I rather like this idea, I really do:
Crowdsourcing the funding to self-publish books isn’t a new idea. Kickstarter got the trend going more than a year ago, Unbound took it a step further (just to name two examples). But how about using a service like Kickstarter to sell print, translation and film rights — as well as to secure bricks-and-mortar retail distribution? Author Alex de Campi and illustrator Jimmy Broxton are doing just that. Using Kickstarter as a platform, the duo seeks to raise $27,000 over the next two months to fund production of their latest project, a futuristic dystopian graphic novel called Ashes.
Eoin Purcell's Blog 
I read this and I LOVED the idea. I’m using FundIt (Irish version of Kickstarter) at the moment to fund my next release. If it works (I’m 33% there after a week), my next book will be in profit before it’s released. I’m using it, essentially, to take advance orders. It seems to be working. If it is ultimately successful, I’ll do it for all major releases.