Discussion

All-

Hope this finds you all well and enjoying a beautiful fall. Now that my family and I live on the East Coast we are full participants in all the apple picking, pumpkin patch visiting, and leaf peeping that the season demands.

On the Indispensable front, the book has been out in the world for just over four months at this point. My goal was always that the book would ’find its tribe’; many thanks to all of you who continue to share the book with those who you think would find it useful. While some of the recent media coverage is helpful to share the book (my segment on CNN is here), word of mouth is always the best!

But the best thing you can do to support the book right now is to write an Amazon review for it!  If you’ve had a chance to read Indispensable since receiving your copy, please leave your thoughts.  Not only will it help book distribution, it will be useful feedback for me as well (Chapter 12, Strategy 4 - Run Down the Feedback You Need).  My goal is to get to fifty reviews (up from the current 28).  Please help me by leaving a review here.

Separately, I am starting research and early writing for what may well become my next book. I’m currently focusing on the use of journaling and reflective writing in supporting leadership development. Please reach out to me at meredith.whipple.callahan@gmail.com if you have thoughts on the topic. I’d be happy to interview you.

Many thanks for all your continuing support!
Meredith


To all my fierce supporters,

It’s been a little over a month since Indispensable was published and it’s been making it’s way in the world!  A couple of highlights over the past month:

  • Indispensable hit #1 in New Releases in Amazon’s Job Hunting Category:  It may not be the NYTimes Bestseller list, but I’m proud that the book gained enough traction to hit the top in its core category! 
  • My first podcast on the book:  Justin Nassiri at Behind the Uniform interviewed me to understand how the book can support those making the transition from the military into the workforce. You can find it here.
  • Buzzfeed article outThis Buzzfeed article includes a teaser of some of the advice in the book. Feel free to share with those who may not be in the market for the whole book.
  • And, finally, reflections on how I’m feeling about the whole thing:  As always, I’ve posted more reflections on my blog, The Intentional, particularly about the experience of sending the book out into the world.  Read on and subscribe to receive posts via email (on the right hand side of the page).  

If you’re motivated to further support the book, the most useful thing you can do is leave a review on Amazon; I’m targeting getting to at least 30 reviews before I need to relax on book marketing and focus on both baby number two (due 9/6!) and manuscript number two (in the works!).

Sending you all lots of love and thanks!
Meredith

To all my backers-

We’ve reached a new milestone! Today I held the first copy of Indispensable in my hands. Bright orange, yellow-lettered, and filled-with-content, the book really exists now. It’s exciting and strange to realize that not only is the book out of my hands, it’s turned from one manuscript into hundreds of copies.  

And speaking of hundreds of copies, they are coming your way! You should receive an email tonight confirming your details to deliver your pre-ordered copies.  Whether electronic or physical, they should be delivered next week.  

Thank you for all your support, my friends!
Meredith 

All-

I am happy to provide a timely update on the status of Indispensable!  While it was a long wait for my book to get to the top of the publication queue, we started the publication process full-steam-ahead mid-March.  In fact, just today, I got the manuscript back from the second round of copyediting.  From this point, there are only a few steps left:  accepting the copy edits, proofreading the manuscript, finalizing the cover design, ’pouring’ the book into the format, creating the ebook, and starting to print copies.  The target publication date is sometime mid-June, with all of you likely receiving your copies before June ends.

Strangely, after the ball having been in my court for so long, the manuscript is now largely out of my hands.  Instead, I am turning my attentions to marketing.  My goal is to give Indispensable its best possible launch into the world.  I’ll follow up with more details around how you can help if you’re so inclined, but, in the short term, it’s graduation season and Indispensable is shaping up to be a great graduation present.  If you know new graduates who could use advice - or those who work with new graduates (in university settings, in professional environments that take in lots of new hires) - please connect me. 

I’m grateful for all your support - and can hardly believe this is finally happening!

Meredith

 

Friends and supporters,

The publication process continues to roll along, though less quickly than both you and I would like! This past week I undertook the oh-so-glamorous task of reformatting my manuscript to fit publishing standards. Hopefully, with the revised version back in the publisher’s hands (as of first thing tomorrow morning), we’ll be able to make some good progress on the copy edit. My impression is that they are a bit backed up with titles at the moment and they haven’t given me a target date for the first copies to roll off the presses, but I have faith.

I wish I could give better guidance to you all on the timeline. In the meantime, thanks for being patient with the realities of the publishing process and with me. I’m grateful for every incremental step this takes towards becoming real.

Thinking of you all,
Meredith


April 23rd was a big landmark. After rounds and rounds of revisions, I finally hit "send" on my email to the publisher tonight. Yes, the manuscript is off! Huzzah!

The next step is a copy edit, which should begin in a couple weeks after they identify the right person for the job. In parallel, I’m working with a professional graphic designer on cover options (I’m looking for your input following my next update!) Then we face more clean up, proofreading, ’pouring’ into the format, printing, and shipping. The publisher tells me that this whole process should take about six months, meaning that Indispensable should hit bookshelves this fall.

Thank you for your patience in getting your copy. I’ll be eagerly awaiting mine as well!
Meredith






Hello friends!  As promised, I’m working on edits to the Indispensable manuscript.  In particular, I’m working through edits on paper (how old-fashioned!) while the Callahan clan roadtrips across Australia in an RV.  More updates to come, but I thought you’d appreciate the pink hair/manuscript photo, taken somewhere between Byron Bay and some sort of famous opera house.  Nearly done with this read-through!

Meredith


To all my supporters,

On this Christmas Eve, I want to thank you for your support of Indispensable.  As of earlier this month, we hit the 250 pre-order target, meaning that Indispensable will be published in 2017.  Specifically, Indispensable will be available in print and e-reader format through Amazon.  It is your willingness to pre-order the book and prove demand that made this possible.  

As pre-orders have come in over the last few months I have seen your names - some known and some not-yet-known - roll through my e-mail.  With each notification of a pre-order I have felt honored and flattered.  I’m grateful for your faith in my work.  I’m grateful for your vote of confidence in me.  And I’m grateful for your friendship.

Now the hard work begins:  while I already have a complete draft, I will be devoting time through the rest of my maternity leave to re-edit Indispensable.  I plan to finish the edits by the end of March and submit for copy editing at that time.  Thank you for hanging with me in the long process of publishing; your pre-orders and your encouragement inspire me every day I open my computer to make this the best book it can be.  

Wishing you the very best for the holidays,
Meredith Whipple Callahan





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