LOVE STORIES ABOUT DEATH Pre-Order Store

The books have arrived... and all packages have shipped!
about 1 month ago – Mon, Feb 24, 2025 at 08:00:14 PM

My lovely friends...

FIRST, A SHIPPING UPDATE...

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so...

Late last week LOVE STORIES ABOUT DEATH arrived at the Whalebacker warehouse... and as I'm typing this I've been told all of the packages they have addresses for have been shipped!

If you have any questions about the status of your shipment please send an email to [email protected]and they can help you out!

(You are of course welcome to CC me on any such inquiries at [email protected], but please be aware that Whalebacker handles the shipping and logistics, so they'll be the one able to give you the most answers. I will monitor any situations regarding delayed packages, etc, and offer appropriate support to make sure you are all taken care of, as always!)

SECOND, A MINOR CONFESSION...

I hope at least one, if not several, of the stories in LOVE STORIES ABOUT DEATH evoke especially visceral emotional reactions from you... and ideally tears.

Despite being an unabashed horror guy, I'm also a big ol' crier under certain circumstances (as those of you who've seen some of my Facebook Live videos know), and I'm not at all ashamed to say it, as I believe in the cleansing and cathartic power of a good cry sometimes.

Have some tissues handy when you read this one, friends. Just in case.

FINALLY, A THANK YOU.

As I discussed in the afterword of LOVE STORIES ABOUT DEATH (titled "True Love Stories Never Die" -- which I hope you'll also read, too), this book has has a long journey to get to this edition, which represents its final form.

I never take for granted the support and enthusiasm so many of you show for my books -- especially on Kickstarter, and that's why I do so much to pay it forward to you all as much as possible... this time with the option to get a limited edition red leatherbound  hardcover with red gilded pages and a red ribbon bookmark.

I'm so thankful to you all, it's my honor to pay it forward to you, and I most sincerely look forward to having the opportunity to doing so again soon.

My next book launch on Kickstarter will be RSVP: E.S.P., a cerebral horror thriller I'm bringing to life based on a previously unpublished story by the modern horror maestro Josh Malerman (writer of modern horror classics such as BIRD BOX, UNBURY CAROL, and most recently INCIDENTS AROUND THE HOUSE) and illustrated by Joshua Ross (NIGHTMARE WORLD, TALES OF MR. RHEE) with colorist Colin Johnson (HOMESTEAD, LOVE STORIES ABOUT DEATH).

We'll be launching this one on Kickstarter Tuesday, April 1st (no foolin'!), and I'll send you all a note about it around then.

In the meantime, one last time, thank you for helping me give LOVE STORIES ABOUT DEATH life, friends. I remain in your debt, hope you enjoy the book, and look forward to seeing you April Fool's Day for the next one -- as it's another one I'm very, very excited about!

Your friend in comics,
Dirk Manning

The books have arrived... and shipping has begun!
about 1 month ago – Thu, Feb 20, 2025 at 07:40:13 PM

EXCITING NEWS!

Hello all!

I received word today that LOVE STORIES ABOUT DEATH arrived at Whalebacker yesterday... and that packing and shipping has already begun! w00t!

The books will be shipping from Whalebacker in Saginaw, Michigan... so keep your eyes peeled!

I haven't even seen them yet, but I will send photos and we'll do a proper postmortem (ha-ha!) on this campaign -- including what's next -- soon!

Thanks all! I am so excited for you to all get your books -- and to see them myself!

THANK YOU for making this possible! Talk soon!

Your friend in comics,
Dirk Manning

LOVE STORIES is almost here! Have you completed your BackerKit?
about 2 months ago – Sat, Feb 08, 2025 at 08:15:21 AM

Hello friends!

I've been in touch with our fulfillment partner Whalebacker, and it looks like the books are set to arrive in about ONE WEEK... right around Valentine's Day!

How on-brand, eh?  ;)

That being said... please... pretty please... with sugar on top...

MAKE SURE YOU'VE COMPLETED YOUR BACKERKIT WITH YOUR CURRENT SHIPPING ADDRESS, BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY WAY WE CAN GET YOU YOUR BOOKS!

You can make sure everything is current and final in your BackerKit -- and make any last second add-ons if you feel like treating yourself (or a loved one) on Valentine's Day -- HERE.

