IT’S FINALLY HERE! Happy New Year and WELCOME to Day 1 of the Island Kickstarter Campaign! I’m really REALLY excited (if you can’t tell) about this book and this campaign.

Update: And in 90 minutes you buggers hit the minimum funding goal. But hey, we all wanna get some books huh? So keep reading!

So why a crowdfunding campaign? This campaign is partially to offset the line editing and cover design costs of The Island, but is really more about getting you a copy of the book WAY before everyone else. And making some swag like buttons and bookmarks and posters and such.

If you’re sitting there saying, SIGN ME UP, SUSH! Then head on over to the Kickstarter and get to pledging (then get to sharing…please :))

But if you aren’t all that sure you want to give me your hard earned cash, then keep reading and find out why I’m so deliciously excited about this brand new series. 

Tell me about the book, Sush

Here’s The Island’s official blurb:

Prince Galian is third in line to the throne, but prefers his place as a resident at the Royal Kylaen Hospital. When his father urges him to join the military to help reclaim their colony, Galian is forced to put aside his oath to Do No Harm and fight a war he does not believe in.

Across the great Madion Sea, Captain Theo Kallistrate dreams of a day when she is no longer bound by conscription to fight for her country’s independence. But when the Kylaens threaten, honor and duty call her to the front lines to fight off the oppressors. When an air skirmish goes wrong, both Theo and Galian crash on a remote island hundreds of miles from either nation. Grievously injured, Theo must rely on Galian’s medical expertise, and Galian must rely on Theo’s survival skills, to live another day in a harsh and unforgiving terrain.

Can they put aside their differences long enough to survive? Or will the war that brought them to the island tear them apart?

SOUNDS AMAZING, DOESN’T IT? Wanna see the awesome book trailer?

 

 

What Can I Expect

Over the course of the campaign, I’m going to write some blog posts about Galian, Theo, their countries, and the war itself. Just to give you a little more information and get you all excited for the book.

The Island is the first book in a romance trilogy, and rest assured, these two star-crossed lovers won’t have it easy. I’m nearly halfway through drafting the second book, which is coming your way July 16th, and oh boy. OH BOY. It’s so good, you guys. And Book 3? Oh muh gawd.

Now some of you might be giving me the side eye because you’re thinking, “Romance? Really?” And I’ll tell you – I do not like straight-up romance novels. But this one is so much more than than just boy-saves-girls-life-then-girl-shows-him-how-to-kill-and-skin-animals. This book is about privilege and perspective, about how things aren’t always as black and white as we think they are. About how nobody is truly 100% right or wrong, but deep down, most people are genuinely good. It’s about two people who are thrust together unwillingly, find friendship, then get bu-zay (yep. there’s teh sex in this one).

I am really really excited about this one. Moreso than Razia or Empath (which are great, yeah, but THIS ONE). And I hope that you guys like it as much as I loved writing it.

Okay, I’m sold. Tell me about the Kickstarter

The Kickstarter Campaign runs from today (1/4) through Friday, January 15th. My goal is to raise $400 (which will cover just some of the costs). You guys nailed it in 90 minutes, so let’s talk stretch goals:

  • If we get to $1,000 (and by last check we’re halfway there), then we’re talking two short stories about everyone’s favorite, Lizbeth Carter Nailed this one!
  • $2,000, then we’re talking a short about Harms and a short about Vel.
  • $3,000, then we’re talking some short stories that take place after Fusion
  • And if we get to the big momma, $4,000, then every backer gets an advanced e-copy of The Chasm, the second Madion book. Because by that point, I shall be ded because holy cow you guys are awesome.

How do we get there?

Simple: Pledge for any one of these rewards:

For those without a lot of cash, you can donate $1 and I’ll thank you profusely on this blog and on Twitter.

For those with a little more cash, $2 gets you an advanced e-copy in your format of choice. How advanced? How does as soon as I get the cover art sound to you? (Jan 20th-ish)

$5 gets you an advanced e-copy in your format of choice PLUS…drum roll… I’ll put your name in the acknowledgements section of the book. In fact, every Island-related reward from here on up gets yer name in the back of the book

$10 gets you an advanced PAPERBACK copy plus acknowledgement. All physical books will ship around 1 February, depending on how quickly I can get them through the approval process.

$15 is where we start to have a little fun. Along with a paperback, you’ll get Swag Pack #1. By popular demand, a bookmark (on side Kylae/Galian, the other Rave/Theo) and buttons with the Kylae/Rave logo on them. So you’ll be able to show off your support for either side of the war.

$20 gets you the PB plus Swag Pack #2, which is SP1 plus an 11×17 poster of the Madion World. What does that look like?

MadionWarMap

Side note: I MAED THAT!

$25, $30, and $35 have the same sort of thing, except with hardcovers instead of paperbacks.

$45 gets you all five copies of Razia with the shiny covers – yes, including Beginnings (obviously, this prize won’t ship out until May)

$150 gets you a full manuscript review from yours truly.

and the big reward, the one that would leave me forever in your debt… pledge $400 and I will dedicate The Island or one of the other books to someone you love. Isn’t that sweet?

Ready to pledge? Check out the Kickstarter here!

Okay, that sounds great, but I’m broke

If you still want to help, the second best way is to talk about the Kickstarter. Tell your friends, share this post and the subsequent ones, Tweet about the campaign, talk about the campaign on Facebook, you get the idea. If you’re just beside yourself in jealousy, I will be doing a bunch of giveaways over the next two weeks, so be sure to follow on Twitter.

Speaking of giveaways…
a Rafflecopter giveaway

And don’t forget, I’m having a chat on January 12th, where there will be more opportunities to win fun prizes!

chatgraphic1

I’ve been pretty good as of late to not be so spammy, but for the next 15 days, I’m gonna be, so I’ll ask your forgiveness. But I’ll try to keep it really fun and exciting!

Thanks for reading, for pledging, and for being amazing!