Azazel the Zombie Slayer: Illustrated Storybook + Tarot Deck

NEW REWARD TIERS AVAILABLE!
about 3 years ago – Sun, Jan 22, 2023 at 05:40:02 PM

Howdy, beloved backers!

I hope you’re having a wonderful day (or night) – wherever you happen to be in the world.

My hubby, Dan, and I are busy preparing for an upcoming road trip (with our cat, Ruby Azazel, in tow), which will take us from the snowy, remote woods of northern Michigan to the balmier and much livelier streets of New Orleans. Naturally, we’re excited for lots of reasons, not the least of which is the fact that we’ll soon be visiting my family, munching on yummy delectables (like oyster po-boys!), and seeing our favorite Mardi Gras parade, the Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus – which, as the name suggests, is the perfect celebration for two sci-fi/fantasy nerds like us!

But before I dive into my last-minute packing duties, I want to let y’all know that, in response to a few questions from potential backers, we’ve recently added four more pledge levels to our Azazel campaign. Here are the descriptions for each new reward tier (all of which have an expected delivery date of May 2023 and include the option of being mentioned in a special acknowledgments section in all storybooks):

$8 – ILLUST’D AZAZEL COLLECTION (NO BOOKMARK) – With sincere thanks, we will send you the illustrated, digital version of Azazel the Zombie Slayer: A Zombie Chaos Storybook Collection (containing four short stories), the related audio commentary, and all DIGITAL AZAZEL IMAGE rewards.

$13 – AZAZEL AUDIOBOOK (W/O BOOKMARK) – With sincere thanks, we will send you the unabridged audiobook of Azazel the Zombie Slayer: A Zombie Chaos Storybook Collection, plus a digital copy of Escape from the Big Easy: Zombie Chaos Book 1 and all ILLUST’D AZAZEL COLLECTION (NO BOOKMARK) rewards.

$160 – A TRIO OF TAROT READINGS – With sincere thanks, we will send you digital copies of Zombie Chaos Books 1-3 and all AZAZEL AUDIOBOOK rewards, plus you’ll be treated to three separate, one-hour tarot readings with Laura Martone via Zoom (all of which will be scheduled at a mutually convenient time).

$300 – EXCLUSIVE, PERSONALIZED SHORT STORY – Following a one-hour, online chat with us (Daniel and Laura Martone) via Zoom, you will receive an exclusive, personalized Azazel tale starring you (or someone you know) as a feline character, plus digital copies of Zombie Chaos Books 1-3 and all AZAZEL AUDIOBOOK rewards. [Note: Only 5 of these packages are available.]

In addition, we’ve lowered the cost for our two “tuckerization” packages – that is, the tiers that offer backers the chance to inspire a minor or major character in one of Azazel’s brand-new short stories. The MINOR TUCKERIZATION level, originally priced at $250, is now $200, while the MAJOR TUCKERIZATION level has dropped from $500 to $400.

So, if any of the above tiers appeal to you (or someone you know), please don’t hesitate to spread the word before our campaign ends this Thursday, January 26th, at 9 p.m. EST.

And if you have time, please check out these other Kickstarter campaigns from some of our fellow writers and artists:

100 Gilded Dragons: Art zine, Art prints & Oracle cards!

I’m routinely in awe of the gorgeous creations that emerge from the magical mind of award-winning photographer, artist, and author Therena Carlin, and her latest Kickstarter campaign is no exception. She’s offering a slew of vibrant, hand-illustrated dragons, from the whimsical to the sinister, in a variety of formats – including postcards, Oracle decks, art prints, enamel pins, and an ever-growing art zine. So, if you’re as enamored with her artwork as I am, visit her KS page before her campaign ends at 10 p.m. EST on Saturday, January 28th.

Pilgrimage Book: Travel memoir with practical walking tips

As a lifelong traveler and “recovering” guidebook author, I’m a huge fan of travel memoirs. So, naturally, I’m thrilled to share my friend Joanna Penn’s first-ever Kickstarter campaign – and I was delighted to back it as soon as it launched earlier today. If you’re a fellow travel lover, you should definitely check out her project (which offers the memoir in ebook, audio, paperback, and hardback) before it wraps up at 10:15 p.m. EST on Sunday, February 5th. Jo is a fantastic novelist and nonfiction writer – and this is sure to be one of her most meaningful works yet!  

The Crystal Dragon Saga: REBORN!

Fans of YA fantasy should explore author Katie Cherry’s current project, which focuses on a half-dragon teenager named Crystal who “must rise to the throne and uncover her suppressed powers before all seven realms are destroyed by the coming darkness.” You’ll find ebooks, (signed and unsigned) paperbacks and hardcover versions, bookmarks, postcards, a series guidebook, and other goodies – but only if you visit Katie’s KS page by 10:45 a.m. EST on Sunday, February 5th.

Fantabulous Hounds

If you’re fond of zany, colorful artwork inspired by animals, then look no farther than Patty Jansen’s latest Kickstarter project. An award-winning sci-fi/fantasy writer and artist, Patty has created a wonderful collection of 1920s-style artwork featuring the secret lives of greyhounds. Offerings include digital posters, postcards, and a hardbound art book. Check it out by 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, February 8th.

Kingdom of Curses and Shadows Collector Edition Omnibus

YA fantasy author Day Leitao has just launched her first Kickstarter, which features a stunning, collector’s-edition omnibus of her complete Kingdom of Curses and Shadows series – a quirky, fast-paced series filled with magic, mystery, adventure, snarky banter, girl power, royal intrigue, and enemies-to-lovers romance. Back the campaign by 8 p.m. EST on Saturday, February 11th, for an assortment of rewards, from short stories and digital art to bookmarks and illustrated, hardcover novels.

