Josh Lanyon
Josh Lanyon
is creating Male/Male Mystery and Romance novels, audio books and more435
patrons$3,915
per month
But times change. Publishing has changed. I've changed. In 2012 I experienced total creative burnout. It took me nearly a year of sabbatical to recover my energy and focus, my joy in the work. What I never did recover was my former speed at producing stories. I didn't want to accept that, so I kept scheduling myself as though I could simply shove through ideas and words by will power alone.
I can't.
The end result is that each year I fall farther and farther behind schedule while I try to rush through the stock pile of promised projects. I have to deliver a certain amount of work every couple of months simply to survive--and that's doable--but it means I can't take the time I need to really concentrate on making every book as rich and layered and satisfying as I'd like. As my readers would like.
Financial necessity means I don't have the luxury to craft my stories the way I once did.
Writing has never been an easy way to make a living. There's no guaranteed income--and there is no retirement plan. Adding to the problem is the fact that changes within the publishing industry mean every project takes longer to earn out than it once did.
Patronage is an idea as old as art itself. When you support the artists you love with a few dollars each month, you make art and music and, yes, stories possible. Not only possible, better, because when the burden of financial anxiety (occasionally outright panic) is removed, joy and innovation return to the creative process.
A year and a half in, I'm still figuring it all about. At one point I tried structuring this as a high-end subscription service, but the truth is Patreon is not intended to be a quid quo pro. It's designed to allow creatives some breathing space *between* projects due to the generosity and patronage of fans. It's about the extras. Extra fun and exclusive stuff for you. Extra income for me.
To that end, I've tried to come up with a series of what I hope will be exclusive and enticing rewards for patrons at every level. I hope you'll consider joining me on this creative adventure.
Thank you so much for checking out my Patreon page!
Josh
Tiers
To your good health!
- Access to all Patron-exclusive posts--including the cover reveals and playlists
- Your name in the back of my indie-produced ebooks during your period of patronage. (Unless, of course, you'd prefer to remain anonymous.)
- The edited, formatted version of our first Patreon endeavor Séance on a Summer's Night on your 6th Month Anniversary.)
May the Sun Shine Warm Upon You
Thank you so much for your support. These small but steady donations give me a little breathing room so that I can take a little more time to make each story just that much better.
- Previous tier rewards
- Access to all novels serialized on Patreon (a minimum of 1 - 2 chapters will appear each month).
Our current story is Mainly by Moonlight, the first book in the new Bedknobs and Broomsticks trilogy!
Here's to Roses and Lilies in Bloom
Maybe it doesn't seem like giving up a latte or a hamburger once a month could help change someone's life, but your monthly contribution fills in the gaps when I don't have a new story out or I need a few weeks more to make a story the best it can be. Thank you so much for your generosity.
- Previous tier rewards
- First look at Works in Progress.
- Bonus materials such as story snippets, character interviews, artwork, scenes written from alternate POVs, prologues, epilogues, character notes, etc.
- Finalized (edited and formatted) book files for ALL Patreon-produced serialized novels in the digital format of your choice: mobi, epub or pdf (on your 6th Month Anniversary).
In Wine There is Wisdom
I know you can't afford to pledge $10.00 a month to every single writer you enjoy and would like to support. Please know how much I appreciate your kindness.
- ALL previous tier rewards
- Every four months your choice of any ebook from my existing digital backlist.
- Every six months your choice of any print book from my existing backlist.**
**In order to keep this reward affordable, non-US patrons must pay shipping.
Goodnight and Joy Be With You All
I don't know how to thank you, but I plan on doing it with a personally signed birthday card mailed to you on (or more likely around) your special day. It's thanks to you that even in these days of unpredictable author earnings, I now sleep a little better at night.
- ALL previous tier rewards
- Signed birthday card
- Every three months your choice of any print book from my existing backlist.**
- All ebook short stories, novellas and novels published during your subscription following your 6th Month Anniversary.
