Introducing Kiss & Tell: Kickstarter’s Open Call for Romance Publishing
Our annual romance publishing Open Call returns with a new name: Kiss & Tell.
This July, romance takes center stage on Kickstarter. Kiss & Tell, formerly known as Heartstrings & Hardbacks, is back. For one month, writers and creators are invited to launch love stories of all kinds and connect with a global community of readers eager to discover new voices.
What is Kiss & Tell?
Kiss & Tell is Kickstarter’s annual Open Call dedicated to romance publishing. Every July, we invite writers and creators to launch projects exploring love in all its forms and connect with a global community of avid readers.
We’ve also updated the name to better reflect the spirit of the Open Call. Heartstrings & Hardbacks sometimes implied that hardcover editions were required. Kiss & Tell makes it clear that all love stories, in any format, belong here.
What types of projects can you launch?
We welcome a wide range of romance publishing projects, including:
- Novellas and full-length novels
- Special editions and collector’s formats
- E-books and audiobooks
- Contemporary, historical, fantasy, and genre-blending romance
- LGBTQ+ love stories
- Any project that celebrates romance, at any spice level 🌶️
Whether you’re publishing your first book or building on an established series, Kiss & Tell is designed to support creators at every stage.
Anthea Sharp
Creators who participate can:
✔️ Reach dedicated romance readers
Romance is one of the most engaged audiences on Kickstarter. Launching during Kiss & Tell puts your project in front of readers actively looking for their next favorite story.
✔️ Tap into a high-intent moment
A focused Open Call creates momentum. Readers come to discover new projects, and launching alongside others helps your campaign stand out as part of a larger cultural moment.
✔️ Get additional visibility and promotion
Selected projects are featured in a curated collection and may be highlighted across Kickstarter’s homepage, email, and social channels.
✔️ Build early support for your book
Building a community is crucial to meeting your funding goal. Kickstarter enables you to connect directly with readers before publication, helping you validate your idea, fund production, and bring it to life.
✔️ Bring special editions to life
From deluxe hardcovers to exclusive extras, Kickstarter gives romance creators the flexibility to offer formats and experiences that go beyond traditional publishing.
Oriana Leckert
Tips for running a successful publishing campaign
A strong publishing campaign is clear, compelling, and built with backers in mind. Here are a few fundamentals to focus on:
- Offer something new or exclusive
Whether it’s a new book or a special edition, backers are excited by projects they can’t get elsewhere. - Design thoughtful reward tiers
Offer the book as your core reward, and consider adding extras like bookmarks, bonus content, or exclusive editions without overcomplicating your setup. - Make your campaign visual
Use cover mockups, character art, and imagery to break up text and bring your story to life. Kickstarter is a highly visual platform, even for books. - Set a realistic funding goal
Your goal should reflect what you need to deliver, not an aspirational number. Early momentum builds trust and helps your campaign succeed. - Build early support
Bring your audience with you and consider launching in prelaunch mode to gather followers before going live.
For more info, check out our webinar:
How to participate
Launch your project: Create a Kickstarter campaign for your romance publishing project
Launch window: Projects must go live between July 1 and July 31
Apply: Submit your project through our application to be included in the official collection
Projects selected for the Open Call will be featured in a curated collection and promoted throughout the month across Kickstarter channels.
