47 Comments

This sounds great. Especially for new Substackers like me. I'm thinking that you are going to be my first paid for subscription. Thank you for working so hard on all of this.

Expand full comment

Not at all, June! So happy to building this community!

Expand full comment

This is really nice. Especially for me as a newb. Plus I get to meet the great Rothwell. Anticipating!

Expand full comment

Unfortunately you will see the truth: that’s he not great after all!

Expand full comment

Anyone that sets aside time to make others grow, I consider that person great. It's something I respect and don't take for granted in any person.😊

Expand full comment

Well that’s very kind of you to say 😊

Expand full comment

Would you consider accepting other currencies for payment? I got hit hard during the great Marxist crash of ‘89, but would gladly throw a few hundred trillion Zimbabwe dollars your way, literally, in exchange for a back row seat in economy class. (I learned this skill from the street kids in Lilongwe. “Tambala for banana, Bwana?”)

Expand full comment

I would happy give you 3 months comp for a 1 trillion Zimbabwe dollar note

Expand full comment

How about a special Mugabe gold edition, a few Somali shillings, some USSR rubles, some Azerbaijan manats in the police roadblock corruption denominations, and a couple of Vietnamese dongs (the other kind) for six months?

I’ll send it to M.E. Rothwell, England?

Expand full comment

Hahaha deal!

Expand full comment

Send me a mailing address and I will post it this week.

purplechicken@gmail.com

Expand full comment

Wow, I love this idea. I really appreciate how supportive you are of other Indie Substacks and how you genuinely want to help everyone grow!

Expand full comment

Thanks, Mallory!

Expand full comment

As I love reading and writing books and book reviews I'm glad this popped up in my inbox. Well done for growing so rapidly. I'm looking forward to reading, and possibly submitting a proposal. Cheers

Expand full comment

Thank, Terry! Please do submit a pitch at some point!

Expand full comment

I will, but here's a quick question. The book I have in mind is quite ancient, and therefore only available second hand. Would that work for you? Thanks

Expand full comment

Yes of course! As long as you can write about how the book had an impact on your life, you can choose any book

Expand full comment

Thank you, squire.

Expand full comment

Excited to be part of this fantastic community and to read some amazing writing!

Expand full comment

Welcome aboard, Priya!

Expand full comment

I am absolutely thrilled to hear about these four new ways to get our writing in front of more readers. It's incredible to see the growth and support within the Substack community for The Books That Made Us, thank you for creating such an inclusive and vibrant space for book lovers and writers :)

Expand full comment

Thanks, Marianna! Looking forward to having you join us 😊

Expand full comment

Brilliant new initiatives, Mikey. Well done. Is the Discord one actually on a Discord server? I don't know much about Discord but I've heard it referred to.

Expand full comment

Thanks, Yasmin! Yes Discord is like a platform for group chat communities essentially. Sort of like a WhatsApp group with more functionality, or Slack channel but not for work. It’s pretty weird and wonderful but it works pretty well for this kind of thing

Expand full comment

Just became a paid subscriber to Books That Made Us. I don't like superlatives, but the BTMU community-building initiative simply blew me away. Whether or not this will help promote my own Substack, is immaterial; what matters is that I want to be part of this emerging community, and reward its founder!

Expand full comment

Thank you so much for your kind words, means a lot - thank you 🥹

Expand full comment

I'm sold! I practice 'artistic tithing' meaning that I give at least ten percent of my income directly back to other writers, artists, makers, etc. I have been trying to add a new Substack subscription each month and it's the end of the month so I'm adding you! Really love the way that you're helping people out while also showcasing the great writing here and getting us all more connected.

Expand full comment

Ah that’s so kind of you, Kathryn - thank you. Love that practice of yours - will have to implement that myself

Expand full comment

Wohoo yeah sir! This sounds amazing. Such great features that I can’t wait to be a part of. And on top of that, I will have the privilege to donate something to such a great community (and you will have the honor to be the first newsletter I’m paying for 😂)

Expand full comment

What an honour! Thanks, Andrei!

Expand full comment

Oh this is excellent! The new features are a perfect fit for BTMU -- a creative way to keep the regular posts free while adding new avenues for engagement and keeping the project tenable. I'm definitely taking notes! As soon as I get my finances sorted, I'd love to become a paid subscriber.

Expand full comment

Thanks, Peter - looking forward to it!

Expand full comment

What a great idea Mikey. I'm excited for us all. About to upgrade to paid.

Thanks for shepherding this Substack into the world.

Expand full comment

Thanks, Latham! Glad to have you aboard!

Expand full comment

Thank you for this creative and exciting opportunity for writers.

Expand full comment

You’re very welcome, David - glad to have you aboard!

Expand full comment

Love this idea - I'm a fully fledged paid subscriber now!

Expand full comment

Welcome aboard, mateyy

Expand full comment

Not quite sure why I went for a pirate vibe there but there we are

Expand full comment

Oh I enjoyed it - my submission is heading your way very soon by the way.

Expand full comment

How exciting is this?! I want to be a part of it all!

Expand full comment

Welcome aboard, Caroline!

Expand full comment