The Open House was awesome. A great success and non-stop fun. We made money. People had a blast. I got to hang a bit more with friends and freelancers, and felt reasonably fresh and alert when talking to gamers. Everyone wants us to do it again next year. People are raving about the fun they had at the Open House and it was a grand time for everyone.
D-Bees of North America and Rifts® Machinations of Doom also have met with rave reviews and are selling well. Folks can hardly wait for Hades, Dyval and Dimensional Breakout – all promising to be outstanding books in the Minion War (Hell) series.Our 3-4 biggest distributors have increased their orders for the Hell books (25%!), Rifts® and the Megaverse®: The Art of John Zeleznik has gone to press in China (it’ll be available in July) and everyone seems to be excited and talking about Palladium Books in very positive terms.
So what’s the deal? Why to do I feel so tired and down. Why can’t I get going? Grrrrrrrr.
I hate it when I hit a funk or writer’s block or whatever this is. It doesn’t usually last more than a week or so , and I’ll probably be writing like a demon by Tuesday or Wednesday of next week, but right now, I’m blah.
I know part of it is I can’t shake this bug. I was feeling better, then it came back to clobber me again yesterday. I feel sluggish, my voice is half gone and my throat hurts. I zonked out on the couch last night during Wayne’s Birthday party sometime after 10:30 PM (sorry guys) and I’m a night person.
Another part of the problem is just being tired. Like I’ve said before, Palladium’s survival these past few years has been like running a Marathon, immediately followed by another Marathon, followed by a third. Everyone works so hard. I'm so proud of my guys. Maybe I’m just beat. We all are. I hoped to catch my breath this week, but instead I feel like I could sleep for a week.
I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed. There is just so darn much to do, and I can't seem to stop thinking about stuff, from bills to current projects, to future books and all the logistics (time, work, scheduling and money) involved. It doesn't help that I remembered to buy and wrap my brother's birthday presents (May 7), but then forgot to ship 'em out! Arrgh. It didn't help seeing my Dad so upset Friday, because his long-time girl-friend is ill, maybe really, really ill. I worry about him and pray for her. It hasn't helped that another dear friend, Rita, is dealing with the serious illness of her mother (she may be dying). I have a hunch this may be a year of funerals, illness and strife for many people I know and care about.
The more I get behind, the more pent up I feel. I still haven’t answered my e-mails or Private Messages from the last week!!! I need to fill out copyright forms, I need to call Matthew Daye about The Rifter® Number Zero, as well as touch base with a few other people. I need to send Wujcik his stuff, and write my Open House Report, and a new Press Release (both difficult to do when you aren’t feeling up), and review the Robotech agreement . . .
Even more important, I need to dive into the editing and rewrite of Hades and work with Wayne to finish our new Summer Catalog (in full color for the same price it used to cost us to do black and white) and get ‘em mailed out.
Then Gen Con, Gallows Con, Dyval, Dimensional Outbreak, Robotech, Warpath and a couple pet projects loom ahead in the months to come.
I’m worried about sales and money too. Palladium needs to have a big year. And even though everything seems to be moving forward in our favor at a steady pace, even though we are building momentum, I wish it was going faster. I wish some big deal would break. I wish we didn't have work like mules. I wish we could pay off all our loans. Hmm, need to stop moping and wishing, and get back to working. Palladium is picking up speed and looking good, but the uncertainty of it all just gets to me sometimes.
I know, I know, I need to focus. Concentrate. Stay on target and get books out.
Thanks for letting me grumble and ruminate here on this page. It's nice to know that Palladium has so many wonderful friends/fans/wellwishers and people who care. It might sound silly, but it sometimes helps me to clear my head by sharing my thoughts with you, whether they be positive or negative or someplace in between. I guess that's what makes the Palladium RPG community more like friends and family than anything else. It's where I draw my strength and inspiration. Thank you for your support, kind words, and input.
Don't let this Murmur trouble you much. Palladium's on the right track, making the right moves, and looking good. If the recent releases, T-Shirts, greeting cards, and upcoming releases continue to sell well, the company will only get stronger. Whew. Deep breath. Smile and say goodbye.
Goodbye for now. I’ll post my Open House report, a new Press Release and get more new product up in the catalog (i.e. the greeting cards and a print) on Monday. Poor Wayne, that will make for a busy day for him. Oh well, "if I have to suffer, he has to suffer." Hey, I’m feeling better already.
Keep the faith and game on.
Kevin Siembieda
Publisher, Writer, Artist, Crazy Man and Fan Boy
© Copyright May 12, 2007