A year ago, I was sleeping on the floor of my friends attic, with no job, on a good dose of antidepressants and a single desire left. I wanted to write. I didn’t have a computer, so borrowed an old XP tower from another friend and set to work writing my first book. I don’t think I left that room for two weeks, but by the end of it I had my first peice of work, a biography of noted occultist Aleister Crowley. I published that book on October 31st 2014.
In the almost year that’s passed, I’ve spent a lot of time wondering why other people aren’t doing the same. I know so many people who’ve got important things to say, whether academic, artistic or personal, who are so focused on the traditional publishing route that they’re missing the obvious, self publishing!
Turns out, people don’t think self publishing is “professional” or respectable, and all it takes to change that opinion is a simple brand to promote the work.
Enter Whisky & Beards.
I don’t plan on ever becoming rich by doing this, hell I don’t want to be rich. What I want is to see my fellow creatives succeed, to raise money to enable us to do amazing things, and to have an absolute thrill ride while trying to do that. I want people to believe in the brand, because I want people to believe in the talent that surrounds them, especially in Thanet.
Like many kids, I grew up hating the place I was born, with it’s peeling paint and smell of seaweed rotting on the beach. But then, as I’ve grown older, lived in a few other place and seen how bad it could be, I’ve been inspired. It’s so easy to complain. It’s something we do all through the day without even thinking. Why do you think people want a dislike button on Facebook. What’s difficult, what’s respectable is doing something, trying to help others, or even helping yourself. That’s what I should’ve been doing instead of complaining. It’s what I’m doing now.
But I’m not alone, even though the companies in my name. There are some people that over the coming months you’ll see appear more and more, people who’ve helped me get to this point. From the incomparable Charlie Tolfree to the ever-dependable Madle-Jordans.
I am forever indebted to the people who’ve been behind me all this way.
I can’t wait to pass that support along.
Connor Sansby, Whisky & Beards