A long, long time ago, Shanna asked why I was going to self-publish a book. I'm sorry I didn't answer for so long -- we're having a crazy week at my house and lots of things are going by the wayside. I was quite amazed to see that the last time I posted, it was Wednesday -- I think that's the longest I've ever gone without blogging.
The answer:
It's all Warren Jeffs' fault.
The explanation:
My book is the true story of my great-great-grandfather, Benjamin Perkins (pictured). He was a Welsh immigrant who participated in the Hole-in-the-Rock expedition in southern Utah in 1879-1880, and it was he who engineered their passage through the rock. He was an incredible man and left a legacy that I'm proud to call my own. He also happened to marry his wife's sister after settling in Bluff, making him a polygamist.
The book is well-written, emotional, and contains some of my best writing ever. But because of the Warren Jeffs brouhaha, the LDS publishers have become cautious about publishing stories that contain polygamy. The book was rejected by four LDS publishers for various reasons, but largely stating their concern about polygamy.
I don't want to let this book sit in the back of a closet somewhere, gathering dust. I strongly feel that I owe it to my progenitors to share their story of faith and courage. So I'm going to self-publish it, with the help of my good friend B.J. Rowley and his publishing imprint, Golden Wings. I'm so excited to be proceeding with this project. You'll hear more about it as we go along.
10 comments:
It sounds like an interesting book, and good for you for finding a way to "get it out there."
Sounds VERY interesting, Tristi!
Good for you Tristi! Very inspiring!
Sounds cool. I hope the self publishing works well...Keep us posted! I didn't even know BJ had his own publishing company! sigh.
Very cool. Thanks Tristi for letting us know!
Good luck with your new endeavor.
You go girl!!! =)
Glad you are sticking to your guns! It sounds like a great story.
how exciting. your g-g-grandpa's picture looks a lot like my grandpa brimhall's photo from my mom. :) Let us know when it comes out, and i'll pass it along to my sister (geneology NUT) She's been researching stories in our family of similiar things. :) it'd be cool to see the connections from the time
laters
It sounds very interesting. I don't get it -- why not publish anything about polygamy? Isn't it part of the history of the Mormon Church? Just like all the good and bad of the Catholic Church? Me-thinks we are getting all too politically correct. I will be ordering a copy of your book.
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