SOMETIMES WE WALK ALONE
* first public offering: until December 1st *

As you may or may not know, I have been working on a book project for
the past 2.5 years, since first I completed the Salt March Pilgrimage
in March of 2006. I am estimating it’s less than a fortnight away from
being sent to the printers, and I’m very excited at what those
scribbled notes have turned into. It should be more than 200 pages,
exploring themes of development, personal growth, pilgrimage, tourism,
cultural discomfort, indian food, and gandhian history and thought. It
will be paperback and perfectbound on 60% post-consumer recycled
paper.

To address the questions of financing, marketing, and distribution in
an integral fashion, I have developed the following two options for
people who would like to support the publication of this book.

Note that the total amount of shares I am offering is 50, and the
price of each share is 101 USD. Meaning, I will be raising 5050 USD
through this offering, to pay for the printing of 1000 copies of the
book. For the following calculations, I estimate a perbook price of 5
USD, and a recommended sales price of 15 USD.

OPTION ONE: The Jack of Diamonds

The jack of diamonds has the opportunity to buy a share of the
publication cost at the price of USD 101. I will use the money to
finance the printing of the book, and will pay the money back to the
investor in a year’s time (say, Thanksgiving of 2009). You will
receive a limited edition block print on handmade paper as a stock
certificate, and will receive interest in the form of a freshly
printed copy of the book as soon as they are available. That’s an
_immediate_ return of 15% of your investment.

OPTION TWO: The Lover of Humans

The lover of humans has the opportunity to buy a share of the the
publication cost at the price of USD 101. I will use the money to
finance the printing of the book, and make the additional commitment
that none of the books printed with the lover of human’s investment
will be sold. Specifically, 10 books will be sent directly to the
lover of humans (to gift this holiday season) and I will take the
responsibility of gifting the other 10 books myself. Essentially, the
lover of humans is paying for 20 humans to be gifted a copy of the
book.

?Why all the fuss? If you’re curious, read on.

Basically, I’m interested in continuing these experiments with the
gift economy, but still have available options for those more
conventionally minded. I don’t think I need to make much of any money,
and certainly not from this book project. I would be perfectly happy
if Everyone chose OPTION TWO, since I pretty much end up giving away
most of the books anyhow. That’s been my experience with the cookbook,
anyhow.

I have hope for the future of this book, especially in schools, and
would like nothing better than to be able to give copies to all my
friends who are teachers and students at various levels in the
educational system. I’m also interested in giving people who want
sound financial investments a viable option — a place to investment
their money where it is very likely not to do any harm.

Please email me with any questions or pledges.
mangolandia@gmail.com

Postcards and checks can be sent to
Ankur Shah
83 Lost Meadow
Sequim, WA 98382

As I am trying to get the books printed for the holiday season, I would like to have the money together by December 1st, so we get the printed editions back soon! thank you.