Jessica Lynch? 'Baghdad Bob'? Where are they now? INVASION IRAQ: FOUR YEARS LATER

msnbc ^ | 3/20/07

[XR7]

Where are they now?

Tommy Franks. Jessica Lynch. 'Chemical Ali.' Tony Blair. Hans Blix. As the war in Iraq began, these were names on front pages everywhere. Find out what has happened to them – and 10 other headliners associated with the conflict – since.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17582369/

[sure_fine]

can't you just see, Gen. Tommy Franks and Lt. Gen. Russell
Honore, make a run for POTUS

[LS]

I tried to get Franks to write a foreword to the paperback ed. of my book, "America's Victories: Why the U.S. Wins Wars" and his agent said it would cost $10,000.

LOL

[Tijeras_Slim]

Gee Larry, why'd you pass on that bargain? :)

[Orange1998]

Sound like a good deal to me too. Just think of the mileage he could have recieved. I am not sure Larry is having the last laugh.

[LS]

The economics of publishing are that you'd have to sell about 50,000 MORE books to justify that. Since I have yet to have any book sell 50,000 (although "Patriot's History" is very close), I'll pass.

BTW, most "sales" figures you see for any book are wildly inflated. That's why Drudge always posts the "scanned" numbers. Hillary's book, for ex., sold about 400,000 copies (and that includes having the DNC purchase thousands). She never came close to a million.

A publisher is usually happy (and makes money) if you sell over 12,000 copies.

[Orange1998]

As always there are two sides of the deal. Your points are well taken since economics drive the decision. I am quite surprised it takes 50K books to earn 10K for the author. Good luck with the book!

[freeperfromnj]

I would love to see Franks throw his hat in. Even for VP. He's been at the top of my list for Presidential candidate for a couple of years now.

[cake_crumb]

Interesting thread. Farras Hassan is a real trip...if he doesn't get himself killed by the time he's 18, his writings will be something to watch out for.

[LS]

Well, to SELL 50,000 you have to ship perhaps 100,000 (there are a lot of returns). And to ship 100,000, you have to have a fantastic track record. For example, Newt Gingrich's fiction book, "Gettysburg," only sold about 84,000 hardcover with HIS name on it.

So if you pay $10,000 just for a foreword, it's certain that the Tommy Franks name alone won't bring you another 30,000 sales.