Warmly welcome to my Kickstarter Project!
My name is Mona Kristensen, and I am a late-blooming indie author from Denmark hoping for your support in making an audiobook of my debut novel/parable for highly sensitive, introverted pre-teens and other sensitive souls. It is titled ”What’s the Matter with Maria?” and was released this summer, currently available as an e-book and paperback. https://books2read.com/Whats-the-Matter-with-Maria-Mona-Kristensen
Here’s the book’s cover with my illustration
The blurb describing Maria’s allies & adversities
My novel is a tender, timeless (anti) heroine’s journey through challenges of childhood as seen through the eyes of a nature-loving and sensitive, yet spirited little girl named Maria who lives on “Matter Island”. The story is told in a childlike and somewhat sentimental tone. While it is primarily aimed for pre-teen girls, I think sensitives in general will find the storyline compelling.
Adults can enjoy the story as more of a parable.
From the paperback’s prologue:
Chapter two – short excerpt:
A brief backstory for my book is that I fell ill with severe fatigue symptoms a few years ago which turned out a rather painful wake-up call to begin on a truer path because, as a blessing in disguise, I was suddenly provided an opportunity to write a full-length novel. I am better now but still carefully walk the line between dealing with mundane pressures of life, trying to launch an author-career (which seems the only longterm option for me) while preserving and caring for what energy I have.
In hindsight, to write and illustrate books for sensitive souls – being one myself – is a calling I should’ve answered long ago!
As someone who learned this the hard way, my wish is that my book, besides hopefully being engaging, will help raise awareness about the subtle but important topic of energy-management, especially if you are highly sensitive. It really is an underlying theme in my book: what drains one of energy and how to protect or preserve it – why it is crucial to listen to and honor the language of our sensations, emotions and intuition!
The story also explores issues such as anxiety, bullying, imaginary friends and soul-loss, not to mention what it might take to break limiting patterns passed down through generations.
Preview of the “Good-Owl-Wisdom” poster – designed by me.
I’ve done as much as I could myself on my novel: translated it to English, done most of the editing, made the illustrations, etc. but feel this novel ought to be made into an audiobook, too: a great option for anyone who’s perhaps not an avid reader but prefers to listen to this tenderhearted tale, read aloud in a softspoken voice.
I would love to narrate it myself but fear my Danish accent is a little too evident:) I, besides, acknowledge that when it comes to editing, mastering, mixing and producing a good-quality audiobook, skilled professionals are needed!
So, if you feel inclined to back this cause, simply choose how much you want to support it with. If we are successful in reaching the funding goal, you will receive some treats as a warm and heartfelt Thank You from me♥
I deeply appreciate any amount you’re willing or able to give♥
My little author-imprint logo:
I have done some research on the cost of audiobook production and estimate it to end up around 2000 US dollars (13000 Danish kroner) for a good-quality audiobook of a novel like mine with 93.000 words. Kickstarter must have their fee and then comes taxes:) Timeline for this project: it’ll likely start in January 2020 and I then expect/hope the audiobook to be released in March or at least spring.