the book....delayed

John Powell

John Powell

Joined
Mar 9, 1999
Messages
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Gents, for all of you who have been so encouraging and supportive to get the "kukri" book done, I have a bit of bad news.

The backer who was to fund this and his book also, pulled out rather surprisingly this morning. I guess it will always come down to money as he said someone has offered him a better deal.

And so it goes. Mine is written, but I need to get all the photos done professionally and print it. That takes lots of money and one of these days I will get the backer I need.

It will get done, but not this week.
 
It is done except for the pics? Wonderful!
Congrats. It will happen if it is meant to be.
 
What we need is some monks, some goose quills, lots of lamp black, and parchment---oh, and time.
 
John,

Sorry to hear your backer backed out. I've been there. But it is good to hear your book is finished except for the photos.

If I still had the studio, I would have been happy to help out. I could have even handled the layout/design end too...

But something will come your way. One door closes and another opens up. :)

Good luck.

Alan
 
John,

Sorry to hear that.

Have you contacted Palladin Press? They publish similar books. As I recall they did Bagwell's book on large knives, and one on old Spanish knifefighting, among others.

Then there's always web publication. I know of a certain FAQ site ...

;)

Take care.
 
John,
Perhaps it will turn out to be a blessing in disguise. I was always a little concerned that your book might play second fiddle to the other fellow's. When its time has come, it will happen. Until then, keep posting pics to the forum whenever you can. We've waited this long, we can hold out a little longer.
Berk
 
Thanks guys, those are all things I know, but have to hear it again and again.

The book will be available someday and this will give me more time to revise and fine tune so you all will get the very best of my efforts.

Tomorrow is another day.
 
JP,
he pulled out cause he could make a few $$$ elsewhere!:mad: I have my own thoughts about:mad:*****like that!!What goes around,comes around!!Still want your book!!
jim(Saint):cool:
 
Sounds like the power of the all mighty buck got the better of your backer and you got screwed.:rolleyes:

Greed is a bad thing and he will get his in the long run, everything has away of coming back around, one day he will need you and then you will have him just were you want him. :D
 
Yep. You're probably better off -- a soft cover affordable book will do much better than a hundred buck coffee table model.
 
J.P.

Like many others here, I wish to see this project completed so that I may acquire a copy.

I pray that you have the preserverence to see it through regardless of of the current tribulations.

In particular, I know how tough it is to deal with galley-proofs years after the work is "written". I didn't have to find publishers, they solicited a collegue which passed the writing task on to me. It was a chore enough without that added burden, though it took a couple of years before I saw galleys.

Having been there, I hope that you have the strength to view the final stages as the true completion, which I found most difficult.

I guess I'm saying, don't take Ambrose Pierce's definition of "accomplishment" to heart until the the very end...

Acomplishment: The death of endeavor and the birth of disgust.

I don't mean to be glum, but I find "dark humor" to be an antidote to dark times.

I guess I really mean if you thought it was finshed enough to publish now, don't succumb to the temptation to think it suddenly isn't because it wasn't now published and get bogged down with trying to continually update it because there seems to be time.

Best wishes with publication and keep us updated. :)
 
John,

This might be your chance to break away from the coffee table book paradigm. As nice as high resolution photos are, the subject is wide open, and information is what we are primarily missing. Think, Levine's Guide rather then Weyer's Knives: Points of Interest. Now you are free to include a greater number of photos and to expand the book to achieve real relevance. You can always revisit the subject later and release a series of John Powell's Khukuri Calendars to supplement your book.

Just use a decent set of photos and have them printed in black and white to keep the cost down. The books most treasured by collectors are low on photo content. BRL's Guide, Coles' Series on US military Knives, Kiesling's and Jansen's bayonet books, Bezdek's series on swords all have one thing in common; they have no high resolution photos.

You have invested years on research, so let it show. The book doesn't have to be wordy, but 500-1000 low resolution photos will convey much more about the subject then 100 glossy prints. Sometimes it can even be a blessing since you can shake the urge to describe every blemmish that is so glaringly illustrated in the higher quality format.

Paladin Press has released a number of these books, and so has KnifeWorld publications. You may want to contact Bernard Levine to see if he can help you pitch this to knifeworld. He might even be pursuaded to write an introduction for you. You can reach Bernard at: brlevine@ix.netcom.com

Good luck with the project.

n2s
 
Originally posted by John Powell ......"kukri" book done, I have a bit of bad news.........The backer who was to fund this and his book also, pulled out .........Mine is written..... one of these days I will get the backer I need.
Click to expand...
For what it's worth........

http://www.revival.us/company.asp

carries a lot of titles where your's would fit well.

They might have a good 'backer' contact.

Sorry if this repeats, haven't the time to read everything.
 
We would all like to buy a copy of the Khukuri 'BIBLE'. Sure hope you can find a way.
 
Gents,
Your comments and encouragemnet are words well needed. This guy really pulled a quickie on me and it truly got to me. You wouldn't believe the many emails I have received saying this is best because they wanted a book on kukris and not a rehash of Islamic Arms. I cannot do anything but wish him well, but am seeing the value in not hooking my work to his.

There will be a book for the kukri community that I hope is well received. I just don't know when.

A few magazines have approached me about doing a chapter a month, so it may come out that way. I will keep the forum appraised and again want to say thanks to all of you.
 
A few magazines have approached me about doing a chapter a month, so it may come out that way. I will keep the forum appraised and again want to say thanks to all of you.


That sounds like a very good way to go.
 
It will fall into place soon. Don't give up! I know I'm buying a copy or two in whatever form as soon as it hits the market!!! I'm sure it will be a GREAT read!!!!;)
 
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