Help send my book into orbit!

Happy New Year and welcome! Many of you know about my “70x70” book project, in the works since 2024—a linked set of 70 micro-memoirs, each exactly 70 words, written to mark my 70th birthday.

Now, at last, it’s a book with a new title and a publication date: February 27, my 72nd birthday.

Escape Velocity: How One 70-Year-Old Push-Pulled Her Way Out of Her Too-Much-Not-Enough Family

What’s escape velocity, anyway? In astrophysics, it’s the speed needed to break free from another object’s gravity. It’s also about intention, momentum, energy, trajectory—the story of my life.

• For those new to the project, read the backstory here.
• Check out the overview and stellar early endorsements here.
• Enjoy ten excerpts that got 59,000+ (!) views on Oldster Magazine here.

Early praise is rolling in already:

"Deborah Sosin’s cleverly conceived Escape Velocity is a potent mix of intimacy, wit, and mounting angst over the inevitability of aging, offered in crisp, 70-word capsules of remarkable honesty. Sosin portrays a fascinating, surprising life, ending on a perfect note of hope and resilience."

—Dinty W. Moore, author of Between Panic & Desire; editor of Brevity Magazine

SELF-PUBLISHING TRAJECTORY

After exploring hybrid and small presses, with the prospect of maybe-if-I’m-lucky seeing it in two or three years, I decided to take creative control and self-publish through IngramSpark, especially because the book will include 70 stunning black-and-white drawings by talented artist Anna Hall, whose illustration for my excerpt on Short Reads called “Bosom Buddies” blew me away. Anna’s art will add an unexpected layer of depth and whimsy to the 70 micros. Click on the gallery for sample page spreads. Wait till you see the rest!

LET’S LAUNCH ESCAPE VELOCITY!

Self-publishing and distributing a high-quality, illustrated volume (5x7 inches, ~158 pages) comes with real costs. That’s where you come in! My goal is to raise $5,000 to help fund key expenses, including:

• Cover design
• Interior layout & design
• 70 illustrations
• Printing & distribution fees
• Marketing & promotion
• Contest & awards entry fees

SUGGESTED SUPPORT LEVELS

• Benevolent Booster — under $70
• Liftoff Champion — $70+
• Gravity Breaker — $140+
• Intergalactic Orbiter — $210+

Three Things (with apologies to Dr. Seuss):

Thing 1: This campaign will remain open-ended! NOTE: All donations received by January 27 will be acknowledged by support level in the printed book—after that date, all contributors will be listed on my website (unless you prefer anonymity).

Thing 2: I'd hoped to offer signed copies as a thank-you gift! Unfortunately, this platform doesn’t permit reward tiers (nor does GoFundMe). Once the book is out, I’ll happily share opportunities to get a signed copy.

Thing 3: It’s a hard time in the world right now. I understand. Any help helps, but please know that if my project resonates but donating isn’t possible right now, no pressure! Here are some other ways you can help:

• Post the link to this page on your social media—Facebook, Substack, Instagram, Bluesky; or share with your email list, writing groups, or book clubs.

• Contact me about potential networking connections: podcasters, influencers, reviewers, Substack writers, readings, panels, bookstores that might want to do a feature or host an in-person event to discuss micro-memoir craft, women’s lit, family dynamics, aging, self-publishing, etc.!

You can find me at: www.deborahsosin.com or Write It Like It Is Substack.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT. MAY 2026 BE PEACEFUL, JOYFUL, AND CREATIVE!