Crowdfunding for Social Good: Financing Your Mark on the World

Crowdfunding for Social Good: Financing Your Mark on the World

by Devin D. Thorpe Over the last year of writing my Forbes blog, I have had the opportunity to really dig deeply into the world of crowdfunding. I’ve just completed my first draft of my new book, Crowdfunding for Social Good: Financing Your Mark on the World. The book is a guide to successful crowdfunding for people who want to change the world. The book is not a sequel to my book, Your Mark On The World, but it is written in the same spirit. I’ve studied a dozens of successful crowdfunding campaigns, interviewing the people behind them to learn their secrets for success. Devin's Book, Your Mark on the World, was downloaded over 75,000 times and reached the #19 spot on Amazon's free book list--among all free books. It remains on the top 50 free nonfiction books at Amazon.

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Review - Starting a charity never crossed my mind. Sure I give - to food banks, to the Humane Society, to Church but creating a charity myself?  Maybe, this book had a way of exciting me. There were things I could do! It was inspiring with all of the stories of people who had done good and how they funded it. 

If you've ever thought about doing good in the world, this book is for you. Even if you haven't thought about it you should read it any way. Very inspirational and leads me to believe there is good out there and it only takes one person to do it.

About Devin:

Devin D. Thorpe thinks he is the luckiest person alive. After being “let go” from the best job he’d ever had—as the Chief Financial Officer of the multinational food and beverage company MonaVie—he and his wife ended up living in China for a year where he wrote Your Mark On The World and embarked on the career he’d always wanted yet hadn’t dared dream. Now, as an author, a popular guest speaker and Forbes contributor, Devin is devoted full time to championing social good. His current life isn’t much like his past. As an entrepreneur, Devin ran—at separate times—a boutique investment banking firm and a small mortgage company. He served as the Treasurer for the multinational vitamin manufacturer USANA Health Sciences years before becoming CFO for MonaVie. Over his career he led or advised on the successful completion of $500 million in transactions. Devin squeezed in two brief stints in government, including two years working for Jake Garn on the U.S. Senate Banking Committee Staff and another year working for an independent state agency called USTAR, where he helped foster technology entrepreneurship during Governor Jon Huntsman’s administration. Devin is proud to have graduated from the University of Utah David Eccles School of Business, which recognized him as a Distinguished Alum in 2006. He also earned an MBA at Cornell University where he ran the student newspaper, Cornell Business. Today, Devin channels the idealism of his youth with the loving support of his wife, Gail. Their son Dayton is a PhD candidate in Physics at UC Berkeley (and Devin rarely misses an opportunity to mention that).

Twitter: @devindthorpe

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Barely Alive #BookReview

Barely Alive (book #1)

In twelve weeks, seventeen-year-old Paul Ledger will be dead. At least he hopes so. Paul is trapped in the worst cult the United States has ever seen. Infected with a zombie virus, symptoms culminate in a dead body but thriving mind over a course of twelve weeks. If he doesn’t earn the final death he longs for, he’ll be chained in a basement facility, moaning for human flesh for eternity. Sent out to kidnap girls for food, toys, or whatever the boss wants, Paul nabs Heather McCain. He’s not a fan of humans as a general rule, but even his graying skin and insatiable hunger for her flesh don’t stop her from reaching out to him. Give him the second chance he doesn’t know he needs. Overcome by his cravings, Paul bites her delectable skin. Amazingly, she doesn’t develop the zombie-like side effects. When the boss discovers Heather’s immunity, he gives Paul an ultimatum – deliver up Heather and her family to continue the research or watch as Paul’s brother suffers the zombie fate. Paul has a chance to endure his short zombie existence knowing his brother is safe. But he’ll have to sacrifice Heather to do it.

