On the lost isle of Shumakai, contestants battle in the Tournament Maximus to claim either fortune ... or DEATH.
FINAL DAYS! New LOW PRICES on "Get in the Story" & Art Rewards!
New, lower-threshold Stretch Goals!
WHAT IS THE TOURNAMENT OF DEATH?
Action! Intrigue! Magic! Swordplay! Traps! Monsters! Sudden Death! It’s a thrilling, darkly humorous adventure epic. It’s putting heroes you like through challenges so deadly that only the smartest and strongest will survive. It’s a complete novel created live online over 16 days. It’s a high-wire writing act and the Swords & Sorcery event of the year!
WHAT’S THE STORY ABOUT?
Well, that’s the fun, isn’t it? The story isn’t written yet! You get to help determine where it goes. It starts with a diverse group of champions arriving on Shumakai, the legendary lost island, to participate in the latest Tournament Maximus. Contestants must survive a sea-monster-filled obstacle course and then an expedition into a drowned temple to recover a fabulous treasure. Those that return alive will receive a gift from the Wizard-King Amontet, whose powers know almost no bounds. But will anyone get to claim the prize? We’ll figure that out together as I write.
WHAT DO BACKERS GET?
You get:
• Two Tournament of Death novels for the price of one! (TOD 1 & 2)
• A brand-new chapter every day of the tournament, and then (if you want) final e-book and print editions as well.
• Your choice of e-book and print formats – all in exclusive backers-only editions.
• Influence over the outcome of the 2012 tournament, helping pick challenges and contestants and determining who lives … and who doesn’t.
• A nifty exclusive wallpaper (or two) for your desktop.
• To help create challenges, traps, and characters – or even name a character after yourself.* (*Available at upper pledge levels only!)
• 16+ days of solid “live” entertainment, and a lifetime of enjoyment.
And so much more!
WHAT ARE THE GOALS & STRETCH GOALS?
Make the Story Illustrated – Get a Game
I’ve set my initial goal at $1500 because time is short & I really want to do this project with you. If we exceed my initial goals, I will start adding illustrations to the e-books.
•$2000 = 4 illos (illustrations) for the Omnibus
•$2750 = 6 illos for the Omnibus
•$4000 = 10 illos for the Omnibus
•+2 illos for every $750 beyond, up to a maximum of 16 illos (appx. 1 every 2 chapters)
Additionally, if the total for the project exceeds $10,000, I will design a quick-start Role-Playing Game (RPG) set in the Tournament of Death/Blue Kingdoms world, and all backers at $25 and above will get a PDF copy of that game.
•$10,000 = I design a TOD/BK RPG
WHO’S RUNNING THIS SHOW?
Me! Stephen D. Sullivan, award-winning author, artist, and editor with more than 30 years of experience bringing fantasies to life for readers and gamers just like you. Check the video for a brief bio, but what’s important here is that I pulled off the same crazy live-writing stunt in 2008 – so you know I can do it now, with great results.
WHY SHOULD YOU BACK THIS PROJECT?
Because it’s going to be a heck of a lot of fun. Because you get to influence how it all turns out. Because you get backer-only editions of all the project’s rewards. Because you love summer games and this is another one. Because you’re tired of summer sports and ready for some fantasy. Because you’re one of my friends or relatives. Because the initial funding goal is only $1500.
Or maybe because you’ve seen my work before and you like it.
This book will be just as good as the other 50 I’ve done. Or maybe, with your help, it’ll be even better!
Don’t wait! Back TOURNAMENT OF DEATH now!
Thank you for your support!
— Steve Sullivan
www.stephendsullivan.com
twitter.com/sdsullivan
www.facebook.com/sdsbooks
FAQ
-
Tournament of Death 1 was written 4 years ago during the games, but has never been further revised or worked on. (It's up in pieces online.) So, it's done -- in raw form.
