Click here to access BROKEN RIVER BOOKS MARCH MADNESS Kickstarer Campaign
I'm sure you've backed a Kickstarter campaign before, so you know how it works. Fuck, you might've backed 50 projects already, for all I know. Kickstarter's the shit and it's been allowing creative people to make awesome ideas come to life since its inception in 2009. Some projects are worthier of your money than others, though. If you're fancying yourself a seasoned reader and haven't backed Broken River Books' March Madness Campaign yet, let me give you 10 most excellent reasons why you absolutely should other than you'd be stupid not to *.
1) Unfortunately, there's a lot of bitching, moaning and complaining associated with indie publishing. A lot of ''Buy my books, so I can make ends meet.'' The people of Broken River Books aren't like that. They have dreams, ideas, projects and they don't let a shoestring budget get in the way of doing crazy things. So what if they turn to crowdsourcing to fund their madness? It gives you a chance to make crazy fun idealistic things actually happen.
1) Unfortunately, there's a lot of bitching, moaning and complaining associated with indie publishing. A lot of ''Buy my books, so I can make ends meet.'' The people of Broken River Books aren't like that. They have dreams, ideas, projects and they don't let a shoestring budget get in the way of doing crazy things. So what if they turn to crowdsourcing to fund their madness? It gives you a chance to make crazy fun idealistic things actually happen.
2) Let me explain you the difference between major publishing companies and indie publishers. The former publishes the books they think will sell the most, and the latter is focused on publishing the best books possible. Both have their place in the ecosystem, major publishing companies have the budget to give awesome authors some well-earned daylight, but if you happen to find an indie that publishes books you like, you will never look away. The quality is paramount.
3) Broken River Books publish their very own, original dark/crime/transgressive/literary fiction. I've never read anything like this before laying eyes on their books. I'd refer to it as Hipster Gothic, but it might be confused for a pejorative term. A major issue with crime fiction is that the boundaries of genre are usually well-defined to a point it's all kind of samey, yet the very existence of Broken River Books seems to test the solidity of these boundaries and bust through if needs be.
4) March Madness is also the official launch of Broken River's two new imprints King Shot Press, dedicated to literary fiction and Ladybox, an all-female outfit. I didn't even know Ladybox existed before the launch of this campaign, which I think is unbelievably cool. Who the fuck needs men with their arrogance and their penises? We're overrated.
5) Their book covers are absolutely gorgeous. I believe their artist is a gentleman named Matthew Revert. It gives them a killer identity.
6) I've read 5 Broken River publications in 2014 and 2 ended up in my year-end lists. It's the publishing equivalent of shooting 40% from the 3 points line in the NBA (which is very good). LONG LOST DOG OF IT, by Michael Kazepis (who happens to be editor-in-chief of King Shot Press) and GRAVESEND, by William Boyle stood above the rest, but I have yet to read a bad book from them.
7) Just William Boyle, guys. If you don't know William Boyle, drop whatever you've been doing, read GRAVESEND and be happy there's a brand new William Boyle book coming in March Madness' madness. The man is a standout talent.
8) Broken River Books' editor J. David Osborne is actually one of the few interesting publishing professionals on social media. His facebook timeline is a healthy mix of artistic inspiration, publishing wisdom and spontaneous Broken River news. It's kind of a work-in-progress that takes a surprising form every day or so.
9) Unless you pledge $150 or more to the Broken River Books' March Madness Kickstarter Campaign, you'll have to choose which books you want for perks and choosing is awesome. It makes you feel all powerful and there's nothing stopping you from buying the others afterwards.
10) The thing's almost funded, for Christ's Sake ($466 away from the goal, as I'm writing this), so not only you're 99,9% sure of getting your loot, but you could also play hero and tip the scales with your contribution. What's better than that? Even if the project is funded by the time you read this, just pitch in guys. It's something special. Who doesn't want to be part of something special?
* In case you were living under a rock and didn't know yet, they've been planning to release 12 books the same day. March 15. Only that.
