Heartstrings & Hardbacks 2025: Launch Your Romance Project on Kickstarter
This July, take part in our latest Open Call dedicated to all things love and romance—from sweet meets to spicy encounters.
Are you passionate about telling love stories that make hearts flutter and imaginations soar? Whether you craft tender first kisses or steamy encounters that leave readers breathless, July is your moment to shine.
Heartstrings & Hardbacks, our latest Open Call for romance publishing projects, returns this July. This month-long celebration invites creators of all backgrounds to launch romance projects and join a vibrant community of storytellers crafting tales that capture the heart.
All spice levels are welcome! 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Kickstarter Staff
What is Heartstrings & Hardbacks?
Heartstrings & Hardbacks is Kickstarter's annual celebration of romance in all its forms. Every July, we invite romance writers and creators to bring their love stories to life and connect with a community of readers hungry for their next great read.
From contemporary rom-coms to historical bodice-rippers, from sweet YA romance to steamy paranormal encounters—if it celebrates love, it belongs here.
How to Join Heartstrings & Hardbacks 2025
Participating in Heartstrings & Hardbacks is simple:
📚 Launch Your Romance Project: Create a Kickstarter campaign for your romance publishing project during July 2025.
📅 Launch window: Projects must go live between July 1 and July 31, 2025.
📝 Apply: This year, we've launched a new application. Don't worry, it's easy! Simply fill out this form to ensure your project is included.
Launch a Heartstrings & Hardbacks campaign in July, and we'll feature it in a curated collection promoted throughout the month.
Brandon Smithwrick
What Romance Projects Can You Launch?
Whether your medium is the classic hardback, exclusive special editions, convenient paperbacks, modern e-books, or immersive audiobooks, we're looking for you.
We welcome all formats:
- Novellas and full-length novels
- Sweet romance to spicy encounters
- Contemporary, historical, and fantasy romance
- LGBTQ+ love stories
- Any story that celebrates love and connection
Why Participate in Heartstrings & Hardbacks?
1. Reach Romance Readers: By joining Heartstrings & Hardbacks, your project will be featured alongside others in the romance space, attracting dedicated fans and backers.
2. Get Featured Promotion: Selected projects receive special attention across our platform, including featured spots on our website, email highlights, app promotions, and social media shoutouts.
3. Join a Passionate Community: Connect with fellow romance creators and readers who share your passion for great love stories.
Kickstarter Staff
Tips for a Successful Romance Campaign
1. Start Early: Begin outlining your project and building assets now to hit the ground running in July.
2. Know Your Spice Level: Be clear about your content—romance readers appreciate knowing what heat level to expect.
3. Showcase Your Voice: Share excerpts, character art, or mood boards that capture the essence of your love story.
4. Engage Your Community: Romance readers are passionate—build excitement on social media and connect with your audience.
Mixam
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of publishing project can I launch? Heartstrings & Hardbacks welcomes all kinds of romance projects, including sweet and spicy, contemporary and historical, romantasy and realism, queer, straight, and everything in between.
Are only book campaigns allowed? This open call focuses on publishing work, including hardbacks, paperbacks, e-books, audiobooks, and novellas in the romance genre.
Does it have to launch in July? Yes, to be featured in this Open Call, you must have a project live anytime between July 1 and 31, 2025.
Whether you're a seasoned author or a first-time creator, your happily ever after has a home here. Mark your calendars, ready your drafts, and let's fill the world with romance this July.