I'm including it in this project to:
1) Put it into initial e-book form (as raw copy)
2) Give it a full spit & polish
3) Publish it as a finished (edited) e-book
4) Publish it as a print book (in the omnibuses)
5) Add some illustrations, if funding permitsAll chapters of the original TOD (#1) were written live -- just as this Kickstarter will be -- and then rewritten at least twice before posting. Still, one never gains much perspective when one writes and rewrites over the same day. So I _know_ that story can be improved by giving it another rewrite and a full editorial run-though.
Raw copy e-books of TOD#1 should go out as soon as the Kickstarter is funded (for backers at $6 and above) along with the initial wallpaper.
TOURNAMENT OF DEATH #2 will be written live during the 2012 summer games (in similar fashion to #1), with ongoing input from backers of this project, at $15 or above. Those backers will get to see it live, participate in shaping the story, and get a raw-copy e-book shortly after the whole process finishes.
Those at $25 and above will then, a bit later (September-October) get a full-spit-and-polish version of both stories -- which may include some new and expanded scenes and well as corrections -- in addition to the raw-copy e-books. (Plus an extra wallpaper.) Some backers will also get softcover and hardcover editions and other rewards.
46
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Funding period
Jul 9, 2012 -
Jul 24, 2012
- First created · 51 backed
- Steve Sullivan 674 friends
- Website: stephendsullivan.com
Pledge $1 or more
2 backers
BYSTANDER • Get a special Tournament of Death desktop wallpaper (JPG format) and my heartfelt thanks!
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012Pledge $6 or more
2 backers
INTERESTED BYSTANDER • A Raw Copy E-Book of TOD #1 _only_ (as written live – Epub, Kindle, & PDF formats) • Plus a TOD desktop wallpaper (JPG format)
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012Pledge $15 or more
10 backers
AUDIENCE • Special Access to the TOD Website (Vote on the outcomes!) • A Raw Copy E-Book of TOD 1& 2 (as written live – Epub, Kindle, & PDF formats) • Plus a TOD desktop wallpaper (JPG format)
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012Pledge $25 or more
19 backers
ATTENDEE • Final E-Books TOD 1&2 (edited, possibly illustrated) • Listed as an Attendee in the final e-book Special Thanks page • Special Access to the TOD Website (Vote on the outcomes!) • A Raw Copy E-Book of TOD 1& 2 (as written live – Epub, Kindle, & PDF formats) • Plus a TOD desktop wallpaper (JPG format) and my heartfelt thanks!
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012Pledge $45 or more
4 backers
TEAM SUPPORTER • Exclusive Softcover Omnibus TOD 1 & 2 • Final E-Books TOD 1&2 (edited, possibly illustrated) • Listed as an Attendee in the final books’ Special Thanks pages • Special Access to the TOD Website (Vote on the outcomes!) • A Raw Copy E-Book of TOD 1&2 (as written live – Epub, Kindle, & PDF formats) • Plus 2 TOD desktop wallpapers (JPG format) Please add $10 for international shipping ($5 Canada/Mexico).
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $65 or more
2 backers
BIBLIOPHILE • Exclusive Hardcover Omnibus TOD 1 & 2 • Final E-Books TOD 1&2 (edited, possibly illustrated) • Listed as an Attendee in the final books’ Special Thanks pages • Special Access to the TOD Website (Vote on the outcomes!) • A Raw Copy E-Book of TOD 1& 2 (as written live – Epub, Kindle, & PDF formats) • Plus 2 TOD desktop wallpapers (JPG format)! Please add $10 for international shipping ($5 Canada/Mexico).
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $95 or more
3 backers
BIBLIOMANIAC • Exclusive signed & personally dedicated Hardcover Omnibus of TOD 1&2 • Plus Exclusive Softcover Omnibus TOD 1 & 2 • Final E-Books TOD 1&2 (edited, possibly illustrated) • Listed as an Attendee in the final books’ Special Thanks pages • Special Access to the TOD Website (Vote on the outcomes!) • A Raw Copy E-Book of TOD 1& 2 (as written live – Epub, Kindle, & PDF formats) • Plus 2 TOD desktop wallpapers (JPG format)! Please add $10 for international shipping ($5 Canada/Mexico).
