Be Part of the New Publishing Revolution with "The Last Word"

FORT WORTH, TX, February 27, 2014 (Press-News.org) The past decade has been a time of great upheaval for the publishing industry, with the major publishers' stranglehold over the book world being wrested away by independent authors seeking more creative control over their work. But it is no easy thing for an author to challenge these corporate Goliaths; funding their projects alone can seem an insurmountable task.

For one independent author, the $7,500.00 needed to bring his novel to life would be impossible alone. However, thanks to the relatively new phenomenon of crowdfunding, Paul Combs, author of the novel "The Last Word," is definitely not on his own.

The Last Word is the story of two cousins separated by upbringing, the Atlantic Ocean, and a common language. Then fate (with help from a run of bad luck and a dead uncle) throws them together in the least likely of places: Texas. Exiled in this strange land, they must band together in order to save the family bookstore from financial ruin, from its own insane employees, and probably from themselves.

"It's the story of what happens when 'The Sopranos' meets 'Fawlty Towers'...in a bookstore," Combs explains in summing up the novel. "However, it lacks what big publishers are force-feeding the public right now - zombie vampires seeking BDSM-love in a dystopian future society - so publishing it independently was the best path for me."

The book is completed, but needs professional editing, cover design, and funds for marketing. The crowdfunding site Kickstarter.com provides an avenue to raise those funds, while connecting with a community of backers drawn specifically to creative projects. Backers pledge at different dollar levels, and in return receive rewards such as signed copies of the novel. They also play a crucial role in the publishing revolution. You can find his project at http://kck.st/1jYFFad

Follow on Twitter (@lastwordnovel) to track his progress, and spread the word to your social media networks. Also consider donating to help the project come to life; by joining in this effort, you can be part of the story of The Last Word.

Paul Combs is an author and blogger. He can be reached at thelastwordnovel@gmail.com.