tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23786990424348578832024-03-13T23:40:58.044-07:00A Publisher's PerspectiveMy experiences, take, and suggestions on the world of publishing from the perspective of the managing director of Savas Beatie LLC.TPShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07613663983162109098noreply@blogger.comBlogger289125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2378699042434857883.post-27709212708490376952017-10-26T12:33:00.001-07:002017-10-26T12:33:05.595-07:00Your Reviews Matter—and Help Keep Civil War Publishing Alive<span style="color: white;">X</span><br />
We love reading about the Civil War. <br />
<br />
We save our hard-earned money and buy the books on the subject(s) we love. Sometimes
we check them out from libraries. Other times, we borrow them from friends
or family members. <br />
<br />
However, the vast majority of book readers <u>never</u> leave public reviews
of the titles they read. Not on blogs, not on Facebook, and not on Amazon. Not
in newsletters, or in magazines, not in newspapers, broadsheets, or emails. And most readers don’t think
twice about not doing so. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUP50wIvu60O7ZFb3QGiboNBOhs2n-ZJHQ-Zi7wgEgbuinEaGFEjeCWzqB-sJGR1N1HeDuJInLO3koTV063rT8EkD3n685RvP9STh7kYHMfw6A77OC4apIBm28CiAP6EiAlOHEljbWlttf/s1600/Kenya+side+in+hoodie+reviews+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUP50wIvu60O7ZFb3QGiboNBOhs2n-ZJHQ-Zi7wgEgbuinEaGFEjeCWzqB-sJGR1N1HeDuJInLO3koTV063rT8EkD3n685RvP9STh7kYHMfw6A77OC4apIBm28CiAP6EiAlOHEljbWlttf/s320/Kenya+side+in+hoodie+reviews+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a>It’s understandable. Most people are busy, and/or they don’t think they
write well enough to leave a public review. Many folks admit the idea doesn’t
often cross their mind, or don’t believe a review is really all that important
or could possibly make any difference.<br />
<br />
<b>They could not be more wrong.</b><br />
<br />
It matters—in more ways that you can imagine.<br />
<br />
Here are a few reasons why you should pen a review, however brief or long,
however general or detailed.<br />
<br />
First, authors need your feedback. They labor alone, often for many years,
send a manuscript off to the publisher, and wait for a long while (sometimes years) until it is
published. Reviews are one of the few ways they get feedback from the end user:
You.<br />
<br />
Trust me, authors do not write for the money. They write for the joy researching brings them, and the pleasure of the writing experience. They do it to enrich your life by providing you (hopefully)
what you love. Share your honest opinion with them. Your Reviews matter to them
more than you know.<br />
<br />
Second, publishers (at least those who care) need your feedback. It is
important to let us know what you like, and what you don’t like. Some
publishers are exceptionally engaged with the reading public and look very much
forward to hearing from those who purchase and read their books. (We scour the
web for reviews to learn whether what we did worked—or didn’t work.) If we don’t
hear from you—how will we ever truly know whether we were successful with a given book?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTXWqF8KC1dnLurG-R1PEbDutLRgpgf60tyZLLn4aekZQX-i-lCEUxhUQ3rvqMbaZO40RRsDt8e4NfeUBedsC5novpa3Ym7PoyD971w2TRjdyJO2FUwEpr-TJZ40sizyJ7HfT1xisQoAB3/s1600/review.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="181" data-original-width="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTXWqF8KC1dnLurG-R1PEbDutLRgpgf60tyZLLn4aekZQX-i-lCEUxhUQ3rvqMbaZO40RRsDt8e4NfeUBedsC5novpa3Ym7PoyD971w2TRjdyJO2FUwEpr-TJZ40sizyJ7HfT1xisQoAB3/s1600/review.png" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
How was the writing? How was the overall editing? Did you like the footnotes,
or do you prefer end notes? Why? What did you think of the quality (or lack
thereof) of the maps? Were they helpful? Were there enough of them? Were they
placed properly? Ditto on the images. Interested publishers seek out fair and
honest reviews and trust me, we pay attention.<br />
<br />
Publishers publish for many of the same reasons authors write. Speaking for
myself, it certainly isn’t for the money, but for the love of the game. The concept
of adding enjoyment to the lives of others and enriching them in a unique way
is truly satisfying. So is leaving something worthwhile for posterity.<br />
<br />
Your
Reviews matter.<br />
<br />
Third, other potential readers rely upon and need your honest opinion. Marketing
blurbs and jacket copy are important sales tools, but interested readers are
more influenced by YOUR opinion. Think about it: Don’t you like to read what
others think about a new book in which you have an interest? Of course you do.<br />
<br />
If Book X is released and the first several reviews are very negative—no
maps, terrible writing, repetitive, sloppy or no editing, etc.—aren’t you glad you didn’t shell out
thirty bucks for it? Sure you are. On the flip side, if early reviews are
glowing, doesn’t it help you make an informed buying decision?<br />
<br />
Your reviews
matter.<br />
<br />
Fourth, most book readers don’t take into consideration that booksellers and
wholesalers follow reviews carefully. Here is a simple example outside the
Civil War that makes my point.<br />
<br />
The fascinating memoir <i>Steel Boat, Iron
Hearts: A U-boat Crewman’s Life Aboard U-505</i>, by Hans Goebeler (with John
Vanzo) has been very successful--but NOT because of anything the authors have
done (Hans is deceased, and John as a rule does not do events), but because some of our
promotions triggered a wave of reviews, that turned into other opportunities. <br />
<br />
As the number of positive reviews climbed, more booksellers and wholesalers
stocked it, more libraries picked it up, and more readers discovered this gem of a memoir. Foreign rights agents sought us out, as did a major audio rights
company. Thousands of readers around the world would never have heard of this book EXCEPT for all the your reviews—which climbed in number from 19 to . . . 501 (as of the date of this post).<br />
<br />
Wait a minute, you think, "Why do I want to make money for a publisher?" (Seriously, you thought that?) Well, if your niche publisher goes out of business, who is going to publish what you love to read? If your doctors goes out of business, who will treat you?<br />
<br />
Your
reviews matter. <br />
<br />
Fifth, Amazon—the uncomfortable elephant in the room today—uses reviews and
page hits to determine which books are popular, how many to stock, and how to
match them with other similar interests. Many people check Amazon first to see
how a book has been reviewed (I know many of you are nodding your head, right?)
How many of us have glanced at a star rating and thought, “Only a two-star
average with 10 reviews? I’ll pass.” Or, “Wow, this has 22 reviews and a
4.5-star rating average. I will get a copy.”<br />
<br />
Your reviews matter.<br />
<br />
I can hear some of you shouting, “But Ted, I am not a good writer!” I hear this almost daily. Here is a dirty secret: It doesn’t matter. <br />
<br />
Just write what you liked (or didn’t like) about a book. Post it on Amazon,
on Facebook, online somewhere, or maybe in a series of tweets. It can be as simple as, “I liked
this book because [the subject is interesting,] [it was easy to read,] [there were
lots of good maps,] [the footnotes were informative,] etc.” If you
feel comfortable, go in-depth and write several paragraphs. Your opinion matters.<br />
<br />
Reviews help keep authors writing, publishers publishing, and readers
reading. Your participation with reviews is critically important and likely
much more so than you realized. <br />
<br />
Help shape YOUR reading future. Your opinion matters.<br />
<br />
<br />
— Theodore P. SavasTPShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07613663983162109098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2378699042434857883.post-47351779384255175622017-07-07T08:12:00.000-07:002017-07-16T06:56:03.176-07:00Divining the Past From Recollected Scraps....<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: white;">X</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.0pt;">It has taken me a while, but
I got there. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.0pt;">After digging into firsthand
accounts for 30+ years, and publishing books for nearly that long, I have
reached a few conclusions. Sometimes grudgingly, sometimes easily. But I am
there now, and there is no going back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0HPO9kdY6jbjzeD4jX8l-uyLRlmHGnvWNiTnMe4BkCO4jn00Mnwkf3S_h_8Vu60PrnEStBd1VgQQH4OONvuTUtMeZR3_lLewii6xRupQaSA2hZCSLfQ2lzCPmSDFm6rx7zdA0sjkHpEiQ/s1600/memory.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0HPO9kdY6jbjzeD4jX8l-uyLRlmHGnvWNiTnMe4BkCO4jn00Mnwkf3S_h_8Vu60PrnEStBd1VgQQH4OONvuTUtMeZR3_lLewii6xRupQaSA2hZCSLfQ2lzCPmSDFm6rx7zdA0sjkHpEiQ/s200/memory.png" width="200" /></a><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0wYA0qaVBTdjWR9hRtgltknThrUoU0ftrkgLrJI-TvGI2wLCEH5PvT7rJFys19BokOdGo7lQipBCAyxzBG66dSnQ5NEqKfYf-keqsisj2aVGCMWhcjqV0eQdutdw6Qp192PTPw6UpCD6l/s1600/memory.png" imageanchor="1" style="float: right;"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600"
o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f"
stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter"/>
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"/>
</v:formulas>
<v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"/>
<o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"/>
</v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_i1025" type="#_x0000_t75" alt=""
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0wYA0qaVBTdjWR9hRtgltknThrUoU0ftrkgLrJI-TvGI2wLCEH5PvT7rJFys19BokOdGo7lQipBCAyxzBG66dSnQ5NEqKfYf-keqsisj2aVGCMWhcjqV0eQdutdw6Qp192PTPw6UpCD6l/s1600/memory.png"
style='width:150pt;height:150pt' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\tps\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image001.gif"
o:href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0wYA0qaVBTdjWR9hRtgltknThrUoU0ftrkgLrJI-TvGI2wLCEH5PvT7rJFys19BokOdGo7lQipBCAyxzBG66dSnQ5NEqKfYf-keqsisj2aVGCMWhcjqV0eQdutdw6Qp192PTPw6UpCD6l/s200/memory.png"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--></span></a></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.0pt;">One
conclusion I have reached is that what we often believe are “accepted facts”
are only “facts” until you research them yourself and check the sources the
authors relied upon. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.0pt;">Far too often, what has come
down to us originated from a single pen copying a quote of someone long dead,
and was then copied, endlessly, one writer at a time, one book at a time, one
article at a time. But each time the "fact" was recorded a tad
differently. An extra adjective here, a few extra words there. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.0pt;">Quoted material is often (not
always, but often) flat out wrong and often taken out of context–or in some
cases simply made up, or has nothing to do with the conclusions reached. </span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.0pt;">Quotes
are routinely cherry-picked evidence to grind a particular axe. If you doubt
this, think about what happening on today's media front, or for examples from
our past, read the meticulously detailed footnotes in <i>John Bell Hood:
The Rise, Fall, and Resurrection of a Confederate General</i>, by Stephen M.
Hood. This book will make you angry at how some authors manipulated data to
affect an outcome in your mind. It sure did me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.0pt;">Just yesterday I was
reading <i>Resolute Rebel</i>, the new biography on Roswell Ripley for a
magazine review. Ripley has come down to us as a less-than mediocre and
difficult officer who had problems getting along with pretty much everyone and
was liked by almost no one. I have accepted and believed that for 40 years.
Except . . . the evidence doesn't seem to support it.<br />
<br />
One instance noted by the author concerned Ripley's objection to Governor
Pickens' constant "interfering" with his troop dispositions around </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.0pt;">Charleston</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.0pt;"> in late 1861, the department under Gen.
Robert E. Lee. Ripley told Pickens his meddling was causing "confusion and
harm." Pickens passed this information on to President Davis and alleged
that Ripley said "extreme things" about Gen. Lee, and that Ripley may
be calculated to do "great injury" to Lee and his command. The letter
exists, yet has nothing in it about precisely what Ripley wrote or said. Nothing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.0pt;">Pulitzer Prize-winning author
Douglas Southall Freeman seized upon "extreme things" (hearsay, by
the way) and elevated that to this: "For some unknown reason, Ripley took
a violent dislike to Lee." [<i>R. E. Lee</i>, vol. 1, 617.] </span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.0pt;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.0pt;"><i>Violent
dislike? </i></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.0pt;">Others have built upon Freeman's thrust. And so it has come
to pass that Ripley was difficult, and despised Gen. Lee. The evidence? None at
all. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.0pt;">Little is as it seems, or as
it has been fed to us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.0pt;">My experience as a former
trial lawyer and historian led me to a second conclusion: Eyewitness evidence
is wholly untrustworthy MOST of the time–and especially when witnessed under
stress. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.0pt;">Most people do not believe
this. I staged a loud fake 30-second argument with a "student" in
front of one of my college law classes--I taught in the undergraduate college
while in law school--and then asked the class specific questions in writing.
They could not agree on the "student's" height, weight, hair color,
clothing, or the words spoken. It was incredible. The student were shocked by
the outcome.<br />
<br />
Here is a link to a few classic examples. Watch a few of these video
tests: <a href="http://www.theinvisiblegorilla.com/videos.html" rel="nofollow"><span style="border: none 1.0pt; color: #743399; padding: 0in;">http://www.theinvisiblegorilla.com/videos.html</span></a>.
Also read Part III of Greg Michno's new <i>Battles of Sand Creek: In Blood,
In Court, and as the End of History. </i>(Michno also explains how each time we think of something from the past, we "add" to it something and then rewrite the old memory like a hard drive. It is still "real" to us, because it is our memory.)<br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.0pt;">Judging someone’s “attitude”
or “demeanor” or basing a conclusion on a couple sentences someone overheard or
recalled or saw days, weeks, years, or decades later is in my opinion just
foolish and naive. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir8sC2FHiTHQQ7zc0P-596ozeEzg7KmvAeaMeGU2aiiyquGvyYXkaEVWGtWhstCkLNP_wvrimexshSnZnmlf_mryPKDGGDWmaok9ga2GY6J1Ngu_P0-ESQ_5ux3BsYH6b6ztXL7pnahsOP/s1600/longstreet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir8sC2FHiTHQQ7zc0P-596ozeEzg7KmvAeaMeGU2aiiyquGvyYXkaEVWGtWhstCkLNP_wvrimexshSnZnmlf_mryPKDGGDWmaok9ga2GY6J1Ngu_P0-ESQ_5ux3BsYH6b6ztXL7pnahsOP/s1600/longstreet.jpg" /></a><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.0pt;">I have lived long enough to
discover some of my own absolutely precise and specific recollections of events
are absolutely wrong. That revelation was unnerving because I would have bet
the farm I was right.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.0pt;">Take this Civil War example on General Longstreet's
demeanor and attitude at </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.0pt;">Gettysburg</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.0pt;">. <o:p></o:p></span><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 14.6667px;">(Hat tip Emerging Civil War post recently by Phil Greenwalt on Old Pete. Clear <a href="https://emergingcivilwar.com/2017/07/05/the-final-resting-place-of-lees-old-warhorse/" target="_blank">HERE </a>to read it once you finish this post.)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.0pt;">Based upon what has come down
to us that he supposedly said or how he looked and acted, we generally believe
today he was difficult, obstructive, harsh, detached, and negative and
interfered with Lee's plans to the point of helping lose the
battle--right? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbDLDHw63ADoxtwVBxU5o08nVXQGYKsYhyPnw-638v1OvaZVl_8cOer_2R1wks2vRNVPykIiRr7blgeMWJ0S5gh9f_Onc3pTvr6mB6Ii2kaGrpfEtisRPeMWgc95x7fFLA7YRPOVEdLrfh/s1600/longstreet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="float: right;"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1026" type="#_x0000_t75" alt=""
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbDLDHw63ADoxtwVBxU5o08nVXQGYKsYhyPnw-638v1OvaZVl_8cOer_2R1wks2vRNVPykIiRr7blgeMWJ0S5gh9f_Onc3pTvr6mB6Ii2kaGrpfEtisRPeMWgc95x7fFLA7YRPOVEdLrfh/s1600/longstreet.jpg"
style='width:153pt;height:240pt' o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\tps\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image002.jpg"
o:href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbDLDHw63ADoxtwVBxU5o08nVXQGYKsYhyPnw-638v1OvaZVl_8cOer_2R1wks2vRNVPykIiRr7blgeMWJ0S5gh9f_Onc3pTvr6mB6Ii2kaGrpfEtisRPeMWgc95x7fFLA7YRPOVEdLrfh/s320/longstreet.jpg"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--></span></a>Now,
maybe he really was an ass at </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.0pt;">Gettysburg</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.0pt;">. I wasn't there. Neither were you.
However, this part of the discussion is <b>not</b> really about
Longstreet specifically, but about historical recollections generally and how
readily we accept them as gospel.<br />
<br />Let's engage in some second-stage thinking, shall we? It is rare today in an age where a bumper sticker is often accepted as truth. But play along...</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br />
Ask yourself: </span><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11pt;">How many words do you think
Longstreet spoke during the three days at </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.0pt;">Gettysburg</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11pt;">? Thousands, right? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.0pt;">
<br />
How many different people did he personally interact with? Scores?
