The first set of special edition trade paperbacks for the Champions of St. Euphemia have arrived, so today we’ll have a look at them.
As well as the new covers, these editions feature a duplexed cover with the illustration from the current retail editions printed on the inside of the cover. They also include the new series map and background images on the chapters.
These trade paperbacks are available through my current Kickstarter campaign, which runs until the end of the month. After that, you’ll be able to order them in my online store for delivery after February 2026 or for pick-up at in-person events after February. They live on the Champions page in my online store.
Backers of the Kickstarter campaign get a lot of bonus goodies along with their books. First, there’s the digital download of the new Reader Companion for all backers, as well as the downloadable map, ten downloadable family trees and five downloadable colouring pages.
Backers of the print editions will get a signed bookplate for each book ordered, as well as a luxe foil bookmark and a set of stickers featuring the illustrations.
I’ve also added a tier to get just the print goodies – the stickers and the bookmark – along with the trade paperback version of the Reader Companion. It’s available as a reward, or as an add-on, if you choose a single book.
The printer sent me a notification that the hard covers shipped at the end of last week, so I should be able to show them to you soon. 🙂
The Kickstarter campaign runs through July 31 and has funded. Don’t miss out on the extra goodies for backers!
I’ve been a bit quiet this past month, as I’ve been juggling a lot of things. One of those things is the Kickstarter campaign for the new editions of The Champions of St. Euphemia series of medieval romances. It’s coming together really well, so let’s have another peek before it launches on Wednesday.
First up, we have a map.
The map is included in all new editions (ebook, trade paperback and hardcover). It will also be available as a digital download for all backers, so you can print out a larger version at home.
I’ve already told you about the new Reader Companion, which is also a digital reward for all backers.
I’ve also made the Reader Companion a pre-order in my online store. It will deliver in February 2026. There will also be a trade paperback edition of the Reader Companion, available at Kickstarter in July or in my online store in February. It won’t be distributed to retailers.
When you order all five print books through the campaign, you’ll get a set of five signed bookplates, a set of five round stickers featuring the illustrations of the couples, and a luxe bookmark with foil. You can order drop-shipped books, which saves on shipping costs, and these other rewards will be mailed to you separately.
The digital rewards on this campaign include the Reader Companion, the download of the map, but also a download of the ten family trees from the Reader Companion, and five colouring pages, too.
Kickstarter has added a new feature supporting payments by installment. If your pledge is $175 CAD or more, this option will be offered to you. It divides the pledge into payments – I think there are three in total. One third of the pledge is charged at the end of the campaign, then the other two at 30 day intervals. Please read the details at Kickstarter, in case I’m mistaken about this.
I’ve also enabled late pledges on this campaign, which means you can back certain tiers until August 15. Between the end of the campaign and August 15, however, those tiers are slightly more expensive.
I also made two videos this weekend. The first shows my proof editions of The Crusader’s Bride – the covers are perfect, but I’ll tell you about the changes made to the interiors for the final books.
The second shows two of the additional rewards included with the top reward tier, the one that includes all five signed hardcovers.
One of the fun things about setting up a Kickstarter campaign is deciding on other goodies to make available to backers. Let’s talk about those today.
Digital Rewards
Digital rewards are available to all backers, regardless of whether they back tiers with physical or digital products.
The map for the Champions of St. Euphemia is something I’ve wanted to have drawn for quite a while, and I’m excited about it. As mentioned yesterday, the map will be included in each of the new special editions, as a black and white double-page spread in the print books and as an image in the ebooks. It will also be offered as a two-page PDF digital reward to backers. That means you’ll be able to print it out on two 8.5″ x 11″ sheets, then tape those together to have a larger reference map. I’ll be able to show this to you by the end of the month.
I’ve also compiled a Readers’ Companion for the series, which will be a digital reward for backers. This ebook includes: • an overview of the series • a character list of the company • a synopsis for each book • a character list for each book • two family trees for each book (ten in total) • a brief history of the Knights Templar • a list of historical figures mentioned in the series with a short bio for each one • a brief history of the crusades. It started out as a character list and kept growing!
The ten family trees will also be available as a digital reward, sized for 8.5 x 11″ paper, so that you can print them out as a larger reference if you choose.
There are also five colouring pages, one of each illustration of the couples, which are a digital reward for all backers. Download them, print them out, and colour away!
Physical Rewards
We talked yesterday about the signed bookplates that will be mailed to backers of print books. There’s a different one for each book.
There is also a bookmark for backers of the sets of five print books. This is a larger format bookmark, showing all five of the new editions, and it has gold foil accents on both sides.
Just for fun, I’ve added a set of round stickers, each featuring one of the couples framed like a jewelled brooch. Backers will get the sticker for the print book they buy – one or all five.
Early Bird Rewards
I always offer an early bird reward, and this time, it’s a set of five vellum inserts along with the set of five hardcovers. Each vellum insert will feature one of the illustrations of the couple. I haven’t decided yet whether to limit this by time or quantity, but it will be for early birds.
Why Buy at Kickstarter
The simple answer is that you’ll be getting something special, unavailable elsewhere.
These special editions aren’t going into retail distribution, which means you can only buy them directly from me, either at Kickstarter or at Hazel & Honeysuckle Press after the campaign is over. They will also be offered in future historical romance Kickstarter campaigns BUT all of the additional rewards – the bookplates, the stickers, the reader companion, the colouring pages, the downloads of the map and family trees, the vellum inserts – will only be available from this Kickstarter campaign. You have this one chance to add all those goodies to your books.
The new family tree for Inverfyre is done and ready for you to download. This is updated through The Runaway Bride (1434) but you can see there’s a little bit of foreshadowing about the Hawk, too.
It’s been added to the Family Tree page with the other Ravensmuir family trees, too.
I’m so happy that these updates are finally done. 🙂
The family trees for Ravensmuir and for Inverfyre have been updated to reflect events through the end of The Runaway Bride. That includes Ross and Aiofe’s marriage, but also a number of additional children, and takes us to 1434.
There’s a new (third) family tree for this family in the works, which features the Armstrong line at Inverfyre. I needed it to have room for the Hawk’s grandchildren. It should be done in the next week or so, but right now, you can download the updates to the first two Ravensmuir family trees.
Claire Delacroix 