Student uses crowdfunding website to generate backers for first novel
Perhaps it鈥檚 not unusual for a college student to dream of pouring his heart into writing the proverbial all-American novel.聽But it isn鈥檛 too often he actually completes that novel and then finds a 鈥渘ovel鈥� way to financially propel it to publication, let alone handle its marketing and distribution costs.
However, that is exactly what 糖心Vlog传媒LR senior Marc Gray has accomplished with his recently completed first novel, Son of The Solace.
Gray, a speech communication and professional and technical writing major, sought help through Kickstarter.com. The online business bills itself as the world’s largest funding platform for creative projects.
With help from his friend Charlie Cox, Gray made his best pitch and in late May.
What started out as a classroom assignment to pitch a mock crowdsourcing project turned into the real deal. By July 6, Gray had 74 backers who each contributed just enough to help him reach his goal of $3,500 to be self-published, retain the book rights, and begin marketing his work.
鈥淚f I had gotten just $30 less, I wouldn鈥檛 have made it,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t truly was a collective effort and I am just so grateful to everyone who contributed.鈥�
Just this week, Gray was able to send a $500 check to pay for a structural edit of his story about a young graduate student named Chance Sullivan, who is stripped of his mortality after being assailed by a vampire.
In the story, the lead character is confronted with finding new meanings in his existence as an immortal. He must make the poignant choice of how much of his old life he can take with him; whether his humanity, or the people he loves. As Gray puts it, in becoming a monster, Chance Sullivan discovers what it means to be human.
Marcus Gray’s book, Son of The Solace
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