WHY I’M GIVING MY BOOK PROFITS AWAY
A writer friend of mine—a lovely friend, so grounded in her purpose-driven life—asked me a thought-provoking question recently.
She asked: Why have you written this particular story?
I didn’t have a ready answer.
But it got me thinking.
What compelled me to concoct flawed characters, carry them around in my head for decades, and then, after endlessly writing and rewriting their stories, dare to trust them to readers who may not even like them?
I’m not sure I’ll ever know the answer. But one thing I know for sure.
It’s not about the money.
It is estimated that 11,000 new books are published on Amazon every single day. The average book sells 200 copies in its first year and 1,000 over its lifetime. A novel like Eden’s Daughter would be extremely fortunate to get a toehold in the avalanche of books hitting the marketplace today.
But because my publisher, BWL Publishing Inc., will absorb some of the costs (and rightfully take some of the proceeds), I am hopeful that sales of Eden’s Daughter will surpass my own pre-publication and marketing expenses.
I might make a little bit of money from my book.
So, I began to ask myself: What if my book could help young women who—like my teenage protagonist, Eden English—want nothing more than to keep their babies?
What if there is a reason to share this story?
A few years ago, I worked for Catholic Family Service, a social service agency in Calgary, Alberta, now known as Kindred Connections Society.
In my role as Communications Coordinator, I often interviewed clients attending Louise Dean Centre, a school for young pregnant and parenting students supported by the agency.
I heard their stories. I met their babies and attended their graduations. I was always struck by their strong resolve to finish high school and build a good life for their children, against all odds.
Louise Dean Centre has had a long and successful history in Calgary. The program recently relocated to Jack James High School, where its compassionate work with teenage mothers and their children continues into its sixth decade.
I want my novel to be a small part of that success.
Yes, when it comes to book sales, I am a realist. But I’m also a dreamer.
I hope my book not only finds a toehold but becomes a bestseller. Because now, Eden’s Daughter has found its purpose. I have decided to donate the proceeds from my book sales to Louise Dean Centre in Calgary, Alberta.
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Read more about Louise Dean Centre here.