Kickstarter for Authors, 2nd Edition: Empowering Writers to Fund and Flourish

by Anthea L. Sharp

Bring your author dreams to life! Make awesome books & special editions Nurture superfans Boost your income Free yourself from the retailer hamster wheel! Whether you're writing fiction, poetry, nonfiction, children's books, editing anthologies, or involved with any number of bookish endeavors, Kickstarter for Authors, 2nd Edition gives you the essential tools and techniques to launch your first project - or lift your next one to new heights.

More and more authors are finding success (often in the 5-figure funding range) with their projects on Kickstarter. Are you ready to join their ranks?

In this new, updated edition, you'll find all my best advice and research in one bursting-at-the-seams package. In addition to detailed step-by-step instructions and a brand-new comprehensive Kickstarter Checklist, it contains everything you need to current best practices for successful campaigns, pitfalls to avoid, and a deep dive into the newest tools Kickstarter has rolled out to help authors & creators reach their goals.

ALL-NEW EDITIONSo much has changed on Kickstarter since 2023, when the first edition of this book came out. Not only has the Kickstarter interface gone through a number of upgrades, with a bunch of significant new functionalities, the book and publishing ecosystem on the platform has rapidly expanded and shifted. While some of the core best-practices remain, there are now a lot of new things for an author using Kickstarter to consider. I have brand-new and refined advice for almost every aspect of the platform.

Genres: Nonfiction, Writing

381 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 28, 2025

Reviews

[Suzannah Rowntree]

The thought of doing Kickstarters - for instance, to help fund those shiny hardcover special editions people so regularly request from me - has long daunted and mystified me, so this brief comprehensive guide was precisely what I needed!

[Josiah DeGraaf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great introductory book for authors looking to get into Kickstarter

[Janine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the first edition back in mid-2024, and really enjoyed it as a great starter guide and a deep dive in how Kickstarter works and running a book campaign. This second edition has everything and some new and updated info for 2025 to account for some platform changes. Like before, it goes through all the important steps of running a book campaign on Kickstarter, from conception, setup, running the campaign, and fulfilling rewards, with all the details along the way. Once again, Anthea L. Sharp delivers the info with expertise and plenty of experience, and doesn’t talk down to the reader. Even if you have the first version, this revised edition is a must-have if you’re planning to run a Kickstarter for your writing project.
*I purchased this book on Kickstarter.*

[Scarlett Chase · Rating 5 out of 5]

The amount of information in this book. Whew! I feel A TON better about trying this after reading the detailed steps and advice written in these pages. To the author: thank you for writing this & giving others help to run their own campaigns with the best foot forward.

[B.S.H. Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like a crash course on KS, complete with real campaign examples and countless resources.

[Janine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great starter guide to running a book Kickstarter. More later.

[Hanna Wesslén · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! It has inspired me to plan for setting up my very own first Kickstarter campaign. The author provides an abundance of practical tips that are not only insightful but also actionable, making it an invaluable resource for anyone looking to venture into crowdfunding.
What sets this book apart is its dual nature: it serves both as a comprehensive handbook and a delightful read. The writing style is engaging and approachable, which makes complex concepts easy to understand and apply. I found myself not only learning but also enjoying the process.
The step-by-step guidance is incredibly detailed, covering everything from initial planning to the final stages of launching a campaign. I particularly appreciated the real-world examples and case studies, which offer a clear picture of what to expect and how to navigate potential challenges.
This book is a treasure of knowledge that I will undoubtedly revisit later this year when I’m ready to dive into my campaign setup. It’s a must-read for authors and creators alike who are looking to bring their projects to life through crowdfunding.
Overall, this book is an excellent investment for anyone serious about Kickstarter. It’s informative, inspiring, and wonderfully written. Highly recommended!

[Joanna White · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an invaluable resource. This book has quite literally changed my life. I pledged to the Kickstarter for this second 2025 edition, and I’ve been absorbing information from the Kickstarter for Authors FB group for a while now, but this book blew me away with all the information in it. I learned so much, and it’s given me the confidence I need to level up my Kickstarters to the next step (hopefully). I really appreciate Anthea L. Sharp and all her time, work, effort, and attention to this book to helping us all do better on Kickstarter and build a bookish community there for everyone.
5 stars! My favorite non fiction book about writing for authors ever!

