A new timber tech book. Would you buy it?

[Sgian Dubh]

I wonder if there's any connection between this old thread and this blog post from Chris Schwarz at Lost Art Press?
“Trees, Wood & Woodworking” (tentative title) by Richard Jones. This is a book we haven’t had any time to write about. This book is an incredibly detailed look at trees and how their structure affects the furniture maker. It is written by a craftsman for woodworkers. No scientific background required. Kara is getting this book ready for the designer.
From https://blog.lostartpress.com/2017/08/1 ... d-our-way/
Looks like good news!

Yes, there is Andy. Until you posted here I wasn't aware of Chris Schwartz's blog post about upcoming releases. As I understand it if all goes to plan (fingers crossed) the hoped for release date at this early editing stage is early 2018, although the contract allows for later release in the year if necessary.

I must admit to being somewhat nervous but excited about it all. Book publishing is something new to me, although I've had many wood and furniture subject articles published in the past: I gave up on writing articles more than a decade past because I got tired of tiny financial return for much expense of effort. Slainte.

 

[AndyT]

Well, congratulations from me!
I reckon Lost Art Press are opening up a decent niche for themselves. They are not afraid of publishing big, detailed, specialist titles. The quality of printing and binding is excellent. Distribution seems to be good in the US and is in safe hands in the UK. They've already persuaded me to spend more than I expected on several of their books, with no regrets at all. Time to extend the bookshelves... I wonder what sort of wood I should use? :wink:

 

[Mr T]

Glad to hear you've found a publisher Richard, that's fantastic news.

Chris

 

[MusicMan]

That's great news, Richard, and I will definitely buy it. I've published a few specialist technical books, and fully appreciate the huge and sustained effort that goes into one. As a senior academic colleague once remarked, when his great tome was published, "even the weariest river wends its way to the sea". Congratulations! And no, you certainly don't retire on the proceeds, but it might pay for a train fare to the other end of the country!

And I agree with the earlier remarks. Why would we think an excellent plane to be quite cheap at £50 but an enormous fount of trusted knowledge to be expensive at the same price? Now is the time to start hinting about Christmas presents!

Looking forward to getting it

Keith

 

[MusicMan]

Well, congratulations from me!
I reckon Lost Art Press are opening up a decent niche for themselves. They are not afraid of publishing big, detailed, specialist titles. The quality of printing and binding is excellent. Distribution seems to be good in the US and is in safe hands in the UK. They've already persuaded me to spend more than I expected on several of their books, with no regrets at all. Time to extend the bookshelves... I wonder what sort of wood I should use? :wink:

Looks like you're in a Catch22, Andy. Gotta read the book before you can decide how to build a bookshelf extension to house it!

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

I'll add my congratulations on being published too Richard. How exciting, you're a published author now!! Or at least soon will be. I really hope the book is a roaring success and we can look forward to seeing you promoting it on the Tele

 

[Sgian Dubh]

Thanks for the kind words Andy, Chris, Keith and ROB. I guess I ought to say something regarding earlier commentary about a likely selling price which goes back four years to when I started this thread. At the time I took a guess at a potential sales price range. Now the manuscript is with a publisher and they're working on it the subject of a retail price hasn't been mentioned, certainly not to me. I really can't say what the finished item might be sold for and I'll have to wait and see what sort of price point is proposed. Slainte.

 

[AndyT]

I expect it will be well over £50, especially for those of us paying in sterling, but you should be well set for healthy sales in the US market, where they all seem to have plenty of disposable income and compete to spend the most, not the least.

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

well I must say I've been persuaded by the line of thinking that positions this work in the "technical reference for professional use" category and in that world paying somewhere between £50 and £100 is entirely reasonable and justified. When I was a biology student a very long time ago, we would happily pay £35 for the latest on genetics of parasitology etc and that was in the early 80's. As someone else in this thread mentioned, ludicrous sums get justified for spend on tools and yet it's reasonable to argue that knowledge and skill are the most important commodities. I appreciate other psychic agendae are being served by tool purchases so it's not an apples for apples comparison...Lie Nielsen springs to mind!!

But nevertheless, a very sound case for a premium price can be made and defended until the cows come home. Of course, folk will vote with their feet in the end so it matters not how esoteric and nuanced the argument may be. It will be interesting to see what the publisher does. I might wait for the movie

 

[Droogs]

Congrats Richard, so glad you have managed to pull this off. My partner writes and i see the effort that goes into her stuff and can only say you have my admiration for the tenacity and determination it takes. I wish you every success and have my toes crossed as well as fingers that you get a decent return for the effort I know you will have had to put in alongside running the furniture business. I had wondered if you went ahead with it and now that I know it's to be released have let SWMBO know I'd love a copy. Have to admit once got, will probably stalk you at the shows until you sign it

 

[MusicMan]

I suggest you try to get a good discount from the publishers (try for 33% and settle for 25%) on books you buy for your own use, including being allowed to resell them, since you exhibit at shows. Do read the small print of the contract, don't just get so overwhelmed by the excitement that you forget to negotiate! Signed copies could be a real draw even at 10% discount. And pick a show for a book launch and negotiate with the organisers for some sort of event. Also of course, sell it on your own web site.

Excuse me if you have all this in hand!

 

[Sgian Dubh]

Excuse me if you have all this in hand!

Thanks for the suggestions. Most of your points are already in hand, although ideas for a launch of some sort are no more than ideas in my head at the moment. There's at least one potential UK based launch event possibility that was mooted in the past that would be worth exploring further - I trust you'll understand I can't say any more at the moment. I'd really need a firm release date to explore launch possibilities I guess, and to perhaps coordinate any such initial marketing efforts with the publisher, and whatever plans they may or may not have. It's too early in the process I think to plan or commit to anything.

I'm pretty good at reading contracts which annoys my wife sometimes, but I do like to understand what I'm signing up for, ha, ha. Slainte.

 

[AndyT]

The countdown begins!

https://blog.lostartpress.com/2017/11/2 ... ard-jones/

 

[MusicMan]

Champing at the bit!

 

[kevinlightfoot]

I would buy it even at the higher price.I have Hoadleys book but cross reference is always valuable,and I don't trust the integrity of internet information.

 

[Sgian Dubh]

The countdown begins!

https://blog.lostartpress.com/2017/11/2 ... ard-jones/

Wow, you spotted that quickly. I didn't know they were going to post it, and your message here was the first I knew it was live. I only put together what I thought would be a quick rough first draft of it late last night, and expected them to come back with suggestions for improvement. Apparently, they thought my witterings were at least adequate, ha, ha. Slainte.

 

[Chris Knight]

I look forward to getting my hands on a copy!

 

[meccarroll]

I wish you all the best.

Mark

 

[Sgian Dubh]

Thanks Mark and Chris, and I hope you find your copy when you get it Chris both interesting and useful. The publisher is aiming to send the manuscript to the printer before the end of the year. I'm not sure if that's achievable, but it's certainly been a swift journey from signing an agreement followed by sending all the material in its digital form, to compilation of the book to this stage - just five months from then till now. Most books of this type can apparently take much longer: the editor told me recently it sometimes takes two or three years from signing an agreement to getting the prepared book to the printer. She commented that progress on my book has been, and is, exceptionally fast. Slainte.