It’s Day 3 of THE JACKLIGHTER’s pre-launch phase on Kickstarter, and I’m thrilled to report that things are already off to a promising start. 🎉
As of this writing, The Jacklighter is trending #6 out of 206 projects in Kickstarter’s “most popular upcoming nonfiction” publishing category—and I have my fabulous first 11 followers to thank for that early momentum. (If you’re one of them, I see you and I appreciate you! 🙌)
But I need more followers to keep climbing.
If you haven’t yet visited the campaign page, now’s a great time—the official book trailer is front and center, and it’s the fastest way to get a feel for this chilling true crime story of murder, betrayal, and a two-decade fight for justice in Pennsylvania’s Endless Mountains. You can watch it right on the Kickstarter page.
🎟️ Tickets are FREE! Watch the official Jacklighter video trailer on Kickstarter 🎥
A Quick Kickstarter Landscape Check
I’ve been geeking out on the platform’s numbers, so here’s a snapshot of the publishing world on Kickstarter right now: There are currently 339 live publishing projects across the platform—everything from comics and graphic novels (Kickstarter’s bread and butter) to poetry chapbooks, children’s books, anthologies, and literary fiction. Behind those live campaigns sit a whopping 1,378 projects in pre-launch, just like The Jacklighter. Not all of them will advance to a live backing phase—some creators pause or pull their projects if the pre-launch following doesn’t materialize.
Zooming into nonfiction specifically, there are 79 live nonfiction projects and 206 in pre-launch (that’s the pool where The Jacklighter is currently sitting at #6 🔥). And here’s a fun stat: across Kickstarter’s entire history, there are 71,896 publishing projects on the platform—because Kickstarter pages live forever, even for campaigns that didn’t successfully fund. It’s a massive, vibrant ecosystem for books, and I’m excited to be part of it.
What’s In It For You?
As I explained in my full Kickstarter announcement post, becoming a follower now sets you up for some great rewards when the 30-day backing campaign goes live in March:
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- 📚 Limited Early Bird signed books (only 100 per format—bookplates for paperbacks and hardcovers) at special launch-only prices
- 🎧 Special bundles combining print, eBook, and audiobook at reduced prices compared to future retail
- 🎁 A FREE copy of Chained Birds for every backer—eBook, audiobook, or both, depending on your reward tier
How to Follow (It Takes 30 Seconds)
Here’s my one ask: head to The Jacklighter on Kickstarter and click “Notify me on launch.” Yes, Kickstarter does require you to create a free profile with an email address—I know, it’s a tiny speed bump 😩—but the whole signup process honestly takes less than 30 seconds. And once you’re in, there are tons of fascinating creative projects to browse beyond mine.
Every new follower boosts the project in Kickstarter’s algorithm, which means better visibility, which means a stronger launch when backing opens next month. Your follow has a direct impact on whether this book gets funded.
Thank you for your support! Let’s keep The Jacklighter climbing. 🏔️ 🥹
Carla Conti is a journalist and the award-winning author of Chained Birds: A Crimemoir. Her next true crime book, The Jacklighter, is set for release in 2026. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, who supports her true crime habit.