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Falling Apart (book #2)

Days slip through Paul’s graying fingers. Humanity faces the end. His brother has the virus and is dying, too. Paul’s hopes ride on Heather’s genetic code. Her immunity leaves her unchanged and untouchable. What would she see in the zombie he was becoming anyway? Dominic’s army of infected grows, capturing the south and leaving little alive in its wake. While Paul and his friends work on the vaccine, protecting the north becomes protecting the world. Heather is taken hostage and Paul races toward Dominic to save his heart. With his time “alive” shortened, Paul must do more than protect the uninfected. He has to get his brother and Heather back to Sandpoint before the zombies find them. Paul needs to survive the upcoming war before he finds himself defecting to the other side and leaving Heather to Dominic’s mercy. He has three days to get the cure or he might as well find a fire to call home. *This has mature themes and language. Not for young or pre-teens.*

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Mostly Dead (book #3)

Time is running out and Paul’s original wish for death looms. As his skin grays and hunger becomes uncontrollable, the world burns. Heather and Paul have fallen for each other, but with life and death barricading them apart, and the potential cure disappearing into time, they have no hope. Paul’s hunger is all-consuming. He has to walk into the flames, join Dominic, or eat everyone he loves. Can he save anyone, if not himself?

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Viral Intent (Prequel short)

Dominic has no remorse, no guilt, and his righteous justification swells as his research goes unchecked. There’s someone Dominic wants to save, and he may have the cure. But now he needs test subjects. He creates a virus that brings about the zombie apocalypse. There’s no excuse for how he treats Paul and humanity itself, but understanding the man might shed light on the evolution of the virus that brings Paul and Heather together. Discover the how and why behind Dominic’s evil actions. Are you brave enough to see how a Zombie Master is born?

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 Bonnie R. Paulson mixes her science and medical background with reality and possibilities to make even myths seem likely and give every romance the genetic strength to survive. Bonnie has discovered a dark and twisty turn in her writing that she hopes you enjoy as much as she has enjoyed uncovering it. Dirt biking with her family in the Northwest keeps her sane.

 Follow on: Facebook / Blog / Twitter / Goodreads / Newsletter / Literary Addicts / Amazon

My Review is of the first book although I will be reading all of them!
I first became a fan of Bonnie R Paulson when I read the Into the End series. After I read that I swore I would read anything she wrote!

I don't mind zombies but I LOVED these zombies. We watch Paul struggle with his humanity. He has 12 weeks until he turns into a mindless zombie. How is that for a start of a series? I mean seriously, I <3 this author. I was so completely enthralled through out the entire book. Paul is hilarious. I can't wait to learn more about Heather as the series develops.  I'm getting ready to pick up book two.

 Follow the Book Tour The author is giving away a Zombie Survival Kit! ARV $50

Zombie Apocalypse survival kit in a sardine can

A zombie hunting permit bumper sticker (for the state you live in)

The Zombie Survival Guide Manual

Emergency Mylar Blanket.

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Within The Realm #BookReview #BookTour #Goodread

The Gifted walk among us. They are unseen, but in plain sight. The Earth’s energies are as visible to them as the tangible world is to us and they can harness and bend these forces to their will. Atop the Pentagon resides the government of the Gifted Realm. Rainer Lawson is set to join the ranks of Elite Officers in the Gifted Police force. With his fellow officers, they will work together, using their abilities, to try and end the most sinister criminal organization in existence. His parents fought and died to re-establish the Realm, and he won’t allow them to have sacrificed in vain. The will to protect those he loves has always driven Rainer, but his desperation to protect Emily, the love of his life, consumes him. While passions ignite and vengeance is sought, Rainer may discover that all of his money, fame, and power, could cost him the only thing that has ever truly mattered. -

See more at: jillianneal.com

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Review - I received a copy of Within the Realm for my honest opinion, no other compensation was received.

 As soon as I read the blurb I had to read book. This was a fantastic start to a series. We get to learn about the characters and their powers about the organization they are working for. We meet Ranier and Emily as they start their lives as adults.

I found it interesting that the 'voice' of the story was male but I really liked Ranier. He was sweet and romantic. I didn't always like Emily but she is young and I know she will grow with the series. We are also introduced to Emily's big brother Logan and Adeline.

This story has something for everyone - Action, romance, fantasy, and some sci-fi. I LOVE this world. The author did an awesome job and I can't wait to read more.

***** Must Read!

Author Bio

Jillian Neal is the author of “The Gifted Realm” series of novels. She has a passion for telling strong, character driven stories that stretch the imagination. Her debut novel “Within the Realm” was released in 2013, with the next installments of the series soon to follow. She lives near Atlanta with her husband and children.

