Holy Moly! Two weeks to go!
Okay, so maybe I'm a bit biased in my assessment of this project's relative importance in the world. Either that, or I've discovered that the more sensational the title, the more clicks my website gets. (Spoiler: it's the latter.)
Either way, the objective truth is this: with fourteen days left to go, The Kairos Mechanism's Kickstarter campaign is sitting pretty at 102%. This is outrageously cool, and I'm hugely indebted to everyone who's helped out.
In these last two weeks, I have a lot of web appearances set up in the hopes that with the help of the very generous folks who are hosting me, I can really make the most of what time I have left. Because it isn't over until it's over, and I still have really high hopes of being able to commit to a second volume in the Arcana series before the campaign ends. And I really, really, really want to start planning for Arcana #2, because (as I may have mentioned last week) my next two books have been scheduled for spring and fall of 2014. That leaves a year between The Broken Lands and the next traditionally-published title, which seems like a perfect excuse for another novella.
To commit to Arcana #2 now, I need to hit $9500, which will cover most of the paperback costs of that next novella. A much more modest stretch goal for these last two weeks is this: at $7500 I can bump up the paychecks of all of the young artists working on The Kairos Mechanism. I'd kinda really like to do that most of all.
So, to sweeten the deal: at $7500, as a thank you, I'll post the complete text of The Devil and the Scavenger, a crossroads story I wrote for the students of Deer Hill School in Cohasset, where I spent this past Monday and Tuesday. It's set in the world of The Boneshaker and it includes a character referenced for the first time in The Broken Lands, but who will return to play several very important parts in the books to come. It's about 13 pages long, and I'll send it as a PDF to every backer on the books when we hit $7500. Oh, and (Kate says with as much modesty as she can muster) it earned me the honor of being dubbed "the creepiest writer I've ever met," in the words of one of the fifth graders to whom I told the story during my visit. If six classes of fifth graders thought it was awesome, don't you think you'd better not miss out?
So, although the goal's been met, I would still love your help. If you'd like to become a backer but haven't yet, now's the time! Follow this link to The Kairos Mechanism's Kickstarter page. It's easy, you can pledge any amount you're comfortable with, and there are all sorts of fun rewards for you, above and beyond the satisfaction of supporting (er...) literature and (very seriously) the young and eager artists who are going to illustrate it. Friends and family, if you feel comfortable forwarding this on to your friends and family, I will be forever grateful if you would pass the word.
One sad announcement: this weekend's fundraiser at the Three Sisters Sanctuary has been cancelled due to technical difficulties and one sickly author, but I heartily encourage everyone to go and visit if you can. It is truly an amazing place, and if you're lucky you can chat with Richard Richards and his daughter, Sara the Stove Princess, and have them tell you the story of the garden. You will not be disappointed.
Also, coming this week on the Novellablog, we'll talk tools; specifically Outbrain, the service I've been using during this process to drive traffic to my previously-undervisited website, and McNally Jackson's Espresso Book Machine self-publishing services. Should be fun!
Hope all is well where you are, and, as always, thank you.
*Another explosive title for Miss Natty Chan.
150
Backers
$7,765
pledged of $6,500 goal
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Funding period
Apr 10, 2012 -
Jun 9, 2012
- First created · 11 backed
- Kate Chell Milford 705 friends
- Website: clockworkfoundry.com
Pledge $10 or more
52 backers
A digital copy of The Kairos Mechanism.
Estimated delivery: Jul 2012Pledge $25 or more
8 backers
A digital copy of The Kairos Mechanism, a signed poster, and a thank you card. International backers, add $5.
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012Pledge $30 or more
22 backers
A digital copy of The Kairos Mechanism, a signed paperback copy of The Boneshaker, a handmade bookmark, and a handwritten thank you card. International backers, add $10.
Estimated delivery: Jul 2012Pledge $40 or more
14 backers Limited (6 of 20 left)
A paperback and a digital copy of The Kairos Mechanism, a handmade bookmark, and a handwritten thank you card. International backers, add $10.
Estimated delivery: Jul 2012Pledge $40 or more
0 backers Limited (10 of 10 left)
A digital copy of The Kairos Mechanism, a handmade book of selected poetry featured in all three books, and a handwritten thank you card. International backers, please add $10.
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012Pledge $50 or more
1 backer Limited (4 of 5 left)
A digital copy of The Kairos Mechanism, a handwritten thank-you card, and a Kairos-inspired piece of jewelry handmade from bits and bobs from around my writing room by students at my high school, South River High in Maryland. Your contribution includes a donation to the high school. International backers, add $10.
