Mental illness isn’t magical. Back these stories that take an honest look at mental illness and portray it compassionately in fantasy.
Latest Updates from Our Project:
So close! 90%
almost 6 years ago
– Sun, May 20, 2018 at 06:51:47 AM
Y'all, we're almost funded! 90% and we're so close! Thank you all for your amazing support and helping me make this project a reality! I can't wait to see what it becomes.
Just as a review, this is the creative team we have so far for the anthology:
We'll have some story spots held for my open call for submissions once the Kickstarter is over. I can't wait to read these stories. I think they're going to be absolutely amazing and I also can't wait to share them with you.
I'll be posting the submissions guidelines in the couple weeks after the Kickstarter is over, but preliminary guidelines are as follows:
Anyone is welcome to submit as long as they observe the following guidelines: Fantasy only (no Science Fiction or Horror, although horror elements may be present in the story). Urban Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Historical Fantasy, Steampunk, and other genres of fantasy are all encouraged. The stories will each be between 3000-6000 words. More detailed submissions guidelines will be posted once the project is funded both here as well as other sites for calls for anthologies are accepted.
When writing your story, consider that you’re writing about real experiences that real people have, not just something fictional characters have to deal with. Do your research and write with compassion. I am looking for noblebright, not grimdark.
Submissions from diverse individuals and those with mental illnesses are encouraged.
Very excited, and thank you all so much!
-Vivian
New (and amazing!) Author Added and Close to 75% Funded!
almost 6 years ago
– Wed, May 16, 2018 at 09:01:36 AM
I am terribly excited to announce that we have another author added to our lineup of awesome authors: Ferret Steinmetz!
For those unfamiliar with him, his bio is as follows:
Ferrett Steinmetz’s urban fantasy series FLEX is about mentally ill people who wind up unlocking magic within themselves, a book inspired by his own struggles with depression. (Though the book itself features entertaining wildness involving videogamemancy and bureaucromancy.)
He was nominated for the Nebula in 2012, for which he remains moderately stoked, and lives in Cleveland with his very clever wife, a small black dog of indeterminate origin, and a friendly ghost.
He Tweeters at @ferretthimself, and blogs entirely too much about puns, politics, and polyamory at www.theferrett.com.
i have been a long time fan of Ferret's work and I am so absolutely thrilled he agreed to be part of this anthology. For those of you familiar with him, I'm sure you're squeeing as well, and for those of you unfamiliar with his work, I can't wait to introduce you!
We're so close to 75% funded I can almost feel it! Please don't forget to share and signal boost this Kickstarter so we can be sure to get funded and more!
Also, once we're funded and the Kickstarter has finished, submissions will be accepted starting June 1. More details to come (and I'll be sure to update the Kickstarter main page as well as post an update). I can't wait to read the stories that folks will submit for this thing. It's going to be amazing.
-Viv
Cover Artist Announcement!
almost 6 years ago
– Sat, May 12, 2018 at 07:37:47 AM
I am incredibly honored and thrilled to announce that we have a cover artist! The amazing Holly Heisey (http://hollyheiseydesign.com) has agreed to do the cover art for Unlocking the Magic. Squeee!
They are an amazing cover artist and have done incredible work (see below and also on their website, linked above). I can't wait to see what they do for us. I know it will be beautiful.
In other news, I finally received a response from another pin company and their pin is also awesome. This means that when we hit stretch-goal territory, I'll be unveiling another pin and you might get *two* awesome pins instead of one. I'm so excited. They're very different from each other, but I like both of them too much to choose, so let's get to those stretch goals so I don't have to!
Finally, and as always, thank you so much for your support! I am so pleased that we've made it this far and I can't wait to see where we're going next.
-Viv
60%!!!
almost 6 years ago
– Wed, May 09, 2018 at 08:42:23 PM
Holy moly y'all! We're over halfway funded and still have most of the month to go! This is awesome! You are awesome!
I have the preliminary pin design!!! Here it is:
Pins! Omg Pins!
Keep in mind that this is very preliminary and may not reflect the final design or look (though I hope it will cause it looks pretty dang cool). They'll be 1.25" and the black is glittery. Let me know what you think!
On a personal note, this project means so much to me and I am so grateful that you all have joined me on this ride. As someone with mental illness, it's often hard to believe that the things I care about are worth believing in and you are showing me that this is something definitely worthwhile and needed. I only hope that this project will do others good as well. Every one of you is helping me take those steps towards making a difference.
When I came up with the concept for this anthology last year, I had hoped to find a way to get this book into at-risk shelters and other places where it can do a lot of good. Unfortunately Kickstarter doesn't allow creators to have campaign stuff go to charities (and their reasoning makes sense). However, if you as a backer wanted to back at the Sorcerer level and then donate the second book to a good cause, I definitely couldn't stop you. :) And if you as a backer wanted to share this campaign and say where you were intending on donating the second book (and tag me on facebook, twitter, or instagram) I would be absolutely delighted to hear where you'd like these books to go.
Ok! That's all from me for now. New awesome announcements coming soon though!
-Viv
We're halfway there!
almost 6 years ago
– Mon, May 07, 2018 at 04:23:45 AM
I think I'm going to run out of my quota of exclamation marks for the year by the time this month is over. I simply cannot believe how amazing you all are! Thank you so much for your support in this endeavor.
Ok! So. On to pins. I know i promised you all pin pictures today, but I got the third digital proofs back from the company I queried and they're just not up to the standard I want them to be in order to even show you a draft. I am terribly disappointed in them and so I've gone looking for another company that will make something a) closer to my vision of what I'd like to give you and b) a little cooler (they were awfully drab, even after three tries). So, please be patient while I work with a new company to make the perfect pin design for you.
Finally, one of the things I've been seeing with shares and reposts of this project is how personal it is for everyone. No one is untouched by mental illness, and to see and hear so many of your stories really encourages me that this is something worthwhile. So, thank you not only for your support but also your stories. Please keep sharing them if you feel like you can/have the spoons/etc. <3
