Meet (Some of ) the Woman's Work Contributors

While we've been busy shipping out orders of the newest anthology, Woman's Work: Short Stories, I thought I would take the time to hand deliver some of the books to a few of the contributors and chat them up.

In the video below you will find five contributors who will tell you a little bit about their stories, why they write, and maybe some advice for budding writers.

The contributors are: Megan M. Walsh (Cats and Dogs and Spiderwebs), Candace Tyler (Social Service), Venus Campbell (A Queen's Burden), Patricia R. Corbett (Fall of the House of Snow) and Lois A. Wiley (Sousabella).

Enjoy!

Why Woman's Work?

Since I sent out the first call for submissions for "Woman's Work," everyone has felt compelled to "correct" the spelling of Woman's to Women's. Although I'm quite aware that this newest collection highlights the writings of 40 women...my choice of the title was inspired by the writings of one woman in particular. See the introduction to the anthology for further clarification.

Introduction

Part of the problem is that I treat writing like a privilege not an obligation.
It comes after everything, after all my other responsibilities.
Maegan “la Mamita Mala” Ortiz
My Writing Life

In many ways, this anthology found its inspiration in blogger/poet/activist Maegan “la Mamita Mala” Ortiz’s essay “My Writing Life,” that appears in the anthology Just Like a Girl: A Manifesta!. Although we had received over 400 submissions for that project, her well-crafted treatise, speaking as it does of a writer’s life that occurred after she breastfed the baby, did the housework, and took care of her partner, is the story of all of the other women who did not meet our submission deadline that year. These twenty-first century women whose lives look very much like those of their sisters from generations ago, only now with jobs, some high-end, some barely making ends meet, to go along with all that “woman’s work” that has always threatened to keep women away from their passions.

Every week I get an email from a woman who laments not finishing that novel, or poem, or memoir that they have been meaning to get to. I tell them to write one page a day, for five minutes, and that before they know it they will have that project completed. But in reality, I don’t live their lives. I don’t have to juggle anything, except my own discipline, to get my writing done. I don’t have the traditional trappings that require that I put anyone first and relegate my writing schedule to a time after everyone is sleeping.

I admire those women who don’t give up in the face of three-hour dance recitals, chicken pox, or last minute fifth grade science projects. They keep stoking that creative fire, believing that they will get back to it and what they have to say is worth saying.

These provocative, funny, and original short stories are from the women who, like Maegan Ortiz, show up to the page deep into the night, after all their woman’s work is done, and let their passions fly.

Poet Sonya Renee Taylor on Joe's Place (WHUR)

We are just a couple weeks from the release of A LITTLE TRUTH ON YOUR SHIRT and we are already starting the rounds on interviews and booking readings.

In this video, at the WHUR studio with Joe Gorham, Sonya talks about her decision to put a manuscript together, while in New Zealand, and seeking out a publisher. She ends with a poem from the book.
Enjoy - then make your way over to www.girlchildpress.com/products.html to purchase your copy of the new collection. Promise you wont be disappointed:)

GirlChild Press Accepting Manuscripts

Although we have set the publishing slate for 2010 with the anticipated release of Woman's Work: The Short Stories (the final anthology from the girls series) and our first single-author book, A Little Truth on Your Shirt, by Sonya Renee Taylor, we are already preparing for 2011.

In line with the GirlChild Press mission, we are interested in publishing the works of women and girl writers. We are especially interested in submissions from writers 21-years-old and younger, although writers of all ages are invited to submit their work.

We are currently looking for manuscripts in the following areas:
* YA Novels(with special interest in a Native American/Latina/Arab/Asian protagonist)
* Speculative Fiction
* Historical Fiction
* Poetry
* Memoirs
* How to (with an emphasis on girls)
No exclusively erotica manuscripts at this time. Also no anthologies.

Submission Guidelines:
1. Submit the first ten (10) pages of your manuscript electronically to girlchildpress@aol.com.

2. The subject line of the email should include the title of the work, your name and the genre. Example: Black Swan submitted by Michelle Sewell - memoir.

