BackerKit surveys are coming!
about 1 month ago
– Thu, Jul 30, 2026 at 09:58:53 AM
Hello Kickstarter Supporters,
Soon, you’ll receive an email from us with a special link to your BackerKit survey. It’s important to respond to your survey as quickly as you can since we need this information to fulfill your rewards. Some of our digital rewards are ready to go out as soon as all the surveys are completed!
You don’t need to create a BackerKit account to fill out your survey. When you receive the email with the survey, click the survey link to respond. Answer the questions about your reward preferences, provide shipping information, and purchase add-on items if you like. You don’t have access to this survey link yet, but it will be available soon via email!
After you respond to your survey, you can go back later and change your responses at any time before we close the surveys and get our final counts.
If you need to review your information or pledge status, you can return to your survey by clicking the link in your survey email or requesting your survey link under "Lost your survey?" on our BackerKit project page at https://llamas-niyamas.backerkit.com .
If you used your Facebook credentials to log in to your account, the BackerKit survey is sent to the email address you use for your Facebook account. If you have another email address that you prefer to use, please contact support at https://llamas-niyamas.backerkit.com/faq .
After surveys are sent, if you did not receive the email, and you Signed in with Apple ID, your email address might be a private relay email address. We can help locate your survey and update your email address, please message us or post a comment with your Backer ID or Pledge # found on your confirmation. You can learn more about your email hiding for your Apple ID here.
With gratitude,
Michael (and the Luradel Press team)
[email protected]
Please watch for the Backerkit email and complete your survey
about 1 month ago
– Tue, Jul 21, 2026 at 08:37:29 PM
Dear Supporters,
We have shifted our pledge manager over to Backerkit. So, please watch for an email and survey from Backerkit in the next week or two. For most you, we will need your mailing address to send you your physical rewards. Backerkit will also charge you for any mailing costs and taxes not already collected.
For those of you who pledged large sums for no reward, you'll have a final opportunity to convert those funds into actual rewards. Even if you have no little ones that would listen to you read our book, you may find it amusing yourself and learn a little bit about yoga philosophy. Or, you could just donate your copy of our book to a worthy school or reading program.
Backerkit will also try to upsell add-ons, which you can ignore unless you want more copies of the limited Patron’s Editon of our book, vinyl stickers, coloring books, or print-at-home niyama tracker and reward stickers. If you have friends who are interested, you can direct them to the Backerkit pre-publication store: https://llamas-niyamas.backerkit.com/hosted_preorder
With respect to fulfillment, we are still working diligently behind the scenes to complete your rewards.
The covers and interiors for the hard cover book have been printed (despite a correction and a new requirement for import information). Binding is next. Shipping may take two to three months (or longer), and then I will mail the books to you. We are still hoping for September delivery, but the hardcovers may not be delivered until mid to late November.
Our Ebook needs one more tweak. We might be able to send out the Ebooks soon after you answer the survey questions.
Our bookmark early bird reward is also beautiful. We are picking them up tomorrow and expect to mail them soon after the surveys are completed.
Our sticker files are ready for the printer. We are still trying to find one that will produce stickers that are compliant with the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act. If not, we have a back-up plan that will hopefully satisfy everyone.
Our Weekly Niyama and Well-Being Practice Trackers are done, as well as the print-at-home practice reward stickers that go along with them. These too can also be delivered soon after the surveys are answered.
Dejeshwini, our illustrator, is working on our coloring book. One page, in particular, has easter eggs that most of you will really appreciate. I'd love to say more, but I don't want to spoil the surprises. I am working on the word puzzles to fill the partial illustration pages. Amelia, our logo provider, is working on the connect-the-dots.
As you are probably aware, I have been in touch with a number of other Kickstarter creators during and since my campaign, and I like to do them the favor of mentioning their campaigns (some of whom have promoted my campaign) at the end of my updates. So, if you like chocolates and community building, please take a look at, and hopefully support, Laughing Gull Chocolates mentioned below. Their campaign ends in about 40 hours.
