DISCOVER YOUR NEXT FAVORITE READ
Welcome to the Kickstart Together Showcase! This page is your gateway to discovering amazing indie books launching right now on Kickstarter.
What is Kickstart Together?
It’s a special collaboration between Reader Nation, Author Nation, and Kickstarter, designed to amplify indie authors and help YOU find exclusive new books before they hit the shelves.
These authors are creating collectible editions, offering bonus content, and inviting readers like you to be part of their creative journey.
Why back these projects?
Because when you support a Kickstarter campaign, you’re doing more than just pre-ordering a book.
You're empowering authors to create bold, innovative stories (while getting special perks and rewards you won’t find anywhere else).
Special Bonus
Back three (or more) campaigns in the Kickstart Together Showcase, and you'll receive a VIP Swag Bag packed with five books from featured signing authors — a $100+ value!
How to claim:
Back three or more campaigns
Email hello@authorventuresllc.com with links to the campaigns you supported
Pick up your VIP Swag Bag at Reader Nation — November 7, 2025, at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas
We've organized the campaigns into two sections:
Signing Authors: Connect face-to-face with the authors you back and take home signed editions at Reader Nation
Featured Projects: Back other incredible campaigns within our wider indie community
Check out the live projects below — and check back often!
New campaigns will be launching throughout the summer and fall, so there’s always something new to discover.
SIGNING AUTHORS
3 snort and swoon-worthy clean Holiday RomComs about the magic of Christmas and the power of love.
Welcome to Snowflake Falls, where the magic of Christmas and the machinations of Cupid work together to not only make it the ‘most wonderful time of the year’, but the best time to fall in love, often in the most mysterious ways.
This series follows Hannah, Ellie, and Alice as they find their person at the most magical time of the year. There's plenty of hot cocoa, comfy blankets, and unruly pets ready for a good snuggle after being outside in the snow. Plus, there's also forced proximity, second chances, fake dating, a wedding or two, and grumpy-sunshine dynamics.
This Kickstarter is specifically designed to make receiving the most droolworthy book, possible. I'm talking foiled jacket, foiled hardback, printed endpages, tailbands and headbands, a ribbon bookmark, and sprayed edges (with room for more if we hit some stretch goals... dual covers, anyone?).
Did I mention there's a book box?
Well, there is and it is going to be packed full of goodies, including, but not limited to: handmade ornaments by me the author, a collectible mug that says 'I fell in love in Snowflake Falls', and a candle!
There's more, but you'll have to wait a while before I'm going to reveal it. Muhahaha!
A Humorous Science Fiction Book Blended with Horror Comedy, Movies, Monsters, Clones, and Sci-Fi Fun
Season One might be in the books (pun intended), but the adventure continues for Post-Apocalyptic Joe! Join Joe and his clones on a new journey into a world full of monsters inspired by their favorite movies.
Top Secret Shop of Horrors kicks off Season Two of this sci-fi comedy serial book series that readers are calling “Hilarious and Addictive!”, “A Fantastic Sci-Fi/Comedy”, and “Perfect for Anyone Who Loves a Good Laugh and a Crazy Story!”.
Fat Vampire: 12th Anniversary Special Edition Omnibus
It's been 12 years since I wrote my underdog story, which became a SyFy TV show. It's time to honor it with a sexy special edition.
Endless Love: Special Edition Hardcover 80s Romance Omnibus
From USA-today bestselling author Karen Grey, a complete collection of four retro romcoms set in the age of big hair and bigger hearts.
⏳Take a trip back to the 80s with four smart-as-a-whip heroines and their big-hearted heroes
❤️🔥Fall in love before dating apps, sexting, or even the internet.
📕🎧Read four retro romcoms with your eyes or your ears
🎁Savor the 80’s with all your senses with the Collector’s Box
To celebrate the 5th anniversary of my award-winning debut romance, What I’m Looking For, I’m collecting all four novels that complete the series in one 930-page Deluxe Hardback Omnibus.
