A New Dawn at Libby Flats: The longest journeys lead back to yourself

Step into the wide-open skies of Wyoming. Experience the turbulent college days of the 1960s. Embark on a road trip of reckoning in 2006. A New Dawn at Libby Flats by Alan O’Hashi is a sweeping tale. The image is the author in 1967 looking out from Libby Flats in the Medicine Bow National Forest.

This multigenerational story explores love, loss, rebellion, and reconciliation. It bridges the past and present. This novel features vivid landscapes and unforgettable characters. It asks: what occurs when long-buried secrets resurface? How does one handle a decades-old promise that demands to be kept?

Elizabeth Steiner embarks on a 2006 road trip. She travels from New Orleans to Boulder. Her goal is to reconcile with her dying mother, Becca. At Becca’s funeral, Elizabeth realizes she must resolve the differences between her father, Gary.

She must also tackle issues with his estranged university friends, Jack and Avery. They reunite after 38 years to fulfill a long-forgotten pact. This coming-of-age story explores themes of love, identity, and rebellion. It also examines the enduring power of friendship. The characters navigate their shared history and rediscover old bonds.

The story is captivating. It is a tale of a love triangle. The narrative presents conflicts around race and gender identity. It also explores youthful rebellion and the enduring power of friendship. In the 1960s, Becca Pembroke travels for a summer job on the Quiver Mountain Ranch near Lander, Wyoming. She is fleeing her stodgy New Jersey lifestyle. This includes wealthy and egotistical Jack Middleton, whom her mother thinks is Becca’s perfect match.

While in Wyoming, she befriends Gary, the ranch owner’s son. Gary is more interested in fighting in the Vietnam War than in pursuing girls. The two work with another hand, Avery Meadows, from Jackson.

Becca establishes in-state residency. She studies anthropology at the University of Wyoming (UW) in Laramie. She pursues a lifelong interest in returning ceremonial artifacts to Native American tribes. This leads to significant personal revelations that affect her family.

Avery joins her at UW as a wildlife management major. They reunite with Gary upon his honorable discharge from the U.S. Navy. He enrolls at UW to study journalism rather than returning home to manage his family ranch.

Becca’s mother cajoles Jack into transferring from Princeton University to UW. His mission is to rescue Becca from the free-spirited Wild West. She shows more interest in Gary, causing a big rift with Jack, in which Avery constantly mediates. Becca creates a Pact among herself and her three acquaintances to keep the peace. A big blow-up between Jack and Gary estranges the group.

Gary and Becca eventually get married and have a daughter named Elizabeth. Thirty-eight years later, in 2006, Becca passed away at the Blue Sky Village cohousing community in Boulder, Colorado. Elizabeth reluctantly returns home to Boulder for her mother’s funeral.

See through the eyes of Elizabeth, Gary, Avery, and Jack. Fulfill Becca’s Pact at Libby Flats near Laramie. Navigate their individual origin stories and memories of their lives. This includes their shared time in Wyoming and their reunion in Boulder.

If you have questions, start a conversation with Besty Bot

Copy and Share this Post on Your Social Media

🚗✨ From the backroads of Wyoming to the heart of Boulder, one family’s past collides with the present. 💔 Love, identity, rebellion, & reconciliation—38 years in the making.
📖 Alan O’Hashi’s A New Dawn at Libby Flats is a journey you won’t forget. 🌄 Add it to your bookshelf today! #ANewDawnAtLibbyFlats #FamilySaga #Bookstagram #IndieBookstore #HistoricalFiction #ReadersOfInstagram #MustRead https://bestchancemedia.org/2025/09/01/a-new-dawn-at-libby-flats-the-longest-journeys-lead-back-to-yourself/

Go back

Your message has been sent

Warning
Warning
Warning
Warning.

Signs of a Legit Hybrid Publisher: Don’t Get Scammed

By Jennifer Braddock – Editor

For new authors navigating the wilds of the publishing world, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Traditional publishing? Self-publishing? Vanity press? Hybrid publishing?

What do all these mean, and more importantly, who can you trust?

In this post, we will:

  • Break down what a hybrid publisher is.
  • Explain how it differs from a vanity press.
  • Discuss how authors are compensated.
  • Show how to tell if a hybrid press is legit or just lipstick on a scam.

First, What Is a Hybrid Publisher?

A hybrid publisher blends the business models of traditional and self-publishing:

  • You pay part of the cost upfront: These are offered on a menu for editing, design, and production, marketing, and distribution. Be sure your contract is specific and that you must approve any changes.
  • The publisher handles publishing logistics: Once you decide on the services you want, pay attention to the contract execution.
  • You retain more control and get higher royalties: Since you’re cost-sharing, your take is higher than with a traditional publisher.
  • Reputable hybrids are selective: You still have to pitch, they pick, and don’t publish everything that comes their way.

How Do Authors Get Paid?

Look at hybrid publishing as an investment. Even though you’re an investor in your project, legit hybrid publishers still compensate you after publication.

  • Royalties: Typically range from 50% to 70% of net sales revenue, much higher than traditional deals.
  • Sales Reporting: You should receive regular, transparent royalty reports and payments.
  • Rights: You often retain more rights than in a traditional deal, and many hybrids offer non-exclusive contracts.

In a best-case scenario, you’re paying for a professional service to produce your book, and then you’re earning back your investment, and ideally more, through sales.

Do Hybrid Presses Handle Sales and Distribution?

Some do, and this is a key differentiator between quality hybrids and glorified vanity presses.

Legit hybrid publishers may offer:

  • Print and digital distribution: Publishers of all types use IngramSpark, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and indie bookstore catalogs.
  • Library access: They use platforms like OverDrive, Baker & Taylor, or Hoopla
  • Marketing consultation or campaigns: All publishers assist with promoting your content to retailers and the general public, although these vary widely. Best Chance Media tailors strategies for its authors.

However, not all hybrids offer robust distribution, so this is an important question to ask when you’re vetting one.

Hybrid vs. Vanity Press

FeatureHybrid PressVanity Press
Author PaysYes (investment model)Yes (often overpriced packages)
SelectivityYesNo
Royalties50–70% of net revenueOften minimal, if any
RightsOften retained or sharedOften taken
DistributionOffered by manyRare, usually limited to Amazon
Editorial ProcessRequiredOptional or absent

Red Flags: When a Hybrid Press Is Really Just a Scam

Some shady outfits brand themselves as hybrid publishers to sound legitimate, when really, they’re just vanity presses in disguise.

Watch out for:

  • High upfront fees with vague deliverables
  • No editorial process or quality standards
  • No real distribution or sales strategy
  • Unclear royalty structure
  • No plan to help you succeed, only to get you to sign

Signs of a Legit Hybrid Publisher

A real hybrid publisher:

  • Is transparent about pricing, royalties, and services
  • Has a track record of successful titles
  • Evaluates manuscripts before offering a contract
  • Has a clear royalty payment schedule
  • Offers real distribution options, not just uploads to Amazon

Bottom Line

Hybrid publishing can be a great option if you’re working with a reputable press. I have three friends who have had great success with one particular hybrid press. Think of it as hiring a team to help you produce and distribute a professional book. Bo your homework: just because someone calls themselves a hybrid doesn’t mean they aren’t predatory.

Have you worked with a hybrid press or are you considering one? Let’s swap notes.

Do you have questions or comments? Ask Besty Bot about the writing craft and how to publish your book with Best Chance Media!

Copy and Share This Post to Your Social Media:

Not all hybrid publishers are shady, but not all are legit either. Learn how to spot the difference and how authors really get paid. #WritingCommunity #IndieAuthors #HybridPublishing #VanityPressWarning #BookBusiness https://bestchancemedia.org/2025/08/28/what-is-a-hybrid-publisher-are-they-scammers-too/

Go back

Your message has been sent

Warning
Warning
Warning
Warning.

Black & Tan Episode 6 – the last one: Did you gain any insights?

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-fa7nn-18e6fee

This is the last episode of the season. We talked about bridging social and economic divides by thinking about how you might have acquired biases and preconceived notions about people unlike yourself. We suggested ways to unwind those recordings in your head to be more accepting of others. Rather than entrenching into our attitudes and beliefs, what can we do to get out of our ruts?