Sorry I Tripped in Your Yard
Donation protected
My name is Craig Tyrell and I am the author of "Sorry I Tripped in Your Yard." For the past two years, I have been writing, editing, and preparing my baby, and she is finally ready to print. I have already ordered a sample copy and all I am waiting on is the First Edition run!
"Sorry I Tripped in Your Yard" is a book on magical realism: the fantastic that is found in the everyday. It began when I was brought to an ancient stone circle, very similar to Stonehenge, except it was tucked away in a cornfield. That discovery kicked off a journey of spiritual adventures that danced with sex, drugs, and enlightenment. It finally ended two years later during a motorcycle tour of China. The book has been described as a cross between "Eat, Pray, Love" and "50 Shades of Gray."
About me: I was raised in a strongly conservative religious background. I became an ordained minister at the age of 15 and spent the majority of my time doing volunteer work in the community. I worked mainly as a speech writer, even teaching a public speaking course. Writing became a huge part of my life, and while in China I wrote and edited (Assistant Editor) for "In The Red" magazine, as well as the Southern China Daily newspaper. (Nanfeng Dushibao if you're into languages.) Even though I left the ministry five years ago, my spiritual bent still led me to temples and lonely mountain tops, where much of this book was written.
About the Fundraiser: Writing a book is hard. Editing it is painful. Publishing it is an exercise in patience. I'm not complaining; I've learned more than I could have imagined and I now know the ins-and-outs of the entire process. The book is READY TO PRINT. I have the first copy in my hands. The only thing remaining is to print the first run. The more I print at once, the cheaper the printing costs, and so I am reaching out to the community, those creative souls that love an independent spirit, the artisits who have blazed their own paths, and those amazing individuals who rejoice in the success of others. If I am to bring my baby into this world, I will need all their -- YOUR -- help. The next stage of this is Promotion. I will need to send sample copies to reviewers, reporters, publishing houses, brick and mortar bookshops... Hopefully, I will get this book into the hands of readers who love it as well! The road would be incredibly slow if I tried to do this with my own finances. Not impossible, just painfully, excruciatingly, slow.
And so, dear reader, I need your help! You can be among the first to open it's wonderful-smelling pages! You can hold a first edition in your hands! A first-edition YOU helped make happen! Imagine if JK Rowling had asked you for a hand up before anyone had heard of Godwin's Hollow. And in return a thick, signed tome sat on your shelf... Mmmm. Shivers.
FAQ:
What will you do if you don't make your goal?
I will use whatever funds I receive to print as many copies as possible. There are discounts for volume orders, so lesser amounts will cost me more per copy, but printing will happen no matter WHAT amount is donated.
What will you do if you go over?
A long and energetic Happy Dance. I will print a larger volume of books, and that will get me to a better price point. Some of the books need to be given to reviewers, publishers, sellers... The more I can hand out, the quicker the word will spread.
Why don't you go with a regular publishing house?
For a couple of reasons:
1) It would take at LEAST a year before the book would see print. If I trust in the goodness of strangers, I can start printing NOW and shop for publishers later.
2) A regular publisher takes a HUGE cut. That would mean the price would go up and I, the author, would still make less per book.
3) I really like the idea of independent publishing. I get to learn the process first hand and run into all sorts of interesting people.
Did you TRY to get published first?
Sheri Salata, the President of Oprah Winfrey Networks has asked for a copy of the book. I obviously will be sending her one, and that is the first step in being picked up by a major house. BUT, I really do believe in the independent process, and I want to try it first.
I am also working on a separate project with a small publishing house, so I do have options, but Making It On My Own is important to me. (Yes, crowdfunding means WE make it on OUR own. I love that more.)
Do you have any experience writing?
Speech writing for 12 years gave me a good background in oratory and story telling. I literally wrote hundreds of speeches and spoke in front of thousands. The cross over to a purely written style is fairly strong. I have written many short stories over the years and a number of journal articles for successful magazines and newspapers.
Can I check out your stuff first?
Yes! craigtyrell.com contains some sample chapters. Please feel free to look around and ask questions!
How long will it take to get the book?
All books will be shipped on or before November 22nd. Any orders after that date will be shipped as they are received. Expect the usual Post Office delivery schedule.
"Sorry I Tripped in Your Yard" is a book on magical realism: the fantastic that is found in the everyday. It began when I was brought to an ancient stone circle, very similar to Stonehenge, except it was tucked away in a cornfield. That discovery kicked off a journey of spiritual adventures that danced with sex, drugs, and enlightenment. It finally ended two years later during a motorcycle tour of China. The book has been described as a cross between "Eat, Pray, Love" and "50 Shades of Gray."
About me: I was raised in a strongly conservative religious background. I became an ordained minister at the age of 15 and spent the majority of my time doing volunteer work in the community. I worked mainly as a speech writer, even teaching a public speaking course. Writing became a huge part of my life, and while in China I wrote and edited (Assistant Editor) for "In The Red" magazine, as well as the Southern China Daily newspaper. (Nanfeng Dushibao if you're into languages.) Even though I left the ministry five years ago, my spiritual bent still led me to temples and lonely mountain tops, where much of this book was written.
About the Fundraiser: Writing a book is hard. Editing it is painful. Publishing it is an exercise in patience. I'm not complaining; I've learned more than I could have imagined and I now know the ins-and-outs of the entire process. The book is READY TO PRINT. I have the first copy in my hands. The only thing remaining is to print the first run. The more I print at once, the cheaper the printing costs, and so I am reaching out to the community, those creative souls that love an independent spirit, the artisits who have blazed their own paths, and those amazing individuals who rejoice in the success of others. If I am to bring my baby into this world, I will need all their -- YOUR -- help. The next stage of this is Promotion. I will need to send sample copies to reviewers, reporters, publishing houses, brick and mortar bookshops... Hopefully, I will get this book into the hands of readers who love it as well! The road would be incredibly slow if I tried to do this with my own finances. Not impossible, just painfully, excruciatingly, slow.
And so, dear reader, I need your help! You can be among the first to open it's wonderful-smelling pages! You can hold a first edition in your hands! A first-edition YOU helped make happen! Imagine if JK Rowling had asked you for a hand up before anyone had heard of Godwin's Hollow. And in return a thick, signed tome sat on your shelf... Mmmm. Shivers.
FAQ:
What will you do if you don't make your goal?
I will use whatever funds I receive to print as many copies as possible. There are discounts for volume orders, so lesser amounts will cost me more per copy, but printing will happen no matter WHAT amount is donated.
What will you do if you go over?
A long and energetic Happy Dance. I will print a larger volume of books, and that will get me to a better price point. Some of the books need to be given to reviewers, publishers, sellers... The more I can hand out, the quicker the word will spread.
Why don't you go with a regular publishing house?
For a couple of reasons:
1) It would take at LEAST a year before the book would see print. If I trust in the goodness of strangers, I can start printing NOW and shop for publishers later.
2) A regular publisher takes a HUGE cut. That would mean the price would go up and I, the author, would still make less per book.
3) I really like the idea of independent publishing. I get to learn the process first hand and run into all sorts of interesting people.
Did you TRY to get published first?
Sheri Salata, the President of Oprah Winfrey Networks has asked for a copy of the book. I obviously will be sending her one, and that is the first step in being picked up by a major house. BUT, I really do believe in the independent process, and I want to try it first.
I am also working on a separate project with a small publishing house, so I do have options, but Making It On My Own is important to me. (Yes, crowdfunding means WE make it on OUR own. I love that more.)
Do you have any experience writing?
Speech writing for 12 years gave me a good background in oratory and story telling. I literally wrote hundreds of speeches and spoke in front of thousands. The cross over to a purely written style is fairly strong. I have written many short stories over the years and a number of journal articles for successful magazines and newspapers.
Can I check out your stuff first?
Yes! craigtyrell.com contains some sample chapters. Please feel free to look around and ask questions!
How long will it take to get the book?
All books will be shipped on or before November 22nd. Any orders after that date will be shipped as they are received. Expect the usual Post Office delivery schedule.
Organizer
Craig Steuer
Organizer
Iowa City, IA
