The Starlight Symphony: Book 1

This project aims to gather funding to self-publish what will be my debut fantasy novel. The novel remains currently as a complete manuscript that is ready to be passed through a professional edit and then enter the self-publishing process.

Due to size and potential expenses, the novel will likely be divided into two separate volumes, but will still be one contained story, simply serialized one after the other.

This has the potential to be the first book I ever publish and my very first step into becoming a professionally published author!

With even a little help from you the contributors, that will quickly become a possibility, as self-publishing is no cheap task! 

Many thanks.

Since I am taking the road of self-publishing, I the author, am at the lead of decision-making and the vision in which I wish to release my passion project.

There is also my editor who is ready to professionally edit my manuscript to make it ready for publication and print.

Finally, the team at The CopyPress based in Nelson are a self-publishing house that I have talked with for a long time about the publication of my novel, and they have put forth an estimate that awaits acceptance and due payment.

One portion of the funding raised will go towards the services of my editor to copy-edit the completed manuscript and polish/format it to industry standard. Thus, getting it ready for print and publishing.

The remainder will go towards costs to The CopyPress of Nelson to help me self-publish the novel. Due to the initial size of the novel, it will be divided into two separate volumes to ease expenses on their end. Costs would involve book cover design and page layout for both volumes, as well as ISBN, conversion to ebook format and international sales, and standard promotion such as reaching out to bookstores etc.

As far as the project itself is concerned, the book is now a near-completed manuscript that is publish-ready and as well formatted as I myself have managed. It has been a laborious passion project over some four-odd years, if you don't count my planning and prepping of the following books since I have the intention to continue this as a series.

I began to write the first draft back in 2019 as, much like many writers, I had an idea that evolved and grew like a tree that branched off in many directions. From that came a fictional world, stories, characters and all else that comes with the fantasy genre. Through this, I realized that writing is now one of my true passions that I wish to do for life. This campaign will one of the final big steps to make that a working reality.

As any author does, I wrote a high fantasy epic that I wanted to read. But those who adore the genre too I hope will enjoy it as well. 

I tackle themes and ideals very important to me that are expressed here in my storytelling, told through characters that have become a bit larger than life. 

I am an author of idealism and hope, enjoying and embracing more the traits of the colloquially coined "Noblebright" fantasy, as opposed to the gritty, moral tragedies that make up the "Grimdark" genre. 

I enjoy stories of great heroism, high adventure, good vs evil, and sagas of epic, even mythical proportions. All these things are what have been poured into this novel and its potential sequels. 

Stories like this I believe are needed at any point in time, but in difficult times like these both here in Aotearoa and overseas, we need stories and characters like these to encourage and inspire us to be greater. For if we can perceive what we should be through art and literature, we may bring out what we are realistically capable of achieving. And that could be as good as any fiction.

If any supporters and potential readers believe such things too, or simply love fantasy in any way it comes, then you are the community this campaign and this novel speaks to.