Kickstarter

I am writing an autobiography about my life as a wanderlust nomad. The story covers five years as I moved between Hawaii, Australia, Vietnam, New York City, Panama, and San Francisco, living, working, romancing, and philosophizing. The adventures involve everything from motorcycling Vietnamese backroads, to life on a 19th century ship in the NY Harbor, to a voyage rife with mishaps sailing from D.C. to Panama on a handmade yacht. The pages ripple through landscapes and lovers, cultures and creative longings. The journey is an effort to let go of what we “should” do with our lives, and embrace what we yearn to do. The book is my personal account of the exploration of the human spirit: how we hold ourselves back, how we make ourselves more, and the many pitfalls and peaks that mark the path. It’s spattered with inexplicable moments of awe, mixed with humorous escapades of love-n-lust, and smudged with tales that will surely mar my good name. 

This is my first book, but certainly not my last on this wild ride! I began writing it two-and-a-half years ago, working on and off between the seasonal jobs that kept me afloat. I now have only a handful of chapters to finish off the first draft, a load of gap-filling and editing to do, and the task of self-publishing and marketing. The funds from Kickstarter will enable me to finally finish the book in a matter of months and get it on the market. I’ll be hiring the service of friends with experience as copy editors and graphic designers to produce a quality, final product through P.O.D. and e-book services. This means that not only does your pledge go to help put this project into print, but it will also support actual characters from the book in their meager existence as freelance professionals!

To get a taste of my writer’s voice, and decide for yourself whether or not I’m just another talentless miscreant, you can check out the blog I’ve been keeping for the last 2 and ½ years as I vagabonded through Europe and India: http://hongkongrachel.wordpress.com/

What the money will be used for:

• Time for the remaining writing and research
• Professional editing, design of cover and interior
• Printing and shipping the first 100 books
• e-Book conversion  
• Marketing

Remember that Kickstarter is an all-or-nothing setup. If the project doesn't reach it's fundraising goal by the date (12th December), you don't pay a dime! 

** By the way, the book title is not yet set (neither is my pen name - which is why I introduce myself in the video as "Sireya Valentine")! Everyone who makes a pledge will be able to make up to 3 suggestions on the title. **

Thanks for your support!!