Let's launch Glass Barbie - 2024's funniest buddy cop crime thriller novel

GLASS BARBIE should be the funniest, thrillingest, gutsiest, most in-your-face and cracked-up NZ novel of 2024 - but we need your pre-sales and donations to balance the books and ensure we don't lose money launching this thing.

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Kia ora!

Mike Botur here, the hardworking writer with the track record of supporting lots of other people's creative writing projects across NZ....

My new book 'Glass Barbie' is going to be published by Lasavia around December 2024. It's cool that they're doing layout and design and the cover and making it available to buy - but this humble indie publisher has almost no budget for launch, promo, or marketing.

They also don't have deep enough pockets to print 200 books and simply give them to me.

I have to pay for the books to be printed and then market, distribute and courier them to customers myself...

So, I'm asking you to donate to pay for 'Glass Barbie' to have the best start possible.

You donations and pre-sales will pay for - 

• Printing your book, getting it shipped to NZ and put into your hands
• Getting books for libraries and book store sales printed and imported from the printery, IngramSpark in Melbourne (publisher Lasavia requires the author to pay for printing and importing each book)
• Promotional / marketing / advertising costs to make people aware this great book is out there
• Awards entries in the Ngaios and the Ockhams.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Glass Barbie by Michael Botur

‘Pacey, funny and frequently hair-raising.’ – Paul Little

‘Botur rips the scab off New Zealand’s underbelly, reaching into those dark uncomfortable corners we try to avoid but need to see.’ – Scott Butler, Writer, Shortland Street

‘Glass Barbie is a hell of a ride […] Cockroach Karl is the perfect guide for a road trip through Northland's dark underbelly.’ – Angus Gillies, author, Far North

‘Hilarious and big-hearted… I had great fun reading Glass Barbie.’ – Dave Armstrong, Award-winning screenwriter

‘Cockroach’ Karl Copley, a crackhead crim with a small brain and a big mouth, convinces his former best friend Richie McMullan – now a squeaky-clean senior cop – he can help rescue Barbara ‘Barbie’ Konstantinou, a high school crush apparently held for ransom by bikers in the sunny north of New Zealand.

Problems pile up quickly, though. The troubled Barbie is happy to stay kidnapped, doesn’t want to go back to her privileged parents – and reveals there’s probably a plot to milk her family’s fortune.

Over two wild weeks of love/hate hangouts and bungled rescues, from Whāngarei to Kaitaia to the Bay of Islands, crooked Karl finds he might be the only person honest enough to get Barbie back.

WHY SUPPORT THIS PROJECT

• Firstly, by contributing, you get your book as soon as possible, and signed, and you'll probably love it. So although part of your money is a plain donation, you're getting a wonderful tangible product in your hand, made with love by an artist who likes you.
• Secondly, we have proof that it's going to be a great book. The people who have read the book already, or listened to author Mike reading a sample at the Upsurge Festival, loved it and looked forward to more.
• We need to have some money to spend on book launches, and the main thing that money will be spent on is paying the printery. Few people will hear about this magnificent book if we don't spend some money on successful book launches (with a stack of books to actually sell).
• Also, few people will hear about this great book if we don't pay for Lighthouse PR to give promotional assistance and facilitate interviews.
• It's worthwhile paying to bring over a stack of books to sell, particularly at Unity Books in Auckland, so that we can hopefully get 'Glass Barbie' on the bestseller list for one week.

MEET THE TEAM:

Michael Botur | The Author

Mike is a hardworking writer who sets a great example of how to overcome barriers and birth your art into the world, battling Imposter Syndrome, broke-ass publishers, indifferent news media and a general public that doesn't read enough.

Mike frequently contributes to crowdfunding creative projects from filmmakers, authors and other artists.

Mike runs the mentoring service Creative Writing Northland to support aspiring writers.

He also helps the Northland writing community by setting up and running WriteUpnorth.co.nz and Writers Up North - the Northland Writers Network.

Mike is author of seven short story collections, YA sci-fi dystopian series Lockdownland, the literary fiction novel Crimechurch, ‘page and pub poetry’ collection Loudmouth and the children’s book 'My Animal Family.' He has won awards for short fiction in the US, Australia and New Zealand and won awards in NZ for flash fiction and poetry. 

In 2020 he pivoted to writing horror and is trying to get some horror feature film screenplays developed with producers. 

Find Mike’s horror fiction, poetry and stories at Chilling Tales for Dark Nights, YouTube, Substack, Spotify and other platforms. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Botur

Rowan Johnson | The Publisher

Rowan runs Lasavia Publishing and this book blew his mind.

https://lasaviapublishing.com/