3. A basic summary of the work should be included in the body of the email, along with your bio.

4. Also share why you believe this book should be published and who is the intended audience.

5. Please allow 3-4 weeks for reveiw. If we are interested in seeing the entire manuscript we will contact you for a hard copy.

The Soulmate Search : A Book Review

If you think the concept of having a soul mate is crap or that “attracting” the perfect person into your life is double crap, then you should probably stop reading here. But if you have been romantically attached to a long list of losers or every weekend you find yourself reluctantly sitting on your couch with only the company of a bag of Doritos — then read on.

Arielle Ford’s The Soulmate Secret: Manifest the Love of Your Life with the Law of Attraction just might be the antidote to your partner-less life that you’ve been looking for.

I bumped into this little book of love and joy while searching the new arrival stacks at my local library. I am personally not in the market for a new mate, but Ford’s sunny and hopeful writing style compelled me to check this little puppy out and I have not been able to put it down.

Let me be clear that The Soulmate Secret isn’t bringing us any late breaking information that we have not heard before. What makes this 207 page quick read so compelling is its accessibility. Ford saves you from chapters of psycho-babble, that normally makes you feel like who would want to date you any way, and jumps right into how to find that special person.
The book takes you through a quick soulmate IQ test: Do you believe there is a soul mate out there for you? Are there past lovers who still have their energetic hooks in you — or are yours in them? Are you psychologically ready to receive your soul mate? These are just a few of the probing questions put to you on page one. If you answer “no” to any of the nine questions, Ford lets you know right off the bat that you and the current state of mind is the barrier that is stopping your soulmate from showing up. If you must know I answered “no” to half the damn questions.

But don’t fear; she has a host of activities and testimonies to get you into relationship shape. In many ways the book ask that you accept full responsibility for all the sub-par mates that have been showing up in your life. When you look back on your failed relationships you knew they were trouble or broke or alcoholics or needy or crazy from the very start, but you let them in anyway. From the start they couldn’t give you what you needed and you certainly could not impact change in their chaotic lives, so you were forced to ride it out until the relationship died some horrible, often messy, death. Then you were back on that couch, with your bag of Doritos, feeling like a failure and wondering why you are so unlucky in love.

To combat these unintentional relationships, Ford suggests that you make an exhaustive list of the attributes you want in a partner. I know it sounds super easy but try it. After you scribble down the first five or six characteristics a lot of folks find themselves struggling to come up with the recommended minimum 25 items. Partly, the exercise is about showing you you are not necessarily connected to what you want in a partner. This disconnect is why you accept anything that shows up. Once you get past the cute, nice, good in bed and not allergic to the cat, you discover there is a lot of things you hate about your new love. And there you are, back on the relationship roller coaster. The author suggests you should commit about 30 minutes to making this list.

Making your soul mate list is just the start to the process that leads you through a lot of purging and reflection in your life. When it comes to your physical space: throw away those bedsheets that are still around from two relationships ago. They are probably carrying around some bad love juju. Make a vision board of what you want your soul mate to look like and what you would like to do with them and hang it in your bedroom. Set up an altar to remind you that you “purposely” trying to attract your true love. When it comes to you, get your butt into therapy or some form of counseling. Take inventory of your life. There is a reason that you keep attracting the wrong person. Find out why, and then stop doing it.

My favorite part of the book is the couple testimonies sprinkled throughout. Ford says that all the couples highlighted took the steps recommended in the book and found their true love. We got people meeting on planes, in gyms, in snowstorms, at seminars, and in parking lots. One guy reports that he woke up one morning, with a random phone number running through his head, and when he called it it was a woman living 50 miles away that he had never heard of. After he told her how he came to call her, and she did not hang up on him, they met for coffee and have been together ever since. Stop rolling your eyes, especially if you are still sitting on that couch covered in Doritos dust.

If I had any criticism of the book are Ford’s “Feelingizations.” These are meant to be meditations that you can do when you want to connect to the idea of attracting your soul mate. I personally could not get through them, but maybe you will have better luck. There is also a website that provides a guided audio of these feelingizations that could make the meditation a little easier.

