Author clock

Sometimes Kickstarter works. I backed a project a couple years ago that I thought had a low chance of actually shipping. I didn’t look too closely at the project, but it was an electronic device and it didn’t look like the company had a track record. I figured it would fall apart.

But I liked the idea and backed it for the reward of a small Author Clock. The idea: Every minute the device displays a quote from literature that contains the current time.

It was two minutes to two. I checked my flashlight and envelope and let the inside of my arm touch the firmness of my holster through my jacket. It was reassuring.
– Stuart Kaminsky, Bullet for a Star

Earlier this month I finally received my reward, which surprised me. I finally looked at the project again and noticed that between Kickstarter and Indiegogo they raise 3.5 million USD. Okay… that explains why the project didn’t fall apart.

I also remember they engaged with their backers all throughout the process, and even enlisted their help searching novels for quotes. This was definitely a passion project for the people involved.

As for the product, I like it. I enjoy reading the quotes. Many come from the thriller genre and seem like opening sentences to chapters or books. Occasionally, I see an author or novel I recognize, but I’ve also seen others I’ll look up online. Overall, it’s an interesting way to tell time and gets me thinking about writing.