The Good: One of the things I did at Kalamazoo was to write up a preliminary book proposal for Another Damn Book (now its semi-official working title) and make an appointment to talk with FabEditor about it. And the good news is that it went pretty well: he's interested in seeing it, he seemed receptive to the ways I thought it would be different from the first one (more of a classroom book, though hopefully with something for specialists in there, too!), and he had a couple of questions/suggestions for me to think about before I start sitting down to write it. The meeting also prompted me to commit to a self-imposed deadline or two.
The Bad: While at this meeting, FabEd asked me, "Hey, weren't you also looking at working on a microhistory on X? Yeah, well... you should visit the Other Press Table..." And sure enough, stacks of a book that, while marginally different in topic and approach, is close enough on both counts to make my proposed next project an issue. Gah! Recalculating...
The Undetermined: During the Q & A at the very last panel of the conference, someone way in the back row mentioned something about a case very much like the one that forms the basis for my would-be third-book project. Turns out it's the author of the book from Other Press. I congratulated him and told him I'd bought a copy. Then I told him about my back-burner project. Turns out that he is hoping to sell Other Press on the idea of a series, and is very interested in keeping in touch on this. But the crisis also got me thinking about other ways to approach and market this book, including the seed of a thought of the vague possibility about... publishing for the popular market? Shhhh....
Showing posts with label publishing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label publishing. Show all posts
Monday, May 12, 2014
Sunday, February 16, 2014
How late is too late?
::whew!::
Well, I'm pleased to report that today, I sent of a manuscript of an article I've been working on. Great, right? Here's the catch: the article was due in January. Towards the end of that month, I told the editor that I'd be about a week late. Wrong: it turned out to be two weeks. Granted, that's not a huge amount of time. But still.
I'm glad to have this not hanging over my head. But I know enough people who have taken on the task of editing volumes of essays and special issues of journals to know that the M.I.A. author is the bane of the editor's existence. A very common bane.
Being past-due on a promised piece is a great motivator: I've written faster in the last six weeks than I have, possibly, in the last six years. No one sets out to be the author who makes the editor tear their hair out. Getting a reputation for that sort of thing can create problems down the road. Yet somehow, many of us find ourselves in that position.
I guess this post doesn't really have a thesis statement. But I thought I'd throw it out there, in case any of the six readers who still check in here now and then have any stories from either side of the process that they'd like to share.
Well, I'm pleased to report that today, I sent of a manuscript of an article I've been working on. Great, right? Here's the catch: the article was due in January. Towards the end of that month, I told the editor that I'd be about a week late. Wrong: it turned out to be two weeks. Granted, that's not a huge amount of time. But still.
I'm glad to have this not hanging over my head. But I know enough people who have taken on the task of editing volumes of essays and special issues of journals to know that the M.I.A. author is the bane of the editor's existence. A very common bane.
Being past-due on a promised piece is a great motivator: I've written faster in the last six weeks than I have, possibly, in the last six years. No one sets out to be the author who makes the editor tear their hair out. Getting a reputation for that sort of thing can create problems down the road. Yet somehow, many of us find ourselves in that position.
I guess this post doesn't really have a thesis statement. But I thought I'd throw it out there, in case any of the six readers who still check in here now and then have any stories from either side of the process that they'd like to share.
Monday, April 22, 2013
Mellen Press: Put Some Clothes On
Oh, Mellen.
Seriously: If the emperor has no clothes, then the solution is not to go after the person who points it out. Just put on some clothes.
Seriously: If the emperor has no clothes, then the solution is not to go after the person who points it out. Just put on some clothes.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
The Book Review Strikes Back
I don't normally do book reviews. At least, I haven't in the past. For real: I'm finishing my ninth year post-Ph.D., and I've done a total of five book reviews my entire career, and that's including the one I did in grad school. One reason for this is that I'd just rather spend my time writing my own stuff. But really, a big reason is that I just never felt qualified to review someone else's book. What could I know?
Recently, however, things have changed. I know something about a few fields of inquiry. I know how to write a review, and what readers need. Most of all, after writing my own book, I know what a book ought to look like.
