I have been tasked to talk about the conundrum that has been the first half of 2026 for The JayZoMon Dark Myth Company, LLC. But it has actually been happening for quite some time now, as various Board of Director Meeting have flooded into my memory as I write this as we discuss that as a company we are spending money and not making that in return. At the time, reality was quite different and in that moment money was not something I was concerned with. I recall reassuring the Board that as long as I had money to cover the project, I would INVEST my personal money into the company and call it that an investment with my money returned with zero interest at the conclusion of that fiscal year.
Well, unfortunately, as I write this in the Here and Now, money has become a serious concern for my small family and I. Priority is making sure my children have housing, the utilities paid and food in their bellies. But, I am getting ahead of myself, as January was when we found out that we were locked out of our publishing account, for whatever reason as all accounts are now monitored by A.I. And it simply decided that for reasons only know to the program itself we needed to be closed.
In that time, we were in a total panic. We could not order copies or even start new projects. We were locked out of royalties that would come in through the way of third-party distribution like Amazon and Barnes and Noble. After fighting for over a month, we were able to open a new account and merge the old one that allowed us access back to our over seventy-plus products.
So, since we got that back in order, I had hoped that our current advertising partner would pay for said circulation of their brand on all of our media platforms, but at best the deal is a cut on sales and much like how MythMart closed for that time because sales were (and remain) nonexistent, the advertising deal is exactly the same in outcome.
With no money that came in from any sales or deals, or whatever, there were things that I was unable to purchase like the 2026 slot of ISBNs, and the appropriate copyrights.
I saw a few of my comic book friends, doing KICKSTARTER campaigns, so I decided that I would give it a try. Originally, I put up a target that would simply cover everything I had put into the project from penciling to lettering. I never pay myself for writing, so there was money that could be allotted to the company coffers, or at the very least cover printing and shipping cost.
I put it out and almost immediately failed. I wanted to see this project out and lowered it to what it would cost to have a small run printed and cover shipping. Technically that amount was an understatement as I did not figure in anyone who would purchase in another country. Since one of the backers lived in Canada, and Steph would see him this summer, she agreed to hand deliver his rewards in person which allowed me to make a profit of negative eight dollars.
As things moved forward, I attempted to seek new investors, or new advertisers—I even tried to call in some old favors that I have done for people, and everything came back fruitless. By this time, Jim Bates' book, which was supposed to be the first publication for 2026's Dark Myth Publications lineup, was due, and I knew that there was no way I could pay everything that comes along in making a professional product.
As things continue to run against the plan, like the people I had to help me run this company decide to retire, or no interest in returning for another year, or simply not having the motivation to invest their time ultimately left Steph and I holding the bag at the end of April.
It was on my birthday, I believe, that Steph and I talked about the company. I suggested that we halt all contracts and stop all production on our weekly comic strip (we have months already finished and ready for launch) and simply try to save as much money from here to August to get the money we need to purchase the things to get us back in production.
I reached out to the authors who we had contracts with to release their manuscripts this year and explained the problem and the plan moving forward and that at their request they did not have to be locked into a contract and would be willing to release them from agreement we had. To my surprise, we only lost two authors, and I do understand them wanting to take their ball and go look for somewhere else to play while this mess is happening.
So, that is where we stand. I am out of money to spend thousands a year on the company. I do have other plans to fix things. For example, I will be relicensing the company into a single sole ownership LLC. There will no longer be divisions there will be one company that will produce different projects, that will cut back on a lot of needless paperwork and legal headaches, perhaps it was worth it when I first started building the company into what it was in our best of years, but today, it is simply a waste of money that can be funneled into other company needs.
Let me answer the question you are all thinking: What is going to happen to the magazine?
Am I right?
I am going to continue to put it out for free, as long as I can. If things get tighter by the time my annual server renewal comes about, I may start producing the magazine as an eBook to be sold for enough that would essentially cover the costs for the server. But as of this very moment, nothing is happening or changing with The World of Myth.
So, here we are at the end of the commentary.
Honestly, I don't know what to expect from this month's commentary…I was asked to explain what has happened with the company and where we are going. I did just that, trying to be as transparent as possible, but again honestly, I feel this was all said in vain as I seriously do not think anyone reads my commentary, even if a prod to go visit my page from Steph's introduction is made.
I know many of you are expecting me to issue a call to arms, go out there and buy company products to help our small little company, but I am not going to do that—not this time. I don't see the point, especially if I really don't think this is being read. But, historical facts are, in all the times I have made a call to arms less than one percent of the contributors and readers combined will react and honestly, truthfully that is nowhere near enough.
