Freeper Travis McGee's book, "Enemies Foreign and Domestic", goes to print!

www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com ^ | July 14, 2003 | Jeff Head

[Travis McGee]

Not yet, I'll click over.

[George W. Bush]

Who would have expected it? Our second FR novelist.

Nice work, guys. Best of luck.

[Travis McGee]

Thanks GWB!

[u-89]

Your posts about self publishing vs going through a publisher leads me to want further information from you if it is possible. I have been working on a couple books myself and wondered how to go about finding a publisher. Assuming a low chance of success by approaching a firm off the street so to speak I thought perhaps an agent might be a better route but then there is the daunting task of finding the proper agent. Do you think genre has anything to do with difficulty? Is say a crime mystery easier than an apocalyptic citizens against tyranny theme to get publisher's interests? Any thoughts, observations or comments are appreciated.

On the outside chance that you were curious my work is of two completely different kinds. First there is a series of short stories using Murphy's Law type of daily experiences to illustrate the on going but comical battle of fate against the individual. The main characters are qwerky but sympathetic. Like Checkov's short stories these run anywhere from a few pages up to 20 or 50 pages (single spaced type written on MS Word). One, the longest is about a detective. The other work is a diet and exercise advise type of book. This latter work I could see someone being interested in the short stories I wonder about as I am not sure about a market for shorts in today's world.

P.S. Please do not use my extemporaneous postings on FR to construe writing capabilities or style.

[Travis McGee]

First thing to do is buy Dan Poynter's "The Self-Pubisher's Manual."

Whether you decide to self-publish or go the conventional begging down 5th avenue route ("please please pretty please look at my manuscript!") the book is invaluable.

[u-89]

Thanks. I'll check it out.

[u-89]

Quick question - what does one page of MS Word (say a normal 8 1/2 x 11 typed page) equal in numbers of pages in print - like say in your book?

[PatrioticAmerican]

Bump!

[Travis McGee]

It depends on the font size you use on your final Acrobat PDF format, and the number of lines you decide to put on each printed page, (how squished together they are.) I recall there are 46 lines per Word page, and 36-40 is typical on your printed pages. Words per line is also a factor. I'd say offhand a Word page = about 1.3 to 1.4 PDF printed format pages.

[Billthedrill]

Came to the thread late - again - a belated congratulations and yet another of my favorite FReepers ends up costing me money...BTT...

[Travis McGee]

Thanks BTD!

[Jeff Head]

I'll send you more detail in a private Fremail...basically, unless you have a recognized agent, or unless you have connections with someone in the industry who has some major influence (and I have neither), publishers will either take your manuscript and put it in a stack of others like yours and may get to it in a year or more...or they will not accept the manuscript without the aforementioned at all.

That's why I decided to self-publish.

[Jeff Head]

It will vary based on a number of issues like Travis said...point size, kerning, gutters, line spacing, margins, font face, sheet size (8.5X5.5, 6X), etc)...all of which are modifiable until you get the look you want.

[M Kehoe]

Congratulations! You're a good writer. I hope you sell a couple of million. Maybe even get interviewed on the Today Show with perky Katie Colic.

Ok, forget the last part. I don't know what I was thinking.

5.56mm

[MississippiMan]

Big congrats to Travis! Good luck!

MM

[Jeff Head]

Despite its liberal leanings...or maybe in spite of them, I believe Travis would jump at the chance to be on Today with Katie, because he would do so well in getting the message out to so many people.

I know I would jump at that chance...but as you say, at leaset for me, it is most probably not going to happen. Travis though, that may be another matter.

Best Fregards bro.

[Jeff Head]

Thanks for the BIG congrats. Travis deserves every bit of it and more. From early progress as described on this thread...it looks like he is off to the races too!

[Cap'n Crunch]

Looking forward to it, hope it's the first of many.

Is 'Break a leg' appropriate???

[Freee-dame]

BTTT

[Travis McGee]

I'll be content (for a while) just to sell the book to 1 or 2% of all gun owners.