One of the reasons I don’t do a GO FUND ME page or a KICKSTARTER is that with the former, I can’t ask for anything, especially money, without giving back something in return. As for the latter, I hate obligating myself to offering various rewards based on how much someone gives when it’s all I can do to get what I need done as it is without the added burden of more work piling up. It’s also why I don’t have a PATREON account.
I’d rather people support me by buying something off my website or Ebay store pages. The order is placed and it’s shipped within 24 hours while I continue working on what I need to do or take care of the expenses associated with my projects. Rinse and repeat.
Earlier Thursday morning, my web administrator had finished putting together the variant and non-variant store pages for the KEN PENDERS’ KNUCKLES OMNIBUS VOLUME ONE. I had given her a temporary price as well as a shipping cost just until the final correct information could be entered into the system. We hadn’t said anything to anyone, and yet, already two people found the pages and placed their orders. Naturally, I made immediate contact, explaining the problem with the money being refunded.
At this time, I really don’t know what the final price tag is going to be. I’m guessing in the $100 to $125 range, but I don’t want to list $125 if I can get away with charging $100. Also, while shipping in the USA will cost a flat $25 shipping via Priority service as I did with THE LARA-SU CHRONICLES: BEGINNINGS, I have yet to gather prices for overseas shipping. I already know I have a number of people in various countries who are very much interested in the KNUCKLES OMNIBUS.
I’ve asked the printer to quote me pricing for 100 copies of the variant version with either 400 or 900 copies of the non-variant version. Based on the number of people that have been inquiring, if I go with 500 copies total, I will probably have an immediate sell-out. If I go with 1000, I still run a risk but one I can live with.
It’s imperative if people are going to order, better they do so sooner once the store pages are activated, as I’m going to have to put down an amount that exceeds what I did for BEGINNINGS. This is the project that will definitively establish whether future projects like SCOTT SHAW!’S SONIC DAZE, THE SHADOW FILES and KEN PENDERS’ SONIC OMNIBUS VOLUME ONE get off the ground and in what shape.
Actually, that last paragraph was written by the part of me that’s concerned this could go beyond what I accomplished with BEGINNINGS, and I may, no, make that likely will, have to grow beyond a one-person operation. In some ways, it’s already grown beyond that, but I’ve been doing the best I can on my own budget. And now the operation will have to grow up.
I hope to have everything nailed down by early next week. Once I do, people who ordered THE LARA-SU CHRONICLES: BEGINNINGS will each receive an email providing the code word to gain access to the KNUCKLES OMNIBUS pages so they may order their copy or copies. They will have exclusivity until 5 days later when everyone will have access to order their copy.
This is my way of saying thank you and appreciation for supporting my efforts thus far. I couldn’t have done it without you.
In the meantime, if there’s a print or back issue or some other item you’re interested, I can still use the support. Thanks.
What is a “kickstarter”? Is it alright to ask what some word definitions mean?
You’re talking about how you want to be paid.
I hope I understood what you wrote here.
The money is tricky to understand because I’m bad at numbers and math. But that’s my limitations.
My mother would help me pay you when the time comes. I am not sure the steps it would take to pay you. I know you want to be paid on your website I think.
I hope I understood what your trying to say.
Thanks for the update, Ken! I appreciate you’re doing your best, and I trust you’ll continue to do so in the likely event that Floating Island Productions grows.
I believe in what you’re doing here, and that it’s going to be worth it in the end not just for you but for a lot of people – whether they’re buying as a reader or are a creator like Scott Shaw! whose work is getting reprinted.
Still keeping an eye on my inbox, patiently waiting for that pre-order email! Hoping it’s next week, but even if it isn’t I know it’ll be worth the wait. 🙂
I looke.d up kickstarter. I think it’s a way to raise money. I could be wrong.