New Funding Options for Authors

Have you heard about crowdfunding, the new buzz-word for funding publishing projects? People who lack the personal resources to pay for all the up-front services necessary to self-publish or supplement the services of publishers have new options. You don’t have to mortgage your house, deprive your offspring of college educations or go without meds to share your story with the general public.

Kathleen Pooler, today’s guest-post author, has a contract with Pen & Publish, a small publishing company headed by Paul Burt, to publish her forthcoming memoir, Ever Faithful to His Lead: My Journey Away From Emotional Abuse. Paul urged Kathy to use Pubslush to generate funds. She tells you below what Pubslush is, why she's using it, and how it works:

SL: Kathy, what is Pubslush and why are you using it?

KP: Pubslush is "a global, crowdsourcing publishing platform for authors to raise funds and gauge the initial audience for new book ideas. For every book sold, Pubslush donates a children’s book to a child in need."

In discussions with my publisher, Paul Burt of Pen & Publish, Inc, we agreed to embark upon a crowdfunding campaign through Pubslush for the primary purposes of reaching new readers and spreading the message of my memoir, Ever Faithful to His Lead: My Journey Away From Emotional Abuse. We selected a modest funding goal and mutually decided I would use the money to offset costs associated with book promotion.

SL: So what else are you thinking of doing that costs money?

KP: There are many costs related to publishing and promoting a book. The cost of professional editors can be steep. I had already spent money on writing classes, conferences, workshops and editors before I started my campaign. I will use the funds for promotional materials—printed copies [and postage], bookmarks, postcards—and experimenting with a variety of low cost options like pay-per-click ads.

SL: How can a Pubslush campaign help authors with a limited budget get their book in front of readers?

KP: The campaign provides another opportunity to promote before you publish. You have a reason to get the word out, showcase your book and message while increasing the funds you have available for the project. The level of funding is the decision of the author, Successful campaigns are those that reach close to their goal. The highest amount received has been $16,000. The minimum is $1,000. I have set my goal for $2,500. When you reach your goal, your book is added to the Pubslush website to provide continued exposure.

SL: What's involved?

KP: First you have to have a plan and develop your campaign. The author is expected to be active in social media to start and keep the momentum going. Emailing family and friends ahead of time to ensure robust contributions during the first few days and daily acknowledgement of contributors across social media channels. Having an online presence is a prerequisite to spreading the message.

SL: What can you use Pubslush funds for?

KP: The funds are yours to use as you wish, but your campaign specifies how you plan to use them. Some of the funds go toward fulfilling the rewards you are offering. When you sign up, you have the option of donating 10% of the proceeds to a non-profit organization. Otherwise the money raised goes to the author.

SL: What other ways does a campaign benefit authors?

KP: Let me list the ways:

• Gets you organized and working on promotion before your book is released..
• Helps gauge interest in the book
• Finds readers in advance of publication
• Clarifies target audience
• Spreads books message
• Opens dialogue with readers to allow you to fine tune your message and book.

SL: What are your personal goals for your campaign?

KP:I want to expand my readership and spread my message of hope, resilience and courage to women searching to find their inner strength. The rewards are set up to encourage donating copies to nonprofit organizations working with women facing life’s challenges as well as public libraries.

SL: Kathleen, I know you have that strong social media presence and wish you every success with your PubSlush project. I encourage everyone to this link to your PubSlush project page and learn more about your book as well as seeing how PubSlush works, and hopefully donating to your cause.

Kathleen Pooler is a writer and a retired Family Nurse Practitioner whose memoir, Ever Faithful to His Lead: My Journey Away From Emotional Abuse and work-in-progress sequel, Hope Matters: A Memoir are about how the power of hope through her faith in God helped her to transform, heal and transcend life’s obstacles and disappointments:  domestic abuse, divorce, single parenting, loving and letting go of an alcoholic son, cancer and heart failure to live a life of joy and contentment. She believes that hope matters and that we are all strengthened and enlightened when we share our stories.

Visit her on the web:

Blog: Memoir Writer’s Journey blog
Twitter: @kathypooler
LinkedIn
Google+
Goodreads
Facebook: Personal page, Kathy Pooler
Pinterest
Pubslush campaign

Write now: Whether you have a book you need help publishing or not, PubSlush and related services provide a way of helping determine what books will see the light of day. Think of it as an interactive partnership between readers and writers and get involved, if only to look and learn.