Kickstarters are here to stay, and I gotta say, I am loving them. Since discovering the platform in 2012, I've nabbed front-row seats in project creation with some amazing creators, snagging some great merch at the same time! (Bookish pins, anyone? Yes I'm obsessed.)
In case you're new, Kickstarter is a crowd-funding platform for creatives. Creators pull together project costs all the time, and writers are no exception. Every book costs time and money in terms of editing costs, cover art and purchasing the ISBN, which we don't mind, but there's often very little budget for the cool extras we long to stretch to like chapter header images and character art.
By Kickstarting a project, the creator can bring you the same great project made BETTER. As the Kickstarter progresses, creators often have an initial funding goal (the amount needed to push go on the project) and then stretch goals, for those juicy extras. Commissioning character art, more editions, better looking paperbacks and hardbacks... the list is endless.
But not only that, Kickstarter lets me get close to the creatives and lets me buy not just a book (like from any retailer), but all the cool extras. Signed paperbacks, sprayed edges, superb swag, I'm in bookish heaven! Creators put together their own packages, their own book boxes, if you will. And they can offer more than just physical rewards too, I've see a short story in your favourite universe written just for you on offer!
So, whether you're a Kickstarter newbie or an experienced backer, these are the six campaigns that we will be running, nay, SPRINTING, to back! A lot have limited edition or special edition runs, so when they are gone, they are GONE. You'll kick yourself if you miss these (ha ha, Becky). Each entry here has a handy-dandy button to take you right to the campaign, so you can click "Notify me on launch." It's a free way to support these guys, as a follow costs nothing, but also makes sure you are the first to know when the campaigns go live!
Faerie Hearts
Grab your early release paperback and ebook editions of Faerie Hearts, a swoony collection of fantasy romance stories from USA Today bestseller Anthea Sharp - plus lots of bonus goodies for Kickstarter backers!
Starts: 13th Feburary
Genre: YA
Why I'm excited: There are a tonne of books in this collection and mouth-watering extras. Top of my list!
The Immortal Voices
Fantasy for animal lovers! An action-packed contemporary fantasy series in all new deluxe illustrated hardcover editions.
Starts: 15th Feburary
Genre: YA
Why I'm excited: Animal lover - check. And look at those STUNNING covers!! I am in love.
The Ealdspell Cycle
Faerie magic limited edition hardbacks and book boxes for The Ealdspell Cycle.
Starts: late Feb, early March.
Genre: YA and NA
Why I'm excited: Oh. My. Goodness. Just the preview image is divine. And the books themselves? That Celtic decoration? ::Swoon!::
Ink and Incantation
Love the magical libraries from Harry Potter, Sorcery of Thorns, and Beauty & the Beast? You'll love the Kickstarter exclusive hardcover edition of Ink & Incantation, packed with extras and bookish goodies to add-on.
Starts: 1st March
Genre: YA
Why I'm excited: Where have you been?! Ink and Incantation brings some of your favourite YA indie authors together featuring all bookish goodness. AND that hardcover looks ::chef's kiss::
The Mettle of the MasterMage
Special edition paperback portal sword and sorcery fantasy release exclusive to Kickstarter, including bookish and story-themed swag!
Starts on: 9th March
Genre: YA and NA
Why I'm excited: Full disclosure, this one is mine! Now that the first act of the story is complete in books 1 to 4, it's full speed ahead on Act 2, and I'm choosing to launch the second half of the series on Kickstarter. I am currently crafting away at the swag too; mettle of the MasterMage, whose magic is with metal and stone, means that I am not only extremely punny, but free to create amazing bookmarks in metal and personally engrave them for backers!
A Sacred Tale Collection
Heroic fantasy, tragic romance, diverse casts in epic fantasy! Get the exclusive limited time print run of A Sacred Tale Collection, two novellas in the world of Eslura.
Starts: 10th March
Genre: YA
Why I'm excited: I've been waiting to dive into Eslura, and this seems like the perfect opportunity.
In conclusion, I love directly supporting the creators making things that I love, and this platform has helped me get closer to them and the stories I love. How about you? Have you backed any Kickstarters? Which ones, and how excited are you for these? Be warned: Kickstarter is addictive! JoIn me!
This article was written by Becky James
Becky James is the author of The King's Swordsman series and the Dark Tides series; based in the UK, she has a deep love of the British countryside, canals, and all things fantasy; she devours anything that has magic, swords, good friends and good times.
You can read her other posts here.
