What is Kickstarter?

You’ve heard of gofundme. Think of Kickstarter as a gofundme with perks! The gaming community has used Kickstarter for years. The indie-published book industry has just recently hopped on board.

This crowdunding option, enables the reader to have direct access to the author. The messsage feature works well, and many times the author has the reader interact with them through polls.

Since Kickstarter has been around for years, they’ve figured out the ins and outs of how to vet projects, provide secure payment options, etc.

How Kickstarter works

The project will be live for 23 days. During that time, you have the opportunity of pledging and encouraging your friends to pledge and back the project. If it funds, and only if it funds, you’ll pay what you pledged and get your rewards.

Reward tiers allow you to choose how much you wish to receive and how much you wish to support a project.

If the project funds early, then stretch goals are implemented–these are things that brings more value to your product and the project. For books, it’s often character art, maps, special art to include in the book, bookmarks, stickers, deleted scenes, extra short stories, etc. The more people who back, the higher the project goes and the more perks everyone gets!

When the project ends, late pledges can be in effect. (I’ve set mine to last until I make a final order of books.) This means there will still be people who can get the perks, even if they were late to the party.

A week after the project ends, Kickstarter uses Stripe to charge your credit card. Then if your card has changed since you pledged, Kickstarter, and often the author, will reach out to get that fixed. I just supported one Kickstarter where those errored cards made the difference in what art we would receive in our books! I was so excited to hear it got figured out and everyone still was able to have that stretch goal.

Kristjan’s Rise as a Kickstarter

I learned a lot from Bonded Crowns as a Kickstarter, and that helps you out.

You’ll be choosing from several options.

The first level is “back because you want to”–you can add some extra change to support it without receiving anything or add more to your pledge because you believe in it.

Then there are ebook options–from Uprooted to Kristjan’s Rise months before it’ll be available on outlets.

Physical product: Every physical product comes with an ebook as well. You’ll have your choice of paperback or hardback or sparkly hardback. Let me explain.

Both paperback and hardback will come with chapter art headings. These look really nice in the proof paperback I’ve received. There are two different images–one for Geirfinnur (the dad) and one for Kristjan’s point of view.

In hardback, you’ll have two choices–regular and shiny sparkly. The regular one has a dust jacket with the cover on it, and on the book, just Kristjan and his thinking spot.

The Sparkly Hardback special edition:

Let’s work our way from the outside in. There is a gold-foiled dust jacket–the title and author name in gold foil. When you turn the book to the side, you’ll see the gold-colored sprayed edges. When you open it, you’ll see leather-look endpages. If you take off the dust jacket, you’ll understand why the endpages are leather-like. This cover is as if you’re opening a leather tome like Kristjan would have in the library. There is gold foil on the metal corner pieces. And then each chapter has the art.

Stretch Goals

Once we reach our goal of $500 pledged, we’ll be working toward art that will be placed in each book. There are a lot of art-worthy scenes in this story, and Moonpix Art is already working on pieces for the game that will go along with Kristjan’s Rise.

This scene is of the original founders of Storeheltur.

Besides art, there are many deleted scenes. My editor was even sad to see these go! So, I’ll be offering those up.

There are also songs in the story and as those who followed Bonded Crowns knows songs can be fun to have digitally, but can also take a long time to produce. This time, I already have the songs composed and written down for musicians to play. I’ve spoken with a harpist and she has access to two different studios and has recorded before.

So as you can see, these books, besides being available months before the rest of the world gets access, have the potential to be unique and an interactive experience.

Now What?

How do you get your own special edition? Hop over to the Kickstarter and click follow (or make a pledge) depending on when you see this. It will only be available from May 13-June 5. A few tiers will be available after that.

Did you hear about the game? I’ll have more information later about that, but think Settlers of Catan meets Ticket to Ride meets Arkham. You’ll become one of the Ancients, the original settlers of Storeheltur, and help them create Storeheltur in under 30 days. Each round is one day, so the clock is ticking.

In the meantime, follow the kickstarter to get in on the special edition. It won’t be availble until November otherwise, and the sparkly hardback won’t be availble until next year sometime! And then only on my website.

Special Edition Features

Two books in one:

Bonded Crowns is the duology of Appointed and Ascended that will be released individually next year. While you have to wait for the books in individual format, you can grab the completed story in one chunky paperback or hardback (876 pages).

Autographed and full color title page:

The title is in color as well as the signed blessing.

Colored Maps:

New maps by A C Cartography of Eelarga and Muintir will be in color in the paperback and hardback copies.

Stretch Goals

Everyone who backs now has extras that will be tossed into their box when the campaign is finished.

