When Kaspa & I started the river of stones project, we had no idea where it would lead. Over time, as we read the wonderful observational writing springing up all over the internet, we decided it would be a good idea to make a book to showcase your wonderful pieces and to help spread the word about using small stones to engage with the world.
Since launching the book, we've had feedback from a few people who've been unhappy that we didn't offer them a free copy.
We've thought hard about this feedback. This project is important to us, and we've put our hearts into the blog, the river, the community, and the book.
As a result, we would like to offer all of our contributors a free PDF of the book - just email me or Kaspa and we'll send you one through.
If you're a contributor and you've already paid for a PDF and you'd like to be reimbursed, do email us and let us know. Lulu take half of the money you pay for each PDF, and as there's no way of getting this back, if you do want a refund we'll personally refund you the full amount.
Alternatively, you can know that the money that we receive from your PDF (and any hard copies you decide to buy) will go towards supporting us in our daily life and enabling us to continue doing what we're doing.
I'd also like to thank everybody who's given us positive feedback. We've had some really lovely emails and messages about the book and throughout the whole project.
Thank you for reading this, and for everything else. We do appreciate working with you.
Fiona & Kaspa
I bought a hardback copy on Friday and very happy to do so :)
ReplyDeleteSeconding what Rachel said--I bought two copies of the hardback, and may come back for softcovers for friends. To me, this is just a part of the small publishing world. When you do something out of the love of the art, everyone chips in.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, I can't argue a free electronic copy. I think this is more than fair. :)
I think you two are being a lot nicer about this than necessary. It's not like you were getting wealthy on others' efforts, particularly when those brief lines were never meant for commercial gain, but to enhance the writers' awareness. A River of Stones may lead to other things but I doubt the sales of that particular book will bring widespread elation to Inland Revenue.
ReplyDeleteI certainly never felt entitled to a free copy of the book merely because I contributed a few words and a few seconds of my time. I don't understand how anyone could feel they were that special and entitled. Frankly, :-) on them.
I second steeleweed. What he says :-)
ReplyDeleteI love y'all and thank you so much for your unexpected generosity. I was simply going to wait until I could afford it to see it. Now, I get a glimpse into it while I wait for the bucks for hard copies!
ReplyDeleteShalom.
What Steeleweed said. Just happy to be involved. More power to you.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Steeleweed. That being said, I'm glad that contributors who might not be able to afford a copy can have one to see. I think that is very generous of you both, and personally, even though I've written academically all my life, I have just started writing creatively and this is the first time I've ever submitted anything for publication. I'm just so pleased to be a part of this! I can't tell you how very much it means to me! Thanks ever so!
ReplyDelete"a river of stones" project made me write again. It's something beyond price. How could I ask for a free copy?
ReplyDeleteFiona and Kaspa, a deep bow to you
I never expected a free copy. Writing small stones for this project helped me slow down. I thank you for the opportunity to be in the book. I have ordered and paid for a hardback and I'm thrilled and excited to see and read it. Thanks for all you have done.
ReplyDeleteI was sorry to hear many writer's were unhappy with the distribution arrangement. You can't please all the people all the time.
ReplyDeleteyour friend Bob
I’ve already sent you a DM but basically it supports the comments made here. Dana-Maria - I agree with you wholeheartedly. I’ve written about my feelings on being published in my blog http://wp.me/p1gOaV-2V
ReplyDeleteOk, I always do things a little bit TOO big, but I bought ten copies for family and friends and one hardback for myself because I am just so excited to be a part of the river of stones project!
ReplyDeleteI have never expected a free copy of the book, but instead, feel honored to be apart of something greater than myself and to be able to have the opportunity to 'find the extraordinary in the ordinary.'
Fiona and Kaspa, you inspire with your guidance and focus. I just feel so blessed to be a small stone in this great river. Thank you for being who you are and doing what you are doing.
LOL, Lisa! I was ready to do the same and for the same reasons, but figured I'd start with 3 so I didn't deprive others. Trust me, I will be back more than once for more! And I too feel so fortunate to be a small stone in this great river!
ReplyDeleteHey Fiona and Kaspa-
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry you have had any negative feedback at all- wow.
Please know I have been thoroughly been taken in by your kindness and the wonderful community you have created. Maybe it is because I have not been long at this writing thing-but I cannot imagine anyone who sent in submissions could want more than a their name next to their piece.
If anything I worry that you both are overextended-
Thank you for providing such a great place- blessings-
Fiona and Kaspa,
ReplyDeleteThe thought never occurred to me to expect a free copy. I am happy to have purchased copies for friends, family and myself, and look forward to reading it when I receive my order. The River of Stones has done a lot for me and has got me writing more often again. Yours was a labor of love and so very much appreciated.
