Within the smoky corners are my friends

[cyrano]

Spring is a-comin' on. It's a time for creation, new birth, growth, and of course easter bunnies. The last has very little to do with this announcement, but I like bunnies.

The talented and lovely Jess Hartley is beginning a new project--a limited time window to become involved as a patron in a work of art. The project, from beginning to end, should have a window of a few months.

Shattered Glass is a soon to be created work of urban fantasy, a short fiction inspired by and as a means to fund the need to replace her faithful war-scarred laptop. (Essential weaponry in the arsenal of any modern writer.) Many of you have, likely, read this in her own journal before coming to mine, but I'm here to encourage you to join in. Even I can find $5 to join in on the Virtual Patron level, and I'm looking forward to it. I also mention that I'd consider it a mitzvah, you making a mention of this to friends--whether in blogs or FBs or Tweets or Chromes or Zorgs or even *gasp* in meatspace--because I'm kind of biased. I think Jess is pretty keen.

The text of her announcement is below the cut, for those who would prefer not to click through.


In Which We Present The Shattered Glass Project
mood: excited
What is Shattered Glass?

Shattered Glass is a modern fairy (urban fae) short story, penned by Jess Hartley, which will be made available for a limited time, exclusively to patrons of The Shattered Glass Project.
What is The Shattered Glass Project?

The Shattered Glass Project is many things. It's an experiment. It's a work of fiction. It's a solution. It's a piece of art. And it's your chance to be directly involved in my work.

Why "Shattered Glass?"

Shattered Glass is the splintering of reality that happens when a person realizes that the world is not quite as they believed it to be. It is destruction, from which both damage and opportunity may arise. It speaks of magic mirrors and ice queens, of vandalized store windows and shattered windshields. It's the fragile nature of everything precious, and the value both of protecting that which we hold dear and knowing when to move on to something else when what we love is no longer good for us.
Is this a Changeling story?

While Shattered Glass is an original work, and is not directly related to or set in the same world as Changeling: The Lost or the World of Darkness (both which are property of White Wolf Games), it will be written with many of the same themes and inspirations in mind.
Why The Shattered Glass Project? Why now?

Two factors came together to bring The Shattered Glass Project into being at this particular conjunction of time, space and creativity.

The first was my curiosity about the feasibility of direct marketing for fiction and sustainable income for writers. While I am a strong supporter of traditional publishing and the publishing industry, I also believe that there are many opportunities for authors and artists to successfully explore the use of modern technology (social media, websites, electronic funding, desktop publishing) to achieve some of their goals that might not currently be met by traditional publishing.

Over the past decade, I've been very open about sharing my work for free with my readers, both through my website where you can find excerpts of my fiction, non-fiction and game material, and through sites like Wily Writers, where you can find "Of Rain and Roses", one of my ghost stories, in both audio and text forms.

But The Shattered Glass Project will be my first real experiment with direct marketing of my fiction. I'm looking forward to exploring this as an addition to traditional publishing opportunities, and as an opportunity to learn more about utilizing technology to complement creativity.
You said "Two factors"?

The second factor that brought about The Shattered Glass Project was the unfortunate demise of my hard-working and long-suffering laptop. I've written countless game-projects, short stories, blog posts, and One Geek to Another articles on my late, great lappy, not to mention done work on several novels.

But all good things must come to an end, and somewhere in the middle of the Little Yoshida stories, it finally gave up the ghost on me. Being as though writing is my full-time job, replacing it is vital. Unfortunately, for the same reason, I don't exactly have extra funds tucked aside to cover such a replacement.

So, as tragedy often breeds opportunity, I'm taking advantage of my need to invest in a new laptop and my desire to experiment with direct market fiction, to create The Shattered Glass Project.

For the next three months--between the first day of Spring and the first day of Summer--I am opening this project to patronage donations.

By supporting The Shattered Glass Project, you will not only receive a limited-edition work of fiction, either in an electronic or hand-crafted physical form, but you will also be taking part in the direct-patronage of a hard-working author.

And, you can be proud to know that your support will be applied specifically to a tangible goal that will allow me to continue creating additional fiction and game projects in the future.
What is Shattered Glass Patronage?

For at least one year from its inception, Shattered Glass will be exclusively available to those who have sponsored the work through their fiscal patronage. A variety of options are available to suit each patron's budget, each with a corresponding benefit.
Virtual Patronage

For a minimum donation of $5, Virtual Patrons of the Project will receive a .pdf copy of Shattered Glass, a modern fairy short story which is being custom-written for this project by author, Jess Hartley. The story will be a minimum of 7,500 words (approximately 15 pages) long, and will feature (appropriately enough) a fae laptop and the challenges and opportunities it affords its unwary owner.
Artisan Patronage

For those who would like to provide more support to the Project, for a donation of $25, Artisan Patrons will receive a physical copy of Shattered Glass (form to be determined after completion of story) along with a custom-addressed, hand-signed letter of thanks from the author. Only a limited number of these special edition copies of Shattered Glass will be created, and each will be signed and numbered by the author. Artisan Patrons will receive the Virtual Patronage .pdf of Shattered Glass as well.

(Shipping to any mailing address in the United States is included in this patronage. Overseas or custom shipping may require additional funds and should be negotiated before donations are made. Please contact jess at jesshartley.com .)
Personae Patronage

For those who would like to play a more direct role in Shattered Glass, for a donation of $150, a character with your name and physical characteristics (actual or idealized, subject to the author's artistic license) will appear in Shattered Glass. Alternately, a Personae Patron may choose to have the name and likeness of a friend, relative or loved one used instead, making this a unique gift opportunity. Personae Patrons will receive both the Virtual and Artisan Patronage benefits as well.

Because of the integral role they will play to the story, Personae Patronages are extremely limited in availability, and will be addressed on a first-come, first-accepted basis. Please write us directly at jess at jesshartley.com . You need JavaScript enabled to view it with the subject line "Personae Patronage" to discuss available opportunities before sending your donation for this option.

Acknowledgements Page

In addition to other benefits, all Patrons will be given the option of having their name featured on the Shattered Glass acknowledgement page, as a special "Thank You" for their support.
The Fine Print

Limited Offer - To maintain the unique status of this Project, the initial patronages of Shattered Glass will only be available for a limited time period, during Spring of 2010 (March 21st thru June 21st), although Personae Patronages will necessarily be closed earlier. As well, Shattered Glass will not be made available in its entirety to non-patrons for a minimum of one year from the inception of the project. Shattered Glass will be released to patrons upon completion, but no later than June 21st, 2010.

Donations - Patronage donations will be accepted via Paypal ( jesskhartley at gmail.com ). Donations should use the subject line "Shattered Glass" and include email (for all donations) as well as mailing address (for Artisan Patronage donations.)

Questions and Correspondence - All questions and correspondence regarding Shattered Glass or The Shattered Glass Project may be addressed to jess at jesshartley.com . Please use "Shattered Glass Project" in the subject line of your inquiry.

Copyrights - All copyrights to Shattered Glass and/or The Shattered Glass Project remain the property of Jess Hartley.

Comments

[netdancer.livejournal.com]

I posted the link to my Facebook. :)

[cyranocyrano.livejournal.com]

Thank you!