Since arriving at this newly confident place a couple years ago, I've had the opportunity to review one really excellent book. I like to think that I "got" the thing that was really cool about the book, and that I communicated it well to readers. But last month, I also put those skills to use on a book that I didn't think was as well put-together.
Let me tell you, it's a lot easier to write a review of a really excellent book.
With this second book, I found myself struggling to balance my professional mandate to write a review that was honest about the book's strengths and weaknesses with a personal desire to be... nice. "How would you feel if someone wrote this about your book?", that little voice in my head said. "Surely you can find a way to soften that a bit?" said a voice that sounded a lot like my mother. "Are you sure you know what you're talking about here? After all, you work on field A, and this is really A-prime" said another voice that sounded like the one grad school professor who terrified the crap out of me in my orals. "If you can't write a nice review, maybe you should just send it back and let someone else do the review" said a little girl's voice hiding behind the door. And, most doubt-inducing of all was the voice that seemed to come from everywhere: "What if the author's tenure ends up riding on this review?"
So, I sent my draft to Voice of Reason (who had recently asked me for feedback on a similar review she was writing). And she read it, and helped me shape it. The result was professional in tone, and spent some time pointing out the two best features of the book. But it was also critical where it needed to be critical -- again, with a professional tone, but clearly critical. "How would I feel if I got this review?", I asked myself again, in my own voice, and this time I tried to answer the question. I decided that I wouldn't be happy. But I also wouldn't be devastated or personally wounded. And I also decided that I'd put enough in there for a tenure committee to read it however they were inclined to read it anyway. And I sent it off.
And today, I got an e-mail from an editorial assistant from the same publication, thanking me for the review, and also letting me know that they had just received back a review of my book that they were going to publish soon... written by the author of the book I had just reviewed.
I'm think I'm just going to think of this as if it were a theatrical farce, happening to someone else, and sit back and laugh. Because that's really the only thing to do at this point.
Recently, however, things have changed. I know something about a few fields of inquiry. I know how to write a review, and what readers need. Most of all, after writing my own book, I know what a book ought to look like.
Since arriving at this newly confident place a couple years ago, I've had the opportunity to review one really excellent book. I like to think that I "got" the thing that was really cool about the book, and that I communicated it well to readers. But last month, I also put those skills to use on a book that I didn't think was as well put-together.
Let me tell you, it's a lot easier to write a review of a really excellent book.
With this second book, I found myself struggling to balance my professional mandate to write a review that was honest about the book's strengths and weaknesses with a personal desire to be... nice. "How would you feel if someone wrote this about your book?", that little voice in my head said. "Surely you can find a way to soften that a bit?" said a voice that sounded a lot like my mother. "Are you sure you know what you're talking about here? After all, you work on field A, and this is really A-prime" said another voice that sounded like the one grad school professor who terrified the crap out of me in my orals. "If you can't write a nice review, maybe you should just send it back and let someone else do the review" said a little girl's voice hiding behind the door. And, most doubt-inducing of all was the voice that seemed to come from everywhere: "What if the author's tenure ends up riding on this review?"
So, I sent my draft to Voice of Reason (who had recently asked me for feedback on a similar review she was writing). And she read it, and helped me shape it. The result was professional in tone, and spent some time pointing out the two best features of the book. But it was also critical where it needed to be critical -- again, with a professional tone, but clearly critical. "How would I feel if I got this review?", I asked myself again, in my own voice, and this time I tried to answer the question. I decided that I wouldn't be happy. But I also wouldn't be devastated or personally wounded. And I also decided that I'd put enough in there for a tenure committee to read it however they were inclined to read it anyway. And I sent it off.
And today, I got an e-mail from an editorial assistant from the same publication, thanking me for the review, and also letting me know that they had just received back a review of my book that they were going to publish soon... written by the author of the book I had just reviewed.
I'm think I'm just going to think of this as if it were a theatrical farce, happening to someone else, and sit back and laugh. Because that's really the only thing to do at this point.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
To review or not to review? A question of personal bias and professional ethics.
