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The Beauty of Diversity

Freedigitalphotos.net/panuruangjan

Freedigitalphotos.net/panuruangjan

One of the core beliefs behind our mission at KiCam Projects is that everyone has a great story to tell. (Our forthcoming book, (Extra)Ordinary: Inspirational Stories of Everyday People, is a testament to that!)

And when we say “everyone,” we truly mean “everyone.” As we round out plans for our first 18 months of publishing, we have authors and collaborators who are men and women; who range from grade-school age to the retirement years; who are white, black, and Latina; who are married and single; who live all across the United States, as well as in Canada; and who represent a variety of faith traditions and spiritual beliefs.

We write about this not to pat ourselves on the back, but because the diversity of our authors simply underscores that every single human being has something important to say. Each story is different, entirely unique, and worth sharing. A great story can be found in rural Ohio or in a large East Coast city. The trick is to look for it.

The news of late, both in the United States and around the world, has been terribly discouraging. That’s why we feel it’s more important than ever to celebrate stories of survival and recovery, to highlight strength, courage, and the will to overcome the seemingly insurmountable.

We believe that when you look for the positive in the world, you usually find it. And the best part is, you can find it in everyone, regardless of what he or she looks like or where he or she lives.

The beauty of diversity is that each of us is part of it. We’re each a thread in the timeless fabric of humanity; no one is exactly like any other individual.

Our differences, thankfully, are the very things that can unite us, and KiCam Projects is honored to play even a small part in bringing people together and honoring diversity.

Billiards ball

5 Reasons Why Indies Rock

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freedigitalphotos.net/tigger11th

We know authors have a lot of choices when it comes to sharing their work—everything from hiring an agent and pursuing a large house, to hybrid publishing or self-publishing. Figuring out the best course can be confusing, and information can be difficult to come by.

Reaching out to a relatively small, independent publisher has its own list of advantages. And although what is right for one author might not meet the goals and needs of another, we think there’s a lot to like about working with an indie. Take a look:

1. Marketing and Publicity Support

One way a quality indie or hybrid publisher will distinguish itself is in its ability to market and promote a book. As one self-published author told us, “I thought writing the book would be the hard part. I was wrong.” Indeed, we’ve used the analogy before: Writing a book is like having a baby. Once the baby is born, the real work begins! With books, the biggest obstacles are found in attracting media attention and converting that coverage into sales. Though it’s certainly not impossible for a self-published author to do that, the road is easier when an author walks it with a publisher.

2. Smaller = Nimbler

Independent houses can respond to changes rapidly and follow trends easily. We’re not bound by layers of procedures and policies that dictate what we do and how we do it. KiCam, specifically, is a business founded on family that wants to tell personal stories. So we treat people as—wait for it!—people. Each project is unique, and so is its creator. We respect, treasure and honor that in the way we work with each author and each book.

3. We’re Open to Your Ideas

We know we don’t know everything. And although we bring decades of experience to the table, we choose to work with authors we know can teach us some things, whether it’s about publishing, publicity, marketing or life in general. We’re constantly learning, and we think that’s not only a good thing, but one of the best things about doing what we do.

4. We’re Non-traditional, by Design

Recently an author wrote to us with a submission she said she was sure many publishers wouldn’t consider. It was her memoir, as told in rhymed verse. The work was moving and meaningful, and it was exactly the kind of story we want to bring to life and help readers discover. Books might be black and white, but what connects with people’s hearts is almost never that simple or obvious.

5. We Take Risks

Frankly, once you’ve started a publishing company from scratch, all the risks that come after that pale by comparison! As one of our mentors once said, “If it doesn’t scare the heck out of you, it’s not worth doing.” So here we are.

If you’re an author looking for a home for your work, please visit our submissions page. We love to hear from writers who believe in our mission—to change the world, one great story at a time—and who have inspiring stories of survival and recovery to share.

Helping hand

The Power of the Personal Touch

FreeDigitalPhotos.net/worradmu

FreeDigitalPhotos.net/worradmu

How often do you send an email or leave a voice mail and wonder if it’s been received or if it’s been lost in the vast blackness of the digital universe?

It seems that even with all the communication methods at our disposal, it can be harder than ever to get a response when we reach out to someone.

As an independent publisher, we find ourselves on both sides of that fence. Because we’re a small company, it often requires persistence to get through to distributors, media outlets, agents and other key industry members. So we chip away, making the right contacts and finding the best ways to break down the barriers between us and where we want to be.

On the flip side, we receive inquiries almost daily from ambitious writers who want to submit their work to us or learn more about who we are and what we do. We understand what it takes to reach out; there’s a vulnerability required to share one’s work and put hopes and dreams on the line.

That’s why we make a point of following up with every serious inquiry and letting people know their voices have been heard. It’s not an automated response. An actual human reads and writes all our emails!

It’s gratifying when people compliment us for responding quickly or, in some cases, for responding at all. It’s also a reminder of the power of the personal touch. Our robotic world has conditioned us to expect to be little more than a number, but we know we can do better. And we believe that anyone who makes the effort to reach out to us personally deserves the same consideration.

It takes a little extra time, sure. But no one ever said changing the world would be a quick, easy job!

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Call for Submissions: Who Inspires You?

patpitchaya/freedigitalphotos.net

patpitchaya/freedigitalphotos.net

Who inspires you?

At KiCam Projects, we find inspiration all around us: in the people we know and love and in people we’ve never met and can only admire from afar.

We believe that everyone has the power to change the world in ways both large and small, and we’re grateful for the people in our lives—friends, family members, co-workers—who remind us each day how impactful a single person can be.

We look up to world-renowned names such as Oprah, Malala Yousafzai, Jimmy Carter and Jim Foley. And we’re moved by local stories of people like Lauren Hill and Sam Boling rising above their circumstances to better the lives of others.

Those are the kinds of stories KiCam wants to tell, through books, films and music. Do you have an inspirational story? Do you know someone else who does but hasn’t been able to navigate the world of publishing to get that story out?

Then please connect with us through our Submissions link. We’re looking for true stories of growth and recovery from illness, addiction, tragedy or other challenges that will inspire and empower audiences.

We ask that you submit a cover letter, one-paragraph summary, brief bio, project synopsis and table of contents by March 2016 to be considered for 2017 projects.

We’re hard at work identifying and reaching out to people and organizations with meaningful stories that deserve to be told. Do you have suggestions or ideas? Please reach out to us and share your thoughts.

KiCam Projects is a mission-driven company, and all of our collaborators are asked to select a nonprofit organization that will benefit from the proceeds of their work.

Together, we will change the world, one great story at a time.