If you've never heard of a kickstarter before (except for those on motorcycles), welcome to the club. I'd never heard of one either until my hip, millennial son explained to me that they are how modern-day entrepreneurs acquire the capital for beginning, or kickstarting, new projects. Unlike some crowdfunding, like GoFundMe, on which people just ask for money and hope someone gives it to them, or DonorsChoose, where teachers ask donors to give money to buy supplies for their classes, people on Kickstarter promise their backers something in return for their money.
What I've offered is my latest book, Valverde, at a significant discount over what it will sell for when it comes out later in April.
I've offered some additional rewards, too. I'll be creating a book of Civil War recipes that some of my backers are going to get. It won't be available anywhere else except through this Kickstarter for at least the foreseeable future. I'll also be working on a teacher's guide that will follow Common Core Standards.
But supporting a Kickstarter doesn't have to be about good deals. It can also be about good deeds. My philanthropic friends and supporters can buys single books or even whole classroom sets and teachers guides for classrooms in low income areas.
What am I going to do with the money I get from this Kickstarter? First, I'm hiring a professional to make a truly attractive cover for Valverde. Second, I'll be marketing this book to educators throughout the state. If I earn enough, I'll create a large print edition so that the elderly and those with vision disabilities can read Valverde. If I earn even more, an audio book will come out.
Expanding the reach of my readership and providing large print and audio books are big dreams for me. I am grateful for the son who helped me find a way to make these dreams become a reality. It's exciting to see who has chosen to back my Kickstarter. Some are old friends and family members, but many are people I've yet to meet. It's exciting to attract new readers to my circle.
Sound intriguing? Click here to see more about my Kickstarter. But don't wait too long. This campaign closes on Tuesday, April 4.