One of the topics receiving attention in the author community this week is Brandon Sanderson's record-breaking Kickstarter campaign. For those who haven't heard, fantasy author Brandon Sanderson wrote four new novels in the past two years that he wants to get into the hands of his fans, and he launched a Kickstarter campaign to do so. (This video does a far better job of explaining what the campaign offers and the reason for it than I ever could.) Halfway through the month-long campaign, it's already raised over $27 million! Reactions to the success of Brandon Sanderson's Kickstarter have been all over the map, as expected, so I thought I'd throw in my two cents, both from the perspective of an author and as a Brandon Sanderson fan.
As an author, I congratulate him on the mind-boggling sum that he has been able to raise and thank him for opening our eyes to what's possible. I agree 100% with those who say that only a handful of authors can pull off what Brandon Sanderson did, but the point is that it's possible. If other authors are able to generate a tenth of the interest, or even 1/100th, that's still a significant amount. In many cases, $270,000 (1/100th of Brandon Sanderson's Kickstarter funding so far) is still more than what an author can earn through traditional publishing deals. What inspires me is not only the $27 million (and counting), but the fact that he has complete creative control over how the books will look once it reaches the hands of his readers. I don't know how much money Brandon Sanderson would have made if he published these books through a traditional publisher, but he wouldn't have as much say regarding the finished product as he will now.
What no commentary I've read so far has mentioned, and what surprised me the most about this campaign, is the fact that Brandon Sanderson wrote four extra novels in the last two years! If you've read about what he did in 2020 and 2021, they were both busy years. I was already impressed with his accomplishments, but to learn that he managed to write four additional novels during that time is mind-boggling!
As a Brandon Sanderson fan, I was giddy when I learned of the Kickstarter campaign. Four new novels from one of my favorite authors, along with the option to buy monthly swag boxes? Sounds good to me. There are few authors I'd be willing to shell out $40/month for four unknown books, but Brandon Sanderson is one of them. (I would likely do the same for Lisa Gardner, Laini Taylor, or Rainbow Rowell, in case any of them are reading this post and want to do something similar.) For me, the only question was which level to fund. Initially, I was drawn to the four books in premium hardcover format. They were what I mainly wanted. However, the more I thought about it, the more appealing the swag boxes became. While I probably won't like all the swag I receive, they could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. So I took the plunge and pledged the top end Year of Sanderson option. I can't wait for my monthly packages to start arriving!
