My book Curious Unschoolers is now available for purchase. I’ve been wanting to say those words for a very long time. Yes, it has taken me years to write and publish this book!
You might know that I received a proof copy of Curious Unschoolers in the mail about a week ago. Since then, my daughter Imogen and I have been adjusting the formatting of the book so that it looks as good as possible. Last night, we finally got everything finished. I uploaded the final version file to Amazon and went to bed feeling very, very tired but excited too. And then when I woke up this morning, there was an email waiting for me:
Congratulations, your book ‘Curious Unschoolers’ is now live and available for purchase in the Kindle Store…
So the Kindle version went live overnight. And the print version should be available within the next day or two.
I wrote an unschooling book and published it. There were many times when I doubted I’d get to this stage. But I did it!
Here are the opening paragraphs from Curious Unschoolers:
I’ve got something very important to share with you.
I want to tell you about unschooling: what it is and how it has changed our family’s life and why I think everyone should do it. I’m passionate about unschooling. I hope my words are going to make you feel excited about it too!
If you’re already unschooling, maybe you’ll relate to my stories. If you’re feeling alone in a crowd of people taking the more conventional path, you might be thinking, “Are the critics right? Are we crazy because we unschool?” Will you find it reassuring to hear that we’re a bit crazy too? A good kind of crazy. Yes, we’re not like everyone else. But that’s okay. Actually, I think being different is a good way to be!
And if you haven’t yet set out on your unschooling adventure, I hope that when you arrive at the last page of this book, you will say, “Hey, I want my family to be unschoolers too!”
So what am I going to tell you? Will I say, “Unschool and everything will be wonderful”? Will my stories convince you that my family is living a perfect life? No. My kids aren’t perfect. I’m not a perfect mother. And life isn’t one long and exciting and enjoyable adventure just because we unschool.
Then why am I writing about unschooling if it isn’t a perfect way of life? Am I just another voice in the crowd? Are we all shouting about how we’ve found the best way to live when none of us has? Or is unschooling truly a way of life that is different from everything else?
Does that sound like an interesting beginning to a book?
So what can you expect from Curious Unschoolers?
What will you find within my book’s pages?
It’s a book of stories arranged by subject matter: what is unschooling? starting unschooling, how children learn, trust, strewing, technology and screen time, homeschool record keeping, criticism and fears, and lots more. I’ve arranged everything in a logical order and linked the 22 sections together. My book can be read from beginning to end. Or you could dip into it as titles catch your attention.
Each story contains a piece of unschooling. Each piece will illustrate some principle or thought or idea. Sometimes the same piece will appear more than once, presented to you from a different angle in a different story. By the time you get to the end of this book, I hope all the pieces fit together, like a completed jigsaw puzzle, to form a good picture of unschooling,
Yes, there are lots of ideas and thoughts to ponder. Even though the book is full of my family stories, I also share lots of practical tips and information.
My book has the same flavour as this blog. Actually, there are stories from my blog in the book. But I’ve written new stories and turned a few podcasts into stories, and I’ve edited the stories that you might already be familiar with. So is it worth buying the book if you’re a blog reader? I hope so!
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You might know we’re a Catholic Christian family so is my book religious? No. This doesn’t mean I don’t mention God or write about going to church just like I do on this blog. I think there’s something in my book for everyone regardless of beliefs. We can all discuss unschooling and encourage each other even if we have our differences, can’t we?
This is a big book: 400 print pages. Hopefully, it’s a good read. I priced it accordingly. I’m hoping any profit will support my blogging and podcasting and other unschooling work. The ebook version is also included in Kindle Unlimited if you just want to borrow it.
You can download a sample of the Kindle book for free. This might give you a good taste of my book.
I’d like to thank my family and friends who encouraged me to write this book. I would especially like to thank Deb:
For Deb Lewis
Without your love and encouragement, I would never have finished this book.
So what do you think? Will you take a look at my book Curious Unschoolers?
Update:
The print version of Curious Unschoolers is now available on Amazon!
Thanks Sue. I was just finishing listening to episode 150 of the podcast, thinking how it won’t be long now! As I finished up, I checked my email and received your message. Yay Sue! ???. I just ordered my Kindle copy from Amazon. Can’t wait to dig in. Thank you for the kind words Sue but you did all the work. I just soaked in your positive messages like a sponge. Congratulations once again. So thrilled for you and for all of us. Thank you for writing this book.?❤️?
Deb,
Your encouraging emails made all the difference. Many, many times I wanted to forget about this book. Then I’d hear from you and I would pick myself up and start work again. I felt that you really believed I could write this book, that it was important to finish it. Thank you! I hope you enjoy Curious Unschoolers! Now on to unschooling book number two!!