Well, folks, that’s it for now. As always, thank you so much for your generous support and enthusiastic interest! (Ruby Azazel thanks you, too!)

Sincerely,

Laura Martone

FIRST STRETCH GOAL UNLOCKED!
about 3 years ago – Tue, Jan 17, 2023 at 06:52:31 PM

Howdy, beloved backers!

Wow, what a stupendous first week for our second Kickstarter campaign! 

Thanks to y’all, Dan and I have reached $1,238 in total funding – four times our initial goal – and, as always, both of us are incredibly grateful for your interest and support. And so is our feline muse and master, Ruby Azazel!

Even more exciting, though, is the fact that you’ve helped us unlock our first stretch goal. That means that everyone who’s pledged at least $5 or more will receive four, full-color digital posters from Azazel’s POV (that is, through the bars of her cozy carrier), each representing a key moment in the first four novels of Zombie Chaos. We sincerely can’t wait to deliver these to you, so thanks again for giving us this opportunity!

Honestly, if our funding total doesn’t budge a buck before our campaign ends on January 26th, Dan and I will still be utterly grateful for your support. Just in case, though, the number does climb a bit higher, we’ve prepared four additional stretch goals – each of which promises a bit of lagniappe (New Orleans speak for “extra”) to all backers who pledge at least $5 or more.

• At $2,000, each $5-and-up backer will receive one bonus short story involving Azazel, the zombie-slaying cat.
• At $3,000, each $5-and-up backer will receive two additional bonus short stories involving Azazel, the zombie-slaying cat.
• At $4,000, each $5-and-up backer will receive a personalized postcard, created from one of Azazel’s POV posters and signed by us and the zombie slayer herself.
• And if we reach $5,000, we’ll record and deliver to our $5-and-up backers an audiobook version of the three bonus short stories.

So, please help us spread the word about this campaign, and we might just be sending these awesome extras your way!

Of course, we’re not the only authors running Kickstarter campaigns right now. Here are four more intriguing projects that might interest you: 

100 Stolen Magic Spells and an Evil Temptress

D.L. Gardner’s YA adventure fantasy campaign features the first three novels in her Ian’s Realm Saga as well as a two-book bundle entitled Layla. All installments are beautifully illustrated and offered in ebook, paperback, and hardbound form. You’ll also be able to snag charms, bookmarks, audiobooks, and other goodies – but only if you back this project by 1am EST on Friday, January 20th. 

Grimm Space: P1-Nocchio – a sci-fi/fairy tale one shot comic

Author and comic writer Frank Martin has expanded the galactic fantasy universe of Grimm Space with this 26-page, well-illustrated action/adventure adaptation of the fairy-tale classic “Pinocchio.” Fans of TV shows like Grimm, Supernatural, Once Upon a Time, and Firefly will likely love this project – which is precisely why I’m one of its many supporters. If you’d like to join me behind the backer wall, then check out Frank’s campaign before it ends this Friday, January 20th, around midnight EST.

Effigest Illustrated Hardcover: A Weird Western Fantasy

Through this campaign, indie author and librarian Amy Campbell is presenting an illustrated hardcover edition of Effigest, a western fantasy filled with reluctant heroes, magical cowboys, winged horses, fierce outlaws, and badass women. Among the awesome rewards available are ebooks, oracle cards, audio commentaries, enamel pins, signed paperbacks, and art prints. And serendipitously, her campaign ends the exact same time as ours – 9pm EST on Thursday, January 26th!

Make 100 Magical Short Stories With Me

Author Katharina Gerlach is compiling 100 of her finest short stories into one epic-sized book: The Fires in my Soul. That’s 800+ pages of thrilling tales, covering a medley of genres, from fantasy romance and fairy-tale retellings to sci-fi and steampunk to history and crime. Something for every kind of reader! So, if, like me, you enjoy short stories and have eclectic reading tastes, then do yourself a favor and check out this campaign before it comes to a close at 11pm EST on Tuesday, January 31st.

Well, that’s it for me, folks! As always, feel free to send any questions or concerns my way – and I’ll do my best to address them. In the meantime, I hope y’all have a wonderful rest-of-the-week!

Sincerely,

Laura Martone

THANKS A TON FOR YOUR GENEROUS SUPPORT!
about 3 years ago – Sat, Jan 14, 2023 at 07:02:52 PM

Howdy, beloved backers!

I hope you’re all having a wonderful weekend. Dan and I certainly are. That’s because, thanks to your interest and generosity, we’ve already reached $926 for our storybook/tarot campaign – triple our funding goal! Woohoo! Both of us are incredibly grateful for your support – and so is our feisty furbaby, Ruby Azazel!

We can’t wait to send you all the goodies we’ve promised – and I’m excited for the tarot readings, too!

In the meantime, though, we just wanted to thank you again – and inform you that we’ve extended our three early-bird deals until noon on Tuesday (January 17th). That means that backers can still save $10 each on the AZAZEL STORYBOOK COLLECTION and ZOMBIE-FLESH COLLECTION tiers – and get $20 off the TAROT READING level.

So, if you know of anyone who might be interested in our project, please feel free to spread the word. We’re only $74 shy of our first stretch goal ($1,000) – and reaching it would enable us to send all $5-and-up backers four, full-color digital posters from Azazel the zombie-slaying cat’s POV, each representing a key moment in the first four novels of Zombie Chaos.

Of course, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to drop us a line. And if you’d like to learn a bit more about us, our feline muse, and the project itself, please check out our new Kickstarter video. We uploaded it last night – in response to some helpful feedback about our first one.

Anyway, thanks again for your interest and support – and enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Sincerely,

Laura Martone