After weeks of blocking out almost everything apart from my book, I’m very pleased to say it’s almost finished. I’ve just ordered some paperback proof copies from Amazon which should arrive next week. They’re for subbing/editing purposes, so it’s not the final version, but it’ll be great to have them in-hand.
It’s been something of a crash course in book production. It turns out self-publishing isn’t all that straightforward, and there are loads of considerations: beyond the writing and editing, there’s interior formatting, front and back matter, writing a blurb, commissioning artwork, buying ISBN numbers, generating barcodes, registering the title and details, worrying about trim sizes (the book’s dimensions – I actually got a tape measure and went around my study checking different books), enlisting beta readers and reviewers, working up a marketing plan, and considering worldwide prices and distribution. And I’m still fearful that the book will either a) get pulled for one legal reason or another, b) get slated by reviewers, or c) not get bought by anyone. Honestly, I’m going to stick to websites after this – they’re so much easier.
On that subject, I’ve spent the morning redoing the Strawberry Fields Forever pages with the info from the Sgt Pepper box set. It’s quite frustrating – the book says it has information that contradicts everything you might have read elsewhere, but it still has omissions. There’s almost nothing on takes 5-6 of SFF, for example – it actually implies that they were overdubs onto take four, but I really don’t think that’s true. And I find myself asking questions like “but… but… who played the congas on Penny Lane ? I NEED TO KNOW.” I think I need a holiday.
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1 May 2011
@Joe, you have mentioned in the ‘Strawberry Fields Forever ‘ article the inclusion of takes 1, 4 and 7 in the 2017 deluxe release but not take 26. Incredibly minor but since three are included one missing is irksome I find.
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11.29am
27 February 2017
Wow, congratulations on finishing the book, that’s really awesome news!
One can even already find it on amazon! That’s so cool – especially the title. I’m looking forward to reading it incredibly much and I also already know some Beatles fans I can recommend it to. Hopefully, there won’t be too much hassle on the last metres and the publication will go well!
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1.13pm
14 June 2016
I might have to snatch the book up before I leave even though I won’t be able to read it till I get back. I just want to get a copy now incase it gets taken down for copyright or something since that is a fear of Joe’s.
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meanmistermustard said
@Joe, you have mentioned in the ‘Strawberry Fields Forever ‘ article the inclusion of takes 1, 4 and 7 in the 2017 deluxe release but not take 26. Incredibly minor but since three are included one missing is irksome I find.
That’s because I haven’t finished! I had to go and pick up my daughter – some things take precedence. I’ll finish the SFF stuff tomorrow.
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Martha said
Wow, congratulations on finishing the book, that’s really awesome news!One can even already find it on amazon! That’s so cool – especially the title. I’m looking forward to reading it incredibly much and I also already know some Beatles fans I can recommend it to. Hopefully, there won’t be too much hassle on the last metres and the publication will go well!
F**k, that’s worrying. I’ll see if I can get it taken down. That publication date definitely isn’t final.
Edit: I think this isn’t Amazon’s fault. When I bought a set of ISBN numbers I had to then register the book title against one of them, by entering it into the Nielsen database (UK). I put 4 September down as a ballpark date (I wanted a Monday but 11 September seemed a bit inauspicious). Obviously Amazon draws information from Nielsen, which is why it’s showing on there. Unfortunately I can’t change the entry right now.
Luckily they didn’t include the artwork for the proofs, which I don’t have the rights for…
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William Shears Campbell said
I might have to snatch the book up before I leave even though I won’t be able to read it till I get back. I just want to get a copy now incase it gets taken down for copyright or something since that is a fear of Joe’s.
I think I’ll be OK on the copyright front. I had originally used some Beatles/solo lyrics for chapter titles, but I removed them after doing some research into fair dealing/fair use (different laws in the UK/US). I also took out some lyrics from the text, although I left others in when it was for the purposes of review/criticism. I read some scare stories about people paying loads for using lyrics in works of fiction, but I think mine falls under fair use. (Song titles aren’t copyrighted so I used those instead.)
I think Riding So High will be OK for the title, because there are loads of Beatles books that are similar (right now I can see copies of Many Years From Now, Way Beyond Compare, That Magic Feeling, All We Are Saying, The Love You Make, Let Me Take You Down, It Was Twenty Years Ago Today, Living On Borrowed Time and numerous others).
The other fear is defamation. Everything in the book is sourced and verified, so the risk is low. People have gone on the record about this stuff in the past, so it’s unlikely to affect anyone’s reputation. But if a legal team representing a big name client wants to have the book taken down I don’t really think I can fight it. That said, I’ve had a feature on this subject on the site for about eight years without any trouble, so I reckon it’s OK.
The third worry is that Amazon will decide it’s in bad taste and just remove it. I’ve read that they allow almost anything to be self-published nowadays, so again it’s low risk, but it’s always possible.
Anyway, when it’s on sale I’ll probably buy a box of 50 copies to have in the house, so if it does fall apart I’ll sell them myself. “THE BOOK THEY TRIED TO BAN!”
Sorry, this is taking the thread a bit off-topic. I’ve started another for the book.
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2.45pm
26 January 2017
@Joe That’s good stuff! I’m glad the book is finished, because I’ve been waiting to read it for a while. Its an enthralling subject that I have always wanted to dive deeper into.
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3.36pm
26 January 2017
Sorry @Joe, I didn’t have any idea you were writing a book. Wow is all I can say, that must have taken a lot of work. Beyond The Beatles, is there any more specific subject matter I.e a certain era for the band or something?
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3.40pm
27 February 2017
It’s about the Beatles and Drugs @QuarryMan. Here is the thread Joe created with the information.
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9.30pm
26 January 2017
Good luck on your trip @William Shears Campbell
We will see you on the other side.
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15 February 2015
You’ll be missed, @William Shears Campbell. Go do good.
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