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $125 or more
0 backers Limited (4 of 4 left)
TOURNAMENT STAFF (4 available) • "SPONSOR A MONSTER" Help create a TOD Test/Challenge - monster, trap, etc. • Exclusive signed & personally dedicated Hardcover Omnibus of TOD 1&2 • Final E-Books TOD 1&2 (edited, possibly illustrated) • Listed as STAFF with your co-creation in the final books’ Special Thanks pages • Special Access to the TOD Website (Vote on the outcomes!) • A Raw Copy E-Book of TOD 1& 2 (as written live – Epub, Kindle, & PDF formats) • Plus 2 TOD desktop wallpapers (JPG format) Please add $10 for international shipping ($5 Canada/Mexico).
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $125 or more
0 backers Limited (6 of 6 left)
HONORED GUESTS (6 available) • "THE ROYAL TREATMENT" Have a tournament guest in the Story Named in Your Honor (Makes a great GIFT!) • Exclusive signed & personally dedicated Hardcover Omnibus of TOD 1 & 2 • Final E-Books TOD 1&2 (edited, possibly illustrated) • Listed as an HONORED GUEST (with character name) in the final books' Special Thanks pages • Special Access to the TOD Website (Vote on the outcomes!) • A Raw Copy E-Book of TOD 1& 2 (as written live – Epub, Kindle, & PDF formats) • Plus 2 TOD desktop wallpapers (JPG format) Please add $10 for international shipping ($5 Canada/Mexico).
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $250 or more
1 backer Limited (1 of 2 left)
CONTESTANT (4 available) • "I WANNA COMPETE!" Help me (Steve) create a TOD Contestant/Character to be included in TOD 2 and the ongoing Blue Kingdoms Bible (with your contributor name) • Exclusive signed & personally dedicated Hardcover Omnibus of TOD 1 & 2 • Final E-Books TOD 1&2 (edited, possibly illustrated) • Listed as a CONTESTANT (with the creation) in the final books’ Special Thanks pages • Special Access to the TOD Website (Vote on the outcomes!) • A Raw Copy E-Book of TOD 1& 2 (as written live – Epub, Kindle, & PDF formats) • Plus a 2 TOD desktop wallpapers (JPG format)! Please add $10 for international shipping ($5 Canada/Mexico).
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $750 or more
0 backers Limited (2 of 2 left)
PATRON OF THE ARTS (2 available) • I Create a Custom Illustration (in consultation with you) featuring a TOD character or one of my other creator-owned characters and send you an exclusive signed and personally dedicated 24” x 36” gallery wrap (canvas) print – and include you in the dedication if/when it’s used in a book/e-book • Exclusive signed & personally dedicated Hardcover Omnibus of TOD 1 & 2 • Final E-Books TOD 1&2 (edited, possibly illustrated) • Listed as a Patron of the Arts in the final books’ Special Thanks pages • Special Access to the TOD Website (Vote on the outcomes!) • A Raw Copy E-Book of TOD 1& 2 (as written live – Epub, Kindle, & PDF formats) • Plus 2 TOD desktop wallpapers (JPG format)! NOTE: I am currently not doing any commissions! So this may be your only chance for a while!
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $1,500 or more
0 backers Limited (2 of 2 left)
PATRON OF LETTERS (2 available) • I Write a Custom Story 3000+ words in length (in consultation with you) about a TOD character or one of my other creator-owned characters and dedicate the story to you • Exclusive signed & personally dedicated Hardcover Omnibus of TOD 1 & 2 • Final E-Books TOD 1&2 (edited, possibly illustrated) • Listed as a Patron of Letters in the final books’ Special Thanks pages • Special Access to the TOD Website (Vote on the outcomes!) • A Raw Copy E-Book of TOD 1& 2 (as written live – Epub, Kindle, & PDF formats) • Plus 2 TOD desktop wallpapers (JPG format)
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012