Currently achieved: Deleted scenes from the book. In the middle of the action, I had a story of Shawnahur meeting up with a young puckling drover. It slowed the book down, but I went ahead and edited it with Part the Wor(l)ds Editing. It now is waiting to be formatted into a pdf or ebook to send out to my backers.

Other options up for vote:

Stretch goal #2 is $1,000 and will unlock one of the following

Coloring pages–Shawnahur’s poems and songs, zentangle dragons, horses, pucklings, and more. 28 images in all

Puckling ditty–While in the fields, Shawn’s brother taught him a ditty that helped pass the time, later it helped Shawn appear insane when he was captured by the enemy.

Dragon Lullaby–Composed and written by a local musician, this is the song that Hest hums to calm horses and that Keenah hums to activate the magic in the seer’s ring.

Puckling stickers–vinyl stickers of pucklings drawn by Zion Valet.

The next stretch goals will unveil other options such as additional maps of Shawn’s journeys, endpages for the hardback books, sprayed edges, and an embossed design on the hardback books.

A Peek Inside

Shawnahur has met up with a young boy who’ll become his squire. The smayden is a weapon much like a glaive.

They rode in silence for a span or so before the lad pointed up past his knee and asked, “Did you kill a Hameen to get that?”

“Hm?” Shawnahur had hardly been paying attention; they’d finally hit a stretch of open road between towns where Duhara could manage the terrain without guidance.

“The smayden. Did you kill the Hameen who owned it?”

“Nay, not this one.”

“Another?”

“Aye, the one the king holds belonged to their champion in the south. That one was me.”

“I’m glad. Any more?”

Shawnahur rubbed a hand across his face, trying to block out the sight of Linnea’s husband—Yohan; he’d never be able to forget the name she’d cried—and the others. He shuddered. “Too many to count.”

“Good riddance.”

He pulled the horse to a stop and turned in the saddle, fixing Athlone in his gaze. “Listen, boiwith, if you’re going to ride with me, there’s something we have to get straight. Hameen are human, just like us. If you ever end up in battle with me, you’ll treat the enemy like you’d like to be treated. Do you understand?”

“Mm.”

“Nay, I need to hear you give me your word.”

“Aye, duene. Whatever you say. They don’t keep with such honor, though, you know.”

“Mayhap, nay, but one step when I walk the halls of the dead, I’ll face Jeeah knowing I pleased him.”

When he didn’t get an answer, just a contemplative look out into the wilderness, Shawnahur tapped Duhara’s flanks to get them moving again.

“You actually believe that, don’t you?” Athlone finally asked.

“With all my heart, boiwith. I’ve seen enough to know that if I deny their humanity, I lose mine, too. ‘Tisn’t the way to follow Jeeah, who made us all and bears the sorrows of both sides.” He paused, gathering his fortitude. The story might land badly, and ‘twas still a raw enough wound that ‘twould sting him if it did, but he felt it needed to be told. “My first battle, I thought I was defending a child, and I killed a man in hand-to-hand combat. Turned out ‘twas his son. Watched the whole thing.”

“Oh.” Athlone’s response sounded like a punch to the gut had driven it from his lungs.

“Aye. His wife saw it, too, and after the battle I had to knock down a Muintirian soldier who wanted to pull her straight off of her husband’s body and take her for himself.”

That was met with silence, but Shawn could feel a tightening in the lad’s posture behind him.

“Then someone came to drag him off to be burned, and I thought…” Shawnahur’s chest constricted. “I thought, ‘This is the last memory his family is going to have of him.’ So I did what little I could—treated his body with some dignity. Carried it myself, kept it from being buried under the rest of the dead. If ’twas one of ours, ‘twould be what I’d want them to do.”

“They don’t.” The lad spat, though with less venom than Shawnahur had expected.

“Mayhap, but I won’t stoop to become like them, no matter how much death I face or deliver.” Shawnahur’s hands tightened on the reins, and another heavy silence fell over them; he decided to leave the boy to his thoughts. ‘Twas a struggle, he supposed, for one who’d never even had the chance to fight back, to be the victor standing over a dead enemy. A victim would have different feelings. Different things to submit to Jeeah’s ways, if he accepted them at all.

What you’ll receive

At the base level, you’ll support an indie author and receive an ebook copy of Uprooted that starts the stories of Four Stars over Ardatz where Bonded Crowns takes place.

If you wish to go further, you’ll get the early release ebook of Bonded Crowns, the story of the first dragon king. When I say early release, I mean that this book won’t be available in this form until 2026! The first half of the story will be published in April of 2025 and the next half in July of 2025. So, you’ll have a long time to wait if you don’t go now.