I’m also intrigued by Wake up Sleepy Buddha, Lamplighter Kids, and The Colors Inside Izzy Renee Kickstarter campaigns.
Thank you all again for your tremendous support.
With gratitude,
Michael (and the Luradel Press team)
Help Laughing Gull Chocolates become Rochester's chocolate gathering space
Through accessibility improvements, a community mural, and new indoor and outdoor gathering areas, we're creating a place where everyone can experience the ancient tradition of chocola'j—coming together through chocolate.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/laughinggullgrows/laughing-gull-chocolates-take-flight
Wake Up Sleepy Buddha
Many people start with mindfulness.
But when they try to go deeper, the teachings can feel overwhelming, inaccessible, overly intellectual, or like they're just not for them. There is a gap between where people begin and what comes next. Wake Up Sleepy Buddha bridges the gap between introductory mindfulness and the broader Buddhist path—remaining deeply rooted in traditional Buddhist wisdom while making those teachings approachable and relevant for contemporary life.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/wakeupsleepybuddha/wake-up-sleepy-buddha
Lamplighter Kids: Gentle Stories Come to Life
A wholesome children’s show where Rebecca and Momo bring beloved stories to life through storybook-style animation
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/lamplighterkids/animatedstories
The Colors Inside Izzy Renee
A tender, color‑rich picture book about big feelings, brave conversations, and the healing that happens when a child feels truly seen.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1897732948/the-colors-inside-izzy-renee-an-illustrated-picture-book/description
We're Making Progress Behind the Scenes
2 months ago
– Sun, Jun 21, 2026 at 10:04:10 PM
Dear Supporters,
Thank you for your patience. We are working diligently behind the scenes.
We have okayed the digital proof for our hard cover offset-printed book. The physical proof sheets should arrive this week. Once we approve those, our printer (Print Ninja) can start the print run in earnest. That said, shipping can take two to three months, and then I will mail them to you.
We are re-affirming our pledge that everyone who has ordered a print-on-demand paperback book thus far will receive this Patron's Edition hard cover with 105-wt interior pages, unless you have your heart set on the print-on-demand paperback with 70-wt interior pages. There will be no extra charge for the hard cover, itself. Moreover, for US and Canadian supporters, there will be no extra charges for shipping either. (We will be absorbing the small price difference.) However, for our European backers, we will be providing some alternative options that would allow you to circumvent the excessive shipping and duties fees for receiving a book shipped from the US.
Our book designer is working on the Patron Edition and Special Edition badges for the book covers that will be on any print-on-demand an Ebook versions. Our Ebook designer has everything else she needs to produce the Ebooks.
Our bookmark early bird reward is now also in the hands of our designer to make it even more beautiful.
Our sticker files are ready for the printer. We are still awaiting bids from printers who can provide the necessary paperwork to show that the stickers will be Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act compliant. This turns out to be more complicated than anticipated. We are fairly certain one of the vendors we approached can accommodate us. If not, we are working on an alternative sticker delivery method that will hopefully satisfy everyone.
Our Weekly Niyama and Well-Being Practice Trackers are done, as well as the print-at-home practice reward stickers that go along with them.
Our coloring books are still in the sketch phase, but we are really pleased with the sketches. One page in particular has easter eggs that most of you will really appreciate. I'd love to say more, but I don't want to spoil the surprises.
We have closed our Kickstarter late pledge store, but our Pre-Order store is now open on PledgeBox (https://bit.ly/44tb27r). You will also have opportunities for add-ons when you fill out the PledgeBox survey to provide addresses, shipping (if not paid already), and state and local taxes. For those of you who pledged large sums for no reward, you'll have a final opportunity to convert those funds into actual rewards. Even if you have no little ones that would listen to you read our book, you may find it amusing yourself and learn a little bit about yoga philosophy. Or, you could just donate it to a worthy school or reading program.
