Kickstarter

Illustrator Laura Baran and photographer Patricia Geremia hope to raise $8,000 to fund the production of their book, Arts & Dreams. Above, we’ve embedded a video about the Kickstarter project–what do you think?

Baran and Geremia run creativity workshops to inspire children. The Arts & Dreams book will feature Baran’s hand-painted illustrations. Hay House imprint Balboa Press will publish the book.

Here’s more about the project: “The Arts & Dreams book will be a fun and beautiful summary of all that we do with the kids and all that we learned about loving ourselves using our natural creativity. The Arts & Dreams book will give children practical tools and ideas for creative activities that will help them to love and believe in themselves. It will inspire them to live fun, successful lives. It will be a joyful, beautiful and imaginative creation.”

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David Hunter has raised more than $6,800 for his zombie-based learning project, “Geography Taught in Zombie Apocalypse.” Above, we’ve embedded a video about the Kickstarter project–what do you think?

Here’s more about the project: “I love geography, and I love zombies. I believe that students can learn important educational concepts through the lens of their interests. I’ve chosen to combine geography and zombies because I don’t think it is a natural connection. By building this project, we can show that learning can be done through far out scenarios, or even just based on what students are interested in. I also believe that the Zombie genre has the potential to engage often disengaged students, providing an alternative to boring textbook reading.”

The money will be used to pay for production costs and hire illustrators as well as other experts. For educators, you can follow this link to view a video where Hunter explains the details of a zombie-based learning curriculum.

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The Reading with Pictures nonprofit hopes to raise $65,000 on Kickstarter to fund their graphic novel project, The Graphic Textbook. Above, we’ve embedded a video about the project–what do you think?

Printz Award-winning graphic novelist Gene Luen Yang has agreed to write the forward. The book cover will be by Ben Caldwell. The editors include Josh Elder, Paul Morrissey and Brandon Montclare. Many other comic artists have also joined.

Here’s more about the project: “Aimed at grades 3-6, The Graphic Textbook features a dozen short stories (both fiction and non-fiction) that address topics in a variety of disciplines (Social Studies, Math, Language Arts, Science) drawn from the list of Common Core Standards used in classrooms countrywide. The accompanying Teacher’s Guide will include Standards-correlated lesson plans customized to each story, research-based justifications for using comics in the classroom, a guide to establishing best classroom practices and a comprehensive listing of additional educational resources. The Graphic Textbook will prove once and for all that comics belong in the classroom by creating a comic that every teacher will actually want to use and a textbook that every student will actually want to read!”

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Photographer Andrea Leoncavallo hopes to raise $10,000 to fund the creation of her art book project, She Inspires 365.

Here’s more about the project: “For one entire year I photographed and interviewed a different woman every day. I now have a body of work that consists of 365 portraits of ‘every day’ women with inspiring stories…Creating She Inspires 365 and watching it grow has been a life changing experience for me and I know the book will be much more than a book — it will be an enduring legacy for women to cherish.”

With the money, Leoncavallo will hire a designer, an editor and print 1,500 copies of the finished book. Above, we’ve embedded a video about the project–what do you think?

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The Poetry Society of New York hopes to raise $5,000 to fund the 2nd Annual NYC Poetry Festival. Above, we’ve embedded a video about the project–what do you think?

Last year’s festival took place over the course of two days on Governor’s Island. More than 150 poets appeared to give poetry readings and performances. This year, the organization has conceived some highly ambitious plans to elevate the event.

Here’s more about the project: “Poetry does not exist in a vacuum and does itself no favors when its only audience is other poets…this year’s festival will include an Merchants Village, where local artists, sculptors, and artisans will work on live pieces inspired by the festival’s poetry while displaying and selling their wares, and a Songwriter’s Circle, where acoustic musicians working with poetic mediums can perform. By reaching outside the established poetry communities, The Poetry Society of New York hopes to create new audiences for poetry and facilitate collaborations between poets and other artists.”

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Laura Bruland, the founder of Yes & Yes Designs, hopes to raise $8,000 to purchase a laser cutter for her book jewelry business.