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012Pledge $50 or more
12 backers Limited (8 of 20 left)
A digital copy of The Kairos Mechanism, a handwritten thank you card, and a strange but fascinating bit of ephemera that will surprise and delight you. It could be a weird mechanical thing that will be an awesome paperweight, or a weird used book I found somewhere, or a seriously pretty radio tube that would look great in a vase in place of flowers. International backers, add $10.
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012Pledge $60 or more
4 backers Limited (6 of 10 left)
A digital copy of The Kairos Mechanism, a paperback copy of The Boneshaker, a handwritten thank you card, and a strange but fascinating bit of ephemera that will surprise and delight you. It could be a weird mechanical thing that will be an awesome paperweight, or a weird used book I found somewhere, or a seriously pretty radio tube that would look great in a vase in place of flowers. International backers, add $10.
Estimated delivery: Jul 2012Pledge $100 or more
0 backers Limited (5 of 5 left)
Your choice of a digital or paperback copy of The Kairos Mechanism, and a signed print by one of the reader artists, a handwritten thank you card, and your name on the special thanks page. International backers, add $10.
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012Pledge $100 or more
0 backers
Does your kid want to be a writer? I'll give her/him a call and talk writing for as long as she/he wants to chat. I'll also send a digital edition of The Kairos Mechanism and a handwritten thank you card, and put your child's name on the special thanks page.
Estimated delivery: Jul 2012Pledge $100 or more
7 backers
A signed set of The Boneshaker and The Broken Lands in hardcover, a digital copy of The Kairos Mechanism; a handwritten thank you card, and your name on the special thanks page. International backers, add $10.
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012Pledge $125 or more
0 backers
A one-hour-long Skype visit with your child's book club to discuss books, writing, and turning weird history into stories. Also includes a digital edition of The Kairos Mechanism, handwritten thank you cards for each kid in the group, and the names of the kids in the book club on the special thanks page.
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012Pledge $150 or more
1 backer Limited (4 of 5 left)
A digital copy of The Kairos Mechanism, The Boneshaker in paperback, a signed print selected by Andrea Offermann, your name on the special thanks page, and a handwritten thank you card. International backers, add $15.
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012Pledge $150 or more
8 backers Limited (12 of 20 left)
A signed set of The Boneshaker and The Broken Lands in hardcover and The Kairos Mechanism in paperback, your name on the special thanks page, and a handwritten thank you card. International backers, add $10.
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012Pledge $200 or more
3 backers All gone!
A set of The Boneshaker and The Broken Lands in hardcover and The Kairos Mechanism in paperback, all signed by both Kate Milford and Andrea Offerman; your name on the special thanks page; and a handwritten thank you card. International backers, add $15.
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012Pledge $250 or more
0 backers
A one hour-long Skype visit with a class or library, a signed poster, a digital copy of The Kairos Mechanism, your name on the special thanks page, and a handwritten thank you card.
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012Pledge $250 or more
2 backers Limited (1 of 3 left)
Signed first-printing hardcover copies of The Boneshaker and The Broken Lands, a paperback copy of The Kairos Mechanism, a handwritten thank you card. International Backers, add $10.
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012Pledge $300 or more
2 backers All gone!
A set of The Boneshaker and The Broken Lands in hardcover and The Kairos Mechanism in paperback, all signed by both Kate Milford and Andrea Offerman; a print from either The Boneshaker or The Broken Lands signed by Andrea Offermann, your name on the special thanks page; and a handwritten thank you card. International backers, add $15.
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012Pledge $300 or more
0 backers Limited (4 of 4 left)
Signed copies of The Boneshaker and The Broken Lands in hardcover, The Kairos Mechanism in paperback, a handmade book of selected poetry featured in the three books, a handwritten thank-you card, your name on the special thanks page. International backers, add $10.
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012Pledge $500 or more
0 backers
An in-person, one hour-long school or library visit. Locations within 2 hours of NYC, Annapolis, Baltimore, or Philadelphia, I will pick up travel expenses. Are you outside that geographic range? Email me to make inquiries, but basically if you're willing to pay actual travel and accommodation costs on top of the $500 pledge, I'm game. I will also include a digital copy of The Kairos Mechanism; a signed poster; your name on the special thanks page, and a handwritten thank you card.
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012Pledge $1,000 or more
0 backers Limited (2 of 2 left)
You choose the next volume of the Arcana series. I'll send you a signed set of all three books and four story options. You tell me which to write, and I'll name a character after you in the story you choose. I'm offering two of these, just to make my life difficult. If two people ante up for this one, I'll plan for two Arcana novellas in 2013, one in the spring and one in the fall, so although it says May, one of you will get delivery in September. International backers, please add $10 for shipping.
Estimated delivery: May 2013
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