Why I’m Running a Kickstarter (And Why I’m Doing It This Way)
I want to be very clear and transparent about something:
I didn’t launch this Kickstarter because I had to.
I launched it because it’s the most honest, sustainable, and ethical way for me to move forward.
Crowdfunding has a reputation. Sometimes it’s exciting and empowering. Sometimes it’s viewed with skepticism. I understand both reactions. So rather than letting people guess at my motives, I want to explain—plainly and without spin—why I’m running this Kickstarter, what it supports, and what it does not represent.
I Am an Independent Publisher—By Choice
I am the founder of One-Legged Woman Publishing LLC. That means I am the publisher, project manager, marketer, fulfillment department, and customer service desk. It also means I retain creative control, ownership, and accountability for my work.
I have published two books in The Ryder Chronicles so far. They exist. They are real. They have been edited, printed, distributed, reviewed, awarded, and—most importantly—read. This Kickstarter is not about proving I can finish something. I already have.
What this Kickstarter is about is scaling responsibly.
Publishing Costs Are Real (Even When You “Do It Yourself”)
There’s a myth that independent publishing is cheap if you’re willing to do everything yourself. That myth falls apart the moment you try to do things well.
Here are just some of the real costs involved in producing and delivering books at a professional level:
Cover art (professional illustration, not AI)
Interior layout and formatting
Proof copies and revisions
Printing costs for paperback and hardcover
ISBNs
Audiobook narration and production
Shipping materials and postage
Platform fees
Taxes
Time—real labor, not “hobby time”
I work with a professional cover artist and a professional narrator—both of whom have already worked on Books One and Two. Their involvement isn’t theoretical or aspirational; it’s established. They deserve to be paid fairly and on time.
Kickstarter allows me to do that without debt and without cutting corners.
Why Not a Publisher? Why Not a Loan?
Traditional publishing is not the safety net many people imagine it to be—especially for queer authors, disabled authors, and authors writing stories that don’t neatly fit a marketable box. Even when deals are offered, they often involve surrendering control, timelines, or rights.
Loans, meanwhile, shift all risk onto the creator. If something goes wrong, the debt remains. That’s not sustainable, and it’s not responsible.
Kickstarter flips that model.
It allows readers who want the work to directly support it—fully informed, fully voluntary, and with clear expectations. It replaces speculation with transparency.
Why I’m the Only One Running the Kickstarter
You may notice that this Kickstarter lists me—and only me—as the creator.
That’s intentional.
While I collaborate with artists and narrators, I alone am responsible for:
Campaign management
Communication
Budgeting
Production oversight
Fulfillment
Problem-solving
There’s no middleman, no agency, no outsourcing of responsibility. If you back this project, you’re dealing directly with the person who created it—and who will make it right if something goes wrong.
That’s not a weakness. That’s accountability.
What Backers Are (and Are Not) Funding
Backers are not funding an idea.
They are not funding a vague promise.
They are not funding a learning curve.
They are funding:
The next phase of an established series
Professional production across multiple formats
Fair compensation for collaborators
Physical and digital rewards delivered with care
What they are not funding is excess. There is no inflated budget, no stretch goal bloat, no luxury padding. This is a working budget designed to get the job done properly.
Returns, Replacements, and Respect
I don’t offer returns on rewards. This is clearly stated. However, I do stand behind my work.
If a physical item arrives damaged, I will replace it.
If a digital file is corrupted or inaccessible, I will replace it.
If there is a problem, I will communicate.
That’s not Kickstarter policy—that’s my personal standard.
Why This Matters to Me
This project exists at the intersection of everything I am: a writer, a disabled person, a queer woman, and someone who believes stories matter more when they’re made honestly.
Kickstarter isn’t a shortcut.
It’s a partnership.
It allows me to keep creating without compromising my values, my collaborators, or my readers. It allows supporters to know exactly what they’re backing and why. And it allows me to move forward without pretending that independent creation is free, easy, or solitary.
If you choose to back this project, thank you.
If you choose not to, that’s okay too.
But now you know why I’m here—and why I’m doing it this way.
— Maya Fisher
