Be a part of my next novel… here’s how

The feedback I’ve gotten since Ariel’s guest post on Friday has been overwhelmingly, amazingly positive. A few people have asked what the “odd predilection” is she mentioned, but she said you’ll have to wait for the book to be published to find out. Here’s a hint, though: you’ll probably end up craving them.

Speaking of book publishing, I’ve learned a boatload of things since I began writing and publishing books a few years ago, and one of them is that it costs a lot more and is far more work than than I could have imagined. My first book, “The Shiksa’s Guide to Yiddish,” I did on a very limited basis, in hardback only. My second, “The World Was My Oyster But I Didn’t Know How to Cook” came out this spring. As I’ve mentioned, my debut novel “Oh Brother” will be out on September 1.

Now that my most recent book is in production, naturally I’m thinking about my next project. I have had an idea for a novel that I’ve been carrying around in my head for awhile, and I’ve decided it’s time to get started. It’s not going to be the kind of novel I can bang out in a few months, though. It’s going to take research and it’s going to take time. This is the book I’m meant to write. This is going to be my opus.

With that in mind, I’ve created a campaign on Indiegogo to help me raise funds to get this book done. I’ve resisted the idea of crowdfunding, as popular as it is, because I’m just weird like that. While I do share personal things in some of my writings, I’m a private person overall, and opening my work up to discussion before it’s finished, or in this case before it’s even started, isn’t something I’ve ever done. Fundraising is also not my forte – I don’t like asking for stuff.

In talking with some of my readers and other writer friends, I’ve come around. A few of them pointed out that many other writers have run similar fundraising campaigns, and people love them. Readers and supporters of the indie arts really like being able to participate, and be a part of a project they’re excited about. It’s heartening to me to hear that people are so willing to get behind the arts and give independent artists a little boost. And sometimes, that’s all we need.

My campaign is called “A Little Girl and Her Big Dream Hit Middle Age” and you can find out more about it by clicking here. There’s a video, my story, and a list of perks you get if you choose to support me. If you are unable to support me financially, you can still be a part of my project by helping me spread the word about the campaign. There are buttons you can click to share my campaign on Facebook, Twitter and Google Plus. There’s also a link you can send to anyone you think may be interested.

This is an exciting project for me, and I’m so happy for the interest that’s already been shown in my campaign. The new banner at the top of this page will be in place until the campaign ends on August 13, and I’ll be posting periodic updates.

Thank you all for the love you’ve shown me in the six years since I started this blog, for buying and recommending my books, and for any support you can give me as I embark on the work that I know is going to be the one that makes my greatest writing dream come true.