All in all, I think this book is perfect for those who are ready to take a real hard look at their romantic life and are serious about getting into an intentional and healthy long-term relationship. Happy manifesting!

Blog Spot Radio Interview

Had the opportunity to be a guest on Sippin' On Ink and chatting with host extraordinaire Kat. We talked about GirlChild Press, the future of publishing girls and women, and following your dreams!
Check it out and leave some comments.

GIRLCHILD PRESS FALL SALE

BUY TWO COPIES OF JUST LIKE A GIRL: A MANIFESTA! AND RECEIVE ONE FREE!
Just Like A Girl is a rough-and-tumble, sassy, kick-ass travelogue through the bumpy, powerful, action-packed world of GIRL. A world where girls and women know how to pick themselves up and brush themselves off. These are the clever girls. The funny girls. The girls who know there is no sin in being born one.
The anthology is now being used as a textbook at Michigan State University.

Full Scholarship Available for Writing Workshop!

GirlChild Press has always been blessed with generous and enthusiastic supporters so I wasn't totally surprised when I opened my email inbox to find an offer to provide a full scholarship to a woman writer for the DC writing workshop on October 4, 2009.

If you or someone you know is interested in securing the scholarship all you have to do is complete a one page, double space essay on why you want to attend the workshop and what you would like to accomplish as a result of your attendance. All essays should be submitted by August 28, 2009 to girlchildpress@aol.com. We'll make a final determination by September 7, 2009.

If anyone else is interested in providing a scholarship for a woman writer please feel free to contact us at girlchildpress@aol.com

Michelle
www.girlchildpress.com

GirlChild Press on the Road (Day 2)

We logged in about 600 miles today! Amanda did all the driving so that I could write my blog for Velvet Park and read the remaining short stories for the Woman's Work project (and make final decisions). I was supposed to have rejection letters out tonight but that doesn't look like it is going to happen. It doesn't help that the hotel internet is tre shakey! Hopefully I can send them out tomorrow night.

Interesting note about the submissions this time around.Not as many young writers (21 and under) as before. More speculative fiction. More women of color. More clustering of east coast submissions. More repeat submissions from writers from the previous anthologies. Equally as hard making selections:)

We are bedding down in Tulsa, OK. Another day of flat lands and high temperatures. It is 93 degrees at 10:30pm. I am sure as we continue west it will get hotter and hotter.

Tomorrow we are looking at 1200 miles. No, we will not drive them all! Our goal is to make it to New Mexico. We have a dinner invite so we hope to break bread with cool folks on the third day of our trip. At this rate we might be in California by Thursday, but I still think we are looking at a Friday arrival so we can do some sightseeing.

Thank goodness for unlimited phone and text services because we are getting calls/texts from all over checking in and wanting to chat us up. Too bad you can't put positive energy in the gas tank, 'cause we getting that in abundance.

Note: Amanda keeps referring to Marriott because she works for them and we are using her major employee discount to have a nice place to sleep at the end of these long days!

Check out our video for the day.


Michelle
www.girlchildpress.com

GirlChild Press on the Road (Day 1)

The GirlChild Press Express has pulled into Louisville, KY for the night. We did ten hours today. Actually, I drove ten hours. The kid sister talked and slept (see video below).

We started out a couple hours behind schedule but the road conditions were great so we made good time. We spent most of our day in West Virgina and Kentucky. Nothing interesting to report. Mostly rolling hills and long roads. I'm sure folks from both states will let me know there is tons to see in their respective states. It just wasn't apparent from my vantage point (going 75 miles an hour).

Tomorrow we will hit the road at 8:00am. We will be tackling St. Louis and Oklahoma. More videos and pictures to come.



Michelle
www.girlchildpress.com

Here is the cover of the new anthology Woman's Work: The Short Stories. I am working with the wonderfully talented Kendra Kuliga (again) and as always she is working her magic with this project.

The cover model is Melani N. Douglass. She is both a striking and confident young woman. A perfect cover model for this project!

Tell us what you think about the cover.

