First update in a long time! And I've got an announcement: Going forward, I'm going to be Itchfunding the Field Guide, to pay for the development costs. (This also gives me an incentive to update the Guide on a regular basis! Which I haven't done in two years...) If you've previously downloaded the Guide from itch.io, you should be able to continue to download future updates; you're basically "subscribed" to the Guide now. 

(Speaking of future updates: I'm prepping a new update at the moment, and I hope to post it within a week!)

Here's a FAQ about what Itchfunding entails.

What is Itchfunding?

“Itchfunding” is an itch.io-based alternative to crowdfunding sites like Kickstarter or Backerkit — a more flexible alternative that’s less stressful for creators. There’s no hard endpoint for a campaign, or a risk that the funding will fail. The campaign usually remains open until funding goals are met — and the ebook remains in development until then, too. In this case, since I don't plan on discontinuing work on the Field Guide anytime soon, I may just leave the campaign open indefinitely, and use the money I make for exclusive art and text for the Guide!

What am I funding, exactly?

In traditional crowdfunding, you're funding a final product. With this model, you fund the development and progress of the Field Guide, instead — though if you fund the ebook, you’ll get a PDF of the final release version of the Guide (assuming I ever call the Guide “finished!”)!

The Field Guide is in active development. When you purchase it, you get what’s called the Ashcan Version — the latest available version — and you're subscribed to all updates in the future. Your payment(s) goes toward improving the ebook with more text content and art. This in-development version of the Guide is offered at a discount; expect the final version to retail for $15-20 when the final version comes out (if there's ever a final version).

What are funding goals?

They’re kind of like Stretch Goals for a Kickstarter. After each funding goal gets hit, I’ll write the text or commission the art in question, and update the PDF when it's done. I’ll add more funding goals as the current ones are met, and as I get a better sense for what the ebook needs.

What about Community Copies?

I want people to be able to read the Field Guide no matter what! If you can’t afford to pay for it, please feel free to get a Community Copy. The one thing I ask if you do is: If you end up liking the Field Guide, that you leave a rating and maybe a comment on here! It helps to build my visibility.