Read Free and Help a Charity

More than organic produce grew out of Gaining Ground a while back. The concept of growing produce and giving it away to food pantries made an impression on one of the nonprofit's board members. 

Concord author Stona Fitch became so intrigued with the idea that he combined book publishing with charity in a radical new way. Three years ago, he started the Concord Free Press with one of his novels, publishing in small numbers and giving the copies away for the asking, and in turn asking that the reader make a donation to the charity of his or her choice.

The free press is now about to publish its fifth book. Fitch spoke at the Concord Rotary about the journey from struggling author to entrepreneur whose business is catching on with book sellers around the world.

"It started with the idea of give and take," he said.

His fourth novel, "Give and Take," concerns a part-time thief who steals BMWs and diamonds to sell them and give the cash to the poor.

On the Concord Free Press website, there is a donations tracker to see which charities are receiving money from readers. Fitch said from four books, $156,000 has been contributed to various charities. The author-run nonprofit press seeks donations as well to keep its operation going. Fitch has an office above Nashoba Brook Bakery in West Concord.

Fitch said when he came out with "Give and Take," the publishing world was in transition. He decided, against the advice of his agent, to start a publishing company that gives books away for the asking, and asks that the receiver make a donation to the charity of his or her choice.

"Publishing is in a period of chaos," he said. "I was left with a novel. I could give up, or put it in a drawer, or start over."

"It was daunting," he said. But there were two influences he believed in: Gaining Ground and the story of give and take, he said.

"It's a different approach to publishing," he said. "Nine out of 10 books lose money in publishing."

After he gave away his fourth novel with the Robin Hood-esque plot, he saw "a flood of attention and requests for the book."

He distributes the books through a network of bookshops including the Concord Book Shop, "of course," and over the Internet.

"It's all on the honor system," he said.

"My agent told me not to do it," said Fitch. "He said it would be embarrassing. My wife said I found a new way for writers not to make money."

Currently, noted Concord author Gregory Maguire, of "Wicked" fame, gave Fitch the manuscript for his book, "The Next Queen of Heaven," and the press published "IOU, New Writing on Money."

"The model works," he said. The press is starting Concord e-press in 2011. "The story continues ahead."

He said the traditional publishing business is in disarray because of the Internet, the rise of ebooks, self-publishing, Kindle and the like, but he has found that people still like a good story.

"Reading is alive and kicking," said Fitch.

He was told to make signs: "Our books are 100 percent off."

Fitch said his writer-run press is "connecting reading and giving."

For more information, go to www.concordfreepress.com.

Fitch said he believes that people are basically generous, and historically, the exchange of goods and services was done without currency.

"In ancient times, you would give something and get something," he said. "This is the same type of thing. You get to read a good book, and you give something in return."

Fitch said he began his career as a reporter with the Miami Herald newspaper.

He asks that CFP authors sign a "one-page nontract" which allows them to retain rights to the work after its publication, and are asked to voluntarily donate 20 percent of the book sale proceeds from future printings to the press.