We're still collecting donations
On the 14th January 2023 we'd raised £60 with 4 supporters in 56 days. But as every pound matters, we're continuing to collect donations from supporters.
To reach out & support everyone who has a story to tell, a book to write or lost hope of ever realising their dream to become published.
by The Book Dragon in Stockton-on-Tees, United Kingdom
On the 14th January 2023 we'd raised £60 with 4 supporters in 56 days. But as every pound matters, we're continuing to collect donations from supporters.
The Birth of The Book Dragon
My name is Kirsty McKay, I am a self published author, and I published my first novel in November 2019. I cannot begin to describe how much it meant to me, to achieve my dream and hold my first book in my hand. I was so excited, and couldn't wait to share my work with the world. And so I set out with my book, and contacted local independent book shops, asking for their support, but only a couple of shops responded positively. The rest prioritised stocking books by traditional large publishing houses. Then COVID 19 happened and the small businesses that were prepared to help me, were forced to close, and so my book signings were cancelled. I had no where to turn, no support, no guidance. Suddenly the joy turned to disappointment.
In 2020 due to ill health, I lost my permanent job, I lost my identity, and I had to come to terms with the fact that my life had changed due to my disability. What kept me going through a difficult time was my love of books, and being able to temporarily escape into the incredible worlds created by other authors. As I began to heal, I accepted that all things happen for a reason. And it seemed that in my case, my reason, was so that I could create, The Book Dragon. A business that puts the self published and indie author first.
I looked back at my own journey, the responses I had, the lack of support in general for self-published authors, and created a service that puts the author at the very heart of its business. I developed a business plan, and together my husband and I invested what we had, and pulled just enough funding to be able to open, The Book Dragons, doors on 4 July 2022.
However, I did not anticipate that, The Book Dragon, would gather interest so quickly, and now requests for support are being received, not only from local authors, but right across the UK, and abroad.
Thankfully I do have some amazing family, friends, and fellow authors, who have joined me, to help keep up with the initial increase in demand, and the requests for help.
Why Crowdfunding?
Knowing how financially difficult it is for writers starting out, I ensured that whatever elements of the service, The Book Dragon, could deliver for free was offered.
I made a small and affordable charge for our membership packages that would meet the operational costs of the business, & enable the growth of the team on a planned gradual basis. This, with the primary aim not to place any additional financial burden on the author, by making sudden price increases.
But the current demand, for a much needed and critical service, has escalated rapidly, and my operational costs have increased so significantly due to the cost of living crisis.
The Cost of Living Crisis
The Cost of Living Crisis for a fledgling business trying to sustain itself, and react to the demand in such a turbulent economic climate, is proving extremely challenging and difficult to manage.
Although our existing team do an excellent job, and remain passionate, and enthusiastic about, The Book Dragon, opportunity, doing all that they can to ensure it continues to breathe, they need additional support.
The good news is that I have been in touch with many organisations who agree that, The Book Dragon, is a unique and exciting venture, and an essential service, and so they truly want to support us.
The bad news is that whilst these organisations can direct me to pockets of funding for additional financial support, the processes for applying do take a really long time, and for, The Book Dragon, to quote one of our lovely authors, Time is of the Essence!
What am I hoping for?
I would love to be able to raise investment for a marketing campaign, for The Book Dragon, that will enable us to reach out to more authors, and give them the same opportunities and support that our existing authors are currently enjoying. With additional memberships sold, by increasing our author community, I will be able to generate more income to pay for the resources and support that my team requires.
In addition, I am also looking to invest in a marketing campaign that will assist our authors further, in bringing their books to the attention of more readers, by investing in alternate marketing strategies that promote our physical book shop and our on line store. The team has exhausted all free methods of advertising and so we need to look at those advertising medias, with an extensive audience reach, who are at this time, unable to provide their services to us for free, and so require an investment.
How Can You Help?
There are many ways that you can help our authors and future writers, firstly in ensuring that they don't lose such a critical service, due to the economic climate, and secondly to give the chance for many more to achieve their dreams of becoming known, and having their work read.
Thank you so much for caring, and for sharing.
Best Wishes
The Book Dragon
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