Absolutely flabbergasting Kickstarter response (update: now over $4k!)

[MeiLinMiranda]

After much hemming and hawing, I decided to move my presales (my version of Kickstarter from back before there was a Kickstarter) for book two of my series from my own site to Kickstarter. I gave myself 30 days to raise $1,500, which is the bare minimum I need to finish production on the book--this includes a paper version. I came up with some big ticket rewards I figured no one would actually take, made a video and went live this morning around 9 am.

Less than ten hours later, I've raised $1,000 of the $1,500 and have 29 more days to raise the other $500. I sold two of the five $250 reward packages I thought no one would take. I've raised 70% of my goal in less than half a day.

I'm just floored.

Update: As of Sunday night, I've raised $1,700+. My goal was $1,500. I have 26 more days to fundraise. For every $500 we go over, I'm unlocking a new benefit. Amazing.

Update Monday morning: I'm more than 200% funded--$3,050+. All the overage bonuses have been unlocked but one.

Update Tuesday morning: I'm at 228% funded--$3,400+. The last bonus will probably be unlocked today.

Update 1/31/2012: At $4,000-plus, I am now 268% funded and there are still 11 days left in the Kickstarter. All bonuses have been unlocked and I now have a tremendous amount of work to do! Not that I'm complaining!

[ETS PRESS]

That's great! I might use Kickstarter at some point for a project.

[Sybil Nelson]

In the words of Priscilla the Great "Holy Hot Dogs!"

That's awesome!

[altworld]

I used Kickstarter to raise the funds for A Teddy Bear Tale, a fully illustrated story only needed $500 just to pay the artist raised $1100 which paid for the first run too. It does help if you don't have the funds to make a project run.

[j meyers]

Wow! Congrats to you. How nice to be supported so quickly and generously.

[Victorine]

I think when used as a way to pre-sell books, and extra perks like you've done, it's a wonderful way to help pay for editing/cover art/etc. Way to go! You put together some great packages, and you're seeing awesome support.

[BrianKittrell]

Yes, very nice. I've been considering doing it for pre-orders of signed copies for the next book. Maybe I'll do it.

[Rick Gualtieri]

Congratulations to you!  I'm also glad to see you kept it reasonable / realistic which I'm sure also helps.

I've seen a few authors on kickstarter looking for 10 or 20k for their projects, and I've been like "yeah, good luck with that."

[jackz4000]

That's Great and you are at $1247. In what denominations were the pledges?

[Chrystalla]

Never heard of Kickstarter before. How does it work? 

[Darin_Calhoun]

Congratulations, what a wonderful response!

[BrianKittrell]

Never heard of Kickstarter before. How does it work? 

Kickstarter is a crowdsourcing website where "producers" (people with a creative project they want to make) look for people to pledge money to the project. In exchange for money, the pledges get different things--whatever the producer offers.

Usually, there are multiple pledge levels at different amounts of money, the rewards getting cooler as the price goes up. Whereas you might get an eBook at $5, you could get a paperback signed and shipped to you at like $20. Some producers even offer things like flying to your town and visiting with you in person for high amounts (in the thousands), but that sort of thing tends to only work for people with some kind of established celebrity value. lol

[dgaughran]

Awesome. I had a great experience too, it paid for my last release (and then some). Glad to hear it's working out for you.

[MichaelWallace]

Nice. I love to hear how passionate your fans are about your work.

[MeiLinMiranda]

Some of the people kicking are unknown to me as fans, which is the most awesome part. The most popular pledge is $30, but I've gotten two at $100 and $250 each.

As of this writing I am at $1,300+ of the $1,500 goal, with 28 days left to raise the remaining $200. I think we may go over the $1500...

[T.K. Richardson]

I'm considering doing this, too, but for a completely different purpose. Glad to hear yours is going so great. Congrats!

[Decon]

I would have a try, but I am sure you have to live in America.

[tamaraheiner]

Very awesome! Great job with that!

[MeiLinMiranda]

Decon, yes, sadly it's US-only. Indie-go-go accepts non-US projects, though.

[momilp]

MeiLinMiranda, that's so cool! It's nice to hear your voice and see you!

[Decon]

Decon, yes, sadly it's US-only. Indie-go-go accepts non-US projects, though.

Thanks for that I'll give it a search.

[KateEllison]

That's so wonderful to hear! I've been considering using them for some time now. I love hearing stories of success--it gives me hope that it might work for me too

[UnicornEmily]

Wow!  That's fantastic!  I know somebody who started a publishing company using Kickstarter to help fund things, but I didn't realize it could be used for smaller things, too.  That's amazing!  Your book must seem really compelling! 

[MeiLinMiranda]

I have funded. $1,700 as of this writing, of $1,500 asked. I posted the project on Friday morning. It's now Sunday night. For every $500 we go over, I'm unlocking new benefits for pledgers. As things stand now, we're almost at the first new benefit. I am sitting here trying not to cry. This has been one of the most amazing weekends of my life.

[Bethany B.]

Wow that's fantastic! Congrats!