The vintage-style jewelry pieces are sourced from old books for raw materials. The mission of this business is to recycle books (obtained from thrift stores, garage sales, and library sales) that are falling apart and transform them into something new. Above, we’ve embedded a video about the project–what do you think?

Here’s more about the project: “Thus far, I have laser cut and etched all of my one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces at a membership-based workshop in San Francisco. Under this arrangement, I have been very successful… almost too successful! The workshop allows members up to 6 hours per week on the laser cutter, which significantly limits my production capabilities. With my very own laser cutter I will have unlimited access and control over the quality and productivity of my work. If I had my own laser machine, I would essentially be able to make, in one day, the same amount of jewelry that it currently takes me a week to produce.”

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New children’s book publisher Golden Gate Books hopes to raise $50,000 on Kickstarter. The funds will be put towards the eight picture book projects slated for release throughout fall 2013 and spring 2014.

Here’s more about the project: “Golden Gate Books will be author/illustrator driven, with talented, award-winning creators given more editorial freedom and control than in a typical New York house…As a small publisher, Golden Gate Books will promote each title heavily, drawing on the skills of its accomplished authors. This will be a press that values strong writing and art above everything else, a company that cares about the magic that happens when a parent reads a picture book to a child.”

The publisher will print their books on sustainably-sourced paper and produce them in the United States.

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Author Ian Samuels and illustrator Bill Robinson hope to raise $8,000 for their “epic” children’s book project, Gwendolyn and the Underworld. These two childhood friends spent four years working on this book and aim to have printed copies available in time for Comic-Con International: San Diego 2012. Above, we’ve embedded a video about the project–what do you think?

Here’s more about the project: “Gwendolyn and the Underworld is an illustrated storybook about a young Pet Reaper (think Grim Reaper + dead pets) who ventures to solve the mystery behind her Overworld roots.  She uncovers a rotten conspiracy with her corpulent corpse aunt, a sidekick Peacodgehog, an army of Skellies, and slew of part-this and part-that creatures.”

Welcome to our Kickstarter Publishing Project of the Week, a feature exploring how authors and publishers are using the fundraising site to raise money for book projects. If you want to start your own project, check out How To Use Kickstarter to Fund Your Publishing Project.

Writer Nate Cooper hopes to raise $2,500 for a 120-page book entitled Website Bootcamp Adventure Comics.

This instructional comic book aims to teach web programming concepts such as HTML, CSS and WordPress Basics in a fun way. The funds will be used to pay artist Kim Gee for the book’s artwork. Above, we’ve embedded a video about the project–what do you think?

Here’s more about the project: “The comic is based upon a manuscript Nate spent writing over several months and has been added to over the course of several weeks teaching real people just like you how to build a website. The ideas contained herein are mostly conceptual with a lot of references to external sources in order to learn more. It’s a kind of tips and tricks version of website building that covers a broad range of topics from HTML to SEO to CMS. By putting it in comic form we hope to make it easier to digest for the causal reader/beginner.”

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Children’s books illustrator Richard Christie hopes to raise $22,750 on Kickstarter to makeover his children’s bookstore, Gas-Art Gifts. The term “gas” is an acronym for “Gregarious Art Statements.” Above, we’ve embedded a video about the project–what do you think?

Christie has illustrated more than 28 children’s books and is a three-time recipient of the Coretta Scott King Honor Award in Illustration. The funds for this Georgia-based establishment would be used to install a new floor, lighting, signs, video monitor, shelving and display racks. In addition, Christie will also put the money towards publicity efforts, re-painting the walls and commissioning a graphic designer.

Here’s more about the project: “The store will feature my published children’s books and sell handmade products at a reasonable price. Additionally the mall’s management is fine with me bringing in creative friends to do weekend long intensive workshops…Workshops teaching book-binding,painting,t-shirt production,silk screening, even computer and cell phone cover design painting will be offered. I will have something to teach any aspiring art student or curious craft enthusiast.”

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