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I'm Putting My Money Where My Mouth Is. Will You?

Teaching Civics At A Time Like This

If you've been following my Substack and blog, then you know that I spent the 2016 election working as an election official in Charleston County, South Carolina. That experience fueled my interest in adult civic education and formed the foundation for my forthcoming book, Civics for All: A Crash Course in US Government and Politics. What you may not know is that the surprising results of the 2016 election also motivated me to return to teaching after four years away from the classroom. I taught political science and African American studies at the College of Charleston from 2008 to 2016 and from 2017 to 2019.

They say history sometimes repeats itself, and it often rhymes. Perhaps that's why I find myself in a similar position these days.  After another surprising Trump victory, I've been looking for ways to channel the frustration and anxiety that so many of us feel into something positive. I've been focusing my efforts on adult civic education because I truly believe that informed voters make better political decisions and are more effective at holding politicians accountable for their actions. My mantra is "Start thinking outside of the classroom. Civic education isn't just for students. It's for ALL of us!"

However, just like in 2016, I realize that I am one of a small group of Americans with the knowledge and experience to teach the next generation of voters about government and politics. At a time like this--when our government is in disarray and long-held political norms and traditions are being thrown onto the trash heap of history with reckless abandon--we need an all-hands-on-deck approach to civic education.

That's why I've decided to get off the sidelines and get back into the game. (Yes, that football reference was intentional!) After six years away from the classroom, I am proud to announce that I'll be teaching US Politics again next term. I'll be honest, educators don't make much money so this will require me to take a pay cut, but I believe it's worth it. Americans of all ages need to know how our government works and understand our history. I'm putting my money where my mouth is, and I'm doing it in more ways than one. 

Paying to Publish Civics for All

Traditionally, when a nonfiction author signs a publishing deal, they are given an advance (which is a payment of $5,000 to $20,000), and the publisher covers the costs for designing, editing, and marketing their book. In exchange for this investment, the publisher usually retains all rights to the book and keeps nearly all of the proceeds from book sales. 

Alternatively, authors that can't get a traditional publishing deal can opt to self-publish their books. These authors get no advance and have to handle design, editing, and marketing on their own. However, they retain all rights to their book and keep all of the proceeds from book sales.

A few publishing companies offer a hybrid option. They offer authors the opportunity to purchase professional design, editing, and marketing services and help them distribute their book to major online and brick and mortar retailers. Since the authors do not get an advance, they have to pay for these publishing services out of pocket. In exchange, they retain all rights to their book and keep nearly all of the proceeds from book sales.

As a first-time author, I had my heart set on the traditional publication route. I contacted every publisher and literary agent I could find that worked on nonfiction political books to make my pitch. In fact, if I had a dollar for everyone I've approached over the past two years about publishing my book, I would be a very rich woman. But alas, I do not so I am not. 

I finally realized that it wasn't because I'm a bad writer or because my pitch wasn't compelling enough, it was because traditional publishers didn't think my book would make enough money to cover their initial investment. See, these companies aren't trying to help society, they're trying to make a profit; and they can only make a profit if the books they choose to publish sell lots of copies. 

Most Americans agree with the idea that we need to improve civic education. They look at the people they disagree with most and think, “Those idiots are the reason this country needs better schools.” But when given the opportunity to paying more taxes to actually invest more money in education, Americans across the country consistently vote against it. Most traditional publishers believe this principle also applies to book sales. People constantly complain about politics, but very few will actually spend their money to buy a book about politics. When they do, they tend to buy books from well-known journalists or political insiders that focus on the hot gossip in recent presidential administrations.

Adult civic education books are rare because they are very difficult to get published. Facing this reality, I had to make the difficult decision to work with a hybrid publisher and pay to publish Civics for All: A Crash Course in US Government and Politics out of my pocket. To be clear, I don't make a lot of money, so this decision was definitely a leap of faith. But I'm doing it because I truly believe in this book and its potential to make a real difference for American voters. Remember, it's not just the people on the other side of the aisle that need to learn more about government and politics; statistics show that ALL OF US need to increase our civics knowledge. 

At a time like this, every American must decide how to respond to the disruption we are witnessing in our government. I've decided to put my money where my mouth is. Will you?

Pre-Order Your Copy Today

Civics for All: A Crash Course in US Government and Politics will be available from major retailers in December, but pre-orders are available now! Choose the paperback, ebook, or audiobook format, and click the corresponding link below to complete your purchase. Your book will be delivered by mail or email as soon as it is released this December.

Don't miss your opportunity to get a head start on this important educational journey!

Civics for All: A Crash Course in US Government and Politics 

My new book is the ultimate civics refresher course for everyday Americans. The book is scheduled for release this December, just in time for the 2025 holiday season. Click here to learn more.

Think of it as a one-on-one civics refresher course designed to help you learn on your time and at your own pace. I’ll be your personal guide on a journey through the history, structure, and functions of America’s government. Along the way, I’ll answer your most pressing questions about how government works and explain how we got to America's current political landscape.

This crash course will take readers on an educational journey through:

  • The history of civic education
  • The three branches of government
  • The role of political parties
  • America’s founding and the Declaration of Independence
  • Citizenship and immigration
  • The Constitution (including all 27 constitutional amendments)
  • Elections and public opinion polling

You can even test how much you've learned with more than 50 quiz questions in the book's appendix! Along the way, I include commentary, personal stories, and a little bit of humor to keep things interesting.

The journey wraps up with a call to action for all Americans. We need to start thinking outside of the classroom when it comes to civic education and take responsibility for educating ourselves about the way our government and political system work. It's time for a civics community education movement.

Join the Civics 4 All Club

If you are interested in more than just the book, join the civic education community that I'm building with the Civics 4 All Club!
 
Club members will all receive a signed copy of the book with a personalized messaged from me. They will also receive regular updates in my email newsletter and have the opportunity to connect with me about civics-related news and events. This is a great opportunity for educators, writers, civics advocates, and political activists to communicate with me directly and help build a community where we can all learn from each other.
 

CLICK HERE to join the Civics 4 All Club for $49.95! 

Join me on this journey! Together, we can improve civic education in America one voter at a time!
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