Michelle
www.girlchildpress.com

Woman's Work Call Extended - June 1, 2009

I have extended the call for submissions for Woman's Work: The Short Stories. I am looking for quality work from women writers. The submissions do not have to be about work or women. Let your imagination fly! See the call below.

Woman’s Work: The Short Stories

Part of the problem is that I treat writing like a privilege not an obligation. It comes after everything, after all my other responsibilities.
Maegan “La Mala” Ortiz
My Writing Life


Woman’s Work: The Short Stories is a celebration of what happens when women finally get to the page. About the extraordinary stories that spill out of these extraordinary, and often ignored, storytellers during those stolen moments when she surrenders to her burning desire to write, to create.

GirlChild Press seeks the fresh and exciting voices of writers that will entice the reader with intricate tales of shapeshifters and evil doppelgangers, rock and roll princesses in twisted fairy tales, broken gunslingers in deserted western towns, and political murder mysteries that lead to sex in illicit places.

We will follow her through rabbit holes and pop up as mermaids dressed in camouflage, all while reveling in a romance that bloomed on a long-forgotten battlefield in outer space. Surprises will await us at every corner. We will discover what is passionate, and pure, and complicated and be glad for it.

Ultimately, Woman’s Work is about women as master storytellers.

Submission Requirements

• Deadline: June 1, 2009
• No more than 2 previously unpublished short stories per submission
• Simultaneous submissions okay, but notify if your work is accepted elsewhere
• 4,000 words or less
• Double spaced
• NO POETRY

All contributors will receive a copy of the anthology and will be invited to read at the book launch in 2009.

Electronic Submissions

Girlchildpress@aol.com
Title of submission should be placed in the subject line.
Please include your name, email address, mailing address, phone number, and short bio with your submission.

Snail Mail
GirlChild Press
PO Box 93
Hyattsville, MD 20781

Please include your name, email address, mailing address, phone number, and short bio with your submission


GirlChild Press publishes work that celebrates the triumph, defiance, and excellence of girls and women everywhere!

Woman's Work: The Extension and Point of Clarification

April 10th is the new deadline for the call for submissions. Although I have received some amazing stories, I am still a long way from my goal of 30 solid, amazing stories (I've received about 200 submissions at this point). Also if one more person writes me and tells me they are just finding out about the call I am going to poke my own eye out...lol

Point of Clarification: the stories that I am looking for do not have to be about women. I am looking for talented women writers who can write about ANYTHING. So don't feel stuck because you have a great WWII story but your protagonist is male. SEND IT! Woman's Work is about highlighting women as writers - whatever the story.

Okay, get to writing and pass the word!!
*The full call is right below this entry.

Michelle
www.girlchildpress.com

NEW CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

Woman’s Work: The Short Stories

Part of the problem is that I treat writing like a privilege not an obligation. It comes after everything, after all my other responsibilities.
Maegan “la Mala” Ortiz
My Writing Life


Woman’s Work: The Short Stories is a celebration of what happens when women finally get to the page. About the extraordinary stories that spill out of these extraordinary, and often ignored, storytellers during those stolen moments when she surrenders to her burning desire to write, to create.

GirlChild Press seeks the fresh and exciting voices of writers that can entice the reader with intricate tales of shapeshifters and evil doppelgangers, rock and roll princesses in twisted fairy tales, broken gunslingers in deserted western towns, and political murder mysteries that lead to sex in illicit places.

We will follow her through rabbit holes and pop up as mermaids dressed in camouflage, all while reveling in a romance that bloomed on a long-forgotten battlefield in outer space. Surprises will await us at every corner. We will discover what is passionate, and pure, and complicated and be glad for it.

Ultimately, Woman’s Work is about women as master storytellers.

Submission Requirements

• Deadline: March 1, 2009
• No more than 2 previously unpublished short stories per submission
• Simultaneous submissions okay, but notify if your work is accepted elsewhere
• 4,000 words or less
• Double spaced
• NO POETRY

All contributors will receive a copy of the anthology and will be invited to read at the book launch in 2009.

Electronic Submissions

Girlchildpress@aol.com
Title of submission should be placed in the subject line.
Please include your name, email address, mailing address, phone number, and short bio with your submission.

Snail Mail
GirlChild Press
PO Box 93
Hyattsville, MD 20781

Please include your name, email address, mailing address, phone number, and short bio with your submission


GirlChild Press publishes work that celebrates the triumph, defiance, and excellence of girls and women everywhere!

For more information about GirlChild Press visit www.girlchildpress.com

Bailouts and Book Buying

Like most folks I am worried about the economy and curious (and slightly annoyed) about the potential...who are we kidding...inevitable bailout of Wall Street (I think the House votes on the plan on Monday).

700 billion dollars! Really?

What is clear is that the bailout will be financed by the taxpayers. There is no magic pot of money sitting somewhere ready to be tapped into to fund this financial catastrophe. Why was this allowed to get so far out of hand? Why does Wall Street believe that the government should help them out of the hole they have dug for themselves? What happened to "the market will correct itself" and personal responsibility? I know all the talking heads are saying we don't have a choice at this point, and the bailout MUST happen or our economy is going to spiral even deeper into chaos. According to the Treasury secretary Henry Paulson, we are moments from a depression. If what they are saying is true, and the mismanagement by the folks on Wall Street is inextricably tied to the financial well-being of the people of America (if not the world), then why weren't they keeping an eye on our financial cousins all along? Aren't there people, paid good ass money, in charge of keeping track of all this. Didn't they see this coming?

Every day there appears to be a new casualty. On Thursday, WaMu Bank (biggest bank to fail in US history) went down the toilet (assets sold to JP Morgan Chase for 1.9 billion dollars). The week before, Lehman Brothers filed bankruptcy, and AIG received some sort of "favorite nation" status when they received a $85 billion bailout from the feds. This after we threw out life preservers to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac earlier in the month. And let's not forget that the dollar is as weak as atrophied legs on a coma patient. As the folks on the Hill try and come up with a plan that takes care of "Wall Street and Main Street," I have to ask - why were these banks allowed to dispense all these risky loans to people and businesses that they knew couldn't repay them?

When I was buying my house five years ago, just before the market became so inflated that the same house I purchased for less than $200,000, could be sold "as is" for $350.000; I was informed by my financial officer that according his calculations that I could actually afford to borrow $300,000. On what planet? He informed me that although my house was relatively cheap, I could borrow the rest of the money to make major renovations on the house and increase its value. Okay...but I can't afford a $2,000 house note. Again, he assured me that he could "work a deal" and the note wouldn't be that high - initially. That's right- an ARM. He told me I was smart and talented and he just knew that I would be making an additional $10,000 before the ARM went into affect. Seriously? I told him I worked for a nonprofit. End of story. But clearly a lot of folks let these financial wizards talk them into homes (cars, credit cards, investments) they couldn't afford in the long run, and when the bill came due, they were screwed royally.

So what does the the failing economy and looming bailouts have to do with book buying? Everything. In fact it is impacting every area of our society. When you are paying $4.00 for gas, barely keeping up with your mortgage, and trying to keep food on your family's table, you suddenly have to start making choices, and a book comes off the must have item list, very quickly. Unless of course you are selling how to make money and survive financial meltdowns -then those might be bestsellers.

When I started the production of Just Like A Girl I was unaware, that in a year, we (as in the US) would be in such deep doodie - economically. Now that I am selling and marketing the book it is absolutely apparent. With this new information I've had to make adjustments, rethink how I book readings (especially on the west coast - since the price to fly has doubled),and how many review copies of the anthology I can send out. I've had to step up my marketing of the book with an emphasis on sales through the GirlChild Press website (Amazon.com makes 55% on each sale of the book through their site) and crunching the numbers on what bulk sales vs individual sales will look like over the next 6 months. Since I know that Uncle Sam will not be coming by GirlChild Press anytime soon, and writing me a bailout check to keep it afloat, I will have to be a good fiscal manager and make realistic and responsible decisions to insure that the Press will be around for many more years. What a novel concept.


