Progress report on Gerard’s book
I’ve finally done some actual work on Gerard’s book – using the Amazon self-publishing platform, which my research points to as the most user-friendly. However, there’s still a steep and rather tedious learning curve there, and so I’m nowhere near finished although I have about a third of the content up. Even once all the content is there, I’ll need to do a lot of formatting and fine-tuning.
The current plan is to offer an e-book version and a hard copy print-on-demand version. The latter will, of course, be somewhat more expensive than the former. The book will probably contain between twenty and thirty of Gerard’s long-form mostly non-political essays, with pictures.
I can’t say when it will be ready, but at least I’m out of the starting gate.
The hard copy version had better have a photo of his Editor (Olive) on the cover.
PA Cat:
Olive and I had a truce, but we were not what you’d call friends.
I have so many decisions to make – including what will be on the cover, and of course I can’t use any copyrighted photos. I also have to eliminate all links because the main version – I think – will be the hard copy. The elimination of links and certain quotes is a bit of a challenge.
You may be amused to know that one of the essays Gerard had listed as something he wanted in the book was about a cat called “Fatso,” The essay was written many years ago, before he got Olive, and it begins like this:
Obviously, he came to change his mind later. But I don’t see any reason to change the essay or to not use it in the book.
Neo–
I know Gerard’s “Fatso” essay well; he republished it when he adopted Mme. la Chatte-éditrice. IIRC, the second version includes a note at the end about Olive. I laughed both times I read it, particularly when I came to the line about cats preparing XX humans for dealing with the quirks of XY humans. I’d be disappointed if you did not include “Fatso” in the book.
As for the fact that you and Olive were never friends– well, I feel the same way about the Bee Gees, so we’re even.
Anyway, good luck with Gerard’s book– I don’t envy you the complexities of self-publishing. I’ve been working for over a month on copy editing a history manuscript that has over 400 endnotes, not to mention the author’s general problems with Chicago style . . . and I’m glad that someone else will handle the actual publishing.
Ah, I remember the Fatso essay. Hang in there, I will buy the kindle version when it comes out. And after that, perhaps you can publish some of your own essays? Be a shame to learn a new skill and only use it once 🙂
Neo- I haven’t posted here before, but I’ve been wondering about the book. I’ve traded notes with author Clayton Barnett on self publishing. He gave me a referral and very high recommendations to this fellow:
https://www.stephenzimmer.com/author-and-publishing-services/
I’ve looked at the site, and I’m thinking of booking an inquiry for a project of my own. His fees are quite reasonable, and he can walk you through the entire process. Hope this helps.
JWM
neo:
Glad to hear it!
Doesn’t sound like any of Gerard’s poems fit the project. I understand.
Rereading some of his poems recently, I was struck anew that, although poetry wasn’t his major mission, he knew poetry and he truly was a poet.
huxley:
Actually, I am planning two books of Gerard’s writing. The first devoted to essays, and the second to poetry.
Neo: Thanks for keeping us posted. Best of luck; and I look forward to reading the fruits of your labor, and hearing his voice.
Neo, i commend
Good luck and thanks for keeping us in the loop, Neo. Looking forward to the books.
I’m not a cat person either. But my wife is. I don’t know why, but a couple of our cats over the years have taken a liking to me. No matter how I tried to ignore them, they made it plain that I was their type of human. I have no idea why. 🙂
My other Gerard thought….
He was such a classic 60s person — bold, outrageous, fun, idealistic, full of contradictions and wicked fast.
JJ:
It’s pretty simple, I think. Cats often really like people who don’t really like them.
Cats often really like people who don’t really like them.
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They’re having some fun with you. (Not fun as far as you’re concerned, of course).
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Cats react well to people who respect their routines (especially feeding times), respect their preferences (especially about which spaces to occupy), and don’t constrict their freedom of movement (by picking them up, for example). People who do not appreciate cats tend not to touch them, which is distressing for a cat which would like some affection, but also leads people to avoid doing certain things cats find disagreeable. Your first priority in building a relationship with a cat is to feed it on a schedule. Your next is to avoid doing disagreeable things. Doing agreeable things other than providing meals comes third.
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People who appreciate cats are amused and not dismayed by their antics, e.g. sharpening claws on furniture, knocking things off tables, and staring you down until you vacate that space they want.
Good to hear. Will keep up with your posts on this.
I’m waiting to put mine in hard until the series is finished but I have a number in Kindle. My style of writing is tedious to do in Kindle – lots of hand alterations. Table of contents truly sucked.
I sincerely hope you don’t face those obstacles.
I have two ebooks on Amazon and one of them is hardcover, too. The hardcover book has been there since I quit doing fulfillment my self and just turned it over to their POD system. I sold about 20,000 copies of the hardcover before I quit. It still sells and my Amazon royalties averages about $5 a month from both. Many copies of the original book are now for sale used and at one time the price was as high as $25, none of which comes to me. About 5 years ago, I uploaded an ebook version and the other book is ebook only.
Labors of love are often overwhelmingly challenging…but produce what can genuinely be called tremendous assistance and great joy.
As hard as it may be for you, the rest of us will be patient in anticipation.