Saturday, October 18, 2014

Small Friendly Contributions

Kickstarter site for Pretty Vacant: London Calling 2

I would have been satisfied if Gigi's adventures ended with Pretty Vacant: London Calling. Leaping in the air ready to throw a Superman punch at her adversaries, we all know who is going to prevail. I threw in a tagline that hints of a continuance, but I didn't know if it would happen at the time.

Now I know. I've started a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign for Pretty Vacant: London Calling 2, and it's at 81% of the funding goal as of today!

I was prepared to do some crazy messed up stuff to get this book funded, but I am relieved it's not necessary anymore. I've asked friends to contribute, but with the exception of a precious few, the vast majority have declined. Even my girlfriend admitted she hasn't contributed. She says she can't navigate the site, and I suppose I have to give her the benefit of the doubt. Only eight percent of the funding has come from people I know personally. I now know what John Lennon and Paul McCartney meant when they wrote "With A Little Help From My Friends".

If friends, family and followers of insane viral acts have not contributed to Pretty Vacant: London Calling 2, then who has? The answer is simple: people who like a good story. As of this writing, 67% of the backers have purchased the previous issue and 25% have asked for both issues with their contribution. The fact I don't need to rely on friends and family to get published shows that the stories are good by themselves! That is a relief to me! Have you ever owed a favor to a friend or family member? It's not pretty...

I still owe a favor. Not to a friend, not to family, but to the backers I now call my fans. The favor is to make Pretty Vacant: London Calling 2 the best book possible when it is published next year. And a fun read!