I thought I’d do one main Kickstarter post, so I can link back to it as I explain things in more detail in connected posts over the next 21 days. I apologize in advance about the amount of blogging I’m about to do (if you get emails from me) but I promise it won’t stretch beyond the Kickstarter!
CLICK HERE TO PLEDGE THE KICKSTARTER
Important dates
Launch: January 10, 2023 at 7 a.m. PST
Length: 21 days
Last Day: January 31, 2023
Tenth Anniversary for Dowser 1: June 18, 2023
Kickstarter Info
Essentially Kickstarter is a funding platform. It helps a creator cover their EXPENSES (i.e. money already spent or needed to be spent to create the product). You select a tier and ‘pledge’ that amount to support the campaign. Warning: you cannot pledge multiple tiers. Though I suppose you could do so with multiple accounts. If the main funding goal is achieved, then you receive the item you pledged by the date listed (hopefully!). After the initial goal is met, there are often stretch goals (‘free’ extras/rewards) that come into play. Which people who have already baked the project (at a certain level) receive without spending any more money.
How do I pledge/back a project?
How do I change/increase my pledge?
Why run a Kickstarter for Dowser 1 in the first place?
For me, a Kickstarter functions partly as a preorder – I don’t run a store, so I can’t ‘carry’ stock. A Kickstarter lets me know what my readers are interested in so I can order the minimum amount. Yes, I will not be ordering extras. The only way to get any of the limited editions of Dowser 1 is to pledge/back the item you want via the Kickstarter campaign. The new Dowser series novella, aka tier 1, will be available on all retailers in mid2024. It will not, however, include any of the extras: the Anniversary eCard, the new recipe, etc.
A Kickstarter also functions partly as a way to help creators finance special editions or new endeavors, etc. In my case, I’ve requested the audiobook rights for Dowser 1 – 6 back from my publisher and I am in the process of recording all nine audiobooks with a new narrator: Erin Moon (she rocks!). I’m offering the audiobooks in the stretch goals section, so hopefully we reach some or all of those!
Tiers
The tiers are explained in detail on the Kickstarter page but I will provide more detail/pictures over the next 21 days. When I write the corresponding posts, I will link them back here:
- Anniversary eCard, Dowser novella, and a new recipe
- limited-edition eBook
- limited-edition paperback, bookmark, and bookplate. Autographed.
- eBook/paperback combo
- limited-edition hardcover, bookmark, and bookplate. Autographed.
- eBook/hardcover combo
- eBook/paperback/hardcover bundle
annotated hardcovers(sorry, these were gone before I managed to get this post written)(b/c my readers freaking rock!)name a background character in Dowser 9.5name a supporting character in Dowser 9.5name a main character in Dowser 9.5
Stretch goals
More to be added (hopefully!!)
- Five more character sketches by Nicole Deal – goal ACHIEVED in under two hours (again, because I have crazy cool readers).
- Dowser 1 audiobook, narrated by Erin Moon – UNLOCKED!
- Dowser 2 audiobook, narrated by Erin Moon – UNLOCKED!
- Dowser 3 audiobook, narrated by Erin Moon – UNLOCKED!
Add-Ons
I have also made the second and third Dowser series trilogies available in audiobook format as Add-Ons. What does that mean? You can purchase (at a discount) Dowser 4, 5, and 6 and/or Dowser 7, 8, and 9 in audiobook directly from me (via the Kickstarter campaign). YAY! See this blog post for more details and delivery dates, please. I also have added instructions on how to claim this deal in the blog post.
Other fun things:
Erin Moon narrating the opening pages of Dowser 1
Mark your calendar: Anniversary party/release day for Dowser 9.5 – June 18, 2023.
Quick Updates
Day 1: Main goal achieved in under an hour: because you are all amazing!
Day 1: Stretch goal 1 was achieved in under two hours. Because who doesn’t want ALL THE ART!!
End of Day 1: Stretch goal 2 now smashed through! That means tiers 2 – 11 get Dowser 1 in audiobook for free!
Day 2: campaign rewarded Kickstarter’s #ProjectWeLove status! Whoot – THANK YOU!
Day 3: stretch goal 3 unlocked! That means tiers 2 – 11 get Dowser 2 in audiobook for free!
Day 6: rolled over 500 backers!
Day 9: rolled over $40,000 pledged!
Day 13: stretch goal 4 unlocked! That means tiers 2 – 11 get Dowser 3 in audiobook for free!
CLICK HERE TO PLEDGE THE KICKSTARTER
Feel free to ask me anything in the comments. It is important that I’m as clear as possible!!