10:30AM
Half-pound pork BBQ with sauce
Diet Rite
5:15PM
Half-pound smoked chicken with green peppers, onions, mushrooms, Pepperjack cheese, spicy mayo
Fruit parfait (strawberries, and cantaloupe with whipped cream)
1/4 slice Hershey's chocolate cake
Diet Coke with lime
10:30PM
Half-pound pork BBQ with sauce
Diet Rite
NOTE: Got a late start eating today because I was up really late last night. Got some bad news from the company I am using to self-publish my new book 21 Life Lessons From Livin' La Vida Low-Carb and it has weighed heavily on me most of the day today. They are concerned that the book is too "inflammatory," "angry," and "controversial" for them to take the risk of printing it as is. If you are familiar with my writing style at my "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog, then it is no different than what you see there. If anything, it is toned DOWN from that a bit.
But they have given me an ultimatum to dial it back a little more with the opinions or else they won't be a part of it. I can appreciate that they fear being sued, but what is the line between a First Amendment right to free speech and the potential legal ramifications? Maybe I've been incredibly lucky that nobody has sued me for something I've blogged about to date, but I've seen much worse in books by Ann Coulter, Al Franken, and others who use controversy to sell their books -- with great success!
The preponderance of the book is filled with studies, stories, and facts about how healthy low-carb living is along with some personal stories. One of the chapters deals with my side of the Kimkins story which I have been very forthright about on my blog over the past couple of years. The print-on-demand company believes my description of that diet plan as a "scam" and the creator of the plan Heidi Diaz as a liar, schemer, and shyster taking advantage of innocent victims is much too harsh. That was just one example of many they saw as potential lawsuits waiting to happen.
So here's my dilemma: Tone down the book some more to get the message out there about the studies and information in the book that aren't controversial at all or take it elsewhere to find someone who will publish it? I've got several ideas floating around right now, but I value your input. What say YOU? :)
Friday, August 28, 2009
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8 comments:
Recent cases on this issue go both ways:
http://accrispin.blogspot.com/2008/09/victoria-strauss-self-publishing.html
As you can see from the cases in the above link, many of the statements made were quite inflammatory and damaging to the woman's reputation. But, personally, I don't believe that your commentary about Ms. Diaz would classify as libel or defamation, given the circumstances and her involvement with the law. It seems that your printer is confusing strong criticism with defamation and libel. I guess the final judgment on that would depend on exactly what you've written about whom.:-)
Diaz is but one example, but I come down hard on the dietitians and other so-called health "experts" out there just as I do on my blog. But it's nothing any different than my blog. So why would a book change things?
Putting your observations/opinions in a book really shouldn't change anything, considering that those same opinions that you express on your blog aren't defamatory or libelous. I think your printer is being overly cautious and silly. Kind of defeats the whole idea of self-publishing, doesn't it?
Dear Jimmy go for the JOY,that is what attractes people to you ,skim the neg & point to all the positive in you WOEing .We all have lived with incorrect eating just a few days of this low carb eating makes you want more, people won't wake up untill they try it so give them two things motovation & Knowledge ,that is why I am here & come back every day several times a day ,my best Elaine
I thought the whole point of print on demand was to avoid this sort of silliness.
They are simply providing a service. This is like Kinko's being worried about getting sued.
I'm sure there are plenty of other companies willing to publish your book. Don't lose heart.
When you self-publish are you not paying all the costs upfront? So why do they care? As Justin said they are playing the role of a Kinkos here.
the only way to slander someone is to print something untrue. you don't do that. the manager of that company is probably a raging, hard core peta dues paying, rabid vegan.......lol.
My gut says go with your heart and live passionately.
However, from a pocketbook point of view, since this is your source of income (which is awesome, btw), you may just make readers aware of potential scams out there that promote low-fat and low-carb, which is extremely unhealthy... I don't even think Kim deserves to be in your book... but people DO need to be aware... for health reasons... so I'm torn.
So you could tone it down.... but then you wouldn't be you who we have come to love!
If you are using a printing company and not a publishing house, none of this should really matter to them...
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