Slow Motion: Your
Chance to be Involved in the Publishing Process
The publishing industry has seen many changes in recent
years as a result of new technology and digital innovation. The convenience of social media has made
connection easier and more important
than ever, becoming a valuable tool for writers and publishers to interact with
their audiences. For as long as I can
remember, I’ve wanted to be a writer, and I’m excited to have this opportunity with
Unbound, a publisher that is embracing these changes with a unique publishing
model.
My first novel, Slow
Motion, is about two teenagers navigating their Senior year of high school as
they deal with the class issues, secrets, and politics that influence their small,
image-obsessed hometown. It’s written for a Young Adult
audience and Unbound is giving me the opportunity to build a relationship with
my audience while allowing readers to engage with the publishing process.
Here’s how it
works. Writers pitch their book to
Unbound’s editorial team and if it’s accepted, the project is launched on the
site for a 90-day funding period. Readers
can search the site for books they’d like to see published and pledge preorders,
which cover production costs. In
exchange, they receive rewards based on their pledge level, access to
behind-the-scenes updates from authors, and eventually, a copy of a book that
they’ve helped publish with their name included in the list of supporters. Unbound takes care of editorial and
production processes once a book reaches its target, and they work with a
third-party sales team for distribution into both online and physical
bookshops.
As a writer and publishing professional, I’m excited about
this method of publishing because it makes the process more accessible to
readers. The rewards I’m offering to
pledgers include limited edition prints and manuscript reviews. There are so many great books on Unbound—please
take a minute to check out the site and pledge/preorder anything you’d like to see
published!
Pledge/Preorder Link:
Excerpt:
About the Book:
Owen and Angela were best friends for one summer, long before
they could comprehend the secrets and politics that have left scars on their
small New England hometown. Until their Senior year of high school, they’ve
lived different lives in different parts of town.
For Angela, life in Westview has always been easy, her future
mapped out by an influential family that has ruled the image-obsessed community
for generations. She used to take comfort in that, but now, she wants something
more than small towns. She wants the chaos of cities and the comfort of
anonymity, a place free of assumptions and expectations.
No matter how hard Owen tries to reinvent himself, Westview
won’t forget his family’s past. Despite his relationship with the town and the
people in it, he’s drawn to its selective college and the opportunities it
offers. He’s starting to think he might want to stay—something he knows he
can’t afford and his friends won’t accept.
When their town’s Tercentennial causes them to reconnect, Owen
and Angela are forced to reexamine their entire world. As the complexities of
class and small town scandals come to light, the consequences of living in the
past and trying to run away from it finally start to catch up to them.
About the Author:
Jennifer Pierce is a graduate of Wheaton College in Norton,
Massachusetts, where she earned a degree in Creative Writing & Literature.
Upon graduation, she moved to England to obtain her Master’s in Publishing at
Oxford Brookes University. Jennifer has worked with lifestyle websites and
academic publishers in Ireland, England, and the United States. She is
currently an Editorial Project Manager at Elsevier and resides in Boston. Slow
Motion is her first novel.
Social Media:
Twitter: @jepierce16
Instagram: @jepierce16