Hundreds?<br />
<br />
How many words do we have that were written down contemporaneously as
Longstreet spoke? Other than a couple orders from the saddle, essentially
none.<br />
<br />
How many people who interacted with him recorded their interactions in letters,
diaries, recollections, etc? A very very slim handful. Less than one percent of
the total?<br />
<br />
How many of these recollections were gleaned during high stress? All of
them.<br />
<br />
How many of these recollections were penned after the South's first major
defeat? Nearly all of them. Or penned after the South lost, </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.0pt;">Gettysburg</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.0pt;"> came to be viewed as the turning point,
and a villain was needed to deflect from Lee's faults? Most of them.<br />
<br />
Or after someone had a falling out with Longstreet? Some of them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.0pt;">You can see where this is
going.<br />
<br />
Despite all these second-stage sorts of questions, we have been taught to
readily accept another person’s recollections, accept a sentence or two written
often years after the event about what Longstreet supposedly said, etc. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.0pt;">And from all this . . . we
are to firmly conclude for the sake of history what Longstreet's
“attitude" was like there, and thus reach sweeping conclusions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.0pt;">That has always struck me as
ridiculous.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.0pt;">Still not convinced about the process of memory vis a vis history? Personalize it. </span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.0pt;">Ask
yourself: How many words do you think YOU spoke just last weekend? How many
people did you personally interact with? Did you laugh <b>and</b> cry
during that same weekend at some point? Did you ever raise your voice? Speak
calmly with someone? Speak harshly to another? Show some thin shade of anger or
frustration? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.0pt;">Likely the answer is yes to
ALL of those, right?<br />
<br />
Now, what if one person who interacted with you during ONE of those moments
wrote later (and perhaps many years later) to tell others what your attitude
was like that weekend, how you interacted with people, and from that made
sweeping conclusions? What if that person was someone you were once close to,
but had a falling out over something. Trustworthy?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.0pt;">If accepting sweeping
conclusions formed in this manner makes sense to you, have at it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.0pt;">It has never made sense to
me.</span></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; font-family: Georgia, "Bitstream Charter", serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.0pt;">--tps<o:p></o:p></span></div>
TPShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07613663983162109098noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2378699042434857883.post-23946424635344514242017-03-26T10:51:00.002-07:002017-03-30T11:19:02.648-07:00My New Article (Part 1 of a 2-Part Series) in "Civil War Times" Magazine--and Why You Should Care<span style="color: white;">X</span><br />
Writing articles for magazines is enjoyable, but I stopped doing so some years ago because I no longer had the time.<br />
<br />
I am busier now than ever, but one topic in particular had been eating at me. Late last year a new book was published--let's call it the straw that broke the camel's back (see more below).<br />
<br />
I pitched Dana Shoaf, editor of the venerable <i>Civil War Times</i> magazine, an idea for a two-part feature article. My pitch intrigued him and he (thankfully) accepted.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisZG5pZC2xGyvHMWOBlyzoIiD12F9Fd1uX5VYQJhg0DXk46RSacLvF1ShrmiMKfpQSWBdEszzedQGqU1PQwtT6G5vJR9KGDicGoRPgXCx6ZnnktpHXRuQXgd-050UxjGDkUZ_Oe1IjvkUe/s1600/Augusta+PowderWorks+pt+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisZG5pZC2xGyvHMWOBlyzoIiD12F9Fd1uX5VYQJhg0DXk46RSacLvF1ShrmiMKfpQSWBdEszzedQGqU1PQwtT6G5vJR9KGDicGoRPgXCx6ZnnktpHXRuQXgd-050UxjGDkUZ_Oe1IjvkUe/s320/Augusta+PowderWorks+pt+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spread from Part 1 of my 2-part series in Civil War Times magazine</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Part 1, "Heart of the Southern War Machine" was just published in the June 2017 issue. It is critically important in many ways, and it is impossible to fully appreciate Part 2 without understanding Part 1. Still, but it something of a feint, for it sets up the knock-out punch that will appear in the next issue as Part 2: "<span style="text-align: center;">Repeated Strategic Failures of Magnitude: </span><span style="text-align: center;">General Sherman and the Bypassing of </span><st1:place style="text-align: center;">Augusta."</st1:place><br />
<st1:place style="text-align: center;"><br />
</st1:place> <st1:place style="text-align: center;">* * *</st1:place><br />
<st1:place style="text-align: center;"><br />
</st1:place> <st1:place style="text-align: center;"><b>(Only modest spoilers ahead...)</b></st1:place><br />
<st1:place style="text-align: center;"><br />
</st1:place> <st1:place style="text-align: center;">Every author thinks his or her work is important, In truth, it usually isn't. </st1:place><br />
<st1:place style="text-align: center;"><br />
</st1:place> <st1:place style="text-align: center;">An article (or book, for that matter) might be good, interesting, or entertaining, but when the reader closes the cover, that's it. On to other matters. Very few <i>influence </i></st1:place><span style="text-align: center;">the literature on a particular topic.</span><br />
<st1:place style="text-align: center;"><br />
</st1:place> <st1:place style="text-align: center;">I think (and sincerely hope) this two-part series is different. </st1:place><br />
<st1:place style="text-align: center;"><br />
</st1:place> <st1:place style="text-align: center;">Why? Because I believe it can--and damn well might--change the way we look at not only the manner in which the Union high command conducted the Civil War (and three important campaigns in particular), but trigger a reevaluation of these watershed events and, more importantly, of one of the war's leading Union generals--William T. Sherman.</st1:place><br />
<st1:place style="text-align: center;"><br />
</st1:place> <st1:place style="text-align: center;">Now you know why I took the time to write these articles.</st1:place><br />
<st1:place style="text-align: center;"><br />
</st1:place> <st1:place style="text-align: center;">* * *</st1:place><br />
<st1:place style="text-align: center;"><br />
</st1:place> <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy_Jc_kAx9_YliDXj-UUwOzGjIHkw0skGB55JXnBvaZADrLbTwWscusLW3dStw3PbrYw4CZZIphjEmQXli68oPyGv7bwv3eW_p1zO5EESkN87Ch6vkT92UMmLCCI240tlp29sOmkOK9cZ0/s1600/Rains.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy_Jc_kAx9_YliDXj-UUwOzGjIHkw0skGB55JXnBvaZADrLbTwWscusLW3dStw3PbrYw4CZZIphjEmQXli68oPyGv7bwv3eW_p1zO5EESkN87Ch6vkT92UMmLCCI240tlp29sOmkOK9cZ0/s320/Rains.jpg" width="219" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">George Washington Rains, 1865</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<st1:place style="text-align: center;">In the late 1980s, I accidentally stumbled across a Confederate colonel named George Washington Rains in my 128-volume set of the <i>Official Records of the War of the Rebellion</i> (more commonly known as the <i>OR</i>). He was associated with something called the Augusta Powder Works. What was that? The more I searched the traditional secondary sources, the less I found about Rains and the facility. </st1:place><br />
<st1:place style="text-align: center;"><br />
</st1:place> <st1:place style="text-align: center;">Something was amiss. </st1:place><br />
<st1:place style="text-align: center;"><br />
</st1:place> <st1:place style="text-align: center;">Determined to solve this mini-mystery, I began digging into archives and other repositories with firsthand accounts. Keep in mind there was no Internet back then. As it turned out, Rains designed, built, and operated </st1:place><span style="text-align: center;">the South's only (ONLY) major source of gunpowder during the Civil War. How could I have spent decades reading about the war and not known this? </span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"><br />
</span> <span style="text-align: center;">I determined to write a book on the subject and spent years researching the topic in more than a score of repositories across the country.</span><br />
<br />
I obtained copies of the mill's ledger books, daily operational records, uncovered hundreds of letters, and so much more. Once I thoroughly studied the mill's day-to-day operational records (I believe I am the first historian to have ever done so), and discovered the facility's extensive original colorized blue-prints jammed in drawers on a small museum's third floor, I extrapolated the information and determined to follow the evidence wherever it led.<br />
<br />
And then I proceeded to pick myself up off the floor.<br />
<br />
After years of careful study and in-depth discussion with a couple other historians I respected, I reached conclusions that ran wholly contrary to what everyone else had ever written about Civil War strategy, General Sherman, the Atlanta Campaign, his March to the Sea, and even the beginning of his 1865 Carolinas Campaign.<br />
<br />
How could this be?<br />
<br />
Take a look at the bibliographies and indexes of any books on this general or these topics and you will discover the answer--not by what is there, but by what is NOT there.<br />
<br />
No other writer, historian, or author had ever bothered to engage in the due diligence required to utilize available archival records relating to Colonel Rains and the true significance of the role the Augusta's Powder Works played in the war--and then employ this information to objectively evaluate the impact of various decisions and their influence on the course of the Civil War.<br />
<br />
Other than a few lectures (at which audience members routinely say to me, "My God, why have I never heard this before?!") and one article many years ago that touched on the subject, I kept this to myself because I wanted to conduct more research.<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In the mid-2000s, I was asked by Chip Bragg, a Georgia MD and fellow Rains enthusiast, to team up with several others of various backgrounds (engineering, logistics, architecture, etc.) to publish <i>Never for Want of Powder: The Confederate Powder Works in Augusta, Georgia</i> (U of South Carolina Press, 2007). I didn't reveal much of my own research there, but contributed two lengthy sections on Rains and the Works. It is a fine book, but the press didn't spend much time marketing it. Few people read it, and Rains and his accomplishment remained in obscurity. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br />
</b></span> <span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The Straw that Broke the Camel's Back</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The last straw was the publication of <i>William Tecumseh Sherman: In the Service of My Country: A Life</i> (2016) by James Lee McDonough. This author is best known for a case of plagiarism so egregious that his former publisher pulled his Atlanta Campaign book off the shelves. His new <st1:city>Sherman</st1:city> book has been hailed as a masterly work of scholarship, the reviews are glowing, and sales appear brisk.<br />
<br />
McDonough's 832-page homage to <st1:city>Sherman</st1:city> touts his genius, his impeccable strategy, his stellar generalship, and essentially claims his actions helped bring the war to a quicker close. To McDonough, <st1:city>Sherman</st1:city>'s March to the Sea is--of course--a brilliant masterpiece.<br />
<br />
(Understand I used to believe this, too. I have no dog in this fight and I always let the evidence lead me to logical, reasonable conclusions.)<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But guess what? You won't find anything in McDonough's book about George Rains, the Augusta Powder Works, the importance of Augusta, etc. and Sherman's decision-making vis a vis the city and its ordnance complex.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A reasonable person might ask, "How did McDonough reach his conclusions?"</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">
<br />
The dirty little secret is that most (not all, most) historians and
writers are lazy. (Keep in mind I have been a publisher for more than 25 years.
I know how the sausage is made.) They copy one another, add adjectives and
sterling prose, slap a pretty dust jacket on the package, and then sell it to
you. They repeat one another in a heady rush to heap encomiums upon </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Sherman</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"> without engaging in original thinking and research.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
In this manner, the bronze medal “March to the Sea” has been declared a brilliant far-sighted gold medal achievement for everyone to admire.<br />
<br />
Pardon me while I disagree.<br />
<br />
* * *<br />
<br />
My essay, as noted above, is divided into two sections: Part 1 sets the foundational importance of Augusta and its war industries, and Part 2 combines the objective data balanced against Union decision-making).<br />
<br />
My research forces me to disagree with essentially everyone else.<br />
<br />
Sherman's mistakes (he made the same one over and over, and then lied about it after the war) were so egregious, so impactful, and so inexcusable that they lengthened the war and resulted in tens of thousands more deaths.<br />
<br />
And I have the documentary evidence that proves it. It is not guess work; it is not a "revisionist" alternative reality theory. It is demonstrable beyond doubt.<br />
<br />
Let's call it the smoking gun that has been sitting in plain sight for 150 years.<br />
<br />
I know my conclusions will generate some hate-mail, argument, name-calling, and so forth. Good. People who know me well know I don't give a damn about any of that.<br />
<br />
As a researcher, trained historian, author, attorney, and publisher, I sincerely hope that this interpretation/argument convinces those who come after me to, <i>at the very least, </i>fully examine ALL available archival materials and then--and ONLY then--write about the subjects at hand.<br />
<br />
After all, isn't that what good history is supposed to be?<br />
<br />
--tps<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span> <st1:place style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></st1:place> <st1:place style="text-align: center;"><br />
</st1:place> <br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-align: center;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
TPShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07613663983162109098noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2378699042434857883.post-50562038951518576062017-01-27T11:00:00.002-08:002017-01-30T11:19:31.950-08:00Author Fraud also Tars the Publisher <span style="color: white;">x</span><br />
I published an author one time. I will never publish him again.<br />
<br />
Why?<br />
<br />
He is a fraud.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB8itSdm_oQnVo0gPii-uz2MHqdZ8J9emsBJdz-AKgi_3fQPwrxLbkmb9XAGJpOB6gqlKrb8Q5lTUtFoOeCI_rmRg-OhdyqaqvpU8TkC-tD1Arq8xXYq8AioLwJFa3feEpv1PObCfMMUyL/s1600/fraud.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB8itSdm_oQnVo0gPii-uz2MHqdZ8J9emsBJdz-AKgi_3fQPwrxLbkmb9XAGJpOB6gqlKrb8Q5lTUtFoOeCI_rmRg-OhdyqaqvpU8TkC-tD1Arq8xXYq8AioLwJFa3feEpv1PObCfMMUyL/s200/fraud.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Now, I have been associated with Savas Beatie, published widely under Savas Publishing, and have assisted many other agents, publishers, etc. so I am not sharing which outlet this man/woman wrote for, or the genre. I will refer to this author as a "he" for convenience sake. It may be a woman. But the gender is irrelevant. It is WHAT do you as an author that matters.<br /><br />His work is barely mediocre but tends to sell. His writing is pretty awful, and needs to be rewritten from soup to nuts, and cut by about 40% to remove the repetitious filler and chaff to find the wheat. Sort of like taking a shovel to a pile of manure to find the pony hidden in there somewhere.<br />
<br />
One publisher who had also released one of his books called him a "one-man editorial wrecking crew." I can vouch for that. One of my hired editors made it through three chapters before throwing up her hands to scream "no mas."<br />
<br />
At that point I hired another, told him to completely rewrite and cut whatever, and he did. And the author never said a word. I don't even know that he read the galley proof. He really didn't give a damn as long as he had yet another book out with his name on it.<br />
<br />
So you are are thinking, "What does the fraud part come into this?" right?<br />
<br />
Another publisher who had suffered through one of his poorly written repetitive manuscripts to produce a book, demonstrated the perfidy to me some time ago. "This guy posts fake reviews on Amazon, either directly or through accounts of others. And I think he also hires fake reviewers, which is not hard to do. He has done it for several books."<br />
<br />
Then my publishing acquaintance pointed out about half a dozen of these "reviews". We read them together on-line. They all had something in common, and you can find these commonalities here:<br />
<br />
http://www.wikihow.com/Spot-a-Fake-Review-on-Amazon<br />
<br />
The kicker for me was when I later discovered one "reviewer" who reviewed two of this author's books on the same day, writing almost entirely the same thing.<br />
<br />
After I poured a gin and tonic and burned through a good cigar to relax, I called this author on it and told him that, as his publisher his fraud taints MY company. MY name is on the spine, copyright page, title page, etc. I made it clear he had 24 hours to remove the bullshit review on the book I had published, or I would report him publicly.<br />
<br />
Of course he vigorously denied it. I told him the clock was running. The review remained. I published a comment to the review under my own name, called him out publicly, and apologized to anyone who had bought the book.<br />
<br />
The review came down within hours.<br />
<br />
The same author offered me other manuscripts to publish. Breathtaking, I know. I told him what I thought of that idea. He went elsewhere to peddle his junk.<br />
<br />
BOTTOM LINE:<br />
<br />
Your behavior as an author reflects upon your publisher.<br />
<br />
As a man and a publisher who values his reputation (and the reputation of my partners--i.e, our authors), if you ever pull that stunt with me and I find out, I will name you to the world and tar and feather your behind to Kingdom Come. And trust me, Ted's will WILL be done.<br />
<br />
Your work will stand or fall on its own merits. When you put yourself out there, you will get some bad reviews. It is the nature of the beast.<br />
<br />
Learn to live with it.TPShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07613663983162109098noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2378699042434857883.post-37424793454918602462017-01-01T12:30:00.001-08:002017-01-01T18:33:44.242-08:00How I Came to Discover Douglas Southall Freeman....<div class="Section1">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgimATVEDler1EqNL439flWjLeWe_AAKQSAQiUdvHQ7nhzzDE7cW14sMehiIKj5YShd0usz4-4w5aemHR9dJOwaiJVLwHZT1pAJCX_76JCjq5Q9lbGlYn8CIzhSqPjsFMs7rnSf_CKxt4oj/s1600/freeman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgimATVEDler1EqNL439flWjLeWe_AAKQSAQiUdvHQ7nhzzDE7cW14sMehiIKj5YShd0usz4-4w5aemHR9dJOwaiJVLwHZT1pAJCX_76JCjq5Q9lbGlYn8CIzhSqPjsFMs7rnSf_CKxt4oj/s200/freeman.jpg" width="166" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #fff2cc;">X</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This appeared as a newspaper editorial some fourteen years ago. I thought readers of this blog might enjoy it. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Happy New Year.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
--tps</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-------------------</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A DIME WELL SPENT<br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(published El Dorado Hills Telegraph, 2002</span></i>)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I don’t think there is a better way to spend an hour on a
Saturday morning than with your children perusing old books at one of the sales
at Oak Ridge High School.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My ardor for books is boundless. When I was a kid my friends
carried around sports cards; I was a card-carrying member of the HBC (History
Book Club). They went fishing; I went to the library. They hung around school
lockers and talked; I ducked into empty classrooms to finish reading (or writing) a short story. If there
was a book sale within 50 miles, I was there. Naturally, one of my adult
obsessions has been whether my kids would be as smitten with dusty old books as
is their papa.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Whole trees fall to the ax to satisfy my 11-year old
daughter Alex<span style="font-family: "wp typographicsymbols";">'</span>s
unquenchable thirst for ink-based adventure. And my polar opposite 7-year old
son Demetrious? He loves it when I read to him—but picking up a book on his own
and losing himself in another world seemed a lost cause.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For two years I have taken him to every Oak Ridge book sale.
Recently he spotted a sign announcing another and demanded we attend. “I’ll pay
for my own books,” he informed me. Like a warrior on a mission he zeroed in on
the children<span style="font-family: "wp typographicsymbols"; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: "WP TypographicSymbols";">'</span>s table.
After amassing a sufficient stack of titles, he presented them for check out. I
stood well behind him.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A kind lady with a warm smile tallied up the damage. She
held up one book suitable for a teenager and commented to my son, “This is for
older kids. Can you read it?” Something gently tugged at the back of my mind.
Demetri offered a shrug in response. She continued sorting until she came to a
not-so-gently read Amelia Bedelia book.<br />
<br />
“How about a dime for this one?” she
asked.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>“A dime.”</i><br />
<br />
A flood
of memories washed over me. Demetri began fishing in his pocket for money as my
mind wandered some three decades into the past . . . </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p>* * *</o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One summer day my grandfather brought me a pummeled rummage sale
copy of the first volume of <i>Lee’s Lieutenants: A Study in Command</i>, by
Douglas Southall Freeman. My grandpa charged me a dime and a kiss on his shiny bald head.<br />
<br />
It was my
first Civil War book. I was eleven or twelve. Who knew.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I read it aloud walking along the lilac-studded northern boundary
of our Iowa property line. After a steady barrage of questions, my mother tired of the game and dropped a dictionary on a basswood stump. I got the message. Do your own research....<br />
<br />
I spent the next week living with a
cadre of men I would never meet, challenging myself as I flipped through Webster’s all while imagining another time and place. To this day I still smell pungently sweet lilac
whenever someone mentions the Battle of Malvern Hill.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
I remember how excited I was when I discovered there were
three volumes in the series, and how the librarian with a freshly‑sharpened
yellow pencil stuck deep into her beehive hairdo tried to discourage me from
checking them out because I was “far too young to read and understand Freeman.”<br />
<br />
I opened a book and read aloud. That convinced her.<br />
<br />
With the second volume
under my arm, I peddled my green Stingray bike (with the long cool banana seat)
across town to the Union soldier’s memorial obelisk in Central Park, where I
leaned against the sun‑warmed polished granite and devoured the stirring
Introduction and first chapter.<br />
<br />
I finished the book in the back of a Dodge
station wagon on the way to New York City with the family, and the third installment
on the stoop of an apartment complex in Brooklyn ten days later.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The colossal scope and breadth of books in general, and the
Civil War in particular, finally began to dawn on me. My grandfather’s dime stirred
a lifetime of passion. . . .</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
* * *</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I stopped my son as he pulled a few coins from his pocket to
pay for his books. “I’ve got it,” I told him with a smile he returned in kind.
Before we arrived home, he had the torn paperback out of the sack and was
reading for all he was worth. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Wanna play some catch?” I asked, hoping I knew the answer.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“No, I want to read,” he replied without looking up.<br />
<br />
Without another word, Demetri
walked upstairs and flopped down on his bed. I walked into my library, pulled
out that battered first volume of <i>Lee</i><span style="font-family: "wp typographicsymbols";">'</span><i>s
Lieutenants</i>, trotted up the steps, and asked him to scoot over.<br />
<br />
He smiled and wiggled closer to the wall. I dropped down next to him. And we read together. And then we fell asleep together . . . reading.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A dime well spent can still buy you everything that really
matters.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Copyright 2002,
Theodore P. Savas<o:p></o:p></i></div>
TPShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07613663983162109098noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2378699042434857883.post-29865617028084023682016-11-05T12:13:00.000-07:002016-11-05T12:37:17.933-07:00Got Reviews? Why Publishers, Authors, Booksellers, and Other Potential Readers Need to Hear From You<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: white;">X</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvDmmRGkckmfXAGJkpNyQcB18GObKBSIRlVKmbQwtxvzthEZw17LNyjBqHpQpeVYjiYGsm82Xx9juQuXCuzfdP4fQoAL4HiX-_vBjYa2ZcCirCwQ4X6Psj-ws4Bodsn_Gghzm7HZOzvRdF/s1600/Book+Reviews.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvDmmRGkckmfXAGJkpNyQcB18GObKBSIRlVKmbQwtxvzthEZw17LNyjBqHpQpeVYjiYGsm82Xx9juQuXCuzfdP4fQoAL4HiX-_vBjYa2ZcCirCwQ4X6Psj-ws4Bodsn_Gghzm7HZOzvRdF/s320/Book+Reviews.jpg" width="320" /></a>We save our hard-earned money and we buy the books on the
subjects we love.<br />
<br />
Sometimes we check them out from libraries.<br />
<br />
Sometimes we
borrow them from friends or families.<br />
<br />
(Or, if you are Mark Wade, you attend my
exclusive dinner parties, sneak down the hallway, ride the secret elevator to
my private lair, and snatch them from my personal library.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
However, the vast majority of book readers <u>never</u> leave public
reviews of the titles they read. Not on blogs, not on Facebook, and not on
Amazon. Not in newsletters, or in magazines, or in newspapers. And they don’t
think twice about not having done so. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And I understand why. People are busy, and/or they don’t think
they write well enough to leave a public review.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here are a few reasons why you should pen a review, however brief or long, however general or detailed …</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1) Authors need your feedback. They labor alone for many
years, send a manuscript off to the publisher, and wait for a long while until
it is published. Reviews are the only way to really get feedback from the end
user: YOU. Trust me, authors do not write for the money. They write for the joy
of researching and writing, and to enrich your lives by feeding you (hopefully)
what you love. Tell them your opinion. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2) Publisher’s need your feedback. It is important to let
publishers know what you like, or don’t like. Footnotes or end notes? How are
the maps? Are there enough, and are they placed properly? Ditto on the images.
