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About this project
HUNGRY RATS: http://hungry-rats.com
CONNOR COYNE: http://connorcoyne.com
THE GOTHIC FUNK NATION: http://gothicfunk.org
Hungry Rats
Meredith Malady is a high school girl living in Flint, Michigan. As she moves into her senior year and contemplates a life away from her disintegrating family, the news catches her attention with reports of a serial killer. The "Rat Man" mutilates his victims and leaves dead rats at the scenes of his crimes.
Meredith soon begins to look beyond the media hype and speculation surrounding these grisly acts and picks apart their symbolism in her own life. Legends have been passed down to her from a strange and depraved past full of Michigan lumberjacks. Confident in these observations, Meredith runs away from home to pursue the Rat Man full-time.
I drafted this novel in 2003 and have revised it six times. In 2007 I continued development of Hungry Rats for my MFA creative thesis at the New School. It has met with unique faculty recognition and is always enthusiastically received at readings. I have also spent the last three years submitting this piece to publishers and agents. Today, with the help of editors, designers, and other allies from Chicago's Gothic Funk Nation (http://gothicfunk.org), which I cofounded, I am ready to self-publish, and have filed my DBA as the Gothic Funk Press (http://hungry-rats.com/darkgothicarts.php).
Much has been written about the growing credibility of self-publication ventures, but this is a truly collaborative and multi-media effort. I envision this novel as a hub for related projects, and already five musicians (Nova Moturba, Mr. Automatic, Elisabeth Blair, Richard Whaling, and Holiday) have shared their work or are developing original content for the novel. The book will be designed by Sam Perkins-Harbin of Forge 22 (http://forge22.com), and scenes will be shot on location in Flint by Middlebranch Productions (http://www.middlebranchproductions.com/). For a complete list of contributors to date, check here: http://hungry-rats.com/contributors.php.
In short, in the 21st century, literature can respond to the opportunities of a technologically integrated community. I want this book to go viral, but even if it does not, I am delighted to see the creative energies it has already fomented.
Self-publication is much more affordable today than it used to be, but remains an expensive venture. My anticipated expenses are:
- LEGAL / ADMINISTRATIVE: $200
- DESIGN: $600
- PRINTING: $1800
- MARKETING/PROMOTION: $1600
- TOTAL: $4300
These figures are deliberately general. I am looking for a responsible middle ground for extension with efficiency. For example, I will save money by using Print-On-Demand technology instead of traditional Offset Printing, but I will want to purchase a package that gives me significant control to lower cover price because I want a lot of people to read the book (gosh darn it)! Correspondingly, I'm willing to tour this book on a shoestring, but I certainly intend to take it on a trip or two.
$4300 is a comfortable middle number.
I would ideally raise over $5000 which would allow me to take full advantage of the collaborative elements of this project (imagine a novel booking gigs with a band and performance artists; that is a direction that may develop here!).
However, I am willing to give this a shot with as little as $3200, since I know that I have enough support from friends and colleagues to scale back on some typical expenditures if necessary.
I hope that you are inspired to lend your support to Hungry Rats, but I am just as hopeful that you will take a few minutes to see what's in the works here.
Please view my Kickstarter video, read the first chapter here, and listen to some of the music that has already been made specifically for Hungry Rats.
I thank you in advance for your support and encouragement.
Connor Coyne
50
Backers
$4,022
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Funding Successful
This project successfully raised its funding goal on May 6.Pledge $1 or more
ESEMPLASY. This reward is exceptional in that it will be sent upon your pledge, even if our fundraising goal is not met! You will receive, by email, a randomly selected sentence from Hungry Rats.
1 BACKER
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THANK YOU NOTE. PDF. You will receive a thank you note in your email inbox written by one of the main characters of Hungry Rats.
3 BACKERs
Pledge $10 or more
DROSS AND TROVE. PDF. As would any novel that has been in development for seven years, Hungry Rats includes a number of "singles," "b-sides," "remixes," and "hidden tracks." You can choose one of these collections to arrive in your email inbox accompanied by a THANK YOU NOTE (see above).
4 BACKERs
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HUNGRY RATS STICKER, deliverable by mail. See it at: http://hungry-rats.com/images/merch/hrsticker10.jpg
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HUNGRY RATS BUTTON, deliverable by mail. See it at: http://hungry-rats.com/images/merch/hrbutton10.jpg
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HUNGRY RATS MUSIC. MP3. Receive all music created for Hungry Rats in your inbox accompanied by a THANK YOU NOTE (see above).
6 BACKERs
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THANK YOU NOTE. Snail Mail. You will receive a thank you note in the mail written by one of the main characters of Hungry Rats.
2 BACKERs
Pledge $25 or more
DROSS AND TROVE. PDF. As any novel that has been in development for seven years, Hungry Rats includes a number of "singles," "b-sides," "remixes," and "hidden tracks." You will receive all of these in your inbox accompanied by a THANK YOU NOTE (see above).