Just a quick question, probably for those who are midcareer and beyond, sparked by an e-mail exchange with a colleague a few days ago, regarding a dilemma s/he is having:
If you received a request from a journal or a press to review a book or article manuscript written by a junior person whom you considered a friend, or at least a friendly acquaintance, what would be your response (assuming that you had time to take on the job, and felt qualified to review the material)?
(a) Accept the review job. I am able to separate my personal feelings from how I evaluate a scholar's work.
(b) Accept the review job, even though I know I'm likely to be a bit biased in favor of this person. Publications can be make-or-break for tenure, and this is an opportunity for me to help out someone whose work is solid/good/really excellent.
(c) Decline to review the MS, because I know I'd be biased, and while no review is entirely impartial, this might be a bit too close.
(d) Decline to review the MS, because I'm so hyper-aware of my biases that I fear I'd overcompensate on the side of critiquing more harshly than would a less interested observer.
(e) Review the MS, because even though (c) or (d) may apply, most subfields are fairly small, and we're all going to end up reviewing each other's manuscripts sooner or later.
(f) Pretend I never got the request.
(g) Other.
If you received a request from a journal or a press to review a book or article manuscript written by a junior person whom you considered a friend, or at least a friendly acquaintance, what would be your response (assuming that you had time to take on the job, and felt qualified to review the material)?
(a) Accept the review job. I am able to separate my personal feelings from how I evaluate a scholar's work.
(b) Accept the review job, even though I know I'm likely to be a bit biased in favor of this person. Publications can be make-or-break for tenure, and this is an opportunity for me to help out someone whose work is solid/good/really excellent.
(c) Decline to review the MS, because I know I'd be biased, and while no review is entirely impartial, this might be a bit too close.
(d) Decline to review the MS, because I'm so hyper-aware of my biases that I fear I'd overcompensate on the side of critiquing more harshly than would a less interested observer.
(e) Review the MS, because even though (c) or (d) may apply, most subfields are fairly small, and we're all going to end up reviewing each other's manuscripts sooner or later.
(f) Pretend I never got the request.
(g) Other.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Confronting the Hard Numbers, and I Feel (sorta) Fine
Today I got an update on the hard numbers on the first run of my book, now out a year. Of the whole (smallish) print run, about 40% have sold. 50% remain. The rest, I assume, have been given away by the press as review or author's or prize copies (which, I have to admit, is pretty cool).
Honestly, there is a part of me that is disappointed that this book hasn't been a runaway success, selling out its first print run in less than a year.
Another part of me acknowledges that 40% is not too bad in this day and age.
Another part hopes that sales will go up when reviews really start coming out (only one so far, that I know of).
But the one lonely small, sane voice in my head tells me that it's not about the numbers, that I wrote a damn fine book that I can be proud of, and that that was my main goal all along. I'm gonna go ahead and listen to that voice for a while. Damn right, I will.
Honestly, there is a part of me that is disappointed that this book hasn't been a runaway success, selling out its first print run in less than a year.
Another part of me acknowledges that 40% is not too bad in this day and age.
Another part hopes that sales will go up when reviews really start coming out (only one so far, that I know of).
But the one lonely small, sane voice in my head tells me that it's not about the numbers, that I wrote a damn fine book that I can be proud of, and that that was my main goal all along. I'm gonna go ahead and listen to that voice for a while. Damn right, I will.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
In all the hoo-hah, I totally forgot to mention...
...that you can now buy my book at your favorite online retailer.** Not pre-order; actually buy. I received my first advance copy (earmarked for mom & dad) on Saturday and held it in my hands. You know how you look at someone else's newborn, and you think, "it looks like a baby" or even, "it looks like a boiled monkey," but the parents are all "He's so beautiful"?
Yeah, well, that's me with this book. I realize that to anyone else, it looks like a book.
But to me, it's beautiful.
**I actually encourage going into your favorite brick-and-mortar retailer, if you're lucky enough to have one. But there you'll probably have to special-order it. Still, you can browse while you're there.
Yeah, well, that's me with this book. I realize that to anyone else, it looks like a book.
But to me, it's beautiful.