The next two levels get you paperback or hardback editions of Bonded Crowns. And as we reach our goal of funding, then you’ll get to vote on what extras you want!

First 24 hours

If you so choose to back within the first 24 hours, you’ll receive the bookmark and Uprooted ebook for free! It’s added to the ebook, paperback, and hardback levels.

The extras

Most of the extras will stay a surprise until we reach those goals, but in the meantime, I’m letting people know that there are colored maps, extra maps, and more available to add to your book–whether it’s physical or ebook.

There are new maps as well created by A C Cartography.

You can also get the completed series as a trilogy. I’ve worked hard at combining Uprooted, Blessed, and Exalted into one book titled Bright Lands, and Determined, Resolved, and Divided into Battle Lines.

Oh, and I didn’t mention that this version has chapter art! Yep. Some never-before-seen images as well as the covers from the original books are being integrated into the books at strategic places.

How it works

You go to Kickstarter, login (easy to do: either create an account or login with Facebook), and pick your level of reward. What do you want?

Ebook?

Paperback?

Hardback?

Once you have that done, decide if you want any add-ons:

Extra bookmarks, paperbacks, hardbacks, or the trilogy in ebook as well.

Share and watch the fun

Yes, it’s fun. The more you share, the more extras happen. As you get excited, your friends join in. Then you get to a final project that is unlike anything you have ever had before.

Last year, I heard about a Kickstarter that had funded in two hours! That in and of itself is a big deal. So, I took a look. The concept behind the book sounded intriguing–a guy searching for a young girl he’d been assigned to protect when they were young, barriers between worlds, and magic–both forbidden and honored. Since I hadn’t really seen how Kickstarter worked, I decided to pledge at a level that enabled me to get the physical stretch goals–a paperback.

But as The Blood of the Stars took off, the stretch goals kept mounting until Karyne Norton offered a unique stretch goal. If we reached a specific number, she’d offer embossed, shiny hardbacks, and anyone who pledged the hardback before we reached that goal would receive that special hardback. I bit, and oh, boy! I’m so happy I did! I show the hardback to anyone who loves books. It’s beautiful.

Each chapter has black and white art that goes with the character point of view, so three different art pieces.

What’s an epic fantasy without a map? Well, The Blood of the Stars has two full-color maps and a colored map of the magic system! If that wasn’t enough, there’s a vellum pullout colored map as well.

Now, I wouldn’t be teasing you with the epicness of this book without a reason. Book 2 is available on Kickstarter!

It funded in 2 minutes and became a Kickstarter Project We Love! That means it’s a trusted project… and… you get stretch goals!

Stretch Goals

Stretch goals enable a project to go farther and have more bells and whistles. The project manager decides how they work, and Karyne Norton has chosen to give her readers and backers the choice! I love it. It’s been so fun to see if my vote is what everyone else wants.

So far we have:

• Extra map
• Another novella
• Artwork
• Character cards
• Vellum insert
• Stickers

And the vote’s still out whether we add more character cards or get more artwork! (So, if I’m honest, I’m sharing because I want more of both!)

Salt in the Seas

She must reverse a curse to save her mother. He must sacrifice himself to save his sister. But old enemies and new prophecies threaten everything they fight for.

Salt in the Seas, book two in The Half-Light Chronicles, has 600+ pages filled with adventures at sea, prophecies, curses, no-spice slow burn romance, and the hunt for ancient relics. If you like epic fantasy with vast worlds, clear magic systems, and a variety of characters to root for, I think you’ll love this series.

If that wasn’t enough, she also has matching books for The Blood of the Stars, so you can get both books with all the epicness of the Kickstarter versions. And before they’re available in stores anywhere! She’s even added sprayed edges as an add-on.

So if I’ve not teased you enough, go take a look at Salt in the Seas.

There are ten days left to see what all we can do to bring this epic fantasy to life!

‘Twasn’t until Shawn had played through nearly every melody he’d composed that the chieftain finally slumped back into his chair and regarded his son with a clearer visage.

“Carda, what do you recommend?”

“Your plan was a good one. When the rains cease, the clans will come together again and witness your valor, and you’ll see again just how much the chiefs of Muintir regard you. ‘Tis a time of waiting—all we can do.”

Rian pulled at his beard. “But how long until the rains end? I wish they’d just dry up forever! I’ve not been right since they started.”

“Nay, Father, you’re fine. You just need to rest.”

“How am I supposed to rest with this constant buzzing? ‘Tis like a fly’s stuck in my mind. Can’t think straight or even see straight.”