We publish for many of the same reasons authors write. It ain’t for the money;
it’s for the love of the game, to add enjoyment to the lives of others, and to
leave something worthwhile for posterity (at least for me). </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3) Other readers need YOUR opinion. Folks can read our
blurbs and jackets and ad copy until they are blue in the face, but potential
readers are more influenced by YOUR opinion. Think about it. Don’t you like to
read what others think about a new book? Sure you do. So does everyone else.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4) Booksellers and wholesalers follow reviews carefully. Here
is a simple, if extreme example to make my point. The simple memoir Steel Boat,
Iron Hearts: A U-boat Crewman’s Life Aboard U-505, by Hans Goebeler, with John
Vanzo is a remarkable book, but its success isn’t because of author promotion
(Hans is deceased, and John does not do events), but because some of our
promotions triggered a wave of reviews. (Most u-boat titles have single-digit
reviews on Amazon; Steel Boats has 484—the most of any u-boat book ever
published; at last count and the next closest is in the 200s). As the number of
positive reviews climbed, more booksellers and wholesalers stocked it, more
libraries picked it up, and more readers discovered this little gem. Foreign rights
agents sought us out, as did a major audio rights company. Thousands of readers
around the world would not have never of this title except for the reviews.
They matter. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
5) Amazon uses reviews and page hits to determine which
books are popular, and how to match them with other similar interests. Amazon
reviews, especially, matter. Many people check there and glance at a star
rating. How many of us looked at a book and thought, “Only a two-star average
with six reviews? I will pass.” Or, “Wow this has 22 reviews and a 4.5-star
rating average. I will get a copy.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“But Ted, I am not a good writer!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I hear this all the time. It. Does. Not. Matter. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Click your star rating (5 stars for SB, of course), and just
write what you liked (or didn’t like) about a book. It can be as simple as, “I
liked this book because the subject is interesting, it was easy to read, there
were lots of maps, the footnotes were informative, and I learned a lot.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you feel comfortable, leave several paragraphs and go
in-depth. If not, leave a sentence or two. It is the overall star rating and
the fact you felt compelled to leave a review that matters most, even if your
review is not detailed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Your participation with reviews is critically important and
likely much more so than you realize. We scour the web and magazines for
reviews to learn whether what we did worked—or didn’t. So do authors and
booksellers and wholesalers and agents. Your collective opinion counts.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSy5w4H0CsDgPOvfzCHlrMf5c5XkdzUX-n-CM7geJd8WOHcdgdQYcawlZg4EwM476t0Y9f93vq9evJENopFjO-c-G-YKTTLAUeQVuGJUmHhXVTAMIzu_nY7dq1RMcgkBIQLcjqK-F3bJVA/s1600/books.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSy5w4H0CsDgPOvfzCHlrMf5c5XkdzUX-n-CM7geJd8WOHcdgdQYcawlZg4EwM476t0Y9f93vq9evJENopFjO-c-G-YKTTLAUeQVuGJUmHhXVTAMIzu_nY7dq1RMcgkBIQLcjqK-F3bJVA/s1600/books.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Hopefully, your SB stack looks like this....</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you have read one or more of our titles and have not
posted a review, would you consider taking a few minutes and doing so? Maybe
find your SB books and stack them on the corner of your kitchen table or office
desk. Whittle down that stack one a day until you finish. It is easier and faster than you think. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Also, if you belong to a Facebook Civil War- or military-related page, post a review there. <br /><br />Let us, the authors, other booksellers, and more
importantly, other readers, HEAR from <u>you</u>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thanks as always for your support. Independent publishing
could not exist without you.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
-- tpsTPShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07613663983162109098noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2378699042434857883.post-15694738075995145072016-08-30T15:02:00.002-07:002016-09-02T06:53:17.677-07:00HE + RA = S, or, What Most Authors Overlook<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: white;">X</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">We hear exchanges like this often:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-size: small;">SB: "How did the speaking/signing event go?"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-size: small;">AUTHOR: "Horrible. There were only 15 people, there and I sold four books!"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-size: small;">Authors tend to count immediate book sales. That is understandable. It is also short-sighted and often dispiriting. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-size: small;">Take that exchange above and plug in any number of people in attendance, and ZERO for book sales, and the event (if you have a publisher who understands marketing) was a success. Why?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-size: small;">Because the event itself (like most single battles of any long war, for example) are irrelevant to the long-term outcome. The goal is sell books, and brand the author. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-size: small;">HE + RA = S. (Stay with me here.)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> <br />
<div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1472575904904_166942" style="padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: small;">A speaking engagement, battlefield tour, book signing, etc. is but the pebble you throw into a pond. I don't care about the pebble. I care about the <b>ripple.</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b></b></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1472575904904_166942" style="font-family: "times new roman", "new york", times, serif; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;"><br />
</span> </span><br />
<div style="font-size: 16px;">
<span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: small;">The ripple is the "volume" of movement you can create by tossing the pebble into the water. Think of how much more ground a ripple covers compared to the small stone itself.</span></div>
</div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1472575904904_166942" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; padding: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1472575904904_166942" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; padding: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: small;">In our case, it is the newspaper article, media interview, blog post, Facebook post, tweet, etc. that only came about because there was a <i>hard event </i>to announce/promote.</span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1472575904904_166942" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; padding: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1472575904904_166942" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; padding: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXeD7eujqvPqV5eaOK9gCotw2H97dEOfhbMBB_HwWdiUZciPwmhV0C294Q2CVSfH1IB9RUJ568aeuQYqhY6OozD_IGVl1tFQLmEI_AjTe1PMiH3XhitPI0hq90YfcQoBNJS84s4VVDAuMY/s1600/Ripple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXeD7eujqvPqV5eaOK9gCotw2H97dEOfhbMBB_HwWdiUZciPwmhV0C294Q2CVSfH1IB9RUJ568aeuQYqhY6OozD_IGVl1tFQLmEI_AjTe1PMiH3XhitPI0hq90YfcQoBNJS84s4VVDAuMY/s200/Ripple.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: small;">You can only tell folks so many times, "Hey! Here is a new book on X!" before people stop paying attention.</span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1472575904904_166942" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; padding: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1472575904904_166942" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: small;">But each book event is in itself newsworthy. Each post, tweet, article, etc. tied to a book, its event, and its author creates something I call <i>"repetitive awareness."</i> (I have no idea if that is already a phrase, but I just thought it up and I like it.)</span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1472575904904_166942" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; padding: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1472575904904_166942" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; padding: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: small;">And you know what I mean. Have you ever bought a book? Or a refrigerator? Or a car? Have you ever paid attention to your purchasing habits? Most of us see an ad and skip over. We see it again, and do not act. We see it a third time, and find ourselves in a position (mentally, financially, emotionally) to want to act, and then we do. Why? We have been <i>reminded.</i> Over and over. And we take action.</span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1472575904904_166942" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; padding: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1472575904904_166942" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; padding: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: small;">The action can be attending the author event itself, OR buying the book online, from a store, or from us, and/or referring it to a friend. And what do you do when you get a new book? You tell others in a wide variety of ways, right? </span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1472575904904_166942" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; padding: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1472575904904_166942" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; padding: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: small;">HE (hard events) + RA (repetitive awareness) = Success (book sales, branding of author).</span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1472575904904_166942" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; padding: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1472575904904_166942" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; padding: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: small;">It not just the bodies that show up an an event--it is who <b style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">learns </b>of the event. </span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1472575904904_166942" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; padding: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1472575904904_166942" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; padding: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: small;">From now on, when your publicist or publishing company wants to book you for an event, realize it does not matter whether you get 5 people or 50, sell zero books or 25. </span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1472575904904_166942" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; padding: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1472575904904_166942" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; padding: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: small;">It's all about the . . . .<b>ripple. </b></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1472575904904_166942" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1472575904904_166942" style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: small;">--tps</span></div>
TPShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07613663983162109098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2378699042434857883.post-5040325054040555112016-08-15T16:01:00.003-07:002016-08-16T20:40:19.802-07:00How Many Authors Realize They Qualify as a Business?<span style="color: white;">X</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Color me shocked. </b></span><br />
<br />
A few months ago I had a conversation with an author that went something like this:<br />
<br />
ME: I appreciate you driving to the Visitor Center to sign books. Make sure you keep track of that mileage and gas expense, and so forth.<br />
<br />
AUTHOR: What do you mean?<br />
<br />
ME: What do you mean, what do I mean?<br />
<br />
AUTHOR: Why would I keep track of that?<br />
<br />
ME: So you can write it off.<br />
<br />
AUTHOR: I can write that off?<br />
<br />
ME: You do file a Schedule C, right?<br />
<br />
AUTHOR: What's a Schedule C?<br />
<br />
That sound he heard next was my head hitting the desk.<br />
<br />
ME: We have to talk....<br />
<br />
And then we did.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtvjssw0wYUqeJJPtwrJAyi9ElriJ11dGWcxGR_Gp7Q5251D1wRlxgZmwuaPPXo5yOVtyB3FGDMjGGOMrjKnsgpbpIFFHdkba5wwJCwWs3NQUIdKFw6uSyMPb9bbxpsOtui5koRUELf_dU/s1600/Tax+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtvjssw0wYUqeJJPtwrJAyi9ElriJ11dGWcxGR_Gp7Q5251D1wRlxgZmwuaPPXo5yOVtyB3FGDMjGGOMrjKnsgpbpIFFHdkba5wwJCwWs3NQUIdKFw6uSyMPb9bbxpsOtui5koRUELf_dU/s200/Tax+3.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
If you are an author, you should talk to your CPA (I am not a CPA, I don't play one on TV or on stage, and I am not giving firm, actionable advice--but your CPA can and will). Tell him what you are doing, and ask him how to form a DBA (Doing Business as), or if worthwhile given your situation, an LLC or some other entity...and take advantage of the tax loopholes the multi-millionaire crooked lobbyists have been bribing your crooked politicians for decades to implement.<br />
<br />
For example, here are some of the things that, in most circumstances, you can write off as legitimate expenses:<br />
<br />
1. Home office<br />
2. A portion of your utilities<br />
3. Electronic equipment (computer, cell phone, etc.)<br />
4. Paper, ink, pens, staples, tape, and other office supplies<br />
5. Dog food (okay, maybe not this one)<br />
6. Lunches / dinners (travel)<br />
7. Gas and/or mileage<br />
8. Storage costs<br />
9. Postage<br />
10. Internet costs<br />
11. <b>Thank You gifts </b>for your favorite publisher (Yes, I actually get these, and YES, they are a tax-write off in most instances. And yes, I like good cigars and good red Zinfandel).<br />
<br />
And that list? It's not complete.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAtSSNHoQTp4KloeA7LyUUZpiESN1JnkKYkYJPp6uqXUFsIOXBfMXp9M3vZCTxOJVMDOhmFTMIUh7ikDmYDspX_ue3A2GLbJ469K6mPk5f3S0hWADUrnsLq6ixupP7Io9RFT2SN3m1yAB/s1600/Tax+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAtSSNHoQTp4KloeA7LyUUZpiESN1JnkKYkYJPp6uqXUFsIOXBfMXp9M3vZCTxOJVMDOhmFTMIUh7ikDmYDspX_ue3A2GLbJ469K6mPk5f3S0hWADUrnsLq6ixupP7Io9RFT2SN3m1yAB/s1600/Tax+2.jpg" /></a></div>
Now, let's say you earn $1,000 a year in royalties. You are a part time author, you have a full-time other job or are retired, etc. and you do this for fun. I mean really, who writes for the money?<br />
<br />
Let's say in the year you got that stack of Benjamins you did a lot of research, some travel, had to buy a new printer, etc. Maybe your expenses are $800.00. That means you would only pay tax on $200.00. OR if your expenses are higher than royalties, you might actually have a legitimate LOSS to set off against other gains, or use as your CPA advises.<br />
<br />
Once I explained this to an author, I could "see" almost as much as I could "feel" his shaking head in his hands wondering just how much money he had left on the table over the years.<br />
<br />
WHAT TO DO?<br />
<br />
1. Call your CPA immediately and schedule an appointment;<br />
<br />
2, Take in whatever he asks for, including a copy of your published books (or if new, your most recent manuscript) to prove what you are doing, tangibly so.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgviWKJJpeyXY0GJWtjSHm4PEG3jVjzV4y3u6ZD4OKiEMuwq-xULz9PqDsIr7hi53S6NX-Th-GDnAjVu-VkuYutVEJrFRWRtaYf8GowfUJfT1LP7jL1S7eDH_RXHSoPo-GxV-dG2EgqDtw5/s1600/Tax+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="96" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgviWKJJpeyXY0GJWtjSHm4PEG3jVjzV4y3u6ZD4OKiEMuwq-xULz9PqDsIr7hi53S6NX-Th-GDnAjVu-VkuYutVEJrFRWRtaYf8GowfUJfT1LP7jL1S7eDH_RXHSoPo-GxV-dG2EgqDtw5/s320/Tax+1.jpg" width="320" /></a>3. Find out what you can write up, what business form to create (DBAs do not require formal corporate filing; you use your SSN. For example, Savas Beatie LLC is a formal corporate entity; Theodore P. Savas is an author, DBA as Savas Publishing Company.<br />
<br />
This is easy, and you will quickly find out how much money you can save. There might also be a way to amend your previous returns to include expenses from prior years you failed to claim. Ask your CPA and find out what is right for you.<br />
<br />
Go for it.<br />
<br />
--tpsTPShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07613663983162109098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2378699042434857883.post-22767945852809175712016-06-21T07:45:00.002-07:002016-06-21T11:35:00.965-07:00How Do we "Grow" the Civil War?<span style="color: white;">X</span><br />
As one of the great lyricists of all time wrote<br />
<br />
<i>"He's not busy being born is busy dying."</i><br />
-- Bob Dylan, "Its Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)"<br />
<br />
I am hip-deep in this business, and see it from every angle and have for decades. It is obvious that the average age of conference attendees, readers, and so forth is getting older. At least some of this is our own fault.<br />
<br />
My approach to life, regardless of the issue, is to try and find the route to success over a blockage, around it, through it, or under it. There is always a way.<br />
<br />
And WE (all of us) hold the solution in our hands, sort of like Dorothy not knowing she has all this power, and only has to click her heels together. Let's all do it together.<br />
<br />
How many of you reading this have know folks younger than you? Answer: All of you.<br />
<br />
How many of you have given some of the best prospects a book to read and strong encouragement to do so? The number of hands just fell to nearly zero.<br />
<br />
<b>BOOKS</b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjzFlukE8yBfaGF-OxpZAl6EGcVKNxTjzHmYgGe-mwf8L0F4RVxPxwXWak3OivHz6EfmTh1d_j5HajRdlN27Sqemz2wrZwfTkELgs0_xqtOtP2yFYNZUsjQ5atFZBGDA6ItbSM0aE76ltp/s1600/cwhandbook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjzFlukE8yBfaGF-OxpZAl6EGcVKNxTjzHmYgGe-mwf8L0F4RVxPxwXWak3OivHz6EfmTh1d_j5HajRdlN27Sqemz2wrZwfTkELgs0_xqtOtP2yFYNZUsjQ5atFZBGDA6ItbSM0aE76ltp/s200/cwhandbook.jpg" width="133" /></a>We created and published Mark Hughes' <i>Civil War Handbook</i> to make the study of the war easier and more accessible than beginning with a more expensive and difficult to understand study like, say David Powell's 796-page battle studies on Chickamauga.<br />
<br />
Hughes' <a href="http://savasbeatie.com/books/NCW_book.htm" target="_blank">"Civil War Handbook"</a> is heavily illustrated, and the short sections and photos include detailed captions and various galleries, lists, charts, tables, etc. to explore many areas of the war (infantry, navy, the various theaters, civilians, hospitals, artillery, battles, etc.) Most of the war, in some fashion, is covered, albeit lightly, but it invites readers to wade shoe top-deep into the subject, discover what triggers a special interest, and then start digging from there. And boy has it been successful.<br />
<br />
The books in the Emerging Civil War series are more focused (Gettysburg, Fredericksburg, Wilderness, etc.), inexpensively priced, jammed with photos and maps, well-written, and include a simple touring section at the back. Each is a PERFECT entry point for younger or less experienced readers of any age. They are a couple levels deeper than Hughes' handbook, but still very accessible, with enough meat and heft to satisfy even experienced readers of the Civil War (as we hear all the time).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifHKP9Ed-YT5VzUzxizDBovVWyVgaT8k1W8QHg4bDO5Q7GXpanHwCVKze7p-rh29UVoFlhBPKRc7eA1peH-O5Lx_tVSKifalOhuhIZVzL86vC3IQpznE3O1enEU67CgzW2-YpeWRFKb9dt/s1600/A+Long+and+Bloody+Task.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifHKP9Ed-YT5VzUzxizDBovVWyVgaT8k1W8QHg4bDO5Q7GXpanHwCVKze7p-rh29UVoFlhBPKRc7eA1peH-O5Lx_tVSKifalOhuhIZVzL86vC3IQpznE3O1enEU67CgzW2-YpeWRFKb9dt/s200/A+Long+and+Bloody+Task.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
Why are these titles important?<br />
<br />
They grow the Civil War, which essentially is no longer taught in American schools. That, in and of itself is a crime, especially given all the crap they teach today instead. But I digress.<br />
<br />
What do we do?<br />
<br />
I strongly encourage you to give these titles as gifts to nephews, nieces, grand kids, neighbors, employees, their kids, etc. If you don't want to buy another copy, that's okay--read yours and pass it along and encourage someone else to get the virus.<br />
<br />
If you want to buy in bulk to give as gifts, give us a call and we will work something out with you to make it as affordable as possible.<br />
<br />
If you have a business, it is also likely a tax write-off.<br />
<br />
This strategy works!<br />
<br />
We have many new customers who began their journey with the <i>Civil War Handbook</i> or an ECW title picked up at a battlefield bookstore or received as a gift. These new readers are now on our mailing list, and they are adding new titles to their library and visiting more battlefields.<br />
<br />
Isn't that what we all want?<br />
<br />
I always have several copies of Hughes' <i>Civil War Handbook </i>with me at home and office, and I hand them out like candy. I have even done that with Shaara's <i>Killer Angels </i>(a novel on Gettysburg) for some adults.<br />
<br />
Do you? Can you? Will you?<br />
<br />
