Pledges are sought for a Kickstarter project to fund a shared world fantasy anthology entitled Beyond the Black Gate. Part of the Tales of the Emerald Serpent project, this project will only be funded if at least $10,000 is pledged by Wednesday 18 April 2012.

Kickstarter describes itself as “the world’s largest funding platform for creative projects… On Kickstarter, a project must reach its funding goal before time runs out or no money changes hands.” This allows project creators to test the market without risk, since no project will be started without the necessary funds.

Regarding Beyond the Black Gate:

“This anthology takes readers to the Free City of Taux, a fantasy port of cursed stones, dark plots, and a core of rich characters who share space inside the infamous Black Gate District.

This rich anthology links characters and tales in an interwoven mosaic that helps draw the reader on, and with authors like Lynn Flewelling, Harry Connolly, Juliet McKenna, Martha Wells, Robert Mancebo and Julie Czerneda sharing characters with newcomer Michael Tousignant and iconic fantasy artist turned writer Todd Lockwood, the book plumbs the depths of dark city-born fantasy.

Editor and contributor R. Scott Taylor helps create the shadowed metropolis of Taux, where Razor Duelists and mailed and heavily armed Sturgeons try to hold back the tide of ghosts, Moon Cultists, and shadow magic that lurks inside the slithering coils of Wizard’s Mist.  Rogues, harlots, and merchant princes share the same streets, and all watch their backs as the stones of the city call out to the living in a never ending game of cat and mouse for the true ownership of the great port.”

If you would like to pledge funds to this project please visit the Kickstarter website HERE