When will I get my goodies?
The fun part! A.K.A. when you get the goods.
The answer is… it depends. I have plans for extra bonus content for stretch goals, which means if the campaign goes super well, I’ll have lots of work to do with all your extra goodies!
December 2025: • Post-campaign admin • Festive holidays (don’t worry, we will not be risking precious book shipping over the Christmas period)
January 2026: • Digital rewards ship to backers, all going well • Hardcover proofs ordered
February 2026: • Hardcover proofs reviewed/corrections made
March 2026 • Hardcovers ship to backers
April 2026 • Contingency period – should things not go smoothly or stretch goals are wild and take more time to make, this is the buffer zone
May 2026 • All rewards shipped and received!
It is theoretically possible that I will get super organised and have some rewards shipped earlier, but that will depend on what gets funded with stretch goals and how long they take to produce.
It is also theoretically possible that things go less well and it all takes a little longer. Should anything happen to delay rewards, I will keep you updated every step of the way.
It is your responsibility to claim all rewards offered within the specified time frame (I’ll provide details in backer updates). Refunds are not available for change of mind or failure to claim rewards. If your goods are lost or damaged, please contact me as soon as possible.
Last updated: October 02, 2025 08:11
Shipping and fulfilment
Shipping is collected at the end of the campaign and is in addition to your pledge. This ensures you’re charged accurate rates.
Current estimates in local currencies are:
♦ US ~$4 ♦ CA ~$20 ♦ UK ~£4 ♦ EU ~€12 ♦ AU ~$10 ♦ NZ ~$20 ♦ IN ~₹1200 ♦
All shipping estimates are based on pricing and exchange rates at the time of writing and may vary at the time of pledge collection. If your locale is not listed, please reach out and I’ll get you sorted. For example, not all European countries will be available when you pledge but I can arrange shipping to most of them!
Please note you will be responsible for any VAT and customs charges. If a package is returned to the printer due to unpaid fees, I won’t be able to recover or re-send it, so you will lose your reward. Unfortunately, I have no control over this, and it varies by country. Hardcovers will be printed and shipped locally wherever possible, so additional charges should be minimised, but please be aware.
It is your responsibility to claim all rewards offered within the specified time frame (I’ll provide details in backer updates). Refunds are not available for change of mind or failure to claim rewards. If your goods are lost or damaged, please contact me as soon as possible.
Last updated: November 11, 2025 00:20
I want Death By Chocolate. What happens? Do I actually die?
Firstly, thank you! Your support is amazing and appreciated.
No, you don’t actually die. Obviously. (That said, if you are killed in the book by, say, falling into a vat of melted chocolate while on a dodgy infiltration, and then you do actually die in real life by falling into a vat of chocolate while playing at spies, the author takes no responsibility.)
You choose whether you want to name a character or have yourself be a character in a short story as part of the Operation: Chocolate Overload bonus material.
Naming a character is pretty much what says on the tin. Could be your name or any other name you can come up with.
Being a character is a little more complex: you give me your name as you wish for it to appear (doesn’t have to be your legal name) and a few physical and behavioural traits. I’ll use the name and at least two of the traits in creating a character.
The character will feature in a short story featuring the Darkhaven cast and will have at least one line of dialogue or meaningful interaction.
Here’s the really fun part: you choose whether your character meets an untimely chocolate-related demise!
The story will be published with the Operation: Chocolate Overload bonus material, which will be printed in the hardcover edition and provided in digital form as the Secret Wafer Stash collection.
The story will be at least 500 words long, but let’s face it, this whole series was supposed to be a short story, so who knows.
Disclaimer: I reserve the right of veto for anything inappropriate (bear in mind this is YA fantasy) or which I feel will break the story world, in which case you can suggest something else. Providing suggestions that are lewd, disrespectful or obviously unsuitable will forfeit the reward.
Last updated: October 01, 2025 10:05
Can I have a paperback?
The Operation: Chocolate Overload edition is exclusive to ebook/hardcover, but if paperback is more your style, you can grab the standard edition as an Add-on by supporting at the Choc Milk $2 tier or above.
If you also want the bonus material, be sure to pledge to the Chocolate Truffle $8 tier or above to get the bonus material in digital form.
Last updated: October 01, 2025 23:15
Limited edition? Will I really never have another chance at Operation: Chocolate Overload?
Maybe!
If this campaign goes well, there may be a special Operation edition of the second book, at which point Darkhaven – Operation: Chocolate Overload will be available as an add-on through the campaign.
But! Add-ons won’t be numbered or personalised. And the edition won’t be available for purchase anywhere else, only through crowdfunding campaigns. This is the only way you can get the annotations and arty stuff.
However, because I don’t like exclusivity that moves into inaccessibility, all written bonus material will eventually be available electronically via my patron membership. Visit https://kelefox.com/patrons/ for more details about that.
Last updated: October 02, 2025 00:46
Do you use AI to make stuff?
All my work is 100% human made!
I don’t use generative AI in my writing or art. I plot in Excel and on bits of paper, write in good ol’ Scrivener (software for writers with night mode and no AI), draw in Affinity Photo, paint with actual brushes and paint (v. messy), and format in Affinity Designer/Publisher.
Last updated: September 30, 2025 09:23
Why crowdfund?
Crowdfunding is about connecting creators with audiences in a meaningful way. Stories that cross genres, like Darkhaven, don’t really work in the usual publishing outlets, and I love that crowdfunding is a place where these quirky projects can thrive. Plus I get to mess around with fun stuff like ‘Operation Chocolate Overload’ editions! I am so looking forward to engaging with readers like you who love unusual books.
