The long & short of it: I published a book, but the print quality was lacking. With your help, I can fix it, and you get a free copy in return!
Update: 7/26/10
Holy crap, we did it! As of 3:51 PM this afternoon, we are officially 100% funded. Now let's see if we can keep this momentum going. If we can reach $2500 in funding before the deadline, everyone who's pledged $15 or more will receive their very own plushy Cretin doll, inspired by a creature from the novel. There's even more planned, so watch this space. Finally, many, many thanks to everyone who's helped to make this possible. I will not let you down.
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Hello, folks. My name's Todd, and I wrote a novel called A LIFE TRANSPARENT. I published it three years ago to modest reviews, way back when print-on-demand was still a fledgling thing. The story's protagonist is a man named Donovan Candle. He wanted to make something of himself once, but he forgot that goal and sold himself out to a soulless, 9 to 5 job. One day he wakes to discover he's physically disappearing. Then his wife is abducted. And then things . . . well, things just get weird.
The book focuses on a number of concepts, but at its heart is a message, a plea to the reader to go and pursue their dreams. You could call it a warning of sorts about the dangers of living a mediocre life. I think this message is important. It's something I try to live by every single day. Now, for these strange days in which we live, I think it's more important than ever that people not give up on their dreams, their goals, and their path to whatever happiness they choose.
It's been a while since ALT was published, and I wanted to retire the first edition while releasing a new, revised, shinier second edition for an entirely new audience in anticipation of the novel's sequel. Things fell through with its intended POD service, so I'm back at square one. I decided that, rather than compromise quality for the sake of a few pennies, the book should be the best it possibly can. This means circumventing third-parties and going straight to the source.
Lightning Source, that is. That's right. Instead of dealing with POD companies, I want to publish ALT myself by dealing directly with the printer. After all is said and done, the second edition of ALT will be available in hardcover, paperback, and a variety of digital formats (for readers such as the Kindle and iPad). The end goal of $2000 is to cover the set-up fees, ISBN registration, editing, formatting, and offset print runs in fulfillment of pledge rewards. There are a number of rewards for pledging, all of which I think are worth your while, and the more pledges there are, the better an edition it can be. For example, if we were to, say, hit $5000 in pledges, everyone would automatically be upgraded to a hardcover copy. How's that sound? Since I'm looking to the sky, I might as well shoot for the moon, right?
It ain't cheap, but with your help, we can make the second edition of A LIFE TRANSPARENT something special for everyone. Thanks for your time, consideration, and help in spreading the message!
FAQ
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54
Backers
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Funding period
Jun 9, 2010 -
Aug 13, 2010
- First created · 19 backed
- Has not connected Facebook
- Website: toddkeisling.com
Pledge $5 or more
4 backers
You will receive access to this project's updates and a printable PDF of the finished book.
Pledge $15 or more
16 backers
All of the above, plus one paperback copy of the book and a digital copy formatted for the e-reader of your choice.
Pledge $25 or more
12 backers
All of the above, plus one additional paperback copy to give to a friend or donate to your local library. Better yet, leave it for a complete stranger in a bar somewhere.
Pledge $35 or more
7 backers
Project update access, a digital copy for the e-reader of your choice, one signed copy, plus two additional unsigned copies for friends/family/strangers.
Pledge $50 or more
7 backers
All of the above, except you get a signed hardcover copy instead, plus two signed paperbacks, and the first chapter of ALT's sequel, THE LIMINAL MAN.
Pledge $100 or more
6 backers
Access, digital copy, three signed hardcovers, the first chapter of the sequel and a signed copy upon publication.
Pledge $500 or more
0 backers
We'll call this a premium reward. For this, you'll get access to updates, the digital copy of your choosing, three signed hardcovers, plus a signed copy of everything I ever publish for life, a thank-you letter of indeterminate length and gratitude, your name in the acknowledgments of the book, a limited edition print of the artwork, and a phone call regardless of your geographic locale.
Pledge $1,000 or more
0 backers
High roller. For this, you'll get update access, the digital copy, ten signed hardcovers, a signed copy of everything I publish for life, the letter of gratitude, a phone sing-o-gram (in which I literally sing about how awesome you are), a limited edition print of the artwork, your name in the acknowledgments, and early access to the sequel (including early drafts).
Pledge $2,000 or more
0 backers Limited (1 of 1 left)
The ultimate reward. The person who pledges the full amount needed to make this project possible gets all of the above, plus two very special, one-of-a-kind items: The very first draft of ALT, complete with red-pen scribblings and corrections, and the first pre-distribution proof copy of the same (with even more red pen corrections, and a messed-up cover). You will also have my eternal gratitude, and I'll make it a point to buy you a beer (we'll work out the details).
