The Book

[Eupher]

I've been working on this thing for almost 10 years now, off and on, usually off.

I had lots of knockdown-dragouts with my editor (most of the time, he won  ) but this thing is written and edited.

Going back through it to tweak now, but that's going fairly quickly.

Just for grins, I dumped all 23 chapters in a Word document. Calibri 11 point font, single-spaced, normal margins. With endnotes and bibliography, this sumbitch porks out at just over 200 pages and 105,000 words.

The book is of no interest to anybody except those who served there or otherwise was associated with the 298th Army Band in Berlin. The band was deactivated not quite 20 years ago, so it's about time somebody wrote something. 

Since there is no financial appeal and absolutely zero opportunity to publish this thing by a mainstream publisher, I'm headed toward self-publishing. Holy bookbinders, Batman, there's a boatload of crap out there on that and forums out the wazoo. Waaaaaay too much information to absorb in a casual reading, which I almost never do anymore. 

Anyway, I'd be interested in hearing from those who know more about self-publishing than I do. Pitfalls and scams to avoid, etc.

The book is mostly going to be on DVD because there's a shitload of photographs, some recordings, video, etc., in addition to the text. But I want this thing in a soft cover too. I'm gonna have to pony up the money for that, but hell, I can't take it with me.

My editor thinks I'm crazy and it should go into a binder. 

Nah, I don't think so. I want a softcover book, dammit. 

[Dori]

Congratulations on getting it done.

If it has a lot of photographs, would it make a good coffee table book?

I would also do a youtube clip of some of the video and pictures.  That might give you an idea of the interest.


Good luck with the publication.      



 

[Eupher]

Congratulations on getting it done.

If it has a lot of photographs, would it make a good coffee table book?

I would also do a youtube clip of some of the video and pictures.  That might give you an idea of the interest.


Good luck with the publication.   

Thank you, Dori. One thing I neglected to mention. Apart from simple announcements on my personal web site and Facebook, and here as well, I will make no effort whatsoever toward marketing. Since there is zero appeal except to a very few, spending a bunch of time (that I don't have) in marketing this book is time wasted.

Coffee table books are horrifically expensive to produce. And the printed book is going to have, at most, a couple dozen photos in it, so I think I'm stuck with a paperback.

Youtube is not on my list of places to announce this thing. 

[marv]

Check out CreateSpace for self-publishing. It can be sold through Amazon Kindle, print or audio.

[Dori]

I just did a bing search on 298th Army Band in Berlin.

I got over two million results..there certainly is some interest out there.

[Eupher]

I just did a bing search on 298th Army Band in Berlin.

I got over two million results..there certainly is some interest out there.

There have been, at most, 3,000 musicians that have served in the 298th since 1940. That's not a large pool.

Again, my book is not targeted toward historians, although I've spent a good amount of time writing on those historical episodes that occurred in Berlin over the years. This book is intended for those who were there. And I didn't write it to make money. I wrote it because the story had to be told.

[thundley4]

You pose the question over at DU. They have several published authors. 

[Eupher]

Check out CreateSpace for self-publishing. It can be sold through Amazon Kindle, print or audio.

Thanks, Marv.    This looks promising. Will check it out more thoroughly.