Recently, my newly retired and very well educated step brother admitted he knew almost nothing about the Civil War, and that he wanted one book to get a feeling for "the whole thing." I recommended Shelby Foote's massive, but very readable <i>The Civil War, A Narrative</i> trilogy. Tom is now finishing vol. 2---and LOVING IT. He found that he has a deep interest in the Western Theater, wants to visit Shiloh and Vicksburg. He also wants to know what to read next. Without my encouragement and suggestions, none of this would have happened. He is now HOOKED.<br />
<br />
<b>ROUND TABLES</b><br />
<br />
I am at heart a marketing guy. It drives me nuts to watch RTs wring their collective hands about the age of their membership. When I ask what they are doing to bring in new members--all I usually hear is crickets.<br />
<br />
No one is going to <b>FIND YOU</b> if you don't have a Black Box sending out signals that say <b>"COME JOIN US!"</b> <u>You</u> have to <u>find</u> them or make it a lot easier to find you.<br />
<br />
Today, the best and easiest and most cost-effective way is to useMeetup. Click here: <b><a href="http://www.meetup.com/" target="_blank">MEETUP</a></b>:<br />
<br />
Get on there and get a Round Table page, make it exciting, etc. Announce your meetings. People will find you and you will get new members.<br />
<br />
It. Is. Easy.<br />
<br />
BE FUN: Now . . . are your meetings even remotely interesting? I have attended groups around the country, and some of them are so boring I would rather have my eyes scratched out by an irate cat than suffer through another 90 minutes of time I will never get back.<br />
<br />
WHERE DO YOU MEET? Do you meet in a bright, cheery place with food and drink, or a dark dingy small room in the back of NoOneGoesHere Grill that smells like an old man's coat you found in an ally?<br />
<br />
RAISE MONEY: Make sure you have raffles to raise money for a cause. Do something important to be important. (The San Jose Group I founded with Dave Woodbury in my living room has probably raised about $10,000 over the years for battlefield preservation.)<br />
<br />
WHO IS YOUR BOOK REVIEWER? Do you have a book reviewer on staff? What? No?! Why the heck not? That reviewer (credible, articulate, and knowledgeable--not an old person with a stained shirt who mumbles through his false teeth), should bring in 2-3 NEW titles each meeting, hold them up, and talk about each book for a minute or two, and then pass them around so others can see them. Touch and a connection to the ongoing CW world is important.<br />
<br />
GIVE BOOKS AWAY TO BRING YOUNGER PEOPLE IN: If you want to buy in bulk (Say 6 or more) to give as gifts, give us a call and we will work something out with you to make it as affordable as possible.<br />
<br />
LIBRARY INSERTS: Go to local libraries and slip pieces of paper inside the popular Civil War books with your name, meeting times, and contact info! Don't ask permission. Just do it. We got several members this way.<br />
<br />
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO DO: Stop using boring speakers as "placeholders" at your meetings because you can't find someone else. That is a lazy excuse and I don't like excuses. I like results. A boring speaker who reads his talk and cannot relate and engage an audience is the <b>fastest way</b> to drive new folks away.<br />
<br />
Work hard to bring in good speakers! Share them and the costs with other RTs, hit the local colleges and ask history profs to come and speak.<br />
<br />
PANEL DISCUSSIONS: When you have months you can't fill with a decent presenter, organize a panel discussion--but put your BEST folks on it and then pick a good topic. Show a clip of a movie (Glory, Gettysburg, etc.) and open that up to debate at another meeting. Have the attendees read a relatively short book and two month later make that the subject of the panel discussion.<br />
<br />
As you can see, you don't have to do the same old, same old, every meeting because you always have.<br />
<br />
Those who stand in the way of making an organization better are the kiss of death. I guarantee you folks in your RT will throw up roadblocks. <b>Ignore these naysayers.</b> I deal with the every day. I have dealt with them all my life (you can't play classical piano; you can't play in a rock band; you can't go to law school; you will never get published; you can't start a publishing company on the Civil War from California, etc.) Smile and push on past and get it done. Work with the "get it done" folks.<br />
<br />
If you are not growing, you are dying. But you are CHOOSING to die. I choose to live and thrive.<br />
<br />
Be active, be encouraging, be creative, and PLAY A ROLE. Look at everyone you meet as a new Civil War reader and enthusiast.<br />
<br />
GROW THE CIVIL WAR.<br />
<br />
Onward.<br />
<br />
--tpsTPShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07613663983162109098noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2378699042434857883.post-58416346251691818732015-10-30T07:46:00.002-07:002017-04-06T11:24:31.340-07:00The Golden Age of Civil War Publishing is NOW.<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636px;"><span style="color: white;">X</span></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQdxCon6-GAUL3JHXplZSG0dHHbsUe0Y2Zu8AliayEp_QCbsZuZ5MzKDegKnnPHwZ2DJtijXyzjgBZHWS-9zfsZdJ_8zFJAcdaY6oy97LHPTBT5B0jTTzS2YvCVi48-7tuqibitOzTWjJ9/s1600/Shiloh" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQdxCon6-GAUL3JHXplZSG0dHHbsUe0Y2Zu8AliayEp_QCbsZuZ5MzKDegKnnPHwZ2DJtijXyzjgBZHWS-9zfsZdJ_8zFJAcdaY6oy97LHPTBT5B0jTTzS2YvCVi48-7tuqibitOzTWjJ9/s200/Shiloh" width="129" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">I was asked recently to write an editorial for Civil War News about the state of Civil War Publishing. Here is the article, which made the front page. I hope you enjoy it.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">--tps</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">---</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Advances in technology in general and the advent
of faster computers, better software and the Internet in particular have turned
every aspect of publishing inside-out.<br />
<br />
The past couple of decades have witnessed radical change in the world of book
publishing. Nothing has been left untouched, from how books are researched,
written, designed, submitted, printed and proofed to how they are marketed,
purchased, delivered and even how they are read.<br />
<br />
Many people I speak with in and out of the publishing industry lament these
changes, but I am not one of them because I believe readers have benefited the
most from this technological tsunami.<br />
<br />
Today, we readers have at our fingertips access to the broadest selection of
Civil War titles we have ever enjoyed. We can order them from catalogs, purchase
them in brick-and-mortar stores and at battlefields, buy directly from
publishers, authors, or online stores with a few clicks.<br />
<br />
We can even download them into our reading devices. We can read them in
traditional print, listen to some on audio, or access them through digital
handheld devices or on our home or office computers.<br />
<br />
The breadth and depth of the subject matter has never been richer. Indeed, the
giant smorgasbord of titles at which we feast adds credence to the slogan “So
many books, so little time.” <st1:city><st1:place>Gettysburg</st1:place></st1:city> continues to overwhelm, but many of the titles on
that well-tread subject break new ground.<br />
<br />
The Western Theater is finally getting some of the attention it deserves with
fresh studies on <st1:place>Shiloh</st1:place>, the battles around <st1:city><st1:place>Atlanta</st1:place></st1:city>, <st1:place><st1:placename>Stones</st1:placename> <st1:placetype>River</st1:placetype></st1:place>, and a wide variety of books on the various
commanders and regiments that made it all possible.<br />
<br />
Even the Trans-Mississippi Theater, the war’s redheaded stepchild, has been
the subject of new studies. Indeed, no category under “Civil War” is lacking
for new books.<br />
<br />
This plethora of titles is the result of Internet-related technologies that
have made research substantially easier, and cheaper, and the desktop publishing
and its related software and spin-offs that came along with it, all of which combined to remove most of the entry barriers
into the publishing world.<br />
<br />
In the past, the only viable way to conduct adequate research was to personally
visit the repositories of primary material (National Archives, Library of
Congress, state historical societies, and so forth). Although I do not believe
there is a substitute for personal research “in the stacks,” much of what we
need is now available at our fingertips through the Internet.<br />
<br />
Entire books (including many of the hard-to-find regimental histories) are now
available free online, as are the Official Records and many other
databases, documents, photographs, roster data and genealogical sources.<br />
<br />
Combine this steep reduction in time and money regarding research with desktop
publishing software that turns whatever you produce into at least something
that looks like a book. The result is more books than you could ever read in
your lifetime.<br />
<br />
The spigot really opened with the advent of print-on-demand (POD). Traditional
printing injects ink into the paper and requires a sizable number of copies to
make it worthwhile to set up the press (1,500 or higher). POD, however, is a
high resolution copier that puts toner on the paper.<br />
<br />
With POD, you can produce a single copy or 1,000 copies, as needed. The expense
per copy can get pretty steep, but there is no need to tie up thousands of
dollars and warehouse space on inventory.<br />
<br />
In addition, POD quality has improved so dramatically over the past half-dozen
years that most people can no longer tell the difference. The physical quality
of a book, however, has no relationship to the quality of the research, the
writing, the editing, the organization or the presentation.<br />
<br />
The merger of these technologies has been tremendous for readers of Civil War
history. The rapid expansion of available titles, however, makes the Latin
warning caveat emptor (“Let the buyer beware”) all the more
relevant.<br />
<br />
Anytime something is easier to do, more people will do it. This is
overwhelmingly true in two publishing areas: any fiction in any genre — and
anything related to the Civil War.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>Exercise Discretion and Care when Buying Your Books</b></span><br />
<div style="text-align: start;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoUmtguxqlEBc-OD_rkYESPHDTnVIcBfPCbeDo8a148aGpysIjdrqsllozvn2ZcyE5GnRg_S1xTweulUB88SqrvPmS9BqLqm3smGZlJwxC2_ji1GeThTfLxyJ8Lo7YI7nL5eW2YCfbhITD/s1600/978-1-932714-09-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoUmtguxqlEBc-OD_rkYESPHDTnVIcBfPCbeDo8a148aGpysIjdrqsllozvn2ZcyE5GnRg_S1xTweulUB88SqrvPmS9BqLqm3smGZlJwxC2_ji1GeThTfLxyJ8Lo7YI7nL5eW2YCfbhITD/s200/978-1-932714-09-8.jpg" width="133" /></a><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC0SMByUAdk34KgwXLzaPEkQDBx_7ITjRRvv57hiDahcbRqbB90avGnNjmHpw5y-JJMHe9Eos0M74LCzPH5Wwit3MkGYG6TT9niDA4-tqDzrsFA8C7FsEFxu8o8DaB8krYhM8Au3vZVL7_/s1600/Gettysburg+picketts_charge_ag_LRG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC0SMByUAdk34KgwXLzaPEkQDBx_7ITjRRvv57hiDahcbRqbB90avGnNjmHpw5y-JJMHe9Eos0M74LCzPH5Wwit3MkGYG6TT9niDA4-tqDzrsFA8C7FsEFxu8o8DaB8krYhM8Au3vZVL7_/s200/Gettysburg+picketts_charge_ag_LRG.jpg" width="134" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">Without many of the traditional “roadblocks” in place, like
agents, acquisition editors, developmental editors, copy editors, peer review,
and so forth, it is more important than ever to exercise discretion before
purchasing a book. If, in your opinion, the publisher and author have a good
track record, a catalog description and announcement could be enough. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Track records matter, whether it’s a car brand or a
publisher. If this relationship is not present, and good research is important
to you, then what’s in the bibliography?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />Is the book footnoted? Is the material edited
well and presented in an attractive, organized readable format? Is the book
indexed? Is it well written? Can you read an excerpt before purchasing it?</span><br />
</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC0SMByUAdk34KgwXLzaPEkQDBx_7ITjRRvv57hiDahcbRqbB90avGnNjmHpw5y-JJMHe9Eos0M74LCzPH5Wwit3MkGYG6TT9niDA4-tqDzrsFA8C7FsEFxu8o8DaB8krYhM8Au3vZVL7_/s1600/Gettysburg+picketts_charge_ag_LRG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">What is important to you? This question is more important
today than it has ever been.<br /><br />
</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjULKclZ_gs-XUj3i9I-eRqbQYC7m8C3tiausReKSyjGEihOLgn7PZNOKvSYd9f4DBTW6EDdRsIWcfkk-M_LEue4F1G2DQ1izR6VUrI7Qf4pVxpx6AwLPZdp021jhfvWAE4anoFurMx2e4c/s1600/Coddington.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjULKclZ_gs-XUj3i9I-eRqbQYC7m8C3tiausReKSyjGEihOLgn7PZNOKvSYd9f4DBTW6EDdRsIWcfkk-M_LEue4F1G2DQ1izR6VUrI7Qf4pVxpx6AwLPZdp021jhfvWAE4anoFurMx2e4c/s200/Coddington.jpg" width="130" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">With all due respect to the giants of yesteryear, Civil War books (in terms of
research, writing, design, printing, and binding) have never been better.
Indeed, the best material (in a secondary sense) is being published right
now.<br />
<br /><i>
We are living through the golden age of Civil War publishing.</i> Pull down one of
your favorites from the 1940s, 50s or 60s, and compare it to one of your
favorites of today, and you will immediately see what I mean.<br />
<br />
There are always exceptions. The pens of many brilliant writers and thinkers we
hold dear went still many decades ago. Douglas Southall Freeman, Allan Nevins,
Edwin Coddington, and Bruce Catton, among others, leap readily to mind. These
men will always be in the pantheon of the magnificent. Indeed, all of us stand
on their shoulders and owe them a debt of gratitude we can never repay.<br />
<br />
However, a large percentage of the rest of the titles published in their day —
some of which we still regard as “classics” — are, like many of the movies of
our younger years, not quite as good as we remember them to be.<br />
<br />
Hundreds of Civil War-related titles will be published this year and hundreds
more next year and the year after. Because it is easier now than it has ever
been to research and produce books, the smorgasbord table from which we read
will always be a bounty of riches for those with the patience to choose wisely.</span> </div>
TPShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07613663983162109098noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2378699042434857883.post-83296770081533166462015-09-15T19:03:00.001-07:002015-09-15T19:03:19.726-07:00Being an Author Means Never Having to Say . . .<span style="color: white;">X</span><br />
. . . I can't write off a lot of expenses from my taxes.<br />
<br />
But do you?<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfLfRGnYaKEQhl1_glW7reyXtd_1NYkvnSRX5AKm1TSN8gSzcXoD-HzhzKokr13Z2WHlfHD1O7HVPI9wJtU7aILRhkWO1NDyThBPoi4A2fccq2R5ANOPdNU4qHKg2JFP7at9AATLeRthtg/s1600/BooksFinal_full.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfLfRGnYaKEQhl1_glW7reyXtd_1NYkvnSRX5AKm1TSN8gSzcXoD-HzhzKokr13Z2WHlfHD1O7HVPI9wJtU7aILRhkWO1NDyThBPoi4A2fccq2R5ANOPdNU4qHKg2JFP7at9AATLeRthtg/s200/BooksFinal_full.png" width="200" /></a><br />
Here is the other title to this article: Get books from your publisher and SELL THEM, and keep track of all your expenses.<br />
<br />
I am not a CPA. I don't even play one on TV. But here is what I know: As a published author, if you set up a dba (doing business as) entity, you can file a Schedule C and itemize your deductions.<br />
<br />
Now, before you do anything, it is imperative that you speak with your tax adviser first. (I am not giving you any financial or legal opinion here upon which you should rely, because every situation is different.)<br />
<br />
However . . .<br />
<br />
As a published author, long ago I spoke to my CPA about how to make that aspect of my life a business and write off my expenses. It was simple, and essentially free.<br />
<br />
What it means is that I can write off the cost of the computers I use to work on, research, ink, paper, toner, folders, some gas and food, some utilities, some of the cost of research trips, photocopy charges, marketing and promotion efforts, business cards, stationary, and . . . the books I purchase to sell. Those books are my "inventory," if you will.<br />
<br />
How many of authors do this?<br />
<br />
I took a very rough survey once a few years ago and discovered it was fewer than . . . one in ten. When I explained to one author at a trade show just how much money he could write off each year (and he had several books and a lot of years behind him), he did his best imitation of Fred Sanford by grabbing his chest like he was having a heart attack, staggering around threatening to join Elizabeth.<br />
<br />
Then he and I discussed self-employment tax. When you get a 1099 for royalties, you get to pay double taxes on that amount (that's right, and your CPA can explain it to you). And most do, without really realizing all the deductions waiting at their fingertips.<br />
<br />
Just pencil out how much you spend to produce the manuscript that will become your book. Then your after publication costs. Your ongoing costs. Do you drive to events? Write off the gas. Do you eat away from home? Sleep away from home? Postage? Phone costs? Even wear and tear on your car might be a tax write-off. Home office? Don't be a afraid of triggering an audit. If your deduction is legitimate, it is yours to take. It is, after all, your money.<br />
<br />
Books as inventory: When you purchase X numbers of books and pay your publisher at your 50% author discount before the end of the tax year, you can take that expense and write it off that year's taxes. As noted earlier, situations differ, so I am offering a general layman's opinion and you should speak to your tax person.<br />
<br />
But I know of what I speak and I keep meticulous records for every penny spent on my own writing career. (This is separate, of course, from my corporation Savas Beatie, which is a publisher.)<br />
<br />
Here is the bottom line: You are a business. Treat yourself like one. Keep track of your legitimate expenses, work with your CPA, file a Schedule C, and save money.<br />
<br />
We are moving into the last quarter of the year.<br />
<br />
DO IT NOW.<br />
<br />
--tpsTPShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07613663983162109098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2378699042434857883.post-13099686402963693612015-07-04T16:50:00.001-07:002015-07-04T17:44:33.056-07:00I Will Not Publish Gettysburg Books. (Yeah, Right.)<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;">X</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidTXB_pebatoELjW2z6RDI3ANaIR83Qsp1NgC6XXtY5yvS9uX6g2KI6H7G_qXNrERM6vgSgkj9huFarSTT8w7s_YAdj-hG4EI6geaTQvV6tqHy7_rt2rvjjBxR9IYfl0Ctr38nbNbZ6s5j/s1600/gettysburg-battle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidTXB_pebatoELjW2z6RDI3ANaIR83Qsp1NgC6XXtY5yvS9uX6g2KI6H7G_qXNrERM6vgSgkj9huFarSTT8w7s_YAdj-hG4EI6geaTQvV6tqHy7_rt2rvjjBxR9IYfl0Ctr38nbNbZ6s5j/s320/gettysburg-battle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
“I have to tell you,” texted a customer through Facebook
yesterday. “You are officially my <st1:city>Gettysburg</st1:city> publisher
of record.”<br />
<br />
That was a humbling statement. I thanked him for his support and the kind words, of course. But
that statement triggered a little flash of a decade-old memory and a deep
chuckle.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In 2003, Russel H. “Cap” Beatie, the author of the
multi-volume<i> The Army of the <st1:place>Potomac</st1:place> </i>study
(cut tragically short by the silencing of his exceptional pen), reached across
a continent to lasso me back into the world of independent publishing.<br />
<br />
We had
never personally met. With Savas Publishing I had accepted his first two volumes, but I didn't publish them because the company was sold in 2001. We remained in touch with his weekly call to me to discuss everything from publishing to Popes and politics, to medicine, the Medici's, and medieval warfare. In that regard we were certainly kindred spirits. We were also both attorneys, though I was (hopefully) on the path to redemption, while he was tramping along the other one.<br />
<br />
I resisted getting back into publishing as an owner because I loved what I was
doing—ghost-writing books for agents, authors, and other publishers, working on
my own research, and coaching little league. Life was good and calm.
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He finally flew out for two days of face-to-face discussion.
When we were about ten seconds away from a handshake across the table, I made
this naïve stipulation: “I will not be doing Gettysburg books.
I want to make that clear,” I insisted. “It has been done to death. There are a
lot of other topics in that war that need to be explored.”<br />
<br />
Cap was fine with that since he pictured Savas Beatie as a general military
history publisher. He knew I wanted to produce Civil War books and that my
following was in that genre, but he wanted to do more ancient material,
Napoleonic, Indian Wars, and so forth. <st1:city>Gettysburg</st1:city> was
irrelevant to him.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As it turned out, it wasn’t irrelevant to readers,
researchers, writers, or the bottom line. Manuscripts and queries from
exceptional authors began pouring across the digital transom. My first
inclination was to get out a Bic lighter and ignite the stack, puff a cigar,
and enjoy the glow.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thankfully, good sense and a little patient reading
convinced me otherwise. And boy was I wrong. The original material was
staggering, the insights and research fresh and invigorating. Rather than “stop
the madness,” I was more inclined than ever to ramp up the <st1:state>Pennsylvania</st1:state> insanity.
