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Hope and Disappointment

Josh Fergeus

Surviving life as an activist

Climate change. Inequality. Corruption.

Hope and Disappointment will explore common experiences faced by those tackling these and other modern challenges, providing strategies for survival as a progressive person in 2020.

  Society & Culture   50,000 words   25% complete   15 publishers interested
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515 preorders
$10,410.00 funded

Ended

Synopsis

You see things slightly differently. You see how you'd like them to be, and struggle to accept how they are. Sometimes you're upset, sometimes you're angry. You seek out fellow travellers and try to create meaningful change. You might think of yourself as an activist, a change-maker, or just someone who wants the world to be a better place.

Life as a change-maker is marked by hope and disappointment. As we enter the 2020s, humanity faces climate change, increasing inequality, and the impending collapse of capitalism. Thanks to exponential technological advances, activism has become both easier and harder than ever before. Social and economic justice, environmental sustainability, peace and democracy don't just happen. They're rare. And when they are realised it is because of people like you and me. Just people. For those of us who don't believe the status quo is good enough, life can be challenging.

Individuals wishing to create positive change face myriad challenges, from bans on protests to the risk of being hounded by tabloid newspapers. Hope and Disappointment will explore how the desire to see progressive change can impact on our day to day life, and strategies for surviving life as an activist. It will ponder how to stay sane and functional in an unjust world, and how to create and sustain meaning in the world of Trump, austerity, facism, and the climate emergency.

I want to share the wisdom and experience I've gained from 20 years of activism across three continents, including leading not-for-profit organisations, campaigning for climate action, advocating for society's most vulnerable people, working in research and academia, and as an elected local government councillor.

Sales arguments

  • An established progressive activist and respected leader in the non-government sector, I want to share what I've learned over 20 years of campaigning for change
  • I regularly engage with community groups, experienced activists, and people just wanting to make a small local change - I want to share my reflections on their collective wisdom
  • A leading progressive politician and a leading feminist academic will contribute a foreword
  • While a number of books tell stories of the activism of others, few engage with the activism of the reader. Of these, most focus on 'how to' campaign or conduct activism, and almost none engage with how activism can make you feel, and the pitfalls as they relate to your day-to-day life, passion and ability to be happy and content.

Similar titles

  • Optimism: reflections from a life of action (Bob Brown, 2014, published by Hardie Grant). In this book Brown presents vignettes from his life in activism and politics. Hope and Disappointment will deal with the realities of activism for day-to-day people, exploring the challenges for people who may be inspired by people like Brown.
  • Lost Connections (Johann Hari, 2018, published by Bloomsbury). In this book Hari explores underlying causes of depression and melancholy in modern societies. Hope and Disappointment, while not addressing depression, will explore how the desire to create positive change and being faced with constant barriers can cause melancholy and disconnection. This links with one of Hari's key causes of depression, a lack of meaningful engagement.
  • Hope (Tim Costello, 2012, published by Hardie Grant). Costello shares stories he has encountered, reflecting on the importance of love, faith and life. While not focused on activism, Costello is a key advocate for social justice, and his desire to create a better world mirrors the desires of the audience for Hope and Disappointment.

Audience

Hope and Disappointment will be for people who want to make a difference - to their street, their city, or the world. It will help them to feel less isolated, and to contextualise and understand their experiences.

Advance praise

"Josh's experience shows that when you stand up for your values there's more people standing behind you than you might think. This is especially true for those of us who have lived in the suburbs our whole lives, where it can often feel like you're pushing against a strong conservative tide."

"I can't wait to read this book, and if you pre-order now, you can help bring it to life on this link below. I know Josh and he's a hard-working, super committed dude, so I have no doubt this will be a terrific companion to the ever-frustrated but ever-fighting leftie."

"Josh is one of the nicest humans I have ever met. He also has an enormous capacity for advocacy, and for the foster care movement that helped to raise him. He's following in his mother's footsteps, taking on her journey, pushing the boundaries. I wish we could clone him"

"Sure to be a fantastic read and an essential resource for people who aim to do good in these trying times."

Josh Fergeus

About the author

Josh is a lifelong social justice advocate and environmental campaigner.

