The Intersection of Mental Health and Independent Publishing

“There is no over-stating the value of independent book publishing to the health of individuals, families, and communities in America and in all the human settlements around the planet that value their own and each other’s humanity and wish to thrive and prosper.Folks aren’t working in independent book publishing if they don’t already feel some strong sense of mission affinity. So that’s good. What they’re doing is vital to the principles that we like about the founding of America. In terms of believing that the first amendment is the first amendment for a good reason and believing that when you give people freedom of expression what you’re doing is encouraging an inevitable progression toward an improved humanity. Being part of that historical trajectory is such a such an important public trust.

So, I’d say that it’s not just all the great creative or business reasons to be an independent book publisher, but it’s also an important public trust, and people ought to feel good about that. And in addition to that, as far as their own mental health is concerned, all the other true things apply. Watch your diet. Consume the stuff that is helpful for you, and ingest things that are going to make you grow. Don’t ingest excessive amounts of the things that make you feel like you’ve been poisoned. And spend more time outdoors.”