Kickstarter

MEDITATION, MY FRIEND is a very unique book because of it's topic, "mindfulness meditation" for kids. What also makes it fun, unique and relatable for children is that it is written in the voice of Mitchell Hoffsteader, a character I created. Kids love Mitchell and can relate to his antics and thinking. This I have heard over and over again from both children and adults. 

I have been working on this book project for close to four years now. It all started with my friend Tenzin who is a monk and doctor from Tibet. He easily agreed to take some photos with my pal Mitchie! I just thought they would be cool looking images. Tenzin just loved Mitchell and had great fun doing it. At the time too I was toying with the idea of doing a children's meditation book with Mitch. The photos turned out so well, that they became the inspiration for the story. From that point on everything just started to flow and fall into place.  The writing and recording of the song MEDITATION IS GOOD FOR ME (you can listen to the song at www.meditationmyfriend.com) happened with out a glitch. Finding people to work with who were willing to work for very little compensation (okay basically peanuts) since I really had no formal budget, was a little bit harder. WELL...I have been truly lucky in that department! 

I created the character Mitchell Hoffsteader in 1979. I have done music, art, stories, paintings etc. with him.  Mitch is a "Hoffsteader" and can do just about anything us humans can do. Hoffsteader's can you know. Some folks are still convinced that Mitch really is a little kid when they hear his voice overs, pod casts and phone messages. Yes I do Mitchell's voice. Check out some of Mitchell's ancestors at www.meditationmyfriend.com    the paintings of other Hoffsteaders.

My book is completed. It is full color, 86 pages with chapters. Doing my book in full color was a must because of the beautiful illustrations and photographs. The page count is complete, so I cannot add a thank you page in the book for all of you, with your individual names who pledge. But.....I will have on the books website a thank you/friend page where you will all be mentioned by name. 

MEDITATION, MY FRIEND is the story of why and how Mitch learns how to meditate, after diagnosing himself with severe case of "restless brain syndrome"!  He learns how to meditate from his friend Tenzin who he accidently runs into after skipping school one day. No use going to school if you cannot read, focus and stop thinking....according to Mitch. Tenzin who is my friend in real life and in the book sets Mitch straight. Mitch learns we ALL have restless brain syndrome from time to time, but doing meditation can help us become calmer and more focused. He learns that it is important to have calm awareness, and not be reactive to all our thoughts and situations. Mitchell gives meditation a try and learns that what made his restless brain syndrome so bad was all the monster thoughts he had about himself for having it. Monster thoughts like he was not lovable, he was not smart etc. He learns to trust his suppportive buddy thoughts by meditating instead, like he is lovable, and he is for sure smart.  My book is now in the final edit stage.  I also have to record the audio portion of the book, design the door hangers and wrist bands. 

Remeber I mentioned finding some great people to work with?  Kris Tenner is the amazing graphic artist who has been working with me all along on the book project. She has pulled the book together doing design and layout, while all the time encouraging Mitch and I along. She has done this as a labor of love. I also have a lot of gratidude for Sue Kurowski and her dedicated accurate work as a proof reader and for her artistic support...xoxoxo. My book would not be anywhere without the help of Sue and Kris. I also had editing help from my friend, Lesley Alderman who is a great yoga instructor as well as a talented editor. Oh, and another friend of mine Sean O'Meara....a really kick butt editor and vocalist got me to move clearly in the right direction with my writing and creating this book.

 Now I really need money for  the printing of my book. Making/designing and writing the book is one thing, but printing I have found out is very costly. This book even more so due to the fact it is in complete color. I want to print 1000 copies of my book. I have found a wonderful printing company in Canada that does high quality work, and their rates are very reasonable compared to all the printers I have talked to in the United States. They are charging me $3,896.00 to print 1000 books. This is a quote I got in February 2012, which could be different now.  When I print 1000 copies I then have to find storage space that is clean and dry to house the books.

I will also be working with a print on demand company (POD) as well so I can have my book posted on the internet for sales. It will reach a larger audience that way. I have two companies in mind so far to work with. I have found that their cost is much higher in printing each copy of the book, that is why I want to have some of the books printed by the Canadian company.  They will also not be able to include the audio cd inside the book when it is sold on the internet. I will have to stuff the cd's in the books I have printed by the Canadian company by myself which I do not mind doing at all! Book's with cd's will be the deluxe version. There is a start up fee for POD. I also want to make MEDITATION, MY FRIEND into an E-BOOK. There is a fee for that as well which I have to continue researching.

I can record the audio cd myself but to master it in a studio will run about $200. The pressing of 1000 cd's will cost around $700, or about half if I only do a run of 500.  I am still comparing prices to see where I can get a good deal and good pricing. It is always cheaper to do a larger run on the cd's.

To make meditation wrist bands it will cost around $1,190.00. It is hard to believe that little rubber wrist bands cost so much. I am still searching for a good deal though. That cost is just to make them for kids. I would also like to make some to give to the parents/adults who purchase the book. To make 1000 door hangers will cost about $200-$300 dollars.

Once the books are printed I will need to rent storage space in Pennsylvania near my home. The lowest rate I have found so far is $648.00 for a year, and this price can go up. To rent storage space in NYC will run me about $1,392 a year and that price may go up as well. I need to have NYC storage space so it is easy for me to access my books when I do signings, teachings, etc. there.

I will also need money to develop the website for the book. That will run me between $1000-$2000 dollars. I want it to have a Hoffstetader Zen like feel. The website needs to be calming to look at but at the same time fun and interactive for the kiddies. I want the kids and parents/teachers to be able to check in with mitch, hear his and my podcasts. I want Mitchell to be animated if possible on the website too. Anyone viewing the website should  be able to learn more about meditation, and how to use it in their lives.

ONE DAY........

My ultimate dream one day is to make "Hoffsteader Meditation Cushions" for kids to use (designed of course by "Mindful Mitchie" for kids) and Mitchie's Metta Mobile. The term Metta Mobile came from an idea my dear mom had. She just adored Mitchell! She was a big supporter of this book project, but sadly for me she passed away nearly two years ago. I know though she is still supporting me on this. One day I was telling her how I would love to have an vintage VW van (in tip top shape) that ran on alternative fuel. Mitch and I would drive around in it with our books, and mediation cushions, town to town, state to state teaching meditation in schools, parks and to various organizations etc. (corporate included). My mom came up with the idea of calling it Mitchie's Metta Mobile. Metta being loving kindness! Mitchie's Metta Mobile would be painted on the outside of the van. Can you imagine how great that would be!  But, that will take some real big $$ to make happen.

So that is pretty much it. As I said the biggest portion of the money raised on Kickstarter goes to printing books, cd's and making the website, wristbands, door hangers AND for book promotion, which is super important!

It is important to note that the costs of mailings for items promised in making a  pledge are the sole responsibility of the person that has made the pledge. I am doing this so that every cent raised can go to this projects completion and success.