GOOD NEWS! GOOD NEWS! GOOD NEWS! GOOD NEWS! GOOD NEWS!
Dear Supporters
I know it's been a long time since I last wrote. My last update to you was at the start of October, so it's been about ten weeks. At that time (3rd October) we were busy checking the book before printing proofs to send out to reviewers. After that -- when we'd received back some truly lovely comments (some of which will be going on the back cover) -- there was still work outstanding to make sure the text was as good as it could be. There was the index and some back matter to add. And then the whole thing had to go off to both the printers and the people who make the digital copies.
All that time I kept thinking that I really ought to write to you all again -- I know from social media how eager people are to receive their copies of the book. And believe me, with some of the stuff going on in the media recently, we were really aware of how much the world NEEDS this book. Still, there wasn't any point in sending an update just for the sake of it. Instead, I thought it better to wait until I had some specific dates for when you would be receiving your special edition copies of Trans Britain.
I had been hoping to be able to announce that you would be getting your special edition copies in time for Christmas. That's been the aim all along. I promised I wouldn't set that expectation, however, until we were certain Unbound could meet it. I really didn't want to raise people's hopes and then disappoint them.
Well... there's bad news... BUT there's GOOD NEWS too...
The bad news is that I learned today that, despite everyone's best endeavours, the special edition isn't going to be available in the warehouse until January. At that time I then have to hot foot to Unbound's offices and sign copies for those who pledged for collectible copies, before everything can then be despatched. It's sad, I know. There were people I wanted to send books to for Christmas as well, so I'm just as gutted.
However, I've agreed this afternoon with Unbound that they CAN despatch the eBook edition of the book to everyone before the end of next week. That means that, although you'll still have to wait till after the holidays to hold the book in your hands, you CAN spend the Christmas period reading it with a Kindle, iPad, Kobo, Nook, PC or Mac. What better way to spend the holidays?
So, keep an eye out for emails in the next ten days or so. The way Unbound distributes eBooks is that the email contains links to download your choice of a Kindle (mobi) file, an ePub (suitable for iBooks, Kobo, Nook, Adobe Digital Editions, etc..) or a PDF. You press the appropriate button and you get that file. You can then manually load the file into your reader.
I can't wait for you to be able to read the book that you all made possible. Here is what some reviewers said:
"A vital record of how we got to where we are. Inspirational!"
(Paris Lees)
"Profound, quiet, agitated and deeply moving ... a powerful reminder that when we enjoy rights and equalities we do so because of the sacrifices of the generation before us"
(Lord Michael Cashman, co-founder of Stonewall)
"Warm, compassionate, inspiring. A much-needed antidote to media scaremongering, and a vital lesson in how to effect change
(CN Lester)
"Bloody good. Meticulously researched history of the collective transgender “journey” in the UK over the last century. Read it"
(Juno Dawson)
But it's YOUR opinion that counts even more. I can't wait to hear what you think. And you won't have to wait long now to decide.
Best wishes to everyone, thank you for your patience
Christine Burns
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