Yep!!!

To those of you who provided letters, I have a couple of questions.

First, the issue of honorarium payments for selected letters...I had initially offered $500 to one letter, and $100 each for some others. These would be selected by colleagues (excluding myself). Would you still want me to do this, or would you rather we simply selected 4 letters and gave $200 to EACH writer? There's no financial advantage to me either way; the consideration is whether you wanted to designate a single letter as the principle honorarium, or whether the selected writers should be treated equally. Every recipient would also receive a more generous amount than initially offered. What do you think: option one ($500/$100 split), or option 2 ($200 each)?

And just FYI, 99% of the layout work is now done. Pre-press modifications will take a few more days, and it'll be ready for press just after the holidays. I also have another possible surprise-- VERY good one--up my sleeve, if I can get it to work out.

I like the second option. I'm just glad I'm not the one judging! I would want the second option purely because I couldn't put a higher claim on one letter over another.

I'm so excited about the book. And that is very intriguing! Cannot wait to find out what that is

I won't judge either. I want it to be evident that there's no personal influence on the choices, because frankly the letters I got were AMAZING and I don't want anyone who might not be among the selected group to wonder if I had any judgments about theirs. I don't; I didn't get a single poor or weak letter in the bunch.

I vote for equal awards. The more celebration, the better!

And did you say surprise???? Tell me tell me tell me tell me!!!!!

Okay, here's the surprise:

I expect to release TWO editions of LTS. The first will be a basic color paperback, distributed to Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and various other bookstores. It'll have a cover price of about $24.95, but will be discounted per those stores' pricing policies.

But there will be a second DELUXE edition, available only from me/website. It will be a full-color hardcover with extra artwork, more letters, plus discussion questions for people using it in groups. And here's the awesome part: it will cost LESS than the regular paperback version, probably about $20.

Of course, all contributors get a copy anyway.

By the way, if anyone wants a critical assessment of the quality of the book, ask Tonya on Facebook. She's seen the whole design process from start to finish, and can give a more objective description than I can.

Thats very cool!!! Im really looking forward to it :) I think a hardback edition would rock!

Sounds fantastic Matt, can't wait to see the real thing. I'm with the others, equal prizes would be good. Put my name down for a deluxe version!

I say divided equally. I love the sound of both books. I can't wait to order. Thank you and Tonya for all of this amazing work.

I agree with option 2, divided equally and I can't wait for the finished product!!

yep...equal prizes sounds great. unless i get the $500...then get outta the way! hahahahahaha! just kidding! i can't wait for this book. it's going to be so amazing to read everyone's story. better bring your pens to the retreat cause if you're all up to it, i want autographs! :)

deluxe version for me too! thank you for all the hard work. this is very exciting.

Heck yeah! I should bring a stack of them and have all of you with letters in it autograph them, and then do a "Special, even MORE deluxe limited edition" sale of some exorbitant price, like $100 each, as a retreat fundraiser!

well Matt, it might be worth it for when you are rich and famous!!!

Yeah, that'll happen.