Fun With Kickstarter: 2023-06
Joys of storytelling
Have you checked out projects on Kickstarter? If not, I recommend taking a look. I tend to check out the publishing, art, and gaming categories. It’s a terrific way to support creators your enjoy and to discover new ones.
Even completed projects can be good to check out. Transmissions 9, completed recently, but Matt Dixon has a pre-order option on the campaign, so you still have a chance to pick up the book if you’re interested. I love the Transmissions series of art books and have prints from several up on my walls.
Not all projects offer a way to pre-order or directly link to the titles elsewhere—but you can still discover what writers have created and find those books when they become available.
It’s also a great way to pick up extras through the pledge tiers and stretch goals offered during the campaign. My pledge for Kevin J. Anderson’s new sequel Skeleton in the Closet included a signed, numbered, limited edition chapbook of the original story that kicked off the series, later expanded into the Dragon Business. Plus a collection of stories The Funny Business, the first book in his Hexworld series, Roll, and other titles included as stretch goal rewards.
other campaigns to check out:
kickstarter notes
Kickstarter isn’t a store. Projects need to meet their funding goal first—or they get nothing. It’s possible for funded projects to fail for all kinds of reasons. I’ve only backed one project that failed to deliver, though it isn’t uncommon for projects to take longer than the creators figured. Sometimes that’s because the project was too successful and that introduced new complications.
This is all summed up right near the top of each project page.
I’ve received several books and games recently from various Kickstarter campaigns I’ve backed. It’s always fun when those show up. I’m anticipating several more arriving over the next month or so.
I might do a Kickstarter campaign at some future date, but I don’t have any concrete plans at this point. I’ve backed nearly all of the campaigns in this issue (need to decide whether or not I’m backing From The Moon).
Booktalk: What I’m Reading
Okay, it’d make sense if I was reading something from a Kickstarter campaign right now, but I’m not at the moment (I’ll get to them). I did read “Short Straws” by Kevin J. Anderson recently, that was the chapbook from his campaign.
In print, I’m reading Smolder by Laurell K. Hamilton.
(The title makes me think it’s a couples’ name for Mulder and Scully).
I love the Anita Blake series—and everything else I’ve read by Laurell K. Hamilton since I first encountered Anita Blake in Guilty Pleasures, back when it had a campy cover 30 years ago (which I liked better than the current covers). I started out buying the series in paperback, picked them up in hardcover when they were republished that way, and we’ve been getting the e-book editions too. I had this one pre-ordered and having recently read “Zombie Dearest” in the collection Fantastic Hope, was ready to jump into this book.
In audio, I’m listening to The Long War by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter.
This one picks up years after the end of the first book. Joshua is older and the impact of the Long Earth on individuals and governments continues to unfold. Unfortunately, it has also stirred up some of the worst traits of humanity.
In e-book, I’m digging into Chokepoint Capitalism by Rebecca Giblin and Cory Doctorow.
This is a book I’d recommend to everyone—because the issues around what is happening impacts us all. The authors discuss the problem in the first half of the book and then talk about solutions in the second half. I haven’t finished it yet. I’m taking notes as I go. I think I’ll be referring back to this one as I work on my own career plans.
That’s it for this issue of READINARY. I’m getting it out a bit later than usual, but I’m trying to stick to my schedule. It’s been a pretty good month so far. If you’re interested in showing more support for my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber, or hop over to my shop and pick up copies of my books. If you use the links to pick up the books I share here, I also earn a small affiliate commission (for some of them) at no cost to you.
If you want. No problem if you don’t. I appreciate you reading this issue. I’ll likely be back in a couple weeks with another issue.
Best wishes, always—Ryan