When People Misunderstand

When a sweet lady who'd seen the newspaper interview about my debut book release called to congratulate me, I smiled and thanked her. But her next question took me by surprise:

"Do you have a special fund that the proceeds of the book are going into?"

Picked My Brain off the Floor

I paused as I picked my shocked brain up off the floor, then said, "Yes. It's called the Jeanette Levellie fund." I went on to explain that I did not receive any books for free, and I had spent the last four years of my life writing, honing and marketing myself and the book. I didn't mention the thousands of dollars I'd spent on attending writers conferences, buying promotional materials, paying my professinal animator son for his awesomely funny illustrations, etc. I didn't want to waste my breath.

"Of course, I will tithe on all the profits," I told her. But I think it would have impressed her more if I'd said, "Oh yes, 100% of the proceeds from this book will go to an orphanage in Boo-Boo Land."

Help Me Understand This 

I wonder why people think that because we are Christians with a Godly product, we can produce it for free and then give away any money we make on it. Can you help me understand this kind of thinking?

P.S. If you'd like to read a post that doesn't include picking brains off the floor, I'm being interviewed today on Caroline Brown's blog, Sunnybank Meanderings. I'd love you to join us!