A KICKSTARTER CAMPAIGN.

Pledge for your favorite Belvidere character. Because they deserve to come to life… even if only on the printed page (for now).

  • $5 Pledge

    Because Button doesn’t really deserve it.

  • $10 Pledge

    Because Cord doesn’t really need it.

  • $50 Pledge

    Because Carol needs it more than Cord.

  • $100 Pledge

    Because Lilly thinks she deserves it.

  • $500 Pledge

    Because above all, Earl has earned it.

A fictional, serial novel. Perfect for binge-reading. With your help…we’d like to bring the story & its characters to life.

It took 15 years for the author to write and publish Belvidere, Book I. This 8-installment serial novel represents a fantastical, mysterious journey; an ephemeral olla podrida of raw erotica, graphic violence, romance, racism, heathenism, bigotry, and vulgarity, all buoyed by the hope and strength and the providence of friendship, love, and kindred souls.

As a child, the author was a big fan of illustrated novels; spending hours looking at maps that identified locations where the story unfolded and illustrations that depicted the characters. The author would painstakingly analyze the differences between how the reader interpreted the characters vs. how they were drawn or pictured. Needless to say, the author wants to bring Belvidere's cast of characters and their sordid tale to life through illustrated versions of the books. It’s not quite real-life (we’ll reserve that for the big screen, more on that in the future), but it’s the next best thing.

Your pledges will help us offset professional costs associated with the development of illustrations and photographs (yep! Because Belvidere is a real place), production, and publishing print costs.

The author is in the process of writing Book II, both a prequel and sequel to Book I. If you haven't yet read Book I, it’s…

A roller-coaster ride of emotions, conflicts, and subjects taboo.

This fictional, serial novel represents a fantastical, mysterious journey; an ephemeral olla podrida of raw erotica, graphic violence, romance, racism, heathenism, hope, bigotry, and vulgarity, all buoyed by the strength and providence of friendship, love, and kindred souls.

A mysterious man with a checkered past is sent to a strange, little dead-end town – to do what and to whom – he simply does not know. That is part of the game. SHE decides ‘when’, the DARTS decide ‘where’ and IT decides ‘why’. And they are all joined by a malevolent puppet hiding in his head – who is always with him, always watching – to ensure the rules are followed and the game is played.

The game exists simply to be played. If it isn’t, then there is no game. And this is simply not allowed. It’s all part of a dangerous dance that he neither understands nor controls. Along the way, he befriends those he will, in the end, likely betray… and there will certainly be trouble if he does not.

You will come to know them as family, friends, and foes.

In any tale worth telling, there exists a small cadre of primary players. In this instance, the clan consists of five characters (six, if you include Kristine in the crowd). Because these characters are the backbone of this story, your pledges are dedicated to them. As you dive into the series, we are sure you’ll agree there is at least one character that deserves to be put down; others you’ll want to throttle on one page, then hug a few pages later – how many of our own family and friends fall into such a category? And then there’s Earl – if you don’t love Earl, there is no cure for you.

We hope you agree.

A $5 Pledge:

Button Pierce – A Little Black Book

Born in Belvidere and Lilly’s long absent squeeze is Button Pierce, one of the five primary players in Belvidere. He is a gorgeous ladies’ man – every woman wants to be his…but ladies, be careful what you wish for. Button is evil incarnate...a malevolent spirit. 

When you delve into the series, you'll agree...Button doesn't deserve your money, but if we feature the primary players and omit him...we fear, along with Cord Brin, we too may be added to the already-long kill list in his little black book.  

Button has begrudgingly agreed to provide you investment rewards, and he promises, at least for now, not to stick you with his favorite Gurkha blade.

  • Complimentary Installment I, eBook (illustrated).

  • Regular private-access portal updates on the Campaign's progress.

A $10 Pledge:

Cord Brin – A Mysterious Outsider

Cord Brin…at least that’s what he calls himself now, is the main character in the 8-volume serial novel entitled Belvidere. He is a mysterious, mercurial man with an obscure, checkered past that no one can quite decipher. He is sent by unknown parties, some real, some imagined, to a strange, little dead-end town named Belvidere. What he is to do there, and to whom, he simply doesn’t know – as always, it will be revealed over time. Along his journey, he befriends those he will, in the end, likely betray; there will certainly be trouble if he does not.