**I actually encourage going into your favorite brick-and-mortar retailer, if you're lucky enough to have one. But there you'll probably have to special-order it. Still, you can browse while you're there.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Q, X, and Y
These are the letters that I have no headwords for in my index. I know, because I finished it last night.
And with that, barring anything unexpected, the book is DONE.
Totally unrelated linky goodness: my favorite new word for today is mansplainin'.
And with that, barring anything unexpected, the book is DONE.
Totally unrelated linky goodness: my favorite new word for today is mansplainin'.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Proofs
Last night, I polished off the grad exams. They were fine. Lacked a bit of depth, but fine. Also had a breakthrough on the "Which project?" dilemma, which I'll post about tomorrow.
Then, I got to work on the page proofs. Did the intro. Here's the "system" I worked out:
First, find the spots in my computer file where I did copy edits, and make sure they got incorporated.
Second, choose a short section (about 5 pp. at a time) and read through it out loud, stopping whenever I see a problem. Write notes in pencil in the right margin. Control urge to fix clunky prose (too late for that!), limiting myself to correcting obvious grammatical errors, and noting places to do one last check on dates.
Third, while doing the read-through, be alert for potential index entries. Note these in the left margin as they occur, so I have a basis for the real index.**
This method got me through 15 pp. of text and three of endnotes (dear gods, but that's a snore!) in about two hours. I think. If I do that twice a day from here on out, I should be able to finish*** by next Friday.
**So far, I've only got about 8 entries for 14 pages. That doesn't seem like a lot, but then again, this is the introduction, so there's probably not a lot that needs to be indexed. Right? Right? Somebody please reassure me here!
***I've already arranged with the editor that I'll be e-mailing the index from my trip. No way is that getting done before I go, not with taxes and a book review to do.
Then, I got to work on the page proofs. Did the intro. Here's the "system" I worked out:
First, find the spots in my computer file where I did copy edits, and make sure they got incorporated.
Second, choose a short section (about 5 pp. at a time) and read through it out loud, stopping whenever I see a problem. Write notes in pencil in the right margin. Control urge to fix clunky prose (too late for that!), limiting myself to correcting obvious grammatical errors, and noting places to do one last check on dates.
Third, while doing the read-through, be alert for potential index entries. Note these in the left margin as they occur, so I have a basis for the real index.**
This method got me through 15 pp. of text and three of endnotes (dear gods, but that's a snore!) in about two hours. I think. If I do that twice a day from here on out, I should be able to finish*** by next Friday.
**So far, I've only got about 8 entries for 14 pages. That doesn't seem like a lot, but then again, this is the introduction, so there's probably not a lot that needs to be indexed. Right? Right? Somebody please reassure me here!
***I've already arranged with the editor that I'll be e-mailing the index from my trip. No way is that getting done before I go, not with taxes and a book review to do.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Indexing Bleg: Recommendations Welcome!
So, the page proofs for the book are scheduled to arrive in about a week. And one of the things that I will need to do is make an index. I'm determined to do this myself: I've heard horror stories from people in my field who hired out the job, and even if I wanted to, it's by now too late. So: do any of you humanities-types know of good guides for how to do this? I've written Esteemed Former Advisor, who indexed *all* his massive tomes, save one, and was hoping that he'd have some suggestions, but the man has had the temerity to slack off on e-mail correspondence in favor of enjoying the holidays with his family. The nerve!
Seriously, though: any pointers from those of you who have been there?
Seriously, though: any pointers from those of you who have been there?
Monday, November 16, 2009
Just Hit "Send"
I just sent off my copy-edited MS pages. I spent the weekend catching numerous errors in my prose, half-deleted sentences, awkward word choices, and the like. All the while praying that I wasn't introducing all new errors.
In two months, more or less, I get my page proofs. And I swear I'll give myself more time with these (they should arrive after classes have ended, so good there). And right now, I'm tired, and wishing that my "sleep for a week" week started today. Unfortunately, I have to get through three teaching days before I can do that.
There is a little triumph here, tempered with some fear. But mostly, It's: "Okay, where are all those things that I put off for the last two weeks while I finished this thing?"
Time to rest and enjoy this is coming soon, I promise. But for the next 3 1/2 days, it's nose to the grindstone time.
