Press Release : New Twist on Crowdfunding Sets LA Author Apart From The Rest
LA based author uses Kickstarter to fund publishing his first novel and offers supporters unique incentives like permanently appearing in the book as Kickstarter backers, using supporters’ names for characters in the story, voting on the book cover artwork and more.
A recent trend has many major artists and celebrities pulling away from large companies and utilizing the internet for promoting their works and careers. New and different strategies appear daily. A good example of the strength of this trend is the growing use of crowdsource funding. One Los Angeles based author, Tom Sweeney, has taken the use of this platform to a whole new level by incorporating his supporters into the creative process and launching a campaign on kickstarter.com that runs from August 12 to September 11, 2014, that allows them to appear in his story, The Harem, as characters. Supporters will also have the opportunity to vote on the novel’s cover art and appear permanently in the final pages of the publication as financial backers. Mr. Sweeney intends to have every future version of The Harem include the list of Kickstarter supporters.
This is one of the first times an author or artist has allowed the general public to actively participate in the creation of a work. The internet has enabled personal customization on a mass scale and the wide spread appeal of fan fiction. Now, The Harem will allow initial fans and supporters to be remembered forever. Only Kickstarter supporters will receive The Harem with the book cover artwork they vote for, making their Limited First Edition copies collector’s items. Who knows where a trend like this could lead? Soon, crowd writing platforms could become all the rage. The entire community could vote on each story line, character development, and message.
For now, Tom Sweeney and The Harem have the edge by engaging audiences on Kickstarter in new and exciting ways. Let’s hope he can keep that edge sharp by offering unique incentives and quality writing for his fans in the future. Be sure to check out Mr. Sweeney’s title, The Harem, at www.theharembook.com and www.kickstarter.com/projects/tom_logi... where you can read or listen to The Harem’s preface and first chapter.
