1917

A movie clip...

Photo by Alice Hampson on Unsplash

This is going up for those few friends behind my paywall. Do YOU wanna be one of the cool kids? Then you should Upgrade to Paid.

Let me tell you why…

I found a place in town somewhere that will print books. He said he’s amazed at how many people are wanting to print up books. I said it’s the self-publishing boom. I just wanted to get some information, I said. I was interested in having a book printed — a novella — at about 5 1/2 x 7 at 71,000 words. He said he’d get back to me with estimates some time next week. I’m thinking it might be close to 150 pages…ish

My reason for doing this is simple. I want to offer my paid Subscribers a copy of one of my stories. I’m thinking of THE BASHFUL COURTESAN. But I’m not paying for it out of my own pocket, because I don’t have any pockets. I’m on a limited income now that I’m retired. I’m thinking if someone wants to make an investment in my future. If they think that I might have a future as a writer, they might decide to endorse me by sending me $5/month.

A great many books have been set-published and gone on to win acclaim. THE MARTIAN comes to mind. So does FIFTY SHADES OF GREY, as well as STILL ALICE. A great many classics were self published. PARADISE LOST; SENSE & SENSIBILITY; A CHRISTMAS CAROL; HUCK FINN & PETER RABBIT. Even our own

Margaret Atwood

self published a book of poetry (DOUBLE PERSEPHONE) that went on to win great acclaim.

So your contribution of $5/month, or $50/year, or even the Founding Member plan of $500 — (I chose that sum because I didn’t want anyone becoming a Founding Member and me not have something I could give them in return) but your contribution might help to launch a book.

I don’t know what it’ll cost to have a book printed up, but I’m guessing close to $2500 at the low end of the scale, because, well, this is Vancouver. Going down South would be even more because of the exchange rate. Besides, as a Canadian, I want to “buy Canadian.” We had a meeting, and there was a vote, and it was agreed on unanimously that we would use a Canadian printer.