Cord befriends Earl, Lilly, and Carol…and of course, there is always Kristine, waiting in the wings.

Cord is only asking for $10 because he doesn’t need your money; why? That answer, as others, will come out in the wash.

  • Complimentary Installments I & II, eBooks (illustrated).

  • Regular private-access portal updates on the Campaign's progress.

A $50 Pledge:

Carol Crowe – A Manhattan Hedge-Funder

From humble roots, Carol is self-made and an uber-wealthy single-by-choice executive. She owns and manages her own hedge fund and has a personal net worth just shy of a billion greenbacks. She spends most of her time in the fund circuit and the elite Manhattan social scene until, by fluke, she finds a pied-a-terre in the little blackwater of Belvidere, in the western wilds of rural Northern New Jersey. Soon thereafter, she becomes the owner of L’antre du Lion (the Lion’s Den) where she spends many weekends on the front porch overlooking Belvidere’s central green. It’s here she interacts with the locals and meets our protagonist, Cord Brin, and his best friend Earl. Note to self: Stand clear when Carol Crowe and Lilly Liddell occupy the same space; it is downright dangerous.

Carol is asking for $50 because she knows a good investment when she sees one.

  • Complimentary Installment I, Hardcover (illustrated) with the Author’s autograph hidden somewhere within the novel.

  • Complimentary Installments I-VIII, eBooks (illustrated).

  • An overflowing Swag Bag with custom-designed Belvidere bookmarks, frameable character prints/posters, and double-entendre postcards to send to your favorite family, friends, or foes!

  • Regular private-access portal updates on the Campaign's progress.

A $100 Pledge:

Lilly Liddel – A Beautiful, Broken Woman

Beauty is power and a smile is its sword. That, in essence, is Lilly. But despite her looks, Lilly is a fragile, broken woman, haunted by her mother’s death, hidden behind a sarcastic tongue and a wicked temper. Lillian is a big fish in the small pond called Belvidere. She simply must be the center of attention in any room she enters. Lilly believes every man wants her, and most women…and she's usually right. Although fiercely protective of her younger brother, Earl, she mistreats him just the same, as big sisters oftentimes do. She has complicated relationships with Button, with Cord, with Marty, with Sam...with just about every man in Belvidere. Oh, and she loathes Carol Crowe, who is a big fish trying to swim in Lilly’s little pond.

 We suggest you never get on Lilly's wrong side; you could end up in a world of hurt – and we mean that…literally. Lilly demands $100 from you because Lilly is Lilly…and that’s the only reason she needs.

  • Complimentary Installments I & II, Hardcovers (illustrated) with the Author’s autograph hidden somewhere within the novels.

  • Complimentary Installments I through VIII, eBooks (illustrated).

  • Your reward comes with a Belvidere-inspired 'lottery' ticket – compliments of the author! This is a randomly drawn cherry-on-top that we will send you. Type in the ticket access code on our website link to reveal your personal 'payout'.

  • Send us an interesting picture of yourself reading the novel in a setting/pose of your choice and we’ll include it in the Dada-style portion of our national marketing campaign (subject to content approval) – where we blur the lines between visual and literary art.

  • An overflowing Swag Bag with custom-designed Belvidere bookmarks, frameable character prints/posters, and double-entendre postcards to send to your favorite family, friends, or foes!

  • Your novel questions answered by the author, in a password-protected website portal, only available to Kickstarter investors.

  • Regular private-access portal updates on the Campaign's progress.

A $500 Pledge:

Earl Liddel – A Kindered Spirit

Earl is a beast of a man – six foot eight, 380 pounds, but lean and ripped. And while he could easily break you in two, he has the heart, and mind, of an innocent child.  He is incredibly shy, rarely speaks to anyone other than his sister Lilly, and has never had anything close to a girlfriend – the thought frightens him to death. But he is madly in love with the landlord, Carol Crowe, from the first day she stepped foot in Belvidere and his eyes met hers, much to the consternation of his sister Lilly, who would just assume stick a fork in Carol's chest. When Cord Brin shows up unannounced in Belvidere, to the surprise of many, Earl befriends him...since Earl doesn't talk to anyone, especially strangers. But the two become the best of friends...kindred spirits, thanks to the prodding of Earl’s mom, who has been dead for decades. Yes, it is a bit strange.