And so it has come to pass.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Below, in very rough order of appearance, is our
Gettysburg-related list of books that have either appeared in print or are in
the final stages of development. (I have the nagging feeling that I have missed
one or two, and if so I apologize in advance and please leave a comment and let
me know.) Off the top of my head, we have another six or so under contract as I
write.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I welcome your thoughts on this list. Favorites? Any you are
looking forward to reading? Any here you had never heard of?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As always, thanks for your support.<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
* * *</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Silent Sentinels: A Reference Guide to the Artillery at <st1:city>Gettysburg</st1:city></i>,
by George Newton<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>The Maps of Gettysburg: An Atlas of the Gettysburg Campaign, June 3 - July 13, 186</i>3, by Bradley Gottfried
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjxX5LUctudO27yQMXQOTDh2oKnQQ3wVLg74rAXf9IfyjZOSsmc5oe1pf-SnPq76SWq8SIFBnUBlp5bKi4I2PXBrr4VbONeg48YlR63kIB9E6mY-KIGBJBgH8bOwjT_C9aze6ex8pizETZ/s1600/Gettysburg+IVERSON.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjxX5LUctudO27yQMXQOTDh2oKnQQ3wVLg74rAXf9IfyjZOSsmc5oe1pf-SnPq76SWq8SIFBnUBlp5bKi4I2PXBrr4VbONeg48YlR63kIB9E6mY-KIGBJBgH8bOwjT_C9aze6ex8pizETZ/s200/Gettysburg+IVERSON.jpg" width="128" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>The Rashness of That Hour: Politics, Gettysburg, and the Downfall of Confederate Brigadier General Alfred Iverson</i>, by Robert Wynstra
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Gettysburg-Campaign-Numbers-Losses-Casualties/dp/1611210801/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1436049955&sr=1-6&keywords=gettysburg+savas+beatie&pebp=1436050057500&perid=0MCN3JAJ1ZFQ7JQEQSKG" title="The Gettysburg Campaign in Numbers and Losses: Synopses, Orders of Battle, Strengths, Casualties, and Maps, June 9 - July 14, 1863"></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<i>The Gettysburg Campaign in Numbers and Losses: Synopses, Orders of Battle, Strengths, Casualties, and Maps, June-July 1863</i>, by J. David Petruzzi and Steven
Stanley<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<span style="color: windowtext;"><i>The Complete Gettysburg Guide: </i></span><span style="color: windowtext;"><i>Walking and Driving
Tours of the Battlefield, Town, Cemeteries, Field Hospital Sites, and other
Topics of Historical Interest</i>, </span>by J. David Petruzzi and Steven
Stanley</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Protecting-Flank-Gettysburg-Battles-Brinkerhoffs/dp/1611210941/ref=sr_1_15?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1436050163&sr=1-15&keywords=gettysburg+savas+beatie" title="Protecting the Flank at Gettysburg: The Battles for Brinkerhoff's Ridge and East Cavalry Field, July 2 -3, 1863"></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
AUDIO / cd: <i>Complete Gettysburg Guide: Audio Driving and Walking Tours, Volume 1: The Battlefield</i>, by J. David Petruzzi and Steven Stanley<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Sickles at <st1:city>Gettysburg</st1:city>: The
Controversial Civil War General Who Committed Murder, Abandoned Little Round
Top, and Declared Himself the Hero of <st1:city>Gettysburg</st1:city></i>,
by James Hessler<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<i>Plenty of Blame to Go Around: Jeb Stuart's Controversial Ride to <st1:city>Gettysburg</st1:city></i>, by Eric
J. Wittenberg and J. David Petruzzi<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<i>One Continuous Fight: The Retreat from Gettysburg and the Pursuit of Lee's Army
of Northern Virginia, July 4 -15, 1863</i>, by Eric Wittenberg, J. David Petruzzi and Mike Nugent<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Protecting the Flank at Gettysburg: The Battles for
Brinkerhoff's Ridge and East Cavalry Field, July 2 -3, 1863</i>, by Eric J. Wittenberg<br />
<br />
<i>Gettysburg's Forgotten Cavalry Actions: Farnsworth'sCharge, South Cavalry Field, and the Battle of Fairfield,</i> by Eric J. Wittenberg<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Flames Beyond Gettysburg: The Confederate Expeditionto the Susquehanna River, June 1863</i>, by Scott L. Mingus, Sr.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/New-Gettysburg-Campaign-Handbook-Artwork/dp/161121078X/ref=sr_1_21?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1436050229&sr=1-21&keywords=gettysburg+savas+beatie&pebp=1436050243758&perid=0VFFTVPB6F47Q3HZDYVQ" title="The New Gettysburg Campaign Handbook: Facts, Photos, and Artwork for Readers of All Ages, June 9 - July 14, 1863 (Savas Beatie Handbook)"></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-XWkDDDDU1oyK4cNIFX_-tJ0w9Vk5-EMTfViWQJ4VWavDw8fWrzJh-r0qIFjLUcFY0zJ6zjysIyKJcXsavFkZxEFi8HpdzZGAlWZgAH_IU4SkJnGMb4Iw05-Bm7a7agtZzZ-Y6g9DOI8x/s1600/Gettysburg+NGHB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-XWkDDDDU1oyK4cNIFX_-tJ0w9Vk5-EMTfViWQJ4VWavDw8fWrzJh-r0qIFjLUcFY0zJ6zjysIyKJcXsavFkZxEFi8HpdzZGAlWZgAH_IU4SkJnGMb4Iw05-Bm7a7agtZzZ-Y6g9DOI8x/s200/Gettysburg+NGHB.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
<br />
<i>The New Gettysburg Campaign Handbook: Facts, Photos,and Artwork for Readers of All Ages, June 9 - July 14, 1863</i>, by J. David Petruzzi and Steven Stanley<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Those Damned Black Hats! The Iron Brigade in the Gettysburg Campaign</i>, by Lance J. Herdegen </div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<i>Confederate General William "Extra Billy"Smith: From Virginia's Statehouse to Gettysburg Scapegoat</i>, by Scott Mingus, Sr.<br />
<br />
<i>“The Devil’s to Pay”: John Buford at Gettysburg. A History and Walking Tour</i>, by Eric J. Wittenberg<br />
<br />
<i>"Stand to It and Give Them Hell": Gettysburg as theSoldiers Experienced it from Cemetery Ridge to Little Round, July 2, 1863</i>, by John Michael Priest</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeZSUf6hZ8DxsJEu6r_ZNg0hvSv8NKIs6KdKWzqBcGYrgNsg9fMDbCkjR5HmHP-anfdT2OEx2e9NuGht5a8i1wroofKkcfKem8ShZGOTDmzqA6154BI_2E6HGOoAC2WJ7a3sOh8-NQFi87/s1600/Gettysburg+picketts_charge_ag_LRG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeZSUf6hZ8DxsJEu6r_ZNg0hvSv8NKIs6KdKWzqBcGYrgNsg9fMDbCkjR5HmHP-anfdT2OEx2e9NuGht5a8i1wroofKkcfKem8ShZGOTDmzqA6154BI_2E6HGOoAC2WJ7a3sOh8-NQFi87/s200/Gettysburg+picketts_charge_ag_LRG.jpg" width="134" /></a><i>Fight Like the Devil: The First Day at Gettysburg,July 1, 1863</i> (Emerging Civil War), by Chris Mackowski and Daniel Davis</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg: A Guide to the MostFamous Attack in American History</i>, by James Hessler, Wayne Motts, andcartography by Steve Stanley</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>The Gettysburg Cyclorama: The Turning Point of the Civil War on Canvas</i>, by Chris Brenneman, Sue Boardman, and Bill Dowling</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bloody-Railroad-Cut-Gettysburg-Wisconsin/dp/1611212928/ref=sr_1_39?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1436050389&sr=1-39&keywords=gettysburg+savas+beatie" title="In the Bloody Railroad Cut at Gettysburg: The 6th Wisconsin of the Iron Brigade and its Famous Charge"><span style="color: windowtext;">
<br />
</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNrVm24-02E6XYiGVXb9X0PVDXjdM-VK-GqR6fAqblQF04K3MaoPRHqyspbmyoMn5N4magUhlZgc2Fk4UsB54FpmruoTylL93OsUyJon8GuZFFi7ASenqn_BynVFASB6OlPnv6uIVpyGhr/s1600/Gettysburg_Cyclorama_LRG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNrVm24-02E6XYiGVXb9X0PVDXjdM-VK-GqR6fAqblQF04K3MaoPRHqyspbmyoMn5N4magUhlZgc2Fk4UsB54FpmruoTylL93OsUyJon8GuZFFi7ASenqn_BynVFASB6OlPnv6uIVpyGhr/s200/Gettysburg_Cyclorama_LRG.jpg" width="150" /></a><i>In the Bloody Railroad Cut at Gettysburg: The 6th Wisconsin of the Iron Brigade and its Famous Charge</i>, by Lance
Herdegen and William Beaudot<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Spies-Scouts-Secrets-Gettysburg-Campaign/dp/1611211786/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1436049955&sr=1-2&keywords=gettysburg+savas+beatie" title="Spies, Scouts, and Secrets in the Gettysburg Campaign: How the Critical Role of Intelligence Impacted the Outcome of Lee's Invasion of the North, June-July 1863"></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-6fEx8fy7eaiu9f328S7EpZ3xMPrlH8d0oTmxa0IZ12V8bjI6pXGKNpxgwZ7e52zHqYiF2KlgzBoEH4aJnzqtvb2UiQYH_ECUOZ5IgDHAQxTNFpDM5ctTpO_G8Q67xlYIazTVaUuzJVYt/s1600/Gettysburg+Spies+SSS_GETTYSBURGJacket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-6fEx8fy7eaiu9f328S7EpZ3xMPrlH8d0oTmxa0IZ12V8bjI6pXGKNpxgwZ7e52zHqYiF2KlgzBoEH4aJnzqtvb2UiQYH_ECUOZ5IgDHAQxTNFpDM5ctTpO_G8Q67xlYIazTVaUuzJVYt/s200/Gettysburg+Spies+SSS_GETTYSBURGJacket.jpg" width="146" /></a><i>Spies, Scouts, and Secrets in the Gettysburg Campaign: How the Critical Role of Intelligence Impacted the Outcome of Lee’s Invasion of the North, June –July, 1863</i>, by Tom Ryan<br />
<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Out Flew the Sabers: The Battle of Brandy Station,June 9, 1863--the Opening Engagement of the Gettysburg Campaign</i>, by Eric J. Wittenberg and Daniel Davis</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<i>The Second <st1:city>Battle</st1:city> of <st1:city>Winchester</st1:city>:
The Confederate Victory that Opened the Door to <st1:city>Gettysburg</st1:city></i>, by Eric J. Wittenberg and Scott L Mingus, Sr.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Second Day at Gettysburg: The Attack and Defense ofthe Union Center on Cemetery Ridge, July 2, 1863</i>, by David Schultz and Scott L. Mingus, Sr.<br />
<br />
<i>The Last Road North: A Guide to the Gettysburg Campaign 1863</i> (Emerging Civil War series), by Dan Welch<br />
<br />
<i>Double Canister at Ten Yards: The Federal Artillery and the Repulse of Pickett's Charge, July 3, 1863</i>, by David Shultz</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>The <st1:city>Gettysburg</st1:city> Encyclopedia</i>,
by Bradley Gottfried and Theodore P. Savas. (Yes, this is not a rumor and is
very close to being finished.)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
* * *</div>
<br />
And there you have it.<br />
<br />
--tps</div>
TPShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07613663983162109098noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2378699042434857883.post-61146758484952075962015-06-28T12:39:00.002-07:002015-06-28T16:03:51.418-07:00Work With and Trust Your Publisher. Otherwise—What’s the Point? <div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;">X</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I am going to begin with the punch line: the quality
award-winning book you are currently reading did not start out that way, and is
almost always quite different than the original submitted manuscript.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
This post was prompted by a couple recent exchanges between
one or our developmental editors and an author, and myself and an author. One
of these turned out positively, when the author listened, respectively
disagreed on an issue, but understood our expertise and appreciated our time
and guidance and graciously dug in to make his manuscript better. The other
author, well, his ego got in the way of his work (more on ego below). One got
the feeling he was used to telling people what was what, rather than listening
and cooperating with people who knew more than him. He is no longer with us
(his request, happily granted).<br />
<br />
Both experiences ended up well for Savas Beatie.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVvxdd878P22wQMSfSinOWp9VfLUPDE-ASPDumHMMD5Id1BMT4xDlGN4Zvu-fNq86s9am7ZYozPierbIY50CqhSETkMir3xFOI30Z5ZXX691-71Zl8q9DPQT_nBBxCA9YQDNRULNo6R_wz/s1600/ego.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVvxdd878P22wQMSfSinOWp9VfLUPDE-ASPDumHMMD5Id1BMT4xDlGN4Zvu-fNq86s9am7ZYozPierbIY50CqhSETkMir3xFOI30Z5ZXX691-71Zl8q9DPQT_nBBxCA9YQDNRULNo6R_wz/s320/ego.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
As an author myself who has produced a number of books with
several publishers foreign and domestic, I know how this game works from both
sides of the fence, up close and personal.<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Seeking out a specific publisher in the hope of the
acceptance of your manuscript is an important step for any author. It is often
a daunting and lengthy process that usually ends in rejection. The purpose of
this post is not how to go about the submission process, but what you, as an
author, should do once your book is accepted. The answer is simple: cooperate
in every regard. Leave your ego at the door and listen. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Those who do, succeed. Those who do not usually fail in
demonstrable ways.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Few if any successful marriages begin by picking a random
stranger out of a crowd and proposing. Assuming you care about your
manuscript’s future prospects, choosing a publisher is not that much different
than choosing a spouse. You find someone you like and have things in common
with, including a compatible vision of your future course. You watch them in
action in a variety of settings, and judge accordingly. In other words, you
select a publisher with a winning track record of stellar (and repeat) authors,
award-winning titles, outstanding book design, aggressive marketing, quality
customer service, and so on. And then you follow their advice.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Once you find that publisher (“spouse”), how do you handle
your relationship going forward from acceptance of your manuscript through
editorial development, design, publication, and beyond? Do you view it as an adversarial relationship
or a partnership with someone who knows more than you and has your best
interests at heart because both of your are joined at the hip?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Do you really listen (as in to listen to understand?), or do
you listen only so you can formulate a push-back argument? Do you resist most substantive
suggestions, argue about key points, get heated when your editor offers ways to
improve your work, and then knock the board game to the floor? Surprisingly,
some authors do. This is not only a good way to end up in divorce court rather
quickly, but also to never be accepted by that publisher again and earn a
negative reputation in what is really a very small community. <br />
<br />
<b>Editors and
publishers talk. </b>A lot. Especially after the second gin and tonic. When books leave us, I often get an email or a phone call asking, "What's wrong with this author? Or is there an issue with the manuscript? Why didn't you fight to keep it? Should I accept it?" On occasion, I make those phone calls, too.<br />
<br />
Pull up a chair and let me
explain.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5WsSzGIvRbT9L_xr8LA-93GQfOX1D4JzHlr-LXxzI2L_TexlUBgZrUK5IfsMHXentQMP2FEpedisgczTJjkp6mb3oLpYjLZ3xrwMY_6zhX4PqvRbXVtnNl6YSSq6ZizBIAGKTipoZ9qt2/s1600/listen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5WsSzGIvRbT9L_xr8LA-93GQfOX1D4JzHlr-LXxzI2L_TexlUBgZrUK5IfsMHXentQMP2FEpedisgczTJjkp6mb3oLpYjLZ3xrwMY_6zhX4PqvRbXVtnNl6YSSq6ZizBIAGKTipoZ9qt2/s320/listen.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Think of your publisher as you might an architect or
engineer. Do you hire an architect with decades of experience to design your
house and then argue about where support beams go? Or what building materials
are up to code? Or whether too many windows weaken a wall? Do you insist on a
roof the architect repeatedly tells you is too heavy? Or demand a design the
expert explains will destroy the resale value of your dream house? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One would hope not. These are all fundamental matters that
go to the heart of the viability of your building, whereas adjusting the width
of a hallway or making your kitchen a little larger do not. You have seen this
architect’s successful and award-winning work before—that is why you hired him.
Signing a contract with him does not magically give you a degree in that
subject or the decades of experience he has under his belt in the pond you now
wish to wade into.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A publishing company puts its own time, expertise, and
money—lots of it—on the line with your manuscript. You selected that company
because you know the quality of the final product. Those great books don’t
magically end up looking and reading as they do. There is a process along the
way that is often grinding and time-consuming. And well worth it. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Schedule.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When the publisher sets a schedule, or asks you to wait
patiently because the company has its own internal ways of doing things—listen.
Patience is a virtue. You have one book that consumes your thoughts. The
publisher has scores of them in various stages of acceptance and production.