Josh is a CEO in the social services sector, and has worked developing innovative solutions to complex social issues for more than 15 years.

A published academic author, Josh teaches Masters level social policy at the University of Melbourne.

Josh is an elected local government Councillor, and a trustee and board member of several non-government organisations.

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Sunbury Press

250 copies • Partial manuscript.
Sunbury Press, Inc., headquartered in Mechanicsburg, PA is a publisher of hardcover, trade paperback, and eBooks featuring established and emerging authors in many categories. Sunbury's books are sold through leading booksellers worldwide. We are a traditional royalty-paying trade publisher.

Traditional publisher Pennsylvania 25 categories
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Atlantic Publishing Group, Inc.

250 copies • Completed manuscript.
Atlantic Publishing has been providing millions of readers information to jumpstart their careers, start businesses, manage employees, invest, plan for retirement, learn technologies, build relationships, and live rewarding, fulfilling lives. Our award-winning authors and publication staff strive to make our products the best and most up-to-date available. We go further than most publishers to get our customers the best products.

Hybrid publisher Worldwide 13 categories
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Ballast Books

250 copies • Partial manuscript.
Ballast Books is a full-service hybrid publisher that handles all aspects of book creation, design, publishing, marketing, distribution, and platform building. We help our authors sell more books, secure more keynotes, do more consulting, earn more customers, and book more media appearances.

We want to work with the best of the best: Former Special Operations Forces, CEOs, big thinkers, industry-leading experts. Top-performing people with experiences worth sharing and skills that translate into a larger message and goal.

We've seen particular success with military memoirs, but we've also recently hired a children's book specialist, so we run the spectrum of genres. We're a small but growing team and take pride in dedicating more time and energy to all our authors than traditional publishers.

Hybrid publisher , United States All categories
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Boyle & Dalton

250 copies • Completed manuscript.
Boyle & Dalton was founded in 2014 and publishes works of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. The world of publishing is changing, we're changing with it. Our founder Brad Pauquette, conceptualized a hybrid model that balances the financial and rights model of self-publishing with the quality controls and production excellence of a traditional publisher. Our designers and editors produce exceptional books that are distributed in both print and digital formats to all major retailers, including Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com. Boyle & Dalton carefully consider all submissions for publication, based on manuscript quality. We do not accept erotica or children's books.

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Elite Online Publishing

Elite Online Publishing is based in Utah & Texas, and will help put your self-published book out into the world to grow, become a #1 bestseller, and give you a foundation of credibility, powerful marketing appeal, and new contacts. We have been in business for over 6 years and have helped over 150 authors become bestsellers.

Hybrid publisher United Kingdom, Canada, United States 37 categories
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Emerald Lake Books

500 copies • Completed manuscript.
Emerald Lake Books is a hybrid publishing company that provides a unique blend of business coaching with publishing to help its authors succeed, whether it’s their first book or their fiftieth! Emerald Lake Books specializes in working with positive people who have an engaging, exciting, or entertaining message to share with the world. Using a unique, goal-oriented approach to publishing, we combine our business and publishing knowledge to help our authors set and attain goals for their readers, their brands, and their books. And many of those books have gone on to win international awards and recognition.

Hybrid publisher Worldwide 16 categories
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HigherLife

500 copies • Completed manuscript.
HigherLife allows authors to retain all your publishing rights and you pay no publishing fee. Your only cost is to purchase at least 2,500 copies of your book from the initial press run, and this cost typically amounts to a 60%-80% discount off retail. You benefit from a full publishing team of experts: editors, designers, publishing and marketing strategists, copyeditors, copywriters, who know how to take your message and craft it as well as any New York Times best-selling publishing house would do.

Hybrid publisher Worldwide 18 categories
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Hybrid Global Publishing

250 copies • Partial manuscript.
Hybrid Global Publishing is a full service Hybrid Publishing Company dedicated to helping authors, speakers, and entrepreneurs get their message out by writing and publishing a book. We offer developmental editing, publishing, distribution, and marketing services for independent authors who are interested in speaking on stage, becoming more visible in the media, and establishing more credibility. The team has a combined 80 years of experience in publishing and has held editorial, management and marketing positions at major publishing houses, including The Free Press, Crown, Random House, and Avon.

