Surveys are starting to go out!
almost 2 years ago – Tue, Jun 14, 2022 at 01:17:46 AM

Hi! 

I spent the weekend uploading files and getting the Backerkit set up. I have just sent the smoke test out to a few lucky backers. 

Assuming there are no muck-ups, I will send the whole Backerkit out tomorrow to everyone. I will send another update when they go out. Then, I will send more updates when books are ordered, shipped to me and then out, but otherwise, this campaign will be fulfilled for most of you when the digital rewards go out with the surveys.

If you don't receive your survey to your KICKSTARTER email, not your personal if it's different, then you can go https://godsversecomplete.backerkit.com and request it sent to you.

Remember, this email will not come from me. It will come from Backerkit, and the subject will look something like this.

Response Needed -- Get your reward for Godsverse Chronicles: The complete portal fantasy series

Below, I'm going to tell you how to download your digital rewards,

STEP 1: Log into your email and find your survey confirmation. If you type in survey confirmation Backerkit Russell or survey confirmation Cthulhu, you should be able to find it.

STEP 2: Scroll down.

STEP 3: At the bottom, there is a unique link to get back to your survey. Click it.

STEP 4: That link will take you to your survey. Once you finish your survey you will be taken to your survey confirmation page.

If you have ALREADY filled out the survey, then you can use the same link to get to your digital rewards.

(FYI: If you need to change your address, you can do it here.)

Once you get to that page, then click the link for digital rewards.

STEP 5: BOOM! There they are.

Hope you love these books! 

-Russell 

Planet guide and timeline are in!!!
almost 2 years ago – Thu, May 26, 2022 at 06:43:09 PM

Hi! 

I'm so excited to show with you the two-sided trifold planet guide and timeline for the Godsverse Chronicles. 

Isn't it so pretty!!!

And it's big, too. It's going to be a great guide through the universe. 

Remember, every physical pledge $100 and above gets one of these, and all digital backers at $100 and above get full color digital versions that you can print out yourself or use as wallpaper background. 

I'm so thrilled with how these turned out! I can't wait to share this with you! 

I also wanted to let you know that one of my stories is a stretch goal in the Rum Row #1-#4 campaign. If they get to $13,000, they are going to add my awesome story with Sam Lofti to the already awesome books. 

Kickstarter link 

The story is all about the American Dream, and entrepreneurship, set again Andrew Maxwell's awesome world. 

Even if they don't get to $13,000, it's still an awesome book and worth checking out. I had so much fun doing this story and working in the Rum Row universe. 

Other projects to check out

Below are a couple other projects from my Kickstarter Accelerator students that just launched and I think you'll dig. These are not in as much alignment than Rum Row, or the ones I shared last update, but they're really good projects, so I thought I would share them with you. 

Upgrades to The Ultimate Authorship Planner

Kickstarter link

As a working mom, I often felt like I never had "enough time" to write.

I tried so many planners, but they all fell flat.

They were too general, their spaces too small to write in, and their prompts too vague to have any impact.

And some planners, well, they were just too pretty. I felt like I couldn't "scar" them with another "false start."

I was inspired by an entrepreneur's new planner, but it was so far outside my budget, I couldn't get it before it was out of stock.

I finally decided to create my own.

I created it from my own needs and desires to stay organized and not give up on my writing.

Two weeks in the initial creation phase with little sleep, little to eat, and rarely time with my family, my fingers flew across the keys and my mouse clicked away as I built the first iteration of my creation: The 2018 Author's Journal.

The planner (as it's more accurately identified) has come a long way since then, with its non-dated version being titled The Ultimate Authorship Planner.

Why "Ultimate?" Because it's not just about writing, or even just about your writing life.

This planner (from the beginning and through its various evolutions) has helped me conquer my educational goals (double- and triple-time classes for my BA and MA) while building my small business, freelancing, and building my fiction writing career.

Not only is that an awesome why, but it also looks like a killer planner for writers. If you're an author yourself, this looks like a great productivity tool. 

Lost Highway: A Military Action Thriller

Kickstarter link 

Do you love reading thrillers?

Are characters with a strong sense of right and wrong your favorites?

Do you enjoy seeing the bad guys get what's coming to them?

Then you will love Lost Highway.

She’s missing, and she’ll soon be completely gone.

For John Tyler, the clock is ticking.

While waiting for his new car repair shop to open, Tyler takes a job at an old friend’s urging. He’ll be on the protection detail for pop singer Alex Anne.

It’s a simple job . . . until it all goes sideways.

When Alex Anne disappears, Tyler ignores the official investigation and launches his own. He discovers a notorious group of traffickers targeted the singer to sell her to the highest bidder.

After Tyler pursues the cabal, they soon learn his very pretty daughter is in college nearby. With time running short, Tyler strikes at the heart of the group’s operation before they can disappear with a plane full of missing girls. He’ll have to take on all their men by himself.

Good thing he never cared about the odds.

Lost Highway is the third novel in the John Tyler action thriller series. It’s perfect for readers who like their thrillers with plenty of action, a little humor, and a little heart.

If you're into thrillers, this looks like a great one to check out. 

Color with Nakoa and Nohea: An activity book for all ages

Kickstarter link

Books in the Adventures of Nakoa and Nohea series feature action, adventure, fantasy, and are perfect for :

• Parents who want their kids to learn and appreciate different cultures and languages.
• Anyone with fond memories of Goonies. 
• Fans of epic fantasy adventures like Lord of the Rings.
• Fans of Moana who want to read stories written by #TheRealLifeMoana
• Anyone who wants the Rock, Jason Momoa, and other studios to produce all-ages adventure movies or animated series that delve deeper into the rich history and cultures scattered across the Pacific.

WHAT TO EXPECT

•  32-page premium coloring and activity book full of beautiful illustrations inspired by the rich history and indigenous culture of the Pacific Islands, created by a team of Pacific Islander and Black creators
• Downloadable and printable activity sheets to enhance learning from the book ( In high demand from parents, caregivers, and teachers!) with BONUS pages when we hit our milestone and stretch goals
• Mid-tier rewards include an exclusive paint party, books from the Burning Spear catalog, and more!
• Higher tier rewards include exclusive and custom digital painting commissions from our illustrator Ryan Robinson, Feature Spotlight interviews on the Moana Nui Podcast, virtual author visits, and more!

I've known Moana for a long time and she puts a lot of love and care into her books. If you love coloring books, then you should check this one out. 

Thank you!!!
almost 2 years ago – Tue, May 24, 2022 at 03:06:59 PM

Wow. I am blown away by the response to this campaign. We smashed through every funding goal I thought we would hit to become my most successful week of any novel campaign I've ever launched. 

Thank you so much for loving this project, and The Godsverse Chronicles. This series has been part of me for longer than anything else I've ever worked with. It's never been perfect, but I think that it's a really awesome series, and it's filled with fun stories and cool ideas. 

I can't wait for you to check out these new books as we finish the Godsverse Chronicles in style :) 

As an extra thanks, simply for backing the campaign before now you qualify for these pre-early bird perks. 

All physical backers will receive a 5" x 7" print of Katrina, surrounded by zombies, scowling her trademark scowl, along with all digital rewards listed below.

All digital and physical backers will receive a digital wallpaper of the print, along with digital copies of Guild of Tokens by John Auerbach and Mark of the Breenan by Emma Shelford.

On top of that, you will qualify for every new perk we unlock along the way. This week, we've unlocked four awesome books, which you'll get included in your pledge. 

Every week during the campaign we'll unlock more and more. You'll qualify for ALL of it just for backing. It's gonna be an awesome reading summer for you, I hope. :) 

Thank you once again for believing in this project. I'm so proud of what we've done with The Godsverse Chronicles and can't wait to share it with you. 

Other campaigns to check out

I have a very special group of campaigns to check out this time, because they are all students of my Kickstarter Accelerator (and Monica, too) that helps book humans launch books on Kickstarter. These book humans are some of the first this round to take the plunge to launch their projects. I think these campaigns are really cool, and that you'll dig them too. 

Waters Dark and Deep: 6 contemporary angel fantasy books

Kickstarter link 

When Her Mother Died, She Inherited Her Secrets, Her Powers, Her Wealth... And Also Her Deadly Enemies…

When Brie van Rossum finds herself halfway across the world, in a new private school after her mother’s death, she never expects to see an angel of a woman who looks almost exactly like her—who can move so fast that she disappears into thin air when Brie tries to get closer...

Then, the most beautiful twins at school try to befriend Brie, but only because they are assigned to protect her from the supernatural Hallows and Nephilim of the Archworld, who would love to know where the last daughters of Michael are hiding so they can extinguish the royal bloodlines for good.

Brie is surrounded by enemies on all sides—but she also has the magical powers and bloodline with which to fight and rule over them.

This is the campaign of my Book Sales Supercharged co-writer Monica Leonelle, and I looove the idea of this series. It's probably why we're a good pair, because we're influenced by so much of the same stuff. Definitely check this one out b/c Monica is a fabulous writer. 

Seasons of Magic - COMPLETE Urban Fantasy Series HARDCOVERS

Kickstarter link 

Do you love urban fantasy?

Are strong leading ladies your jam?

Do you enjoy a good supernatural mystery?

Then you'll love the Seasons of Magic series.

For every season there is a Savior…and for every Savior a destiny.

When a series of brutal crimes lands in her lap, newly-minted Detective Ezri Trenton sets out to prove to herself and her non-magical partner she can handle the investigations. And when members of the magical community lose their magic, Ezri scrambles to unearth the how and why. The deeper she digs, the more evidence mounts that dark magic is behind each case. Every step forward threatens her resolve, making her question her title of Savior of the magical community. But when darkness reigns, can she stand as a beacon of light? Or will she make the ultimate sacrifice to defend her world?

