(Rather lengthy note because I tend to write these monthly and all at once, but there are new pictures of Nina below if you want to skim.) 

To everyone reading this who pre-ordered: A half-thousand thank yous. 

 I’m starting to really like the 3rd of the month. The campaign to get These Are My Friends on Politics published launched on January 3rd. Thanks to a ton of you, it reached its light-publishing goal on February 3rd. A month later, thanks to a second ton of you, we’ve doubled that goal and stand more than two-thirds the way toward the full-service publishing deal. I won’t bore you with the details of what goes into that deal, except that it includes the ability for me to eventually walk into a physical bookstore and awkwardly stand near my own book and watch customers read it like David Duchovny’s character did in the first episode of “Californication.” (I hope that’s where the similarities between that character and me end, for the record.) 

So again, thank you. What has happened so far is miles beyond what I anticipated happening when I pressed the big green button to start this campaign. I cannot appreciate it enough. 

To everyone reading who has followed but not ordered: Thank you too. 

When you keep an idea to yourself for years while attempting to develop it into something tangible — I’m a big believer in the superstition that discussing projects before they’re presentable is a far worse jinx than walking under a ladder — it’s easy for that idea to grow stale before you even get to share it. Conversely, when you finally do share it, all at once, with people you know and don’t know, it’s extremely weird. But when I see someone react to the book upon seeing it for the first time, as brand new to them as it was to me when I first envisioned it, and when I see them respond positively enough to follow its progress, it’s gratifying every single time. There are myriad great projects in the works on Inkshares, all looking for support, and no one can monetarily support them all. So thank you for expressing the interest you’ve expressed in this project. It does not go unnoticed.

(I’d be remiss if I didn’t still encourage you to pre-order, of course, but mostly, I just want to say thank you.)

To everyone still reading: Here’s a small portion of a page you haven’t seen before, presented completely without context.

Only a portion, because I want to keep as many surprises locked down before the book is in your hands. But in case you’re worried the book is secretly only six pages long because that’s all I’ve shown off, here’s a completely vague part of another page. I won’t explain what’s going on though.

To everyone who’s just here to see the new pictures of Nina: I understand.

As promised. Enjoy. And thank you again. More to come. (Perhaps on April 3rd.)

Greetings wonderful people, 

I have been interviewed by Christine Brennecke, a fellow Inkshares author, for her blog Myths, Mists & Musing. I feel like I’m going places. We discuss Beyond the Code, my writing process, and general other Kelsey stuff. Check it out. It was a real new experience for me. 

http://www.mythsmistsmusings.com/#!Author-Interview-Kelsey-Rae-Barthel/cgm7/56d7b5bb0cf25a66a535bb5c

Also we are past the half way point in this campaign and we’re doing pretty good but we can do better. If you want to see Beyond the Code as a reality pre-order a copy now. Times a ticking. 

In closing thank you all of those who have backed my work so far, please pre-order if you haven’t, and check out Christine Brennecke’s blog. 

Goodnight everyone