The Aspie Traveler Book and Video
Donation protected
<The Short Story> I've got an amazing travel book that needs help in getting self published and also making a companion video series that will be filmed at some of the locations in the book. The goal of both book and video is to increase autism awareness in those that typically wouldn't read a book about the topic.
<The Long Story> Some of you know me... my name is Aaron Likens and I'm the author of the book Finding Kansas which is about my life with Asperger's. I wrote that book sort of by accident and over the past two years I ended up writing another book by accident. I call it The Aspie Traveler and making it was, well, a bit daunting. The concept was that I'd go to another country, do minimal amounts of research, and see if I could navigate, not starve (I'm a picky eater!) and most of all see if I could handle the social situations that come up. There were five trips in all (in order: Amsterdam, England, Tokyo, Norway, Madagscar-Maruitius, Reunion, and Iceland) which completing those trips within itself was a feat. However, there's something more daunting and difficult than that and that is getting something published and this is where I need your help. I've decided to go the self-publishing route which means I need help in raising the funds for a professional editor, cover design, but most of all marketing. And, to make this book more than a book, I also want to create a special season of Asperger Insights (that's a Facebook series I have on my public figure page. My first season has almost 500,000 views!) which would see me go back to Amsterdam, Norway, and Iceland and create a documentary of sorts which will follow the order of the book. I've already got 18 or so episodes planned which will cover everything from ordering food to things of a more serious nature and retelling the story of when a guy in Hammerfest, Norway threatened my life which will touch on travel safety.
What makes this project unique and worth funding because I know there are a lot of worthy causes out there? There are many autism books. In fact I have three more I've written but in my opinion, they are, "just another autism book." This isn't putting my work, or other works down, it's just that it doesn't have a cross market appeal. The Aspie Traveler isn't 100% about the autism spectrum; it just so happens to be written by a person that's on it. Does it have great insights? Yes, but it isn't the sole purpose of the book. The book will have cross-genre appeal as the adventures, or rather misadventures that occur will captivate the reader. Also, who hasn't dreamt of just saying, "I'm outta here!" and traveling to some far off place few have heard of. Again, this captivates the imagination and will be something I'm sure will be an instant pick up and read by any person that reads the back cover.
I've never been more passionate about a project than this and if you can help out I will be eternally grateful. Even just a few dollars will go a long way because if each person that follows my Facebook page donates just $1.50 I'll get my goal and then some. If you can't then just sharing this will help out.
My hopes that this raises awareness of the autism spectrum to those that wouldn't normally learn about it is my ultimate goal and I thank you for any consideration.
<The Long Story> Some of you know me... my name is Aaron Likens and I'm the author of the book Finding Kansas which is about my life with Asperger's. I wrote that book sort of by accident and over the past two years I ended up writing another book by accident. I call it The Aspie Traveler and making it was, well, a bit daunting. The concept was that I'd go to another country, do minimal amounts of research, and see if I could navigate, not starve (I'm a picky eater!) and most of all see if I could handle the social situations that come up. There were five trips in all (in order: Amsterdam, England, Tokyo, Norway, Madagscar-Maruitius, Reunion, and Iceland) which completing those trips within itself was a feat. However, there's something more daunting and difficult than that and that is getting something published and this is where I need your help. I've decided to go the self-publishing route which means I need help in raising the funds for a professional editor, cover design, but most of all marketing. And, to make this book more than a book, I also want to create a special season of Asperger Insights (that's a Facebook series I have on my public figure page. My first season has almost 500,000 views!) which would see me go back to Amsterdam, Norway, and Iceland and create a documentary of sorts which will follow the order of the book. I've already got 18 or so episodes planned which will cover everything from ordering food to things of a more serious nature and retelling the story of when a guy in Hammerfest, Norway threatened my life which will touch on travel safety.
What makes this project unique and worth funding because I know there are a lot of worthy causes out there? There are many autism books. In fact I have three more I've written but in my opinion, they are, "just another autism book." This isn't putting my work, or other works down, it's just that it doesn't have a cross market appeal. The Aspie Traveler isn't 100% about the autism spectrum; it just so happens to be written by a person that's on it. Does it have great insights? Yes, but it isn't the sole purpose of the book. The book will have cross-genre appeal as the adventures, or rather misadventures that occur will captivate the reader. Also, who hasn't dreamt of just saying, "I'm outta here!" and traveling to some far off place few have heard of. Again, this captivates the imagination and will be something I'm sure will be an instant pick up and read by any person that reads the back cover.
I've never been more passionate about a project than this and if you can help out I will be eternally grateful. Even just a few dollars will go a long way because if each person that follows my Facebook page donates just $1.50 I'll get my goal and then some. If you can't then just sharing this will help out.
My hopes that this raises awareness of the autism spectrum to those that wouldn't normally learn about it is my ultimate goal and I thank you for any consideration.
Organizer
Aaron Likens
Organizer
Affton, MO
