Writer Tries Novel Approach To Fund Book

Online, October 9, 2012 (Newswire.com) - Joy Neighbors discovered the story of medical pioneer Jane Todd Crawford in a rural cemetery. Crawford survived ovarian surgery, in 1809, without anesthesia. Neighbors knew she had to tell this story. Researching ways to finance the project led her to Kickstarter, a crowd funding site.

Crowd funding is based on collective efforts of individuals who pool their money together to support an idea. Instead of getting a small amount of equity in the project, the backer receives a reward that is linked directly to the project.

According to Neighbors, crowd funding is the only way she could consider undertaking her book idea. And the idea really made sense to her.

"I come from a public broadcasting background so I understand pledging. This is the same thing; I'm asking you to pledge a certain amount of money in return for a reward of similar or higher value. Unlike PBS, if I don't raise the specified amount by the end of my campaign period, I don't receive any of the money and none of the backers are charged. My financial goal to do this book includes funds for research, travel, interviews, publishing, rewards, shipping, and taxes for a total of $30,000 to be raised in a 40 day period."

So it all comes down to arithmetic; all it would take is 3 backers at $10,000 each or 30 at $1,000 each, or 300 at $100 each, or 1,200 at $25 each. To read more about the Jane Todd Crawford project, visit http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/janetoddcrawford/jane-todd-crawford

Neighbors says she doesn't care how the funding comes in, just as long as she can finally tell Jane's story and help people become more aware of ovarian cancer. Only three weeks remain for crowd funding to make Jane's story possible.