I bought a pdf copy until my next paycheck comes in and I don't regret it. I am happy to just be in the book. Maybe if you were a big publishing company with lots of revenue already coming in, I would grumble a little but it's a few dollars. I have wasted money on less important things. You guys gave us an opportunity to have a voice with open arms and that is something that you cannot get from every writing project. So thank you. It was worth every dollar.
ReplyDeleteSad that you've had some negative feedback. It's not as if you are forcing folk to buy a copy - they have the option not to if their egos and bookshelves can possibly survive without one. No-one was told they'd get a freebie at the end of the process. I know the time and effort required to pull a book together and you're not exactly in line to make a fortune from the sales.
ReplyDeleteWe've both been very touched by your responses here and on email. It has been a bit tricky, but hey - that's life :) Kaspa's birthday today (as you'll see in a minute) so we're off to enjoy our day now. We'll send the PDFs out tomorrow to those of you who've requested one overnight. Deep bow.
ReplyDeleteWell, me too, just delighted to be included in the book. And, much more than that, really grateful and happy for what I'm gaining from the practice of writing small stones. People doing creative and therapeutic and even spiritual work also need money to live on, or you won't be able to keep doing it. To offer so much as a gift and then to ask for payment for the optional extra of a the book seems ultra-reasonable to me. Sorry to hear you have received some criticism for this. I guess that, sadly, this goes along with visibility and success. Best wishes.
ReplyDeleteIt is always nice to be included in an anthology, and I was happy to purchase a copy. I really didn't think that I'd get a free copy with the price point what it was (about breaking even on set-up costs, printing, etc) from the outset. But then I am connected with another small press (Drinian Press) and I know how little gets returned monetarily to the writers and the press (about a $ 1.00/$1.50 per book) especially with the cut Lulu.com tends to take, so I didn't expect a copy. And you two did an enormous job putting together the stones in a cohesive manner, and you deserve to be paid for that. To make a long story, short...well done, Fiona/Kaspa. Congrats!
ReplyDeleteI think the time & effort Fiona & Kaspalita put into making this book a reality was more than anyone could wish for as far as "free" goes. Sure, it's a little bit of a brain cell exercise to come up with a small stone poem every day & then pick 10 favorites. But the effort, thoughtfulness, & time that goes along with editing is much, much harder & challenging. I think the least anyone whose work was included in this book could do is support the effort made by F & K to get it published by buying a copy. Get over yourselves, stop whining, be happy that you've been published, & help celebrate what this experience gave to all of us who were involved!
ReplyDeleteFor some reason I can't buy a copy. I want to support what you've been doing which is simply amazing. Have you had any other people from Australia have difficulties with the Lulu website?
ReplyDeleteThank you all. Read and appreciated :)
ReplyDeleteSue - sorry to hear you've had trouble - I'm not sure about Lulu and Australia. It will appear on Amazon in 6 weeks time, in the meantime do email me for a PDF and let me know if you keep having problems.
Thank you both for your creation of the book! I ordered a copy from LuLu using the discount code. My finances are shaky at present, so I really appreciated it. I had never heard of LuLu, so you've opened up the world of self publishing to me also. Thank you very, very much!
ReplyDeleteSnowbourne - yay! And we've heard since using Lulu that Create Space is also good, apparently - I've used Lulu a few times and have been happy, but worth checking them both out.
ReplyDeleteThat's very kind of you to offer the pdf - but not necessary as far as I'm concerned!
ReplyDeleteI'm very tickled with my shiny new (and it is shiny!)paperback copy that arrived today and yay! I'm on p 97!
It's well worth the price and looks great. You can tell a lot of love went into its creation.
Hats off to Fiona and Kaspa for pulling this all together.
I just wanted to say thank you for all your work in co-ordinating the river. I received my copy of the book in the post this morning and I am delighted with it! It's been well and truly passed around the office and everyone has commented how lovely it is and what a great idea!
ReplyDeleteThanks again! x
Thank you Susan - yes, lots and lots of love. Love always make the best books.
ReplyDeleteJen - hurray! We might even get a couple of new converts.... ;)
Received mine today...very nice! Beautiful stones, very nicely polished and presented. A few so simple and yet so perfect, they brought me to tears. A few filled me with laughter.
ReplyDeleteAll in all, you two did a fantastic job putting it together.
Thanks Nan :) Glad you are enjoying it.
ReplyDeleteI've composed academically all my life, I have just began creating creatively and also this may be the initial time I've actually submitted something for publication.
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