 For more information, visit her website at http://www.jillianneal.com   Follow: http://facebook.com/jilliannealauthor
Twitter -@ jilliannealauth
Website - http://jillianneal.com  


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Last Day

by Richard LaPlante Charlie Wolf is an undercover cop assigned to infiltrate the Sons of Fire motorcycle club, suspected of manufacturing and distributing methamphetamine up and down the East Coast. Charlie’s been undercover for a long time—long enough to have broken the two cardinal rules of his work. He’s forged a strong friendship with Ray Sasso, president of the Sons of Fire. And he’s become addicted to meth. A near-fatal mistake during the attempted bust by the cops leaves a bullet lodged in the right temporal lobe of Charlie’s brain. Operating to remove it would likely kill Charlie. Living with it will change him forever. Two men linked by a tangle of lies and twisted loyalties. Two men who could not be more different—or more the same. When they meet again, for one of them it will be the Last Day.

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  Review - From the very first page you are hooked and you HAVE to know what happens. Never throughout the entire book did this past paced story let me down. In my head I knew cops are good and the criminals are bad but in my head I felt so bad for Charlie. He is a cop DEEP under cover, so deep the lines of his reality are blurred.

He is away from his family, hooked on meth and dependent on the man he is suppose to take down and YOU will not be able to put this book down. I look forward to reading more from this author.

Highly recommend.

I received a copy of this book for my honest opinion, no other compensation was received.

About the Author

Richard LaPlante is the author of the popular Fogarty-Tanaka series of crime fiction novels as well as three memoirs. Last Day is his first paranormal thriller and explores his longtime interest in human consciousness and the Near Death Experience. A musician and lifelong student of martial arts, Richard lives with his two sons in the sunny mountains of Ojai, CA and is a founding director of an independent publishing company, Escargot Books, where he blogs regularly. Currently, Richard is also working on Hog Fever, an Ear Movie — a movie without pictures — based upon his motorcycle memoir Hog Fever and starring Academy Award nominee Terence Stamp, produced by Grammy award winner Greg Penny and directed by British rock icon Kevin Godley.

 website - http://richardlaplantebooks.com
 facebook - https://www.facebook.com/richard.laplante.1428
  twitter - https://twitter.com/richlaplante

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To Love A Wolf (Wolves of Shadow Falls) #BookReview

To Love A Wolf (Wolves of Shadow Falls)

Genre: Paranormal Erotica Romance

Passions are fueled...Two World's collide...

What would you do if your future had another plan for you?Cevin Harpster is in his residency year to obtain his M.D. He's looking forward to his new life after graduation, where he will open his own practice and marry his high school sweetheart. When Cevin suddenly starts dreaming of a beautiful woman he can't help but wonder if he may be going insane, as she seduces him night after night, taking him to heights of ecstasy he never knew he longed for. As the dreams become more frequent, his sex drive rockets and his fiance', Sam, finds Cevin's new desire for experimenting enticing, even if a bit rough, when his sexual experiences from his dreams are used on her. Weird things continue to happen in Cevin's dreams, when he learns that this mysterious woman actually exists, and he is meant to be her mate and lead a pack of wolves he never imagined to be real. When dreams and reality meet...someone always gets burned!

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About B.K. Walker

When dreams and reality meet...someone always gets burned! Jack of all trades, master of none, so she believes.

BK Walker is first and foremost a mother and a wife. With three beautiful children and a wonderful husband, she enjoys her days living on their farm in Eastern Pennsylvania.

When she's not writing, she manages her time organizing virtual book tours for other authors, and coaching authors through her mentor programs at BookIt BK. Putting most of her time into research, BK is always seeking for the most effective ways to market and promote books and business alike.

Art is a secondary love, and you may often find her sketches popping up on one of her blogs, or simply catch her reading the magic created in the pages of a great novel. Who knows, it just may be yours. http://www.bkwalkerbooks.com
 

Author Links:

Facebook | BK Walker Books Fan Page | Twitter | Linkedin | Pinterest | Goodreads 

 Carolyn's Review-
To Love a Wolf is a paranormal erotica book. I was expecting more erotica than there was in the book for some reason, but am happy that it wasn't just thrown in for the sake of throwing it in there. The scenes were not cheesy as I have seen in many other books lately.

The book is written from the point of view of the main male character, Cevin, which is different than what I usually read. The main female character, Sam, is actually a really strong character and I would have liked to see more of her character developed.

The story is about two medical students finishing up their school years and looking forward to getting on with their life together. Cevin begins having very vivid dreams of another woman, and then soon finds out that the woman is real and some of what is happening in the dream is really happening to him. He learns of a whole new world that exists and he will quickly become a part of it.

