Its been 9.5 years since l launched my Premiere Crowd Funding Project on Pozible.  

The 'I dream of Jeanne' eco tote bag ~ a special tribute to my mum, Jeanne. 

And lm extremely proud to say that since then, series one & two have sold out 

and we are currently half way through series three, 

a limited edition of 500 totes per series.

I've thought long and hard about this, but like the  'I dream of Jeanne' eco tote bag - I've decided to crowdfund the premiere Soul Stories Art Book.

- which will basically help determine the construction of the book from three beautiful possibilities. 

1. HUMBLE version

2. AWESOME version

3. DREAM version

I feel that all of my Soul Stories creations/products have evolved through experiments, play & other peoples desires - but the idea of finally creating my Soul Stories Book series is something that I've wanted to do for sooooooo long now. I've wanted it so much, that the thought of actually 'doing it' honestly scares the bejesus out of me. To the point that I've always put it on the back burner - on the bottom of the 'one-day' pile!?!

Huh!?!? 

To anybody else I would say:

"Get off your damn butt & do something about it!   NOW!

Not only for 'you' and what you have quietly promised your heart many moons ago - but for all the other souls out there that needing/wanting to read their own stories..."

This will be the kind of book that your heart has always longed to connect with  

~ the kind of book that has open, honest & raw stories inside 

to make you remember everything you may have forgotten.

To remind your soul to smile, to cry, to laugh & sigh out loud...

These are your stories, 

each and every one of them - 

mixing them up with the real, the pretend

 & a touch of my own, 

wrapped up in the beautiful shape of 

Soul Stories premiere book called:

'WILD HEART SUNSEEKER'

So, THIS IS IT!!!! 

Another heartfelt piece to carry on with Soul Stories 'HELP, HEAL & INSPIRE' vision... 

For everyone who has been asking when l would have the courage to create Soul Stories premiere book.

This will be all for you, for myself & for mum... The book with collected and nurtured Soul Stories we have all been longing to read...

I'm currently in big play & brainstorming with Bambra Books (printers based in Port Melbourne) & annoying my rockstar graphic designer Gin Pineau to bring my vision to life. I have received a number of quotes which has given me a rough idea of how many limited edition books will be created and what fun things will be included inside.

It seems that a  lot of self-publishers l know & have researched take their books overseas to be printed - which l completely understand because of the difference in cost production. But I'm such a hands-on soul, who wants to work closely with my printers, bouncing ideas off each other to create my Soul Stories dream book (of many to come) that has been sitting inside my heart for the last 16 years... And l love to support businesses l personally know, just as much as they support me! So that's why I want to keep production in Australia - even if it means taking more time & some extra dollars. 

But in my books, it's always about the journey! 

The transformation at the end of it all...

**A month ago l decided that l would launch this project on 'Pozible', for the birth of this first book - which would help determine the construction of the book (ie. soft, wrap around or hardcover, spot gloss, paperweight, added specialty papers or not, etc... )

HUMBLE Target: Softcover cost plus: $13,000 aud

AWESOME Target: Softcover cost plus: $16,500 aud

DREAM Target: Hardcover cost plus: $22,000 aud

In a perfect world - they will be ready by Christmas! That's a push I know, but l'm going for it!!

What I do know, is that this premiere Soul Stories Book launch will be a special limited edition run & each book will have a special page where l will personally write in which number book you have along with my famous signature. :-)

Not a lot of secret pictures to show just yet, but l do have a handful of wonderful books surrounding me 24/7  that have inspired me greatly & will influence some of my ideas mixed with my own style & possibilities... 

The hardest part of everything is choosing WHICH stories to include from the last 16 years, eek!??!?  

That's a lot of stories - but don't worry, I'm sure there will be a lot of more books in the near future once I can figure out how the first one will unfold!?

....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

WILD HEART SUNSEEKER

(a sneak preview first draft of the cover - which will only get better with Gin Pineau's magic!)

A limited edition, numbered & signed...
The size of 'Wild Heart Sunseeker' has been decided on 

& over 90 Soul Stories have been carefully selected/created 

which WILL be ready before Christmas this year!!

*** ALL financial support raised from POZIBLE 

will be used to cover the cost of printing & construction 

of this Soul Stories Book ONLY ***

The premiere ‘l dream of jeanne’ project was crowd-funded within 12 days

 - and was compelled to make it happen as a special dedication to my beautiful mum, 

as well as promoting Soul Stories in a CARBON ZERO, environmentally friendly way.

With this new premiere book project 

it’s now a role reversal, mum pushing me to do it ‘for myself’ 

- she was always asking me, telling me, to write ‘that book!!’