I am so, so, so very excited to get this book into your hands, friends, especially because once this one is delivered, we'll be launching my next campaign, which just so happens to be an 120-page original graphic novel I'm adapting based on a previously unpublished short story by New York Times #1 Best-Selling horror author Josh Malerman and illustrated by Joshua Ross, who illustrated the double-signed bookplate that accompanies every LOVE STORIES ABOUT DEATH hardcover.

Here's an exclusive sneak peek at the final design of TPB cover of the book, just for all of you:

I'll keep you all posted when the pre-launch page for this one goes live so you can get "first dibs"... but for now make sure your BackerKit is complete for LOVE STORIES ABOUT DEATH, friends! 

Thanks again!

Your friend in comics,
Dirk Manning

A print peek and book delivery update!
3 months ago – Fri, Jan 10, 2025 at 06:27:29 AM

Hello and Happy Friday, friends!

I have a few exciting updates about LOVE STORIES ABOUT DEATH... so let's get right to 'em!

THE BONUS ART PRINTS HAVE ARRIVED...

And they're gorgeous! You don't have to just take my word for it, though! Take a look for yourselves:

Joshua Ross always delivers with his amazing art, and I'm so excited that, thanks to all of you, we were able to include him in this project, especially given that we've been so busy working together on both LONDON AFTER MIDNIGHT: THE OFFICIAL GRAPHIC NOVEL ADAPTATION (with Ron Chaney of Chaney Entertainment) and the just announced upcoming graphic novel RSVP: E.S.P. graphic novel (with fellow horror author Josh Malerman of BIRD BOX and INCIDENTS AROUND THE HOUSE fame).

If your pledge includes the Kickstarter Exclusive red leather hardcover graphic novel you'll be getting this print signed by both me and Joshua when your books are shipped to you!

And speaking of the books being shipped...

WE HAVE AN ARRIVAL DATE FROM WHALEBACKER!

I spoke to our fulfillment partner Whalebacker this week and they've been given an estimated delivery date of Valentine's Day (of course -- ha-ha!) for the books arriving at their warehouse!

My intention is for Whalebacker to have everything at the warehouse ready and waiting when the books arrive (again, of course -- ha-ha!), so that shipping can then begin as soon as the books are inspected and put in queue.

I'll keep you all posted on further updates soon... but we're getting closer and closer to getting these books in your hands, friends... so make sure you completed your BackerKit so that we have your shipping address.

REMEMBER: NO BACKERKIT, NO SHIPPING! We can't ship you your stuff when the books arrive without your addresses, and Whalebacker pulls your address from BackerKit!

Thanks again! Talk soon!

Your friend in comics,
Dirk Manning

A quick LOVE STORIES update as we go into the holidays...
3 months ago – Thu, Dec 19, 2024 at 06:38:18 PM

Closer...

I was speaking to someone recently about the year ahead and I mentioned how excited I am about the upcoming release of LOVE STORIES ABOUT DEATH. As all of you here are aware, this is the definitive re-release edition of the long out-of-print original edition with the two previously unreleased full-length stories, the bonus "making of" commentary, and -- of course -- that red leather cover with the red gilded pages for those of you who ordered it just delight me to no end.

I am so, so grateful to all of you who helped bring this book to life, and we're getting closer to getting the books in our hands even as I type this.

The prints and shirts have been ordered and we're just waiting for the books to arrive at the warehouse. In the meantime, illustrator Joshua Ross and I will be signing the prints as soon as they arrive so we can have them them waiting at the Whalebacker warehouse so we can get the packages out to you as soon as possible once the books arrive.

As we all collectively enter the holiday season, I wanted to offer you all this quick update -- and again say THANK YOU for your support of this book.

I know what a privilege it is to be able to bring you these books, and I absolutely cannot wait for all of you to get to read this one the way I've always hoped would one day be possible.

However you'll be spending the end of 2024 and the beginning of 2025, know that on behalf of me and the whole team, I hope that it is happy, merry, and wonderful for you filled with time to relax, recharge, and perhaps even reconnect with friends, family, and/or loved ones.

See you in 2025 with an exciting update!

With love (stories),
Dirk Manning