River Eno, Susan Tulio and I founded Speculation Publications back in 2022 and it has been a ride. We have met authors from all over the world, read books and stories that have blown our minds and gotten to travel and speak on topics that mean a lot to us.
One of those topics is the importance of indie publishing and amplifying marginalized voices. In this current, unsettled climate we are trying to make our way through, it is more important than ever to listen to the voices that we don’t get to hear. Indie publishing has the cash strapped freedom to put out the weird stuff, the uncomfortable stuff, the books that say important things that no one else will tell you.
But Guys, it is a hard time to be indie anything, without even considering publishing work that colors outside the lines. Without sounding like a cliche, it is because of that very thing that indie presses and indie authors need support right now.
Which brings me to the point. Spec Pub is running our second ever kickstarter to fund our second novella of utter speculation. This book is fun, weird, deep and, I think, rather important. LOADING…THE MACHINE CHILD is written by a frequent contributor to Spec Pub, TT Madden. Their style is always to scratch just a bit further beneath the surface than you were ready for, and with LOADING… they dig into a very strange gamer urban legend, of the Polybius Arcade.
Loading…the Machine Child is a lo-fi Weird Fiction novella in the vein of I Saw the TV Glow about the urban legends of the Polybius arcade cabinet and the men in black.
Abby, a transfemme videogame YouTuber, finds an anonymous package left at her door. Inside is a VHS tape that seems to call to something within her, and opens up a door to the 40 year old mystery of Polybius. The urban legend claims that an arcade cabinet allegedly caused madness and hallucinations in its players while it was installed over a single month in Portland in 1981. The package indicates that there may be even more to the story.
Something about it compels Abby on a journey across the country to discover the truth about the mysterious cabinet, the men in black watching over it, and to finish the story started in 1981.
Now the book is happening. We have commissioned the art, edited the work, paid the author a signing bonus, and started the layout. But like is said, it’s a tough time to be indie right now, so we’re running the kickstarter to hopefully recoup those costs, cover press and production costs we accrue and absorb through every book, and provide a nice promotion cushion to get the book out.
Here’s the full break down with the bonus material that is unlocked when we hit it.
$500 – First Level Complete!
We have enough to cover initial production and get the book out.
$1000 – Boss Battle!
Covers full production + a Bonus Story relating to the book will be released on TT Madden’s page.
$2000 – Arena Mode!
Press Expenses, Expanded marketing budget + Another Bonus Story Unlocked
$3000 – Bonus Stage!
Funding for next book + Author Bonus + Unlock New art + Bonus Story
$5000 – High Score!
Two more Novellas of Utter Speculation are fully funded and will be scheduled for 2026-2027 + Author Bonus + Free story for everyone + Commissioned illustrations
$10000 – Record Score!
Spec Pub is funded for another year – Author Bonus + All contributors get the entire Spec Pub Ebook Catalog for free + Bonus story + Bonus Art + Release Party
We love our deep dive novellas, weird anthologies and putting out the work of new and marginalized voices and it is important work, but we need funds if we’re going to keep developing this series and our growing our catalog in this suppressive environment.
So, even if you only have a few dollars to toss in, if you’ve liked any of our spec pub books, and especially if you’re excited for TT Madden’s AMAZING Polybius novella, check out the kickstarter and be part of the movement.
And thank you for your ongoing support.
LC W. Allingham 
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