Tag Archives: Patronage

Success and Questions from Lúnasa Days Patronage

The past few weeks I’ve teased readers with excerpts from an upcoming novella, Lúnasa Days. (Here, here and here if you’re hankering.) The novella concerns a semi-fictional young man, his bike, and his unusual career of casting spells. Corn dies, wives stray and farmers load their shotguns.

I reached out to my readers with an appeal for patronage: help me fund the creation of this novella, and receive special credit in the book and a variety of benefits.

Quite a few of you answered the call.

I set goal of raising $200 in two weeks. This amount will allow me to take work days away from writing ad copy. I’m pleased and grateful to announce that this goal was met and exceeded. Patronage for Lúnasa Days came in with a total of $270.

This is a joyful experience for a writer. It means more to me than any book sale ever can, because it represents a powerful commitment from readers. By becoming patrons of this novella you’ve said you’re willing to invest to make sure it becomes a reality.

Thank you. I don’t know how else to say it, so just: thank you, so much. I expect a draft of the novella to be completed in November and will announce a release date from there.

I also want to invite everyone’s feedback. How do you feel about the patronage request?

  • If you gave, what made you decide to give?
  • If you didn’t give, was there something that put you off? Does the whole idea put you off?
  • Were the levels priced right? Almost all the support came at the $20 level (which makes sense). If it was $20/30/50 instead of $20/50/75, would higher levels be more appealing?
  • I offered a variety of perks at different levels. They included name recognition, an advance copy, a signed copy, an invitation to creative involvement, and a special art book version of a short story. Did any of these really grab you? Did any seem “meh”?

Patronage allows a writer to secure seed money for work they would otherwise do on faith alone. The world of self-publishing is risky, and this takes some risk out of it. I’d like to refine the process to make it deliver the most value for you, making it mutually beneficial. So please, comment and share your feelings.

(If you weren’t able to give before and feel like you missed out on the special perks, I’m still accepting patronage at the $20 and $50 levels. Click here to check out the benefits and sign up. The $75 level is no longer available.)

Your thoughts?


Spells from the Earth in the Morning

The mansion creaked. The floor felt cold under his feet.

He stepped out into the dew.

Wince.

The garden was lovely. Statues, flowers he couldn’t name. He made his way from the house past the trees, till he could see the sunrise. Kneeling, he began.

Words rose to heaven, his chant to his god. He declared it loudly, boldly; he did not care if the others overheard. Not here. More likely they were asleep.

“Lugus–!”

The words grew higher; he called down that ancient name, renewed his pledge. When the words stopped he prostrated before the sunrise.

Two hands fell in the wet soil. He felt the cold of the earth and the burn of the sun shudder through him. He stretched there, alive.

Then he drew. A canvas of soil on his left hand, drawing with his right finger. It took form stroke by stroke. A sigil. It bristled in the palm.

As quickly, he drew a second sigil on the other hand. They were not identical.

Breathless he invoked their spells. Two powers to surround him all day and all night. Till again, in the morning, he faced the sun and prayed.

The hands clapped together. A crow landed above. It chanted, too, and he smiled.

Charmed, he went for breakfast.

This is the last call for Lúnasa Days, a semi-fictional novella about August, corn, and a young man who casts spells.

Please help create Lúnasa Days by becoming my patron. Support the work today and you get benefits:

$20 – Advance Copy + Name Recognition

Patrons at the $20 level are guaranteed an advance copy in your preferred digital format. In addition, you’ll be thanked by name in the dedication page, as a patron of the arts.

 

$50 – Autograph & Special Invitation

Patrons at the $50 level receive the benefits above, plus special perks. Your advance copy will bear a “digital autograph”—a personal handwritten message from yours truly, digitally transposed into the book. You’ll also get a sneak peak of the manuscript before it’s finalized, with an invitation to comment and give feedback. You can help shape the final version of the book.

 

$75 – Limited Edition Private Collection

Patrons who offer $75 will receive everything above, plus a special gift. Bundled with your autographed, advance copy of Lúnasa Days you’ll find a private collection version of my story Opus for Laura (Adagio). This story is never before released, and will be presented as a full-color digital art book. This is a limited edition version; only patrons will receive it.

[This level no longer available.]

Your support helps an independent writer, and it creates a novella that touches on all the themes of Rogue Priest: adventure, travel, doubt, and the struggle to find out who you are. Corn falls, summers fade, and stories die from the earth.

Help this one stay alive. Add your support today.

Thank you.


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