We Did It!

Although we fell short of raising enough to pay writers pro rates, we ensured that there will be at least a 21-episode first season of NIGHTLIGHT thanks to you.

We've launched a teaser episode on iTunes, and other platforms like Stitcher are awaiting approval.

Our first episode, featuring a story based on the bestselling novel Dread Nation will launch on June 26!

We've also created a Patreon page and a PayPal, so you can continue to support the podcast and help us lock down a second season.

Thanks again for your support. We couldn't do this without you.

-Tonia

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TL;DR:

We need more horror written by Black people.

• Many podcasts/magazines don't pay their writers. That's not cool.
• Very few podcasts/magazines pay pro rates. We get it. That's tough to do. That's why we need your help.
• We want to increase the exposure Black horror writers get & help them launch amazing careers
• Podcasts are incredibly popular and an excellent avenue to promote authors and their stories

Can you help us get more Black horror out into the world?

We Need You

It's not cool to only "pay" writers with exposure. Writers have bills and we don't know anybody that accepts exposure as payment. We want to pay the writers whose stories appear in this podcast a fair rate. We also want to pay the Black narrators a fair wage for their voice performances. And people in Hell want ice water, but they can't launch crowdfunding campaigns, so we hope you can help our wants become reality.

Nightlight will (with your help) be a weekly podcast featuring a ~30 minute horror story written by a Black writer, along with a short interview with that author. The founder, Tonia Thompson, will edit and produce the podcast.

• We need at least $5,000 to fund the first year. This will allow us to pay writers $75 per story and narrators $25. That's 52 stories, 52 writers, 52 episodes of horror. If we can't raise $5,000, we'll either produce fewer episodes or pay writers less. We'll decide exactly what will produced at the end of the campaign, with your input, if we raise less than $5,000.
• $15,000 means we can pay pro rates! This is important because paying a writer pro rates allows them to join the Horror Writer's Association, where they can enjoy a number of benefits including promotion of their work and career resources. The writers can also be nominated for awards, so we really want to be able to a pay pro rate of ~$270 per story.
• If we raise more than $15,000, we will pay narrators more! At $15,000, we will be paying the narrators out of our own pockets, but with your help, we can pay narrators professional rates as well.
• You'll be helping us fund the first year, allowing us time to build an audience large enough to sell ad time, and perhaps even build a community of support via Patreon.
• If we raise a ridiculous amount of money, we'll use it to fund next year's episodes.

The Impact

You'll help Black horror writers launch careers.

• Agents, directors and producers can find potential horror stories and writers in one place.
• We'll lift the voices of marginalized writers and allow them to tell their stories.
• Racism sucks. Hearing more stories from a Black perspective can help fix that.
• Reparations!

Risks & Challenges

• Getting listeners is always a challenge. Luckily, I have a marketing background and a solid plan for promotion. In fact, if you're interested in becoming a listener, regardless of whether you can contribute, head over here and drop us your email.

Other Ways You Can Help

Money a little tight? I get it. You can still help!

• Share, RT, and Like posts on social media.
• Run a contest for your followers. Ask them to donate to this campaign and send you proof of that donation. In exchange, you can send them a piece of your art, a short story, your best recipe, or a nice note!
• If you're really adventurous, have followers send you their receipts and offer to do something crazy like 1 pushup for every dollar you helped raise.