Re-Release and Re-Creation

 Fall break is only a long weekend but it brings with it two flip flop days -- days where I can shift my priorities from school work to other projects. On tap this time? Working on revisions of Know Thyself to prepare for its re-release. 

I've done a re-release before. When I got the rights back to Casting the First Stone, I took it from traditionally published by a small house to self-published via Amazon. The process wasn't without its challenges, but it was relatively straightforward. Aside from a new cover and some adjustments to the interior design and credits, the text remained intact.

Re-releasing a non-fiction book seven years after its initial publication is proving to be a bit more complicated. This realization caught me off-guard at first but I'm learning that those complications are actually opportunities for not just a fresh look but a fresh approach as well, and that's exciting.

Also time-consuming.

So, what's new? Well, the cover, for one thing. Instead of a do-it-yourself Canva-assisted version, I hired a cover designer who quickly showed me just how much I did NOT know about cover design. Mind you, she never said a word to make me feel embarrassed by my lack of knowledge. Instead, she provided things I didn't even know I needed, and I'm delighted with the outcome.

It then became my job to create an interior that lived up to what Katie had created. The first challenges were technical, and I believe I've found a solution; I'll know for sure when I finish my revisions and dig in a bit deeper.

As for the actual words between the covers, since the book is a re-release, most of it will remain unchanged. Still, I've learned a few things and developed some new ideas and opinions since the book first came out and I want to incorporate those thoughts into the new version. 

Perhaps the biggest change is that I'm leaning a bit more into the secular in this new edition. Because Know Thyself  was originally published by a Catholic press, faith-based voice and concepts were in the foreground. As grateful as I was (and still am) to OSV for getting my book out into the world, I've always wondered if those editorial choices left some of my audience out or, even worse, caused those with differing beliefs to disregard the book, even though its ideas and advice were suitable for all audiences. After a great deal of thought, I've decided to try to strike a balance with the re-release representing a broader swath of who I am. Toward this end, I've re-examined the quotes that introduce each chapter, keeping some of the Bible verses (because that remains a part of who I am), but replacing others with quotes that will speak to a larger audience. I want to honor the platforms that helped bring this book into the world in the first place while simultaneously recognizing that organizing is a universal life skill, not one that's limited to a select audience.

As I work on these edits, I'm also looking to create some ways to share my updated content with loyal readers who've already bought the book, especially since the content changes aren't substantial enough to warrant purchasing a new copy (though I certainly won't stop you if you want to buy one -- LOL!) Those are in the works, and the best way to stay in the loop is to sign up for my newsletter or follow me on Instagram or join my Facebook group. I'm not trying to be mysterious; the truth is that I haven't yet taken these freebies from idea to execution, and my newsletter, Instagram account, and Facebook group are the places where I most often share "breaking news" about books and writing.

So, stay tuned. I've already come to terms with the fact that this re-release won't be fast, but I hope the new edition will be worth the wait.