You send one email to a publisher and don’t get an immediate reply, but the
publisher gets 150 a day—and deals with everything else. Everyone at the
company who needs to know, knows you exist. When your turn comes in the
schedule, rest assured you will hear from your publisher.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Development. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Most publishers assign a developmental editor (they have different
labels at different companies) to craft your manuscript into a book. This
includes everything from the length of chapters and chapter order, to what
should go into the footnotes, proper transitions, what belongs in the
appendices—the works. When they speak--LISTEN to what they tell you. If they
tell you there is too much “fat” in your book—LISTEN. If they suggest cutting
your work from 150,000 words to 120,000 words because of redundancy—LISTEN. They
understand the pitfalls most authors cannot see—and will warn and advise you accordingly.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When an editor explains that your manuscript isn’t grounded
in enough firsthand sources—he is telling you your structure does not have
enough of a foundation to stand on its own. He is your architect. To argue is
akin to replacing your brain with your ego. When expert readers review your manuscript
and think it is confusing or difficult to follow, or poorly structured or
reasoned, and offer key substantive suggestions on how to improve it—are you
listening, or is your ego pushing back against the very expertise you “hired?” Work
with them, not against them. Cooperate. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv_A7LgWwroMx7EWHESywmbKDLkA50MAieVxZT7pfSDgZAScGFNjlT3hs59RJhO1NChnXZC8a3COFaL1Gx1s9bx8Ms1oI-T3x8EwCTSHo2wUnRp-c88erBs_fKwfCu8M1MB8QgnUSUY8-p/s1600/cooperation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv_A7LgWwroMx7EWHESywmbKDLkA50MAieVxZT7pfSDgZAScGFNjlT3hs59RJhO1NChnXZC8a3COFaL1Gx1s9bx8Ms1oI-T3x8EwCTSHo2wUnRp-c88erBs_fKwfCu8M1MB8QgnUSUY8-p/s200/cooperation.jpg" width="200" /></a>Cooperation, however, does not mean bow down and always say
“yes.” It means know how and where to pick your battles. Make your own respectful
suggestions and do your best to work hand-in-hand as you would with your spouse
on matters of import to you and your family. Never forget (there is that “ego”
thing again) that your experienced developmental editor crafts rough
manuscripts into polished books on a daily basis. You don’t. He has gone
through this same process dozens of times. The odds are, you have not. He understands
weight-bearing walls and inspection codes better than you do.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
Here is another way to look at it: Who is more likely to be the better judge of the end product, someone working with editors and outside reviewers, all of whom agree on X, or an author who does something entirely different for a living digging in his heels and demanding Y. The author is betting his ego, while the publisher is betting his livelihood. Clarifying, yes?<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now think of what you, as an author, do for a living. Now, whatever that is,
imagine someone who does not do what you do asking your advice, and then arguing
with this and with that and then rejecting it. No one is always right, but if
you are advising on matters within your area of expertise, the odds are pretty good
that your advice is sound--especially if you have a long track record of success.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ask any person who has achieved success in their chosen
field how they became successful. Nearly all of them will candidly tell you
they sought out people who had already done what they want to do—people who
knew more than they did. They then put their ego aside, listened, cooperated,
and followed their advice.<br />
<br />
My mentors were Tom Broadfoot, Bob Younger, and a friend who worked in high places in publishing in NYC. I was a lawyer and had written a few things that had manged to get into print--but I was not a publisher. But I wanted to be one. So when experts like Tom and Bob told me things--I LISTENED. I LEARNED. I COOPERATED. I put my ego aside and used my brain to think. Success heals any bruises your ego might suffer along the way.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If there is a true roadblock on a key matter, you might
respectfully ask for another set of eyes on that issue in particular. Maybe
like this: “On this issue we see things differently and it is very important to
me. Before you make your decision, would you mind if the managing director or
another editor takes a look at this one issue? I would appreciate that.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I don’t know of a single publisher or editor who would not
honor that wish. That is much better than getting heated, pushing back, complaining,
and leading with your ego instead of your brain.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Leave your ego at the door. Enjoy the journey. Reap the
rewards.TPShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07613663983162109098noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2378699042434857883.post-64089568844878798912015-04-15T12:38:00.001-07:002018-10-26T13:09:18.563-07:00This is How I Came to Publish Books<br />
She sat on the floor with me, scissors in hand, and trimmed the paper I had written upon. The story itself I have long forgotten. It wasn't very good, of course. The longest I recall was about a dozen pages.<br />
<br />
I drew out a cover on a thin piece of cardboard.<br />
<br />
She helped me put holes through it all, bind it together, and voila! We had a book.<br />
<br />
I was seven.<br />
<br />
Who knew.<br />
<br />
* * *<br />
<br />
All of us kids were blessed twice.<br />
<br />
We had a wonderful mom, and we knew it. And we made sure she knew that we knew it. She wasn't perfect, and she made mistakes; most small, some not. But the measure of a parent is the yardstick that is her kids. I bring down the mean a bit, but overall, we are a good reflection of this wonderful gal.<br />
<br />
She is in every book I have ever written, edited or published, and in every piece of music I have ever written or performed. She loved that I practiced law, loved the books and publishing company even more, and taught me all about business, employees, management, accounting, and life in general sitting with her each Sunday doing the book work and banking for our own business.<br />
<br />
Maybe there is something here that will help you with your life, your family, your kids. That would please mom.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Krg1sLjC-V2MpgjaRrHhJsbEPgibs3BClGXFvkZipFah_3y9Wz_35X6QwDzTP_GoHtqqn1H1dABvrMSopJOFPkGUmgERhEV0nnfbnhhyphenhyphennp8e0xUuTGpFYMHMIRAXi5Cri8_G46JoFtZr/s1600/Mom+Obituary+Photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Krg1sLjC-V2MpgjaRrHhJsbEPgibs3BClGXFvkZipFah_3y9Wz_35X6QwDzTP_GoHtqqn1H1dABvrMSopJOFPkGUmgERhEV0nnfbnhhyphenhyphennp8e0xUuTGpFYMHMIRAXi5Cri8_G46JoFtZr/s1600/Mom+Obituary+Photo.jpg" /></a>Let me introduce you to her.<br />
<br />
* * *<br />
<br />
Maria T. Savas O'Brien, 84, of Mason City died Wednesday, April 1, 2015 at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit. Mason City, Iowa. She was born on June 25, 1930, to Theodore and Evyenia Potiriades.<br />
<br />
God blessed her with the voice of an angel, and she moved to North Hollywood, California, for her final two years of high school to pursue professional opera training. At some point she met and sang with Beverly Sills. I wish I could recall the details. We have records she made while in Hollywood singing opera, and on one she talks and wishes her parents Merry Christmas. She was 16.<br />
<br />
She married Michael Savas in 1949 and had four children: Stephanie (Prohaski), Anthony, Theodore, and Kris (Christensen). They opened and operated "The Poodle" lounge in 1964, the "Cheers" of Mason City, for nearly a quarter-century. It was always busy, and what a place. Mike and Maria thrived in their business. My dad held court center stage (he was a very funny guy, uneducated but well read, a veteran of the Army Air Corps in WWII, and loved. He died in 2000). My mom oversaw it all. Mom loved her customers--all of whom comprised her extended family. We can't tell you how much she loved being with you every day, and how concerned she was about your individual lives. She really cared. And all of you knew it.<br />
<br />
Maria married James O'Brien in 1986 and enjoyed a long marriage until his passing in 2011. (Jim was a WWII Marine--Pearl Harbor, Guadalcanal, Saipan, Tinian, Okinawa, and then he fought in the Korean War. Boy, the talks we had, the books we read together and discussed. I miss him a lot, too.) <br />
<br />
Mom showed her love by giving — her time, her energy, her wisdom, her compassion.<br />
<br />
To her children she stressed love, kindness, education, hard work and, most of all, peace and forgiveness. Harmony in families, married or divorced, was her top priority. She never had an unkind word to say about my dad after they divorced in 1977, and that is why none of us kids were ever sucked into "adult divorce politics," and why we all get along so well. There are NO divisions in our family at my siblings' level, period. She would never allow it. Today, we would never allow it.<br />
<br />
Here is a classic example: Whenever I came home from college, the first thing mom would ask is, "Have you seen your dad yet?" Usually the answer was "no." Here reply was invariably, "Go see him. He misses you. Have a cup of coffee, spend an hour. He loves you.... When you come back, I will cook dinner. But not until then."<br />
<br />
That was my mom.<br />
<br />
She sculpted souls gently.<br />
<br />
Despite working seven days a week (often till 2:00 a.m., and book work, cleaning, fixing, etc. on Sundays), mom always had time for us. She was fond of telling us, "I want you kids to be able to do all the things in life I won't be able to do. And you will."<br />
<br />
And so we have.<br />
<br />
One of my earliest recollections was laying on the floor on a pillow watching and listening as she played the violin, her friend the cello, and my older sister the piano. And she would sing. I was about four.<br />
<br />
She was always up to make breakfast and pack our lunch. We were never late for school. And somehow she always had dinner on the table, and baked. We were almost always at church on time, even though we did all we could as kids to knock that schedule off kilter. Sorry mom.<br />
<br />
She had time for reading, education, hobbies, walks, puppies, horses, trips to the library and of course, music lessons. Lots of music lessons. We all had to take one year, period. None of us stopped after one year. And thanks for that, mom because your love of music has enriched every aspect of our lives--and now we get to share it with our friends and families. How she put up with our various rock bands in the basement for so many years being so tired is beyond me. (The first thing we did to her new floor was burn a big hole in it experimenting with flash pots. She had the patience of Job.)<br />
<br />
When I was 16 and 17 and playing out of town (with adults!) and often out of state on the weekends, she would wait up all night or all weekend, unable to sleep. She would finally be able to close her eyes when we pulled in about dawn. I didn't learn that until much later in life when I would sit with her and talk about such things. <br />
<br />
We put her through a parent's own kind of Hell. But she understood. She gave me room to breathe and the space to grow up, fall down, fail, and rise again. She taught me how to make my own decisions. She never made them for me. And mom never, EVER, micro-managed my life in any respect. However, she insisted on good manners. She was relentless on that score. These are some of the greatest gifts you can give your kids.<br />
<br />
Mom loved California. It was her "favorite place." She was especially pleased when I decided to move there after law school, get married, and raise a family. We loved it when she visited; we cried when she left. She came out to help with newborns, clean, cook, bake homemade bread, and was never anything but generous. We used to sit on my deck, drinking coffee and watching the kids play in the yard or the pool. "I would love to live here again, someday," she would wistfully tell us.<br />
<br />
Someday never came.<br />
<br />
Growing up in Iowa, Christmas and Easter were times of wonderful warmth and joy in our home. Sure there were problems, and it wasn't all perfect, but what is perfect in life? The good FAR outweighed anything else. When I began having kids, hosting holidays with my own family, working long 60-hour weeks, and so on, I finally learned how <b>hard </b>it all is to juggle and do well. How she managed is beyond me, but she did and we all have nothing but fond memories of our family gatherings.<br />
<br />
As a youngster, few days passed when we were not lying together on the floor flipping through "The Book of Knowledge," an encyclopedia set she scrimped pennies for months to buy for us at a time when we were very young and poor. She would make suggestions, I would find topics, and then she loved having me read the entries to her while she baked, cleaned, ironed, etc. I only learned much later in life I was helping to educate her, too.<br />
<br />
When I wanted to collect coins or stamps, she signed me up for a mail-order club and was as excited as I was when they arrived. "This is a good way to learn about all the countries," she told me. "Write something about each one so you learn. One page on the country and coin [or stamp] will do."<br />
<br />
Every day was an education without me knowing it. And it was fun, too.<br />
<br />
We were very poor during my early years, but when I turned 11 we moved out to a lovely turn-of-the-century brick home on four acres (three acres of woods, one acre with 32 oak trees I had to spend 5 hours a week mowing). It was just outside town. A rock quarry, sand quarry, caves, hills, trails, horses, motorcycles, etc. were all within walking distance.<br />
<br />
Living on Plymouth Road in Mason City, Iowa, was paradise for a kid like me.<br />
<br />
One of the first things I wanted to do was build a fort in the woods. Within a day or two Mom got me a real (as in REAL) hatchet, handed it to me, and said, "Go get em Daniel Boone."<br />
<br />
When I wanted a fish tank, she saved S & H Green Stamps and took me to the basement of Damon's Department store on North Federal to pick one out. Then she took me to the library to get a couple books so I could read how to care for the fish. She helped me set up the tank, and marveled with me at the babies, the colors, the wonderful life. To this day I have aquariums and I take good care of them. And I marvel, still.<br />
<br />
When I wanted to build a tree house, she had a customer of ours haul lumber over in his truck and dump it north of the driveway. I remember being so excited when I first saw the giant stack that jumped off my bike as I rode up the driveway. Mom was standing by the back door, smiling. I built a four-decker tree house--the top a small crow's nest (it doubled as a pirate ship, of course). The affair was high in a large grouping of four basswood trees. "Don't fall off that platform!" she would yell up at me. "I only have two sons."<br />
<br />
She let me build rafts and wild rope swings, dig real tunnels in the woods, and erect cool forts in the garage, ride horses bareback at breakneck speed (shorts only, no saddle, no boots, no shoes, no helmet), and play in the attic "as long as you don't fall through the ceiling," she chided. "That would be expensive."<br />
<br />
She put her foot down when she found out that a friend and I were actively designing a submarine to use in the large pond. "Are you out of your mind?" she gasped. "Absolutely not." Yeah, that venture had success written all over it. Good call, mom. :)<br />
<br />
When I wanted to put together a laboratory in the basement fruit cellar, she had another customer who dealt with such things bring me a giant box of test tubes, flasks, etc, got me a microscope, a chemistry set, etc, and took me to Carter and Gillis, a local hobby store, to buy chemicals and more. I had everything down there--bats, mice, fish, insects, etc. It was truly an amazing room. I still think about it to this day. And it was MINE. "Just don't blow up the house," she cautioned. (She had no idea how close I came to doing that a couple times.)<br />
<br />
What more could anyone ask of a mom?<br />
<br />
Her favorite dog was our German Shepherd Holly (1968-1979). Many reading this recall her. She was mom's dog. Her fifth child. When we had to put her down on the kitchen floor that cold and rainy November afternoon so long ago, Holly unable to walk and feverish, mom held it together until she was alone. And then I heard her tears.<br />
<br />
Spending time with her grand kids was like gold to her, whether the Savas line or the O'Briens. She loved them all. She taught them everything she taught us--and more. She always had a game ready to enrich their minds by teaching basic math with a dice game, how to write short stories, and think critically through calm, logical discussion. She loved to bake with them, too, especially homemade bread and Greek pastry.<br />
<br />
Taking them to church or seeing them there--well, that made her heart swell.<br />
<br />
Ask any of her grand kids today what they think of their Yia Yia. Sometimes I would catch her with a tear in her eye and ask her what was wrong, and she would say, "I won't live long enough to see all the wonderful things they will do with their lives." My grandpa Ted (mom's dad), who I am named after, told me the same thing once about his grand kids. Funny, now I am beginning to think the same way about my own mortality.<br />
<br />
Maria gave back to her friends and community many gifts and touched many lives in untold ways. She lifted her voice in song from the East Park Band shell on warm summer Sunday evenings in the 60s and 70s, where hundreds of cars would pull in, like a Drive-in Theater, to listen to the band and then hear my mom sing. She was a force in local music clubs. She sang at scores of weddings, and untold funerals. She taught Greek in the basement of the church, and had a ball teaching non-Greeks how to Greek dance. And let me tell you, that lady could dance.<br />
<br />
Every Sunday for decades, she sang in the loft of the Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church. She directed the choir and so loved it and the church . My sister Stephanie filled her shoes in the choir when mom was no longer able, and that made her very proud. Mom's church and her religion were especially meaningful to her.<br />
<br />
Tradition was her watchword.<br />
<br />
Speaking of "tradition," her favorite musical was "Fiddler on the Roof" (mine, too). We loved musicals. I took my mom to San Francisco in 2009 to see "Wicked." Just her and I. It was a magical evening. It was our last musical. I knew it would be even before I pulled out of the driveway.<br />
<br />
Mom had some dementia then, and I suspected this was going to be her last "active" trip to the West Coast. As it turned out, she had one final trip left in her in 2012. "I know I am an old lady," she told me on the phone, but I am coming to California one more time." God bless her.<br />
<br />
During that final visit we did as much as possible--dinners with my brother's family, quiet time, patio time. We even spent an hour watching Seinfeld bloopers on my laptop (she loved that show, but never had much time for TV). We reminisced about a lot of things.<br />
<br />
"I would still like to move here," she confessed during a moment when her mind was clear.<br />
<br />
"I know mom. We would love to have you here." We both knew it would never happen. I had to turn my head away so she couldn't see me for a few seconds.<br />
<br />
Given her dementia, she ignored or forgot my directions and somehow managed to get upstairs and into a bath tub--but she was unable to get out. It was more than a little embarrassing for me, but she laughed. As I dried her off and helped her get dressed, and she chuckled, "It's only fair. Think of all the times I had to do this for you!"<br />
<br />
I recall my dad helping his mom during her final days, cleaning up after an accident and trying to get her out of the bathroom. He told me he was trying hard to make up for all he failed to do for his dad when he needed him and he wasn't there. "Dad," I assured him, "You have made up for it--and more. Don't worry about it. No one else is." I hope my kids know when they look back later in life that I did the best I could for my parents.<br />
<br />
Below is a photo, the last one with several of mom's grand kids. Left to right: Demetri (son), Rachel, Alex (daughter), and Nikkos. Rachel and Nikkos are my brother's kids. They are good kids, all, with good futures ahead.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1hK0xtqMJEw9JWyPD1G2hgMGL06y36DAYVmqaoy5dX2hsdLjws3XvcIMiDYqo-V5FoCLVYVhOwANOVdXJVqza8lEJjEDlxRrcGbHBmXHJmSelFMmQYX7wlIYhI0mA_9xpSpoGrKWxPaJt/s1600/Grand+kids+&+yiayia+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1hK0xtqMJEw9JWyPD1G2hgMGL06y36DAYVmqaoy5dX2hsdLjws3XvcIMiDYqo-V5FoCLVYVhOwANOVdXJVqza8lEJjEDlxRrcGbHBmXHJmSelFMmQYX7wlIYhI0mA_9xpSpoGrKWxPaJt/s1600/Grand+kids+&+yiayia+2012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Maria was always busy. She was a counselor to Miniature Matinee Musicale, served as past president of Philoptochos ("Friends of the Needy"), worked as office manager/seamstress/"grandmother to all" at Dance Unlimited (my sister's dance studio), and volunteered as a docent at Music Man Square in Mason City.<br />
<br />
My son Demetri and I flew back to Iowa in January of 2015 to see her in the nursing home. She was surrounded by a few mementos and objects that whispered of the life that was now behind her--photos, a dress framed she wore to a wedding as a flower girl when she was just four, a special vase, a framed photo of loved ones. She was not doing well. She was down to 90 lbs., and could only whisper, her angelic voice silenced forever.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZv4x7VRjF4dsEwXBA2drjzklnIkOFvHtb1gjVEvtohbEyFqFrjsyh1MIClazu7D4J1wK6ov-0FRvsung6wULnkjIaH_sWLFCNxPWPkijO_cAJ7y34NfKbULfN6CuBMF-0JI8LOVR7S0k1/s1600/Mom+DT+and+Pop.+low+res.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZv4x7VRjF4dsEwXBA2drjzklnIkOFvHtb1gjVEvtohbEyFqFrjsyh1MIClazu7D4J1wK6ov-0FRvsung6wULnkjIaH_sWLFCNxPWPkijO_cAJ7y34NfKbULfN6CuBMF-0JI8LOVR7S0k1/s1600/Mom+DT+and+Pop.+low+res.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
When she lost the ability to sing fifteen or so years earlier, she told me it was the hardest thing she ever dealt with. "It is like someone cutting off my arms. Imagine if you lost fingers and could never play piano or your bass again."<br />
<br />
I was returning home from a scuba trip in the Cayman Islands on the penultimate day of March in 2015 when I got a call from my sister Stephanie. I was standing in customs in the Houston airport. "Mom is failing and is in the emergency room. You need to come home."<br />
<br />
The trip from Texas back to California was the longest three hours of my life. I took just enough time to wash some clothes, book a flight, and flight "home" to Iowa. We were there, in hospice, holding her hands when she passed away. Even my step-brother Tom, who had driven up from Iowa, was there. He and mom had a special bond. She always loved Tom, even when he was about 20 and used to come into the bar for some beer.<br />
<br />
She knew we were all there too, because she would nod briefly when we asked questions. When we finally told her it was OK to leave us, she did. Quietly. The sound only she could hear were the angels singing as they welcomed one of their own. All four of us were all there when my dad died, too. For that we are eternally thankful.<br />
<br />
Being an orphan at 56 is an odd, empty feeling. I know many of you who have lost both parents know what I mean. We grieved, of course, but I didn't as much as I thought I would. As I think about it, I believe this is because none of us had any real regrets. I didn't even really cry. I just smiled a lot. I was thankful. I was grateful. I appreciated everything she had given me.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Humans usually grieve because we wish we had said X, or not said Y, or done A but not B. We said it all during life; we know we did all we could, and we refused to let deeds or mistakes or bad decisions and words ill-spoken under stress stand in the way of the larger picture of what is really important.<br />
<br />
Family, and your love for your family is really all there is in life.<br />
<br />
Everything else is just "stuff."<br />
<br />
* * *<br />
<br />
If she had a Master's in Finance, she could have run a Fortune 500 company.<br />
<br />
If she was a school teacher, she would have been your favorite.<br />
<br />
She never went to college, but she had the most important degree of all: MOM.<br />
<br />
And we spell it: L-O-V-E.<br />
<br />
<br />
--The Savas ClanTPShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07613663983162109098noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2378699042434857883.post-14075692625739738602014-10-14T10:53:00.000-07:002014-10-15T12:19:26.344-07:00Richmond Redeemed: A New Edition of a Civil War Classic<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: white; font-family: inherit;">X</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGq6zUAbOisr-DKIocvWbUPLui_Ib74TmZs4raBaPV1Jgb5zDKS18K4UG76BGVniZ4yiNORhhn_yeSygR9CrcSHk418LCbtPjWk3KMZzWKL52vXIJENO4hx3S-h3y6tPcsFqivTODhAhwA/s1600/Richmond+Redeemed+web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGq6zUAbOisr-DKIocvWbUPLui_Ib74TmZs4raBaPV1Jgb5zDKS18K4UG76BGVniZ4yiNORhhn_yeSygR9CrcSHk418LCbtPjWk3KMZzWKL52vXIJENO4hx3S-h3y6tPcsFqivTODhAhwA/s1600/Richmond+Redeemed+web.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">Other than for a short time, I have been a member of the History Book Club since I was about 12. In 1981, the book I could not wait to arrive was dropped at our back door since it didn't fit into our mailbox. I spent the next week pouring through its detailed prose and studying the maps (sometimes with a magnifying glass). Part of it was read in dressing rooms on the road while playing with the band Disciple. Little did I know that 33 years later I would print a completely revised and updated version of one of the foundational cornerstones of Civil War publishing. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Richmond Redeemed </i>pioneered study of Civil War
Petersburg. The original (and long out of print) award-winning 1981 edition
conveyed an epic narrative of crucial military operations in early autumn 1864
that had gone unrecognized for more than 100 years. Readers will rejoice that
Richard J. Sommers's masterpiece, in a revised Sesquicentennial edition, is
once again available.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Order this book by clicking <a href="http://savasbeatie.com/books/book_page.php?bookVAR=Richmond_redeemed&bookType=about&authorID1=RJSommers&authorID2=empty&authorID3=empty&authorID4=empty&authorID5=empty" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyyFSN3j_3C4wc6dJGLK5mp08ePF-tOwtctqjEOdK05LZs4Xb2TYtIJ9l2XIIr50dSCePae_mFs1sLsr7JWGZ_VAuuJyEmnJfDl5Sv76sXY-73JxdhCPOh2O077Ic0ldSlqfrSKQIxYOG1/s1600/Sommers+web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyyFSN3j_3C4wc6dJGLK5mp08ePF-tOwtctqjEOdK05LZs4Xb2TYtIJ9l2XIIr50dSCePae_mFs1sLsr7JWGZ_VAuuJyEmnJfDl5Sv76sXY-73JxdhCPOh2O077Ic0ldSlqfrSKQIxYOG1/s1600/Sommers+web.jpg" height="320" width="256" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This monumental study focuses on Grant's Fifth Offensive
(September 29 – <st1:date day="2" ls="trans" month="10" year="18">October 2, 18</st1:date>64),
primarily the Battles of Chaffin's Bluff (<st1:place><st1:placetype>Fort</st1:placetype>
<st1:placename>Harrison</st1:placename></st1:place>) and <st1:place><st1:placename>Poplar</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype>Spring</st1:placetype> <st1:placetype>Church</st1:placetype></st1:place>
(Peebles' Farm). The Union attack north of the <st1:place>James River</st1:place>
at Chaffin's Bluff broke through <st1:city>Richmond</st1:city>'s
defenses and gave Federals their greatest opportunity to capture the
Confederate capital. The corresponding fighting outside <st1:city>Petersburg</st1:city>
at <st1:place><st1:placename>Poplar</st1:placename> <st1:placetype>Spring</st1:placetype>
<st1:placetype>Church</st1:placetype></st1:place> so threatened Southern
supply lines that General Lee considered abandoning his <st1:city>Petersburg</st1:city>
rail center six months before actually doing so. Yet hard fighting and skillful
generalship saved both cities. This book provides thrilling narrative of
opportunities gained and lost, of courageous attack and desperate defense, of
incredible bravery by <st1:place>Union</st1:place> and Confederate soldiers
from 28 states, <st1:state>Maine</st1:state> to <st1:state>Texas</st1:state>.
