Recent updates

Deadline extended!

Sep 11 2014

Hi everyone,

Thank you for your continued support for our campaign, it really means so much to us.

The team at Fundsurfer have offered to extend our deadline till the end of the month to give us the chance to gear up for one last big push.

We can also utilise their 'Take what you raise' option meaning that even if we don't hit the full £10,000 we will be able to put the final amount to work doing what we do!

That said we would still love to go for gold!

Thank you all again, please do share with everyone you know to help the fundraising drive.

https://www.fundsurfer.com/project/rework-bristol

The Rework team.

Pledge now!

Getting the professionals involved and final rewrites...what's next?

An update for Independently publishing Solomon's Secrets

Sep 10 2014

Hello to all you fabulous people who backed me,

I'm making steady progress towards publication, thanks to your help.

I've taken delivery of stock of The Bronze Box for all of you who requested a copy as a reward. I'll email you separately to find out what dedication you’d like me to sign it with, where and when to deliver it, so check your inbox.

This morning I had a good chat with a professional copy editor from Arc Editorial and Literary Consultancy who I commissioned to do a report on the book for me. I have some sprucing up to do and some restructuring. I'll be working on this over the next couple of weeks and think it will be well worth it to make Solomon's Secrets not just a good book, but a great one.

Once I've done that, I will send the final version to the publishers and go through a proofing process before it is released. I was hoping to take delivery of the finished books at the end of September, but realistically, it's more likely to be October now.

I've been looking at dates and ideas for a launch event and, naturally, all of you will get an invitation in due course. The event is likely to be end of October / start of November - I'll be in touch.

Keep up to date with me on Twitter and Facebook or take a mooch around my blog if you'd like more regular updates: http://ideaism.blogspot.co.uk/

Better go, I have some writing to be getting on with....

48 Hours

An update for 20th Century Flicks: The Future

Sep 10 2014

Day 2 has gone bonzer. I had a nice few hours talking with a guy who's running a piece on us for the weekend Guardian, and chatted to a couple of guys from The Yard on Colston St who claim to have a friend who has in his possession 2 reels of Abel Gance's Napoleon (only in Bristol...) I also ate the best piece of quiche I ever done ate from Beatroot cafe (a future neighbour at the top of the Steps). So Christmas Steps promises to be a very excellent neighbourhood to be part of.

Thanks to everyone who has donated so far. We've surpassed our headiest expectations so far in terms of money pledges. Also, folks with expertise in cinema sound, painting, 'wood' and plastering have all gotten in touch offer their help too! It's a beautiful thing.

So beautiful in fact, the NEW REWARD I added last night in a 3AM haze (and thought I'd take down this morning) STAYS! Now it's mine and Adam's favourite: The Joanna Hogg Option.

Please feel free to continue pledging your money and undying love, and please share amongst your friends and rich philanthropic uncles.

A bien tot,

Dave Taylor, aka Tango. xx

Thanks so much for your support! Two weeks to go!

An update for Re:work Bristol

Sep 1 2014

Hi everyone!

Wow! We have raised £2,210!!

Amazing effort from everyone, as we enter the next couple of weeks it will be so important for you to keep sharing and supporting our campaign.

Thanks again everyone - please do share this link again with your friends and family and urge them to support a great cause.

https://www.fundsurfer.com/project/rework-bristol

We really appreciate your help and support!!

The REwork team.

So now I have the money, what happens next?

An update for Independently publishing Solomon's Secrets

Aug 25 2014

Hello all of you fabulous people who backed my project!

You'll be pleased to know that I've not left the country on the proceeds from the fund!

Here's a progress update:

I've been looking at how I can use the resources wisely to add value to the publication process and have been in talks with several different copy editors to get a professional edit, or at least partial edit, of the book. I've now sent off the first 10,000 words to a Bristol copy editing service that has been recommneded to me: http://www.alireynolds.co.uk

I've spent a few quid on getting lots of promotional postcards printed and I've just ordered a new batch of the second edition of The Bronze Box for all of you who asked for the first book as a reward. They're being delivered in mid September so I will be getting in touch with you individually then about where to send them and what you'd like me to write inside with the signature.

