Posted by Pat Bryan on December 27, 2007 at 22:40:31 from 64.229.146.102:
As a New Year project, I am considering the reissue of my biography of Jeffery Farnol, "Farnol: The Man Who Wrote Best-Sellers", in a deluxe edition, with a hard cover and sized up to 8.25 by 10.25 inches.
It would be my intention to amend and expand on some of the content, having regard to information that has subsequently come my way since 2002 - more detail on JF's first marriage, comments from the late Lawrence Oakeshott (JF's nephew), an enlargement on the part in JF's life played by Chandler, information gleaned from a further visit to the A.P. Watt papers in the Wilson Library at the University of North Carolina etc etc.
In addition, the new book would be photo rich. My original publishers allowed me a maximum of 25 illustrations; I am now working with a different publishing source which allows me to control the typeface, design and virtually every other aspect of production, and to use an unlimited number of illustrations. I have the permission of Will and Wendy Oakeshott, owners of the late Lawrence's collection of Farnol family material, to draw from a treasure-trove of some 300 photographs and other items, together with a deal of material not used in my first edition.
It will obviously be a labour of love - but love doesn't come cheap these days. I estimate that each book will need to sell for around the $40 to $50 mark if ordered direct from me - higher, if ordered from the publishing source.
So - is anyone interested? I don't mind doing the work, in fact, I welcome it. But I need some assurance, at least, that the book could sell, even if only to we few, we happy few, we band of Farnolatics.
I hope to hear from you - one way or another.
Cheers
Pat