The HIDEOUS PLASTIC web site was originally set up to serve as an information outlet for the book of the same name; and to this end it’s still providing updates. So let’s take this Anniversary occasion as opportunity for this year’s final update regarding HIDEOUS PLASTIC – In stores everyone can hear you scream.

For those not familiar with this Project, this book investigates almost everything you could  want to know about the very first ALIEN action figure made by Kenner Products in 1979. This hefty volume is now at a very advanced stage in its development and the 250 page manuscript is almost complete. Most of the content is finalised and locked down with some work still to be done. The next task will be to arrange for accuracy and fact checking. I’ll be contacting people to participate in this important exercise very soon. Early in the New Year, actually. Then it’s onto the serious stuff.  The (final round of) legal work, proofing, design, publishing and actually getting the book into people’s hands.

Earlier this year, I held a KickStarter campaign for the book. That didn’t work out so well but I did learn a lot from the exercise. I may attempt another KickStarter campaign later in 2018.  Rather than rely on the KickStarter platform to fund the entire Project, I’ll use it to fund any shortfall to close the financial gap once other funding exercises have been completed.

To this end, I’ve been raising funds in a variety of ways. My personal savings is creeping up again (I undertook hip replacement surgery earlier this year which completely consumed all my savings.) which is very welcome and encouraging. I’ve also been selling some of my stuff on Ebay during the past few months, which has been very helpful for generating additional funds. The items on Ebay are largely old PC games from my collection and a bunch of ALIEN action figures used for review purposes here on HIDEOUS PLASTIC. No. I don’t want to sell them but each sale brings me one more step closer along the path to publishing and make such sacrifices completely worth it. If you do want to support me now, yes. You can. Go buy some of my surplus goodies. Payments I receive from Ebay become dedicated Project funding for completing this book. Just keep in mind I live Australia.

Ultimately, I need to raise around $20,000 to get the book published. Dedicated savings on my part and Ebay sales will go a long way – but I’ll have to do better than that.

I will add a Donation Button to the web site sometime next year so people can choose to support the Project. I’ll also be taking pre-orders for the book; but the pre-order exercise is about 6 months away. The much asked about revised and updated FREE! PREVIEW EDITION of the book will once again be available for download around that time, too. So you will be able to sample the updated 30 page excerpt from the book and decide if you want to support it with a donation or pre-order.

Those activities are definitely happening. I know some people will be very happy to see the many changes made to the PREVIEW EDITION since it became obsolete and was removed from download several months ago.

All in all, the HIDEOUS PLASTIC book Project is coming along without any problems. The amount of support it’s received has been very favorable and is growing strongly. More updates coming early next year. Thank you for your time and interest – this Project is an enormous undertaking and every little bit of support from you all helps to fully realise it.

-Windebieste.