A fantastical illustrated historical novel featuring a traveling circus, a devastating tornado and tragic love.
UPDATE: Fully Funded! Now What?
Hi! First off, THANK YOU to everyone who has backed this project! But if you haven't, you might be asking yourself why back a project that's already fully funded. That's a great question that I'm happy to answer: REWARDS!
You can still essentially pre-order a copy of the book by backing this project, get prints of the artwork or even snap up some of the remaining portrait commission and cameo appearance rewards available for backers in the last few days of this project.
So please take this opportunity to continue supporting The Circus and the Cyclone and sharing it with everyone. Thank you again!
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The Circus and the Cyclone is a piece of fantastical historical fiction set against the worst natural disaster in Wisconsin’s history - the destruction of the town of New Richmond by a tornado in 1899. The event was made even more tragic because a traveling circus had also arrived that day, attracting many outside visitors to the town.
Using this backdrop, I have created a narrative that weaves between a pair of childhood friends, now grown and fallen in love, a pair of clowns competing for the affections of a beautiful contortionist traveling with the circus and a megalomaniac human cannonball who dreams of flying to the moon. All of these stories culminate when the tornado suddenly strikes, turning fates and revealing hidden truths.
The book is fully illustrated in my unique style which combines historical circus art with the artistic style of the golden age of illustration from the early 20th century. I have created nearly 50 illustrations already with only a few to go. I'm working on an expanded draft of the novel which will integrate with the illustrations to create a compelling story that is both visually rich and entertaining.
I'm hoping to have the last of the illustrations completed in the month following the closure of this Kickstarter campaign, including the integration of anyone who is rewarded with a cameo appearance. We are ultimately targeting to have everything to your door just in time for holiday gift giving!
The book will be 8.5 x 11 inches, printed in full color on nice heavy paper stock in a hard cover binding. Each book will be signed and shipped to your door. Electronic copies are DRM free and can be read on your computer or other device that can open PDFs. Prints of the artwork are roughly in 8.5 x 11 in. They will be shipped flat along with your book. You will be able to choose which prints you want when you claim your rewards.
Thank you so much for your help in getting this project to the finish line.
FAQ
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While the illustrations represent the bulk of the work, I still need to expand the narrative from its current draft form. Then, once the Kickstarter campaign has completed, I will need to work in any cameo appearances from our backers and do the page layouts. After a few rounds of editing and proofs from the print shop, we'll be ready to submit for manufacturing. I will try to have all of this done by the holiday season, though they may ultimately ship in January.
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The Vitrolum Republic play a style of music that can be described as classically infused folk music, to which they brand as Gypsy Noir. In addition to serving as characters in the story, their sound serves as a cultural backdrop and visual aesthetic. Imagery from the Circus and the Cyclone have been used by the band in their album art and tour posters -- a rich collaboration that will continue into the future.
Their track, Rowboat Serenades, was used as the soundtrack for this Kickstarter video. You can listen to their entire album at http://thevitrolumrepublic.com.
In addition to hearing for yourself, here is some press the band has received since the release of their album, For Highbrow Sideshows and Rowboat Serenades:
• “At their core, The Vitrolum Republic’s songs are kindered to the emotional folk-pop of Mumford & Sons, but they touch on far more influences than that group, juggling both American roots and Eastern European folk-music traditions.”
Shepherd Express, Evan Rytlewski”, Feb. 3, 2011• “This is an album and a band that should not go by unnoticed... Every once in a while, an album comes along that forces you to exclaim, ‘This is how this entire genre should sound!”
QRO Magazine, Peter Henckel”, Feb. 2, 2011• “To me, it’s important for music like this to transcend imagination and let your mind wander freely through a history you were never part of...It’s not the kind of emotional and
audibly intense music that just pops up overnight.”
Wired.com/geekdad, Curtis Silver. Dec. 3, 2010
175
Backers
$9,347
pledged of $7,000 goal
0
seconds to go
Funding period
Jul 27, 2011 -
Sep 1, 2011
- First created · 7 backed
- Sue Lawton 67 friends
- Website: suelawtonart.com
Pledge $1 or more
7 backers
Credit in the acknowledgement page of the book and a big THANK YOU!
Pledge $10 or more
38 backers
A digital PDF of the finished book, credit in the acknowledgment page of the book and a big THANK YOU!
Pledge $35 or more
89 backers
A signed copy of the physical book, hot off the presses, A digital PDF of the finished book, credit in the acknowledgment page of the book and a big THANK YOU! (International backers, please add $10 for shipping)
Pledge $75 or more
30 backers
A signed copy of the physical book and a print of a select piece of artwork from the book, a digital PDF, credit in the acknowledgment page of the book and a big THANK YOU! (International backers, please add $10 for shipping)
Pledge $150 or more
1 backer
A signed copy of the physical book and 3 prints of select pieces of artwork from the book, a digital PDF, credit in the acknowledgment page of the book and a big THANK YOU! (International backers, please add $10 for shipping)
Pledge $225 or more
0 backers
A signed copy of the physical book and 5 prints of select pieces of artwork from the book, a digital PDF, credit in the acknowledgment page of the book and a big THANK YOU! (International backers, please add $10 for shipping)
Pledge $300 or more
3 backers Limited (3 of 6 left)
A simple cameo appearance in The Circus and the Cyclone. Send in a photo and a fantastical description and you will be worked in as a circus performer or townsfolk extra. You will receive a print of this illustration suitable for framing. You will also receive a copy of the book, a digital PDF and a big THANK YOU! (International backers, please add $10 for shipping).
Estimated delivery: Dec 2011Pledge $500 or more
2 backers Limited (4 of 6 left)
A signed copy of the physical book, all 5 prints plus a custom portrait done in Sue Lawton's distinct illustration style. Portraits are based off of an image you send and a fantastical description of yourself that fits within the historical fiction Sue is creating with this book. Want to be a death-defying high-wire acrobat? Now's your chance! In addition to the original illustration, you will also receive a high-resolution scan and thumbnails suitable for use as avatars on twitter, facebook, etc. (International backers, please add $10 for shipping)
Pledge $800 or more
1 backer Limited (3 of 4 left)
A deluxe cameo appearance in The Circus and the Cyclone. Send in a photo and your fantastical description and you will be worked in as a circus performer or townsfolk extra. You will receive a print of this illustration suitable for framing. You will also receive everything in the $500 reward, including a portrait, all 5 prints, a copy of the book, digital PDF and a big THANK YOU! (International backers, please add $10 for shipping)
Estimated delivery: Dec 2011
