Doing the Scary Stuff by Marilyn Barr

I have blogged about monsters who eat warriors, witches who eviscerate women, and Sluagh phantoms who abduct children. Today I'm blogging about the most scary thing I have ever encountered where naturally I said, "sign me up". I have created a crowd-funding initiative for my first self-published book series. What's so scary? The author puts themselves before the general public and asks for book pre-orders on their reputation and pitch alone. You may think this is easy if the author believes in the story you have written but I have found it is more like Atreyu's journey through the Oracle Gates in the NeverEnding Story. The farther I walk into the process, the louder the doubts in my head become. However, my word for 2022 is "expand" so stepping out of my comfort zone and doing the scary stuff is what I felt I needed to do.

What is KickStarter and crowd-funding for authors? 

KickStarter reminds me of the theater patrons in Regency romance novels. Artists offer part of the creative process (such as early access to their works) in exchange for funding. In the modern world, anyone can back the arts through KickStarter - not just the handsome rogues of the gentleman class.

For authors, KickStarter is a way to collect your pre-orders before the book goes live. The benefits are more than paying your professional editor and cover artist from prepaid royalties. I have had a blast designing reader rewards like bookmarks, journals, and bookset boxes. I'm excited to autograph a giant stack of paperbacks to send out on release day. There is a tier to join my release day Zoom party where I'll be giving away book merchandise from all my series and getting geeked out over the series. Best of all, backers will be listed in the book as part of me hearties (it's a pirate series so you know I had to go there). I may have gone a little overboard (heck-yeah, pun intended) when I added an option to name a crewmember or the villain in the book, but I love the idea of this series being about the fans as much as my world. Want to see the scariest thing I've ever done? Here's the Link.

What's Walk the Walk?

The Walk the Walk trilogy is a 1718, steamy, paranormal romance between Magda Dashkovari the vampiress and Branko the slave-turned-pirate.

(Read the first three chapters of Walk the Plank here )

The first book in the series is Walk the Plank where we meet our heroes, flee the mainland, and assemble the crew of Patricia’s Wish as they outwit Blackbeard’s deputies, the Governor of Carolina’s henchmen, and the scientists who want our heroine. Branko doesn’t believe Magda is a vampire until she shows him, she’s more Sea Hag than fragile damsel-in-distress. Being a democratic pirate, Branko respects the strong woman she proves herself to be and desires for a romantic partnership with her. Unfortunately, Magda is in no rush to tie herself to another man after her marriage resulted in her body being sold to science.

Walk the Deck is the second book where Magda grows into her own on the high seas while fighting naval battles, visiting deserted pirate havens, and exploring her hot and cold relationship with Branko. The Golden Age of piracy is ending and most of the privateers have accepted a letter of marque to settle down or swung from a Sheriff’s picture frame. Our crew must find their place in a world which has left them behind while searching for the elusive treasure ship, The Amelia.

The final book is Walk the Night where Magda’s vampiric immune system catches up with her. The crew’s recent visit to a plague-ridden Nassau has resulted in an infection to anyone who is not native to the region – including Magda. Branko enlists the help of a Hoodoo priestess but magic always comes with a price…and she’s asking for Leaf, the wildcrafter and ship’s cook, in exchange.

Where can you weigh anchor with Branko and Magda to collect your share of the Walk the Walk plunder? Here's the KickStarter Link for the prices of backer levels, the rewards, and more details on when we are weighing anchor.

Branko and Magda fight for survival in a whirlwind of action, witty banter, and flirty winks on the high seas. I wish I was so calm in rough waters. However, I'm embracing my inner pirate and setting out into the unknown to find my treasure chest or at least a story to tell me hearties on the decks. Will you join us to share in the plunder such as early cover reveals, discounted books, autographs, and exclusive book swag?