Life's Purpose
IKIGAI is an illustrated historical fiction children’s book about a story that takes place on the island of Okinawa in the oceanside village of Chinen, Japan.
Ended
"IKIGAI" is an illustrated historical fiction children’s book. The story takes place on the island of Okinawa in the oceanside village of Chinen. There, young Choichi dreams of sharing with the world the classical Ryukuan art of uta-sanshin, an Okinawan musical instrument, singing while playing a three-stringed lute. His master instructor, Haruyuki Miyazato, guides him through the “Yaruki Shinkun—Lessons of the Heart" while Choichi meets with self-doubt and questions his life’s purpose.
“If you have found your life’s purpose, you will see it validated by the smiles on the faces of those who see you perform uta-sanshin” said Miyazato.
This book was written by an Okinawan for Okinawan children, an unrepresented voice in American literature. However, this story does not just teach about Okinawan culture. It asks a universal question that all humans can relate to: “What is my life’s purpose, and how do I find it.”
This book was written by an Okinawan for Okinawan children, an unrepresented voice in American literature. However, this story does not just teach about Okinawan culture. It asks a universal question that children and adults can relate to: “What is my life’s purpose, and how do I find it.”
"A soft but not silenced voice resounds in poetic words built phrase by phrase about a people and place beloved of Chiemi Souen. Okinawa, mother—seen to us all through the eyes of the writer—invisible no longer within the Asian-American diaspora. My sister poet is of her homelands. Hawai'i and Okinawa. Written and heard."
– Lois-Ann Yamanaka, author
"Brilliant work! Chiemi Souen has taken the life-affirming concepts of life purpose and joy, and woven them into an engaging read that is as relatable as it is unique. Her story brings awareness to not only the Okinawan culture, but the importance of loving what you do and not giving up. A must-read for anyone who needs a spark of light to catalyze joy and new awareness within their spirit. The illustrations are beyond perfect and add depth and magic to the story."
– Alice Inoue, author, columnist and Happiness U founder
Chiemi writes to give a voice to Okinawan-Americans of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th generation descendants of contract sugar plantation workers who immigrated from Okinawa in the early 1900s and remain faceless in literature.
The author is a member of Afuso Ryu Ongaku Kenkyu Choichi Kai (https://www.afusochoichikaiusa.com) and Tamagusuku Ryu Senju Kai Frances Nakachi Dojo (https://senjukaihawaii.com).
She has received a scholarship sponsored by the Okinawan Prefectural Government for Okinawan descendants.
Illustrations are by Flor Kaneshiro. She is an accomplished illustrator who has experience illustrating Okinawan children's books. Her illustration style is timeless and will continue to be considered beautiful far into the future. Please see her work on her website, https://florkane.wixsite.com/florkaneshiro.
500 copies • Partial manuscript • Looking for fiction, non-fiction, and children's book genres, all having one thing in common: an individual's originality and hardship.
Black Rose Writing is an independent publishing house that strongly believes in developing a personal relationship with their authors. The Texas-based publishing company doesn't see authors as clients or just another number on a page, but rather as individual people who deserve an honest review of their material and to be paid traditional royalties without ever paying any fees to be published. We are proud members of IBPA (Independent Book Publishers Association), a recognized ITW (International Thriller Writers) publisher, members of Publishers Marketplace, and currently serving on the Ingram Publisher Advisory Board.
500 copies • Completed manuscript • Looking for fiction and nonfiction romance, thriller, science fiction, young adult, historical fiction.
LM Vintage Publishers is a traditional publisher that covers production costs, never charging the author for a completed manuscript we accept, and we come with a team of professionals experienced in publishing. We offer 40% royalties, polished digital and print books, and an expert marketing plan for the author to implement to build a platform and further sales. We do not accept memoirs, literary fiction, graphic novels.
1,000 copies • Partial manuscript.
Publishizer is a book crowdfunding platform and literary agency that matches authors with publishers. Authors write proposals, readers pre-order copies, and publishers express interest to contact authors. Publishizer queries publishers based on criteria such as: book category, proposal quality, and pre-order copies milestones at the end of the campaign. The author receives a range of offers, and selects the best one. We have both published books and represented authors.
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.
500 copies • Complete manuscript.
Blooming Twig is an award-winning boutique publishing house, media company, and thought leadership marketing agency. Based in New York City and Tulsa, we have represented and re-branded hundreds of thought leaders, published more than 400 titles in all genres, and built up a like-minded following for authors, speakers, trainers, and organizations with our bleeding-edge marketing strategies. Blooming Twig is about giving the people with something to say (“thought leaders”) a platform, walking its clients up to their own influencer pulpit, and making sure there is a like-minded crowd assembled to hear the meaningful message.
Looking for titles that teach, promote, and encourage understanding, tolerance, peace, environmental preservation, health, and wellness.
Brandylane is a small, independent press, founded in 1985, that publishes fiction, non-fiction, poetry, memoir, and children’s books. We publish under a traditional arrangement and also offer a cooperative track for emerging authors. We believe that books make a difference, that lives and the world are changed by the power of words and images, and that large publishing houses neglect a wealth of good writing. We are not looking for mainstream read-it-before self-help.
Under our cooperative arrangement, we invest a portion of the publishing costs and offer a stepped royalty structure from 30% to 60%--higher than the industry average. One distinguishing feature of our program is that our marketing effort includes a one-year launch, followed by two additional years of promotion through our social media, website, our seasonal genre, and subject matter email campaigns, and continuous support from our PR team.
250 copies • Partial manuscript.