Until later!
Michelle
www.girlchildpress.com

Milestones and High Expectations

As of today, GirlChild Press has sold 2,500 copies of Growing Up Girl: An Anthology of Voices from Marginalized Spaces! For an independently published book that is pretty damn good. A lot of hard work has gone into this anthology over the last two years and I am glad folks are still interested in the book. Now with the release of the new anthology Just Like A Girl: A Manifesta! I am setting some really high expectations.

Over the next 12 months, my goal is to sell 5,000 copies of Just Like A Girl. Don't make that face. It is totally doable. It is all about getting the word out on this wonderful, funny, and powerful anthology. I'm not overstating when I tell you that the JLAG contributors have put their foot in it (go find a southern friend and ask them what the hell that means). They have crafted some amazing and unique work and you will be blown away by the wonderful and resilient world of GIRL that they have created.

Every day I feel honored that I have been given the resources to create a space where women and girls can construct and tell their stories. The mission is simple and straightforward: publish work that celebrates the triumph and defiance of girls and women, and provide a quality forum to bring their diverse voices to the foreground.

Here is a few ways you can help the press reach the "5,000 copies sold" goal:

1. Buy a copy of the book - www.girlchildpress.com/products.html

2. Buy your mama a copy of the book - www.girlchildpress.com/products.html

3. Tell your friends to buy the book - www.girlchildpress.com/products.html

4. If you work for an organization with a budget, buy a bunch of books (bulk orders of 10 copies or more will receive a discount) www.girlchildpress.com/products.html

5. Pass the word and encourage everyone you know (and even a couple strangers) to buy the book www.girlchildpress.com/products.html

6. Set up a Just Like A Girl reading at your school, bookstore, church, office, book club, sorority, or any place you want us to come.

And if you want to meet some of the fabulous writers, in the amazing book you have purchased, check out the tour schedule below and see if we are coming to your neck of the woods.

Just Like A Girl: A Manifesta! 2008 Tour Schedule

Friday, December 12, 2008 - 8:00pm
Charis Books
1189 Euclid Avenue
Atlanta, GA
www.charis.booksense.com

Friday, December 5, 2008 - 6:30pm
A Room of One's Own Feminist Bookstore
307 W. Johnson Street
Madison, WI 53703
www.roomofonesown.com

Friday, November 7, 2008 - 7:00pm
Women and Children First
5233 N. Clark Street
Chicago, IL
www.womenandchildrenfirst.com

Saturday, November 1, 2008 - 4:00pm
Busboys and Poets
2021 14th Street, NW
Washington, DC
www.busboysandpoets.com

Friday, October 31, 2008 -
Wooden Shoe Books
508 S. 5th Street
Philadelphia, PA
www.woodenshoebooks.com

Saturday, October 25, 2008 - 3:00pm
Big Blue Marble Books
551 Carpenter Street
Philadelphia, PA
www.bigbluemarblebooks.com

Friday, October 17, 2008 - 6:00pm
Red Emma's Bookstore
800 St. Paul Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
www.redemmas.com

Tuesday, October 14, 2008 - 12:00pm
Antioch University
Keene, NH

Monday, October 13, 2008 -11:00pm
Diana Cage Show
Sirius Radio (channel 109)
New York, NY
*in studio interview

Saturday, October 11, 2008 - 7:00pm
Bluestockings Books
172 Allen Street
(between Stanton and Rivington)
New York, NY
www.bluestockings.com

Sunday, October 5, 2008 - 2:00pm
Writer's Center
4508 Walsh Street
Bethesda, MD
www.writer.org

Wednesday, September 24, 2008 - 6:30pm
In Other Words Books
8 NE Killingsworth Street
Portland, OR
www.inotherwords.org

Tuesday, September 23, 2008 - 7:00pm
Pendleton Library
502 S.W. Dorion Ave.
Pendleton, OR
www.pendleton.or.us/library.htm

The Big Delivery!