“Hush, ‘tis—”

“Don’t ‘hush’ me, boiwith!”

Carda flinched as if slapped and abruptly turned on his heel toward the door. Shawnahur wanted to shrink away from the conflict, but he continued playing, his fingers remembering the tune he’d created the first time he’d played for the duene: Rian’s Song.

“Carda, don’t leave,” Rian pled. “Stay, boiwith. You’re my son.”

“I won’t leave, Father.” The warrior leaned against the wall, looking unfazed.

Shawnahur envied the way the young man could recover his composure so easily. Whatever Carda did, he seemed to be comfortable, whether that was on the battlefield as his brothers had attested to, or what Shawnahur had seen of the man here in his own home.

You can have that as well, heart of my hearts.

How?

Learn to be confident in who you are—who we are together.

Warmth trickled through his arm, and the silver light glowed on his hand.

Not now!

It dimmed, but he didn’t have anything to fear. Carda had set his attention solely on his father, and Rian was concerned only with the clan leaders’ lack of attention. The flute found a melancholy tune, and Shawnahur wondered what he’d feel if Father suddenly lost all sense of propriety and raved like a fox with maddening sickness.

What do you think? How would you feel in Shawn’s shoes? I know I’d be wanting to run. I avoid conflict like the plague! 

If you want more snippets, you can find them on the following page.

I’ve started to describe Kickstarter as a GoFundMe page that pays back those who fund it. You choose your tier of rewards and then if the goal is met, everyone gets their rewards, and the Indie author gets some money. 

If the goal is met and there’s still time left, then you see stretch goals put into effect. These are extra rewards that everyone gets if a specific goal is met–either x amount of money or a specific number of backers. 

What are rewards? Well, that depends. In the case of Bonded Crowns you’ll get your choice of ebook, paperback, or hardback. Then the stretch goals will be things like cut scenes, coloring pages, upgraded art–colored map instead of black and white, or a specific map of Shawn’s travels. Those who back will be voting on what gets added.

I’ve created a video to show you what Bonded Crowns is all about.

How Kickstarter Works

Kickstarter works off the idea that you like projects and want to see those projects reach their potential. So, indie authors, game developers, and other creatives present their ideas to the world, and you get to help back them in exchange for a piece of the project.

Your reward is based off the amount of support you give! It’s that easy. For example, you may only want an ebook, so you select that tier, but maybe you want the deluxe hardback edition. Each tier price is set in relationship to what you receive.

Unlike GoFundMe, Kickstarter projects are all or nothing. If they only reach 99% of their goal, then no one receives their rewards, and the project creator doesn’t get any money! But what happens if the goal is reached early?

I watched as Karyn Norton funded in under an hour! She then still had 21 days to go. The excitement built as her backers shared the word and eventually, when it was all said and done, I held the most beautiful hardback book in my hands–Embossed, jacket cover, chapter art, vellum map, colored map of world and the magic system!

How was that possible? Through stretch goals. As a backer, I was able to vote on what extras I wanted.

The Opportunity for You

My next book, Bonded Crowns, is releasing via Kickstarter next month. It won’t be available in this form anywhere else. Come March of 2025, I’ll release half of it as Appointed, and in July, the next half as Ascended. A special edition of Bonded Crowns will eventually be available on my website, but it won’t have all the bells and whistles that the Kickstarter version will have.

Bonded Crowns

What is this book? And why is it different than what will be available on other outlets?

Bonded Crowns is the duology of the first dragon king of Muintir. For Kickstarter, I decided to give the completed story first before it comes out as two books in the series. And since it’s new characters set earlier in the world, it works as its own standalone edition.

Survive.
Claim the crown.
Become the dragon king.

That should be easy for an eighteen-year-old, but Shawnahur’s easy days of being a puckling drover end moment he helps a baby dragon. Instead, he inadvertently ends up on a battlefield and defeats the enemy champion.

With his innocence stripped away and his victories mounting, Shawnahur is on the wrong side of the new king’s jealousy which knows no limits. He’ll need all his wits to stay alive as he’s threatened not only by the enemy on the battlefield—but also by his king!

Even so, he dares to dream that the prophecy of a dragon king could apply to him, but that’s only if he can survive long enough to claim the crown.

How to Be Envolved

You can get early notification in two ways:

This enables you to have an email in your inbox when the project goes live and another just before the project ends.

This is a special group who want personal notification of the project, want to be part of the conversation ahead of time, and are willing to pledge $1 right now to add a bookmark, the Dragon Journal and a pen to their tier.

I can’t wait to see how special this edition gets, but it’s all up to you and your friends. Bring them along.