A Roommate for Christmas

Aryn Van Dyke wrote and self-published a romantic comedy that she funded through a Kickstarter campaign, offering special edition copies with features like sprayed edges and contributor tiers that included being named as characters.

The campaign engaged readers and backers with tiered rewards such as bookmarks and stickers, and allowed supporters to participate in the publishing experience.

The project demonstrated Kickstarter's role as a book-discovery and direct-sales platform for authors seeking higher profit margins and community engagement.

Van Dyke used the campaign both to fund production and to learn firsthand about crowdfunding as a marketing channel for authors.

The novel also served as a case study in the episode for editors about alternative marketing and launch strategies.