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Nikademus -> RE: THE THREAD!!! (12/16/2011 5:14:53 PM)
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quote:
ORIGINAL: JWE
Hey Nik,
You might be able to use this in your book commentaries. I’ve been husting this concept for maybe ten years now, and have a sheaf of rejections bigger than the Manhattan phone book. Most were valid and dealt with organization (I was pretty loosey, goosey, there). So got right and tight, and zeroed into specifics.
Finally got some nibbles on a contract, but had to have some editorially directed content. They liked the concept, but thought, as expressed, it would be just another how-to manual for model boat building. They wanted something more sexy. Without saying who, they are in the line of Putnam, or Random House.
The premise of the work is a technical comparison between frigate construction in the US, Britain, and France, according to drawings, plans, and contemporary works by respective national Naval Architects. It goes a long way towards peeing on the “generally accepted” nonsense replicated endlessly (and falsely) in modern works (and on the internet).
Once the publisher got it, and figured out he could do a revisionist publication that would directly confront and challenge William James’ Naval History of Great Britain, I was in like Flynn.
Didn’t matter what I knew, didn’t matter what really happened, so long as I could defecate on William James. Turns out that I think Williams James is an arrogant piece of snot that deserves being peed on, so I had no issues with that.
But it’s important to understand that historical reference books aren’t being published as a public service. They have to make some money for the publisher, so they have to have what the publishers call a “spark”. They gotta say something sharp and they gotta pee on something that has gone before.
Welcome to the wonderful world of 20th century book publishing.
I guess like any 'business', ultimately its about the Benjamins. Since getting my Kindle, when browsing titles i see the same statement on every book front page. (Price fixed by Publisher). Other thing that had me thinking along similar lines is in terms of cash cows.......WWII history still tends to be the biggest draw. More books written and continue to be written about it than any other I assume. Recently finished the latest book on "Midway" despite a hefty dose of skepticism. No....i'm not part of the "Parshalls/Tully are GOD" crowd and that Shattered Sword is the ONLY book one needs....more so it was the simple question...."how many books can really be written about one single day battle?" Ultimately the book did have some new insights to add to what is rapidly tiring as a subject.
So as WWII receeds farther and farther into history, yet remains a cash cow subject.....one can see it from both sides. We want ever more scholarly work, but as publishers.....their first question has to be the bottom line....."show me the Benjamins.....what is it about your new book that will push sales?"
anyway. Just more ramblings from an aging and increasingly silent amatuer historian......
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