Finally, we note that there are some things that will be available only to you through the PledgeBox survey as Kickstarter supporters that will not be available in the PledgeBox Pre-Order store. In particular, add-ons through the survey will provide you with the opportunity to obtain books having the Patron's Edition badge on the cover, while the Pre-Order store will have only options for the Special Edition badge. If anyone, wishes to substitute their Patron's version for the Special edition, please message me. I can add a question in the survey-- there will only 150 hard cover Patron's editions but there will be over 1200 hard cover Special editions.
Please keep your eyes open for the PledgeBox survey coming soon! If you don't answer the survey, you cannot receive your books and other rewards
Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there, especially the yoga dads, and great wishes to everyone else!
Thanks you all again for your tremendous support.
With gratitude,
Michael (and the Luradel Press team)
📚 Manuscript Edits, Late Pledges, & PledgeBox Migration!
3 months ago
– Fri, May 29, 2026 at 09:28:41 PM
📚 Manuscript Edits, Late Pledges, & PledgeBox Migration!
Dear Backers,
I hope you are all doing well! Perhaps you have even missed my updates? 😉 We have been working hard behind the scenes to keep the momentum going for Llamas and Niyamas. Here is a quick breakdown of where everything stands right now.
📝 Production & Manuscript Status
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Final Book Edits: We are currently making the final edits to our print manuscript. Once complete, we will officially order our hardcover offset-print run! We already have our Library of Congress Control Number.
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Paperback Upgrade Reminder: Remember, all previously ordered paperbacks are automatically upgraded to ultra-premium color.
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Hardcover Upgrades: You will have the chance to upgrade your paperback to a hardcover edition during the post-campaign survey. This will either be free or carry a very small upcharge.
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Stickers: We are almost ready to place the order for the stickers too!
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Safety First: We are currently finalizing our Children's Product Certificates (CPC) to ensure everything meets the highest quality and safety standards. Our FAQs mentioned that the stickers aren't edible and don't taste like chicken, but we are taking every precaution.
🌍 Late Pledges & International Availability
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Late Pledge Store: Our Late Pledge store is now officially open right here on Kickstarter! If you want extra copies or more stickers, you can visit our campaign page to grab them. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/llamasandniyamas/expand-kids-yoga-learning-with-life-improving-fables
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New Offers: If you check out the store, you will notice that the hardcover edition (if you want more copies of the printed book) can now be officially ordered, and the stickers are now available for international backers.
📦 PledgeBox Migration
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Moving Systems: We are currently setting up and migrating our data over to PledgeBox, our fulfillment manager.
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What to Expect: Your post-campaign survey will come through PledgeBox. This survey is where you will finalize your shipping address, pay for postage/taxes (if those weren't previously included), manage your upgrades, and input personalization details for signed books.
🤝 Cross-Promotions & Friendly Campaigns
Most of the amazing creators I cross-promoted during the live campaign have finished their funding runs. However, their late pledge stores are still open! If you were on the fence about supporting them, please do so soon, as they are getting their fulfillment orders ready right now. If you haven’t scrolled to the end of our previous updates, please check them out.
One fantastic campaign is still actively live and features an incredible project. It’s a worthy cause, and I love the illustration style. See below.
Thank you all again for your continued patience and support as we bring Llamas and Niyamas to life! I will check back in soon with our next major milestone.
With immense gratitude,
Michael
Skyler and the Spooky Storm is a children’s picture book by New Zealand author, Kousar Sadeghzadeh, inspired by the belief that no child should feel they have to struggle alone.
The story follows a devoted father ant gathering food for his family when a powerful cyclone strikes, forcing him to confront his fears and learn that asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.
With suicide rates remaining a serious concern globally, particularly among men, the book aims to challenge the stigma around emotional struggle and encourage children to see speaking up and reaching out as acts of courage.
The campaign has been awarded Kickstarter’s “Project We Love” badge and is currently 34% funded.
