If you’ve followed my regular posts here on Threads that Bind, you know I usually dig into a wide variety of things related to the dark and spooky. But today, I want to take you behind a different curtain: the actual business of getting a book into a reader’s hands.

For over fifteen years, the path for an independent author has been relatively straightforward. You finish the manuscript, format it, design a cover, and hit “publish” on Amazon. For the previous eight books, that is exactly how my cosmic horror series, Pierce Mostyn Paranormal Investigations, has made its way into the world.

But for Book 9—The Color That Fell From Space—I’m stepping completely off that well-worn path.

Instead of a traditional retail release, I am launching this book via Kickstarter. If you’re a reader who is used to the seamless, one-click experience of standard online retailers, this might sound like a strange, or even counterintuitive, move.

But the digital publishing landscape is shifting rapidly. Whether you read my work specifically or just love supporting independent creators in general, here is a look at why more and more authors are turning to crowdfunding—and why it’s a massive win for the entire reading community.

1. Escaping the “Retail Monopoly”

The digital publishing boom of the last decade and a half was built on the back of massive online retailers. They gave indie authors a global reach that was previously impossible to even comprehend. 

But over the last few years, the reality of relying entirely on a single corporate giant has changed.

When an author sells a book through a traditional retailer, that retailer sits squarely between the creator and the audience. They control visibility, change search algorithms without warning, and strictly limit how an author can interact with people who enjoy their work.

By moving a launch to Kickstarter, an author is embracing a direct-to-consumer model. It allows creators to step away from digital gatekeepers and bring work directly to the people who actually want to read it. It ensures that the future of a series is sustained by actual human engagement, not by the shifting whims of a retail algorithm.

2. Turning a Transaction into an Event

Launching a book on a standard retail site can often feel like dropping a pebble into a very deep, very crowded ocean. It’s a transaction: you click a button, the file downloads, and that’s it.

A Kickstarter campaign turns a book release into a community event.

Because I only get to hang out with you here on Threads that Bind every six weeks or so, I really value the moments where creators and readers can actually connect. A crowdfunding campaign acts as a temporary sandbox where we can gather. 

Over the course of the campaign, I can share behind-the-scenes insights, deep-dives into the lore of the universe, and early looks at the writing process. It transforms the solitary act of buying a book into a shared experience.

3. Rewards You Can’t Get on a Retail Shelf

When you buy a book on a standard retail site, you get the standard edition. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it limits what a creator can offer. Kickstarter’s model opens up an entire spectrum of tiers and rewards that standard retailers simply cannot support.

For this launch, it means I can offer special perks and unique rewards that are tailored specifically for people who love the genre. 

Whether someone wants to simply secure a digital copy ahead of schedule, get premium editions, or see their support recognized in the book’s acknowledgments, Kickstarter provides the infrastructure to make that happen. It allows readers to act as true patrons of the arts, receiving unique tokens of appreciation that a standard “Add to Cart” button just can’t deliver.

4. Keeping the Support Direct (Where It Belongs)

There is a practical, behind-the-scenes financial reality to independent publishing that rarely gets discussed in reader circles, but it is a major factor in why the industry is changing.

Standard online retailers take a massive cut of every single book sale—usually 30% to 65% depending on retailer, the territory, and the file size. Furthermore, they hold onto an author’s earnings for months before paying them out. And with some, the author has to meet a payment threshold before they give him/her their money.

Kickstarter operates differently. Because it is a platform built specifically for creators, a significantly higher percentage of a reader’s pledge goes directly to supporting the project. This means the funds generated are immediately available to cover production costs like cover design and editing, while providing the financial runway to begin work on the next project.

When you back a creator on Kickstarter, your support isn’t being split with a trillion-dollar tech conglomerate. It directly funds the artist, ensuring they have the resources and the time to keep creating.

What This Means for Readers

If you have never supported a Kickstarter project before, it might seem a little intimidating, but it is incredibly straightforward. Think of it simply as a pre-order platform with perks.

You choose the level of support that fits your budget, and once the campaign successfully concludes, your rewards are delivered directly to you.

• Early Access: Backers receive their copies before the book is ever made available to the general public.
• Behind-the-Scenes Access: You get to watch the project come to life in real-time through exclusive updates.
• Direct Impact: You are ensuring that independent authors can maintain viable, direct-to-consumer careers.

The Pierce Mostyn series has always been a passion project of mine, and The Color That Fell From Space is one of the most ambitious installments yet.

By stepping off the beaten path of standard retail, I’m hoping to build something sustainable, independent, and directly connected to the reading community.

The response so far has been incredible—we reached 54% of our funding goal in the first four days. 

But as often happens in the middle of a campaign, the momentum has hit a bit of a quiet plateau. If you enjoy cosmic horror with an action-adventure twist, or just love supporting independent creators who are trying to build a better model for the arts, I’d be incredibly grateful if you’d take a look at the project. 

Every bit of support helps us close that gap and bring The Color That Fell From Space across the finish line.

If you’d like to see how an independent book campaign works or want to secure an early copy, click the link to visit the campaign page: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/502996835/pierce-mostyn-is-back-in-the-color-that-fell-from-space

And until next time, happy reading!