This bad boy is a totally boss time capsule. Def meant to be displayed and treasured.
The deluxe hardcover collection includes:
👀a brand-new, neon-dream of a cover
👀full color endpages peppered with vintage icons and the Boston skyline
👀eye-popping sprayed edges
👀color interior designs to kick off each story
👀retro icons decorate the beginning of every chapter
If you’ve already laughed and cried through my Boston Classic series, get ready for Endless Love: where you’ll get all four books in one righteous package, with the option to add art and swag I’m creating to whisk you back in time.
If you’re new to my 80s romances, get ready for four full-length, steamy, pop-culture-filled vintage love stories, filled with your favorite tropes, swoony guys and gals you’ll want to be pals with.
Click the green button on the right to be notified when my campaign launches. Why? So you don’t miss out, buh-doi!
Also, early backers will have a say on the stretch goals:
☑️What kind of 80s candy should be in the book box⁉️
☑️What should I name of the special candles I’m creating to take you back in time⁉️
☑️What dances should we try to re-create in the backer party⁉️
And more…
Catch you on the flip side, dudes and dudettes 😘
Heart of a Killer—Hardcover Edition
Haunted heroine. Feral husband. Sin-soaked Vegas dark mafia romance with ghosts & found family—for fans of SJ Tilly & JT Geissinger.
If you’ve been through hell and crave a romance that doesn’t shy away from the darkness—welcome home. Heart of a Killer is raw, brutal, and unapologetically human.
Cassius Ashenheart isn’t a man looking for redemption. He’s a weapon—sharpened by blood, betrayal, and the weight of carrying his family’s sins. His world is one of brotherhood, violence, and secrets carved in bone. And when he collides with the one woman he can’t stay away from? His obsession becomes a fire that will either save them, or burn them alive.
What you’ll find inside:
A brooding antihero who’s all scars, steel, and obsession.
A marriage of protection (forced, but dangerously tempting).
A wrong-number text that spirals into something deadly and irresistible.
Brotherhood, betrayal, and brutal justice.
Romance so dark you’ll forget what the light feels like.
Spice that hits harder every time she says yes.
This is romance for the ones who’ve been through hell—the wounded, the wild, and the ones who stay.
If your heart races for a man who’d put his blade between you and the world—then Heart of a Killer is waiting for you.
Jockey Hollow Joymakers
Time travel, fated mates, curses, folklore, and fade to gray romance in 1780—great for fans of Doctor Who, Outlander, and Hamilton.
She's a museum archivist from the 21st century.
He's an elite Roman soldier from the 1st century.
Their adventures and relationship span the centuries, from ancient Herculaneum to 9th century Morocco, from modern Washington D.C. to 18th century New Jersey—all while they fight against rogue immortals intent on changing history and breaking timelines. Forever.
Are you:
Then welcome to the Tempus Viatores series, a historical fantasy/time travel series with a mythological twist.
Join modern day archivist Alex and her ancient Roman lover (now husband), Titus as they explore history, fight dangerous immortals, figure out time travel, and try to have a somewhat normal life.
Introducing Jockey Hollow Joymakers—Book 5 in the Tempus Viatores series!
The American Revolution teeters on the brink of collapse. Can Alex and Titus save America’s past, present, and future?
Now married and expecting their first child, Alex and Titus are hoping for some peace and relaxation, but Fortuna Atrox has other plans. Sent back to 1780 New Jersey, they find the Continental Army in despair, enduring a brutal winter at Jockey Hollow. Starvation, illness, and freezing conditions have left the soldiers ready to desert, and the dream of a new nation hangs by a thread.
Their mission is clear: reignite the army’s spirit before it’s too late. But Jackson, a devotee of Fortuna Atrox, is spreading fear and distrust among the men, determined to ensure America’s failure. With the future they want for their child at stake, Alex and Titus must outwit Jackson and restore hope to the weary soldiers.