That's Kendra (graphic designer extraordinaire) and she is holding the very first copy of Just Like A Girl: A Manifesta! straight out the box (actually from one of the many boxes that are stacked floor to ceiling in my office). I really couldn't have done this project without her. Kendra is a very gifted artist and she brought her A game to the this project.

For my part, I am sealing envelopes. I knew this day would come so I pre-labeled all the the contributors' envelopes so that they could go in the mail as soon as the books got here. I've already made three trips to the post office. I can't wait for the contributors to get their copy of the anthology. I'm especially excited for my young writers and never-published contributors to see their name in print! I keep staring at the cover and willing myself not to look for the mistakes or second guess the choices that went into making the book. I am going to celebrate all the good intentions and know that with each book - we get better and better. I am already thinking about the short story anthology and the parenting handbook that will be released in September 2009.

If you haven't bought your copy yet - dash on over to www.girlchildpress.com/products.html If you buy it today, I guarantee you will have the book in two days (not counting Sunday, smarty!) The pre-sale ends April 30th and the book will go to its regular price - $20.00 + s&h. Catch the deal while you can:)

Michelle
www.girlchildpress.com

Trivia Tuesday

Which director did Guinevere Turner(Go Fish, American Psycho) inspire to make what movie that premiered in 1997.

The first correct answer wins a FREE copy of Just Like A Girl!

Last week's answer - "When it came time to name my fledgling press, I chose RedBone as a way to indicate to other black people that this was a black woman-owned, born in the South, press."
Winner - Stephanie Kemp

And for those who just want to buy a copy (at a reduced rate) www.girlchildpress.com/products.html

Good Luck
Michelle
www.girlchildpress.com

* Previous winners not eligible.

So Who's Picking Up the Tab?

There is a long answer to that question - so I'll give you the highlights.

Basically the sale of the anthologies is what generates the resources to publish more books and go on the tour. When I first published Growing Up Girl: An Anthology - a small grant and my personal financial investment got the project off the ground. About six months into the life of the anthology - the sale of the book is what paid for airfare, hotel stays (subsized by my sister who works at Marriott), and car rentals while the book was on tour.

That means that I have to really hustle before the anthology is actually released to make sure there is money to cover the production, shipping, and promotion of the book. Hence the current pre-sale (stop here and go order a book. I'll wait. www.girlchildpress.com/products.html) Your back:)


The second time at bat was somewhat easier than when I first decided to release the first book. Growing Up Girl has been a solid seller and so money has been coming in rather consistently (or at least when I really need it) to cover various publishing expenses. This time around I did run into the problem of having to go to the printer with both books at the same time and that made things tight. Thank goodness I have supportive family members that believed in me enough to pull out their checkbooks to help with some of the printing cost.

Just Like A Girl is having an amazing pre-sale period! The word is out on the anthology and the sales are strong enough that I'll be able to handle mailing the books and postcards (that assist in the advertisement of the books) with little trouble. So far I haven't had to go into my personal stash. That doesn't mean I won't at some point because @#$% happens. Shoot, even Hillary had to loan her campaign 5 million dollars. But I do believe I have a strong enough marketing and business plan to make Just Like A Girl a solid success and even outsell the original anthology.
Now that the press is juggling multiple books, I am interested to see how that affects the bottomline.

In 2009, I plan on releasing two books simultaneously. One will be a short story anthology and the other a parenting book for girls. Between now and then my goal is to make the press entirely self-sustaining and even hire a staff member. I'll let you know how that goes.

Michelle
www.girlchildpress.com

They are flying off the virtual shelves!

After just one day it is clear that Just Like A Girl is going to be a hit! Although the pre-sale began on March 31, 2008, yesterday is when the orders started flooding in. Folks are buying three and four copies at a time. I'm sure some of those are the supporters of the various contributors, but I also received a few notes to let me know that they really enjoyed Growing Up Girl and couldn't wait to see what Just Like A Girl had to offer. I guarantee that everyone will be blown away by this book. I am so proud of this project!

If you haven't gotten your copy yet (get it now before the price goes up) check us out at www.girlchildpress.com/products.html

Michelle
www.girlchildpress.com