Membership
Top o' the morning!
I hope you're doing well, and thanks for your interest in a membership to Waterstone Media. Below, you'll find all sorts of information about the membership, as well as answers to frequently asked questions. If you're ever ready to sign up, simply click the "Become a member" button to do so. It's quick and easy!
Ryan
Who am I?
Welcome! My name is Ryan Kirk. I write fantasy (and sometimes dabble in science fiction). Quite a bit of fantasy, really. Usually at least four full novels a year, and sometimes more. I've been making my living from writing fiction since 2015, and with every year that passes I become more obsessed with a well-told story.
Why should YOU become a member?
- EXCLUSIVE and EARLY content. Support at any level opens up access to short stories long before they're made available to the public. All short stories will also come with author's notes that will never be made available to the public. At the $5 level and higher, you'll also receive special edition ebooks that will never be sold at any of the major retailers. You'll be the first to receive everything, no matter the tier.
- Behind-the-scenes. From sample chapters to pictures of my odd working set-ups, every tier will be able to watch the process of a book coming together.
- Exclusive odds-and-ends. Random audiobooks. Commissioned artwork. Maps that never made it into the books. Who knows what you'll find? But support at any level opens the doors to any additional material I want to share with fans.
Tiers:
Sagani - $1/mo
One short story a month + behind-the-scenes posts
Host - $3/mo
Early access to each new novel (ebook retail version) + everything in the Sagani tier
Dayblade - $5/mo
Special edition ebook of each new novel + everything in the Host tier
Nightblade - $10/mo
Signed paperback of each new novel + everything in the Dayblade tier
Nexus - $15/mo
Signed hardcover of each new novel + everything in the Dayblade tier
Why did I start the membership program?
I've been very fortunate to be able to make my living writing, and I'm tremendously grateful to have wonderful fans who have supported me throughout my author journey. Starting a membership allows me to enjoy a few important benefits:
- Membership gives me a chance and a reason to play with and experiment on new short stories. Some of these will build out and connect my existing fantasy worlds, others will be requested by fans, and still others will be brand-new exclusives.
- Membership allows me to bypass the various online retailers and publishers that take anywhere from 30%-65% of your purchase.
- Having a consistent membership will allow me to even out the wild month-to-month swings that sometimes come from being an author.
How are the ebooks delivered, and in what format?
I use Bookfunnel for ebook delivery. They are good about providing tech support for pretty much every device out there, so if you have any trouble getting the ebook from Bookfunnel to your e-reader, just click the help link at the top of the page, and they will answer your questions.
I will share the link to the Bookfunnel page, and you pop on over to download it in your chosen format (.mobi for Kindles and .epub for all other e-readers). It's pretty easy!
Some books may also be delivered by gumroad, which powers the other ebook sales on my website.
What if membership isn't right for me?
That's great! Really! Maybe you only enjoy reading one or two of my series, or maybe circumstances make membership an unreasonable choice right now. All of my books will still be released regularly on all the major retailers, so nothing will change. I'm grateful for all support, no matter what form it takes.
Can I loan your ebooks to friends and family?
Yes, you can share them with friends and family. All of my ebooks are DRM-free.
How often will I receive novels?
My publishing schedule tends to change a little bit based on the time of year and how long the books get. On average, you'll receive a new full novel every three months or so. One of my goals here is to ensure you feel like you're getting value for your membership, so I've tried to price the tiers so that you're receiving books at prices similar to or lower than that of retail. If I find myself slowing down due to a much longer work or schedule changes, I might adjust my tier prices accordingly.
Please note, though, that you will not receive a novel every month at the $3 tier and above. I write a lot, but not that much!
What's a special edition ebook?
The special edition ebooks will have the same text and story as the retail versions. But they will also include special artwork, author's notes, and bonuses. They will never be sold on the major retailers.
How does billing work?
Your card will be charged the day that you pledge, and you'll gain immediate access to that month's rewards. From that point on, you'll be charged your pledge amount on the 1st of every month. You can, of course, cancel, upgrade, or downgrade your pledge at any time.
For example: If you pledge on November 24th, you'll be charged that day for your pledge, and you'll gain access to November rewards. On December 1st, you'll be charged again and gain access to December rewards.
Thanks for being here!