In a camp of suffering, Alex and Titus need to remind the Continental soldiers why they fight. Will they succeed in saving history, or will Fortuna Atrox finally change it forever?
Jockey Hollow Joymakers, book 5 of the Tempus Viatores series, is launching November 2025. Follow the campaign today!
Marmalade's First Murder: New Cozy Mystery Paperback
A brand-new novel to launch a brand-new cozy mystery series: Jailhouse Cat! Starring a loveable Maine coon cat with a [redacted] skill!
I took a break from writing cozy mysteries, and I am so glad to be at it again with my new series: Jailhouse Cat.
I'm celebrating with a Kickstarter to launch a special edition paperback with art on the page edges! Thank you so much for your interest and support! I hope you love the story!
A'Brent: The Last Dragon of Fa'Nay'Og | YA Epic Fantasy
A young dragon, now trapped in human form...A story of uncovering powers, romance, found family and healing.
Click and be the first to support this debut YA Fantasy by Rachel Simpson where we see the world through dragon's eyes.
If you love lyrical epic fantasy where healing and friendship save the day (with a touch of queer romance!), this book is for you!
In it you'll also find: 90s save-the-rainforest-vibes, Princess Mononoke meets the Last Unicorn, LGBTQ+ rep with a pan dragon, gender fluid love interest, found family, magicians, elemental magic, healing, meddling sheep, multiple POVs and oh so much more. (Did I mention it's epic?)
The Wheel Deal: Cozy Fantasy Book + Card-Based Party Game
A cozy fantasy book and hilarious party game where a neurodivergent heroine grants chaotic wishes with help from divine, talking cheese
Hi, I'm Zephyra, and I like my life organized. My cheeses are aged, my herbs are bundled, and my interactions with other people are kept to a minimum.
Then I made a wish. Now I have a divine LitRPG system, quests I don't want, and a telepathic cheddar wheel for a boss.
He says I’m a hero. I say I just want to sweep my floor in peace. If you like cozy fantasy, game-like magic, and a whole lot of cheese, my story is for you.
The Wheel Deal is a cozy fantasy novel and a party game combo for the gloriously weird, the emotionally overloaded, and the quietly divine. It’s for anyone who needs to stumble in order to be seen. For the folks who blurt, backtrack, and keep going anyway.
You’ll meet a neurodivergent gnome, a sentient wheel of cheese, and the divine chaos that explodes when a quiet wish finally gets heard. It’s cottagecore comfort tangled with LitRPG-style progression, full of magic you can actually feel.
And because cheese magic can’t just live on the page, there’s a party game too. You’ll try to grant wishes using enchanted dairy and your own questionable judgment. It starts off hilarious and somehow ends up oddly moving. Kind of like real life when you’re just trying to connect and keep stepping on your own tongue.
This is a story about reluctant purpose and found family, about carrying other people’s wishes while you’re still figuring out your own.
You’ll feel at home here if:
Your empathy sometimes eats your spoons for breakfast
You like your fantasy a little weird, a little warm, and a lot personal
You’ve felt too much or too different and still dared to wish anyway
You need to be weird to be seen, and you’d rather laugh than hide
It’s for the kid who never quite fit. The grown-up still learning how to rest. And anyone who finds hope in the quiet, messy magic of trying again.
When you back this project, you’re not just getting a book. You’re stepping into a world you can read, listen to, and even shape with your own wishes. And for one backer, the journey will lead to becoming a literal deity.
eBook & Digital Extras: The complete first book in the Wheyfinder’s Guide to Wishcraft series, ready for your eReader, tablet, or phone—plus exclusive bonus content you can’t get anywhere else, including bonus scenes, threads, origin stories, a guided activity book to grow your own WISHFUL stats, and non-narrative extras like art, mini games, and recipes.
Signed Paperback: A beautiful, tactile edition you can hold in your hands, complete with my signature and a surprise piece of swag tucked inside.
Audiobook: Brought to life with dual narration from an incredibly talented team.
Party Game: A card game where you and your friends become Wishwrights-in-training. Compete to grant absurd wishes using enchanted cheeses, unpredictable magical side effects, and your own questionable judgment.
Premium Rewards: For backers who want to leave their mark on the Wheyverse, our higher level tiers let you step directly into the story. You might see a custom wish you dreamed up granted in Book 2 or 3, or meet a character inspired by you in Briarhaven. You’ll also receive a Rebirth Certificate and a wax-sealed Cheese Oracle Scroll with a personal prophecy written just for you.
Literal Deification: Only one backer will ascend to the highest honor of all: becoming a literal deity in the Wheyverse. I’ll write a 10,000-word origin story revealing your divine beginnings, with a full-color illustrated portrait of your godly form. Your deity will play a central role in the next series, and your sacred lore will be immortalized in a printed Cheese Grimoire entry. You’ll even name a spell, artifact, or magical cheese that appears in Book 3.
This isn’t just a book launch. It’s a cheese-fueled leap into a world where shy, weird girls become heroes, feelings are magic, and even the smallest wish can change everything.
Click “Notify me on launch” to be among the first to step into a world where wishes have weight, cheese has opinions, and magic belongs to those brave enough to ask for it.
Let’s weave this wish into reality together.
FEATURED PROJECTS
Curse Breaker in NY Special Edition Omnibus
2 hardcover special editions drag a mage & his family to NY to save their scribe w/gold foil, printed edges, & unique character art.
If you love Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next, Terry Pratchett's Discworld, or Douglas Adams' genre-bending humor, you'll be enchanted by the Curse Breaker Universe!
Six Epic Books. Two Stunning Omnibus Editions. One Universe Where Fiction Fights for Its Life.
Welcome to the ultimate meta-fantasy adventure where characters literally depend on readers to stay alive! This Kickstarter brings you 4 brand-new books plus 2 gorgeous special edition omnibus hardcovers that will make any fantasy lover's shelf shine.
What This Campaign Launches:
Tropes You'll Love:
🌟 Meta-Fiction Magic | 🐉 Sentient Dragons | 🌍 Portal Fantasy | 👨👩👧👦 Found Family | ⚔️ Fighting for Existence | 📝 Author Insert Done Right | 🔮 Wish Magic | 💻 Digital Worlds | 🗞️ Breaking the Fourth Wall | ⚡ High Stakes Adventure
Oracle of the Slavic Soul: 78-card Deck, Hardback, Art Book
Discover ancient herbal wisdom through the whisper of the 77 1/2 magical herbs in this 78-card Oracle deck.
Begin your journey back to yourself.
Healing and wisdom live in every card. The Oracle of the Slavic Soul is more than a deck. It’s a sacred experience.
Rooted in folklore and blooming with plant magic, each card guides you to heal, explore, and grow.
And beyond the cards?
You’ll unlock rituals, stories, and soul-deep practices to reconnect with your intuition and the natural world.
Step into the Wildwood of Spirit — Where Every Leaf Whispers Wisdom
This oracle deck is a spellbound fusion of botanical magic, elemental power, and ancient lore. Born from the earth and woven with intention, each card serves as a living talisman, offering guidance, enchantment, and healing to those who seek.
Within this deck, nature speaks in symbols, and every plant holds a story. You’ll uncover:
Oracle Wisdom – Mystical messages from the green world to illuminate your path: your present, past, and future. These glimpses through time help guide your journey. A reversed card shows you shadow meanings that reveal hidden truths and obstacles.
Magical Properties – Folk traditions and spirit uses of each herb ally
Rituals & Affirmations – Earth-based practices to awaken your power
Whether you're a witch of the woods, a keeper of ancestral wisdom, or simply drawn to the quiet magic of the natural world, this deck invites you to listen deeply. Let it become your guide and guardian, an oracle rooted in the wild, whispering truths only nature can reveal.