I apologize if I am come across angry or bitter, sincerely I am not and I wholeheartedly love our readers and contributors to this magazine, but simply put, I'm tired.
With respect to you all!
David K. Montoya Founder of The World of Myth Magazine And Other Stuff Too.
Well, unfortunately, as I write this in the Here and Now, money has become a serious concern for my small family and I. Priority is making sure my children have housing, the utilities paid and food in their bellies. But, I am getting ahead of myself, as January was when we found out that we were locked out of our publishing account, for whatever reason as all accounts are now monitored by A.I. And it simply decided that for reasons only know to the program itself we needed to be closed.
In that time, we were in a total panic. We could not order copies or even start new projects. We were locked out of royalties that would come in through the way of third-party distribution like Amazon and Barnes and Noble. After fighting for over a month, we were able to open a new account and merge the old one that allowed us access back to our over seventy-plus products.
So, since we got that back in order, I had hoped that our current advertising partner would pay for said circulation of their brand on all of our media platforms, but at best the deal is a cut on sales and much like how MythMart closed for that time because sales were (and remain) nonexistent, the advertising deal is exactly the same in outcome.
With no money that came in from any sales or deals, or whatever, there were things that I was unable to purchase like the 2026 slot of ISBNs, and the appropriate copyrights.
I saw a few of my comic book friends, doing KICKSTARTER campaigns, so I decided that I would give it a try. Originally, I put up a target that would simply cover everything I had put into the project from penciling to lettering. I never pay myself for writing, so there was money that could be allotted to the company coffers, or at the very least cover printing and shipping cost.
I put it out and almost immediately failed. I wanted to see this project out and lowered it to what it would cost to have a small run printed and cover shipping. Technically that amount was an understatement as I did not figure in anyone who would purchase in another country. Since one of the backers lived in Canada, and Steph would see him this summer, she agreed to hand deliver his rewards in person which allowed me to make a profit of negative eight dollars.
As things moved forward, I attempted to seek new investors, or new advertisers—I even tried to call in some old favors that I have done for people, and everything came back fruitless. By this time, Jim Bates' book, which was supposed to be the first publication for 2026's Dark Myth Publications lineup, was due, and I knew that there was no way I could pay everything that comes along in making a professional product.
As things continue to run against the plan, like the people I had to help me run this company decide to retire, or no interest in returning for another year, or simply not having the motivation to invest their time ultimately left Steph and I holding the bag at the end of April.
It was on my birthday, I believe, that Steph and I talked about the company. I suggested that we halt all contracts and stop all production on our weekly comic strip (we have months already finished and ready for launch) and simply try to save as much money from here to August to get the money we need to purchase the things to get us back in production.
I reached out to the authors who we had contracts with to release their manuscripts this year and explained the problem and the plan moving forward and that at their request they did not have to be locked into a contract and would be willing to release them from agreement we had. To my surprise, we only lost two authors, and I do understand them wanting to take their ball and go look for somewhere else to play while this mess is happening.
So, that is where we stand. I am out of money to spend thousands a year on the company. I do have other plans to fix things. For example, I will be relicensing the company into a single sole ownership LLC. There will no longer be divisions there will be one company that will produce different projects, that will cut back on a lot of needless paperwork and legal headaches, perhaps it was worth it when I first started building the company into what it was in our best of years, but today, it is simply a waste of money that can be funneled into other company needs.
Let me answer the question you are all thinking: What is going to happen to the magazine?
Am I right?
I am going to continue to put it out for free, as long as I can. If things get tighter by the time my annual server renewal comes about, I may start producing the magazine as an eBook to be sold for enough that would essentially cover the costs for the server. But as of this very moment, nothing is happening or changing with The World of Myth.
So, here we are at the end of the commentary.
Honestly, I don't know what to expect from this month's commentary…I was asked to explain what has happened with the company and where we are going. I did just that, trying to be as transparent as possible, but again honestly, I feel this was all said in vain as I seriously do not think anyone reads my commentary, even if a prod to go visit my page from Steph's introduction is made.
I know many of you are expecting me to issue a call to arms, go out there and buy company products to help our small little company, but I am not going to do that—not this time. I don't see the point, especially if I really don't think this is being read. But, historical facts are, in all the times I have made a call to arms less than one percent of the contributors and readers combined will react and honestly, truthfully that is nowhere near enough.
I apologize if I am come across angry or bitter, sincerely I am not and I wholeheartedly love our readers and contributors to this magazine, but simply put, I'm tired.
With respect to you all!
David K. Montoya
Founder of The World of Myth Magazine
And Other Stuff Too.