The book that I’ve always wanted to create, but have always been too scared... 

But it's time to turn things around & make that happen 

- with all of my hard work & the kindness of my wonderful friends, followers & family.

So many helpers stretching out their hands

to nurture my dreams,

so l can continue to give back to you.
.
"It’s not important, 

the things we do in life ~ 

but it’s important that we do them anyway!"

💫🌱❤️

            ................................................................................................................................................

WEBSITE

http://soul-stories.com

FACEBOOK

https://www.facebook.com/soulstoriesbytams/?fref=nf

INSTAGRAM

https://www.instagram.com/soul.stories/

VIMEO

https://vimeo.com/73381009 ~ ( Soul Stories - a sneak peek behind the scenes )

https://vimeo.com/73460036  ~ ( 'i dream of jeanne' Tote Bag Project )

https://vimeo.com/101839297 ~ ( Melbourne Micro Space Galleries )

https://vimeo.com/112912167 ~ ( Tailor Made Soul Stories )

Book Printing Production COSTS with Bambra Books: 

HUMBLE Target: Soft cover cost plus: $13,000 aud

AWESOME Target: Soft cover cost plus: $16,500 aud

DREAM Target: Hard cover cost plus: $22,000 aud

Also allowing crowdfunding fees to be deducted by Pozible's platform fee, which is 5% of all pledged + shipping

....................................................................................................................

HUMBLE Target will include:

~750 books. A special impermanent limited edition...

~Aproximatelty 88 pages, over 90 Soul Stories

~Each Printed CMYK (colour)  x 2 sides on 150gsm, The Earl Ivory paper

~The soft cover will be AntiScuff Matt Laminate

 ~Special Spot gloss UV cover wrap printed cmyk,  Pure bound, 300gsm

~Book size - 33mm front, spine, 33mm back – full-colour TBC

~Finished cover size 160mm x 235mm

~Six ' test proof' pages - to check colour, contrast, font of images

~ ISBN and Barcode fees

~One Digital proofs - press sheets before the final print

AWESOME Target will include:

~1000 books. A special impermanent limited edition...

~Aproximatelty 88 pages, over 90 Soul Stories

~Each Printed CMYK (colour)  x 2 sides on 170gsm, The Earl Ivory paper

~The soft cover will be AntiScuff Matt Laminate

~Special Spot gloss UV cover wrap printed cmyk,  pure bound, 300gsm

~End Papers Printed

CMYK x 2 sides on 150gsm Sovereign Offset BRIGHT WHITE (H)

~Book size - 33mm front, spine, 33mm back – full-colour TBC

~Finished cover size 160mm x 235mm

~Six ' test proof' pages - to check colour, contrast, font of images

~ ISBN and Barcode fees

~One Digital proofs - press sheets before the final print

DREAM Target will include:

~1000 books. A special impermanent limited edition...

~Aproximatelty 84 pages, over 90 Soul Stories

~Each Printed CMYK (colour)  x 2 sides on 170gsm The Earl Ivory paper

~The hardcover, printed CMYK x 1 side on 170gsm Pacesetter Satin White (H)

Also AntiScuff Matt Laminate & Spot gloss

~End Papers Printed

CMYK x 2 sides on 150gsm Sovereign Offset BRIGHT WHITE (H)

~One specialty Translucent Printed Paper would be inserted in the Front.

CMYK x 1 side on 112gsm Curious Collection Translucent CLEAR

~Binding would include Section Sewing ~ Case bound cover (Squareback) + H/T bands

~Brillianta Spine + Foil on spine

~Book size - 33mm front, spine, 33mm back – full colour TBC

~Finished cover size 160mm x 235mm

~Six ' test proof' pages - to check colour, contrast, font of images

~ ISBN and Barcode fees

~One Digital proofs - press sheets before the final print

                ................................................................................................................................................

ALL financial support raised from POZIBLE 

will be used to cover the cost of printing 

of this Soul Stories Book ONLY.

Your support will enable me to take care of my reputable graphic designer/photographer/videographer 

for Soul Stories from my own pocket.

 Gin Pineau has a massive task ahead of her & I'm very excited to be working by her side on this long-awaited dream despite living continents apart...

“There is nothing more beautiful than witnessing someone 

with so much love, courage & perseverance, 

step into their light.”

💫🌱❤️

Thank you in advance for everyone's continued kindness & support 

so that l may have the courage to step into my light every day 

& to encourage others to do the same 

with the inspiration from:

WILD HEART SUNSEEKER