Tree Hugging GirlChild Press Style

On my way back from the post office this morning I noticed that every third neighbor was having a yard sale. Ten yard sales in 4 blocks and my curiosity was sufficiently piqued. What's up with the massive yard sale fever?! Turns out our entire neighborhood is having a community yard sale. See what I get for not reading the newsletter.

So I stopped off at one of my neighbors to check out what he was selling. I am looking for a little table to go into a space that will become my alleged meditation room - before the decade is over. This neighbor is uber tree hugger (I say that with love) and most of his stuff consisted of jelly jars and boxes (shoe boxes to be specifically). After a 10 minute conversation (more like a lecture) on consistent recycling, landfill use and global footprints, I found myself committing to "creative recycling."

I still don't have a table for my meditation room but I did remember that I have at least ten sneaker boxes stacked up in that said room. Guess what my bulk orders are going in? Can't say I'm not doing my part:)

If you want your very own copies of Just Like A Girl delivered in a rather fancy sneaker box, pull out that credit card and go to www.girlchildpress.com/products.html then figure out a way to creatively recycle and lessen those footprints. Next thing you know I'll be swimming out into the middle of the ocean and protesting whaling boats!

Michelle
http://www.girlchildpress.com/

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.

Fish Tacos, Drifting, and Canyon Walking

All in a 24 hour LA day!
I am actually here for work but somehow I've not done a lick of writing - except for here. I'm in LA to meet with the director and producers on my first official feature film script. Actually, it is not my first feature script - I've got a couple hanging around in a drawer at home - so this is my first adapted feature film script.

I met the director Carolyn Coal in a writing fellowship last summer and we really hit it off. We stayed in touch and a few months later I got an email from her asking if I would consider coming on board to adapt a book she had recently optioned. Of course I said yes - never having adapted anything before I wanted the experience. We started on the project in December and now we are only a few months away from shooting the film. It is an independent project so no studio interference - which allows for a quick turnaround. In about an hour I will be sitting around a table getting notes on the first draft of the script. I am really fascinated to see how the process will go.

I got here on Friday morning. Carolyn was off filming a documentary on a drift driver (picture above) so her partner Bobbi picked me up from the airport and we hung out. We found this really cool place that does these fantastic fish tacos and I am hooked. Bobbi eats non-stop but somehow remains a size 4. This morning I found out why.

They invited me to go on a "walk" with them and an hour later I think I am just starting to feel my feet. That's me trying to hold on for dear life to Clark. He basically pulled me up the canyon. Poor thing:0)

All in all - having a great time! But don't think just because I'm off canyon walking in LA that that absolves you from buying a copy of Just Like A Girl. Go on now. Pull out that credit card and get your copy so that I can ship it off to you when I get back. www.girlchildpress.com/products.html

Michelle

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

Trivia Tuesday

What is the origin of the name of Lisa Moore's publishing company?

The first correct answer gets a FREE copy of Just Like A Girl: A Manifesta!
Last week's answer: 2004
Winner: Julie Senger

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