When we launched the Kickstarter campaign for Butterflies Strong and Free, our goal was to bring a beautiful Canadian board book into the world. But one of the realities of running an independent press is that you have to face the hard math of printing logistics, and today, we want to be completely transparent with you about ours.
As our campaign progresses, it has become clear that we aren't going to hit the massive funding numbers required to make a board book financially viable.
The Cold, Hard Math
Board books are incredibly expensive to manufacture in small batches. To get the price per book down to a reasonable level, we would have to commit to printing a minimum of 2,500 copies which requires a substantial upfront cost.
If we pivot to a smaller, realistic print run of 500 board books to match our current demand, the high setup fees mean Brown Paper Fox would take a significant financial loss on this project. As a small indie press, we simply cannot front that loss out of pocket.
If we forced the board book to happen under these numbers, the press would lose money, and our brilliant author, Bethany Friend, wouldn't see the returns she deserves for her hard work.
Our Solution: Shifting to a Premium Hardcover
We refuse to let this beautiful book not see the shelves just because the board book math and our campaign didn't work out. We want this book in your hands, and we want to ensure our creators are fairly compensated.
To make this project viable and sustainable, we are transitioning Butterflies Strong and Free to a hardcover edition and taking pre-orders directly on our website.
While this does mean the retail price moves from $14.99 to $21.99, it changes the entire math of the project:
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It keeps the press out of the red.
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It ensures the book actually gets printed and distributed.
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Most importantly: It allows Bethany to actually make more money per copy sold, properly rewarding her for her incredible story.
What This Means For You
We know a price increase is a shift from what we originally pitched, but we hope you see the value in what you’re getting. Instead of a board book, you are getting a premium, hardcover non-fiction picture book that will stay on your child’s bookshelf for years to come.
If you still want to join us on this cross-Canada butterfly adventure and support independent publishing, our pre-orders are officially open on our website. Your support right now is what keeps indie presses like ours alive.
Pre-Order the Hardcover Edition of
Butterflies Strong and Free Here
Thank you for understanding the tough calls that come with creating independent art. We are so grateful for your support and can’t wait to share this gorgeous hardcover with you.
The Brown Paper Fox Team