Kickstarter is a great way to support authors directly. This is a collection of projects that, since I’ve found them interesting, I figure you might, too. I’m trying to keep it mostly up to date, but that’s a real game of whack-a-mole, now, isn’t it? Let’s just say I’ll do my best! Note that if something launches in the future, you can sign up to get notified when they go live.
DeAnna Knippling – The Waking of Witches
A group of my wrier friends recently had a conversation about “Cozy Horror.” Like most things, its definition can be sliced, diced, and argued, but this project is probably it. Kind of. Maybe. DeAnna is one of the most interesting writers out there, so take a look and see what you think—along the way, join her fun “Live Writing” group to watch her create book three.
Much fun.
Rebecca M. Senese – Festive Fantasy Holiday Tales
Pay attention to Rebecca’s work, and you’ll know she has a thing with Christmas. some of what she writes around the Holiday season can be pretty dark, but I promise you this one isn’t. I love the whole packaging of the book itself. Very festive, of course. It looks physically like a real, live present. Which, I think it would make just fine.
This one launches in early October.
Kristine Kathryn Rusch — Strange Sights
Everything Kris Rusch does starts on my must read pile. Looking at the prelaunch page makes me even more curious. It promises a dark fantasy, and the rest of her discussion ( “Strange Sights is a scary book, not quite horror, set at the Winter Solstice, when the veil between the worlds is thin.”) suggests something Stephen King-like, only not. In other words, classic Kris Rusch?
Courtney Grace Powers — Gravitate: A Rockstar Science Fantasy Novel
I can’t help but enjoy the whole idea of this project, which is a multimedia effort that pairs science fiction, fantasy, and a rock ‘n’ roll band. Fun project. Seems like the exact kind of project that Indies can totally kill with. Closes October 15, so take a look.
Lisa Carlisle – Underground Encounters
Yes, pretty books are all the rage still, and these are quite pretty books. But what caught my eye here was the story–witches, gargoyles, vampires, and shifters in a tangled web of relationships with a Goth club sensibility. All written by a UYSA Today Bestselling author. Maybe it’s just my Halloween frame of mind, but that just sounds fun.
ed his first MDMH project. He’s well on the way to passing that number this time. Closes at the end of the month!
Karenza Grant – The Piano Tuner’s Song
This one looks beautiful on every level. The cover is gorgeous, and the story description promises a marvelous jigsaw mishmash of intrigue and fairy tale retellings—all based on the foundation of synaesthesia, which has always enthralled me. What would it be like so see music?
Alissa Lace – Neon Pulse
I stumbled upon this project by somewhat random, but couldn’t stop looking at it. Let’s be clear that I can’t tell much about how strong the story will be. The project is in pre-launch and is picking up some support, so that’s good. But the material on the page is slight when it comes to storytelling. But I couldn’t stop looking at the graphics–which are apparently up my alley. Looking at the property more closely, I see that on its Amazon pre-order the author is using the Kickstarter Background as the cover, which I think is probably more wide-appeal commercial for this genre, but is presenting a different, and more intricate cover for the Kickstarter. It has me intrigued.
Kari Kilgore – Voices Through Time
This one is in pre-launch, but I’m looking forward to it. I’d recommend Kari’s work across the board, but when she brings her Appalachian heritage into play, it’s Game Over. If the tagline: A Ghostly Appalachian Novella Trio – Special edition omnibus full of romantic suspense, ornery ghosts, and antique postcards and images holds any interest at all, this one is highly recommended.
Beth Deweese – Penned Fate, Spelled Inkwell, Book 1
This is interesting in so many ways. First, the story itself catches my eye…a magic shop selling pens. Hmmm…interesting. The art is cute and gives the vibe of a nice read in which the romance is character-driven (and then the whole fantasy vibe of the dragon. Don’t get me started!). The project itself has a ton of fun things in it, and then we get to the point that this is Beth’s first project and she’s already crested 150 followers. Follow the buzz, right? This one could be a lot of fun. (Launching in October!)
DeAnna Knippling & Jamie Ferguson – Monsters in Love
Hey! I’m in this one.
And, finally, here’s the next one I’m planning. A fun collection of short stories, originally published in Boundary Shock Quarterly.
Ron Collins (Launches Next January) – The Dark Ship: Science Fiction Stories from the Boundary
Ghost ships, mad scientists, impossible machines, time travel, strange worlds, alien monsters, and the people caught in the middle.
Come for the ghost ships, the wonders of space, the Time Kraken, and the cyber dragons. Stay for the people who have to face them. Then, when the ride is over, come away feeling that, for all our flaws, people are still worth rooting for.