When I kicked off the 120-day pre-order campaign for These are my Friends on Politics on January 3rd, my hope (even though I had little idea how to do it) was to reach Inkshares’ light publishing goal — 250 copies sold and distribution to Amazon — by campaign’s end.

89 days early, and exactly one month and four hours later... 

...we got it there. And I say “we” because the majority of you reading this update are responsible for getting it there. Barring an unforeseen circumstance on the level of an alien invasion or the cancelation of the election (both of which admittedly have their upside), the book will go into production this spring and into your hands not too long after that. I can’t thank any of you enough for making that a reality. 

With that said, there’s more work — specifically, 497 more copies’ worth of work — for me to do before May gets here. Reaching Inkshares’ light publishing goal is wonderful. But achieving the larger goal of 750 copies pre-sold — which means the book will go to national and independent physical bookstores all over the country, among other benefits — is a whole other layer of exciting. 

So with that said, if you’re willing, I have a few uncomplicated favors to ask (that don’t involve ordering more copies of the book, though of course I won’t stop you if you do that): 

1. If you know someone whom you think would enjoy the book, please tell him or her (or them) about it. The vast, vast majority of sales so far haven’t come from all-encompassing Facebook or Twitter posts or other impersonal tactics, but from one person telling another person about the book. If I’ve learned anything about sales in the first 31 days of this campaign, it’s that classic, personal appeals work like nothing else. Some of you have already done this favor for me multiple times over. But if you know someone who would enjoy this and don’t mind telling them about it, every recommendation helps immensely. Feel free to give them this easy-to-remember URL: FriendsOnPolitics.com. (That’ll lead them to the right place.) 

2. If you’ve followed the book but haven’t yet ordered a copy, please consider doing so. I won’t twist your arm but the support is greatly appreciated. And if you’re an author on Inkshares, I absolutely will return the favor.

3. If you know ANYONE who has ANY aspirations about being a writer, please tell them about Inkshares. I received several congratulations from people I’ve known forever when I reached 250. But I received just as many from other Inkshares authors whom I didn’t even know 32 days ago, but who have supported my work wholeheartedly since almost the instant I arrived here. I cannot overstate how valuable this place is to anybody who has any aspirations of writing a book and seeing it get published. The prospect of breaking into publishing, even finding an agent to represent you, is daunting and possibly alienating. Self-publishing is a lonely, frustrating proposition. Inkshares offers the potential possibilities of working with a publisher, combines it with the freedom of self-publishing, and surrounds you with a community of writers who understand what you’re trying to do (because they’re trying to do the same thing). More than simply an innovative way to shake up the publishing industry, it is a gratifying community that rallies around itself to give aspiring and talented writers (and illustrators) a chance that may not otherwise exist. The proof is right here. 

If you know someone who might benefit from such a place, tell them to pay a visit and get involved. If they do, they will thank you later — possibly in the pages of their first book. 

(Photo of Nina included for no reason. Thanks for reading all of that.)