**In order to keep this reward affordable, non-US patrons must pay additional shipping.
A Jug of Wine, a Loaf of Bread
PLEASE NOTE: This is a new tier created to bridge the gap for readers who want a little more print and some audio, but don't need everything.
- ALL previous tier rewards
- Every two months your choice of any print title from my existing backlist.**
- Access to the files of the audio books produced specifically for Patreon.
**In order to keep this reward affordable, non-US patrons must pay additional shipping.
And friends are best together
Because of your incredible generosity I might even be able to start saving enough for a rainy day or two.
- ALL PREVIOUS TIER REWARDS
- Either a download code or access to the files of audio books produced during your period of patronage.
- A copy of any/all single title print books published during your subscription period.**
**plus 10.00 off the cost of international shipping.
To High Winds and Mermaids
Ask and ye shall receive. You get it all. Anything I do, you get for the asking.
From sneak peeks to audio books, it's all yours. Along with my sincerest gratitude. I honestly don't know what to say other than thank you, thank you, thank you.
At this level of support you're obviously not here for the rewards, so let's leave it at this: every couple of months, I'm going to send you something I think you'll like. Just a little special thank you.
Going, going, gone
I'm offering one round of manuscript evaluation on the first 15,000 words of your manuscript--any genre. (That's about .016666 per word.) You'll receive detailed (and knowledgeable) feedback on pacing, conflict, dialog, character development, and plot structure. I will also answer one round of questions after you've received your initial evaluation.
You also receive all the other rewards that go with the $100. tier
**This particular tier is always capped at 1 person per month. It would sort of defeat the purpose of this account if I end up too busy to do my own writing!
Commission your own short story
Yeah, you either really love my work or you've got some very specific tastes in short fiction. ;-)
Want some control over my creative process? YOU'LL BE SORRY. No, seriously. It's okay, we can do this! You tell me what you want and I'll do my best to write it.
Assuming I like the way the short story turns out, I'll even publish it with your name listed as my sole patron and muse in the credits.
But times change. Publishing has changed. I've changed. In 2012 I experienced total creative burnout. It took me nearly a year of sabbatical to recover my energy and focus, my joy in the work. What I never did recover was my former speed at producing stories. I didn't want to accept that, so I kept scheduling myself as though I could simply shove through ideas and words by will power alone.
I can't.
The end result is that each year I fall farther and farther behind schedule while I try to rush through the stock pile of promised projects. I have to deliver a certain amount of work every couple of months simply to survive--and that's doable--but it means I can't take the time I need to really concentrate on making every book as rich and layered and satisfying as I'd like. As my readers would like.
Financial necessity means I don't have the luxury to craft my stories the way I once did.
Writing has never been an easy way to make a living. There's no guaranteed income--and there is no retirement plan. Adding to the problem is the fact that changes within the publishing industry mean every project takes longer to earn out than it once did.
Patronage is an idea as old as art itself. When you support the artists you love with a few dollars each month, you make art and music and, yes, stories possible. Not only possible, better, because when the burden of financial anxiety (occasionally outright panic) is removed, joy and innovation return to the creative process.
A year and a half in, I'm still figuring it all about. At one point I tried structuring this as a high-end subscription service, but the truth is Patreon is not intended to be a quid quo pro. It's designed to allow creatives some breathing space *between* projects due to the generosity and patronage of fans. It's about the extras. Extra fun and exclusive stuff for you. Extra income for me.
To that end, I've tried to come up with a series of what I hope will be exclusive and enticing rewards for patrons at every level. I hope you'll consider joining me on this creative adventure.
Thank you so much for checking out my Patreon page!
Josh
Recent posts by Josh Lanyon
Tiers
To your good health!
- Access to all Patron-exclusive posts--including the cover reveals and playlists
- Your name in the back of my indie-produced ebooks during your period of patronage. (Unless, of course, you'd prefer to remain anonymous.)
