By Russel Like
Local Author (Previous Book Has Been Used In Schools) Is Using Kickstarter For New Book Project
To The Editor:
My name is Russel Like, and I live in East Brunswick (where I also grew up). I am the author of two novels, both of which were recommended by the American Library Association through reviews in ALA’s review publication, Booklist (more about my books can be found at www.russlike.com ). One of my books n “After The Blue,” which takes place in Jamesburg, NJ n was also written up in The New York Times and has been used to teach satire in a number of schools around North America (http://home.comcast.net/~rclike/site/?/page/After_The_Blue_In_The_Classroom/&PHPSESSID=8ae8d5a770a1a71997af1338ea07f10d ).
Now I am writing a new book, “Prehistoric Pets,” which is for children and young adults. What is different about this new book is that I am using the (relatively new) web site Kickstarter to allow prospective readers to show interest in the book before it is even written (and to perhaps contribute ideas which will appear in the final product). Kickstarter is among the first of the “crowdfunding” web sites. My book’s Kickstarter page can be found at
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/51590474/prehistoric-pets . The opportunity to participate in the Kickstarter initiative continues until December 25, 2012.
I think your readers might be interested to learn about a local author, with a track record of positive reviews, who is using this new type of tool to involve prospective readers in the process of simultaneously creating and promoting a book. Through Kickstarter, I am offering opportunities for those interested (including children / students) to contribute ideas which might be included in the final book.

