About
Thanks for stopping, gawking, and combing through the Kickstarter page for my latest project Bone Cay.
My name is Gary W. Allison and I am a produced screenwriter, published author, award winning short-story writer, and occasional journalistic master. I'm also very humble.
Bone Cay is my latest novel and my most ambitious one to date. It's the story of a vagabond, a sailor cruising his yawl, aptly christened the Hold Fast, around the Caribbean. Long days and nights on the sea makes any man itching for a connection, even if it's with the past. So, he ports in Key West, Florida to look up an old friend, a retired Navy Chief now turned charter fisherman. Except the chief isn't chartering fishing trips anymore. Instead, he's searching for a lost treasure that sank with a Spanish galleon off the Florida Keys 400 years ago and it's worth over $250 million in today's market. There's only one problem. The chief isn't a one man show and his backers ran out of patience long ago.
I'd say more, but I would hate to give it away. Bone Cay is a thriller and an adventure. There's murder, deceit, high sea skirmishes, romance, and a treasure that would make any man high with gold fever. The setting is romantic, dangerous, and seedy. Our hero is damaged, lost, and hopeless until he's thrust into a world, an underworld where he feels the blood pumping through his veins. His spirit is awakened, his heart made stronger, and his life more meaningful. The love interest is not a damsel in distress, but a strong woman with her own painful past, of which she has turned into an anthem for success. She's beautiful, tough, and intelligent. She's a self-made woman who thinks she has it all until love comes knocking and she realizes there's still a piece missing.
Sounds good, huh?
Now, this writing project is my most ambitious for a few reasons. My first book, There is a Season, took place in my hometown, was a novella, and involved very little research. On my second book, a novel titled The Final Round, I had a research team and a true story to work from. Bone Cay takes place in Key West, involves sailing, sunken treasure, police investigation techniques, and is basically something that I made up out of thin air. This is also the first book that I will print in limited edition as a hardcover, pay for professional editing services, and commission an artist to create the cover. All of these things cost money, of which I do not have any. Hence, Kickstarter.
So, what does $13,000 take care of for Bone Cay?
For (Kick)starters, this money will help in research. I've done as much research as I can without actually going to Key West.
Oh, I see! We're giving you money for a vacation!
Hardly. Only a small portion will be used for traveling expenses and research trips are never a good time or a vacation. They are long hours and a lot of interviewing, reading, and loneliness. There are a lot of people that I need to talk with and several locations that I need to visit all in a five day span. The trip will cost about $2,000.
Then there is the big money costs.
Kickstarter and Amazon have fees associated with the project, averaging about $1000.
The rest of the money is used for editing services ($4,000), artwork ($300), promotional materials ($1,000), publishing services ($2,000).
Five bucks of it is reserved for a Cuban sandwich that I will eat at some point during this project.
That leaves $2,695, Gary. What's that all about?
Books. It costs some serious dough for hardcover books with set up fees then actual printing costs. Also, trade paperbacks cost money to print, at a much lower rate than hardcovers, but costs, nonetheless. These printing costs are for the rewards I'm offering for your support.
So, you see every dollar is spoken for here and used strictly for the creation of Bone Cay.
For those that do not know, writing a novel takes thousands of hours of seclusion from people; usually people I like and that like me. For that reason, I'm not a popular person around my house when writing a book or screenplay. Without your help, I would have to spread those thousand of hours over a year. But with the help from people like you, I can dedicate my time to taking care of business, making my wife and kids happier sooner, rather than later.
I'm not asking you to support me during this time of work. I have real costs, directly linked to the work at hand. I'm asking you to support the work. Today's publishing world is fierce, fickle, and f-- Well, you get the idea. Your contribution can lighten the load, making it less fierce, fickle, and... you know.
Words are not enough, but since I deal with them, I will make them as meaningful as possible. You are among the great and nameless people that supported artists over the years. Mark Twain received support like this when he was writing and others like James Joyce, Hemingway, Poe, and even Shakespeare looked to others to support their endeavors. The difference is that you will not be nameless; however, you will be all the more greater. Together, we're writing an exciting novel and I cannot thank you with enough words to satisfy my appreciation. That is why there are some great rewards for your contributions. Browse through them and choose one that is best for you. Every dollar helps.
All my best,
Gary W. Allison
Risks and challenges
Now there are some risks involved as there are with any project. The unknown is always out there, waiting to pounce on us, changing our plans, destroying our confidence. I'm fully aware of it and I am prepared as much as possible.
So, what are the risks?
I could die. In that case, it doesn't matter what I think or what anyone thinks.
I could be lost at sea. If that happens, the story will be about a writer that gets lost at sea.
I could have a personal tragedy that will delay the project. If so, you will be updated immediately with a new estimated deadline.
I could lose my hands in a terrible boating accident. I will then dictate the story to a typist.
Nelson DeMille steals my idea and publishes three books based on it. I'd buy his books then write a different story. Writers always have stories brewing.
A studio could hire me to write a screenplay that needs my immediate attention. If so, I'd delay Bone Cay for the time it takes me to fulfill my responsibilities to the studio. You'll be notified immediately and updated frequently.
The great thing about writing is that there is very little that could thwart your efforts. The creating part is dependent upon me and me alone and I'm a pretty dependable guy. I'll regularly keep everyone on this page updated with the latest and greatest. I'll also provide updates on my website and in a newsletter. No worries.
Learn about accountability on KickstarterQuestions about this project? Check out the FAQ
Support
Funding period
- (30 days)