In two months, more or less, I get my page proofs. And I swear I'll give myself more time with these (they should arrive after classes have ended, so good there). And right now, I'm tired, and wishing that my "sleep for a week" week started today. Unfortunately, I have to get through three teaching days before I can do that.
There is a little triumph here, tempered with some fear. But mostly, It's: "Okay, where are all those things that I put off for the last two weeks while I finished this thing?"
Time to rest and enjoy this is coming soon, I promise. But for the next 3 1/2 days, it's nose to the grindstone time.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Reader Poll: How careful are you?
I'm going back and triple-checking my footnotes right now. I've prioritized: first, archival document citations (on line now! hooray!); second, published primary sources; third, page numbers in secondary sources (I have much of this on my computer)... or as many as I have time for before deadline. In other words, I'm shooting for sending this off with a final check of 100% of my primary source citations, and likely about 75% of my secondary sources. I feel guilty about that remaining 25%, and glad I'm at least semi-anonymous.
So, since this is incredibly dull, tedious work, and I'm likely to be at it for the next week, more or less, I thought I'd find whatever amusement value in it I could by conducting an unscientific poll of my readers. If you participate, I'd like you to (just this once) log in anonymously. Then answer as many of the questions below as you feel like:
1. When you're doing your editing before publication, how meticulous are you in checking your citations (and does this vary by publication type)?
2. Have you ever caught a citation blunder of yours in print? Did it really, really bother you? Or did you just shrug ruefully and move on?
3. (for comparison purposes): Have you published one book? Multiple books? Articles only?
4. Have you found that your approach to this part of the process has changed over time? If so, how?
So, since this is incredibly dull, tedious work, and I'm likely to be at it for the next week, more or less, I thought I'd find whatever amusement value in it I could by conducting an unscientific poll of my readers. If you participate, I'd like you to (just this once) log in anonymously. Then answer as many of the questions below as you feel like:
1. When you're doing your editing before publication, how meticulous are you in checking your citations (and does this vary by publication type)?
2. Have you ever caught a citation blunder of yours in print? Did it really, really bother you? Or did you just shrug ruefully and move on?
3. (for comparison purposes): Have you published one book? Multiple books? Articles only?
4. Have you found that your approach to this part of the process has changed over time? If so, how?
Thursday, October 8, 2009
What finally made it all seem real
Not the finished MS. Not the positive readers' reports. Not the "yes, we want to publish this" e-mail. Not even the fully signed and executed contract.
No, today, I got the copy-edited version of my MS. And: My book has an ISBN.
No, today, I got the copy-edited version of my MS. And: My book has an ISBN.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Another Reason to Love Dream Press
So, for those of you who are embarking on that first book project, here's a bit of information you may or may not know. Even if your publication process goes incredibly smoothly, you will "finish" your manuscript several times**:
As many of my fellow bloggers and commenters know (from both good experiences and bad ones), this is blazingly, unexpectedly, lightning-fast. Best yet, it could mean an actual book on the Dream Press table at Kalamazoo this year.
Lucky, lucky me.
**It perhaps goes without saying, but you should celebrate each and every one of these milestones, with cake and/or the beverage of your choice.
- An approved and filed dissertation
- A fully revised book MS to send off for review to press(es)
- Once under contract, another version, revised according to the press readers' reports
- A version that you correct after the press' copy editors have had a go at it
- A final version where you make any (very few!) last-minute changes to the galley proofs
- A book
As many of my fellow bloggers and commenters know (from both good experiences and bad ones), this is blazingly, unexpectedly, lightning-fast. Best yet, it could mean an actual book on the Dream Press table at Kalamazoo this year.
Lucky, lucky me.
**It perhaps goes without saying, but you should celebrate each and every one of these milestones, with cake and/or the beverage of your choice.
Friday, August 7, 2009
On Deadlines
I have one week left to deadline. By that time, I will have finished with my to-do list (see "three things" in the sidebar for daily updates, if you're so inclined). But what I'd really like is another week to let the whole thing sit, then go over it again one more time. So I'm asking all you academic book authors out there: Did you meet your deadline? Did you ask for an extension?
