Posted in: Comics, Recent Updates | Tagged: Comics, entertainment, graphic novel, kickstarter

$7K In 7 Days: How I Lost My Lunch But Gained A Graphic Novel

Published Sun, 01 Nov 2015 10:00:10 -0600

by Ryan Fisher

You know that moment when you get off a roller coaster ride? Your head's still spinning, your stomach's churning and adrenaline is shooting through your veins at a breakneck speed that leaves you woozy. Just moments before you were on the ride of your life with all of your friends, leaning into the curves, preparing for the steep ascent, screaming your lungs out and then it's over. You hit the finish line, stagger out of the rickety car and collapse.

That was week one of my Kickstarter project.

A lot of people take to the internet after funding their project to share their tips, tricks and magic mojo on how to get funded and while most of those articles have great points, nothing really prepares you for the gut-wrenching nervousness of pressing that big, green launch button and the subsequent panic attack that ensues. What if you don't get funded? What if it's a blood bath? What if you spend the entire 30 days begging every person you've ever known, including your 3^rd grade teacher or the woman who lived next door and tried to feed you stale ginger snaps as a kid? All of these thoughts rush in your head and spin around like little birds in a Looney Toons cartoon.

What. Have. I. Done?

The first day was a whirlwind of pledges, and thank you messages, drawing progress cartoons and sitting in awe. At the 24 hour mark we were 25% funded with a Kickstarter Staff Pick. By day 4 we were at 50% funded after our Kickstarter was shared by the amazing folks at Wizard School. A few favorable reviews later and there we were, 100% funded – $7K in 7 days. What a ride. I spent the next day passed out, reeling from what felt like a marathon sprint. There weren't even words to express how incredibly grateful, and astonished and humbled I was in that moment, and still am. I spent so many nights leading up to the Kickstarter terrified that it would peter out at 50% and now here we are.

I decided to do a quick little drawing for each milestone of the campaign. These are some of the highlights

When the first errant thoughts that would eventually become Torchlight Lullaby began to form nearly 3 years ago, I was in no place to even think about creating a new comic, let alone sending it out into the cold, dark world of crowdfunding. At that point, I was just trying to sleep through the night. After my step-dad passed away to cancer, I spent a lot of nights like that, distracting myself with the stories that passed through my head, fleeting thoughts mostly, but then Torchlight stuck. It was born out of my own need to cope with the nightmares that followed me to bed, the fear and sadness and grief that I was experiencing.
Torchlight Lullaby is the story of a little girl named Ella who is forced to cope with her own fears when she becomes stuck inside her dream world. Together with her stuffed mouse, Winchell, who comes to life within those dreams, Ella must fight the monsters in her dreams before they escape into her waking world. It's a story about finding your own bravery and conquering the obstacles in life that feel insurmountable. I tried to create this comic in the same vein as Neverending Story & Dark Crystal. And while this is an all-ages book (8+), it's not a children's book. I created this story for me, and it's as much of a story for adults as it is kids.

I've been working on creating this comic for more than a year now as writer, illustrator, inker & letterer. It's a deeply personal story, and it only felt right to tell it in my own way, from start to finish. That's why I chose to self-publish as well. I wanted the freedom to tell the story I needed to tell and now, after what feels like a lifetime, I'm here. And it's funded. Torchlight Lullaby will become a graphic novel. H@ly $h!t.

So now what?

Stretch goals baby. Well at least that's the hope. Because here I sit, 10 days later, more than halfway through the campaign, and we're still $1,500 away from the first stretch goal of $10K. This is the lull that everyone spoke about and even though I was ready for it, it's not making it easier. When Casey (my significantly better half) and I decided to bite the bullet, we knew it was important to set realistic goals and to truly have a stake in the project. For that reason, we decided to save & invest $4k of our own money into funding the project. The $7k goal would only cover a portion of the overall costs, the remaining funds would come from us. We diligently put money aside in advance of the Kickstarter to ensure we kept up our end of the deal.

The first stretch goal of $10k will allow us to add some amazing pin-ups to the back of the book from the likes of Sam Ellis (Archer), Matthew Clark (Ghost Rider, Adventures of Superman), Mark LaPierre (SuperFogeys), Paul Westover (Woody After Hours & College Humor) and more.

The next stretch goal of $12k will allow us to print a hardcover edition of the book, which I want to see so badly. When I envisioned holding this thing, it was always a hardcover. I could picture the matte finish, the de-bossing, maybe even some foil, but most of all it was the weight of it in my hands. It's the feeling of creating something substantial and I truly hope I can make that dream come true.

My favorite stretch goal of all may just be, Kitty Puppet Theater (don't you judge me yet) Hear me out. I have two adorable cats who are my kids, even when I have real human children, they will always be my first kids. And in addition to being adorable, they have the disposition of saints… on Valium. So in the interest of all internet-kind, we've decided that if we reach $20k, we'll act out key scenes of the comic with puppets and our cats, for the enjoyment of all. In addition, we'll donate 10% of all funds raised to a local no-kill shelter.

Lastly, in addition to these stretch goals we have a special Bleeding Cool goal! If we make it to $10K this weekend we'll add in a new Shiverwing (that badass black bird) pin for all Kickstarter backers over $25.

If you want to get in on the ground floor of something really special, I hope that you'll consider backing the project or sharing it with your friends. We need your help to make it there! Thank you!