Susan

sounds like a good decision to me, i like all your works but Death Vigil is probaly my favorite so im happy you will keep writing it.

TableTopWitchy

all makes sense and youre just one person so happy to see what you work on, definitely cant wait to see more Letters to the Vampire Queen and the Queen and the Woodborn which I've loved even though I came here for Sunstone so you never know, I really love your writing and visual story telling, you do such an amazing job with the facial expressions, the flow of the page and dialogue transitions so please, make sure you rest alot so you can keep it up!

strasa

I found Death Vigil online actually, and backed this Patreon hoping to see more of it. I'm a huge Pacific Rim fan, and a giant mecha-head and couldn't wait for more Shieldmaidens so this is sad (but understandable) news. Emerging as my favorite is The Queen and the Woodborn (I was somewhat surprised!) but I get that I'm maybe not in the majority. I was actually shocked to find how much I loved Sunstone, but Fine Print just hasn't landed for me. So I'm sad to hear how the shuffle goes, but while most the things I love aren't the priority, I keep supporting because I love your art, and I want you to be able to continue making it more than I demand a monthly release of what I specifically am a fan of. Glad to hear at least Death Vigil will be getting some love next year, and I'll be here the one after hoping for more QatW and Shieldmaidens! Good luck, keep making stuff, and take care of yourself!

gb

I expect some killjoys will pour cold water on this, but: what if we cloned you and got one Stjepan to work on each story? Then there'd be no more need to do annoying adult things like "prioritising" and "planning" and "making sensible life choices" and we'd just have to deal with whatever hideous thing goes wrong in the cloning process. (Seriously though that seems like very sensible planning and I'm glad you're working out a sensible balance between taking risks and keeping bread in your pocket. On the table. Whatever.)

Candace Lee

Perfectly understandable! Just know that I am also one of those that discovered your work in a very obscure place (second volume of Rat Queens) and then Doggedly followed every single series since - can't wait to see where Shieldmaidens and Death Vigil go, as well as ALL of your original stories! :) Funny how I first followed you for your art but now am super invested in your storytelling in general, like Letters to the Vampire Queen. Cheers!

Zeta Syanthis

As it happens I just recommended Death Vigil to a friend earlier today. Hopefully they like it and grab a copy. :D

LL

I became a Patreon supporter for sunstone, but fell in love with death vigil soon after. Very excited for 2024 as I’ve been dreading to know what happens after the last cliff hanger.

luca0483

Somehow, what i came away with from this post was that fine print has been selling well, as in it has been selling, as in it has gone to print and is in stores. Don't know how i've missed that. Gonna go grab a copy tomorrow.

Stuart Christie

I first saw your work either on Aphrodite IX or Ravine, I cannot remember which came first or which one I read first. I followed your artwork and I was always thirsty for more. I love Death Vigil and Harleen is amazing. Your artwork brought me here. Mature romance is not really my genre but I am really enjoying it. Basically wherever your artwork takes you I will follow 👌

C 🦋🌈

I trust your artistic judgement and I do really like Fine Print. And Woodborn. (I’m always like, wow, this guy is constantly putting out a ton of beautiful quality art!)

Jeroen Brugman

Looking forward to all of it (I'm more of an all-round comic fan)

L. Archangel

Followed you over from old DA actually, and while I love all your works—largely Fine Print, as it’s eclipsed Sunstone at this point—I gotta say…I’m most thrilled that QatW will be sprinkled in! I gotta know where this one goes 😆

Honey_or_Hellen

I got introduced to your work by death Virgil and, the queen and the woodborn series on webtoon. But becoming a Patreon supporter opened me up to your other works and they’ve become my favorites. I’m just happy for whatever comes next :)

D K

I love your projects. I am here for it..... and also waiting for when you can work on The Woodborn series. Thank you for all that you create.

Tulijuus

I have been very inactive in following any and all of my patreon membership feeds, so this info is most likely out here somewhere, but: is there a way to preorder the Death Vigil book? It has been one of my favourite stories of all time (even if I was on a very, veery long break), and if placing a preorder helps you in any way, I am more than happy to do it.

shiniebezial

don't worry i'll have all the relevant links for the books as we draw closer to release date. :)