04/04/2024
Publishing for Peace: Author Ben JS Maure Inspires Canadian Peacekeepers
“The book I published opened doors to a world of opportunities I would never have imagined were possible.”
Books are powerful. They chronicle great deeds. They memorialize sacrifices. They evoke empathy. They inspire the future.
Author Ben JS Maure uses all of this and more in his book, Leading at the Edge: True Tales from Canadian Police in Peacebuilding and Peacekeeping Missions around the World. In it, he recounts 10 short biographical stories about the work of Canadian police peacebuilders and peacekeepers overseas, including his own. In doing so, he sought to raise awareness of Canadian civilian contributions to global peacekeeping efforts, and to inspire future generations to take up the mantle. And he has, to great effect.
Since its original publication in January 2020, the book has become an officially-licenced product of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP); been picked up as recommended reading material by top learning institutions in programs related to peacekeeping; received glowing reviews from professors across Canada & USA, including from Harvard, Notre Dame, and Penn State; earned the 5-Star Readers’ Favorite Award; and garnered praise from other authors, RCMP and peacekeeping officers, international peacekeeping organizations, and the UN.
On top of that, the book has also granted Maure teaching opportunities at learning institutions such as BCIT, Vancouver Island University, and the Royal Military College of Canada.
Truly, the book is “Leading at the Edge”. But how did it get here?
Patience, experience, and making sure it’s all done right: Cascadia was there to help.
Cascadia: What is the most useful thing you learned in your self-publication journey?
Planning well ahead of time was crucial. The moment I had a revised draft that read much better (thanks to Cascadia), we were planning and sending Press Kits to selected individuals–in my case Canadian Police Chiefs and renowned academics, to seek their interest in commenting on the book. It worked great, and I was ‘flabbergasted’ by the response and interest.
Ben Maure
Publication Strategy:
Cascadia provided their experience and support to the publication of Leading at the Edge by:
- Editing to enhance reader experience, meet the needs of all contributors, and ensure correctness
- Refinement to meet the exacting professional standards of the RCMP
- Creating a one-of-a-kind cover using stunning photos taken during deployment
- Laying out the interior to showcase on-mission photos, experience the locations’ histories, and to celebrate their results
- Adapting content for a modern, interactive e-Reading experience
- Providing press kit, review referrals, and other marketing materials
- Releasing paperback, eBook, and deluxe colour editions worldwide
- Updating as the book receives further accolades
There were many instances and memorable moments throughout the time Cascadia worked with me to take my manuscript through the various publishing processes. From content editing, copy editing, and finding the right book cover, all those moments were incredible.
Ben Maure
The Results
Ben Maure is a serving Peace Officer with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. He has over 30 years of police experience, and his career has been a diverse one.
In 1999, Ben completed a one-year secondment tour of duty as a United Nations Peacekeeper in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. Between 2009 and 2013, Ben acted as a Police Liaison Officer (First Secretary) at the Embassy of Canada in the Dominican Republic. He speaks five languages, and has travelled to more than 26 countries around the world. This is his first book.
Connect with Ben at: www.benmaure.com
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