The book is a really fast read, but to be honest, I didn't want this one to be. This story actually had the potential to be a full novel. I'd love to read more about the back-story of Cevin's family. The last three pages alone could have been several chapters! I felt like some of the storyline was just jumped over or ran through really fast. I found myself re-reading a couple of paragraphs a few times to figure out how I got to where I was in the story. BUT, I still think that this book was really well written.

Short stories are just that, short. However, this one truly has the potential to be a lot longer! I am happy to know that there is at least another book in the series so I hope that there is more in terms of the history behind these characters!

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
 

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The Author is giving away a signed set of Immortal Kisses and Night Secrets paperbacks, a $10 GC along with 3 bookmark swag packs.

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Within The Realm Promotional Blast

The Gifted walk among us. They are unseen, but in plain sight. The Earth’s energies are as visible to them as the tangible world is to us and they can harness and bend these forces to their will. Atop the Pentagon resides the government of the Gifted Realm. Rainer Lawson is set to join the ranks of Elite Officers in the Gifted Police force. With his fellow officers, they will work together, using their abilities, to try and end the most sinister criminal organization in existence. His parents fought and died to re-establish the Realm, and he won’t allow them to have sacrificed in vain. The will to protect those he loves has always driven Rainer, but his desperation to protect Emily, the love of his life, consumes him. While passions ignite and vengeance is sought, Rainer may discover that all of his money, fame, and power, could cost him the only thing that has ever truly mattered. -

See more at: jillianneal.com

Buy: Hardback | Paperback | Kindle | B&N

 

Author Bio

Jillian Neal is the author of “The Gifted Realm” series of novels. She has a passion for telling strong, character driven stories that stretch the imagination. Her debut novel “Within the Realm” was released in 2013, with the next installments of the series soon to follow. She lives near Atlanta with her husband and children. For more information, visit her website at http://www.jillianneal.com
  Follow: http://facebook.com/jilliannealauthor
Twitter -@ jilliannealauth
Website - http://jillianneal.com

Prize: Gift Cards to Emily's Favorite Stores 
 $25 Anthropologie Gift Card 
$10 Victoria Secret Gift Card  
$10 Bath and Body Works Gift Card plus.......

 Within the Realm Fan Pack -
Virginia Beach Travel Mug - Cinnamon Discs (Emily's favorite) - A box of Emily's favorite Tea - Dr Pepper Lip Smackers Enter to Win, fill out the form below a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wilted Wings Book Excerpt and Contest

Wilted Wings

Power, greed, and envy fill Damon and Ilisha’s world. Their hope of settling into a life of peace and family remains out of grasp. Damon is kidnapped and forced to stand trial for the death of his father while a breed of hybrids designed to destroy all angels is set loose. With no choice but to leave her earthly mother and baby behind, Ilisha struggles in a world of high politics and family feuds. She must become an ultimate warrior to save her husband and both the worlds she loves. Purchase Wilted Wings now on Amazon.

About Shadow Stephens

Avid Cleveland Browns fan, animal lover, and paranormal addict are just a few ways to describe Shadow Stephens. Shadow grew up in Ohio and West Virginia, which gave her a fear of snakes and the ability to fix anything with duct tape. She has been writing since childhood, but wrote her first novel three years ago. She now resides in Utah with a veritable menagerie of pets and a million ideas in her head just waiting to be put on paper. When she isn't ghost hunting, Shadow can be found writing paranormal romance and urban fantasy novels. This will be her first published book, with many more to follow

 Read an Excerpt 
“Do you have pen and paper?” she asked John.
“Yes, I’ll get it for you.” He walked somberly to the office in the back of the church. Ilisha felt the same pain, but was doing everything she could to distract her mind.
Losing herself in the instructions of the letter, she dipped her head to write.
Members of the Council, there is a serious situation taking place in the heavens and earth. I have firsthand knowledge that Livillica, The Queen Mother has conspired with Lucifer, King of Hell in making hybrids. They’re currently invading the kingdoms. On earth demons have invaded and are taking possession of innocent people. Livillica has taken my husband and is holding him hostage. I want to make it clear that Damon has no part in these actions. I am requesting an urgent meeting to investigate the charges against The Queen and King of Hell. It’s not safe for me to travel at this time, so I have sent someone to speak for me.


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