Cranthorpe Millner operates a hybrid publishing model. This means, should an author pass our editors’ strict filtering system, we can offer different kinds of agreements depending on the author and the manuscript. With some authors, we work under a ‘traditional’ model, whereby we cover the full cost of publication and the author is offered industry-standard royalties (8-10%). To some authors, we offer what we call a partnership or contributory agreement, whereby the author is asked for a financial contribution so that we may share the risk and enter into a partnership together to publish the author’s book. In this case, the author receives around 60-75% royalties.
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.
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.
250 copies • Completed manuscript.
i2i Publishing was founded by Lionel Ross and asks for a small financial contribution towards costs.
250 copies • Completed manuscript.
Isabella Media Inc is a Rhode Island-based, family-owned, mainline publishing organization with a mission to discover unknown stories. We combine unknown or little known authors’ undiscovered potential with Isabella Media Inc’s unique approach to publishing to provide the highest quality books to readers about stories they may not find anywhere else. It’s our desire to find unique stories that drive us.
500 copies • Partial manuscript • Looking for business and entrepreneurship, personal development, and success psychology books.
Lifestyle Entrepreneurs Press was founded by international best-selling author Jesse Krieger and focuses on personal development, healthy lifestyles, and entrepreneurship-focused titles. Our process starts with your nearly-finished manuscript, which we turn into a beautiful publish-ready book and launch up the best-seller charts. But it doesn't stop there, our most valuable work is in helping you use your book as a business development tool so you can build a thriving book-based business and brand.
Looking for cookbooks, design, craft books, art, non-fiction and photography.
Prensa Press a boutique publishing house and creative studio with a mission of working with passionate writers, chefs, artists, architects, designers and dreamers to help craft their stories and bring them to print. We are a small team located between Mexico City and Chicago that is selective in the projects that we take on to ensure each client has our entire focus. We are flexible in our approach to each individual project and like to take risks, experiment in new mediums and techniques and tell each story in its own unique fashion.
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
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.
100 copies • Completed manuscript.
eBooks2go, Inc. was founded in 2011 to provide the missing link for all your publishing needs. Our end-to-end solutions provide the guidance and support that enable publishers and independent authors to pursue their passions. To date, we have helped more than 750 authors and 100 publishers worldwide. We offer an array of simple and affordable solutions to assist self-publishing authors at every stage of the book publishing process. Our comprehensive service offering includes editing, print and eBook production, book marketing, cover designs, ISBN registration, and even website designs. We are a single source for all of your publishing needs.
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
Hi Everyone,
There is a correction to my last update. The virtual event is on Aug. 21 (not 31). Thank you to those who brought …
Aloha Friends and Family,
I have been furiously mailing books out almost daily. I have temporarily run out of packaging so if your first name …
Aloha Friends and Family,
If you have been following IKIGAI on social media than you know how excited we are that the preorders are going to …
Aloha Friends and Family,
The preordered copies for "IKIGAI: Life's Purpose" is currently in production. I know it's been a loooooooong wait, but now we will soon …
Aloha Family and Friends,
My family is jumping for joy!
The first printed proof of "IKIGAI : Life's Purpose" has arrived from Brandylane Publishing and I have …
Dear Friends and Family,
Today I sent in the most recent editing note to Brandylane Publishing. That means IKIGAI is almost ready to print! One year ago, I …
Aloha Friends and Family,
I just wanted to keep everyone up to date on when pre-orders will be fulfilled. I know we were all hoping …
Aloha Family and Friends,
I wanted to wish all of you a Happy-Thanksgiving week and express my gratitude for your friendship and support throughout the …
HI Everyone,
I hope you are all doing well during this crazy time. Some people have been emailing me or sending me messages asking about …
Aloha Friends,
I hope everyone is doing well. I have a couple of updates to share with you. First, we are being connected with interested …
Aloha Friends,
A lot has changed since the last IKIGAI update. While there has been a lot of fear circulating, I have also witnessed a lot …
Hi Friends,
Thank you for following the IKIGAI journey. We currently have 1142 pre-orders, which is AMAZING! Tonight I thought I would share some of the …
Hi Friends,
I am doing a "happy dance" today because we are at 660! I am seeing orders coming from various places around the U.S. …
Aloha e Friends,
YES! We did it! We got our 500 and I have been seeing it continue to go up throughout the day. The …
Hi Friends,
As I mentioned in the campaign, "IKIGAI" was inspired by my time spent in Okinawa with Grandmaster Choichi Terukina. Several years ago, National Geographic …
Hi Friends,
I am so grateful! It's only week one, and we are at the halfway to 500 mark. If we keep on this pace …
Hi Friends,
Thank you for subscribing and preordering "IKIGAI." For the past several years I tried to get this book the traditional way. And now …
$20
108 readers
You'll get:
- 1 printed copy
- 1 free eBook
Includes:
$40
66 readers
Share a copy with a friend. You'll get:
- 2 printed copies
- 2 free eBooks
Includes:
$150
12 readers
You'll get:
- 5 printed copies (autographed)
- 5 free eBooks
- 30 min webinar with Chiemi for Q&A
- Free shipping
Includes:
$250
2 readers
You'll get:
- 10 printed copies
- 10 eBooks
- 1h presentation with Chiemi regarding Okinawan culture and Ikigai's story
- Free shipping
Includes:
$500
3 readers
Perfect for schools, you'll get:
- 20 printed copies
- 20 eBooks
- 1h presentation with Chiemi regarding Okinawan culture and Ikigai's story
- Invite to the book launch
- Free shipping
Includes:
$1000
18 readers
This is great for non-profit organizations.
Also great for any practice or association that deals with children, motivation or life-coaching.
- 50 printed copies
- 50 eBooks
- 1h presentation with Chiemi regarding Okinawan culture and Ikigai's story
- Invite to the book launch
- Your organization's name written in the book as a Sponsor in the acknowledge page
- Free shipping
Includes:
