The Book Behind the Book
- JP de la Rama
- 2 minutes ago
- 6 min read
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
Lately, my drawing table has looked more like a production studio than an art desk.
Comic pages stacked on one side.
Packaging samples on another.
Checklists taped to my monitor.
Files waiting to be sent to the printer.
Because after years of building Zamora in stagnation, it's finally happening.
If everything stays on schedule, Zamora Volume 1 will go to the printer this July in preparation for its debut at Cagayanime this August.
To say I'm excited would be an understatement.
But here's the funny part.
While everyone expects me to be focused entirely on finishing the graphic novel...
I've been spending just as much time working on another book.
A companion lorebook.
A sketchbook.
A behind-the-scenes look at how Zamora came to life.
At first, that sounds backwards.
Why create another book before readers have even experienced the first one?
The answer surprised me, too.
Because I realized I wasn't simply publishing a comic.
I'm inviting people into a world.
The Hidden Mistake Many Artists Make
When artists finally finish a project, our instinct is to present only the polished version.
The finished illustration.
The completed animation.
The published comic.
The final logo.
Everything that came before it stays hidden inside folders and sketchbooks.
The rough concepts.
The failed ideas.
The ugly first drafts.
The countless redesigns.
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.
Private.
Not ready for anyone else.
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.
Where the ideas came from.
That's when I realized something important.
People weren't only 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...
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."
Emotion says:
"I've watched this world grow. I want to be part of it."
That's true whether you're creating comics, building a business, launching a product, or writing a book.
People invest in stories.
Not just outcomes.
The Worldbuilding Effect
I've started calling this:
The Worldbuilding Effect
A finished product tells people what you made.
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 find 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 way of reminding you that creative work isn't the only thing happening.
While preparing files for the printer, organizing merchandise, and designing the lorebook...
My six-year-old is preparing for an adventure of her own.
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 made me smile.
We're both getting ready to begin a new chapter.
Different classrooms.
Different audiences.
Different backpacks.
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.
Behind-the-scenes stories.
Each one deepens the experience.
4. Make Your Work Accessible
Premium editions are wonderful.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The lorebook tells the story behind the story.
And 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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