Hybrid publisher Worldwide 52 categories
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Inside Edge Publishing

100 copies • Partial manuscript.
Inside Edge Publishing works with our writers every step of the way on their literary journey, helping to bring out the most from their work. From an idea and rough draft to editing and publication, Inside Edge Publishing helps our authors produce high quality, interesting and entertaining books. We are looking for innovative writing in just about any genre but love memoirs, thrillers, sci-fi, business, and motivational books just to name a few. Our books frequently appear on the bestseller lists and our authors are among some of the best known in their genre. At Inside Edge Publishing, we believe that every author has a story to tell and that every story deserves to be told.

Hybrid publisher All categories
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Something or Other Publishing

250 copies • Completed manuscript.
SOOP is a small virtual publishing company headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, with a core team based in the US and additional contractors around the world. SOOP currently focuses on curating a small number of volumes for publication each year to enable its team to dedicate a great deal of time to working with its authors directly - not just on the manuscript, but also on platform-building and promotion.

Hybrid publisher Worldwide 60 categories
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Wonderwell

Wonderwell is an award-winning, values-driven, forward-thinking hybrid publishing company specializing in books and ebooks that help, heal, and inspire. We believe that authors should have access to high-quality, elegant publishing services and full-scale in-store distribution without having to give up their publishing rights or control over the timing and execution of their book. Many of our clients are first-time authors who know a great deal about how to help make the world a better place, but who need help translating that knowledge into a compelling book. That's where we come in. Wordsmiths, idea sculptors, and enthusiastic cheerleaders for the human race, we make a difference in the world by helping authors to make their difference in the world. We publish primarily practical nonfiction in the following categories: Business and Tech, Health and wellness, Parenting and Relationships, Personal Development, and Inspirational Memoir.

Hybrid publisher Worldwide 8 categories
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1106 Design, LLC

Dear Author,

You worked hard to write your manuscript; finally, it's ready to release. You know that expert assistance is needed, but perhaps you didn’t realize that working with a publisher is no longer necessary—especially publishers who charge fees to produce your book upfront and "share" more of your revenue whenever a book is sold.

1106 Design is an author services company. We offer all the editorial and design services you’d expect from a publisher, transforming your manuscript into a market-ready book. But here's the difference: we help you secure print-on-demand printing and worldwide distribution in your name. This means you earn several dollars more for every book sold instead of a meager “royalty.”

We understand that your book is not just a passion project but also a potential source of income. That's why we offer a range of services tailored to your needs at affordable prices. Depending on your manuscript's word count and complexity, our packages range from $4,000 to $10,000. And here's the best part: after this one-time investment, every penny of net revenue from book sales goes directly to you, never to us.

If this sounds like a better way to publish your book, I invite you to browse our services, design samples, no-surprises pricing, outstanding customer reviews, and educational articles at https://1106design.com. You can download a free PDF of my book, "Publish Like the Pros: A Brief Guide to Quality Self-Publishing and an Insider's Look at a Misunderstood Industry," and request a free, no-obligation consultation.

1106 Design has been in business since 2001 and is rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau. We are a “Highly Recommended Expert” at IngramSpark.com and rated "Excellent" at Alli, The Alliance for Independent Authors, at SelfPublishingAdvice.org, where you can find a "watchdog list" of the best and worst publishing services companies.

How can we serve you today?

Sincerely,
Michele DeFilippo, owner

Service publisher Worldwide 53 categories
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Atmosphere Press

250 copies • Partial manuscript.
Atmosphere Press is an independent publisher dedicated to author rights. We publish in all genres and have an exceptional editorial, design, and promotional staff. We stand for Honesty, Transparency, Professionalism, and Kindness. We want our authors and their readers to be blown away when they first hold that book in their hands. It needs to look good inside and out, and feel good to the touch. And, of course, the words need to be top-notch, and our editors are devoted to making that the case.

Service publisher Worldwide 22 categories
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Bright Communications LLC

Looking for all types of books, including fiction, children's books, health, memoir, business books, and cookbooks
Bright Communications LLC is a woman- and veteran-owned custom publisher in Hellertown, PA. Founding CEO Jennifer Bright is a Book Doula, whose passion is helping authors bring their books to life. Our team of expert editorial, design, and marketing pros help authors go from idea to completed books and retain 100% of the rights to their work. We also offer four custom publishing packages and a $1900 self-publishing assist program.