Campaign link:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/kousarsadeghzadeh/skyler-and-the-spooky-storm-mental-health-for-children
🎉 MAGNIFICENT! Campaign Conclusion. We are 127% Funded + Important Next Steps!
3 months ago
– Sat, May 23, 2026 at 03:53:35 PM
🎉 MAGNIFICENT! Campaign Conclusion. We are 127% Funded + Important Next Steps!
Dear Backers,
Your support for Llamas and Niyamas has been absolutely magnificent!
Thanks to this incredible community, we officially closed our campaign at $4,469 raised and 127% funded, with 99 print books pre-ordered!
🦙 A Surprise About Our Stretch Goal
While we landed exactly one book shy of our 100-book stretch goal, I have some news. Your energy and dedication throughout this campaign astounded me. Because of your incredible support, I am going to make the 5-book donation to schools and libraries anyway! Together, we are officially bringing these life-improving yoga fables to children who rely on public resources.
💳 What Happens Right Now (The Next 2 Weeks)
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Card Charges: Kickstarter will automatically attempt to charge your credit card on file soon, if it hasn’t happened already.
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Payment Errors: If your payment fails, Kickstarter will email you. They will try for 2 weeks to correct any card or data problems before dropping a pledge. Please check your account to ensure your order goes through!
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Kickstarter Add-Ons: During this checkout process, Kickstarter will try to sell you more add-ons. I apologize for the extra sales pitches. (You received enough from me already!)
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Late Pledges Open: Kickstarter will accept new late pledges for a limited time. Tell your friends! The offerings will still feature our original Kickstarter pricing and tiers for anyone who missed the live window.
📦 Moving to PledgeBox: Your Survey Schedule
I have chosen PledgeBox as our campaign fulfillment manager. While PledgeBox usually recommends delaying surveys until closer to shipping, I intend to send a first survey much sooner. This is because we may be able to fulfill stickers, bookmarks, and eBooks long before the physical hard copies are ready.
Crucial Survey Details:
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Do Not Ignore the Surveys: If we do not have your address, we cannot send you your rewards.
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Postage & Taxes: PledgeBox will collect your shipping address to calculate exact postage, taxes, and international tariffs. It will determine if you have already paid enough or if any postage adjustments are due.
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The Hardcover Upgrade: If you earned the English Activated cross-promotion upgrade, the upgrade itself is free. Everyone else will have the upgrade option, but we are still figuring out whether it will be free or cost $2. However, a hard cover weighs more (and has more value, kicking in the Canadian tariff and tariff collection fee (ouch), for example), which may impact your final shipping charges (especially for international addresses). Through PledgeBox we will let you know the complete costs of the options provided to the best of our ability. Additionally, if you pledged for no reward, you’ll have the option to covert some or all of your pledge to products or shipping costs. Even if you no longer have room on your bookshelves or kids in right age range, you'd have an awesome book to give as a gift.--There are only 216 days until Christmas!
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Personalization & Multi-Orders: If you ordered a signed book, the survey will ask who it is for and if you want specific wording. If you ordered multiple copies, it will collect all names and addresses.
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More Add-Ons: Unfortunately, PledgeBox will also try to upsell you more tiers and add-ons at a higher price. I appreciate your patience with their system's automated marketing!
🗳️ Backer Poll: How Should We Deliver Your Rewards?
Please let me know your preferences by replying to this update or leaving a comment below!
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Physical Rewards: Would you prefer to receive all your physical products at about the same time in September, or would you like them shipped as soon as they are ready (e.g., stickers/bookmarks early, books later)? This will not affect shipping costs because the books and stickers have to be shipped separately due to media mail restrictions.
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Digital Rewards: Would you like to receive your digital products individually as soon as each file is ready, or wait until we can deliver all of them within a similar time frame?
Thank you all for making this dream a reality. I will keep you updated every single step of the way!
With immense gratitude,
Michael