Congratulations! Can’t wait for the print version to be available so I can order!
Jan,
Thank you so much for both your congratulations and your interest in my book. I hope the print version will be available very soon. I also hope you’ll enjoy reading my book when you get a copy!
I just ordered the book from Amazon – can’t wait to read it! Are you considering an audio version too?
Sophie,
Thank you for ordering a copy of my book. I hope you enjoy it! A few people have asked me about an audiobook version. I can’t afford to pay a professional to record the book so I’d have to do it myself. I’m just wondering whether I have good enough speaking skills to do this. I might experiment and see what I can produce!
Woo hoo! You did it! You pressed publish, and the unschooling world is all the richer.
I know it has not been easy, but worthwhile things rarely are.
I hope this is just the beginning!
Xo Jazzy Jack
Jack,
Yes, writing and publishing this book wasn’t easy. As you know, I had a few stumbles along the way. I really appreciated being able to share all my doubts and triumphs with you. Thank you! Now on to book two!
That’s so cool! Congratulations! I just got my copy, and can’t wait to read it!!!
Hi Hamilton!
It’s so good to see you on my blog! We haven’t chatted for a long time. I miss swapping comments with you.
Thank you for buying a copy of my book. I hope you enjoy reading it!
Congratulations! I can’t wait for the print version! 🙂
Kristyn,
Thank you for your congratulations and for wanting to read my book! The print version is now available on the bigger Amazon sites!
Congratulations on your book Sue! I would definitely like to read it. Do you know if it will be available on Scribd? Otherwise I will get it from Amazon.
Clare,
Thank you for your congratulations! At the moment, my book is only available from Amazon. Thank you for wanting to read it. I hope you enjoy it!
Your big, beautiful book is here! ♡ What an accomplishment! I can’t wait to dig in!
Sue, have you ever discussed issuing diplomas when your students are ready to move on to higher learning? I am in the U.S. so maybe we have different systems here.
Kristyn,
My big, beautiful book? That description made me smile! I hope you enjoy reading it!
I have never issued diplomas for my kids. Yes, I think we have a different system from yours. I’m sorry I don’t have any tips to share with you!
Hey Sue,
So pleased for you, and for all of us that Curious Unschoolers is now out in the world for us all to share. The print version is out here in the UK, ordered my copy today and am so looking forward to reading it. Book 2 sounds fabulous, can’t wait for that one too. Thanks for sharing your stories Sue, we’re so lucky we have you and your wise and wonderful words, so inspiring 🙂
Hayley,
You are so kind. Thank you! I really appreciate the help you gave me during the writing stage. I’m happy I can now share my book with you. I hope you like it!
My copy arrived today! I am already on page 18 and have underlined quite a bit. You did a fabulous job, Sue! I was pleasantly surprosed at how thick it is! I look forward to reading the rest!
Gina,
It’s so kind of you to give me such quick feedback. Thank you! I’m glad the book looks okay. Oh yes, it’s thick! I included a lot of stories (too many?) because I wanted to present the ideas I was writing about from multiple angles. Thank you so much for buying my book. I hope you enjoy reading it!
Congratulations!! So impressed, well done!!
Erin,
Thank you! I took me a long time to write and publish the book, but I got there in the end!
Hi Sue, yesterday I opened a package left in front of my door and inside was your book. I started reading while making dinner, stirring with one hand and keeping the book safe and close to me with the other.
I am excited about reading all your stories and about sharing some of them at least with my children. I will also ask our local library to get a copy. We can recommend new books for them to buy.
Your book looks very good too . Your girls did an amazing job with the cover and the setting .
Calla,
Thank you for buying a copy of my book. It’s exciting to think it might soon be in your library!
Imogen formatted the book and Charlotte created the cover. I’ll pass on your words to them. They’ll be thrilled to hear you think the book looks good!
Happy reading! I hope you enjoy my stories!
I just left a review on Amazon. I know it can take a few days before the review gets approved, but I wanted to let you know.
Greetings from Southern Colorado. (Where it is very very hot at the moment)
Calla,
I saw your review! Thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts about Curious Unschoolers. I loved your words: ‘this book can be like a warm chat with a cherished friend’! That’s exactly what I was hoping to achieve. Yes, it’s impossible to write an instruction manual for unschooling, but that doesn’t mean we can’t share our stories, ideas and thoughts and encourage each other to live this amazing way of life.
I hope you’re surviving the heat. I don’t enjoy the heat even though I should be used to it because we get lots of hot summer days. We’re having a fairly mild winter which is pleasant. The temperature was below freezing point when I woke up, but the day is warming up nicely!