- The edited, formatted version of our first Patreon endeavor Séance on a Summer's Night on your 6th Month Anniversary.)
May the Sun Shine Warm Upon You
Thank you so much for your support. These small but steady donations give me a little breathing room so that I can take a little more time to make each story just that much better.
- Previous tier rewards
- Access to all novels serialized on Patreon (a minimum of 1 - 2 chapters will appear each month).
Our current story is Mainly by Moonlight, the first book in the new Bedknobs and Broomsticks trilogy!
Here's to Roses and Lilies in Bloom
Maybe it doesn't seem like giving up a latte or a hamburger once a month could help change someone's life, but your monthly contribution fills in the gaps when I don't have a new story out or I need a few weeks more to make a story the best it can be. Thank you so much for your generosity.
- Previous tier rewards
- First look at Works in Progress.
- Bonus materials such as story snippets, character interviews, artwork, scenes written from alternate POVs, prologues, epilogues, character notes, etc.
- Finalized (edited and formatted) book files for ALL Patreon-produced serialized novels in the digital format of your choice: mobi, epub or pdf (on your 6th Month Anniversary).
In Wine There is Wisdom
I know you can't afford to pledge $10.00 a month to every single writer you enjoy and would like to support. Please know how much I appreciate your kindness.
- ALL previous tier rewards
- Every four months your choice of any ebook from my existing digital backlist.
- Every six months your choice of any print book from my existing backlist.**
**In order to keep this reward affordable, non-US patrons must pay shipping.
Goodnight and Joy Be With You All
I don't know how to thank you, but I plan on doing it with a personally signed birthday card mailed to you on (or more likely around) your special day. It's thanks to you that even in these days of unpredictable author earnings, I now sleep a little better at night.
- ALL previous tier rewards
- Signed birthday card
- Every three months your choice of any print book from my existing backlist.**
- All ebook short stories, novellas and novels published during your subscription following your 6th Month Anniversary.
**In order to keep this reward affordable, non-US patrons must pay additional shipping.
A Jug of Wine, a Loaf of Bread
PLEASE NOTE: This is a new tier created to bridge the gap for readers who want a little more print and some audio, but don't need everything.
- ALL previous tier rewards
- Every two months your choice of any print title from my existing backlist.**
- Access to the files of the audio books produced specifically for Patreon.
**In order to keep this reward affordable, non-US patrons must pay additional shipping.
And friends are best together
Because of your incredible generosity I might even be able to start saving enough for a rainy day or two.
- ALL PREVIOUS TIER REWARDS
- Either a download code or access to the files of audio books produced during your period of patronage.
- A copy of any/all single title print books published during your subscription period.**
**plus 10.00 off the cost of international shipping.
To High Winds and Mermaids
Ask and ye shall receive. You get it all. Anything I do, you get for the asking.
From sneak peeks to audio books, it's all yours. Along with my sincerest gratitude. I honestly don't know what to say other than thank you, thank you, thank you.
At this level of support you're obviously not here for the rewards, so let's leave it at this: every couple of months, I'm going to send you something I think you'll like. Just a little special thank you.
Going, going, gone
I'm offering one round of manuscript evaluation on the first 15,000 words of your manuscript--any genre. (That's about .016666 per word.) You'll receive detailed (and knowledgeable) feedback on pacing, conflict, dialog, character development, and plot structure. I will also answer one round of questions after you've received your initial evaluation.
You also receive all the other rewards that go with the $100. tier
**This particular tier is always capped at 1 person per month. It would sort of defeat the purpose of this account if I end up too busy to do my own writing!
Commission your own short story
Yeah, you either really love my work or you've got some very specific tastes in short fiction. ;-)
Want some control over my creative process? YOU'LL BE SORRY. No, seriously. It's okay, we can do this! You tell me what you want and I'll do my best to write it.
Assuming I like the way the short story turns out, I'll even publish it with your name listed as my sole patron and muse in the credits.