1 BACKER
Pledge $30 or more
HUNGRY RATS COFFEE MUG, because the lumberjacks are great lovers of coffee. Deliverable by mail. See it at: http://hungry-rats.com/images/merch/hrmug30.jpg
1 BACKER
Pledge $40 or more
HUNGRY RATS TOTE BAG, to carry your esemplasic manifestoes. Deliverable by mail. See it at: http://hungry-rats.com/images/merch/hrtote40.jpg
0 BACKERs
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HUNGRY RATS TEDDY BEAR, a frequent danger in the North Woods of 19th century Michigan. Deliverable by mail. See it at: http://hungry-rats.com/images/merch/hrbear40.jpg
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HUNGRY RATS HAT, deliverable by mail. See it at: http://hungry-rats.com/images/merch/hrhat40.jpg
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HUNGRY RATS T-SHIRT, featuring a rendering by Sam Perkins-Harbin (http://forge22.com) of the Malady family's vision of the afterlife. Deliverable by mail. See it at: http://hungry-rats.com/images/merch/hrhat40.jpg
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Nothing is sexier than HUNGRY RATS SKIVVIES. You can surprise your other with Hungry Rats boxers or thong. See them at: http://hungry-rats.com/images/merch/hrboxers40.jpg and http://hungry-rats.com/images/merch/hrthong40.jpg
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Pledge $50 or more
DROSS AND TROVE. Snail Mail. As any novel that has been in development for seven years, Hungry Rats includes a number of "singles," "b-sides," "remixes," and "hidden tracks." You can choose one of these (signed-and-numbered) to arrive in your mailbox accompanied by a THANK YOU NOTE (see above).
0 BACKERs
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HUNGRY RATS MUSIC. Snail mail. Receive a CD (signed and numbered) with all music created for Hungry Rats in your mailbox accompanied by a THANK YOU NOTE (see above).
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BOOK. Along with a written THANK YOU NOTE, you will receive a signed copy of Hungry Rats, available for pickup.
8 BACKERs
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BOOK. Along with a written THANK YOU NOTE, you will receive a signed copy of Hungry Rats, mailed to your house.
9 BACKERs
Pledge $100 or more
DROSS AND TROVE. Snail Mail. As any novel that has been in development for seven years, Hungry Rats includes a number of "singles," "b-sides," "remixes," and "hidden tracks." You will receive all of these (signed and numbered) to arrive in your mailbox accompanied by a THANK YOU NOTE (see above).
1 BACKER
Pledge $150 or more
You will receive all DROSS, TROVE, MUSIC, and THANK-YOU NOTE offerings by mail.
2 BACKERs
Pledge $250 or more
FAT RATS. In additional to all DROSS, TROVE, MUSIC, BOOK, and THANK-YOU NOTE offerings, you will be prepared a delicious meal, accompanied with live music, and followed by appropriate film-noir.
1 BACKER
Pledge $500 or more
AN AURORA FROM THE EARTH. In addition to all DROSS, TROVE, MUSIC, BOOK, and THANK-YOU NOTE offerings, you will receive a three-day grand tour of the seamy underbelly of Chicagoland, planned according to your tastes and interests. Will you strain your eyes westward from the sandy heights of the Warren Dunes State Park or the South Side from the Sears Tower? Or will you stumble among the weedy reedies near Gacy's place or the Dahmer's stomping ground in Boystown? Transportation and food will be provided. You must live in Chicagoland (or be able to get there on your own) in order to claim this reward.
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Pledge $1,000 or more
A MOVEMENT IN THE MATTER OF MOTION. In addition to all DROSS, TROVE, MUSIC, BOOK, and THANK-YOU NOTE offerings, you will receive a three-day grand tour of the seamy underbelly of southeast Michigan, planned according to your tastes and interests. Will you enjoy the glories of the Heidelberg Street Project in Detroit or the splendor of the Whaley House in Flint? Or will you go on a tour of a GM or Ford Assembly Plant? Transportation, food, and lodging will be provided. You must live in the American Midwest (or be able to get there on your own) in order to claim this reward. You must live in the American Midwest (or be able to get there on your own) in order to claim this reward.
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Pledge $1,200 or more
HUNGRY RATS. In addition to all DROSS, TROVE, MUSIC, BOOK, and THANK-YOU NOTE offerings, Connor will collaborate with you to plan a Gothic Funk Party on a theme of your choosing. Like the grandest of high-concept parties, this will include games, mysteries, live music, decor, food, drink. If you live in Chicago, this adventure will follow a meal in Chinatown, West Ridge, or the John Hancock Tower. If you are coming in from out of town, we will put you up for one night in a bed-and-breakfast in either Edgewater or Bridgeport. You must live in Chicagoland or be able to get there on your own in order to claim this reward.
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Pledge $1,600 or more
ADRIFT IN THE MAINSTREAM. In addition to all DROSS, TROVE, MUSIC, BOOK, and THANK-YOU NOTE offerings, you will receive a three-day grand tour of the seamy underbelly of lumber-era Michigan, planned according to your tastes and interests. Will you trace the path of the lumberjack through Marquette or the ghost town of Fayetteville? Or stomp the unconquered heights of the Porcupine Mountains? Transportation, food, and lodging will be provided. You must live in the American Midwest (or be able to get there on your own) in order to claim this reward.
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Project By
Connor Coyne
Chicago, IL
Send MessageConnor Coyne grew up in Flint, Michigan and has lived in Chicago and New York City. He received his Bachelors from the University of Chicago and his Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (Fiction) from the New School. He has written plays, poetry, essays, short stories, and novels, and is also a media consultant working with the Brainsell Group.
His work has been published in the Santa Clara Review, the Flint Broadside, the Saturnine Detractor, and the upcoming issue of the Moria Poetry Journal. Connor is a contributor to the literary blog bkish, a cofounder of Chicago's Gothic Funk Nation, and the editor-in-chief of its arts journal, the Paramanu Pentaquark.
He maintains a website at connorcoyne.com.
