I guess the first thing to address is the price. Much to my surprise, I had no clue about cost and compensation for the work. I was just happy to finally find someone to print my book, after being completed nearly 10 years ago. Just for the printing of the book, is $8.48. Once you go over that price, is when you start making royalties. Along with the royalty comes the fee for publishing which is 20%. Considering some publishers get as much as 50%, this is a very good and fair deal in my opinion. As you increase the price of the book, which you as the author have full control, is when it calculates everything. My final price ended up being $12.23.

The $8.48 is just for printing, the $.75 if for the publisher, and I get $3.00. Yes, just $3.00. So please consider that when making a purchase. One would have to sell quite a few books to recover the time spent writing the book, the advertising, and the ISBN costs. For those who do not know, the ISBN is a 10-digit system allowing publishers, libraries, and book dealers to identify books and is a pre-requisite if you want to sell copies of your book through retail outlets.

As I stated, I completed this book nearly 10 years ago. At first, I went to the library and did research as to how I would write, and then promote the book. I then sent out nearly 65 letters to agents. At the time it was highly recommended you have a agent. I got nowhere. There were plenty of people willing to charge me hundreds of dollars to “review” the book, but no one was interested in publishing it. I admit I was a bit shocked. After all, marriages were failing day after day, and I had what I thought, was information that might help, or even save a marriage. I’m pretty sure this was long before the Dr. Phil’s in the world.

So as time went on and I neared 65 letters of rejection, I gave up. I can’t say my thoughts or beliefs changed much after that. At least not enough to re-write the book. I did however edit the book and try to put it in some sort of grouping. I must admit it was a bit on the rough side. I did purposely leave out a table of contents. There are chapters though. My reason being is I really didn’t want some squeaky clean book that looked fabricated, or artificially created. I was trying for that honest, normal, every day writing as if I were talking to you on the street. After all, my wife and I are just regular people.

I could have just as easily had it cleaned up, polished up, and looking like many other books out there, but wanted it to have depth, character, and a sense of realism about it. When I see some of the talk show people give their “expert” advice on things, somehow looking at them, I don’t get the feeling they are every day people like you and I. It feels more like a well rehearsed play. I didn’t, and don’t want that. So what you have, is a true honest heart felt book. The only contributions from Shirley were statistics mostly. Her “feelings” were already witnessed by me from years previous. And be forewarned. I am a man writing this book, but I don’t feel I am a typical man. I once was a typical man, but no more.

I am very, very sensitive to people, surroundings, and emotions. What I am trying to accomplish here is to not only share my thoughts about a successful marriage and what I feel are important characteristics, but also to teach or tell men, that they need to be, and should not be ashamed to be, more sensitive in their every day life. For that matter, some women could also show some sensitivity. Look around. Today there are so many distractions and actions, many of us are running around in a stupor forgetting how important it is to “feel” life and not just “live” life.

So to conclude, I think there is something for everyone in this book both young and old. I find it rare anymore that people are NOT afraid to speak the truth without fear of segregation from others. I am and have been such a person. People should not be afraid to tell others, let alone their partner, how they feel, and what they expect. We really need to get in touch with each other for our relationships to have any sort of chance at all. Marriages and relationships cannot, and will not run on autopilot. There is a constant need for adjustments and understanding.
So whether or not you buy this book, is a choice only YOU can make. I have wasted a lot of money in my lifetime which we all have, but I do not feel this is such a case. This is a real story about real people, that tells how and what they have gone through, and yet still survived it all as a team, a unit, as one. So you decide. Is your marriage or relationship worth $12.23?

Paul New
 

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Last Site Update    05/29/2008