Fierce fighting by four Black brigades earned their soldiers thirteen Medals of
Honor and marked Chaffin's Bluff as the biggest, bloodiest battle for Blacks in
the whole Civil War. In addition to his focused tactical lens, Dr. Sommers
offers rich analysis of the generalship of Ulysses S. Grant, Robert E. Lee, and
their senior subordinates, Benjamin Butler, George G. Meade, Richard S. Ewell,
and A. P. Hill.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The richly layered prose of <i>Richmond Redeemed</i>,
undergirded by thousands of manuscript and printed primary accounts from more
than 100 archives, has been enhanced for this Sesquicentennial Edition with new
research, new writing, and most of all new thinking. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">According to Dr. Sommers, this new edition </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">contains much new material: 168 new printed
and manuscript sources, nine new illustrations, 231 new endnotes, two new
appendices, even a handsome new dust jacket. Except for those appendices,
the new material is not concentrated in specific places but is interwoven
throughout the entire book. This is especially true for the new thinking,
new analysis, new approaches to understanding and presenting generalship.
All these additions make the 150th anniversary edition essentially a new book.
To use your categories, I would estimate that 10% to 20% of the book is new. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">
<br />
Yet all this new material is available in a book that is actually 28 pages
smaller than the 1981 edition. This is because the current book uses
longer lines with slightly smaller type point.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Dr. Sommers' new analysis brings new dimensions to
this new edition. In
addition to being a selection of the History Book Club (then and now), the National Historical
Society awarded him the Bell Wiley Prize as the best Civil War book for
1981-82. Reviewers (then and now) hailed it as "a book that still towers among Civil War
campaign studies" and "a model tactical study [that] takes on deeper
meaning . . . without sacrificing the human drama and horror of combat."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Complete with maps, photos, a full bibliography, and
index, <i>Richmond Redeemed</i> is modeled for a new generation of readers,
enthusiasts, and Civil War buffs and scholars, all of whom will welcome and
benefit from exploring how, 150 years ago, <st1:city>Richmond</st1:city>
was redeemed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>(Stay tuned for a post on the exciting new enhanced e-book for this title.) </b></span></div>
TPShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07613663983162109098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2378699042434857883.post-23157785537233342902014-07-30T13:48:00.001-07:002014-07-30T13:48:20.838-07:00Why do we Write? Well, Not for Money.<span style="color: white;">X</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPGPEvs79c2mAnAqEzFMRs8A3RrGms8Ho_cE1M5JBhaZi_B7Fa1fFOwAQAdy6wIaDHIbDcM_KZXJqx3Gqz7GQ0C99XHFPEdME1CrFHBTULjdYMbaewJZSQG7aGBbz20869DItoMNRGufoH/s1600/why+write.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPGPEvs79c2mAnAqEzFMRs8A3RrGms8Ho_cE1M5JBhaZi_B7Fa1fFOwAQAdy6wIaDHIbDcM_KZXJqx3Gqz7GQ0C99XHFPEdME1CrFHBTULjdYMbaewJZSQG7aGBbz20869DItoMNRGufoH/s1600/why+write.jpg" /></a></div>
Please excuse my long absence. It has been a busy year, with my son graduating and getting ready for college (he leaves in 2.5 weeks), band gigs, crazy summer schedules, a marketing director out on maternity leave, and all the rest.<br />
<br />
Here is a fascinating article, offered up by Mark Hughes, the author of our bestselling <a href="http://www.savasbeatie.com/books/NCW_book.htm" target="_blank">The Civil War Handbook</a>. Write for posterity, because you have to, for fun, or to impress your in-laws. But never, ever, plan to do so for money. Same goes for publishing. But once you have the virus. Ah. Well.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://chronicle.com/article/Things-You-Should-Know-Before/147943/" target="_blank">Click here to read the article</a>. <br />
<br />
--tpsTPShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07613663983162109098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2378699042434857883.post-39913626489072724392014-05-25T12:54:00.005-07:002014-06-03T15:46:54.664-07:00WINNER of the 2014 Albert Castel Book Award: Stephen Hood's "John Bell Hood: The Rise, Fall, and Resurrection of a Confederate General"<span style="color: white;">X</span> <br />
Congratulations, Sam. It is nice to see these reviewers read the book and understood its purpose.<br />
<br />
* * *<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1l0Q6siQGV0IyBmIRQI34tg3A2OK7DGUSWMmrkjZfkLW3Ep_CuatFzELRf3W-BB-5P_I9XSshyphenhyphenC9MjQQsXNi0v1sRwKqpWpqMyN2im-M6e9yhyphenhyphenUmqylZKA2Gxq7AeTDIVpYyI2lkgeYjQ/s1600/Hood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1l0Q6siQGV0IyBmIRQI34tg3A2OK7DGUSWMmrkjZfkLW3Ep_CuatFzELRf3W-BB-5P_I9XSshyphenhyphenC9MjQQsXNi0v1sRwKqpWpqMyN2im-M6e9yhyphenhyphenUmqylZKA2Gxq7AeTDIVpYyI2lkgeYjQ/s1600/Hood.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<span class="userContent">The Kalamazoo Civil War Round Table is pleased
to announce that Stephen M. Hood's "John Bell Hood: The Rise, Fall and
Resurrection of a Confederate General" has been selected as the winner
of the 2014 Albert Castel B<span class="text_exposed_show">ook Award! This award is made on a biennial basis to the author of an exceptional book on the Civil War in the Western Theater. <br /> <br />
“I knew we had a very special book from the moment I first read the
manuscript, but all of us at Savas Beatie are thrilled and humbled that
'John Bell Hood' won such a prestigious award,” said Theodore P. Savas,
the managing director for Savas Beatie. “We were always confident that
anyone who actually took the time to read Stephen Hood's book, whether
in reviewing it or for pleasure, would find it original,
well-researched, and truly ground-breaking in what it exposes about the
state of this slice of Civil War historiography. It surprises people, I
think, when they find out Sam's work is not an argument that Hood was
the overlooked Jackson or Lee,” continued Savas. “It is about
intellectual honesty and rigorous scholarship, and a cautionary tale
about both. Anyone writing about General Hood or his tenure with the
Army of Tennessee in the future who ignores this book and/or his
recently discovered personal papers will do so at his peril.”<br /> <br /> See more about this award-winning book here: </span></span><br />
<span class="userContent"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1401832754844_11587" style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1401832754844_11593" style="font-family: times new roman, times; font-size: small;"><a href="http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs120/1102618901901/archive/1117435975727.html" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1401832754844_11592" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs120/1102618901901/archive/1117435975727.html</a></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="userContent"><span class="text_exposed_show">“Sam Hood makes a compelling case that Hood’s reputation has been
unjustifiably tarnished over the years by authors who have repeated
half-truths and myths that are not supported by primary sources. Even
people with little or no interest in Hood should read it as a cautionary
tale that the things that ‘everybody knows’ are not always true.” –Dave
Jordan<br /> <br /> Receiving honorable mention is "General Grant and the
Rewriting of History: How the Destruction of William S. Rosecrans
Influenced our Understanding of the Civil War" by Frank Varney. Read
more here: <a href="http://tinyurl.com/c889m3o" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">http://tinyurl.com/c889m3o</a><br /> <br />
Mr. Hood will receive the 2014 award on September 19th. The meeting
will begin at 7:30 pm, at Westwood United Methodist Church, 538 Nichols
Road, Kalamazoo, MI and will be open to the general public.
Refreshments will be offered, beginning at 7:00 pm.</span></span>TPShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07613663983162109098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2378699042434857883.post-89457087855321425252014-05-13T10:41:00.002-07:002014-05-13T10:41:56.293-07:00Hard Rock and Civil War Publishing--A Great Mix. <span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: white;">X</span></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCrvvJBbbsrdzChRrU0EB3aMiu0fMRtRjCGuHJ9W2nnFKayUlaNJ1xmuqBuQ3WW2pQWbI-1j_BAl3gW-Rk37VVP7GiQ0LOKypnHMkB8C6KCnFvIFgykVcG4PFmYBJZ6v4HoS91SWbp7lT4/s1600/arminius_bdwalk_050114_bbv1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCrvvJBbbsrdzChRrU0EB3aMiu0fMRtRjCGuHJ9W2nnFKayUlaNJ1xmuqBuQ3WW2pQWbI-1j_BAl3gW-Rk37VVP7GiQ0LOKypnHMkB8C6KCnFvIFgykVcG4PFmYBJZ6v4HoS91SWbp7lT4/s1600/arminius_bdwalk_050114_bbv1.jpg" height="320" width="207" /></a>I must apologize for the lack of recent posts.<br />
<br />
Last February my brother and I formed a new band. We used to play all over the Midwest (1979-1981), and set it aside to go back and/or finish college. Careers, marriage, and kids followed, and not a week went by without discussing how much we enjoyed our days in "Disciple," and how fast those days passed us by.<br />
<br />
Recently, we decided to give it another go and formed "Arminius." The
pressures of travel and aiming for mega success are long past, but the
creativity and fun remain. <br /><br />Our first gig was on May 1, 2014, with three
other bands at the famous Boardwalk rock club in Orangevale, California.
We had 200+ rocking fans, and delivered a 40-minute power set of UFO,
Black Sabbath, Def Leppard, Angel City, and some original material. What
a ball. Looks like we snagged another give gigs out of that one.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTmX8v9aWYs-ho5m6RUYQcxWjycmH9OpsP_eZiUwaxO9TzM2Gehp-JouzZ-QppWctiT5pQ36_AcN14omfVBWiObt3Zdh_AVpc2yT8pakr2bYlZcMjhkQSBmj3d7kDhSvDUAFOlNe8Ih1xW/s1600/Boardwalk+Cover+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTmX8v9aWYs-ho5m6RUYQcxWjycmH9OpsP_eZiUwaxO9TzM2Gehp-JouzZ-QppWctiT5pQ36_AcN14omfVBWiObt3Zdh_AVpc2yT8pakr2bYlZcMjhkQSBmj3d7kDhSvDUAFOlNe8Ih1xW/s1600/Boardwalk+Cover+photo.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arminius is (left to right): Jack Petterle (drums), Anthony Savas (lead guitar), Ted Savas (bass, vocals),Jay Scheuer (vocals), and Sasha Avanov (lead guitar)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-SSELPorMmuqf-Y32IYcS185SmF1-b9TbMgpMyIEP4m45gJSg8TvbNJnkzF-Y_xGrnkFCvs1Q9WplBXgXbuFBg3ODnWinxNuEQZeU5sKmWxKfMPSlO7JsxM-Fm5GJvJ8cMCvqX5gtYqgt/s1600/A+and+T+Boardwalk+2+May+1+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-SSELPorMmuqf-Y32IYcS185SmF1-b9TbMgpMyIEP4m45gJSg8TvbNJnkzF-Y_xGrnkFCvs1Q9WplBXgXbuFBg3ODnWinxNuEQZeU5sKmWxKfMPSlO7JsxM-Fm5GJvJ8cMCvqX5gtYqgt/s1600/A+and+T+Boardwalk+2+May+1+2014.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
Recently, we decided to give it another go and formed "Arminius." The
pressures of travel and aiming for mega success are long past, but the
creativity and fun remain. Our first gig was on May 1, 2014, with three
other bands at the famous Boardwalk rock club in Orangevale, California.
We had 200+ rocking fans, and delivered a 40-minute power set of UFO,
Black Sabbath, Def Leppard, Angel City, and some original material. What
a ball. Looks like we snagged another give gigs out of that one.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHUSYZNAC_V9bYzvJbuaAizeQJHPT3tMJS5L4pbAv_zdzJbeJZP8lwoQCEo5zIFK-XpZmd4ARIiIDYwxiUTT3Fr3q6kK_-68dyx_1nAWjptD21gwh8Tc_wLJyefWrqRSjWQXNzmVLZs5nE/s1600/Ted+FB+Cover+shot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHUSYZNAC_V9bYzvJbuaAizeQJHPT3tMJS5L4pbAv_zdzJbeJZP8lwoQCEo5zIFK-XpZmd4ARIiIDYwxiUTT3Fr3q6kK_-68dyx_1nAWjptD21gwh8Tc_wLJyefWrqRSjWQXNzmVLZs5nE/s1600/Ted+FB+Cover+shot.jpg" height="320" width="303" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Now that things have settled down (a bit), expect more posts as we heat up into the Summer Season of strong releases.<br />
<br />
(And if you are on Facebook, you can look up my personal page, friend me, and see all the photos, and some video soon to go up.)<br />
<br />
Onward.TPShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07613663983162109098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2378699042434857883.post-19018418596373373382014-02-20T07:56:00.000-08:002014-02-20T07:56:07.223-08:00Hood on Sword Writing About General Hood. Part 1.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhchmGYzkQcsBv5vY7EBqCiGhiSZViyuvb_uFMdlxYwLegaR7F5OuMuMa4eae0B0XXUe55ywY-Qo6TRKKwulSHt7258XBu6fEqwmIyBHjUEZ6AkNg6FpspRcJMl_QQ_F8DvzvEHHQBeOVs2/s1600/cicero.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhchmGYzkQcsBv5vY7EBqCiGhiSZViyuvb_uFMdlxYwLegaR7F5OuMuMa4eae0B0XXUe55ywY-Qo6TRKKwulSHt7258XBu6fEqwmIyBHjUEZ6AkNg6FpspRcJMl_QQ_F8DvzvEHHQBeOVs2/s1600/cicero.jpg" height="400" width="322" /></a></div>
<span style="color: white;">X</span> <br />
Cicero. One of my favorites. Right up there with Pliny the Elder, Socrates, and a handful of others.<br />
<br />
Click the image to the right, read it, and then click <a href="http://emergingcivilwar.com/2014/02/20/hood-on-hood-part-i/" target="_blank">HERE</a> and absorb Part 1 of 4.<br />
<br />
Your comments are welcome and encouraged.<br />
<br />
---tpsTPShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07613663983162109098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2378699042434857883.post-2143441323413414472014-02-18T15:27:00.001-08:002014-02-20T07:52:30.836-08:00John Bell Hood. The Reviews and News Continues . . .<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
Over at TOCWOC (The Order of Civil War Obsessively Compulsed), Brett Schulte recently published a balanced review you can read <a href="http://www.brettschulte.net/CWBlog/2014/02/07/civil-war-book-review-john-bell-hood-the-rise-fall-and-resurrection-of-a-confederate-general/" target="_blank">HERE</a> . . .<br />
<br />
As did Harry Smeltzer at Bull Runnings, which you can read <a href="http://bullrunnings.wordpress.com/2014/02/03/hood-and-me-but-mostly-me/" target="_blank">HERE</a> . . .<br />
<br />
and another, under Chris Mackowski and Kris White, at their Emerging Civil War blog, which you you can read <a href="http://emergingcivilwar.com/2013/11/05/review-of-john-bell-hood-the-rise-fall-and-resurrection-of-a-confederate-general-by-stephen-m-hood/" target="_blank">HERE</a>. <br />
<br />
More is coming on the latter site. A lot more. Eyebrow-raising more. Soon.<br />
<br />
And here it is HOOD ON HOOD. Part 1. Start reading what other reviewers have only hinted about. Start <a href="http://emergingcivilwar.com/2014/02/20/hood-on-hood-part-i/" target="_blank">HERE</a>. <br />
<br />
-- tpsTPShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07613663983162109098noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2378699042434857883.post-46380462038455321562014-01-20T12:24:00.002-08:002014-01-20T12:24:29.531-08:00The Magnificent Seven--Kindle E-books on Sale! <span style="color: white;">X</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdYV6vn6UCav2I93ItqHUqm-UguMjibMh7FVH7ReS7CP3ff0lnoTM3rIkn1HDePhnXh_kYp_budJfZJDtg7Yk9wKl6VSOc8j-uxSUFumpTWJksRfeb81RNUB1vbq2gv30lzv9i-8XsfpPM/s1600/7-books_with_title.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdYV6vn6UCav2I93ItqHUqm-UguMjibMh7FVH7ReS7CP3ff0lnoTM3rIkn1HDePhnXh_kYp_budJfZJDtg7Yk9wKl6VSOc8j-uxSUFumpTWJksRfeb81RNUB1vbq2gv30lzv9i-8XsfpPM/s1600/7-books_with_title.jpg" height="320" width="264" /></a>While we all have a love-hate relationship with Amazon. But what they do they do very well, and they are not going anywhere. As publishers and authors, we need to learn how to work with them to stay viable, relevant, and profitable.<br />
<br />
Once a publisher reaches a respectable size and has good distribution, it becomes easier to work with Amazon, and by that I mean work together to market and sell books. One of their key promotions is Kindle sales.<br />
<br />
The steep price drop is for a limited time (in the current case, just for two weeks), but Amazon supports this with email blasts, links, etc., and we do the same. The result is very strong sales, and in some cases eye-popping sales numbers.<br />
<br />
(I have reproduced a photo/screenshot of one of our recent emails with seven of our titles currently available in this promotion.)<br />
<br />
You do not need a Kindle to read at this price. Just Google and download the Kindle Ap for your reader. Yes, it is that easy.<br />
<br />
How beneficial are these promotional activities?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgypo-lTcvwAQFJhF-5zsZMKOSEscQONbu9wG7DzkwSI4RqhSXDTawjD2c-QEE0exdvb5yLMtbb-gAIGqgO_TNLVOlWNUKyXy1LPtjiXHT238Au8mJrbcg3oxRtfYhoyD-2vRZB-2G0u2XU/s1600/New+SBIH+Cover+Web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgypo-lTcvwAQFJhF-5zsZMKOSEscQONbu9wG7DzkwSI4RqhSXDTawjD2c-QEE0exdvb5yLMtbb-gAIGqgO_TNLVOlWNUKyXy1LPtjiXHT238Au8mJrbcg3oxRtfYhoyD-2vRZB-2G0u2XU/s1600/New+SBIH+Cover+Web.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a></div>
Here is a good example: <a href="http://savasbeatie.com/books/STEELBOATS_pb_book.htm" target="_blank">Steel Boat Iron Hearts: My Life Aboard U-505</a>, by Hans Goebeler with John Vanzo is now in paperback and just a few short months had about 19 Amazon reviews. This is pretty strong for a U-boat book . Average e-book downloads each month were about 35 or so. (This is off the top of my head but I am sure right in the ballpark.) We offered the book for a one-month sales promotion for $2.99 and Amazon accepted our marketing proposal.<br />
<br />
We sold well north of 6,000 units in a single month, and 2,000 more the following month at full price. I am the product of a public school education, but I do have a calculator and understand basic math. Even though Amazon takes a big cut, the numbers work.<br />
<br />
In addition, we went from 19 reviews to . . . 334 reviews (average 4.4 stars) in just three or so months. It is now the highest rated U-boat book in the world. This exposure increased print sales as well. It is a win-win-win across the board for everyone--Publisher, author, and Amazon.<br />
<br />
Click <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Steel-Boat-Iron-Hearts-Crewmans-ebook/dp/B004E9UB5M/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=8-1&qid=1390248682" target="_blank">HERE</a> for a link to the Kindle version to see the reviews.<br />
<br />
So please support our authors and publishing program by downloading one or more of these titles, sharing this information on Facebook, and emailing it to your friends and others.<br />
<br />
Thanks, as always, for your support.<br />
<br />
--tps <br />
<br />
<br />TPShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07613663983162109098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2378699042434857883.post-61670871861438307962013-12-09T13:41:00.002-08:002013-12-27T07:47:17.344-08:00Gettysburg: The Best Single Volume Treatment? And the Winner is . . .<div title="The Gettysburg Campaign: A Study in Command, by Edwin B. Coddington ">