The money raised here will go towards the higher costs of producing a hardcover with bonus content, and if it goes well, we’ll be all set to give the second book in the series similar treatment. ;)
Last updated: September 30, 2025 09:29
Risks and challenges
Well. There’s the risk of running out of Tim Tams (iykyk).
Getting caught in the pantry with your spoon in the Nutella jar.
Opening a large block of milk chocolate with the promise ‘I’ll just have one row’ and then the block is gone. (How does this happen?)
Unfortunately, I can’t do anything about any of those risks. But as for the book, we’re in good stead.
Darkhaven is published and well-reviewed. The remaining work consists of formatting and proofing the Chocolate Overload edition (I have formatted several books now including special editions and am very confident with this!) and making any stretch goal materials.
I will be using IngramSpark to print and dropship the physical books, which means local printing and shipping in most locations. All other rewards including stretch goals will be digital only, further minimising the risk of shipping shenanigans.
As for logistics, I’ve completed a successful crowdfunding campaign before, and I was a stage manager in a former life, so I’m pretty good at wrangling big creative projects with strict deadlines. The show must go on! But if anything does go awry, I will be sure to keep you well informed. And if you have any questions or concerns, I am always happy to chat.
Last updated: September 30, 2025 22:07
How much is shipping? (Updated Feb 2026)
Shipping charges are approximate as both courier rates and currency conversions are subject to change, but here’s my best guess in your local currency. These estimates are for one book; rates increase slightly for each book added (eg if you want an O.G. paperback too). US: ~$5 (untracked) CA: ~$20 (untracked) UK: ~£4 EU: ~€16 AU: ~$12
Last updated: February 25, 2026 20:32
Is shipping tracked?
For the US and Canada, no, because the rates for tracking go up considerably. If you’d like tracked postage, please purchase it in the Add-ons section when you complete your survey. If you don’t have tracked shipping and your parcel goes missing in transit, you may lose your goods.
For all other countries, yes, shipping will be tracked.
Last updated: February 25, 2026 20:31
When will I receive the goods?
Digital fulfilment is on track for completion by the end of March.
Physical books will be shipped at the end of March and should be on your doorstep by the end of April.
Last updated: February 25, 2026 01:25
What if my parcel doesn't arrive?
If you haven’t received anything by early May, let me know and I’ll look into it for you.
Last updated: February 25, 2026 01:24
What do you mean, I can't be listed in the hardcover acknowledgements?
Several backer updates went out with a link to a Google form asking for names for acknowledgements. I can’t simply pull the list off BackerKit as not everyone wants to be listed, and it would violate their privacy.
If you missed the update, you can still be listed in the ebook by completing your survey. And if you have ordered a hardcover, you will still have the front page personalised with your name and the limited edition number. It’s pretty special!
Last updated: February 25, 2026 01:27
Customs and Taxes
You are responsible for paying any customs fees, duties and taxes your country imposes. Failure to do so may mean you forfeit your goods.
Last updated: February 25, 2026 01:30
Refunds
Please choose carefully and ensure you collect your goods. No refunds are given for change of mind or failure to collect/download goods.
Last updated: February 25, 2026 01:31
Current Estimated Shipping Date: March 2026
Last Updated At: 02/24/26What is BackerKit?
BackerKit is a service that crowdfunded project creators use to keep track of hundreds to tens of thousands of backers—from shipping details, pledge levels, preferences and quantities, whether they have paid or had their card declined, special notes, and everything in between!
The BackerKit software and support team is independent from the campaign’s project team—BackerKit does not handle the actual reward shipping. For more information about the preparation or delivery status of your rewards, please check the project's updates page.
How does BackerKit work?
After the campaign ends, the project creator will send you an email with a unique link to your survey. You can check out a walkthrough of the process here.
I never received my invitation. How do I complete the survey?
The most common reasons for not receiving a survey email is that you may be checking an email inbox different from the email address you used to sign up with Kickstarter, Indiegogo or Tilt Pro account, or it may be caught in your spam filter.
Confirm that the email address you are searching matches the email address tied to your Kickstarter, Indiegogo, or Tilt Pro account. If that doesn’t work, then try checking your spam, junk or promotions folders. You can also search for "backerkit” in your inbox.
To resend the survey to yourself, visit the project page and input the email address associated with your Kickstarter, Indiegogo or Tilt Pro account.
How do I update my shipping address?
BackerKit allows you to update your shipping address until the shipping addresses are locked by the project creator. To update your address, go back to your BackerKit survey by inputting your email here.
When will my order be shipped, charged or locked?
That is handled directly by the project creator. BackerKit functions independently of the project itself, so we do not have control of their physical shipping timeline. If you want to check on the project’s status, we recommend reading over the project's updates page.
I completed the survey, but haven't received my rewards yet. When will they arrive?
As BackerKit does not actually handle any rewards or shipping, the best way to stay updated on the shipping timeline would be to check out the project's updates page.
Refunds are not available for change of mind or failure to claim rewards. If your goods are lost or damaged, please contact me as soon as possible.
Please note you will be responsible for any VAT and customs charges. If a package is returned to the printer due to unpaid fees, I won't be able to recover or re-send it, so you will lose your reward. Unfortunately, I have no control over this, and it varies by country. Hardcovers will be printed and shipped locally wherever possible, so additional charges should be minimised, but please be aware.