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Hi All,
I have had this brainstorm for a while, and finally took the leap on thursday night, and bought a URL. it will be called Flora’s Hope.This will be different than JoAnn’s brain child of course, and in no way will step on her toes. Maybe if i’m succesful, they can run together. While JoAnn offers support to talk and support others, my goal is to provide monetary support through gifts to those who need it most. This support may be for attorneys fees, food, daycare, plane tickets….and by far our greatest idea here…is retreats planning. I think in reality we offer each other all of the help that we need. Because deep down we all know what we need.
Its not up and running yet, and who knows how long it will take me. But its been on my mind for a more than a few months now, and i think it may be something, and i a passionate about it. It always helps to get more sites out there…..to create a greater awareness.
I also think that we should write that book. I would love to see a book that is just a compilation of all of our stories. Each chapter would be a story, proceeds would be either for non-profit, or we could take a small cut. I think the stories should be from everyone at all stages, and how they got there and where they are now. what worked and what did not. Even if you just found out your spouse was an SA, your story is still relevant. My mom is a graphic designer, so i am sure we could have all the graphics and book desing completed by her.
These are just ideas, and dreams, i have been hanging into for a long time. What do y’all think?
Love,
FloraFlora ~ That was yet another AMAZING post! If anyone is a testament to a woman uhhh… BLOSSOMING (oh, I like that one) in the aftermath of this intense devastation, you could be our poster wombman!!!
I know that Katt has a similar vision for helping women get back on their feet (or maybe it was more of a shelter) and please, count me in, if there’s anything I can do, but please don’t ask me to be the bookkeeper!
We MUST write our book. March, JoAnn, our REAL writers? (and if I’m forgetting anyone else, its inadvertent). But, I think that whoever wants to, should write out their story, and submit it, and then it could be a compilation, as you said. Great idea!!!
Its ALL great!
Love ~ L
Hey flora, good for you.
I can’t wait to see it. Do you have any experience in web design? Let me know if I can help you in that direction.
As for blogs, I have not activated it yet, as there just wasn’t any interest, but I do have a blog feature within this software.
It allows anyone to start their own blog. It will be on the web, just like any other website, and, best of all, it’s free (for you, not for me!). I also have free instructional videos that go with it that will guide you through the process.
One of the reasons I have not activated it is because I didn’t want to take the discussions away from this area.
The blogs are accessible to all members, as well as the public–so be careful what you write in them as all blogs are open to the public unless they are restricted with special software, like this one is.
If anyone is really interested I can activate that feature. Just let me know.
~ JoAnn
Flora,
WOW!! You are amazing. To see the negative energy turn into a positive flow is a beautiful thing. I love the idea and I want to channel this energy to beneficial paths.
Good, good, good, good……..
Hugs {{{{{{{{{{{{{}}}}}}}}}}}}}
Publishing a book is a looooooonnnnnng process. Major publishing houses will not even look at your manuscript unless you have an agent (who gets 15-20%) and an agent won’t even look at you if you don’t have a big, big name.
Small publishers don’t want you either because the cost of publishing a book is really high, so they can’t take a chance on something that might not make back their investment.
There are a lot of self publishing houses now that do a pretty good job, but to get a small book done costs around $10,000. and then you have to do the distribution and all the rest of the marketing yourself.
The only way to get your book in bookstores is to be published by a big publishing house–no exceptions.
The only way to get your book on Amazon is to have it printed through Lightening Source, and the only way to get an account with Lightening Source it to prove that you are a professional, bona fide publisher and have all the ISBN numbers and software and experience in place.
It’s not easy! Writing is only the beginning. Then you have formatting, editing, page set up, editing of that, cover design, file conversions, proofs, rewrites, account set up with distributors, contracts, marketing (a biggie), travel, negotiations, and…discounts to your distributors (most want a 50-60% discount off the retail price). All of these things are charged back to the author–it comes out of their piddly 2-6% of net (not gross) commission.
Authors make very little after all of that is deducted.
The average book sells less than 5,000 copies.
I have my own publishing company, and an account with Lightening Source, so my books will go that way. I am my own ‘one man band’ as I have done all those things that are required to publish a book and I have all the software necessary.
Unfortunately I don’t have 300 years left to do it all.
My mom doesn’t have a big name and she got herself an agent in her mid-70’s and finished the book in 97. It was published by McGraw Hill.
uhhh… That book is entitled. “Should I Stay or Go?”
(I know, I know, I know!!!)
Her second book was also published by McGraw Hill entitled:
“I Hate Conflict.”
That was published when she was 85.
But you are right. Her books net her about 2k a year and she spent 1,000s with editors and the like! So, by now, she might be slightly in the black. But, its not really a big money maker.
I also have a first cousin/step sister who IS a little bit famous in the literary world and has had 3 or 4 books published, Dawn Raffel.
I just had a thought. What if… what if… we DID HAVE a big name, or a few big names who were also willing to join in on our cause??? Is that too far-fetched?
No, certainly not far fetched. In fact I’m sure any big name would be interested in having us do all the work, then stealing the best of it and putting their name on it. And, they would take all the profits!
Your mom is truly amazing Lexie, I hope I can accomplish just a fraction of what she has done.
Unfortunately the publishing world has changed dramatically in the last five years or so. Mergers, bankruptcies, the economy, ePublishing, etc. The whole publishing world has been turned upside down.
I just don’t want to give anyone any false hope about book publishing. You can grow very old, and very discouraged as the years role on by without responses from publishers or agents. Proposals take months to be answered, if they are answered at all and agents are struggling to place even great manuscripts.
It’s a jungle out there.
She has a PhD and a great concept. She was published through New Horizons, which is a small publishing company which does accept non agented submissions.
Self help books are the easiest (if you can call it that) books to get published.
Here are their submission guidelines if anyone is interested:
There is no intent to make cash on the deal, and we can self publish if we choose with PDF. I never imagined it would get picked up by a big publisher, or that cahs would be made on the deal. My sole purpose of ever doing the work to put it together etc. is to help others.
My mom knows how to do all the all the graphics and cover, etc to prepare it.
Its just a thought. I have big dreams, of only 25% will probably come true, of done good.
I have a good job, i am jsut looking for ways to enrich my life and to help others.
So – its a self-help book:
Chapter 1 – About sex addiction – the definition
Chapter 2 – What the experts say
Chapter 3 – The reality of discovery – Stories, what we’ve learnt and what we’d advise – summed up in 5 key points
Chapters 4 – 8 The first week, fortnight, month, 3 months, 6 months
Chapter 9 – Staying or going – Stories – what we’ve learned
Chapter 10 – The future – Our dreams and prayersJoAnn – we must be able to collaborate on this somehow? Googledocs? Skydrive?
And BTW Flora – its a great idea… your dream is shared by many xx
flora and all,
Yes, I think giving back is such a wonderful healing tool, I know that these years that I have spent doing the websites have done more for me than I could ever do for others.
It’s also a very healthy way of dealing with your trauma.
I am always so amazed at all of you beautiful women. You humble me.
Love ~ JoAnn
and maybe the cash could go to towards the foundation silverlining wants to help fund the bloody divorces… or more hopefully – the retreats
godaddy.com allows you to buy the URL as well as design a website using their service. Its basic, does the trick and only costs about $15. blogs can also be free with googles eblogger. But just starting out. My mom is also a web page designer if i get in a pinch or completely lost. But will always keep you in mind. Thank you so much JoAnn. You have done great things.
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