The Author
Kaja Blackley is a Canadian writer and illustrator. He was named one of the 100 Canadians to Watch by Maclean’s Magazine. His work has been adapted for a Hollywood movie, and appears in a variety of print media.
The Facts
Maggie MacCormack and the Witches’ Wheel is finished and professionally edited. The illustrations are also complete. This magical 300-page young- adult novel is being pre-sold to help finance its initial print run.
It was written over a two-year period when Kaja – partially paralyzed, unable to work, and with only his two index fingers free to type with – became determined to write the story he intended to write since his first child was born.
Kaja was the first supporter of this Indiegogo campaign, investing $1000 of his own money when this campaign went live.
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The Inspiration
Around the time Kaja’s wife, Christina, gave birth to their daughter there were lots of boys’ adventures that girls enjoyed, like the story of the boy wizard with Coke-bottle glasses who took the world by broomstick; but there wasn’t a girl’s adventure story, especially one featuring a strong girl in a world that brings out that strength, that resonated as universally.
Their daughter became the inspiration for Maggie MacCormack and the Witches’ Wheel.
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The Story
Maggie is a ginger-haired, twelve-year-old orphan who has been passed from one foster family to the next all her life. She never knows where she’ll end up so she’s become suspicious and independent, scrappy and resourceful.
As the story begins, Maggie is placed yet again into foster care – this time into a much more welcoming family. But Maggie can't shake the feeling that something is a bit off about her new home. She slowly ends up having to toss everything she understood about herself and her life out the window. But by that time, things have gone awry – it’s too late for her to run from the approaching danger.
Maggie MacCormack and the Witches’ Wheel is often times quite charming, while at other times nail-bitingly grim. It is a love letter to imagination, gripping adventure and Earth’s environment.
Supporting Literacy
This author supports literacy through access.
3% of Maggie MacCormack and the Witches’ Wheel gross sales, in perpetuity, will be donated to: www.childrensbookbank.com
Giving Back to the Environment and Local Community
Maggie MacCormack, though heavy on the magic, is based on a daunting reality: introducing toxins into the environment compromises or destroys entire ecosystems. And for that, there are no magic remedies.
7.5 % of Maggie MacCormack and the Witches’ Wheel gross sales will be donated as explained below. (Kaja is not affiliated with the beneficiaries.)
2.5% of Maggie's gross sales will be donated, in perpetuity, to https://www.sealegacy.org;
2.5% of Maggie's gross sales will be donated, in perpetuity, to https://onetreeplanted.org;
2.5% of Maggie's gross sales will be donated to https://barriefoodbank.org/
So:
Of each $18.00 softcover sold $1.35 goes to the non-profits named above.
Of each $36.00 hardcover edition sold $2.70 goes to the non-profits named above.
If we sell 2,500 softcover and 500 hardcover editions: $4,725 goes directly to the non-profits named above. If we sell 5,000 softcover and 1,000 hardcover $9,450 goes directly to the non-profits named above.
The more books sold, the more money is donated.
Why Kaja Publishes Through His Own Imprint
Many of Kaja Blackley’s other projects have been represented by major agencies. However, the time between selling a manuscript and seeing it on the bookshelves can be as long as three to four years. Acquisition editors are liable to overlook quality material –– J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and The Philosopher Stone was rejected; Frank Herbert’s Dune was rejected; CS Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia was rejected; Kenneth Grahame’s The Wind and The Willows was rejected; William Golding’s Lord of the Flies was rejected; Melville’s Moby Dick was rejected; Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby was rejected; Dr. Seuss was rejected; Agatha Christie was rejected; heck, Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit was rejected so many times Potter published it herself. (Peter Rabbit has now sold over 150 million copies in 35 languages). Kaja would rather put his trust in his prospective readership.
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Size and Format
Maggie MacCormack and the Witches’ Wheel will be printed in softcover and hardcover.
The dimensions are 5.5” x 8.26”.
The cover will be full colour, with spot varnish and foil stamping. The interior pages will be printed in two colours, and will include several two-colour illustrations.
A full-colour tip-in will be a feature in both editions.
The softcover edition will have three-inch cover flaps.
The hardcover edition will include a slip case and full-colour end papers.
Goals
The initial print run will be 2,500 softcover and 500 hardcover editions. Kaja has invested $1,000 of his own money into this campaign and is seeking to raise another CAD$9,500 , for a goal of CAD$10,500.
If $14,000 is raised the print run will increase to 5,000 softcover, 1,000 hardcover.
The print run will not be finalized until the end of this campaign.
The more books bought. The more we can give to the environment.
Stretch Goals
$14,000 will unlock a set of three bookmarks for the $56 contribution category and higher.
$20,000 will unlock a six-colour, 23 ½” x 15 ¾” poster for the $56 contribution category and higher.
$27,000 will unlock a T-shirt for for the $56 contribution category and higher.
$50,000 will unlock an audio book of Maggie for the $56 category and higher, and send our team to the Frankfurt book fair, October 2018 to premiere Maggie MacCormack and the Witches’ Wheel internationally.
Production Cycle
10 business days for pre-production: proofing the proofs
10 business days for printing and binding
15 business days for shipping from printer in China
10 business days to process and ship orders
15-20 business days for delivery, depending on geographical location
Estimated delivery date: July 26, 2018.
Shipping Information
Every care is taken to ensure that you receive the items you order intact and within production cycle estimates. All items are shipped “Tracked Package” from Canada. Every backer will receive their own tracking number by email on the day their perk has shipped. We do not control the shipping charges. Prices are estimates provided by Canada Post in advance of this campaign.