You may know that I recently wrote a book, and that it is coming out very soon. What you may not know is that this book almost didn’t happen:
18 months ago I got an email from a publisher which said ‘I’ve been reading your blog; would you like to write a book’?
My initial response? “Not really’.
You see, I had no desire to write a book. I was pretty damn happy already. I already had a great tribe, loyal blog readers a growing business and the ability to do launch pretty much whatever crazy idea sounded fun that day (and get paid for it).
I wasn’t sure what the point was of taking time out to write a book. Or frankly how I’d find the time.
But after meeting up with Liz, the commissioning editor of the publishing house, and thinking about her suggestion a bit more I realized that I might just have to find the time.
What hit me was that a book could take the free range ideas we’ve been spreading over here on this blog for years (ideas of freedom, fulfillment, creating a life on your terms… ideas of launching without a business plan or an MBA, of standing out from the crowd (by being more you)… techniques for creating your ideal life that actually work (rather than spending years searching aimlessly for your elusive ‘passions’)… how tos of how to get paid to be yourself, make good money doing what you love, and be in charge of how you spend your days)... it could take all these Free Range concepts out of the sidelines and shine them straight into the mainstream.
A published book can deeply change assumptions about how we work and live. Here’s why that matters:
Ever felt like you’re a bit different to everyone else?
Sometimes when you don’t quite feel like you fit this life that everyone says you should be grateful for, it’s hard to know where to turn. When you dream of things being different than they are right now it can seem like you should keep your thoughts and feelings to yourself.
What if people laugh? Or shake their head at how silly you are for daring to think this? After all it’s normal to settle. It’s normal to not really love what you do.
When everyone around you lives a certain type of life it seems nuts to even think an alternative can exist for someone like you.
Someone like you is responsible. Someone like you doesn’t do things like this. So you keep your dreams under wraps, push them away, get your head down and get on with the day, until your next vacation. That’s normal.
But what if what you have always been told is ‘normal’ is just one option among many? What if there were many other possibilities and you could choose another way? What if ‘normal’ doesn’t equal ‘mandatory’?
TRUTH: You are not alone. And you are not crazy for wanting something more.
For every story of someone who stayed trapped I’ve got one of someone who broke free.
The Free Range Humans book is packed with stories and snippets of people like you who have broken out and created their dream lives for real.
You can do this. It isn’t crazy. You can have something more. And this is how. Words no-one said to me when I was back in my career-cage, but that now I know to be true. More people need to hear these words and discover how to put them into practice.
That’s the main reason that, over a year ago, I turned around and said ‘yes’ to that book deal.
That’s the reason I put my business on hold, and worked my butt off for over a year on this book project.
That’s the reason I used up my entire advance paying for the best people out there to help me make it extra awesome.
Yes, even though I had one of the top publishers in the field I still chose to spend my advance on the book to get it out there in the best way it can be, for you.
No, I haven’t made any money from this book to date… and no even if this becomes a bestseller this Friday I am not expecting to rake it in (I get around 10% of each book sale. Do the maths). So, no I don’t expect to recoup my costs for over a year at least.
And I’m fine with that. I didn’t write this to make money from book sales. The reason I’m telling you this now is to make the point: I wrote it to change lives in a big way.
(Sorry I know that sounds corny, but it’s true).
That’s the point really. This book, is the book I wrote for you. These possibilities are for you.
Creating life on your terms, getting paid to be you (or come to think of it discovering what you love in the first place), choosing how and where you spend your days, standing out from the crowd and creating a great living without an office or a boss…
Freedom and fulfilment isn’t only for someone someone with a different CV/resume or different qualifications to you. It’s not for someone of a different age/background. It’s not a dream only open to a 22 year old with no bills to pay…
This is for you. As you are. Here and now.
IT’S HAPPENING THIS FRIDAY
AKA taking over the world
(this is where you come in)
Be A Free Range Human hits the bookshelves in early January but this Friday December 7, is when it all kicks off: we are opening up for a 24 hour pre-order extravaganza:
WHAT IS HAPPENING THIS FRIDAY (December 7):
For 24 hours we want this book to take over the Amazon.co.uk rankings and blow the socks off the ho hum world that tells you to keep your head down and toe the line. Screw that. If we get this book to hit bestseller before it even hits the bookshelves… can you imagine what a wake up that will be?
HOW IT’S HAPPENING:
By buying this book during this 24 hour event on Friday you’re joining forces with your fellow free range tribe members and helping this book-baby rise up the rankings to bestseller list this weekend.
WHY THIS MATTERS NOW:
This is the point: when a book is at the top of the rankings it is seen by more people. That means a place on the bestseller list massively increases the odds of someone who desperately needs this book stumbling across it, perhaps while browsing Amazon to distract themselves from their office job.
By ordering this book for yourself you are increasing the ranking, raising visibility and you have a damn good chance of inadvertently changing someone’s life.
WHAT YOU GET ON FRIDAY:
More to the point this is about helping you change YOUR life. Aside from the buzz of being part of this Free Range guerilla takeover of the book world you get bonus gifts simply for buying on the day (not random crap, but a simple and effective bonus that will make a real difference to getting you where you want to be).
If what you’ve read anywhere on this blog (or in the free chapter) has resonated with you so far, this Friday is your chance to take it to the next level.
I spent the last year getting this book out there, for you.
Because right here, right now, is your chance to do things another way. I sincerely hope you will join us online this Friday.
Many hugs,
Marianne x
HOW TO TAKE PART: The launch will be announced to anyone on the Free Range Humans ‘Friday love letter’ list, as well as to those who picked up the free book chapter here. If you’re not on either of those, now’s your chance (and if you are, then look out for the announcement this Friday!).
Follow-up edit:
Quick answer to the most asked question of the week: YES you can give the Free Range Humans book as a Christmas gift. ie: even though it doesn’t come out until after Xmas we’ve figured out a way you can gift it to a friend for the big day anyway. This time-travel-worthy option is only available in the 24-hour pre-order extravaganza this Friday. More info then.
Xmas gifts = sorted. Your friends = unstuck and rather grateful to you.
(You’re on the preview list for this thing right? www.beafreerangehuman.com)
