If you're reading this, you probably noticed that "A Duel in the Somme" has started its 24-day run. This is my comic book co-written with Ben Bova and illustrated by Bill Holbrook. The latest page is available here on the main page of erfworld.com, and the comic has its own site at duelinthesomme.com.

We're releasing this as daily updates for the 24 days leading up to Intervention, where we will release the physical book and have all three creators on hand to sign it. If you can possibly make it to Intervention, please come! There will be an Erfworld suite party, and the guest lineup is huge for webcomics and all kinds of other things.

I decided to use an experimental donation-supported model for Duel. At this point, the experiment isn't looking very successful. We're nowhere near recovering my costs, though I am very grateful for everyone who has donated so far. I was really hoping this would work as a means of funding side projects. I had visions of pairing other well-known authors with accomplished illustrators and writing the scripts and publishing the books. I am not ready to write that off as doomed, but I am pretty sure it won't be a blockbuster breakthrough in webcomics business models now.

I would really like to recover my costs at some point. So to spark some more tips, I'd like to announce that the next 75 people who donate enough to receive the book will get it signed by all three creators. (Everyone who is getting a book so far will also get it signed.) I'll change this message when we have hit that mark. [EDIT: We have hit the mark, thanks everyone. Still a long way to go to recover costs, though.]

And remember that the biggest single donor between now and September 30 will also receive the one-of-a-kind misprint proof copy, also signed.

Regardless of whether you have kicked in, I really hope you're enjoying the comic. We worked pretty hard on it and I am proud of the results. Thanks.