Service publisher United Kingdom, Canada, United States 60 categories
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Happy Self Publishing

100 copies • Completed manuscript.
Happy Self Publishing has helped 500+ authors to get their books self-published, hit the #1 position in the Amazon bestseller charts, and also establish their author website & brand to grow their business. And the best thing is, we do all this without taking away your rights and royalties. Let's schedule a call to discuss the next steps in your book project: www.meetme.so/jyotsnaramachandran

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  • Update #9 - 2021 - the pandemic continues! Sept. 10, 2021

    Hello subscribers,

    I hope you are travelling as well as can be expected in these challenging times.

    When I wrote to you earlier this year we were …


  • Update #8 - 2021 - year of the book! Dec. 27, 2020

    Hello subscribers,

    Thank you for sticking with me and this project through 2020!  It has not been the year any of us expected.  An understatement, I know.  

    2021 …


  • Update #7 - Hope & Disappointment update July 19, 2020

    Hello subscribers!

    I hope you are keeping well in these strange and stressful times.

    The Hope & Disappointment journey continues, and I will endeavour to keep you …


  • Update #6 - COVID-19 and publishing April 22, 2020

    Hello subscribers!

    COVID-19 has hit the publishing industry in some very strange ways, and not necessarily in the ways I would have expected.  For Hope & Disappointment  …


  • Update #5 - Final negotiations Jan. 4, 2020

    Hi subscribers,


    Thank you once again so much for pre-ordering Hope and Disappointment!

    For those of you eligible for bonuses, I'm now taking requests for scheduling these.  Please …


  • Update #4 - Where to now? Nov. 22, 2019

    Thank you once again so much for your support.  With your help we've got this project into negotiations with several publishers!

    What next?  Over the next …


  • Update #3 - Final days!! 161 pre-orders and counting Oct. 24, 2019

    The final third of the campaign has arrived, and Hope and Disappointment has secured 161 pre-orders and interest from 4 publishers!

    In order to ensure …


  • Update #2 - 161 pre-orders and counting Oct. 11, 2019

    The final third of the campaign has arrived, and Hope and Disappointment has secured 161 pre-orders and interest from 4 publishers!


    In order to ensure …


  • Update #1 - 4 days in, 50 pre-orders! Oct. 6, 2019

    Thank you SO much for your support!

    With your help Hope and Disappointment has reached 50 pre-orders in less than 4 days!  

    Can you help me reach the next …


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39 readers

Just the e-book! 1 digital copy of Hope & Disappointment

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THE BOOK

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LOCK THE GATE (AFTER YOU GET THIS BUNDLE)

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$100

(CHAIN YOURSELF TO THIS) BOOK BUNDLE!

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5 copies of the autographed limited edition of Hope and Disappointment!

PLUS a special THANK YOU in the book!

PLUS a FREE one hour consultation on YOUR activism project of choice face-to-face (Melbourne only) or via Zoom/Skype (rest of world)

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$200

ROSIE BATTY BUMPER PACKAGE

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PLUS I'll attend your event as a guest speaker! (conditions apply)

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$400

GET GRETA THUNBERG-ED!

3 readers

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PLUS a FREE invitation to attend the Hope and Disappointment MASTERCLASS in Melbourne, Victoria!

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$500

THE NAOMI KLEIN SPECIAL

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25 copies of the limited edition of Hope and Disappointment for you and your team!

PLUS a FREE invitation to the book launch for you and 2 members of your team!

PLUS your organisation's name listed as a sponsor in the book!

PLUS a custom workshop for your team focused on tools and strategies from the book! (Melbourne, Australia only, OR via Skype/Zoom)

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Hire me for a keynote presentation and gift out 100 books to your attendees!

You get:
• 100 copies of the limited edition Hope & Disappointment
• A personal book signing
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• 1 x keynote presentation (terms will vary, by agreement between both parties)

PLUS a FREE invitation to the book launch for you and 2 members of your team!

PLUS your organisation's name listed as a sponsor in the book!

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