One of the back book publishing stories, a major one!
Dear one,
This blog post is about one of the major back stories of my recently published book, Enlivening Consciousness: Deepening Your Journey through Vision, Movement, Nutrition, Nature, and Spirit, Balboa Press, 2024, and it’s about a BIG giveaway too. So read on!
My book was initially published in February 2024 by Balboa Press. I worked with, and continue to work with, Balboa Press. As you may know, there are many steps in the book publishing process, and many ways to move through the process. I chose to hire Balboa Press in June of 2019 thinking I would be self-publishing my book, really self-publishing the findings from my Master’s thesis on the range of veganism from raw living foodism to junk foodism. And that’s what I ultimately did, well. sort of. The book turned into five books in one, with stepping into the plant-based lifestyle as one part of the mix. After all, I am an eye doctor who has specialized in optometric vision training integrating movement modalities for my entire career. How could I just write about nutrition?! There’s more to that story too. I’m realizing I have lots more blog posts in me!
It turns out that Balboa Press is a hybrid publisher, a step in between full self-publishing being asked to publish and paid with an advance or otherwise.
So what’s the real back story here, and what’s the BIG surprise? The real back story, the part I want to get to right now is that the first printing of the book that came out in physical soft cover form, of 1500 books, had splotched covers. When 10 boxes, 200 books total arrived at my doorstep, before I knew about the splotched covers, I was in shock. I mean when I hired the publishing complany, I thought I would be publishing the book in late 2019, I thought I’d just have to do a few edits. That was not the case!
What year is it now? It is 2025. I released the Ebook a few days ago at our magical Valentine’s Day Ebook launch party on zoom. And as another sidenote, I’m just now learning the nuances about how to do an audio version of the book in my voice. More on that another time.
When I opened the first box of the 200 books that were delivered, I was in awe. As I looked closer, I thought I was hallucinating. Sidenote: I don’t drink, no drugs of any kind, pharmaceuticals or otherwise. The covers of the books, as I looked at one after the other, and ultimately all 10 boxes at the request of the publisher, almost all of them had splotched covers, or had slightly crushed corners.
I didn’t want to believe that my books were damaged in any way. the interior of the books, all of them were in absolutley stellar condition. I absolutely love the interior design and the cover design of the both the hard and softback books. Thanks Balboa Press!
But I knew the books did not look new and after working so hard for so long on this project, I wanted perfection on the printed version front. I’ll share the rest of what happened to get to a place where the books were reprinted and a huge shout out to the international head of customer service at Balboa Press for the extra time, energy, effort, and cost on the part of the publisher to be sure that the bookcovers were in new and perfect condition!
Bottom line, I have some books here at our house, that are perfect inside and on the back cover, but the front covers have some splotches on them. some people say it’s not noticeable, but I notice it.
The Giveaway
The process of having the books reprinted was another long and wild journey this past year for all concerned. That said, I am thankful. Why? Because I have some extra slightly splotched books to give away. this offer is for those who live in the continental United States. Just send me an email or reach me through my website anytime within the next week, and I will gift you a copy of my book, one of the ones with a slightly damaged front cover. I do ask you pay shipping (book rate plus about $4.50, so $10.00 total). The full price for a new softcover book is $25.00. Submit payment through this link, and receive a free Live online somatic yoga class as well:
https://www.enliveningconsciousness.com/yoga
Scroll down to the Yoga for Elders link. That’s for the $10 payment! I offer a LIVE relaxing, rejuvenative and restful Wednesday morning class from 10:30 am to 11:30 am eastern. No prior yoga or somatic experience is necessary for the Wednesday morning class, but beginning in March 2025, I may be adding a class in for beginner, beginners on Monday afternoons from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm eastern.
Let me know through my website if you have any questions, and I hope you enjoy the gift offer!
With love and gratitude, ElisaBe:)
Elisa Beth Haransky-Beck, OD, MS, OVDRA
EnliveningConsciousness.com/book