Earl is entirely too timid to ever ask anyone for anything, especially from people he doesn't know, so we are asking on his behalf for you to pledge $500. He’s the one character you will unconditionally love, and above all deserves his story, this story to be told. Pledge for him. 

  • Complimentary set of all eight hardcover Installments (illustrated), all signed by the author, along with a personal note of thanks and some series insight only sent to you, and only known by the Author.

  • Complimentary Installments I-VIII, eBooks (illustrated).

  • A private half-day tour of the novel series setting in the actual Victorian hamlet of Belvidere and the surrounding environs of Warren County where the action happens.

  • Sample excerpts from the in-progress, follow-up Book II novel series, which is both a prequel and sequel to the original 8-volume Belvidere series – this manuscript is still in draft for – unavailable for purchase

  • Your reward comes with two Belvidere-inspired 'lottery' tickets – compliments of the author! This is a randomly drawn cherry-on-top that we will send you. Type in the ticket access code on our website link to reveal your personal 'payout'.

  • Send us an interesting picture of yourself reading the novel in a setting/pose of your choice (subject to content approval) and we’ll include it in the Dada-style portion of our national marketing campaign – where we blur the lines between visual and literary art.

  • An overflowing Swag Bag with custom-designed Belvidere bookmarks, frameable character prints/posters, and double-entendre postcards to send to your favorite family, friends, or foes!

  • Your novel questions answered by the author, in a password-protected website portal, only available to Kickstarter investors.

  • Updates and limited interaction with the marketing team responsible for rolling out regional and national marketing campaigns.

A $1,000 Pledge:

Kristine Whatever

Kristine was a skinny, knobby-kneed blonde, an ever-so-cute 11-year-old assigned to the school bus seat next to Cord Brin, before he was ever known as Cord Brin, in the Fall of 1974. His first love, and first heartbreak; she moved away soon after they met, and he never saw her again. Shortly thereafter, his ‘normal life’ changed, and he was introduced to a world of evil crickets, flies, and a malevolent puppet, all who traveled with him, in him, ever since, in a twisted tale of wicked winds and awful dread. 

But in the depths of it all, when times were at their most dire, Cord always had Kristine...she was the preserver, the childhood memory that somehow saved him, again and again, against all odds. Was she alive? Was she dead? Would he ever see her again? Questions that need answers...and the series provides them…maybe.

 As a budding nemesis of Lilly, if only in absentia, we think Kristine Whatever (the name Lilly has unceremoniously bestowed upon her) deserves a $1,000 pledge, simply because it will make Lilly see red. This is a real commitment, appreciated by the author and our staff.  

  • Complimentary set of all eight hardcover Installments (illustrated), all signed by the author, along with a personal note of thanks and some series insight only sent to you, and only known by the Author.

  • Complimentary Installments I-VIII, eBooks (illustrated).

  • Yourself, or your avatar (if you so choose) worked into the in-progress, follow-up Book II novel, which is both a prequel and a sequel to the original 8-volume Belvidere series – this manuscript is still in draft for – unavailable for purchase.

  • A full set of cool Belvidere props and a complimentary set of six Installment I hardcover books for your private book club.

  • A private half-day tour of the novel series setting in the actual Victorian hamlet of Belvidere and the surrounding environs of Warren County where the action happens.

  • Sample excerpts from the in-progress, follow-up Book II novel series, which is both a prequel and sequel to the original 8-volume Belvidere series – this manuscript is still in draft for – unavailable for purchase

  • Your reward comes with four Belvidere-inspired 'lottery' tickets – compliments of the author! This is a randomly drawn cherry-on-top that we will send you. Type in the ticket access code on our website link to reveal your personal 'payout'.

  • Send us an interesting picture of yourself reading the novel in a setting/pose of your choice (subject to content approval) and we’ll include it in the Dada-style portion of our national marketing campaign – where we blur the lines between visual and literary art.

  • Your novel questions answered by the author, in a password-protected website portal, only available to Kickstarter investors.

  • Regular private-access portal updates on the Campaign's progress.

The good, the bad, the ugly. Who is who to you?

Share your thoughts about Cord Brin and his newfound friends on Belvidere Talk, our Reader’s Forum.