Why am I doing a kickstarter?

My first campaign was to fund the audio version of book 1, The Vacuum of Space. It was successful—in fact we met the first stretch goal, and I was able to have book 2 recorded as well. Now I’d like to record book 3, Glitter in the Stars, and hopefully the rest of the series.

As I’m sure you know, creating audiobooks is expensive. Believe me, nobody wants to listen to me read them, so I have to pay a narrator. Which is why I started this project.

But a lot of readers aren’t interested in audiobooks. So this project includes ebooks, paperbacks, and audiobooks. There’s a pledge level for everyone, and unique, never-before-read Space Janitor stories.

Link to the campaign:

Rewards

Christmas Short Story

Everyone who pledges will get the short story as soon as they click the link. So even if the project doesn't fund, you'll get a small piece of the Space Janitor fun.

The Phoenix and Katie Li

At the second tier, you’ll get a copy of the ebook The Phoenix and Katie Li. It takes place in the Space Janitor universe, but invovles completely differnt characters. I’m including it in this Kickstarter because the main characters also play a role in the new Space Janitor book. This book will give you their backstory.I originally wrote this story for Amazon’s new Vella program. But Vella is currently only available in the US, and serialized fiction doesn’t appeal to everyone. According to Vella’s terms of service, thirty days after the last episode has been posted on Vella, I can publish the book. If you pledge here, you’ll get the book first.

Waxing the Moon of Lewei

The third new story is Waxing the Moon of Lewei. This is the third book in the Tales of a Former Space Janitor series and wraps up the first trilogy. Don’t worry, there will be more, but this ties up the loose ends from The Rings of Grissom and Planetary Spin Cycle.

Glitter in the Stars Audiobook

If you're an audiobook fan, you can get the audio for the third book in the original series, Glitter in the Stars. The first two audiobooks are available on all audio retailers, but you can also get them as add-ons here.

Paperbacks

Paperback versions of Waxing the Moon of Lewei and The Phoenix and Katie Li are also on offer. And if you haven't read the other books in the series, Level 83 supporters will get all three paperbacks in the Tales of a Former Space Janitor series,  as well as The Phoenix and Katie Li.

Dirt the Vacu-bot Missed

This is a new project for me–and a Kickstarter Exclusive! This ebook will have the behind-the-scenes stuff you never knew about the Space Janitor series. It will include notes on where ideas came from, pictures, including my terrible drawings of SK2, and more. Content exclusive to backers of this Kickstarter for at least a year, with an exclusive Gooey Galactic Center cover.

Add-ons

For those of you outside the US, postage costs are ridiculous, so I've included a bookplate add-on. This is a custom-designed sticker that I will sign and send to you. You can buy the books through your local store and add the signature, saving a fortune on postage. The books are currently available on Amazon and I’m working to get them available through Ingram Spark, which means you'll be able to order them through your local bookstore. You can also get the other two audiobooks as add-ons if you haven’t heard them yet.

Launch date: November 9, 2021

Join me for a fun campaign. If you've never supported a Kickstarter before, this is a great way to try it out–you already know you like the Space Janitor books!

I'll be in Las Vegas on the 9th, at the book conference I've been looking forward to since it was canceled last year, and I'll try to post a video on my Facebook page that day. If you're near Las Vegas, we have a huge book signing event on Friday, November 12. It's free and everyone who goes will get two free months of Kindle Unlimited! Plus you can meet 7 NYT bestselling authors, 40 science fiction authors, and me!

Note on the audiobooks: Kaitlin Bellamy isn't able to do the rest of the series, so I'll be hiring a new narrator. The voice will change, but the story stays the same!