<span style="color: white;">X</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA5broULJrQopIy-b63pxuI4GrNCvQdv6VCrvqyFmiqO2iB3CUrqIvT00POjd0qT9-5sYUEUW_V_zEOe9ewFpuzR5q3vacG6QrLWY76ghRr__4gjKOFaHppTlvkwrfqtZZLChxtuxTX6Nx/s1600/Coddington.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA5broULJrQopIy-b63pxuI4GrNCvQdv6VCrvqyFmiqO2iB3CUrqIvT00POjd0qT9-5sYUEUW_V_zEOe9ewFpuzR5q3vacG6QrLWY76ghRr__4gjKOFaHppTlvkwrfqtZZLChxtuxTX6Nx/s200/Coddington.jpg" width="130" /></a></span></div>
<span style="color: white;">
</span></div>
<div title="The Gettysburg Campaign: A Study in Command, by Edwin B. Coddington ">
That was the most recent poll question on this blog, and the results were interesting (to me), but not completely surprising:.<br />
<br />
There were 61 unique votes. This is the breakdown: </div>
<div title="The Gettysburg Campaign: A Study in Command, by Edwin B. Coddington ">
<div title="The Gettysburg Campaign: A Study in Command, by Edwin B. Coddington ">
<i>The
Gettysburg Campaign: A Study in Command</i>, by Edwin B. Coddington
garnered 42 votes, which translated to 68% of the respondents.</div>
<div title="The Gettysburg Campaign: A Study in Command, by Edwin B. Coddington ">
</div>
<i>Gettysburg: The Last Invasion</i>, by Allen C. Guelzo, gathered 12 votes for 19%.</div>
<div title="The Gettysburg Campaign: A Study in Command, by Edwin B. Coddington ">
</div>
<div title="The Gettysburg Campaign: A Study in Command, by Edwin B. Coddington ">
<i>Gettysburg</i>, by Stephen W. Sears, earned 6 votes, or 9%</div>
<div title="The Gettysburg Campaign: A Study in Command, by Edwin B. Coddington ">
</div>
<div title="The Gettysburg Campaign: A Study in Command, by Edwin B. Coddington ">
and <i>Gettysburg: A Testing of Courage</i>, by Noah Andre Trudeau, 1 vote for < 1%.</div>
<div title="The Gettysburg Campaign: A Study in Command, by Edwin B. Coddington ">
</div>
<div title="The Gettysburg Campaign: A Study in Command, by Edwin B. Coddington ">
I am curious . . .If you voted and would like to share your choice and why, I would like to hear from you. If you didn't get a chance to vote, but have an opinion, I would also love to learn it.</div>
<div title="The Gettysburg Campaign: A Study in Command, by Edwin B. Coddington ">
</div>
<div title="The Gettysburg Campaign: A Study in Command, by Edwin B. Coddington ">
<br />
My choice is Coddington, even though others have more information now that so much time has passed since EBC wrote his lasting and impactful tome. Perhaps my vote has something to do with the fact that I read it first, it deeply impressed me then, I have read it since (ditto), and I find it wears well with time.</div>
<div title="The Gettysburg Campaign: A Study in Command, by Edwin B. Coddington ">
<br /></div>
<div title="The Gettysburg Campaign: A Study in Command, by Edwin B. Coddington ">
Thanks.</div>
<div title="The Gettysburg Campaign: A Study in Command, by Edwin B. Coddington ">
<br /></div>
<div title="The Gettysburg Campaign: A Study in Command, by Edwin B. Coddington ">
--tps</div>
TPShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07613663983162109098noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2378699042434857883.post-87335013623192970732013-12-03T11:55:00.001-08:002013-12-03T12:09:30.017-08:00(Off Topic) The Only Bass: The Rickenbacker 4003<span style="color: white;">X</span><br />
Well, it's not the only bass, but it is the only bass I could ever play.<br />
<br />
I come from a musical family, and played classical piano from early
childhood through two years of college. I also played bass, which I
picked up in high school after seeing Rush in a small ballroom (about a month before they exploded and got huge). That Ric sound! That OMG voice! Wow! Here is the song that did it for me: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYYxtkMAd8U" target="_blank">Bastille Day</a>. (Turn your volume up to 11, give it a listen, piss of your fellow co-workers, and then come on back and keep reading.)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiChfvzrPtiDqUgGbS-DtxVqIjng7lovVrjlT6vToT8CsM6G4vZyblqA4HD6V3Lo2DQj8LUNWaYwZeKOufRQkX-NNRxdWMKCWOmKapN4aCw_iV6NhoWP3CssM-CVBk2fvfc-CX6XwE23vec/s1600/Rick3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiChfvzrPtiDqUgGbS-DtxVqIjng7lovVrjlT6vToT8CsM6G4vZyblqA4HD6V3Lo2DQj8LUNWaYwZeKOufRQkX-NNRxdWMKCWOmKapN4aCw_iV6NhoWP3CssM-CVBk2fvfc-CX6XwE23vec/s1600/Rick3.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Classic Rickenbacker 4001 (note darker brown tone compared<br />
to replacement 4003 below)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoyPH6174pPP47nOWlQFR0xQYk533-wjIU7l_RbmlvOTHHI-cgguqCOtXlSqDo3AMn7dBnYHOkzIJMWI7VJYMYtNtKEP1kajSj0FHd_-ad4S4LGTjJT0rpUhZwXFUtbZuSm64G1U7SUXyy/s1600/Ants+and+Ted+web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoyPH6174pPP47nOWlQFR0xQYk533-wjIU7l_RbmlvOTHHI-cgguqCOtXlSqDo3AMn7dBnYHOkzIJMWI7VJYMYtNtKEP1kajSj0FHd_-ad4S4LGTjJT0rpUhZwXFUtbZuSm64G1U7SUXyy/s320/Ants+and+Ted+web.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me with my 4001 in 1980 (l), and my brother Anthony<br />
(r) on his beloved Les Paul. (He also had an SG), in a club.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I found a
4001 Ric in 1976 for $750 bucks (then), and snapped it up, taught
myself, and played it in many bands around the Midwest, bus and all. After my last band broke up, some
of our equipment was stolen, including my beloved bass. I didn't replace
it. Like a heroin addict, if I had picked one up again I would have
dropped out of graduate school and eventually left my family to go back out on the road
and play.<br />
<br />
Fast forward 35 or so years. I finally broke down and
decided to buy a new Rickenbacker 4003 bass (the classic Ric bass that
replaces the 4001). Black and maple are easier to find than Fireglo
(like mine), which is almost always out of stock. Our local music store
is on 12- to 18-month back order for Rick 4003s, and the company won't
tell you when they will arrive. These basses are handmade (and they
don't produce nearly enough to satisfy demand).<br />
<br />
I checked American
Musical Supply daily, but they were always on back order. And then, with
one page refresh, a Fireglo popped up, with a notation that it was
"hurt." The price was <u>way</u> below retail ($1,599 including expensive
custom case instead of $2,399.) I used online chat and the person said
it would be a tiny mar or scratch, would likely not be visible anywhere,
shipping was free, and I had 60 days to return it (shipping free back,
too). How could I lose?<br />
<br />
I ordered it. When it got here, I opened
the case and studied the bass. I could not find a thing wrong with it.
Nothing. Then I noticed that the case had a small scratch/mar. I think that
was the issue. (I have been told by people in the business who know more than me that someone who works in the warehouse combined the SKU numbers, scratched the case, posted it as "hurt" and someone else he knows was supposed to snatch it up and then sell it and pockets the money. I was offered $1,000 more than I paid a week after I got it. And it has only gone up in value.) <br />
<br />
The finish is amazing. It feels like silk. If I could sleep comfortably with it, I would. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTvt-z1tpa9Rs5zUq2A1MWkboa9YPLeJv-riVJ_KD_EySdN8BFebXmz3qUV2Y13BMfCZbGRFWvDnpvuErOZWypBFA5Kq2atC7nassfn9lAoAgDfiaF9AfdAPS_IXqgmSnciiaI3QEnbhS1/s1600/Rick1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTvt-z1tpa9Rs5zUq2A1MWkboa9YPLeJv-riVJ_KD_EySdN8BFebXmz3qUV2Y13BMfCZbGRFWvDnpvuErOZWypBFA5Kq2atC7nassfn9lAoAgDfiaF9AfdAPS_IXqgmSnciiaI3QEnbhS1/s320/Rick1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The new 4003 Rickenbacker bass.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As the online description notes, the 4003 is famous for its "ringing sustain, treble punch and solid
underlying bass tones that made Rickenbacker a household name." Indeed. A subtle
strip of binding graces the elegantly curved body and the Rosewood
fingerboard. Deluxe triangular inlays and stereo capability are standard
features. The 4003 has a Vintage Tone Selector, an additional control included
standard.<br />
<br />
(Prior to 1984, Rickenbacker basses utilized a capacitor in the treble
pickup circuit to emphasize treble tones coming from that pickup.
However, changes in tone preference and a call for higher output led RIC
to discontinue the use of this capacitor in favor of a more balanced
sound. Nevertheless many users added this capacitor back into the
circuit, experimenting with and sometimes preferring the sound of the
older configuration, despite the resulting drop in volume.).<br />
<br />
I
haven't put the capacitor back in, but with the classic tone selector, I
really don't need to. With a simple pull of the treble tone control,
the Vintage Tone Selector will allow a player to move between both
sounds at the drop of a hat. Pressed in, you'll hear the familiar
balanced tone of the 4003, while pulled out to engage the circuit,
you'll appreciate the bite and crispness popularized by such artists as
Chris Squire and Getty Lee.<br />
<br />
Now, if I could only play like I used
to. I am currently rehearsing with my brother (who played with me in my
last two bands) and another great high school guitarist named Sasha to
play this weekend at a recital. We are playing "Hotel California" with my
brother's instructor Eddie--who can play well anything with strings. The song includes a great back and forth extended guitar solo session.<br />
<br />
We
might put a band together for some fun on the weekends, as there are several clubs out here where amateur bands play 4-5 songs each.<br />
<br />
I have already named the group: The Hip Replacements.<br />
<br />
--tpsTPShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07613663983162109098noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2378699042434857883.post-74777947106441939782013-12-02T09:40:00.001-08:002013-12-02T09:43:15.868-08:00Reviews and Critiques and Sharp Words (oh my)<span style="color: white;">X</span><br />
Well, I just watched the Wizard of OZ, so . . .<br />
<br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".r[5q4vu].[1][3][1]{comment10152083006138554_31523604}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3]"><span data-reactid=".r[5q4vu].[1][3][1]{comment10152083006138554_31523604}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3].[0]"><span data-reactid=".r[5q4vu].[1][3][1]{comment10152083006138554_31523604}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3].[0].[0]">I think the words I used for the post about Dr. Emberton's review of our Hood book were
ill-chosen. Going public on this is </span></span></span><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".r[5q4vu].[1][3][1]{comment10152083006138554_31523604}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3]"><span data-reactid=".r[5q4vu].[1][3][1]{comment10152083006138554_31523604}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3].[0]"><span data-reactid=".r[5q4vu].[1][3][1]{comment10152083006138554_31523604}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3].[0].[0]">not my m<i>odus operandi</i> in the publishing arena.</span></span></span><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".r[5q4vu].[1][3][1]{comment10152083006138554_31523604}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3]"><span data-reactid=".r[5q4vu].[1][3][1]{comment10152083006138554_31523604}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3].[0]"><span data-reactid=".r[5q4vu].[1][3][1]{comment10152083006138554_31523604}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3].[0].[3]"> </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".r[5q4vu].[1][3][1]{comment10152083006138554_31523604}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3]"><span data-reactid=".r[5q4vu].[1][3][1]{comment10152083006138554_31523604}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3].[0]"><span data-reactid=".r[5q4vu].[1][3][1]{comment10152083006138554_31523604}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3].[0].[3]">I
still think the review is unfair, but Professor Emberton has a right to
write whatever she wishes and readers will make their own decisions by reading the book--or not. </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".r[5q4vu].[1][3][1]{comment10152083006138554_31523604}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3]"><span data-reactid=".r[5q4vu].[1][3][1]{comment10152083006138554_31523604}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3].[0]"><span data-reactid=".r[5q4vu].[1][3][1]{comment10152083006138554_31523604}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3].[0].[0]">I don't know Dr.
Emberton, but I hear she is a fine lady and an outstanding instructor. I am sure that is true on both counts. </span><br data-reactid=".r[5q4vu].[1][3][1]{comment10152083006138554_31523604}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3].[0].[1]" /><br data-reactid=".r[5q4vu].[1][3][1]{comment10152083006138554_31523604}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3].[0].[2]" />I h<span data-reactid=".r[5q4vu].[1][3][1]{comment10152083006138554_31523604}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3].[0].[6]">ope all of my readers had a good, happy, and safe Thanksgiving.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".r[5q4vu].[1][3][1]{comment10152083006138554_31523604}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3]"><span data-reactid=".r[5q4vu].[1][3][1]{comment10152083006138554_31523604}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3].[0]"><span data-reactid=".r[5q4vu].[1][3][1]{comment10152083006138554_31523604}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3].[0].[6]">Onward.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".r[5q4vu].[1][3][1]{comment10152083006138554_31523604}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3]"><span data-reactid=".r[5q4vu].[1][3][1]{comment10152083006138554_31523604}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3].[0]"><span data-reactid=".r[5q4vu].[1][3][1]{comment10152083006138554_31523604}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3].[0].[6]">--tps </span></span></span>TPShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07613663983162109098noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2378699042434857883.post-48129562878441173772013-11-29T14:20:00.000-08:002013-12-01T22:11:09.503-08:00Did Professor Carole Emberton Read the Book She Just Reviewed?<span style="color: white;">X</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjetUk01Bj5A34OQ1gblhChNHSianLdDEE7C3Fkx21lSCEiPf5Eycx0XTXeE_foUxSh8TRPgdNjvXDzXiyvUg1uEq9UlfSfuQsAmIJiRpEeGo76YQRRrzyRE1-WFkZR9H1uhUhIK47rj2im/s1600/Hood+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjetUk01Bj5A34OQ1gblhChNHSianLdDEE7C3Fkx21lSCEiPf5Eycx0XTXeE_foUxSh8TRPgdNjvXDzXiyvUg1uEq9UlfSfuQsAmIJiRpEeGo76YQRRrzyRE1-WFkZR9H1uhUhIK47rj2im/s320/Hood+copy.jpg" width="213" /></a>Some book reviews are positive, some are mixed, and some are negative. This is true for nearly all books, and that's the nature<br />
of the beast and goes along with the territory.<br />
<br />
All any publisher and author ask is that a reviewer actually read the book before reviewing it, and then assess it honestly for what it is, and what it is not.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://savasbeatie.com/books/book_page.php?bookVAR=HOOD&bookType=about&authorID1=SMHood&authorID2=empty&authorID3=empty&authorID4=empty&authorID5=empty" target="_blank">John Bell Hood: The Rise, Fall, and Resurrection of a Confederate General</a>, by Stephen Hood, raises the hackles a lot of people because it calls out many academicians and general students of the war <b>by name </b>and produces one example after another of sloppy scholarship, reliance on secondary sources that are themselves incorrect in matters of fact, mistakes, misrepresentations--and in some cases, even worse.<br />
<br />
Readers will decide whether the author makes his case or not. It is interesting to note that of the 60 or so reviews floating around thus far, not a single one alleges or points out that the author was wrong in how he cited a historian, or that a footnote (of which there are about 1,000) was wrong, or that a quote was wrong, etc. Not a single one.<br />
<br />
Carole Emberton, an associate professor of history at the University of Buffalo (SUNY)<i>, </i>recently reviewed <i>John Bell Hood</i> for <i>The Civil War Monitor</i> (an outstanding publication, by the way)<i>.</i> Read her review <a href="http://civilwarmonitor.com/book-shelf/hood-john-bell-hood-2013" target="_blank">here</a>. It is a strange review brought to my attention by many readers. It made me wonder, "Did this reviewer even bother to read the book--or even the dust jacker?--before going out of her way to slam it?"<br />
<br />
Is that a fair question? Here are two very troubling indicator: <br />
<br />
1) She thinks it is a biography (all of you who have read this know it is clearly not a biography in any sense of the word), and she thinks the author is a biographer (ditto). <br />
<br />
2) More telling, however, is this little revealing gem: <br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"In his effort to resuscitate General Hood's reputation as a competent if not talented commander who did his best in impossible situations, the author <i>spends far more time and energy skewering those historians <b>than he does giving the reader a new or at least more nuanced interpretation of General Hood</b></i>."<br />
<br /></blockquote>
Why yes, Dr. Emberton, he does "spend far more time and energy" (note the italics above) on what others have written about Hood. As my teenage son might say, professor . . . DUH! In fact, that is the <u>purpose</u> of the entire book. and the book has absolutely NOTHING to do with the part that is in bold-italics above. Nothing. At. All. If she had read the Introduction, the author explains all this there in deep detail, and he mentions it again and again throughout the book.<br />
<br />
She even criticizes the way the book is organized, when it fact, it is organized by topic to present how others have covered the topic in question. Again, discussed throughout.<br />
<br />
Even the dust jacket explains it.<br />
<br />
Now, I don't really give a damn if someone slams one of our books, so long as they have read it, and have legitimate complaints. Cites are wrong? Major collections not included? Too many typos and other mistakes? Incorrect maps? <b>That is fair, and that is how it should be.</b><br />
<br />
But I question whether this professor read this book, because she went out of her way to produce a hatchet job on a book that <i>does not exist</i>. Did she read it? <i>I don't know with certainty either way.</i> Why did she she write what she did (and I urge you to read the entire review) if she read the book. This book is replete with explanations addressing these very things--on the jacket, on the publisher's website, in the Introduction, and scattered throughout.<br />
<br />
The author wrote his own rebuttal, which you can find in the same location below her "review." You will have to be the judge whether or not she read the book and whether or not this is fair review.<br />
<br />
--tps TPShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07613663983162109098noreply@blogger.com25