Strong Medicine
Website: Strong Medicine Publishing
While the first book of the In The Eternal 今 trilogy was out for review, I contacted a publisher with a significant presence in the Mind, Body, Spirit market. They expressed interest and sent over their contract.
The contract wasn't unreasonable—this publisher had 40 years of experience and a solid reputation. But after reviewing clauses around multimedia rights and long-term control, the disadvantages of traditional publishing became clear. Publishers operate on a model where a small percentage of successful books subsidize the majority that don't perform. That model requires them to retain extensive rights to protect their investment.
Independence and Experimentation
Ultimately I decided to publish independently through Strong Medicine Publishing. We Meet Again is an experiment in interactive content—digital formats include embedded links to additional photos and location information, while print versions use QR codes to access the same material. This approach wouldn't have been possible under traditional publishing constraints.
The process required learning the publishing industry from the ground up: ISBNs, Ingram distribution setup, format conversions for different platforms, pricing strategies across markets. More complex than using a traditional publisher, but it gave us complete creative and business control.
Looking Forward
Strong Medicine Publishing now serves as the platform for the remaining books in the In the Eternal 今 series, and potentially other works that don't fit conventional publishing models. The infrastructure is in place, the distribution channels are established, and we control both the content and how it reaches readers.