Just how "dead" is that line?
Just how "dead" is that line?
Friday, July 3, 2009
Apply Butt to Chair
Notorious has a deadline.
In less than two months, I'm supposed to have my revisions finished. Problem is, when I agreed to -- nay, proposed! -- that deadline, I neglected to take into account a late finals week, a one-month research trip (in which I got no work at all on the old project done), a one-week visit to parents, and a four-day trip to Fellowship City for a friend's wedding.
As the kids say: OMG.
And as my dissertation advisor, my friend Chimpy, and others** have said: time to Apply Butt to Chair.
**"Others" including Clio Bluestocking, who apparently even sells t-shirts with this exhortation writ upon.
In less than two months, I'm supposed to have my revisions finished. Problem is, when I agreed to -- nay, proposed! -- that deadline, I neglected to take into account a late finals week, a one-month research trip (in which I got no work at all on the old project done), a one-week visit to parents, and a four-day trip to Fellowship City for a friend's wedding.
As the kids say: OMG.
And as my dissertation advisor, my friend Chimpy, and others** have said: time to Apply Butt to Chair.
**"Others" including Clio Bluestocking, who apparently even sells t-shirts with this exhortation writ upon.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Image Interpretation: The Answer
Thanks so much to everyone who weighed in with comments on the last post.** Many people wanted the "answer," so I thought I'd post it here.
So, the first image is from a c. 13 MS of an illuminated copy of Justinian's Digest, depicting a manumission of a slave (rootlesscosmo got this, but cheated by actually reading the text -- pfftt!). People were certainly correct about the status difference between the two women, but had the relationship a bit backwards. I think the left two figures are a married couple. The right-hand figure is a judge, rather than a king -- Squadrato, good call on the ermine-trimmed robes, but they are also linked with particularly high-ranking justices, it seems. Either that, or the illuminator thinks that they should be.
The second image depicts a mother and her child coming before... who? Squadrato says a king, because of the crown and sword (both symbols of royal or at least high-ranking administrative authority), but the description I have describes the authority figure as a judge. Personally, I agree with Squadrato's assessment. On the other hand, this is from another Justinianic MS, so perhaps the illuminator just threw in whatever symbols of authority he could think of.
As for which is "best," I think the comments by Susan and GoodEnoughWoman are right on target: it depends on the type of interchange I'm trying to depict here. Is justice top-down, or is there the possibility of input from both sides?
In any case, I've also dug up a couple of other illustrations, but these are more colorful. I'm still not sure what I'm going to go with. But your comments have really helped me sort out how I feel about them. So thanks!
**Previous post poofed to avoid copyright issues.
So, the first image is from a c. 13 MS of an illuminated copy of Justinian's Digest, depicting a manumission of a slave (rootlesscosmo got this, but cheated by actually reading the text -- pfftt!). People were certainly correct about the status difference between the two women, but had the relationship a bit backwards. I think the left two figures are a married couple. The right-hand figure is a judge, rather than a king -- Squadrato, good call on the ermine-trimmed robes, but they are also linked with particularly high-ranking justices, it seems. Either that, or the illuminator thinks that they should be.
The second image depicts a mother and her child coming before... who? Squadrato says a king, because of the crown and sword (both symbols of royal or at least high-ranking administrative authority), but the description I have describes the authority figure as a judge. Personally, I agree with Squadrato's assessment. On the other hand, this is from another Justinianic MS, so perhaps the illuminator just threw in whatever symbols of authority he could think of.
As for which is "best," I think the comments by Susan and GoodEnoughWoman are right on target: it depends on the type of interchange I'm trying to depict here. Is justice top-down, or is there the possibility of input from both sides?
In any case, I've also dug up a couple of other illustrations, but these are more colorful. I'm still not sure what I'm going to go with. But your comments have really helped me sort out how I feel about them. So thanks!
**Previous post poofed to avoid copyright issues.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Something I Hadn't Even Considered
Well now. Now that I've got the contract, it turns out there is a whole new world of things I haven't even considered yet, so I'm going to send up a cry for help. And it boils down to two words:
Cover art.
