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Archive of "Writing Updates" Category
Thank you for a great day of “Losing God”
Thanks so much to all of you who took part in “Losing God on May 10.” Many of you blogged about the event, changed your facebook status to make others aware of it, and ordered copies of Losing God. Whatever role(s) you played on May 10, please know how grateful I am.Each of you helped raise awareness about a serious mental illness that affects 19 million people in the US every year, and you offered hope to those afflicted by spreading the word about Losing God. As one who has battled the nearly-tangible darkness of depression, again, thank you.
If you could not participate on May 10, no worries. The date doesn’t matter. Make today a day for Losing God. Tell a friend about the book. Blog about it. Order copies cheap, cheap, cheap online. Become a fan of Losing God on Facebook to hear about future events. And of course, visit my website often for the latest news on Losing God, When Answers Aren’t Enough, and future books. Oh yes, I suspect there will be others!
Losing God TODAY
Today is the day! Let’s spread some hope by spreading Losing God. It’s simple:1. Order Losing God online today. (Amazon is likely cheapest.)
2. Encourage your friends to do the same.
3. Post this as your Facebook message (or tweet it): “Losing God today. You should too. http://www.mattrogers.us/losing-god-on-may-10/2010/05/03/”.
Remember to include the link so people know what you’re taking about. And thank you for your help with this. Every year in the US alone 19 million people battle depression. Thirty thousand commit suicide in the US each year. Let’s bring those numbers down.
Losing God this Monday
NOTE: I accidentally just slammed my head into the corner of my own car door. I didn’t even know that was possible, but I just did it, so please excuse any grammatical errors in this post.Monday is closing in. Get ready to spread some hope by ordering and telling others about Losing God. If you haven’t already, invite your friends to the Facebook event, “Losing God on May 10,” and then on Monday …
1) Order Losing God online.
2) Use your Facebook status (and tweets) to tell others about the event.
Have a great weekend, and pray for my head.
Behind the cover of “Losing God”
I get more questions about the cover of Losing God than almost any other aspect of the book. Kudos to InterVarsity Press designer Matt Smith for a truly fantastic, intriguing cover. The most frequently asked question–which I may never understand, given that I’m not a woman, and that that is clearly a woman on the cover of the book–is whether the person on the cover is me. For the record: 1) I’m male, and 2) I don’t own a red rain jacket, so no, that isn’t me. I don’t know who it is. The cover art for Losing God is a blending of two stock photos:
Click here for “Woman Wearing Red Coat With Hood”
Click here for “Approaching Storm Over Pacific”
Other questions I receive:
Q: Did you design the cover?
A: Already gave this one away. Matt Smith at InterVarsity Press is the genius.
Q: Did you get to approve the cover?
A: No. The right to approval was not in my contract. I had that right on When Answers Aren’t Enough, not on Losing God. InterVarsity Press did, however, kindly show me the cover ahead of time, just to make sure I didn’t hate it.
Q: Do you like the cover?
A: I love it. I think Matt Smith did a terrific job. He had a tough task, depicting the malaise of depression without making the cover itself depressing. In my opinion, he succeeded brilliantly. Everything about the cover seems to work. The book is a simple story of one man’s journey. The cover art, likewise, is simple–not too busy, and with no fancy fonts. The dim, gray clouds are perfectly offset with a splash of bright red from the rain coat, drawing your eye to the book and preventing the cover from feeling oppressive or bleak. Compare Losing God’s cover with that of many other books on your shelf–Losing God pops. It stands out.
I can’t wait to see the cover for the Korean translation that’s in the works right now. I’ll let you know when it releases.
Losing God on May 10
May is Mental Health Month. Every year, 19 million Americans wrestle major depression. Thirty thousand commit suicide. To help spread some hope this month, you’re invited to the event, “Losing God on May 10.” It’s as simple as one, two, three.1. Order Losing God online on May 10.
The 2008 book about depression and doubt is a great resource whether you’re struggling with depression, know someone who is, or just want to educate yourself about this terrible illness. I know some of you already own the book. If so, do you know someone you could get a copy for? Or would you consider buying another copy just to have on-hand (and to encourage the publisher to keep producing books like Losing God)? You can get the book wherever, but Amazon is probably cheapest, around ten bucks.
2. Invite your friends to take part in “Losing God on May 10.”
Pass along the link to this post, or click here to join the Facebook event and invite your friends.
3. Use your Facebook status on May 10 to spread the word.
Post this as your Facebook status on May 10: “Losing God today. You should too. http://www.mattrogers.us/losing-god-on-may-10/2010/05/03/”. Make sure you include the link to this post so people know what you’re talking about. You can also tweet this if you have a Twitter account.
Thanks so much for your help. As one who struggled for years with the awful despair of major depression, I know there are people out there who will hear about Losing God through your efforts and finally find some much-needed solace. Thank you for being a part of that.
“When Answers Aren’t Enough” audiobook now on Amazon
Amazon.com has added the audiobook edition of When Answers Aren’t Enough. (Hint: It’s cheaper than going directly to Audible’s website, even though the Amazon link sends you to Audible. Go figure.) Click here for the Amazon/Audible page that is cheaper than the Audible-only page. The audiobook edition is also available from iTunes.“When Answers Aren’t Enough” audiobook now available
Great news! The audiobook version of When Answers Aren’t Enough is here. You can download it from iTunes or Audible.com. Just search for Matt Rogers at either online store and you’ll find it.Please help me spread the word, too. Could you blog about it? Post a link on your Facebook wall? Mention it in your Facebook status? Tweet about it if you’re on Twitter? If you know someone who prefers hearing books to reading them and who might find solace in what I’ve written, could you point them to the audiobook? You can even give the book to someone through iTunes. Look for the “Gift This Audiobook” link.
Thanks for helping me get out the word!
Recording audio book version of “When Answers Aren’t Enough”
Just returned from Zondervan’s headquarters in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where I spent a couple of days recording the audio book version of When Answers Aren’t Enough. While there, I had the privilege of meeting many of the folks who worked on the book. What a great bunch of people.According to Brad Hill, who oversaw the recording, When Answers Aren’t Enough, the audio book version, should show up on iTunes and other sites sometime in the next eight weeks or so. Of course, I’ll let you know when that happens.
In the meantime, click here to visit my Facebook page. I’ve posted pictures from my trip to Zondervan.
“When Answers Aren’t Enough” audio book recording dates
I now have the recording dates for the audio book edition of When Answers Aren’t Enough. I’ll visit Zondervan in Grand Rapids, Michigan, for three days of recording, September 8 – 10.I’m really looking forward to the process, and I’m excited to meet the many people who helped take When Answers Aren’t Enough from simple word document to published book. No doubt I’ll offer frequent blog updates those three days, so stay tuned!
“When Answers Aren’t Enough” audio book coming soon
Received great news today from Angela Scheff, my editor at Zondervan. In addition to the print and Kindle versions of When Answers Aren’t Enough, Zondervan soon will be releasing an audio book version, and they’re asking me to voice the recording. Due to the highly personal nature of the book, they felt it was best to have the author read it rather than hiring someone else. (I like their thinking!)I’m excited about this development because now people who just don’t enjoy reading will be able to experience the book anyway. I’ll keep you posted as I learn more.
