The Book Behind the Book

Reasons for Releasing Zamora's Lorebook Before Most People Have Even Read the Comic

"Your finished work earns attention. Your unfinished journey earns a connection. Show both, and people won't just admire what you create, they'll care why you created it."

Introduction: Setting the Stage for Zamora

Lately, my drawing table has transformed into a bustling production studio! Seriously, it’s a whirlwind of creativity over here. Comic pages are stacked on one side, packaging samples on another, and checklists taped to my monitor. Files are just waiting to be sent to the printer. Why? Because after years of nurturing Zamora in stagnation, it’s finally happening!

If all goes according to plan, Zamora Volume 1 will hit the printer this July, just in time for its big debut at Cagayanime this August. Can you feel the excitement? I can! But here’s the twist. While everyone expects me to be laser-focused on finishing the graphic novel, I’ve been pouring just as much energy into another project: a companion lorebook! Yes, a sketchbook and a behind-the-scenes look at how Zamora came to life.

At first, it sounds a bit backwards, right? Why create another book before readers have even experienced the first one? Well, the answer surprised me. I realized I wasn’t just publishing a comic. I’m inviting people into a world!

The Hidden Mistake Many Artists Make

When artists finally wrap up a project, our instinct is to showcase only the polished version. The finished illustration. The completed animation. The published comic. The final logo. But what about everything that came before? We often hide the rough concepts, the failed ideas, and the ugly first drafts. Why? Because we assume nobody wants to see those.

I used to think the same way. For years, Zamora lived inside notebooks filled with monsters, forgotten character designs, handwritten mythology, maps, and worldbuilding notes. I considered them unfinished and private—not ready for anyone else. But then something changed.

Whenever I shared concept art instead of finished pages, people became more curious. They asked questions! They wanted to know how the monsters evolved, why characters changed, and where the ideas came from. That’s when I realized something crucial: people weren’t just interested in the destination. They wanted the journey!

Emotion Commits the Crime — Logic Does the Cover Up

Think about the creators you admire most. Do you only enjoy their finished work? Or do you also love seeing the sketches, the behind-the-scenes photos, the notebooks, and the production diaries? The mistakes that eventually became masterpieces? We connect emotionally with the process long before we justify buying the product.

Logic says: “I’m buying a comic.” But emotion says: “I’ve watched this world grow. I want to be part of it.” This holds true whether you’re creating comics, building a business, launching a product, or writing a book. People invest in stories, not just outcomes.

Bubudhi Sketch

The Worldbuilding Effect

I’ve started calling this phenomenon The Worldbuilding Effect. A finished product tells people what you made, while your process shows them why it matters. That’s exactly what this companion lorebook is meant to do. It isn’t simply an art book; it’s a guided tour through Zamora’s creation.

Inside, readers will discover early concept sketches of the heroes, monsters, gods, and forgotten ideas that shaped the world. They’ll see how rough concepts slowly evolved into finished pages. How a decade-old collection of scattered notes became something people can finally hold in their hands.

The interior will be printed entirely in black and white to keep production affordable. I’m still deciding whether to give it a full-color cover because my goal is simple: I want this book to be accessible! I want someone who’s curious about Zamora but isn’t quite ready to commit to the full graphic novel to have an easy way to step into the world.

I’m even exploring the idea of including limited sketch cards, depending on the production budget. Not because collectibles are the point, but because I love creating something that feels personal. Something that reminds people that an artist made this by hand.

Life Doesn't Pause While You're Chasing a Dream

Of course, life has a funny way of reminding you that creative work isn’t the only thing happening. While I’m preparing files for the printer, organizing merchandise, and designing the lorebook, my six-year-old is gearing up for her own adventure. School is opening, and she’s counting down the days with more excitement than I ever could!

Watching her prepare for a new school year while I prepare for Zamora’s first public release makes me smile. We’re both getting ready to begin a new chapter—different classrooms, different audiences, different backpacks, but the same excitement! That’s one of the beautiful things about being a creative parent. Life doesn’t stop so you can finish your passion project; it simply grows alongside it. And honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way!

The Solution: Five Lessons From Building a World People Can Enter

1. Don't Hide Your Process

Your early sketches, failed ideas, and rough concepts aren’t weaknesses. They’re invitations! They help people appreciate the finished work even more.

2. Build Entry Points Into Your World

Not everyone is ready to buy your biggest product first. Create smaller ways for people to experience your work. Sometimes, a sketchbook creates a lifelong fan!

3. Think Beyond One Product

A creative universe is bigger than a single release. Comics, lorebooks, artbooks, prints, and behind-the-scenes stories deepen the experience.

4. Make Your Work Accessible

Premium editions are wonderful, but affordable editions matter too. Sometimes the lower-priced item is what introduces someone to your world.

5. Let Life Inspire the Work

You don’t have to separate family and creativity. Some of the most meaningful ideas come from ordinary moments—watching your child grow, preparing for milestones, and sharing everyday victories. Those moments make your stories human!

For Artists and Entrepreneurs

If you’re an artist, don’t just publish your work. Document your journey! The sketches, mistakes, and experiments are part of the value. If you’re building a business, the same principle applies. Customers love seeing what happens behind the curtain. Transparency builds trust, and stories build loyalty. Different industries, same psychology. People enjoy seeing something become real!

Before vs. After

Before

• Keeping every sketch hidden.

• Thinking only the finished work mattered.

• Treating concept art like unfinished business.

• Building one product at a time.

  
  

After

• Inviting readers behind the scenes.

• Creating multiple entry points into Zamora.

• Sharing the journey alongside the destination.

• Building an entire creative universe, not just a comic.

  
  

Building More Than a Book

The closer Zamora gets to the printer, the more I realize something profound. I’m not just releasing a graphic novel; I’m opening the doors to a world I’ve been quietly building for years. The comic tells the story, while the lorebook reveals the story behind the story. Together, they represent something much bigger than ink on paper.

They’re proof that years of consistent work, countless revisions, and a willingness to keep showing up can transform scattered ideas into something tangible. Meanwhile, my daughter is getting ready for her own new chapter as she heads back to school. Watching her excitement reminds me that beginnings never really stop. We simply keep finding new ones. And maybe that’s what being a creator is all about—never running out of reasons to begin again!

Ask, and You Shall Receive

Let me ask you something. If someone looked behind the scenes of your work today, what would they discover? The first sketch? The messy prototype? The notebook full of ideas? The failures that taught you the most? I’d love to hear what’s hidden behind your finished work.

And if you’re planning to visit Cagayanime, come by our booth! You’ll be among the first to see Zamora Volume 1, the companion lorebook, and a decade’s worth of ideas that have finally found their way onto paper. Because every finished masterpiece begins as a rough sketch someone refuses to throw away.

Next newsletter: I’ll take you inside the production process of printing an independent graphic novel—from choosing paper stock and layouts to budgeting, merchandising, and the realities of bringing an indie comic to life.

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