Website: Strong Medicine Publishing

While the first book of the In The Eternal 今 trilogy was out for initial review and feedback, I contacted a publisher with a large presence in the Mind, Body, Spirit space. After reviewing the manuscript, they expressed interest and sent over a copy of their contract for review. Initially the response was reassuring, but after reviewing the contract, a few disadvantages of traditional publishing became evident.

Publishers are in business to make money, and a small percentage of very successful books cover the losses incurred from a majority of the books they take on. This particular publisher had 40 years of experience and a good reputation, so the contract was not unreasonable. However, after considering the potential long term implications of the contract, including clauses regarding multimedia formats, the process of researching alternatives to traditional publishing began.

Independence and Experimentation

We Meet Again is an experiment in content presentation. There are many links to additional pictures and information about locations visited included in the digital formats of the book, enabling an interactive reading experience. Print versions will also be released, with links sustituted by QR codes, but the online and digital formats are expected to be more popular.

The ability to release the same material in different formats and languages, without being restrained by the traditional publishing business model, provides the kind of flexibility to authors that mirrors the reality of the digital era.

Beyond the Known

The technology now exists to put creators in control of both their content, and the monetization of that content. There are many opportunities in the still newly emerging realm of digital-first content creation, and the shift to a decentralized model of content presentation is inevitable.

The future is determined by the choices we make today. If we decide to take the path that, in the long term, takes us to a better place, then regardless of what happens between now and that better future, we can remain optimistic and confident, knowing that we made the right choice.