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Not long from now I reach my 10th anniverssary in professional writing and editing. I've amassed a huge file of articles, features, blog posts, humour and miscellanea. There's enough material for about three books, but it is of course of varying quality. Also, some of it has already been published in a book (out in a month or two, I hope, I'm one of many contributors), and some other parts of it are ringfenced in a publishing deal for another book. A third book, a novel, is also in the works. Come the 10th anniversary, it's conceivable that I'll have two books of my own in print and my name in a third book in print.
Now, my idea is this. I want to anthologise what I consider to be the best of my journalism into a slim volume, which I will self-publish to a high standard - hard cover, etc. I know lots of designers so that part isn't a worry. It would have a small print run - 100 copies, perhaps. Each copy would be individually numbered. I would then give these out to friends, relatives and colleagues who have assisted me in various ways over the years. Each copy would be individually inscribed by me. It would also be instantly rare; if I have any success as a writer, it will be worth something.
I thought that would make a nice thank-you and a good promotional tool. I know that if a friend of mine gave me something like that I'd be delighted. But I can't help but feel that it's rather immodest. What do you guys think?
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