Final details for CTR and CTS

I know I haven't been updating Cat's Trail since Typhoon Ondoy hit our country, but here's the news you've all been waiting for:

I just delivered all the digital files of both books to the printer yesterday morning. (The typhoon has re-scheduled my visit to the printer a number of times) I am hoping that I will get the actual (500) copies of both books by the second week of October. Below are the final details of both books, so read it carefully, keep these in mind and plan your purchases at the convention to avoid any and all confusion, frustration and misinformation.

CAT'S TRAIL REWIND
-5.5" x 8.5" (half letter sized)
-24 pages of comics + a few pages extras (white newsprint paper)
-B&W screen-toned cover and back cover
-B&W non-toned interior pages
-P50 SRP

-Cat's Trail Rewind is a "modern" re-telling of the original Cat's Trail serialized in Culture Crash comics. It will have both similarities and differences to the original. (Please do not ask why "X" is different from the ones you used to read, treat it as something new) Characters have been upgraded, some details have been changed, but it is essentially the same story.

-CTR is NOT a compilation of the old CC series.

CAT'S TRAIL SPOTLIGHT
-4.1" X 6.75" perfect bind book format
-138 pages total (white newsprint paper)
-64+ original illustrations inside
-B&W screen-toned cover and back cover
-P80 SRP

-Cat's Trail Spotlight is a short novel with illustrations. It is NOT a comicbook. It is NOT a compilation of stories in comicbook format. The illustrations are all 100% new and have never been presented before in any format.

-The stories in CTS are supplements to the main storyline happening in CTR. In the first book, "Batang Airee at Polaris", you get to read about the roots of the 2 main protagonists of Cat's Trail.

-The stories presented in CTS will not be tackled in detail in CTR (but will most likely be referring to it in the main storyline), so it's best to read CTS in tandem with CTR. Unless, of course, you are content with the main storyline and you're not concerned about other details. Or vice-versa.

-CTS will not be released in tandem with every CTR issue. The reason? If we do this, CTS will spoil most of the story of CTR. It will probably be released very 4 issues of CTR or more depending on where we decide to to think it appropriate.

Concerning both CTR and CTS:
-When will these books be released?
The printer has informed me that, hopefully, both books (500 copies each total, around 480 copies of each book will be for sale) will be finished on or before the 16th of October. Maybe on the 12th or 13th. If this is true, both books will be available at the upcoming Komikon 2009 to be held at the Megatrade 1, Megamall on October 18. First come, first served. See you there.

-Why are the pages of CTR missing screentones?
Time constraints. I have recently been granted the free time to work on both books (Thank God!) and yet I am afraid that work may start pouring in anytime. Because of that, I have decided to use a high-contrast approach to CTR instead. This has cut my CTR production time in half and has given me enough time to work on CTS as well. The next issues of CTR may have tones if I get more free time.

-Why is it in B&W, even the covers?
For financial and marketing reasons, we decided with the all B&W theme. These books are self-published. Meaning it is without the financial strength that was once Culture Crash. Once we prove the marketability of both books, we may decide to add a colored cover in the future. It will mean a slightly higher price tag, of course. But not much.

-Why do you have to release a new book (CTS)? Isn't it enough to just put everything in CTR?
This is not to force readers to buy 2 books (meaning extra income for us, although that is also a fact). We decided it for 2 reasons: (1) To minimize all the flashbacks and sidestories that may just lengthen the main storyline (CTR) unnecessarily, and (2) To give these isolated stories all the rich detail that it deserves. Readers still have the option of choosing which they like to buy, of course.

-Will CTS be in comicbook format someday?
Maybe. We have considered this, but it is just a thought at the moment. Again, it will depend on the success of the books and the demand of the readers.

I guess that will cover most of the questions for the moment. If you have any further questions or clarifications I have not covered, please send your emails to: ctrewind@gmail.com, and we will be more than glad to accommodate your queries.

Thank you for reading! :)


Cat's Trail Rewind and Cat's Trail Spotlight is copyright © 2009 Elmer Damaso / Maria Cornelia Damaso.