I have over a quarter-million words of free science fiction, fantasy, gamelit, non-fiction and romance available on my network, so I am making Action Faction Sponsorships available with every new fiction post here or on Bitbook.
You can sponsor my work as often as you like in any amount you choose starting at one dollar. Your sponsorships support my writing and will help my bookstore promote literacy in schools! Each link is “pay what you choose” so you can change the amount to whatever you like. Think of it as a “value for value” model. It’s our version of an ongoing crowdfunding campaign to promote my story universes.
At the end of each Blast you will find colorful buttons you can use to buy your sponsorship. There is no obligation or subscription. There is no ongoing cost. These are one-time purchases that go directly to support my writing and my literacy campaign. If you buy a sponsorship your purchase will be announced (with your callsign) in the next new Blast.
What We Will Accomplish
I built web reader software when I was developing my Jericho toolset for publishing ebooks and print books. I wanted to see if we could do for serialized fiction what we did for webcomics back in the day. I personally believe fiction and the web go together as well as comics and the web, so I’m putting my stories and characters to the test.
As I see it, readers want a more consistent publishing schedule with more forward energy in their stories. Writers like myself need financial support to make those stories happen. Additionally, I need a way to effectively market all my books and characters. I understand the YA and middle grade markets better than most. I’m going to take my fantasy series directly to schools. Here’s my plan:
For every $50 contributed through the Action Faction Sponsor links after every Blast I publish either here or on Bitbook, I will have a premium-quality paperback or hardcover edition from my fantasy series printed and donated to a school, along with a premium-quality bookmark and a metallic sticker containing a QR code that links back to my character site. The book will either go to the school library, to a parents group or to an individual classroom. Each book will feature my fantasy characters. With the permission of each school’s administration I will publish a list of the schools where we have sent new books.
A World 25 Years in the Making
The LadyStar/Ironjammer stories are noblebright YA fantasy. The books feature an ensemble cast of characters each of whom has a different personality and different strengths and weaknesses. Everyone who reads my stories will find someone they can identify with and root for. My worlds are vivid and filled with whimsical detail, incredible creatures and hidden surprises. My cast of 12 characters features curious and entertaining role models who promote friendship, teamwork, learning and courage. There is no language. There are no prurient narratives. There is no gore. Despite the fact I have six teenage girls as main characters there is no bitterness. There are no destructive rivalries. There is no bullying (at least among my protagonists). Among my teenage boy characters there is no heedless violence or frivolous pursuit of danger. The boys are pirates, so there is the occasional harmless misdemeanor, but none are cruel. My books rely heavily on both teaching and demonstrating the value of real world skills and knowledge. All my works include practical educational content that emerges naturally from the stories themselves.
This universe is about as close to ‘G’ rated as you can get in YA literature. Of course, when we say ‘G’ rated we mean “good.”
I personally believe these are the kinds of stories folks like myself should be writing because they are sorely needed. Especially now. If I am successful, my fantasy series will become the largest and longest single-character fantasy book series ever published. I’m setting aside my next million words to make it happen. Each time you sponsor an Action Faction Blast you are getting us one step closer to making the dream a reality.
As with all stories, excerpts and chapters authored by me or published on my sites as Action Faction or “Audience of One” works, I reserve all rights including both copyright and all appropriately identified trademarks.