Progress Report #4 - - May 17, 2006

[Kevin]

Progress Report #4 - - May 17, 2006

No rest for the weary. Joe, Shawn, Maryann and others have suggested that I slow down and get some rest before I burn out. Yeah, I wish.

Can't slow down . . . already feeling tired and a little burned out, but hanging in there. Wish I could take a week off and just sleep, but can't do that. Still catching up on things.

Too much to do if Palladium is to survive. The large influx of cash over the last four weeks has been fantastic and very much appreciated. You guys and gals are nothing short of awesome! I’ve been able to get a little caught up on what I owe freelance artists and writers, sent six books in for reprint, and paid all of April and May’s bills, and paid down on a little of the debt. But it’s not enough. We gotta keep product coming -- the prints, Anniversary glassware (very cool, btw), T-shirts, and especially new RPG sourcebooks!

I sent in my Robotech licensing proposal to Harmony Gold, and I think it’s pretty good. I’ve had several good talks with folks there, and I’m guardedly optimistic, but now it’s wait and see.

Also sent in a few more books for reprint (HU2 and Nightbane RPG).

Spoke to John Zeleznik last week and yesterday about the five covers to Carl Gleba's Minion War crossover series and just got the sketches for the first book, Rifts Dimension Book: Hades. They are both so good I'm having trouble picking one as the final cover! Nice work John. Dyval is next and I can hardly wait.

Have to look over some of Jeffry Hansen's O.C.C. descriptions and bad guys for Warparth: Urban Jungle. Btw, the Warpath novel is in Palladium Books online catalog. Something like 20 copies signed by Jeff and the Palladium crew with a gold "Open House Exclusive" sticker.

Spent the weekend signing 1,000 Megaverse United prints and put in the name and numbers on the first 500. Thought I'd surprise folks and get 500 prints out by today, but then realized we need stronger, larger mailing tubes to prevent the prints from being damaged. Wayne ordered ‘em yesterday and they should be in from Yazoo on Thursday or Friday. Julius and Hank will still try to ship out the first 500 by Friday afternoon. Sorry we can’t move any faster. The heavier tubes increase our costs a bit, but we wanna make sure you get the print in perfect condition!

Gotta jump back into Madhaven and PU3 next!! Hope to get ‘em to the printer in the next couple o’ weeks. Tome Grotesque is my project after that! Obviously, the aftermath of the public plea for help, making the print, the Open House, etc. has delayed product releases, but we hope to get on track as quick as we can.

Me and the guys are doing the Motor City Comic Con this weekend – May 19, 20, 21 in Novi, Michigan (www.motorcityconventions.com or call 248-426-8059 for info if your interested in attending). We’ll have a couple of tables and be selling select toys and RPG books. So I’ve been preparing for that too.

At least the bug that hit me last week after the Open House (lost my voice) seems to have almost run its course. My voice is mostly back and the cough is almost gone.

Things are looking promising, and we still have a loooong way to go, but thanks to you, we are smiling and feeling positive.

That’s it for now. Keep the faith and thank you for your continuing support.

Sincerely,
Kevin Siembieda