The Kickstarter campaign for the latest Cautionary Fables & Fairytales book, The Woman and the Woods and Other North American Stories, is in its home stretch, with less than three days to go in its fundraising window. The campaign has been an absolute powerhouse, raising more than 10 times its $20,000 goal, making it the most funded Kickstarter ever for Spike Trotman‘s Iron Circus Comics. The success of the campaign has allowed the anthology to add a new story from writer Jeffrey Veregge and artist and guest editor Alina Pete to the book, and to give each of the artists involved in the project a stunning $225-per-page raise.
Prior to the campaign’s launch, The Beat had the opportunity to ask Trotman about bringing the Cautionary Fables & Fairytales series to Iron Circus, and what she would tell her young self about crowdfunding now that she’s on her 30th Kickstarter campaign. You can read that, as well as check out a preview of a story from The Woman and the Woods and Other North American Stories, “Chokfi” by Jordaan Arledge and Mekala Nava, below. The Kickstarter for the anthology collection ends on Friday at midnight Eastern.
Joe Grunenwald: The Cautionary Fables and Fairytales series has had a few previous books self-published by Kate Ashwin and Kel McDonald prior to this latest volume coming from Iron Circus. Spike, how did the latest installment of the series find its home with you? Were you a fan of the books beforehand?
Spike Trotman: Oh, the same way they all found a home with me; Kel McDonald and Kate Ashwin brought them to me! They had self published the first three volumes, I believe, the ones about Africa, Europe, and Asia? From then on, Iron Circus took over. We both understood that, with access to international distribution, Iron Circus could give the books a platform that self publishing would struggle to achieve. And one of my company’s founding principles is giving underrepresented voices a broader platform. It was a perfect fit.
Grunenwald: What does The Woman and the Woods add to the Iron Circus stable of books?
Trotman: Voices we’ve never featured before. An entirely new set of creators, an entirely new collection of stories that I’m willing to bet our audience has never read. Gorgeous art, and a broader perspective on myths and legends than most readers are ever afforded.
Grunenwald: This is your 30th Kickstarter, which has to be some sort of crowdfunding record. If you could tell Past Spike one thing before she launched her first Kickstarter, what would it be?
Trotman: Ha ha, I have no idea! Lemme think, uh. I always tell folks “Make sure everyone signs a contract, get EVERYTHING in writing,” but I couldn’t tell myself that; I’m too paranoid, so I’ve never worked without one. How about: Learn to delegate. That indie spirit is fine, it’ll help you get a lot done, but there comes a point where you can’t do everything yourself! Accept that, don’t try to push through, because it’ll only get more difficult. Hire specialists earlier that you strictly have to, and let them take care of the stuff they LIVE to take care of.
I really like this article and how you make it interesting Fall guys
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