WELCOME TO Shawn C. Berry AS WRITER
I'M PUBLISHING
A BOOK
AND YOU CAN HELP
CONTRIBUTE TO THE
INDIEGOGO FUNDRAISER OR
CLICK HERE TO DONATE DIRECT!
The fundraiser for the book is live right now! It runs through midnight, winter solstice, December 21st! This will raise the funds required to keep on track for an early March publishing date and cover the cost of the author support program I partnered in with Paper Raven Books. You can check it out the fundraiser here:
You can play a crucial community role in this publishing adventure not only as financial contributor in supporting this project, but also how it launches an author: Me! Yes indeed, I do have other tales to tell.
The best way to stay informed of the books progress and details about how to contribute to the fundraiser is to get on the newsletter.
So, What's The Book About Anyways?
"The Thread that Pulls on All Things" tells the story of a group of teen boys guided out into the southern Sierra Nevada wilderness of California on a three-day backpacking trip. They will undertake their first rite of passage, an initiation humans have performed for thousands of years, but...why? Why do humans do such things, and how was it that we came to determine their importance for our species? It's an adventure beset with philosophical musings, stories, poetic daydreams, and challenging realizations about who we are as individuals in modern culture and a species past, present, and future.
Through the lens of "experiential anthropology" "The Thread that Pulls on All Things" explores how our most ancient ancestors might first have created rites of passages as a way to contend with our increasingly developing consciousness in the earliest of times and across the millenia. It's an inspirational story about the value of ritual, ceremony, our oldest lineages, and why the need for Homo sapiens to develop relationship with
planet Earth is more crucial than ever.
IF YOU'RE WALKING THE EARTH TODAY, YOUR FAMILY
LINEAGE GOES
BACK MORE THAN
300,000 YEARS.
GET TO KNOW THEM!
THE STRAIGHT
STORY
To date, this has been a 5 1/2 year, self-publishing project. As you might imagine, I'm all in with my time, finances, and lifestyle. The last 2 years I've committed myself full-time to the book's completion with an intent to offer a professional publication that is inspiring, entertaining, and informative. To fulfill that vision, I'm fundraising to cover the cost of the publishing package I signed on for with by Paper Raven Books.
While the manuscript is in the editing phase, there's still plenty other work to do. Research, promotion and marketing materials (including creating gifts for financial contributions!) Planning book store readings, visioning workshops;
This project has become a
full-time endeavor, and I love it
all while working back-and-forth with the Paper Raven Books editing team as we work through revisions. I've picked up some part-time work here and there to help cover my own living expenses and work down the cost of the editing package.
PUBLISHING DATE
Early 2025, updated with a date soon!
MY GOAL IS TO FUNDRAISE:
$9,000
for a 12k editing & publishing program of which I have already paid down 3k
$6,500
to help cover personal expenses,
Dec '24 - March '25 until publishing early spring
$15,500
Total Fundraising Goal
your contribution makes a difference
If you want to understand more why your contribution makes a difference in achieving this publishing goal and maximizes the impact of the message this book carries, keep reading! I believe leaning into one's community for mental, physical, emotional, and yes, even financial support is a viable way to deepen the communities we belong to.
A principal I've promoted and reciprocated within my own communities.
I really didn't know
what it was going to take
for me to write a book. Five and a half years ago, I sat down to write an email -- that's no joke. Years later as a book project, it's come to require more and more of my time. With such time in, how could I not oblige it? I dropped to part-time work to make more time. Then, November 2022, I quit work altogether, let go of my living quarters, and cashed out what life savings I had. I went nomadic. Something in me knew this is what it would take for me to finish this project.
While, living out of a subcompact SUV has its challenges, I've been so full of gratitude for the outpouring of support I have been receiving from my communities, family, and friends; house sitting gigs, the occasional spare room or parked RV, and tidings of meals and gas money. In between those gifts, I'm out on the lands camping in wilderness spaces -- with laptop and solar charger, of course.
I can't imagine having written this book without the inspiration and insight
that has come while out in the silence of a desert flat; or listening to the opinion of songbirds on a forested ridge with serious consideration. Whether a wildflowered meadow, hush of low tide, or babbling of a wooded creek, all have their interjections duly noted while pecking away at the keyboard. Each stunning landscape across the breadth of the western wilds have filled me as a well with each breath I've taken immersed in their beauty and wisdom.
I hadn't occurred to me that this would be a good way to write a book that intends to speak so deeply and to our relationship with nature. But, I am grateful for having been divinely led to this sensibility.
I hope you'll consider getting involved and help get this book over the finish line as the home stretch draws near! And I hope you feel the gratitude I can offer through the reciprocation gifts for your support.
HOW TO GET
INVOLVED
STAY IN THE LOOP
If you haven't signed up for the newsletter, please do! It's the best way to keep abreast of development details for the fundraiser and the book as it moves through the editing process and up to the publishing release. Also, follow on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn for additional inspirational and informational content around rites of passage and nature connection
FINANCIALLY CONTRIBUTE
There will be two options to participate in the crowdfunding; one-time donation or a limited monthly subscription. There's reciprocation gifts offered to - truly from the heart as a sincere "thank you" for your help. See more below!
Please share with others in your circles about this book project! Send them to this website, and the links to the social media accounts. Ask them to sign up for the newsletter at ourfirstnature.com/signup and to consider making a contribution to the fundraiser when it launches, thank you!
IG/FB: thethreadthatpulls
SHARE THE NEWS
ABOUT THE
CROWFUNDING
Currently, the two ways I'm planning participate in the crowdfunding will be through a single-donation crowdfunding site such as Kickstarter or Indiegogo, and as a limited audio readings through a podcast subscription through. Details soon!
The Fundraiser begins Tuesday November 19!
Total Fundraising Goal $15,500
I'm thrilled to offer gifts in return for participating in the fundraiser
and have enjoyed cooking up some fun giveaways! Things like:
BOOK
PRESALE
PRIVATE
PODCAST
OF WEEKLY
READINGS!
BOOK
PRESALE
AND SIGNED!
Thank you so much
for taking the time to read about this project and for considering participating!
Shawn C. Berry
AND HEY! GET THE NEWSLETTER!
ourfirstnature.com/thread
COPYRIGHT © 2024 FIRST NATURE. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED