WHY FUND MY WORK
Today's publishing industry is dominated by large media groups. Most small publishers, though independent in name, are owned by these conglomerates. Authors are financially squeezed, leaving little for their efforts, while control over their work is ceded to editors, marketing teams, and distributors. Boutique publishers lack the marketing and distribution power to make any impact. Ultimately, authors are trapped in a system that benefits the corporations, while offering diminishing rewards and autonomy. And if your work doesn't align with the conformist zeitgeist, you're on your own.
My last commercially published work, the big JAPAN book, went through three publishers, four editors, and several marketing teams. None of these gatekeepers and decision-makers had any experience with Japan or knew how to effectively market a book about Japan in the relevant markets. For me, the entire five-year production process was a mix of desperation and abhorrence, with no financial reward whatsoever.
This is the reason for initiating IGNIS FATUUS MEDIA—this website. Much of the work you see here has never been published before or not in the form I originally envisioned. Additionally, my involvement with digital media since 1984 has fueled my passion for visual storytelling. The possibilities of creating rich narratives combining photography, text, music, sounds, and video have always held a keen attraction for me. I believe that in an era saturated with images, the digital visual storyteller who curates meaningful narratives amidst the noise is the most likely evolution of the troubadour.
If you appreciate my work and can afford to support it, please donate here: ko-fi.com/hanssautter
Thank you!