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nervous about launching a Kickstarter? This is the book for you. Reading the book is like having the author as your personal mentor guiding and encouraging you through the steps to launching a successful Kickstarter campaign. Written in an engaging and friendly style and full of useful and insightful information based on the author’s experience and success using the platform. A must-have for any author looking to build a fanbase and career using Kickstarter as part of their strategy.

[Belinda Kroll · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super easy to read, with actionable content. I sat with my Kickstarter campaign draft open as I read this book, making tweaks as I learned tidbits from each chapter. Excellent resource for Kickstarter creators, whether you're brand new or experienced.

And for our newbie friends, I know it seems like some of these hints and tips shouldn't be true, but they are. Believe Anthea and all the knowledge she's gathered from her amazing Facebook community!

[Leah Outten · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anthea is a wealth of knowledge and I have learned so much from her! I had a successful campaign thanks to much of her wisdom and experience. Get this book if you are a writer who wants to take control of your own publishing journey. It's a lot of work, but so much fun and rewarding.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tons of actionable advice! I skipped over a lot at the end simply because I’m not going to remember it all or need it all right now (several months out from my first campaign), but this will be an invaluable resource leading up to my campaign and long after!

[Lydia Woodward · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much useful info!

This book is so informative and I'm taking SO many notes. There's so much about using Kickstarter that I had no idea about. This has really helped fill in some of the blanks as I research for my own campaign.

[Sirah · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're planning to start a Kickstarter campaign for your book, I recommend reading this as you go along. It has a variety of timely tips and detailed explanations. It's tedious to read from cover to cover, as there's a lot of repetition, but it's ideal as a handbook.

[Angela Boord · Rating 5 out of 5]

Answered a lot of my newbie questions about running a Kickstarter. The guidebook I needed to getting started.

[Sabrina Lozier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super straightforward and practical guide to launching a Kickstarter. Will definitely be using this advice in any future kickstarters I try!

[Camilla Vavruch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent books with excellent advice!

[Krista D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, one of the most practical writing/publishing related books I've ever read.

[Amra Pajalic · Rating 5 out of 5]

A step by step guide with actionable tips to prepare a kickstarter campaign and demistify the process.

[L.K. Latham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent resource for the author looking to jump into the world of crowd funding. Enjoyed Sharp's refreshing "no-nonsense" approach.

[A. Reiter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent resource. Will be turning to this chapter by chapter as I prepare my campaign.

[Jaxon Charlton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great breakdown of the platform. Super helpful

[Jane McGarry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book for anyone thinking of running a Kickstarter campaign. Highly recommend.

[Maggie Lynch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got the paperback through her Kickstarter campaign. OMG! This is the most complete book on this topic I've seen. The best part is she not only tells how you to do everything step-by-step, but she also shares what each of her own 11 campaigns (to date in July 2025) were set for goals, what she was creating, and what she ultimately was funded for. #1 takeaway that will make a huge difference for me is how to use my backlist to generate more tiers (a gamechanger) and renew readership. A HUGE eyeopener for me and it really hit home all the cautions and ROI calculations she went through earlier. I dogeared so many pages, I have to go back now with sticky notes. When I set up my first campaign this book will be right by my computer, along with her checklist. Very highly recommended!!!

[Emma Couette · Rating 5 out of 5]

okay so I haven't implemented any of the guides or tips yet, but I read the whole book over the course of a few days and I can say with confidence that it saved my kickstarter experience.

before reading this book, I didn't even know what I didn't know. there are so many aspects I would have been floundering to figure out on my own. like God bless Anthea for real 🙏 🙌

will be rereading as I set up my first campaign and will probably update this review when I'm finished with how good the advice actually is

[The Book Dragon's Hoard by A.V. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great resource for authors who want to use Kickstarter to publish a book. It includes fabulous tips for how to run a campaign and what to think about when considering what kind of project to run on the platform, as well as providing a step-by-step guide on how to set up a campaign, run it, and fulfil it. All things considered, I'd say this resource is THE book you will need to give you relevant insights to be able to run a campaign. Definitely a fantastic resource with everything in one place.

[Jean Pace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm planning to run a Kickstarter for one of my own books and this has been the best book I've read on the topic. Kickstarter is new to me and Sharp walks you through the process piece by piece. She holds your hand, and that's exactly what I wanted.