I still estimate that Solomon's Secrets will be launching in early October.

For those of you who wanted both books - I can either send the Bronze Box first so you can start reading it or can send you both at the same time once Solomon's is ready. I'll contact you individually.

In the meantime, if you'd like to see all the other little actions I've been working through towards my goal to be a successful writer here are a couple of links:

1) I'm doing a 365 day project this year - Operation Author: 365 Actions to Becoming a Successful Author. I do one thing every day and update it weekly on my blog:

http://ideaism.blogspot.co.uk/

2) Like my Facebook author page for updates:

https://www.facebook.com/AmyCFitzjohn

3) Follow me on Twitter

@TomCatDesigns

Watch this space…

Lower start-up costs.

An update for Bristol Volunteers Card

Aug 19 2014

We've luckily benefitted from some volunteer activity ourselves. A lovely person has agreed to do our website design for free so we have covered a large part of our start-up costs. Our goal now is £1800.

We'd also like to welcome some new business supporters, who will be providing discounts for our cardholders:

The Treehouse Cafe - Stokes Croft

Quarter Furniture & Accessories - Gloucester Road

and Italian Gents Hairdressers - Stokes Croft

A new supporter.

An update for Bristol Volunteers Card

Aug 15 2014

Due to the increasing publicity around our card, we are now welcoming the Arnolfini as our latest partner. THey will be offering concessionary rates to their events for all Bristol Volunteer Card holders. Thanks Arnolfini

First Day

An update for Bristol Volunteers Card

Aug 11 2014

Donations coming through and a large number of views. It's great to see so much interest. We are also being retweeted by Bristol major George Ferguson and Bristol MP Kerry McCarthy as well as lots of other lovely Bristolians.

We have added another reward level, open to Charities and Non-profit agencies only, to get involved from the start. £100 will get 10 cards and give your organisation first preference for our full rollout, which will be in stages. Please get in contact if you want any further information about this.

Thanks for the support and we hope it continues!

Crowdfunding? Was it good for you...

An update for Independently publishing Solomon's Secrets

Jul 26 2014

I had a really enjoyable interview recently and it's come out just in time before the pledges close.

In the interview I talk about my experience of crowdfunding, my books and how I've tackled the marketing of my work.

It's a great listen, with some tips for anyone considering crowdfunding or looking for some promotional ideas - enjoy:

http://elitrier.com/interview-with-author-amy-morse/

Ps..Keep telling everyone! I only have 2 days left...

5 days, £274 - so close...

An update for Independently publishing Solomon's Secrets

Jul 23 2014

I have just 5 days to go and only £274 to raise - I'm so close!

Thank you to everyone who's pledged so far!

After months of writing blog posts and articles for free, speaking at events for free, hours of hard work put in by the Fundsurfer team (unpaid), hundreds of miles travelled campaigning to get some support, so much encouragement from friends and family - it would be really sad to stumble at this last hurdle.

Solomon’s Secrets is the best thing I’ve ever written, it deserves to be published (OK, I know I’m biased) – see for yourself by reading extracts on my Idea’ism blog: http://ideaism.blogspot.co.uk/

Yes, I can publish it with Amazon like I did with my first book, but what I'd really like to do is to support a local independent publisher in Bristol and have the opportunity to get my book stocked in bricks and mortar bookshops and not just Amazon.

If you have been thinking about buying my book(s) but are waiting until it’s already published, I urge you to act now. With the help of the experts I can publish a better, more professional book and redistribute some of the money that would otherwise only go to Amazon. I can increase my reach as a writer and take my writing dreams to the next level.

Here’s a picture of me looking suitably pathetic, just to tug your heart strings!

Spread the word.

Support a writer.

Support local independent business.

Be part of something awesome !

Thank you x