The long road to completing a unique historical book about the story of Clive is set to end for the authors - but it appears unlikely to hit the shelves at this stage.
Not because it won't be ready - more to do with the fact that pre-orders over the past year have already accounted for more than half the limited number of copies set to go on sale.
"We are rapt with the response so far," author Gary Baines said. "We have ordered 1000 books and once they are gone that is it - no more."
He said the first boxed instalment of 500 copies all had the "sold" label on them.
The book, simply titled Clive and with a distinctive cover designed and painted by renowned Hawke's Bay artist Brent Redding, has effectively been 10 years in the making, and is set to be formally launched at a function at the Clive Rugby Clubrooms on June 30.