Launching a Kickstarter campaign with my already packed schedule always comes with risk, but I went ahead and went for it with Thrilling Adventure Yarns 2026. As I write this, we’re at 61% funded after one week, which is good and means I will likely make my goal and produce the book. Its slow momentum after the first 48 hours also spells trouble for my hope to get the book illustrated (even partly).
Normally, as soon as the pre-launch page goes live, I start hearing from people who want to help me with marketing or printing. I tried hiring one of the firms in the past, and nothing came of it. So, now I ignore them all.
I did, though, receive an email from Kickstarter talking about a new mentor program, and they were willing to match me with successful producers for advice. I shrugged and said that it might be worth a try. They paired me with “Kat” from Lifeline Comics, which I knew to be legit since I have backed several of their comics and admire their success.
She put me in touch with her marketing team, who offered me a comprehensive package to help me reach a guaranteed 160% of my goal. I was even offered a discount. All I needed to do was make a payment, but alas, their PayPal was compromised, and they wanted an ACH payment instead. That raised an alarm, so I wrote back to “Kat”, who assured me they were fine.
Then another “mentor” reached out, and while engaging with them, they also wanted a payment via ACH. Coincidentally, it was to the same bank as the first firm.
Well, that got the alarm bells ringing. Then, a light went off: they were all using an email address that is not on file with Kickstarter. I tracked down the real Kat, who confirmed it was a fraudster, which she shrugged at, as a consequence of doing business in the e-commerce world. Kickstarter’s website even has a section disclaiming any mentor program.
Clearly, I dodged a bullet, protected my cash, and learned a valuable lesson.
The campaign continues and still needs some love and support, so if you haven’t read up on it, please click over to the real Kickstarter and see for yourself.
WHAT WE’RE WATCHING
Obviously, anything from Ken Burns demands attention, and we enjoyed the first installment of The American Revolution, which comes highly recommended. In a similar vein, we truly appreciated the four-part Netflix miniseries Death by Lightning with strong performances by Michal Shannon and Matthew McFaddyn. We finally got started on the fourth season of The Witcher, where we think there is at least one plot too many, robbing the series of a chance at solid characterization. Landman season two launched last week, setting up the status quo, and it remains fun, enhanced by Sam Elliott’s presence. While mildly entertaining, we both think Only Murders in the Building has run out of steam.
WHAT I’M READING
I finished Marie Benedict’s The First Ladies and was deeply disappointed by its stilted writing. I then managed to finally complete Kiley Reid’s Come & Get It, which wasn’t as good as her debut novel. And to complete the trifecta of disappointments, Danzy Senna’s Colored Television gave me no character to root for and a truly unlikeable protagonist. In comics land, the One World Under Doom tie-ins have grown tedious and entirely superfluous (my Marvel digital sub has me three months behind), and many of the mutant titles aren’t grabbing me. Over at DC, I’m enjoying just about anything from Tom Taylor and Mark Waid. The first issue of the KO event makes little sense, and nothing but fight issues sounds tiresome. On the other hand, I got a lot out of Mark Evanier’s The Essential Peanuts.
#Tags: Colored Television, Come & Get It, Danzy Senna, Death by Lightning, Kickstarter, Kiley Reid, Landman, Lifeline Comics, Matthew McFaddyn, Michael Shannon, Nick Offerman, Only Murders in the Building, Sam Elliott, The American Revolution, The First Ladies, The Witcher, Thrilling Adventure Yarns 2026