9/5/2015 UPDATE: Order the books!
I am awash with gratitude. I never expected this much of a response and so quickly. Hundreds of supporters shared my campaign andy GoGo Factor went through the roof. Thank you all so much!
Since the success of this first campaign, I've published Cats A-Z and it is now available for purchase online.
I'm currently running a pre-sale campaign for the second book, Owl and Cat In Love, in the hopes of being able to publish it in time for the holidays. Check that out here.
Where It All Started:
I'm a wood block printmaker based in Philadelphia. I received my training at the
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and have exhibited widely for over a decade,
including in Philadelphia's City Hall and at the Delaware Museum of Art.
I have finished two book projects and initially sought a contract with an established
publishing house. Preferably a small, independent press that specialized in unique and
beautifully produced books. While I had success contracting with an agent and
received plenty of encouragement, I soon found myself with a growing aspiration to
launch my own press.
Words On Woodcuts began as my art blog in 2010. Over the years I've maintained a consistent readership, and now attract an average of over 3,000 unique views every month. While I regularly write about the work of historical and contemporary printmakers, new work for my book projects always attracts the most hits.
I am launching Words On Woodcuts Press this year because now I am ready. I have built up my platform as an artist/author, and I have two products to bring to market.
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The Books
The first book to be published will be Cats A-Z, a cat-themed alphabet book for adults, illustrated with black and white woodcuts. It's not just another cute cat book. Light humor blends with sardonic wit and serious philosophical musings. It's a cat book for those who are intellectual, literary, artsy, or simply contemplative.
A large portion of the earnings from the sales of the first book will go toward the publication of the second book Owl and Cat In Love. This is a true picture book and reimagining of Edward Lear's poem The Owl and the Pussycat in full color woodcuts.
I have several more book projects in the queue to complete in my studio. For instance, not a cat person? Are dogs more your thing? If so, know that the creation of a companion volume Dogs A-to-Z is definitely in my studio queue. Another project in the queue is a picture book illustrating the poem The Nautilus and the Ammonite, anonymously written, in which two aquatic cousins form a friendship, travel and witness great sights together, until the ammonite is lost in the same mass extinction that ended the reign of dinosaurs.
But before I get ahead of myself with all the future books I'm so eager to create, I need to publish and bring to market the two books that are finished.
Built To Last
In addition to this campaign, I'm applying for a small business loan. Any donations I receive exceeding $2,000 reduces the size of the necessary loan, and thus strengthens this business's chances of long-term success.
How will the money be spent? The books that will be published by Words On Woodcuts Press will be gift books and keepsakes, physical objects to enjoy over and over again. Today there are print-on-demand services, but going that route would mean high prices, and many interested art-lovers would be unable to afford the books. Producing and marketing these books in editions large enough to keep the prices competitive requires a serious investment. Specifically, to finance professional cover design, editing, printing and shipping, promotional materials and advertisements.
A large portion of the earnings from the sales of the first book will go toward the publication of the second book, and so on.
Risks & Challenges
Nobody gets rich starting a small press. While it would be great if
Words On Woodcuts
Press is successful enough that I can "quit my day job", I don't count on it, and that isn't why I'm doing this.
My motivations are to earn enough to continue and further develop my craft, and to get my artwork out to a
broader audience.
In my business plan, I'm seeking out the best deals and working to keep overhead costs
(and therefore prices) low, but I won't cut corners where it matters, such as the quality of
graphic design and printing/binding.
The most challenging part of this endeavor will be getting the word out to the right
audience. I'm braced for a big learning curve when it comes to marketing. I'm sure it will
take time to figure out what tactics are most effective, which again, is why I need capital
to get the ball rolling.
The bottom line is that no one cares about these books as much as I do. No one is more motivated than me to get this work into the hands of book-lovers who will cherish it.
What You Get
Of course any good fundraising campaign must offer perks! Goodies in this fund drive start at $20. and include original woodcuts straight from my studio and signed copies of Cats A-Z when it is published this summer. You can view the entire series of Cats A-Z prints to choose from on my Etsy Store. Also, check in with the Words On Woodcuts blog during this 42 day campaign where I'll be posting about the 8 art cards I am designing as a thank-you gift for donors.
Other Ways You Can Help
Even if you can't donate, you can still help launch this press.
- Get the word out and make some noise about this campaign.
- Use the Indiegogo share tools.
Thanks for your help!