Seasons of Magic is a completed four-book series that combines elements of urban fantasy and supernatural suspense to tell the story of one woman destined to save the world.  Ezri's journey began four years ago here on Kickstarter and I thought it only fitting to come back to create these beautiful hardcover editions!

Book 1 was published in hardcover in 2021. This campaign aims to fund production of books 2-4 in the series in hardcover. You will get your copies at least 6 months before they go live on retailers.

This is totally my kind of book, and my kind of series. It has literally everything I look for in a series, from crime to magic and everything in between. 

Freshman Fears: Demon Hunter Academy Book 1

Kickstarter link 

Are you in love with urban fantasy?

Do you love rooting for the underdog?

Do you love immersing yourself in magical worlds?

Then you'll love Freshman Fears.

About to be kicked onto the streets, Alex has nowhere to turn until she learns what really lurks in the dark, and the magical powers that might be locked inside of her.

Nearly eighteen and about to leave her hated foster home, Alex Kavanagh’s plans go awry when a demon blows into her barista shift, leaving wreckage behind. Blamed for the destruction and fired, Alex doesn’t know what to do or where to go, until a mysterious stranger appears and tells her she’s fated to be a demon-hunting witch.

Desperate for any security, Alex agrees to attend an academy for demon hunters. There’s just one problem, she doesn’t have a magical bone in her body. Working hard doesn’t stop her endless mistakes, or the torment from the school bullies.

Alex fears the failures will lead to her losing the only secure place she’s found, and she’ll soon be thrown out, to the demons waiting to hunt her down.

Join her as she discovers powers she didn’t know she had, makes friends she didn’t know she needed, and learns more about her parents who were taken from her at an early age.

This looks like my kind of jam, and I hope you dig it, too. 

77½ Magical Healing Herbs: Secret Powers of Herbal Medicine

Kickstarter link

Venture into the magical, healing world of herbs and embrace the power of nature.

• Have you ever wondered what use you can make of all those “weeds” in your yard?
• Do you prefer a natural way of cleansing the body and soul?
• Are you looking for creative ways to add magic to games or novels?

If this sounds like you, then 77½ Magical Healing Herbs is the perfect solution. The book is an introduction to herbs found in a special Midsummer’s wreath. This is an especially enchanting time of year. Among the Bulgarians, the day is called Eniovden.

You may think herbs are only for spicing up food and healing the body and mind, but they have other uses, as well.

Herbs can:

• Help prevent hair loss.
• Eliminate turkey neck.
• Repel insects.

And did you know herbs have magical properties?

This one might seem out of left field, but a lot of people in my orbit are witches, or wiccan, or, like my wife, believe in the power of healing herbs. I take a lot of different supplements that help my various ailments. I think if you're chronically ill, like me and my wife, you quickly learn that western medicine can't get you all the way there. You need some help from other places sometimes. 

Eerie Ghosts and Vampires of the New Orleans French Quarter

Kickstarter link

Do you love ghost stories?

Do vampires intrigue you?

Are you curious about New Orleans and her haunted past?

If so, then our project – The Dark Side of New Orleans – is right up your alley!

One Halloween, my husband, Dan, and I decided to join a nighttime ghost tour through the legendary New Orleans French Quarter. Although we appreciated the theatrical enthusiasm of our tour guide and relished strolling through the historic streets of our neighborhood, listening to assorted tales of tragic hauntings, the experience ultimately let us down.

The unwieldy size of our group made it tough for us to hear the guide and, worse, kept us from immersing ourselves in the haunting ambience of the city’s oldest district.

In search of a more riveting, less restrictive experience, we decided to create an affordable, self-guided excursion of our own, one that would blend our love of scary stories and our fervor for New Orleans with our desire for autonomy.

This one REALLY makes me want to go to New Orleans and do one of them. I absolutely love ghost tours, and graveyard tours, and catacombs, so this is 100% my aesthetic. 

Complete Collectors Vol 1 Funny Comic About Comics And Wives

Kickstarter link 

Do you love comic books?

Do you trip over long boxes all over the house?

Do you have a significant other who has to live with your hobby?

Collectors is the long running comic strip (10 YEARS!!!) that pokes fun at geek culture and the franchises that we all love, like Marvel and DC comics and films, Star Wars, Walking Dead and more! It's not just about being a comic book nerd, but also about the significant others who have to live with us!

Collectors is a full color, weekly comic strip published online at www.CollectorsComic.com and is written and drawn by cartoonist Eddie deAngelini. Collectors has also been released in six print volumes.

"Collectors is loosely based on my own life, my comic book collecting and my wife Kristen's ever-tested patience with my love for my hobby," says Eddie. "Since starting the strip, so many other comic book fans have told me how much they relate to the humor and our relationship."

I wanted to end with a special one for me. Eddie and I have been friends for a long time, and I LOVE his comic strip. It's always done okay on Kickstarter, but with this campaign, and with a little help from us, he's had his best launch ever. I'm so proud of him, and very happy to be a small piece of his continued success.