I mean, really. All I was thinking of was writing something that looked vaguely like a book. Make sure the argument is there. Check the references. Satisfy the readers. But cover art? Furthest thing from my mind. But now it seems like I've got to think about it.
There seem to be two types of cover art for a book on some aspect of the Middle Ages: the photograph of some medieval-y building, or a manuscript illumination. My camera isn't good enough to take one of the former (my best work tends to be close-up details, but I suppose that I might -- MIGHT -- run across something on my trip). As for MS illuminations, I work with texty stuff, rather than pictures, so I haven't even been looking for these things.
Anybody out there had to deal with this? What were your best sources? Really, any and all suggestions are welcome, because I don't even know where to start. Oh, and just by the way, I'm going to be the one responsible for getting the permissions, so I'm looking for something relatively straightforward.
Cover art.
I mean, really. All I was thinking of was writing something that looked vaguely like a book. Make sure the argument is there. Check the references. Satisfy the readers. But cover art? Furthest thing from my mind. But now it seems like I've got to think about it.
There seem to be two types of cover art for a book on some aspect of the Middle Ages: the photograph of some medieval-y building, or a manuscript illumination. My camera isn't good enough to take one of the former (my best work tends to be close-up details, but I suppose that I might -- MIGHT -- run across something on my trip). As for MS illuminations, I work with texty stuff, rather than pictures, so I haven't even been looking for these things.
Anybody out there had to deal with this? What were your best sources? Really, any and all suggestions are welcome, because I don't even know where to start. Oh, and just by the way, I'm going to be the one responsible for getting the permissions, so I'm looking for something relatively straightforward.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Just in time for finals week...
...I have a flu. The feverish, achy-all-over kind. It was bad enough that, for the first time in my career, I actually had someone cover my class (evaluations day) and went home. I've been in and out of bed all afternoon, and expect this to keep up for the next couple of days. The same friend who covered my class is also being good enough to make a grocery store run for me (store is a mile away, and walking or riding my bike that far is out of the question for me right now).
The bad news (other than the general badness that is the flu) is that I'm missing a couple of things I had planned for the weekend -- an end-of-the-year departmental party (more fun than it sounds like) and a three-times-a-semester seminar that actually has some very interesting papers this time. I've e-mailed and made my apologies.
The good news (wholly unrelated) is that FabEd e-mailed to let me know that the book has been approved by accounting/marketing. That's the last step before it goes to the board. So hooray!
Oofh. That last hooray took my last ounce of energy. So I'll kill a couple more minutes before dear friend arrives with my provisions. Then I'm going to try to remain awake for the next couple of hours, go to bed at a normal-ish time, and let my body rest.
UPDATE: Dear Friend just showed up with diet ginger ale, herbal tea, orange juice, grapes, and vegetarian Thom Yum (clear spicy-gingery-lemongrassy broth) from my favorite thai place. C. popped over from next door to check on me. And G. (another colleague who, like C., lives in the same group of apartments) heard that I was sick, and picked up ginger snaps for me at Trader Joe's. It's always good to have friends, but it's especially good when you're sick.
The bad news (other than the general badness that is the flu) is that I'm missing a couple of things I had planned for the weekend -- an end-of-the-year departmental party (more fun than it sounds like) and a three-times-a-semester seminar that actually has some very interesting papers this time. I've e-mailed and made my apologies.
The good news (wholly unrelated) is that FabEd e-mailed to let me know that the book has been approved by accounting/marketing. That's the last step before it goes to the board. So hooray!
Oofh. That last hooray took my last ounce of energy. So I'll kill a couple more minutes before dear friend arrives with my provisions. Then I'm going to try to remain awake for the next couple of hours, go to bed at a normal-ish time, and let my body rest.
UPDATE: Dear Friend just showed up with diet ginger ale, herbal tea, orange juice, grapes, and vegetarian Thom Yum (clear spicy-gingery-lemongrassy broth) from my favorite thai place. C. popped over from next door to check on me. And G. (another colleague who, like C., lives in the same group of apartments) heard that I was sick, and picked up ginger snaps for me at Trader Joe's. It's always good to have friends, but it's especially good when you're sick.
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