PUBLISHING AND PRICING
During the first two years of writing, I was working on my own with whatever little energy I had. However, as the process became more complex and more serious, I needed more input and assistance. So from that point, I hired editors to help and I also sought out volunteers from around the globe.
At about the five-year mark, when most of the information was gathered and refined, I looked into different publishing processes: the how-to’s and how not-to’s. Everybody I talked to who had published a book seemed to have a story about it and I tried to learn from them.
As it turned out, my only choice was self-publishing, but not all companies would take on a project like this because the manuscript was still quite unfinished in their professional eyes, and there was too much work left to do on their part and on mine. Luckily for me, FriesenPress in Canada was up for the challenge. I bought the most comprehensive package that they offered, and because of the stage that Lighting Up a Hidden World was in, it took many rounds of edits (and money) beyond that package to complete.
My goal never was to make money from the sales of the book because I felt it was my contribution to finding solutions for ME/CFS and to raise awareness and education about it – especially in the general population. I however hoped a small royalty would put some of the money I had already spent back into my family’s coffers.
But the last surprise was that it cost more than I expected to produce and distribute the finished product. The U.S total came to $25 per book, without any royalty. With the Canadian dollar dropping in value and the pricing done in U.S. dollars, I was disappointed at the final cost per book. I wanted it to be easily available for everyone, and that is one reason I released the e-book near the time of the paper version. I feel that the paper version does the detail and design more justice, but the e-book is less expensive for those who have ways to read it.
The good news is that I have had people comment that Lighting Up a Hidden World: CFS and ME is seven books in one, and any part will tell at least some of the story:
1. The introduction is about the power of narrative medicine and storytelling for social change,
2. The Song/poem is complete in itself and is a creative expression of the ME/CFS experience,
3. The Notes alongside the poem fill in the gaps and explain things that are important on their own,
4. The Stories of Struggle and Strength in Section 2 are a powerful collaboration from the ME/CFS community.
5. Section 3, The How to Help section and the Appendices is formal and communicates so much of what we experience,
6. Footnotes: Although not attractive to everyone, when read alone, they are a powerful testament to the research and the work done by the whole ME/CFS community,.
7. Last, but not least, the illustrations combine to show a visual story of the complicated feelings and experiences that many of us have had.
FriesenPress offers a less per unit cost if people order from them, so this may benefit some of you. Hopefully this will make the purchase more in line with the U.S. price. However, it’s necessary to compare the shipping fees to see if it will be beneficial.
I hope readers will see that there isn’t an area of life that is not affected in some way by ME/CFS and its overlapping conditions, and therefore, help increase its readership. Some ideas to do this are listed in the blog “WHO IS THIS BOOK FOR?”
At about the five-year mark, when most of the information was gathered and refined, I looked into different publishing processes: the how-to’s and how not-to’s. Everybody I talked to who had published a book seemed to have a story about it and I tried to learn from them.
As it turned out, my only choice was self-publishing, but not all companies would take on a project like this because the manuscript was still quite unfinished in their professional eyes, and there was too much work left to do on their part and on mine. Luckily for me, FriesenPress in Canada was up for the challenge. I bought the most comprehensive package that they offered, and because of the stage that Lighting Up a Hidden World was in, it took many rounds of edits (and money) beyond that package to complete.
My goal never was to make money from the sales of the book because I felt it was my contribution to finding solutions for ME/CFS and to raise awareness and education about it – especially in the general population. I however hoped a small royalty would put some of the money I had already spent back into my family’s coffers.
But the last surprise was that it cost more than I expected to produce and distribute the finished product. The U.S total came to $25 per book, without any royalty. With the Canadian dollar dropping in value and the pricing done in U.S. dollars, I was disappointed at the final cost per book. I wanted it to be easily available for everyone, and that is one reason I released the e-book near the time of the paper version. I feel that the paper version does the detail and design more justice, but the e-book is less expensive for those who have ways to read it.
The good news is that I have had people comment that Lighting Up a Hidden World: CFS and ME is seven books in one, and any part will tell at least some of the story:
1. The introduction is about the power of narrative medicine and storytelling for social change,
2. The Song/poem is complete in itself and is a creative expression of the ME/CFS experience,
3. The Notes alongside the poem fill in the gaps and explain things that are important on their own,
4. The Stories of Struggle and Strength in Section 2 are a powerful collaboration from the ME/CFS community.
5. Section 3, The How to Help section and the Appendices is formal and communicates so much of what we experience,
6. Footnotes: Although not attractive to everyone, when read alone, they are a powerful testament to the research and the work done by the whole ME/CFS community,.
7. Last, but not least, the illustrations combine to show a visual story of the complicated feelings and experiences that many of us have had.
FriesenPress offers a less per unit cost if people order from them, so this may benefit some of you. Hopefully this will make the purchase more in line with the U.S. price. However, it’s necessary to compare the shipping fees to see if it will be beneficial.
I hope readers will see that there isn’t an area of life that is not affected in some way by ME/CFS and its overlapping conditions, and therefore, help increase its readership. Some ideas to do this are listed in the blog “WHO IS THIS BOOK FOR?”
